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

Anton and Oline Hoel Husband's Full Name: Anton Hoel Husband's Place of Birth: Norway Husband's Father's Name: Husband's Mother's Name: Husband's Siblings' Names: Wife's Full Name: Oline Evinrud Wife's Place of Birth: Norway Wife's Father's Name: Evinrud Wife's Mother's Name: Wife's Siblings' Names: Children's Names: Alfred (Lydia), Bernt (Martha), Ole (Ethel), Rudolph (Janet) and Arne Anton Hoel was born in Norway on May 11, 1872. He married Oline Evinrud and the next year they immigrated to the USA, leaving from Liverpool, England and arriving in New York. Their oldest son was born in Norway. They had five children: Alfred, Bert, Ole, Rudolph and Arne. Anton died on April 21, 1931. They were buried in the Enderlin Cemetery.. Anton worked for the Soo Line on the section crew for more than 30 years. Following his death, Mrs. Hoel moved to Kensal, ND to make her home with her son Arne, and later she moved to Ransom County. The 1940 census shows her occupation as housekeeper and cook for H. C. Buss.

Alvin and Mildred Solberg Husband's Full Name: Alvin Benjamin Solberg Husband's Place of Birth: Walcott, ND Husband's Father's Name: Ole Solberg Husband's Mother's Name: Elizabeth Anderson Solberg Husband's Siblings' Names: Ella Johnson, Oliver Solberg 1st Wife's Name: Naomi Freeman 2nd Wife's Name: Mildred Pernille Ongstad Solberg 2nd Wife's Place of Birth: Manfred, ND 2nd Wife's Father's Name: Sofus Ongstad 2nd Wife's Mother's Name: Rena Asleson Ongstad 2nd Wife's Siblings' Names: Herbert Ongstad Pastor A.B. Solberg, 98, Grand Forks, died Sunday, Jan. 6, 2002, in Valley Memorial Home Eldercare, Grand Forks. Alvin Benjamin Solberg was born Oct. 29, 1903, the son of Ole and Elizabeth (Anderson) Solberg, in Walcott, N.D., where he graduated from high school. He graduated from Concordia College in 1926. He taught school in Chafee, N.D., and Churches Ferry, N.D. He moved to Fargo in 1937, where he was a postal worker and later a Civil Service Examiner. He graduated from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, in 1945. He served parishes in Racine, Wis., Hazen, ND, Fessenden, ND, and Nielsville, Minn. He moved to Grand Forks to serve at Sharon Lutheran Church. He married Naomi Freeman on June 2, 1930, in Maddock, N.D. She died Dec. 10, 1985. He married Mildred Ongstad in December 1986. She died in May 1998. He is survived by a daughter, Felicia (Joseph) Duffy, Georgetown, Texas; a son, David (Bev Olson), Fargo; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A sister, Ella Johnson; and a brother, Oliver, preceded him in death. Mildred Ongstad Solberg, 89, Northwood, formerly of Grand Forks died Saturday, May 9, 1998 in Northwood. She was born April 18, 1909 in Manfred to Sofus and Rena Ongstad. She attended country school north of Manfred through the eighth grade and graduated from Makoti High School in 1927. She attended Valley City Teachers College and received her teaching certificate. She taught school at the Dovre School north of Fessenden and lived with the Skolvies family. She also taught in the rural Manfred school she had attended as a child and at Flasher. She returned to the Manfred area and began working in the Wells County Superintendent of Schools office in Fessenden. She later became the Women's Army Corps recruiter for Wells County. In 1942, she entered the Army and served in the Women's Army Corps detachment during World War II until 1946, when she was discharged as a corporal. She returned to work at the Superintendent of Schools Office where she served as deputy until 1963. She was then elected county superintendent, holding that position until retiring in 1982. She married Pastor A. B. Solberg October 14, 1986, at Grand Forks, where they made their home. She had been a resident of the Northwood Deaconess Health Center in Northwood since the fall of 1994. She was a member of Vang Lutheran Church, Manfred, and had served as Sunday School Superintendent for many years. She also was in charge of printing the bulletins for the parish. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Fessenden. After moving to Grand Forks, she would accompany her husband on visits to the sick and homebound.

