Manfred History & Preservation, Inc.
Ed and Celia Olstad
Husband's Full Name: Edwin Olstad
Husband's Place of Birth: Heimdal Township, North Dakota
Husband's Father's Name: John Theodore Olstad
Husband's Mother's Name: Alena Larson
Husband's Siblings' Names: Henry, Clara Rolsvig, Hilda Shield, Hazel Bjertness, Joseph, Tilman, Morris (Helen), Tillman, Norin (Vera), Edna (Martin) Lien
Wife's Full Name: Celia Natland Olstad
Wife's Place of Birth: Manfred Township
Wife's Father's Name: Lars Natland
Wife's Mother's Name: Tomine Erfjord
Wife's Siblings' Names: Sam, Hannah Nedervold, Selmer, Lyness, Myrtle Thompson
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Ed Olstad was born and raised on the family farm in Heimdal Township, Wells County, and received his education in the Heimdal Township Country School. As a young man he worked as a farm laborer for a number of farmers in the Manfred area. He later enlisted in the U.S. Army during WWI and served in the U.S. Cavalry. Upon being discharged he returned to the Manfred area and continued as a farm laborer for a few years. In 1918, he enlisted in the U. S. Army during World War I and served in the U. S. Cavalry.
In the early 1930s he began working on road construction crews throughout the State as a heavy equipment operator. On May 7, 1938 he married Celia Natland in Williston. Celia was born and raised in the Manfred area. They bought their home in Manfred in 1946 from Nennie Johnson's estate. Ed lived there until 1979, and Celia until 1966. They were members of Vang Lutheran Church. Ed made beautiful jewelry from stones he polished in his workshop just back of the kitchen.
Mrs. Olstad died in 1971; Edwin continued living in Manfred until 1979 when he moved to Hurdsfield where he resided until January 1982. He was living in Harvey at the time of his death, April 10, 1982 age of 82.
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