Guðrún Björnsdóttir - Born May 25, 1883.
The following obituary appeared in Löberg Heimskringla, on Thursday, January 28, 1971.
Mrs. Guðrún Hallson of Eriksdale
Mrs. Guðrún Hallson, the wife of Ólafur Hallson, formerly a storekeeper in Eriksdale, passed away on the 22nd of December, 1970 in Selkirk, Manitoba. Her passing has deprived all who knew her of a greatly respected woman.
Guðrún's family has its cornerstones in three or four countries, and her group of friends grew bigger every year. When one considers how attentive Guðrún was to her relatives and how exceptionally loyal she was to her friends, there is no doubt that the grief, that always accompanies the death of good people, will be felt by many more than just her close relatives.
Guðrún was born and brought up in Iceland, and it was there, in the year 1907, that she and Ólafur were married. The cradle was in Iceland, but she spent most of her life in Canada, and it is there, and in the United States, that their descendants now live.
Guðrún and Ólafur did not lack means when they got married, and their union lasted for more than sixty years. Many commented on how lucky they both were. As the saying goes: "We are the creators of our own good fortune," and one can cite these words, when speaking of Ólafur and Guðrún. Certainly they were lucky, but the shape and the direction of their lives was influenced by their virtue and attitude. Innate characteristics are of course very important, particularly the ability to recognize things concerned with good fortune, and the refusal to let outward appearance and preference cloud one's vision. Both these qualities characterized Guðrún to a large extent. As a result, she found the right path in life, and her descendants can safely follow in her footsteps.
Guðrún Hallson was born on May 25, 1883. Her parents were Björn Ivarsson, a farmer from Vaõ in Skriõdalur, and Ingibjörg Bjarnadóttir from Viðfjörður, one of the many Viðfirðasystkini (siblings from Viðfjörður). Her origins influenced her intelligence and the understanding of all the things she came across, and all that which she said was shaped by her clear thought. Guðrún cared deeply about education and culture, and became well-read and knowledgeable. She was also very active and sociable, and for a long time to come, the areas around Eriksdale will bear signs of her work. But she will be best remembered as a wife and mother, who ran a large household, where hospitality and generosity had a place of honour.
In an article that Guðrún wrote, shortly before her death, she mentioned that it had been difficult for her to move away from relatives, and the home of her youth, in Iceland. These words demonstrate her loyalty and attachment to her family, but one must not forget, that in Canada, Guðrún was able to plant her Icelandic loyalty and family attachment; thus, in the above mentioned article, she says that Eriksdale is the place where she is happy to engage upon the long rest. When Guðrún wrote these words, that rest was not far off. Now she has moved home to Eriksdale for good. Her grave is there; not a large piece of land, but well kept. Then there is the other piece of soil that Guðrún tended to and harvested all of her life, and it reaches far beyond Eriksdale's borders; clear across Canada to the United States and to Iceland.
Guðrún is survived by her husband and their children: Ólafur, retired storekeeper from Eriksdale, presently of Selkirk; Ingibjörg (Mrs. Harry McGlynn) of Winnipeg; Kristjana (Mrs. Bergsteinsson) of California; and Gyða (Mrs. George Ryckman) of Stony Mountain, Manitoba. There are 14 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.
H.Bessasson