Anderson Drug Store Location: Block 3, Lot 6 Proprietor: Otto Anderson Year Started: ca 1910 Year Ended: ca 1915 History of Business: Otto Anderson was born in Minnesota, and is listed on the 1910 Census for Manfred. His occupation was listed as pharmacist. No other info is known of this business. This building was moved to the location shown by C. C. Melby. It first was located at the south of the block facing the railroad track along with the building next to it. Blue Star – Anderson Drug Store Reference points: Red rectangle - Manfred School Blue rectangle - Vang Lutheran Church Purple rectangle – Post Office/Bank Green rectangle – Solheim Station

Manfred Telephone Company Location: Block 3, Lot 7 Proprietor: varied Year Started: 1909 Year Ended: ca 1960 History of Business: Communications between pioneer families had always been a problem. Emergencies could arise and no help could be quickly summoned. The telephone had been invented and perfected to a certain degree. It was natural that these progressive people should organize a cooperative telephone company. This they did, naming it The Manfred Fram Telephone Company. Some business people and a few farmers quickly organized a rival company contemptuously called by Manfred Fram people The Tamarack Line, because they used cheap tamarack poles. Bell Telephone refused to connect two companies in Manfred to the long distance, so the Tamarack Line was abandoned, except for a line between one business place, the owner’s home and her father-in law’s farm. A later telephone company, using a modern two-wire system replaced Manfred Fram. It was soon bought out by Northwest Bell. The Manfred Telephone Exchange started in 1909; they served 175 farms and businesses. The consolidation and enlarging of farms, and the depression, which forced some farmers to drop or discontinue phone service, the reduction in the number of businesses and residences in Manfred, and lines which were torn down because of construction but were not rebuilt contributed to curtailing services of the exchange which in 1953 had about 60 phones in service. Manfred News - May 20, 1915: Central Office – Gertrude LeGrand is now our hello girl at the central. Manfred News – April 12, 1917 - A snug little addition is being built onto the telephone central to be used for warehouse for apparatus and material and for coal. Manfred News – May 1917 - The local telephone company is doing considerable remodeling and repairing of the lines in town, changing the poles from the main streets to the alleys and correcting bad places in the lines. Much better service will be the result of the improvement Manfred News – Jan 1918 – Miss Anna Dovre, the assistant operator at the Manfred telephone office returned to her duties on Wednesday after spending a week’s vacation at her home Fred Johnson was an early operator and line repairman. Marie Hovey was a later operator and held this position from June 1, 1923 to August 1, 1953. Violet Boese Kittelson followed Marie Hovey and ran the office for a number of years. There were living quarters in the Central Office. During the time Marie Hovey was the switchboard operator her mother lived with her. During the time Violet was the operator her daughter Bonnie lived with her and attended school in Manfred. There were no doubt other operators, but at this point there is no information about them. Source: Excerpts from Growing With Pride – page 576 and the Old Manfred News Daisy – Manfred Telephone Company Reference points: Red rectangle - Manfred School Blue rectangle - Vang Lutheran Church Purple rectangle – Post Office/Bank Green rectangle – Solheim Station

