Lewis and Judy Weigelt Husband's Full Name: Lewis Weigelt Husband's Place of Birth: Manfred, North Dakota Husband's Father's Name: Henry Fred Weigelt Husband's Mother's Name: Pauline Emma Sprenger Husband's Siblings' Names: Morris, Allen Wife's Full Name: Judy Damon Wife's Place of Birth: Iowa Wife's Father's Name: Rev. John Damon Wife's Mother's Name: Wanda Mitchel Wife's Siblings' Names: William, Joann, Marsha Children's Names: Brian, Rachel and Ashley Lewis and Judy live in rural Manfred. Lewis worked over 50 years as the Fessenden-Bowdon bus mechanic and driver before retiring in 2019. Judy works with home health care. At one point they were both active in Manfred History and Preservation, Inc. Lewis passed away in 2025.

Gust and Martha Hanson Husband's Full Name: Gustav K. Hanson Husband's Place of Birth: Fram Township, Wells, North Dakota Husband's Father's Name: Emil N. Hanson Husband's Mother's Name: Martha Hanson Husband's Siblings' Names: Anna, Emma, Gjerste Wife's Full Name: Martha Hauge Hanson Wife's Place of Birth: North Dakota Wife's Father's Name: Torger J. Hauge Wife's Mother's Name: Anna Erfjord Hauge Wife's Siblings' Names: Albert, Ella, Clarence, Tennes, George, Leonard Children's Names: George Hanson, Delores Hanson Bretheim Gust and Martha Hanson were members of Trinity Bethany Lutheran Church in Harvey. Gust was born in Fram Township, east of Harvey. Gust and Martha were married in 1923; they farmed east of Harvey until retiring in 1976, when they moved to Harvey. He was a member of the township and school boards for many years.

Bert and Mary Fehr1 Husband's Full Name: Brechter Eilert Fehr Husband's Place of Birth: Simonswolde, Germany Husband's Father's Name: Eilert Peter Fehr Husband's Mother's Name: Bielda Talea Wallenstein Fehr Husband's Siblings' Names: Peter Eilert, Brechter Eilert, Talea Beyersdorff, Brechter Eilert, Bauwo Eilert, Jan Eilert, Elizabeth Meitz, Johann Eilert, Eberharddine Eilert, Ebhert Eilert, Bielda Beyersdorff Wife's Full Name: Mary Elmira Egger Fehr Wife's Place of Birth: Wattenwylo PO, Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada Wife's Father's Name: John Egger Wife's Mother's Name: Marie Vuilleme Wife's Siblings' Names: John, Ray, Ed, Walter, Glen, Oscar, Julie Johnson, Tillie Dunlap, Grace Dereemer Children's Names: Bielda Hoover, Eilert, William, Julia Albus, Ruth Krueger, Walter, John, and 3 children who died as infants Bert and Mary Fehr and baby Bielda Bert Fehr came from Germany in 1889 when he was 17 years old. He first worked in Iowa where many from his village had settled. Later the family came to the Fessenden vicinity where his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Eilert Peter Fehr and his brother Peter had settled on farms northeast of Manfred. It was at the Baptist Church in Fessenden that he met a young lady, Mary Egger, from Marshfield, Wisc. At the urging of the J.R. Seigenthalers of Bowdon, she had come there to teach school. She was teaching a two month term of school west of Fessenden when she met Bert. They were married November 2, 1911 at Toronto, SD where they had rented a farm. Here Bielda, Mrs. Warren Hoover of Manfred, Eilert Fehr of Manfred, and Mrs. Walter Albus (Julia) were born. In 1917 they bought a farm in Rusland township, southwest of Manfred. They lived in a sod house until a frame house could be built. Here Ruth, Mrs. Otto Krueger of Detroit, Mich. and Walter of Manfred were born. They attended the First Baptist Church of Fessenden. They continued to live on the farm until 1953, when they moved to Fessenden They have 17 grandchildren. Mrs. Mary Fehr passed away June 12, 1963. Mr. Fehr married Mrs. Marguret Blair of Warsaw, Wisconsin in 1966. Mr. Fehr passed away in March of 1976, and Mrs. Marguret Fehr passed away in April 1975. Source: Growing with Pride

