Mrs. Soren A. Svendgard died very suddenly of influenza at their home near Kennard yesterday morning and Mr. Svendgard is also very seriously ill. The funeral will be held at the Kennard Cemetery at 3 o’clock today. Anna Marie Madsen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Madsen, was born March 1, 1891 and died March 25, 1919. She was married to Soren A. Svendgard March 2, 1910. She was confirmed in the Danish Lutheran Church at Orum at the age of 14 years and has lived near Kennard since childhood. Four children were born to them, 2 girls and 2 boys: Helen Irene, aged 8 years; Leland Woodrow 6, Emma Christine 4, and Maynard Andrew 2. She is survived by three brothers, Andrew Madsen, of Lyons, Nebr., Harold of Dale, and Lawrence who lives at home. Mrs. Svendgard was a kind and loving wife and mother, a good neighbor and a lovely disposition was hers, with good will to all. She had just begun to enjoy life in her new home that her husband had built, their home being destroyed by fire last summer. Their new home was modern in every way and she was so happy in it. But in the midst of life there is death.

#2-Published in the Blair Enterprise, 28 Mar 1919

Report the death of Mrs. Soren SVENDGAARD, which occurred at the farm home four miles southeast of Arlington on last Tuesday morning, from a brief illness with influenza, was sorrowfully received by hosts of friends of that estimable woman and her interesting family in the community where she was known and loved for her many womanly virtues.

She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas MADSEN, highly esteemed residents of the Orum and Kennard neighborhood for many years.

The husband, who is reported critically ill with the influenza plague, four young children, two sons and two daughters, aged respectively eight, six, four and two years, are bereft of her love, affection and mother's care. Three brothers, Andrew MADSEN of Lyons, Burt Co, Harold MADSEN, the merchant at Dale Siding and Lawrence, living with his parents, are surviving near relatives.

The hand of fate has dealt harshly with this estimable family. After a life of wedded bliss, covering a period of eight or nine years by intelligent effort and painstaking industry, they purchased a 160 acre farm, one of the most valuable in the Co, with a fine, large, modern residence and splendid improvements throughout and were enjoying life, prospering contented and happy. They drove to Arlington to do some shopping one day last spring leaving the children and a young girl at home. When they returned they found their home and all its contents a smoking heap of ruins, nothing saved, not even a change of clothing, nothing but what they were wearing. But they didn't despair; they immediately set to work and erected a new home, better and more costly than the one destroyed. And they were so happy in the occupancy of it and hopeful for the future. It's hard to reconcile oneself to the belief that His ways are always merciful and just.

Note: Anna is buried in Blk 5 Lt 35 Sp 4 in the Kennard Cemetery.

Obituaries courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file at the Blair Public Library.