Ursenbach, Octave W. (Octave Willis), 1893-1981

Octave Willis Ursenbach was born September 6, 1893, in Morgan, Utah, the son of Octave Frederick and Hannah Maria Turner. He attended Ricks Academy and graduated in 1908. The family moved to Salt Lake City, where Ursenbach studied at LDS Business College, worked at ZCMI, and served as a Sunday School librarian. In 1910, the family moved to Raymond, Alberta, Canada, when his father was called to teach at the Knight Academy. Here Ursenbach served as a Sunday School teacher in the Lethbridge ward and worked for King Brothers Mercantile Store until he received his call to the Northern States Mission in 1914. Upon his return in 1916, he served as a scoutmaster in the Lethbridge ward and secured employment with Ellison Milling and Elevator Company. He married Jessie Redd on February 21, 1918, and continued to work and improve at Ellison for the next twenty years, when he was called to be the President of the Canadian Mission in Toronto, still receiving a yearly salary from Ellison all the time he was gone. After his release in 1947, he returned to Ellison, and began service as President of the Lethbridge Stake. He was then promoted to manager of the grain department at Ellison in 1951. In 1956, he and Jessie were called to preside over the Cardston, Alberta Temple, and from then until 1961 employment with Ellison was gradually cut down to 2-3 days work per month. Upon his release from Alberta in 1968, he resumed work there three days per week in order to make time for personal projects, retiring permanently from the company on December 31, 1972, at the age of 80. Octave Ursenbach left this life on January 23, 1981.

From the description of Octave W. Ursenbach papers, 1832-1988. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191054429

Octave W. Ursenbach (1893-1981) was a Mormon missionary and ecclesiastical leader in Alberta.

Octave Willis Ursenbach was born September 6, 1893, in Morgan, Utah, the son of Octave Frederick and Hannah Maria Turner. He attended Ricks Academy and graduated in 1908. The family moved to Salt Lake City, where Ursenbach studied at LDS Business College, worked at ZCMI, and served as a Sunday School librarian. In 1910, the family moved to Raymond, Alberta, Canada, when his father was called to teach at the Knight Academy. Here Ursenbach served as a Sunday School teacher in the Lethbridge ward and worked for King Brothers Mercantile Store until he received his call to the Northern States Mission in 1914. Upon his return in 1916, he served as a scoutmaster in the Lethbridge ward and secured employment with Ellison Milling and Elevator Company. He married Jessie Redd on February 21, 1918, and continued to work and improve at Ellison for the next twenty years, when he was called to be the President of the Canadian Mission in Toronto, still receiving a yearly salary from Ellison all the time he was gone. After his release in 1947, he returned to Ellison, and began service as President of the Lethbridge Stake. He was then promoted to manager of the grain department at Ellison in 1951. In 1956, he and Jessie were called to preside over the Cardston, Alberta Temple, and from then until 1961 employment with Ellison was gradually cut down to 2-3 days work per month. Upon his release from Alberta in 1968, he resumed work there three days per week in order to make time for personal projects, retiring permanently from the company on December 31, 1972, at the age of 80. Octave Ursenbach left this life on January 23, 1981.

From the guide to the Octave W. Ursenbach papers, 1832-1988, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)