Manfred History & Preservation, Inc.
Berger and Olive Rodne
Husband's Full Name: Berger Rodne
Husband's Place of Birth: Fram Township, Wells Co, ND
Husband's Father's Name: Ole L. Rodne
Husband's Mother's Name: Anna O. Lunde
Husband's Siblings' Names: Lars (Inez Erickson); Oliver (Inga Overland); Arthur, Otto, Alfred (Mabel Dovre); Carl (Agnes Stenerson); Gena (Lirgg); Laura (Bill Cook); Sena (Andrew Hillesland)
Wife's Full Name: Olive Stenerson Rodne
Wife's Place of Birth: Dodge, Dunn Co, ND
Wife's Father's Name: Erick Stenerson
Wife's Mother's Name: Christina Knutson Stenerson
Wife's Siblings' Names: Orville (Bernice), Agnes (Carl Rodne)
Children's Names: Karen (Gerry Beutler); Otto, Mark, Paul
Berger Rodne was born September 1, 1913 to Ole L. and Anna Rodne near Manfred, N.D. He grew up on the family farm and attended a rural school located two miles from his home. Often these one-room schoolhouses had as many as 40-50 pupils from grades one to eight, with only one teacher in charge.
In his late teens, Berger became interested in artwork and did oil paintings of both scenic views and portraits. Some of these he sold to museums for display.
On April 6, 1952, Berger married Olive Stenerson of Dodge, N.D. at Seattle, Washington. Olive was born on April 3, 1920 at Dodge. She graduated from Dickinson State College and Lutheran Bible Institute and taught seven years in western N.D. prior to their marriage.
In 1954, Ole L. Rodne sold the farm to his son, Berger who still lives on the farmstead.
Berger has been active in the community, serving on the school board in Fram Township before the reorganization of the Harvey school district. He later served six years on the Harvey Board of Education. He also has done evangelistic preaching, taking him to churches in North Dakota and Minnesota. He also has enjoyed writing and sharing his poetry and caring for his "stabburs" on the farm.
Olive and Berger had four children.
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Written by Olive Rodne for the Harvey area history book with additions by Karen Rodne Beutler