Manfred History & Preservation, Inc.
Ole and Gina Onstad
Husband's Full Name: Ole E. Onstad
Husband's Place of Birth: Østre Slidre, Valdres, Norway
Husband's Father's Name: Engebret T. Alfstad
Husband's Mother's Name: Anne Olsdtr Rudi
Husband's Siblings' Names: Torger, Knut, Ola, Guri Windingstad
Wife's Full Name: Guri (Gina) Eriksdotter Rogne Onstad
Wife's Place of Birth: Rogne, Ostre Slidre. Valdres, Norway
Wife's Father's Name: Erik Bendiksen Skogen
Wife's Mother's Name: Marit Larsdtr Rudi
Wife's Siblings' Names: Bendik, Kari Gilbertson, Lars, Erik, Halvor
Children's Names: Annie Solheim, Emil Onstad
In the spring of 1896 Ole Onstad came to America arriving in Manfred, ND. Here he made his home for a time with an uncle, Knut O. Melby and family. In 1896 Ole filed on a homestead northwest of Manfred.
Gina Rogne came to the United States in 1899 with her mother after her brother Erik passed away. Her father had passed away 6 years earlier. They lived in Wisconsin a year before she moved to her homestead at White Earth in Williams County, since there was very little acreage left to homestead in Wells County. Her brother Bendik had come earlier and obtained a homestead just north of Manfred. Her sister Kari, married to Knut Gilbertson owned the hotel in Manfred. Winters were lonely on the prairie in Williams County so she would spend time in the Manfred area. There she met Ole Onstad.
On March 18, 1909 Ole and Gina were married at the Vang Lutheran Church in Manfred, and had their wedding reception at the Manfred Hotel. They lived on the homestead near Manfred until the fall of 1949 when they moved to Manfred.
They were both members of the Vang Lutheran church and active in the church. They were also active in organizing community activities including the Valdres Lag and the Sons of Norway.
They had two children, Annie, who married Helmer Solheim and Emil who married Linda Brusven.
Gina passed away in May of 1953, Ole passed away just 9 months later in February of 1954. They are buried at the Vang Cemetery north of Manfred.