Wilhelm Basi [Basse] was born in Langfjord, Norway, May 19, 1869. He was the son of Erick and Stena Basse. He received his education in the schools of Norway and came to the United States in 1888 as a member of the United States Reindeer Expedition.
In 1901 he was married to Wilhelmina Jacobson. They moved to Centerville in 1902 and resided on a farm in that area until 1926 when he retired and moved to Clatskanie, Ore., where he accepted the pastorate of the Finnish Lutheran Church. He returned to Centerville in 1944 as pastor of the Centerville Lutheran Church.
Survivors include three sons; Elmer, Arthur and Ernest, all of Centerville; one brother, Jacob of Seattle; a sister in Norway; six grandchildren; one great grandchild; and several nephews and nieces in both America and Norway.
His wife preceded him in death in 1946 and his death Anne Christopher in 1947. He died at Centerville, Monday, March 19.
The Goldendale Sentinel, March 29, 1951
Contributed by: Shelli Steedman