Taken From the Church Bulletin for His Memorial Service:
"Sergeant Oliver A. Indergaard, only son of Martinius and Emma Indergaard, was born Jan 22, 1911 at the farm home near Mohall, North Dakota. In 1914 he moved with his parents to Hatton where he made his home until called into the Army of the United States.
Oliver was baptized in infancy by the Rev. Wilhelm Cole in the little Norwegian church near Mohall. On June 14, 1925 he was confirmed by the Rev. P. R. Syrdal at St. John Lutheran Church in Hatton.
On July 10, 1942 Oliver was united in marriage to Miss Selma Anderson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Anderson of Pequot Lakes, Minn in Central Lutheran Church at a service read by the late Rev. J. A. O. Stub.
Oliver enlisted and was called to active duty on Feb 17,1941. After being outfitted at Ft. Snelling he received his basic training at Ft. Warren, Wyo., later being sent to Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., with Co. C of the 29 Infantry. Before being mustered out on Oct 25, 1941 he had seen service in Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.
Oliver was recalled to active duty on Jan 17, 1942 and returned to Ft. Leonard Wood. On Aug 15, 1942 he was transferred to the 99th Infanty Battalion a unit made up for the most part of men of Norwegian descent from Minnesota and the Dakota. The battalion was activated on Aug 15, 1942 at Camp Ripley, Minn, later being stationed for a time at Ft. Snelling until it was moved to Camp Hale,, Colo, where the battalion underwent vigorous training at ski troopers.
In August the battalion left Camp Hale and was on its way to England where it was stationed for a time at least near Shrewsbury. On June 6th or 7th the battalion was in the thick of the fighting in France According to Alton Smalley of the St. Paul Pioneer Press the battalion saw bitter fighting as tank riding infantry all the way across France into Belgium, Holand and Germany with the First Army. After faithfully doing his duty for many months Oliver came to his end on Jan 10th while fighting in Belgium. On that day his 1st Lt. Merton Swenson of St. Louis Park, Minn also lost his life.
Left to mourn his loss are his wife and mother and six sisters, Mrs. Martin Hanson, Mrs. Peter Myra, Mrs. Garvin Melby, Mrs. Arthur E. Larsen, Mrs. Herman Aaker and Miss Martha Indergaard.
Oliver had been awarded the Expert Infantrymans medal and the Combat Infantrymans badge. Posthumously he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal.
Word that he had been killed in action on January 19th in Belgium came to the family in Minneapolis on his 34th birthday just as his sister, Olive, was about to frost a cake baked in his honor.
On Jan 25th his company commander, Capt. Herbert C. Melin concluded a letter to Selma with these words: "We shall miss your husband, Oliver, very much. He had endeared himself to all with his sparkling and friendly personality. He was as fine a friend and soldier as my men and myself have ever had the pleasure of serving with, Know that he has sealed his servics to his country with his life. We commend his spirit to our Heavenly Father's justice and mercy. Your husband has been rendered a Christian burial by our Chaplain."
And so another husband, son, brother and friend has given his life that little children everywhere, and especially in old Norway the land he so much wanted to see, might be forever free from the curse of war with all its suffering sorrow and misery. He gave his life that we might live as God wants us to live in a world in which all men might realize that we are Sons of God and Brothers one to another, that through Christ the whole world may find peace and the abundant life for which Christ gave his life.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
Taken from his military obituary.... Sgt. Oliver Indergaard, 33 son of Mrs. Emma Indergaard of Hatton and husband of Mrs. Selma Indergaard of Minneapolis, was killed in Belgium Jan 19, 1945. He was in the infantry. Born at Mohall, ND Jan 22, 1911, he moved to Hatton with his parents in 1914, and lived there until he entered service in Feb, 1941. Overseas since Sept, 1943, he served in England and France before going to Belgium."
Suzanne Kirklin originally shared the above obituary on 3 August 2015 on ancestry.com. Burial, Photo, Tombstone Picture, Links to Some Family All recorded indications are that Lars Isaacson and Lars Seim (Sime) are the same person. The information the Norweigian museum reports on the two names is very similar; there is no record of a Seim (Sime) in Iowa Infantry, and the only Lars mentioned in both Civil War Infantries is Lars Isaacson. The widow's pension goes to Oline Isaacson Sime in North Dakota. In Traill County documents there is reference to both surnames.
Lars was born 20 August 1845 in Norway and died in Traill County on 8 October 1925.
There is no civil war record of Lars Seim (Sime) even though the Norwegian Museum reports such. The U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 lists Lars Isaacson in the 16th Regiment, U.S. infantry (Regular Army) [Film M233 Roll 27] and then enlisting in Company K, 44th Regiment, Iowa Infantry as a Private. The U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles shows he enlisted as a Private in Company A, Regular Army 16th Infantry Regiment and then also that he enlisted at age 19 on 30 April 1864 as a Private and mustered into Company K, Iowa 44th Infantry Regiment on 1 June 1864 and then mustered out on 15 September 1864 at Davenport, Iowa.
His pension documents show the same two units as above and he started receiving his pension in North Dakota on 19 March 1887. His wife, Olina Isaacson Sime, started receiving a widow's pension on 9 November 1925 in North Dakota.
Lars Isaacson had land grants in Section 6, Township 147, Range 53.
In the 1920 Census Lars Isaacson is living in Mayville.
Lars Sime lived in Traill County in the 1880, 1890 (Hatton), 1915 (Mayville), and 1925 (Mayville) census reports.
The index to the Hatton Diamond Jubilee 1884-1959 book indicates Lars Seim and his wife homesteaded in Vikings Township..
From Norwegians in the Civil War; Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum: "ISAACSON, Lars:
IA 44th Inf Co K. Residence: Davenport, Iowa. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 19. Enlisted for 100 days 30 Apr 1864. Mustered 1 Jun 1864. Private. Mustered out 15 Sep 1864, Davenport, Iowa, expiration of term of service. Post war: Came to Traill County, Dakota Territory, in July 1875. Sources: (ISW-V p1241) (1885 Dakota Territorial Census)."also it records, "SIME, Lars: US 16th Inf Co A. Civil War: Enlisted 21 Apr 1862. Private. Discharged Dec 1863. Re-enlisted on 28 Mar 1864 and served in IA 44th Inf Co K. Private. Discharged Mar 1865. Post war: Lived at Hatton, Traill County, North Dakota. Suffered from chronic diarrhrea, heart disease and rheumatism. Sources: (Ulvestad p328) (1890 Veterans and Widows Census, North Dakota, No.123, roll 59) “Sime, Lars I.” [Editor Note: The only Lars SIME in the civil war records is a similar SIAM who nlisted in Company K, Wisconsin 15th Infantry Regiment on 06 Jan 1862.] Lars Isaacson is buried at Mayville Cemetery
Burial, Tombstone Picture.
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