Ole and Mabel Hovey Husband's Full Name: Ole Hovey Husband's Place of Birth: Griggs County, North Dakota Husband's Father's Name: Nils Hovey Husband's Mother's Name: Marit Hovey Husband's Siblings' Names: Marie, Carl, Julia, Nora Wife's Full Name: Mabel Ellingson Wife's Place of Birth: Pennock, Kandiyohi, Minnesota Wife's Father's Name: Elling T. Ellingson Wife's Mother's Name: Mary C. Ellingson Wife's Siblings' Names: Julia, Nettie, Gladys, Alice, Nephi,and child who died as an infant. Child's Name: Bernice (Paul) Grabe Mr. and Mrs. Ole Hovey celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on Sunday June 20, 1965 at the Vang Lutheran Church in Manfred. A short program was held in the afternoon with a welcome and congratulation given by Mrs. Vern Nelson, president of the Vang Ladies Aid. A reading by Mildred Ongstad and a solo by Mrs. Oliver Rodne were other numbers on the program. One highlight was a Norwegian solo by Pastor Solberg. It was the same song sung in Norwegian at their wedding a half century ago. Adolph Shirley, president of the Vang Lutheran Church congregation presented the couple with gifts from their friends and relatives. Mabel Ellingson and Ole Hovey were married at Manfred on December 21, 1914. Carl Hovey of St Paul, brother of the groom was best man and was also able to be present for their anniversary. Their bridesmaid, Marie Hovey is now deceased. Their only daughter Bernice, is now living in Grawn, Michigan. Present for the anniversary was Carl Hovey of St. Paul. He was accompanied by Sophie Schriver of St. Paul. Paul and Bernice Grabe and their daughter Suzanne (Wilson) of Grawn, Michigan were also present for the occasion. Taken from 1965 news article on Golden Anniversary for the Hoveys

