Lars Dalager’s Later Years

After the loss of his wife and the placement of his son in a good home, Lars hired Mrs. Clara Antonson as his housekeeper so he could put full time into farming. This arrangement started some time in 1921. Mrs. Antonson and her two children, Mabel and Art, lived in Lars’ house. Clara Antonson was Lars’ housekeeper for the rest of his life.

Mabel Johnson, Clara Antonson’s daughter, described Lars as a very pleasant fellow and they all helped with the farming. Before Lars had a truck to haul his grain, he hauled his grain by horse drawn wagon, loaded with 2 bushel sacks of grain, to the Soo Line track north of Noonan. Here it was loaded or carried into box cars and shipped to Minneapolis. It was a long slow trip and Lars would leave early in the morning. Lars also had cattle, horses and sheep on his farm which was a common practice at that time.

Mr. G. Earl Hasler from Waukegan, Illinois worked for Lars the summer and fall of 1933. He described Lars as being a man of strong opinions but a very kind man, a hard worker and a good business man. Lars helped raise and educate several children that were not blood relatives as well as his own son.

Harlan and Dick Dalager remember that Lars would stop at their farm, the Willie Dalager farm, when he was in Glenwood, Minnesota. Once when he stopped, his truck was loaded with a new combine which he had purchased in Minneapolis.

In 1957, Lars sold his farm to Bob Wissbrod of Noonan and moved to Morro Bay, Calif. Clara Antonson continued to be his housekeeper. He was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Morrow Bay. Lars died May 8, 1964 at the age of 87. Lars was buried at the Los Osos Valley Memorial Park at Morro Bay, Calif. Mrs. Antonson died in 1983 at the age of 95 years.

Divide County Journal

Crosby, North Dakota

May 20, 1964

Lars Dalager was interested in people and good causes. He had a good sense of humor and was of a kindly, cheerful and helpful disposition. He enjoyed work and good fellowship. He often used to say that he never did any work or held any job that he did not enjoy. He was truly a self-made man. But this he would have been the last to admit, since he never tired of telling how much he owed to the opportunities and bounty offered by the American Republic.

Mr. Dalager maintained membership in Calvary Lutheran Church in Morro Bay and was an enthusiastic helper and supporter of all church-sponsored activities.

REFERENCES

The Noonan Miner, Noonan, North Dakota, July 5, 1917

The Noonan Miner, Noonan, North Dakota, Nov. 7, 1918

The Ex-Students’ Association, Univ. of Texas, Austin, Texas

Captain Arthur R. Moore, A Careless Word. . .A Needless Sinking, published 1988. Pages 250 & 515. Robert C. Wilmott, Reference Librarian at the Bland Memorial Library at the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, New York sent copies of the material on Alton Dalager.

Divide County Journal, Crosby, North Dakota, May 20, 1964

Morro Bay Sun, Morro Bay, Ca., May 21, 1964

Researched and prepared by: Jim Dalager, 610 Duluth Ave S, Thief River Falls, MN 56701, 4/28/1997

Lars Dalager was a first cousin to Jim Dalager’s father Karl Dalager.