Fairdale Items – Mrs. Hulda Sofia Barton –

The Fairdale community was greatly shocked last Saturday to hear of the sudden death of Mrs. Barton, wife of Rev. N. G. Barton, pastor of the Fairdale church. Mrs. Barton had been failing in health for the past year but no one realized that the end was so near. Her daughter, Gladys was awakened about 3:30 Saturday morning by some stirring around in the mother's room and hastened to her side, but only to see her pass away without opportunity for assistance or any parting word.

Mrs. Barton is mourned by her beloved husband of nearly forty years of happy home life, Rev. Niles G. B. Barton, and daughter, Gladys. She also has one brother in Stockholm, Sweden, and more distant relatives, and a large number of friends, both here and in other places where she has lived.

Funeral services were held at the Fairdale Methodist church Sunday afternoon conducted by the District Superintendent, Rev. C. A. Holngren of Clay Center, Kansas, assisted by Rev. E. C. Moore of Wolbach. The choir sang "No Night There," "Under His Wings," and "We Shall See the King Some Day" in the church and "Rock of Ages" at the grave. Dr. E. Thompson of St. Paul also sang a solo "Face to Face" in the church. Rev. Moore spoke briefly on Rev. 22:20 "Behold I come quickly." Rev. Holngren's sermon was on John 14, 1-3 "Let not your hearts be troubled." A large floral offering spoke eloquently of the esteem in which she was held. A large audience filled the church to capacity. Interment was made in the beautiful cemetery near the church. As pall bearers were Leonard Larson, Julius Berggren, Ed Berggren, Larimore Jacobsen, George Jacobsen and A. G. Dahlberg, all trustees of the church.

OBITUARY – Hulda Sofia Christensen was born December 1, 1859 at Philipstad, Sweden. She died in her home at the Fairdale parsonage north of St. Paul, Nebraska, March 20, 1926, her age being 66 years, 3 months and 20 days.

She came to this country in 1887, to Chicago, Ill. There she was married to N. G. B. Barton on Christmas Eve of the same year. When her husband entered the Theological Semenary (sic) at Evanston, Ill. to prepare for the Methodist ministry she came along and for some time served the students in the school as matron in the boarding club.

She was converted at the age of nineteen in Sweden and joined the Methodist church in Philipstad where she was active as organist and choir leader in the church. In thirty years of active ministry the Bartons have been stationed at the following places: Portland, Oregon, Braham, Minn., Sheldahl, Ia., Ong, Nebr., Burlington, Ia., Sheldahl, Ia., second term Dayton, Ia., Clay Center, Kas., St. Paul, Nebr.

Mrs. Barton had enjoyed more than the common advantage of education in her early years in Sweden, and she came from a family of some means and culture. Her paternal grandfather was a state church minister in Sweden and several of her near relatives followed that profession. Her musical training especially was used to good advantage in the churches where her husband served as pastor. When her health began to fail she was necessarily confined more to her home and the Bible and the hymnal were sources of great comfort and enjoyment to her. She had a firm faith in her God and she was well prepared for the sudden departure such as she had.

CARD OF THANKS – We wish to express again our gratitude to neighbors and friends who have so royally assisted us in the sickness and death of our beloved wife and mother, and to the singers and ministers and undertakers and Dr. M. O. Arnold, and to all others who with flowers and their attendance and sympathy shown, helped to make her funeral so beautiful and comforting to us in our time of great sorrow. Rev. Nils G. B. Barton, Gladys Barton.

Wolbach Messenger, Wolbach, Nebraska, Thursday, March 25, 1926, transcribed by Linda Berney