Wesley and Esther Boese Husband's Full Name: Wesley Boese Husband's Place of Birth: Manfred, ND Husband's Father's Name: Louis Walter Boese Husband's Mother's Name: Ella Mennegar Husband's Siblings' Names: Richard, Raymond, Harley, Mildred, Ervin, Louella, Violet Wife's Full Name: Esther Bailey Boese Wife's Place of Birth: Hiattsville, KS Wife's Father's Name: Jesse Bailey Wife's Mother's Name: Mattie Barker Bailey Wife's Siblings' Names: Oliver, Leslie, Robert, Gladys, Gracen Evelyn and Shirley Children's Names: June Farias, Norman, Mark, Kevin Wesley was born to Louis and Ella Boese on a farm southwest of Manfred. He attended Manfred School. In July 1953, he married Esther Bailey in the Asbury Methodist Church, Wichita, Kansas. Wesley has served on the Manfred elevator and township boards, and the Fessenden Nazarene Church board. Source: Fessenden Centennial Book 1893-1993 Esther was born at Hiattville, Kansas. Her family moved from the farm to Wichita during World War II and she graduated from Wichita High School East. She was a bookkeeper at Kraft Foods when she moved to North Dakota to be a farm wife. Esther has served the church in various offices and has belonged to the Manfred Homemakers since 1953. She was a leave replacement at the Manfred Post Office from December 1979 until it’s closing in October 1992. Four children were born to this union: June, a music teacher near Wichita, KS. Norman lives in Winter Springs, FL and is employed at Wescam, Toronto, Canada. Mark, a consultant for Medtronic, a pacemaker firm in Minneapolis. Kevin, is an electrical engineer at Ceridian in Minneapolis, MN. They attended Manfred Grade School and graduated from Fessenden High School. All are married and have families. Wesley and Esther Boese are buried at Hillside Cemetery in Fessenden, ND. Wesley Boese Obituary Wesley Roger Boese, 84, of Manfred, ND died July 18, 2017 at the St. Aloisius Medical Center Nursing Home in Harvey, ND. Wesley was born to Louis and Ella (Mennegar) Boese on November 6, 1932 at home on his parents’ farm, section 32, Manfred Township. His older brother, Richard, went with horses to get Dr. Matthaei but he couldn’t come so Mrs. D. W. Mattaei, his nurse, delivered the baby. Wesley was the youngest of 8 children. Wesley’s family purchased a farm north of Manfred and moved there in 1938. In 1939, he started school in Manfred and graduated from 8th grade in 1947. He helped with the farming and continued with the operation when his dad died January 8, 1953. On January 23, Wesley took the train to Wichita, Kansas and spent a month getting acquainted with a pen pal. Esther Bailey and Wes had been pen pals since the 7th grade—an English assignment in letter writing. He returned home on February 23rd and started planning for the coming farm year. Wesley and Esther continued to correspond by letters and phone and in April, Esther took the bus to Jamestown. Esther lived with Ervin and Evelina Boese in Manfred and worked for the First State Bank of Harvey. In July, they drove to Kansas to finalize their wedding plans a week prior to their July 26th wedding. They drove home and checked the crops on the way to Manfred. When the fall work was done, they went to Esther’s folks in Wichita where Wesley worked in the catalog department at Sears. After the first of the New Year, they returned to North Dakota. June, the first child, was born in 1954. For several winters, they traveled to Kansas for a month or six weeks. Wes worked for the Christmas tree stand a couple of years and another year helped on house construction. Norman was born in 1957 and the trips had to be curtailed when they had children in school. With a growing family and chickens, cows to milk, a large garden and the farming, they were busy. Mark was born in 1960 and Kevin in 1964. In 1967, as a family they did the janitor work at the Manfred school and worked there until it closed in May of 1973. Esther was Leave Replacement at the Manfred Post Office from the end of 1979 until it closed on October 2, 1992. The 2002 crop was Wesley and Esther’s last harvest. They rented out the land in 2003 and spent some time on the road. The kids had a special gathering in Minnesota for their 50th anniversary where all the family of their four children, their spouses and nine grandchildren and one grand son-in-law were present. Wesley served on the Manfred Elevator Board and the Township Board and they spent many years working at the Manfred Museum. He was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Fessenden. Esther Boese Obituary Esther Boese, 84, rural Manfred, passed away Thursday, February 15, 2018 at the St. Aloisius Nursing Home in Harvey. Visitation will be held one hour before the service at the church on Tuesday. Arrangements are with Nelson Funeral Home of Fessenden. Esther Geraldine Bailey, daughter of Jesse and Mattie (Barker) Bailey, was born December 11, 1933 on a farm near Hiattville, KS. She lived with her family on various farms near Hiattville until they moved to Wichita, KS during WWII. She graduated from Wichita High School East in 1951 and then worked as a bookkeeper for Kraft Foods. In 1953, Esther moved to North Dakota. She lived in the Manfred area and worked at the First State Bank in Harvey. On July 26, 1953, Esther was united in marriage to Wesley Boese at the Asbury Methodist Church in Wichita. They made their home on the Boese family farm north of Manfred where they lived and farmed nearly all their married lives. Since 2015, Esther had been a resident of the St. Aloisius Nursing Home in Harvey. Esther was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Fessenden until its closure in 2010, where she taught Sunday School, Bible School and served on the church board. More recently, she attended the First Baptist Church and the Living Stone Church of Fessenden. She was a member of the Manfred Homemakers Club since 1953 and served as secretary of Manfred History and Preservation for several years as well as working as a volunteer.

