Peter S. Vig

Dana College and Trinity Seminary of Blair is mourning the loss of their dear friend and councilor, Prof. P. S. Vig whose death occurred Thursday, March 21, at his home near the College.

Prof. Vig has been one of the outstanding figures at Dana since its organization and has given practically all the active years of his life to planning for a bigger and better school. He was a man of more than ordinary education and his advice and wisdom were very valuable to the students and faculty.

He was particularly fond of young people and they reciprocated by showing him much love and respect.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternnoon, March 26, from the Danish church, a large number of friends gathering to pay their respects to a man of character and ability; and one whom they honored for his good deeds.

Burial was made in the Blair cemetery.

Peter Sorenson Vig was born in Bogvad, Egtved Sogn, Jutland, Denmark, Nov. 7, 1854 and was therefore seventy-four years of age.

His early youth was spent in Denmark, working on farms and attending the Askov high school up to 1877.

He studied under Rev. H. F. Feilberg in 1878 and 1879 and came to America in the latter year settling in Chicago for a few years.

He returned to Denmark in 1882 to study and was sent again to America by the Danish American Mission in 1884. He then came farther west, teaching at Elk Horn, Iowa in the high school and later accepted the call to the ministry at Bowman’s Grove, Ia., Harlan, Ia., and a number of othr places during the years 1884 to ’88. In 1888-92 he was instructor at the seminary in West Denmark, Wis. And ministr at Luck, Wis. In 1894.

He came to Dana as instructor in Trinity Seminary in 1897 and while he was away for short intervals of perhaps a year or so, he eventually returned to Blair where he has resided continuously since 1909.

He was married June 10, 1884 to Karen Marie Madsine Christensen whose death occurred in 1900.

Of this union, the following children survive: Soren T. Vig, of Chicago, Ill.; James E. M. Vig of Havre, Mont; Peter G. A. Vig of Columbus, Ga.; Bennett C. Vig of Tampa, Florida.

He re-married August 6, 1901 Miss Karen Oline Olson, who survives him with the following children: Eli J. M. Vig of Fresno, Calif.; Clemens H. Vig, attending state university at Lincoln; Lars Einar Vig, Clarence Vig, Steen D. Vig, Arndt M. Vig, Victor A. Vig and one daughter, Ruth E. Vig, all at home.

#2 Printed in the March 28, 1929 Pilot-Tribune, Blair, Nebraska

REV P.S. VIG DIES AFTER SHORT ILLNESS

Prominent Danish Church Minister Dies at Home Near Dana Thursday Afternoon

WON HIGH DISTINCTION

Funeral Services Largely Attended on Tuesday Afternoon

Rev. Peter Sorensen Vig, D.D., died at his home on Dana college hill last Thursday afternoon at 1:50 o’clock following an illness of but short duration. Rev. Vig had been in failing health during the past winter and had not taught in the seminary at the college since the fall term of school took up.

Rev. Vig was born in Bogvad, Egtved Sogn, Jutland, Denmark, on the 7th of November, 1854 and besides attending school in Denmark for five years until 1877 after which he took two years of work under the Rev. H.F. Feilberg. In 1879 he came to America and visited friends in Iowa but returned to Chicago where he spent two years. In 1882 he returned to Denmark to continue his studies.

Two years later he was sent to America by the Danish American Mission and the following year on the 20th of September he was ordained a minister at Clinton, Iowa. He spent several years at Elkhorn and Bowmans Grove, Iowa, as instructor in the high schools and as a minister. In 1888 he was sent to the seminary at West Denmark, Wisconsin, where he taught for four years and at the same time he took a pastorate at Luck, Wisconsin. From 1894 to 1909 he was principal and instructor at the high school and seminary in Elkhorn, Iowa, besides serving a number of years in the Trinity seminary in Blair. In 1905 he accepted a call as pastor of a church at Luck, Wisconsin. Since 1909 he returned to Blair where he has since resided.

Rev. Vig received the honor of Knight of Dannebrog on January 11, 1921, an honor which he shared with but two other individuals in America at that time. The honor was conferred by an ancient Danish order which confers membership for merit only. A gold emblem, the symbol of the honor was presented to Rev. Vig and since his death it is again returned to Washington. The emblem bears the inscription “Og Gud Kon Gen” also the dates, 1219, 1671 and 1808. The legend states that in 1219 the order descended from heaven; in 1671 the order was instituted and in 1808 it was given to the common people. Previously none by the members of the nobility were entitled to share the honor. Rev. Vig was one of the most highly educated men in the Danish church and the large gathering at his last rites were highly indicative of the high esteem in which he had been held.

For many years Rev. Vig served as an instructor of Theology at the Dana college seminary and much of his spare time was spent in writing books and documents. He was the author of “Danes in America”, written in 1900; “Danes in America from 1640 to 1860” which he wrote in 1908. Other books written by him include: Danish Immigration to America”, “Danish Lutheran Mission in America up to 1884”, and “Danes in battle in and for America”. Many smaller works and documents on religion and history were written by him up until about a month ago when his eyesight failed him.

On June 10, 1884 he was united in marriage with Karen Marie Madsine Christensen who died in 1900. Of this union, four sons survive, Soren T. of Chicago; James E.M. of Havre, Montana, Peter G.A. of Columbus, Georgia; and Bennet C. of Tampa, Florida. He married Karen Oline Olsen on August 6th, 1901, and to this union eight children were born, all of whom survive him. The children include: Eli M.M., of Fresno, Calif.; Clemens H., a student at the stated university in Lincoln; Lars Einer, Clarence, Steen B., Arndt M., Ruth E., and Victor Vig, all at home.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon and interment made in the Blair cemetery.

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

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