MARTIN P. AND LARSINE [MARTENA] SONDER
Martin P. Sonder was born December 21, 1857, in Fostrope, Denmark,
and died in Verdigre, Nebraska, on February 2, 1941, at the age of
83 years, 1 month and 12 days.
Martin grew to manhood in his native land and on May 13, 1879, he
was united in marriage to Larsine Martena Anderson in the Lutheran
Church at Fostrope. To this union were born eight children, three of
whom were born in Denmark: Petrena, Andrew, and Stena. Peter, Anna,
Tillie, Emma, and John were born in the United States.
Eight years after their marriage they came to America to establish a
home. They left their native land in 1887 and came directly to
Chicago, Illinois. Then they located on a farm near Osmond,
Nebraska, where they endured the privations of the early pioneers.
A few years later the family moved to a farm near Creighton,
Nebraska, and in 1900 Mr. Sonder and family moved to a farm five
miles northwest of Verdigre. Here they lived for 25 years before
they purchased a home in Verdigre where they spent the remaining
days of their wedded life.
A member of the church, he was instrumental in having the Methodist
Church built in Verdigre.
On May 13, 1929, their children and many friends helped celebrate
their Golden Wedding Anniversary at the Methodist Church.
He was a charter member of the Local Farmers’ Co-op Association and
had the distinction of being the oldest active member of that
organization. In 1954 he received his silver medal from the
association, a token for 25 years of continuous membership. This he
prized highly.
Mr. Sonder would relate many times the details of the blizzard of
1888 and his heroic deeds of rescuing the children from school.
In his later years after retirement from farm work, he devoted
considerable time to gardening and fruit trees, both in town and on
the farm. Each year he had one of the finest gardens in the
community and he enjoyed showing his harvest to the townspeople,
selling and giving produce away. He was known to many as “Grandpa
Sonder.”
Mrs. Sonder passed away at her home in Verdigre on January 17, 1931,
at the age of 77 years, 2 months, and 6 days. She was baptized and
confirmed in the Lutheran faith in a church in Denmark where she and
Mr. Sonder were married.
After her death, he continued living in their home and gardening
until his death. Two children preceded them in death, Emma and Stena.
Six children survived.
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