Ole J. and Maggie Rodne Husband's Full Name: Ole Johan Rodne Husband's Place of Birth: Rodne, Imsland, Rogland, Norway Husband's Father's Name: Lars Olsen Hebnes Husband's Mother's Name: Sigrid Ølsdatter Vormestrand Husband's Siblings' Names: Karen (Ivan Rodne); Sevrin (Anna Finvik); Haldor (Delia Ring); Ole L. (Anna O. Lunde) Wife's Full Name: Margit Ølsdatter Knutson Rodne Wife's Place of Birth: Vinje, Telemarken, Norway Wife's Father's and Mother’s Name: Wife's Siblings' Names: Children's Names: Louis, Sarah (Lawrence Georgeson); Mabel (Ole J. Skiftun); Lilly (Perry Anderson); Lloyd (Ida Watlund); Henry S., Clarence, Caroline (Severt Dovre); Norma (Jacob Rogness) Ole J. and Maggie Rodne Family from left: Clarence, Sarah, Ole J. Henry, Caroline, Mabel, Lloyd, Maggie, Lilly, Norma After coming to America as a young and working on farms near Buxton, ND for several years, O. J., as he was known, dreamed of having his own farm. This dream came true when he traveled west to Wells County and filed on land north of Manfred in 1893. After making arrangements for a claim shack to be placed on this land he returned to Buxton for his wife and young child. After loading all their belonging and piling them high into a horse-drawn wagon, they made their way westward across the prairie. Their journey came to a joyous conclusion when they saw the claim shack, in place, ready to serve as their first home. The Ole J. Rodnes' life had roots in the early days of pioneering in North Dakota. "O. J." as he was often known was a young man when he came to the United States from his home in Norway. He first came to Buxton, N.D., where he worked on farms for several years. Maggie, his wife immigrated form Norway with her parents as a young girl, settling on a farm near Callender, Iowa. In 1892, O.J. had visions to go to a new settlement. He filed land in Wells County in what was then known as the Manfred area and their closest town. Maggie remained in Buxton, while Ole J. went to make arrangements for a claim shack to be placed on his land. He bought a building from an earlier settler, with provisions that he was to move it to a certain plat that had been chosen on the barren prairie land. After these arrangements were made, Ole then returned to Buxton to make preparations to bring his wife and young child and possessions to the homestead. All the belongings were loaded into a horse drawn wagon piled high with goods. Maggie was spared this wagon journey. She rode out with friends in a more comfortable spring wagon. There were no roads, only trails. The prairie was full of dips and stones and they were jolted and swayed as they drove along. When they reached their destination they were pleased to see the claim shack standing just where O. J. wanted it. He had worried about where he might find the building, after leaving it to a stranger in his absence. All around in the early days there was nothing but grassy prairie spreading in every direction as far as the eye could see. They lived on the homestead for some time before other homesteaders began settling in the area. As time went on and the country became more populated and settled, small towns sprung up. In the flat open country mirages were often present. On sharp cold wintry mornings, these little towns would appear tall and visible for miles away. There were no weather forecasters in those days. They would check out the clouds in the distance and try to determine the weather for the coming day by their own judgment. Ole was always an ambitious and industrious man who would rise at daybreak and go to work. Braving the elements of the new country, O. J. wrested his land from the stubborn prairie into productive ground. In the early pioneer days, there was sod breaking to be done on his land. He also broke sod for his neighbors. No four-wheel drive tractors were used in those days. He hitched his cow and oxen to the plow. As time moved along, they kept tilling the soil, buildings were constructed, fences built, and also a larger house became a necessity. Ole J. and Maggie were blessed with nine children, the first-born died in infancy. Their children were namely: Sarah (Mrs. Lawrence Georgeson), Heimdal; Mabel (Mrs. Ole Skiftun), Big Fork, MT; Lilly, (Mrs. Perry Anderson), Harvey; Lloyd (Ida Watland), Seattle; Henry, Manfred; Clarence, Manfred,; Caroline (Mrs. Severt Dovre), Fessenden; and Norma (Mrs. Jacob Rogness), Manfred. The hardships the pioneers met with cannot be interpreted here in a few words. There were many inconveniences and difficulties to be overcome and conquer that were never brought to light. The winters were severe and cold. The sharp wind and snow sliced across the wide-open prairie, but invariably, there was a compensation, the spring season that always followed. When the meadowlarks broke into song, they were joyful that a new season had come and were looking ahead to the future. The Rodnes prospered on the homestead they filed on and in time the number of acres had increased to 640. After many years of toil, they retired from the farm and moved to Heimdal to spend their retirement years in leisure. As time moved on, the years brought separation. Ole died in 1947 at the age of 87. Maggie reached the age of 95 and died in 1964 after a long useful life. Their remains are laid to rest in the Bethel Lutheran Cemetery. Source: Growing With Pride