T. T. and Ragndi Jorstad Husband's Full Name: Thomas (T. T.) Jorstad Husband's Place of Birth: Jorstad, Norway Husband's Father's Name: Tollef Syversen Jorstad Husband's Mother's Name: Marit Michelsdtr Rogne Husband's Siblings' Names: Syver Jorstad Wife's Full Name: Ragndi Olsdotter Jorstad Wife's Place of Birth: Volbu, Valdres, Norway Wife's Father's Name: Ole Nilson Råbole Wife's Mother's Name: Marit Halvorsdtr Finsalsen Jorstad Wife's Siblings' Names: Nils (Gunhild Jorstad); Guri Olsdatter; Halvor Olsen; Margit (Oscar) Braaten, Kari (aka Carrie Jorstad Children's Names: Mayme Larson, Theodore, Margaret, Alfred Mr. and Mrs. Tom T. Jorstad were natives of Norway. In 1893, Tom immigrated to the USA, Ragndi immigrated in 1899. They were married August 29, 1900 in St. Paul, Minnesota. They were the parents of four children, Mayme, Theodore, Margaret and Alfred. Through their son, Theodore, they became grandparents, and since their passing, four great grandchildren added. Their homestead certificate was given October 26, 1908, and signed by Theodore Roosevelt, U.S. President. When T. T. Jorstads moved to Harvey, they sold the farm to their son-in-law and daughter Walter and Mayme Larson. Source: Growing With Pride

Albert and Rose Nelson Husband's Full Name: Albert Julius Nelson Husband's Place of Birth: Green Bay, Wisconsin Husband's Father's Name: Thomas Nelson Husband's Mother's Name: Mary Nelson Husband's Siblings' Names: Otto, Tonetta, Anton, Nels Emma Lantz, Twin, John, William, Mabel Cady, Alma Tidlund, Rhoda Soderlund Wife's Full Name: Rose Arndt Nelson Wife's Place of Birth: Kennan, Wisconsin Wife's Father's Name: Wife's Mother's Name: Wife's Siblings' Names: Children's Names: Marie Vargason, Thomas, Arlene Rodgers, Robert Headline in the County Paper: Manfred Mail Carrier Quits I've worn out four postmasters and I don't know how many cars." That is the comment of Albert Nelson, Manfred, upon his retirement after 32 years as a rural mail carrier. (1952) Nelson began his work with the postal service May 1, 1920. In 1935 his 34-mile route was expanded to 55 miles when the two Manfred routes were consolidated. The amount of mail the average farmer receives has increased during the years, but the establishing of local hatcheries has eased the work of the postman, Nelson says. "Years ago, we used to have 500 - 600 chickens passed through the Manfred Post Office, before I lost count." he said. It's a long cry from the horse and sleigh to the modern snowmobile and the Model "T" to the present-day jeeps, but there have been only a few times that I was ever caught in a storm and had to stay overnight at a farm", says Nelson. "But our hours used to be a lot longer than they are now." "Weather has always been a foe of the mailman, but our enemy number one has been uncut weeds along the road which catch snow and allow it to bank up. If every farmer would cut the weeds along roads bordering his land he would get much better service, and our job would be much simpler." Nelson said his older brothers had been coming to this area for some years to help with threshing and "When I got old enough, I just tagged along." He liked the people and the country, and after serving with the army during WWI, he and his wife came from Wisconsin to make their home here. Nelson says his two boys, Tom, living in CA and Robert who runs an elevator in Argyle, MN both call him "Tiny" though he stands over six feet, both boys tower over him. He has two daughters, Marie who lives in Fargo and Arlene who resides in Sultan, WA. This week the Nelsons plan to leave for California to visit their son and possibly make their home there. "Maybe". says Nelson. "I've been in Manfred too long and my roots may be too deeply set to be transplanted". Obit: Albert Born near Green Bay, WI, grew to manhood in WI and went into service during WWI in 1918 and served until Feb 1919. He married in Aug 1919. They resided near Hamberg from then until he became a rural mail carrier out of Manfred in 1920. He served as rural mail carrier out of Manfred for 32 years, retiring due to ill health in 1952. They moved to Grantsburg, WI and lived there until his last illness. Obit: – Rose Born and raised in Kennan, WI, married and came to Manfred in 1919 where Mr. Nelson was rural mail carrier for 32 years. They moved to Grantsburg, WI after his retirement. She moved to St. Paul after his death in 1965. She was active in church work at Vang Lutheran Church in Manfred; She taught Sunday School and was its Superintendent for many years. She also held various offices in the ALCW.

