Haldor Lillenas

Early life Haldor Lillenas was born on 19 November 1885 on Stord Island, near Bergen, Norway, the son of Ole Paulsen Lillenas (born May 1854 in Norway; died 24 July 1926 in Hennepin County, Minnesota), a farmer and storekeeper, and his wife Anna Marie Lillenas (born March 1851 in Norway; died c. 1906 in Minnesota), and brother of Paul Olson (born 27 March 1879 in Norway; died 18 May 1934 in Hennepin County, Minnesota), Johanes O. (born July 1882 in Norway), Katrine G. (born July 1888 in North Dakota), and George M. (born 11 March 1896 in Astoria, Oregon). The Lillenas family farm comprised of rocky ground, which was sold to allow the family to migrate to the United States. While Anna and her three children lived temporarily in a home south of Bergen, Ole Lillenas migrated from Norway to the United States of America via Canada in 1886, where he bought a farm in Colton, South Dakota. After Ole finished constructing a sod house, Anna, and the three children were re-united with him in 1887. In 1889 the Lillenas family relocated again to a farm on the Columbia River near Astoria, Oregon. While living in Astoria, Lillenas learned English and began to attend school. In 1900 the family moved to Roseville Township, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. Lillenas worked as a farm labourer most of the year, but during winter he concentrated on his studies. About 1906 Anna Marie Lillenas died, and Ole decided to relocate the family to North Dakota, however Lillenas decided to move back to Astoria, Oregon, Spiritual experience Like most Scandinavians at that time, Lillenas was raised in a Lutheran family. The Lillenas family were devout in their religious life, and attended community services when held in their area. At the age of fifteen Lillenas became a confirmed member of the Lutheran Church in Hawick. However, Lillenas indicated in his autobiography that at that time, he had not experienced "the miracle of the new birth". As a young boy, Lillenas had been befriended by an elderly woman who taught him English, and told him about Jesus. As a consequence, in 1906 Lillenas began to attend meetings at the Peniel Mission, a holiness rescue mission, in Astoria, Oregon where this woman was an active worker. According to Lillenas in a 1948 interview, it was shortly after the death of his mother, soon after moving to Astoria, one summer evening "he paused to listen to a street corner service. There he heard for the first time the strains of 'Tell Mother I'll Be There'. He made his decision then to devote his life to Christian service." Soon he was "helping in the mission, singing to his heart's content, witnessing with joy to 'the wonderful grace of Jesus', and writing songs with increasing skill and volume." In 1907 Lillenas moved to Portland, Oregon, where he worked with the Peniel Mission located at 247 NW Couch Street. All Peniel Mission workers were unsalaried, but the local mission paid for most of their expenses. Soon after, Lillenas testified that he believed he was called to be a minister of the gospel, at which time he was appointed leader of the Portland mission. During his year of leadership, "he saw so many souls won to Christ that he felt more certain than ever that he should devote his life to the Lord's work." which had been founded on 4 July 1906. Soon after Lillenas enrolled in the ministerial course of studies, which he began by correspondence. Soon afterward, Lillenas joined a vocal group associated with the Salvation Army called the "Charioteers' Brigade", which held street meetings and revival services throughout a large portion of California. Ministerial preparation As a result of some generous donations, and the efforts of Rev. A.O. Hendricks, pastor of the Portland Church of the Nazarene, Additionally, Lillenas was able to secure part-time work to finance his studies, but by the end of the year accepted the ministry as the music director of a local church, and was active in songwriting and preaching. On this team was another student, Bertha Mae Wilson (born 1 March 1889 in Hanson, Kentucky; died 13 March 1945 at Tuscumbia, Missouri), the oldest daughter of Rev. William C. Wilson (1866–1915), then pastor of Pasadena First Church of the Nazarene., but later a general superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene. Lillenas and Bertha Mae both preached, sang, and wrote songs, and often practised in the home of her father. In his autobiography Lilenas recalled: "We soon learned that our voices blended well and so we arranged it that our lives should also be blended." On 4 October 1910 Lillenas married Bertha Mae. Bertha Mae was later an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene and composer. They had two children: Evangeline Mae (born 27 November 1911 in Santa Barbara, California) and Wendell Haldor (born 14 April 1915 in Illinois; died 1967 in Bethany, Oklahoma). Lola Dell After the death of Bertha from cancer in March 1945, Lillenas married Lola Dell (born 23 March 1894 in Kansas; died October 1974 in Kansas) later that year. Later years In the depths of the Great Depression, 1938, the Lillenas family purchased a rural acreage in the Miller County, Missouri hills of The Ozarks, halfway between Tuscumbia and Iberia on Missouri Route 17, about southwest of Jefferson City. Here they constructed their home, which they called "Melody Lane". After their arrival in Pasadena, California in January 1957, the Sirhan family stayed with Lillenas for three months in his home, before moving into a home Lillenas rented and furnished for them. When Mary Sirhan's husband abandoned her and her two sons, and returned to Jordan, Lillenas ensured that they were able to remain in the USA. Death and burial Lillenas died on 18 August 1959 at Aspen, Colorado. ==Career==