Cottonwood Chronicle Thursday, Sept. 26, 1957

PIONEER LADY PASSES AT AGE OF 92

  Relatives and friends at Cottonwood received the sad new Monday night that Mrs. Gina Asker, a former resident of this community for many years, had died at seven that evening at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Lewiston.  Death was attributed to infirmities of age.  She was 92 years old.

  Despite her advanced years, Mrs. Asker apparently was enjoying excellent health.  She maintained her own home unaided until the past couple of years, when failing sight forced her to seek help.  About four days before her demise she suffered a fall in her home and was taken to the hospital for care.  Although she suffered no broken bones as a result of the fall, her condition was deemed critical and she gradually became weaker until her demise.

  Mrs. Asker was born August 29, 1865 in Norway and spent her early years in that country.  As a girl she held the ice skating championship in her native country.  In 1881, at the age of 16, she came to the U.S. and settled in Minnesota.  She lived at Denver, Colo., from 1883 to 1889.  In October of 1889 she was united in marriage to Louis Asker at Minneapolis.  Mr. and Mrs. Asker moved to the state of Washington where he farmed in a number of localities for several years.

  The family moved to Cottonwood in 1892 and when the Nezperce Indian Reservation was opened to settle in 1898, he homesteaded in the Red Rock area near Winona.  After residing on the homestead for several years, Mr. Asker acquired a farm about seven miles south east of Cottonwood.  Mr. and Mrs. Asker made their home on this farm continuously until his death in 1936.  During that period of time he gradually acquired more farm and grazing land and increased his holdings to nearly 2000 acres.

  Following her husband’s death, Mrs. Asker moved to Lewiston in 1937 and made her home there for the past 20 years.  However, she kept in contact with her many friends in this community and enjoyed a wide acquaintance among older residents of Cottonwood.

  Though out her life she kindly and thoughtful and was generous to a fault in lending aid to any cause she deemed worthy.

  Mrs. Asker was a member of the Christian Alliance Church at Lewiston and was active in church until advanced years forced her to halt active work. 

  Mrs. Asker is survived by four sons, William Asker, Spokane; Sylvester Asker, Grangeville; Martin S. and Charles M. Asker, Cottonwood; and four daughters, Mrs. Ruth Dodel of Lewiston; Mrs. Ida Hedin, Spokane; Mrs. Clara Hilton, Seattle, and Mrs. Nelly Lester, Cottonwood.  Also surviving are 22 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren.

  Funeral services for Mrs. Asker will be held this (Thursday) morning at 11 at the Brower-Wann Chapel in Lewiston, with the Rev. Dwight Hall, pastor of the Christian Alliance Church, Lewiston, officiating.

  The body will be brought to Cottonwood and a graveside committal service will be conducted at Cottonwood cemetery this afternoon at 3.  Mrs. Asker will be buried in the family plot in the local cemetery.