Sena Hjelm Tungland (1892-1981)

TUNGLAND, TOW, HODNEFIELD, EIE, HEGLAND, OSTEBEE

Posted By: Alan Nicholson
Date: 4/22/2022 at 13:02:07

Story City Herald
Weds, 25 Mar 1981, p. 9

Obituary

Sena Tungland

Sena Hjelm Tow Tungland was born on a farm northwest of Garden City, Iowa on January 20, 1892 to Peter and Ana (Eie) Tow. She was baptized in the Zion Lutheran Church and confirmed at Salem Lutheran Church, Radcliffe, by Rev. Hjortholm. She was a member of Stavanger Lutheran Church, Garden City.

She received her education at the Rorem School through the 8th grade and then attended Jewell Lutheran College for a year. After that she taught school for six years. During the summer months she attended Teacher's College in Cedar Falls. In 1918 she enrolled at St. Olaf College in Northfield, taking the two-year music course as her major. Later she taught for one year at the Orphan's Home in lake Park, Minnesota and one year at the Orphan's Home in Beloit, Iowa. She also taught at Ottosen three years. She was a Bible School teacher through the years at Salem, Bethany and Ottosen.

Many youngsters in the area benefitted from her talents as a piano teacher, traveling to their homes to give them lessons. She has been the organist in both the Salem and Stavanger churches for over 50 years.

Sena married Ole Tungland July 27, 1933 at the Ellsworth parsonage with Rev. C. J. Naglestad officiating. Ole passed away in 1936.

Sena died Friday, March 13, 1981 at the Story City Memorial Hospital, having reached the age of 89 years, one month and 13 days.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ole, her parents, three sisters, Christopha Hodnefield, Serena and Hanna, and one brother, Albert.

Survivors are one sister, Thea Tow, Radcliffe, two nieces, Marguerite (Mrs. John) Hegland and Avonelle (Mrs. Merlyn) Ostebee, and two nephews, Irvin Hodnefield and Francis Hodnefield, and other relatives and friends.