Gerhard and Esther Mathre Husband's Full Name: Gerhard Mathre Husband's Place of Birth: Newark, IL Husband's Father's Name: William Mathre Husband's Mother's Name: Carlena Larson Wife's Full Name: Esther Geneva Hagen Mathre Wife's Place of Birth: Granite Falls, Yellow Medicine, Minnesota Wife’s Father’s Name: Edward A. Hagen Wife’s Mother’s Name: Gina Berg Children's Names: Paul, David, Loren, Ruth, Esther, Grace Flaten, Rachel Pastor Mathre served at the Vang Lutheran Church from 1943-1945. Picture from 1942 He attended Pleasant View College, St. Olaf College, and Luther Theological Seminary. He was ordained in 1925, and the same year was married to Esther Hagen. He served pastorates at Columbus, Plaza, Minnewaukan, Manfred, Bowdon, and Sheyenne, ND and Oslo, MN. Survivors include his wife, four daughters, and three sons. Their son Paul served at 1st Lutheran in Minot. Their daughter Grace was a missionary to the Sudan. Source: Obituary

Eilert Eilertson Full Name: Eilert Eilertson Place of Birth: Fram, Wells, North Dakota Name: Osmund Eilertson Mother's Name: Anna Karina Foss Siblings Names: Olga Ostenson, Selmer, Ola, Borghild Eilert was the eldest born to Osmund and Anna Eilertson. He lived in Fram Township on a farm.

Olaf and Ragnhild Wolding Olaf and Ragnhild Wolding Husband's Full Name: Olaf Wolding Husband's Place of Birth: Iowa, USA Husband's Father's Name: Jorgen Larson Voldeng Husband's Mother's Name: Bertha Johannesdtr Husband's Siblings' Names: unknown Wife's Full Name: Ragnhild Melby Skattebo Wife's Place of Birth: Øystre Slidre, Oppland, Norway Wife's Father's Name: Knud Olsen Rudi Melby Wife's Mother's Name: Guri Kristensdotter Melby Wife's Siblings' Names: Guri Ranum, Ole, Christen, Knut, Gulbrand, Marit, Caroline, Martin, Oscar Children's Names: Beatrice Gullickson, Gladys Hungate Sherva, Lila Burchet, Cora Sloan, Elliott, Orivn (Pearl) Alfred (Gladys) Ragnhild’s First Husband: Ole Skattebo (no children) Ragnhild, known as Nellie, was the fifth child born to Knut and Guri Melby on October 7, 1873. During her earliest years, she lived on the Melby farm in Rogne, Øystre Slidre, Valdres, Norway and attended the Rogne school and church. In 1881 when she was 7½ years old, her parents sold the Melby farm and the whole family emigrated from Norway to Goodhue County, Minnesota. In 1884, her parents homesteaded to Griggs County, North Dakota, and in 1887 they moved to Foster County and farmed there for six years. It was during the years in Foster County that she married Ole G Skattebo. He was born March 13, 1868 in Rogne, Øystre Slidre, Valdres, Norway to Gulbrand Knutson Skattebo and Marit Olsdotter. Ole and Nellie joined with others in the family in the westward move to Wells County by filing on a homestead on Section 11 of West Norway Township, about 10 miles northeast of Manfred. They became members of Vang Lutheran Church in 1895, and Ole served at a Deacon beginning in 1896. The nice life they had begun together was short lived, when Ole learned that he was terminally ill. He then longed to return to Norway to spend his final days, so Ole together with Nellie went back to Øystre Slidre where he then died on May 29, 1899. Nellie then notified her brother Ole K Melby of what had come to pass, and he departed for Norway with the mission of escorting Nellie back to North Dakota. The 1900 census indicates that Nellie went to live with her parents on their farm together with her sister Caroline and two brothers Martin and Oscar. On December 29, 1901, Nellie married Olaf Wolding. Olaf was born in Iowa in 1871, and like so many others, he come to Wells County and homesteaded. His first farm was at the southern edge of Fram Township on Section 35 boarding Manfred Township to the north. So in this way Nellie and Olaf had the opportunity to meet through living in the same community, and after their marriage they started a new farm at Section 19 in Hillsdale Township located in the most northeast corner of Wells County about halfway between Harvey and Martin. Six children were born to them: Beatrice 1902, Gladys 1905, Lila 1907, Cora 1909, Orvin 1912, and Alfred 1916. In 1919, Olaf and Nellie moved further west in ND to Big Bend Township in Mountrail County. They helped found Grand Valley Lutheran Church and are buried there. Olaf died March of 1942, and Nellie on December 16, 1955.

