Mathilda R. Hollo

FAIRFIELD - Mathilda (Rodegard) Hollo, 100, a longtime resident of Fairfield, died of natural causes Friday at her home in Fairfield.
Visitation is 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at O'Connor Funeral Home in Great Falls, and an hour prior to the 11 a.m. service Thursday at St. Paul Lutheran Church east of Fairfield. Burial will take place in St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery.
Mathilda completed her earthly journey on Dec. 25, 2009, and went to be with the Lord.
Her journey began in Nesbyen, Hallingdal, Norway, where Mathilda was born on July 10, 1909, and attended school. She was the oldest of eight children.
On Oct. 4, 1929, she and her next-oldest sibling, Olaf Rodegard, sailed on the Stavangerfjord for America. They arrived in Halifax, Canada, on Oct. 16. She said the fall colors were the most beautiful sight she had seen. They then settled in Edinberg, N.D.
In November 1930, she married Jorgen Hollo, who had left Hallingdal a year earlier. They were married in Bismarck, N.D. They moved to Minnesota, then back to North Dakota before moving to Fairfield. They arrived on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1936.
Her first trip back to Norway was in December 1952, and she made 14 more trips back to her homeland, where most of her family still resides.
Mathilda loved the Lord, was an active member of the Fairfield Assembly of God Church and the last survivor of her generation. She loved being involved in her church and attending Glacier Bible Camp at Hungry Horse, Mont.
She loved to crochet and knit. She made numerous quilts and won many ribbons for her 13 crocheted bedspreads at the Montana State Fair. Mathilda also loved flowers, gardening, traveling, fishing (especially ice fishing), and playing table games (to win!). She also loved living on her farm and spending time at the family cabin in Benchmark. Mathilda was an adventurous person with a keen sense of humor, and was the cause of many smiles and chuckles.
Mathilda and Jorgen started spending winters in Vancouver, Wash., in 1970.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jorgen, in 1973; an infant daughter in 1940, grandchildren, Stanley Bouma, Teena Conmey and Hans Hollo; brothers, Syver and Ole Rodegard, and a sister Kari Haugen.
Survivors include sons, Halgrim Hollo of Fairfield, and Nels Hollo (Kay) and Edward Hollo (Geri) of Vancouver, Wash.; daughters, Ingeborg Dickhoff (Dave-deceased) of Great Falls, Kari Bauman (Charles) of Deer Lodge, Marie Campbell (Fred) of Vancouver, Wash., Edith Bouma (John) of Fairfield and Jeanette McClintock of Hermiston, Ore.; brothers, Olaf Rodegard of Nesbyen, Norway, and Rolf and Edmund Rodegard of Danville, Calif,; a sister, Sigrid Kristoffersen of Nesbyen; 30 grandchildren, 59 great-grandchildren, 13 great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews in the United States and Norway.
Memorials are suggested to the Fairfield Assembly of God Church; Glacier Bible Camp; Peace Hospice; or to a charity of the donor's choice.
Condolences may be posted online at www.oconnorfuneralhome.com and/or www.gftribune.com/obituaries.