Sarah Holtan Grothe died far too young after a short but full life. We have here her obituary from the Washburn newspaper and a story by Kathy Holtan Wilner that will grow with further information. We also include the Homestead patent for the 160 acres of land she homesteaded.
The story comes from the newspaper from Washburn North Dakota, that story is attached. Washburn, North Dakota, Friday, October 25, 1918
Headline reads: Influenza Causes Much Sorrow in McLean County
Mrs. Grothe Passes Away –Washburn people were shocked and grieved on Sunday when the heard of the death of Mrs. Thomas Grothe (Sarah Holtan – daughter of Hans and Margit Holtan). She had been in Bismarck at a hospital several weeks, and only the day before a letter had been received from her stating that she as getting along nicely but that she had a cold.
On Saturday night she gave birth to a daughter and in a few hours passed away. She had had the influenza four days but the doctor had not told her of it for fear that it would scare her. A message was received here about eight Sunday morning stating that she was very low and wished to talk to her daughter Hilda. Arrangements were made at once to take her down, but fifteen minutes later another message came saying she had passed away.
The baby is still in the hospital where she is getting along nicely. It was thought best to keep her there for a short time.
Mr. Grothe, as will be remembered, enlisted in the shipbuilding and was sent to Camp Meade two weeks ago. He received the sad message on Monday and left at once for home but did not reach here until yesterday morning. The funeral services were held in the afternoon outside of the Sverdrup church, conducted by Rev. Holm of Ryder, and interment made in The Sverdrup cemetery.
Mrs. Grothe leaves, besides her husband, six children, Hilda, Arthur, Martin, Alvina, Hans, and the baby. She is also survived by one sister and six brothers: Miss Elsie, who made her home with her, and Ole, Martin Henry, Thomas, Gilbert, Engebret and Theodore Holtan. Her mother and father died several years ago.
Her brother Thomas Holtan and wife, Mrs. Halvor Holtan, George Holtan, a nephew, and Mrs. Marie Carlson, a niece, all came from Forest city, Iowa on Wednesday to attend the funeral.
Mrs. Sarah Grothe was born December 13, 1878, at Forest City, Iowa, and came here with her parents when but a small child. She had grown to womanhood in the same community and few years ago moved to Washburn with her husband and family. She was a devout Lutheran, a very devoted wife and mother and a true friend. Her death brings sorrow into many hearts and all join in deepest sympathy in her husband and children.
Sarah Holtan Grothe
Sarah’s story: This story was submitted by Kathy (Holtan) Wilner, a great niece of Sarah as well as Marva Deane (Carlson) Finck, a granddaughter of Sarah.
Sarah Holtan was born to Hans and Margit Holtan on December 18, 1878 in Winnebago County Iowa. In 1886, when she was 8 years old, the family moved to North Dakota. Her father Hans homesteaded on land north of Washburn. Sarah grew up with one sister and 8 brothers. She attended school at the local one room school. She married Thomas A. Grothe November 23, 1905. Thomas A. Grothe had recently immigrated from Norway and came to North Dakota to build houses and barns.
Sarah and Thomas had six children together, Hilda Marie b: 8 May 1902, Arthur Horace b: 13 May 1906, Martin Melvin b: 1 July 1908, Elvina Jeanette b: 27 Aug 1911, Theodore Stanley b: 20 Jan 1914, all born in Washburn. Sarah also delivered twins Serene Genevieve and Sigrid 20 October 1918 in Bismarck.
Thomas had signed up to help build ships during WWI and was in the state of Maryland when Sarah delivered her last children. One of the children, Sigrid, did not survive birth. A few hours after the children were born she passed away. Sarah Holtan Grothe passed away October 20, 1918, a victim of the great flu epidemic. At the time of Sarah’s death her sister Elsie had been living with them. She took over the household and cared for the children until 1925 when Thomas Grothe remarried.
From the McLean County History Book: Thomas Grothe, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arndt Grothe, came to the United States from Trondhjem, Norway, in the early 1900’s to Rochester, Minn. Soon after, he moved to Washburn, ND, to practice his trade as a carpenter, contractor and built more than 200 barns and more than half that many houses in McLean county. He married Sarah Holtan, daughter of Has and Margit Holtan. They had six children. Sarah Holtan Grothe passed away October 20, 1918, a victim of the great flu epidemic. Her husband was working in the U.S. shipyards in Maryland at the time. A maiden Aunt, Elsie Holtan, took over the household and cared for the children until 1925 when Thomas Grothe married Olive Olson of Westby, Wisc. She was employed at the Holtan Mercnatile Co. store. They moved to Wilton in 1926 and later moved to Bismarck, when he retired in 1959. They had two sons.