Funeral services held for Olen Gifford
Funeral services were Wednesday, November 29 at 2:00 p.m. in the United Methodist church in Chester for Olen E. Gifford, 80, of Chester who died November 25.
Burial was in the Chester cemetery.
Olen D. Gifford was born June 15, 1892 at Richmondville, New York. In 1902 his family moved to North Dakota where his father filed on a homestead south of Drake. In 1910, heeding the advice of Horice Greeley, he traveled to Alberta, Canada, and spent the remainder of 1909 and the year of 1910 employed as a rider for the Milk River Cattle Co.
In 1911, he worked at various short term jobs along the Hi-Line and then returned to Drake, North Dakota, determined to finish High School. A part time job was secured in the local creamery and a diploma awarded in 1913. He then worked in the drug store until fall when he started teaching a rural school south of Dogden, North Dakota.
He was married to Ione Elmira Hanson on December 7, 1913. When the school term was over in the spring he moved to Drake and worked in a general store until starting his career with the Soo Line Railroad as yard clerk in the fall of 1915. He served in various capacities at Paynesville, Minnesota, Hankinson, North Dakota, Minot, North Dakota and Thief River Falls, Minnesota, where he retired as District Sales Manager, June 15, 1957.
Gifford was a member of the Masonic lodge (all bodies), the Order of Eastern Star, the IOOF lodge, the Sons of Norway and the Elks. He served as a second lieutenant in the National Guard out of North Dakota for many years.
Survivors include his wife; sons, Wallace of Duarte, California, Roland of Columbus, Indiana, O. D. Gifford of Chester, Russell of Aurora, Colorado, Glen of Great Falls and George of Colorado Springs, Colorado: daughters, Mrs. Myra Ross of Spokane, Mrs. Carrie Harmon of Seattle, and Mrs. Susan Brown of Chester; sisters, Mrs. Woodruth Schultz, Kalama, Washington and Mrs. Dorothy Taylor of Altamont, New York; brothers, Wilber of Stanfield, Oregon and Woodrow of Roseberg, Washington: 34 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.
A memorial is being established.
Liberty County (Montana) Times
November 30, 1972
Funeral services held for Olen Gifford
Funeral services were Wednesday, November 29 at 2:00 p.m. in the United Methodist church in Chester for Olen E. Gifford, 80, of Chester who died November 25.
Burial was in the Chester cemetery.
Olen D. Gifford was born June 15, 1892 at Richmondville, New York. In 1902 his family moved to North Dakota where his father filed on a homestead south of Drake. In 1910, heeding the advice of Horice Greeley, he traveled to Alberta, Canada, and spent the remainder of 1909 and the year of 1910 employed as a rider for the Milk River Cattle Co.
In 1911, he worked at various short term jobs along the Hi-Line and then returned to Drake, North Dakota, determined to finish High School. A part time job was secured in the local creamery and a diploma awarded in 1913. He then worked in the drug store until fall when he started teaching a rural school south of Dogden, North Dakota.
He was married to Ione Elmira Hanson on December 7, 1913. When the school term was over in the spring he moved to Drake and worked in a general store until starting his career with the Soo Line Railroad as yard clerk in the fall of 1915. He served in various capacities at Paynesville, Minnesota, Hankinson, North Dakota, Minot, North Dakota and Thief River Falls, Minnesota, where he retired as District Sales Manager, June 15, 1957.
Gifford was a member of the Masonic lodge (all bodies), the Order of Eastern Star, the IOOF lodge, the Sons of Norway and the Elks. He served as a second lieutenant in the National Guard out of North Dakota for many years.
Survivors include his wife; sons, Wallace of Duarte, California, Roland of Columbus, Indiana, O. D. Gifford of Chester, Russell of Aurora, Colorado, Glen of Great Falls and George of Colorado Springs, Colorado: daughters, Mrs. Myra Ross of Spokane, Mrs. Carrie Harmon of Seattle, and Mrs. Susan Brown of Chester; sisters, Mrs. Woodruth Schultz, Kalama, Washington and Mrs. Dorothy Taylor of Altamont, New York; brothers, Wilber of Stanfield, Oregon and Woodrow of Roseberg, Washington: 34 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.
A memorial is being established.
Liberty County (Montana) Times
November 30, 1972
Family Members
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William Wallace Gifford
1914–2005
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Myra Mae Gifford Sitch
1916–2002
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Roland Archibald "Bud" Gifford
1921–1990
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Carrie Ione Gifford Harmon
1923–2009
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Susan Naomi Gifford Brown
1925–2016
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O. D. Gifford
1930–1976
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Russell David Gifford
1932–2014
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Glen Gerald "Butch" Gifford
1934–2007
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Glenn Gerald "Butch" Gifford
1934–2007
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