Axel Sjolin

  General Notes:

OBITUARY: [vol. 9, No. 43, Nov. 4, 1953, Kinistino, Saskatchewan] Much Respected Pioneer, Axel Sjolin Called by Death

Kinistino and district lost one of its most widely respected pioneers on Friday, October 29 with the passing of Axel Sjolin. Death occured in the Kinistino Hospital at 4 a.m. He was 69 years of age.

Mr. Sjolin was born in Idenor, Sweden on December 15, 1884. He came to Canada in 1901, settling north of what is now Kinistino, working for Christ Boe and some of the other early settlers here at that time. The following year, although not quite 18, he took out a homestead but could not prove it up until 1905 because of his youth.

On June 1st, 1914, he married Miss Alma Johanson, who had come out from Sweden in 1912 to be with her grandparents, and from this union five sons were born. Mr. Sjolin was quite satisfied here and his only move was into town upon his retirement in 1945 so that he had spent the last fifty-three years right in this vicinity.

They were fruitful years, both for himself and for his neighbors, as he was a very active community worker. He served one year as councilor, then had nineteen years as reeve of the R. M. of Kinistino. One of his neighbors, in speaking of him on Saturday, said that the municipality progressed steadily under his guidance and always remained in a strong financial position. He stepped out for a few years and then when the depression came, the municipality went in debt, andhe was again called to the helm to bring it on even keel. In addition to his work on the municipal council, he was one of the organizers of the Nordon Rural Telephone Company in 1916 and served continuously on its board until shortly before his retirement. He was also a school trustee for several years and secretary to the Zion Lutheran Church. He had been in poor health in recent years.

Funeral services were held from St. Paul's church in Kinistino on Saturday afternoon with Pastor R. Odelberg of Zion Lutheran officiating. Mrs. E. Fellman was organist, while hymns sung were "Rock of Ages" and "Nearer My God to Thee."

There was a large crowd in attendance, though many friends have since expressed their regret at notpaying final tribute due to road conditions and also the fact that they had not heard of his passing.

Interment took place in the Kinistino cemetery. Pallbearers were Hjalmer Holmgren, Gordon Sorenson, Gerald Fellman, Albert Skene, Charlie Sorenson and Louis haugen. Bird's Funeral Home were in charge of arrangements.

He leaves his wife and five sons, Lloyd and Harry, Raymond, Gordon and Alf, all farming north of Kinistino. Also a brother, John in town and one grandchild. The deepest sympathy of the community is extended to them at this time of their loss.

"He filed a claim for a homestead in the Carrot River country. The following year, Tom Sanderson started a lumber mill on the Carrot River and Axel got the job ofhauling lumber to Kinistino. Axel's homestead was N.W. 22-46-21-W-2nd -- but 30 acres had to be cleared. With the help of Rudolf Breimon he built his house, and burned lime to plaster it. This building is still standing on the east side ofson Alf's farm." [Kinistino book]

Axel married Alma Johanna Johanson, daughter of Unknown and Johanna Albertina Lindstrom, on 1 Jun 1914 in Kinistino, , Saskatchewan, Canada. (Alma Johanna Johanson was born on 13 Aug 1890 in Angermanland, Sweden,²⁴ died on 27 Mar 1989 in Kinistino, , Saskatchewan, Canada ²⁵ and was buried in Kinistino Cemetery, Kinistino, Saskatchewan, Canada.)