Rev. Christian C. Mengers Dies

The Rev. Christian C. Mengers, a resident of Blair since 1948, passed away Friday, July 9th at the home of his daughter, Mrs. L. C. Hansen, of 602 West Nebraska treet. He would have been 91 years of age next month.

Rev. Mengers was born in Fredericia, Denmark August 19, 1863 and came to America in 1887. He settled first at Streater, Illinois, going later to Chicago. After a short time, he began the study of theology and was ordained into the Lutheran ministry in 1894. He served a number of parishes over a wide area before retiring and moving to Blair.

He carried on his work in Escanaba, Michigan; Dwight, Illinois; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Oxford, New Jersey; Moorehead, Iowa; Harland, Wisconsin; Chicago, Illinois; Daneville, North Dakota; Webster Grove, Missouri; Duluth and Superior, Minnesota; and finally at Bone Lake, Wisconsin. He lived in retirement for a time at Luck, Wisconsin and Northfield, Minnesota, coming to Blair in 1948.

On November 25, 1950 he was signally honored by the King of Denmark with the cross of Knight of Dannebrog and an impressive service was held in Blair at the time.

Rev. Mengers was married in Chicago March 1, 1895 to Maren Dorothea Henriksen and they became the parents of two children. Mrs. Mengers passed away on September 12, 1953.

Survivors are a daughter, Mrs. Hansen, of Blair and a son, Dr. Ethan Mengers of Trinity Seminary, Blair, and by nine grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and one sister who resides in Denmark.

Funeral services were held at the First Lutheran Church Monday afternoon with the Rev. H. C. Jorgensen officiating. Dr. H. C. Jersild, Rev. M. G. Christensen, of Omaha, and Rev. Ervin Bonde, of Des Moines also spoke.

Burial was made in the Blair cemetery under the direction of the Bendorf Funeral Home.

~~~Obituary courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~