Mrs. Laura Banks was born January 31, 1869 in Dalsland, Sweden, and passed away Dec. 22, 1955, in Gothenburg, Nebraska, at the age of 86 years, 10 months and 22 days.

Mrs. Banks had been in poor health for the past several years and confined to her home for the past two years, during which time she has been faithfully cared for by her daughter, Mrs. Emma Banks.

She was married on November 18, 1890, to Swan J. Banks and to this union was born 7 children.

She was preceded in death by a son, Leonard, who died in battle in World War I, and by her husband, Swan J. Banks.

She is survived by six children: Emma Larson of Gothenburg, Arvid B. Banks of Dix, Neb., Marie Reeves of Gothenburg, David E. Banks of Gothenburg, Mabel Walters of Pine Bluffs, Wyo., and Elsie Davis of Farnam; one sister; Mrs. Hilda Pearson of Campbell, Neb., and one brother: Otto Bringelson of Gothenburg; 9 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren, and a large number of nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Banks came from Sweden in 1877 to Webster County, Nebraska, and was reared and married there. In 1911, she and her husband moved to Farnam to continue their farming pursuits, and in 1935, three years after Mr. Banks’ passing, she and her daughter, Emma, moved to Gothenburg.

The winter following their marriage, both Laura Banks and her husband were converted to personal faith in Christ as Savior, through the ministry of itinerant preachers. As a result of this transformation, the children were reared in a Christian home with an atmosphere of prayer.

She has been a faithful member of the Evangelical Free Church of Gothenburg since 1936. One thing she regarded as unpleasant during illness was her inability to worship in her church, so much did this fellowship mean.

Mrs. Banks’ family finds real comfort in the certainty of her strong faith in Christ and her complete confidence that whatever occurred, she was “in the Lord’s hands”.

Services were held at the Evangelical Free Church, Saturday, Dec. 24, 1955, at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Harry L. Evans officiating. Music was by Mrs. Raymond Nordin and Rev. Harry L. Evans, with Mrs. C. Pramberg at the organ. Pallbearers were her sons and son-in-laws. The final resting place is in the Farnam Cemetery with the McVay Funeral Home in charge of services.

SOURCE: The Gothenburg Times and the private collection of a family member.