The Reno Evening Gazette
Wednesday, June 17, 1942
page two

RENO RESIDENT'S MOTHER SUCCUMBS

Mrs. Laura Aldora Ast, mother of Albert Ast of Reno, died Monday at her home in Long Beach, Calif., according to word received here today.
Born in Tama County, Iowa, Mrs. Ast would have been seventy seven years old on June 20. She lived in Walnut and later at Avoca, Ia., before moving to Long Beach to reside in 1940. Surviving are fifteen children of a family of twenty-three.
Funeral services were held today in Long Beach and burial will be in Walnut, Iowa.
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Laura was the fourth of nine children for John and Henrietta Hartman-Engelman. She married Daniel Ast on January 4, 1883 in Atlantic, Cass, Iowa. They had a total of 23 children (yikes!), which included two sets of twins. Seven of these children did not survive infancy.
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Avoca Journal Herald

Mrs. Laura Engleman Ast

Mrs. Laura Ast died at Long Beach, California, Monday morning, June 15, after a brief illness.

Mrs. Ast, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Engleman,was born in Tama County and moved to Walnut with her parents when she was nine. On January 4, 1883, she married Daniel Ast, making their home in Walnut until her husband's death in 1921, when she went to Long Beach, California.

Mrs. Ast is survived by fifteen children: Albert Ast of Reno, Nevada; Frank, Fred, Ernest and Theodore of Seattle, Washington; William of Pine River, Minnesota; Charles of Currie, Minnesota; Ralph of Long Beach, California; Mrs. Arthur Patton of Sacramento, California; Mrs. Loretta Richardson of Beaverdale, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Mervin Knott of Minden; Mrs. Minnie Knott and Mrs. N.S. Wilson of Avoca; 39 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren. Seven children and one sister, Mrs. Eva Scherer of Lenox, preceded her in death.

Funeral services will be held at the Rieck Funeral Home in Walnut Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Rev. E.C. Christensen of Avoca officiating. Burial will be in the Walnut cemetery.