Manfred History & Preservation, Inc.
Ole and Guri Ranum
Husband's Full Name: Ole Juel Ranum
Husband's Place of Birth: Stokkebryn, Nord Aurdal, Valdres, Norway
Husband's Father's Name: Juel Ole Ranum
Husband's Mother's Name: Guri Guldrandsdatter Ranum
Husband's Siblings' Names: none
Wife's Full Name: Guri Knutsdotter Melby
Wife's Place of Birth: Øystre Slidre, Valdres, Norway
Wife's Father's Name: Knut Olsen Rudi
Wife's Mother's Name: Guri Kristensdotter Melby
Wife's Siblings' Names: Ole, Christian, Knute, Ragnhild, Gulbrand, Marit, Caroline, Martin, Oscar
Children's Names: George, Konrad, Emil, Ida, Clara Gladheim, Gladys Pfundheller
Guri, also known as Julia, was born on February 17, 1862. She grew up on the Melby farm in Rogne, Øystre Slidre, Valdres, Norway and attended the Rogne school and church. In 1881 when she was 19 years old, her parents sold the Melby farm and the whole family emigrated together from Norway to the USA, with the destination of Goodhue County, Minnesota. In 1884, her parents moved to Griggs County North Dakota where they filed on a homestead, but Guri (Julia) did not go there. Instead, she went to live in Lyon County in southwestern Minnesota, where her Aunt Guri (the younger) Melby Opdahl and her husband Anders Opdahl had been living since 1879.
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Ole was born September 10, 1858 in Stokkebryn, North Aurdal, Valdres, Norway to Juel O. Ranum and Guri (Julia) Gulbrandsdotter. He came to the USA to southwest MN in 1875, and in 1884 took over the farming operation of his parents at Ghent MN in Lyon County. On May 30, 1885, Guri Melby and Ole Ranum married at Minneota MN. Several of their children were born there: George in 1886-? (Inez Mitchell-2 children.) Konrad Oscar in 1887 known as Oscar, and Emil in 1890-1878 (Katie Babcock-8 children.) The rest of their children were also born in MN: Ida 1892-1895 and Clara 1894-1986 (Mrs. Ole Gladheim-8 children) at Cottonwood, and Gladys 1899-1974 (Mrs. Raymond Pfundheller -3 children) at Madison.