Manfred History & Preservation, Inc.
Fred and Marlys Koenig
Husband's Full Name: Fred Koenig
Husband's Place of Birth: Manfred Township
Husband's Father's Name: Jacob Koenig
Husband's Mother's Name: Fredericka Hildenbrand Koenig
Husband's Siblings' Names: Emma, Lydia, William, John,
Edward, Esther, Adeline, Walter, Jacob
Wife's Full Name: Marlys Jeanette Hagen Koenig Welstad
Wife's Place of Birth: Sheyenne, ND
Wife's Father's Name: Melvin Hagen
Wife's Mother's Name: Jennie Hagen
Wife's Siblings' Names: Virgil Hagen, Elmer Hagen, Diane Bratvold, Sherman Hagen
Children's Names: Shirley Freeze, Frances Kostad, Connie Oasheim
Fred Koenig was born March 19, 1918 in Manfred Township to Jacob and Fredericka Koenig. He received his education at the Manfred elementary school. He grew to manhood there and assisted his dad with the farming duties until May of 1941 when he was inducted into the United States Army. He served in the armed forces until September of 1945. When he was discharged, he came back to the home farm at Manfred and continued with the farming.
In June of 1949, he was united in marriage to Marlys Jeannette Hagen, daughter of Melvin and Jennie Hagen of Sheyenne. Rev. H. Thoreson married them at the Eden Lutheran Church, rural Sheyenne. Marlys was baptized and raised in the Lutheran faith and confirmed in 1942 at the South Viking Church by Rev. G. R. Estrem. Marlys attended elementary school at Valhalla No. 2 and one year of high school at New Rockford High, and then she transferred to the BCATS at Maddock graduating in 1947. After attending Minot State Teachers College, Marlys taught in the Valhalla and Norway Lake schools.
Fred and Marlys made their home on Fred's home place near Manfred. Fred and Marlys have three daughters, Shirley Mae, Frances Ann and Connie Faye.They all attended and graduated from Manfred elementary school and Fessenden High School.
After high school Shirley attended Bottineau School of Nursing for three years. In 1970, she married Darrell Freeze of Elkhart, Indiana. They made their home in Elkhart for three years then returning to Hoople, where they purchased a grocery store. They have three sons, Darrell Jr., Troy, and Ryan and a daughter Tiffany. After a serious illness, Darrell passed away in 2001.
Frances attended Minot State College for two years. In March of 1973, she married Kenneth Kostad of Kenmare. They live in Bottineau, where Kenneth is a college recruiter for the Bottineau School of Forestry. They have two daughters, Jennifer Lee, and Lynn Ranae.
Connie attended Lake Region Junior College graduating in Fashion Merchandising and Business Administration. In August of 1978, she married Richard Oasheim of Hoople. They have two boys Elliott Richard and Jarod Fred, and a younger daughter Stephanie Jean. Richard works at the potato processing plant and Connie is bookkeeper at J.C. Penney’s at Grafton.
Fred was active as a township supervisor and director of the Wells County Farmers Union Board.
In 1980, Fred and Marlys retired from their farming duties and are thoroughly enjoyed retirement. Fred passed away in December of 1991. About 1999 Marlys married Sherman Welstad. They lived in Minot.
Source: Growing With Pride 1981 with updates