Selmer and Nora Rodne Husband's Full Name: Selmer Rodne Husband's Place of Birth: Manfred, ND Husband's Father's Name: Haldor Rodne Husband's Mother's Name: Delia Ring Rodne Husband's Siblings' Names: Selma (Casper Berve); Tom, Harley (Phyllis Howard); Clara (Ben Rogelstad); Gilma (Roland Howard); Ruth (Bernard Skiftun); Louis (Clara Overland) Wife's Full Name: Elnora Ramsfield Rodne Wife's Place of Birth: Appam, ND Wife's Father's Name: Knute Ramsfield Wife's Mother's Name: Hannah Berve Ramsfield Wife's Siblings' Names: Ordean (Hanna Marie Dahlstrom); Alice (Emil Forsberg); Alpha (Donald Long); Ole (Madelyn Zepp); Gladys (George Marion, Elmer Amundson) Esther (Ervin Lohse); LeRoy, Jenevieve (Alexander Stewart); Robert (Donna Helle, Jan Lindemann) Children's Names: none Selmer attended school in Fram Township. Nora was raised north of Appam in Williams County where she attended school. In 1930 Nora moved to Wells County where she worked for her uncles who farmed in the Manfred area. There she met Selmer. They were married on January 17, 1947 at Harvey. They made their home on the Rodne family farm in rural Manfred and continued to farm until retiring in 1979. They remained on the farm until moving into Harvey in 2003. Selmer passed away on June 5, 2010 and Nora on July 20, 2010. They were members of the Bethel Lutheran Church of rural Manfred until its closure and then became members of the Hoff Lutheran Church in Heimdal.

Solheim Service Location: LeGrand Addition Lot 12, Block 1 Proprietor: Helmer S. Solheim Year Started: 1945 Year Ended: 1969 History of Business: In 1933, Rudolph Peterson purchased Rogers Lumber Yard to remodel it for use as a station. Rudolph had Guy Fisher move the building to its present location in June of 1933. In April, 1945, Harley Boese sold his farming interests and purchased the gas station, but experiencing health problems, Harley was forced to sell the station in Manfred. Helmer Solheim bought the gas station on October 23, 1945 and operated it until 1969 as a Standard Oil Service Station. In addition to selling gas, he did other mechanical work on cars such as fixing tires, changing oil, and greasing cars. Ted Jorstad purchased the gas station in December 1969 and continued operating it until 1974. The building was then purchased by Delbert Rask for a garage, followed by Harry Detling, and finally Audrey Solheim who transferred the title to MHP, Inc. The exterior has been restored to the look of the era from 1945 – 1969. Daisy – Solheim Station Reference points: Red rectangle - Manfred School Blue rectangle - Vang Lutheran Church Purple rectangle – Post Office/Bank Green rectangle – Solheim Station