Art and Ruth Fischer Husband's Full Name: Arthur Robert Fischer Husband's Place of Birth: North Dakota Husband's Father's Name: Michael Fischer Husband's Mother's Name: Lydia Beitusch Husband's Siblings' Names: Alexander, Michael, Olinda, Ida, Paul, Clara Wife's Full Name: Ruth Wagner Wife's Place of Birth: Rusland, Wells, North Dakota Wife's Father's Name: John C. Wagner Wife's Mother's Name: Lena Kreiter Wife's Siblings' Names: Lawrence, Esther, Elnora, Victor, Darlene, Ruby, Ardella Children's Names: Phyllis (Thomas Nudd); Gloria Pake; Delores Fischer (Thomas McKinven Arthur Robert Fischer, 101, rural Harvey, passed away Monday, March 2, 2020, in Peoria, AZ where he had been wintering with family. A private graveside service will be held at the Manfred Seventh-day Adventist Cemetery. A celebration of Life will be held later in the summer at the Harvey Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Harvey. Arrangements are with Nelson Funeral Home of Fessenden. Arthur Robert Fischer, son of Michael and Lydia (Beitusch) Fischer, was born April 19, 1918 on the family farm in Rusland Township. After his mother died in 1922, his father married Anna Wacker who lovingly raised him. He graduated 8th grade from the nearby Eigenheim #5 country school. He began farming at an early age and took over the family farm at the age of fifteen. On July 20, 1939, he was united in marriage to Ruth Wagner at Mandan. They made their home in Rusland Township all of lives and celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2009. After they sold the farm to Tom and Phyllis Nudd, they remained on the farm and continued wintering in Arizona with Gloria. He was a lifelong member of the Manfred Seventh-day Adventist Church and served as the church cemetery sexton for many years. He also served on the Rusland Township Board through the years as Supervisor, Clerk and Treasurer. He is survived by his daughters, Delores McKinven of Harvey, Gloria Pake of Peoria, AZ and Phyllis (Tom) Nudd of rural Harvey; 6 Grandchildren; 13 Great-grandchildren; 5 Great-great-granddaughters; his sister, Victoria Denny of Stockton, CA; and sister-in-law, Ruby Wetzell of Bismarck. Art was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth on February 11, 2010; his parents; and his siblings, Michael (infant), Alex, Michael, Ida Reiswig, Olinda, Paul, Clara, and Leonard.

Morris and Joyce Ravnaas Husband's Full Name: Morris Ravnaas Husband's Place of Birth: Manfred, North Dakota Husband's Father's Name: Ingvald Ivarson Ravnaas Husband's Mother's Name: Olida Johanna Berve Husband's Siblings' Names: Ivar, Oliver (Alma Schimke); Cora (Norman Nelson); Arvin (Helen Olenberger); Cecelia (Marvin Lillemon); George; Morris (Joyce Brewer); Inez (Roger Burgstahler); Edward (Kathleen Reding) Wife's Full Name: Joyce Arlene Brewer Wife's Place of Birth: Kensal, North Dakota Wife's Father's Name: George Brewer Wife's Mother's Name: Birdella Romelfanger Wife's Siblings' Names: Gerald (Francis Drong); Donald; Marilyn Alice (Bill Pritchert); George (Joyce Syverson); James Kenneth (Ella); Janet Children's Names: Keith; Patricia; Ruth (Steven Schuh); Diane (Kevin Baumbach); Douglas (Shelley Hoffer) Morris Ravnaas was the son of Ingvald and Olida Berve Ravnaas. He was born near Manfred on his parent’s farm. He was reared there and as a boy worked with his father on the family farm. In 1953 he went to work for the Soo Line Railroad. At the time of his death, he held the post of welder-helper with the railroad. He married Joyce Brewer at Kensal, North Dakota on November 25, 1951. They lived at Manfred. He was a member of Vang Lutheran Church and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Union Local 1498. Morris died in 1981 and was buried at Hillside Cemetery near Fessenden. Joyce moved to Harvey and continued to reside there until her death in 2012.

Verna Anderson Bowers Wife's Full Name: Verna Anderson Wife's Place of Birth: Manfred, ND Wife's Father's Name: Perry Anderson Wife's Mother's Name: Lillie Rodne Wife's Siblings' Names: Margaret, Peter, Donald, Ruth, LoAnn, Orren Verna was once married to Charles Bowers. She taught school in Montana and later worked for Southern Bell Telephone Company in Florida. She moved back to Harvey after retiring and as been active in the Manfred Church, Sons of Norway and Manfred History and Preservation, Inc.

Eilert Berve Full Name: Eilert Laurensius Berve Place of Birth: Manfred, ND Father's Name: Ole Berve Mother's Name: Anna Berve Siblings' Names: Jonas Berve, Hannah Ramsfield, Cecilia Broe, Olga Knudsvig, Egert Berve, Olida Ravnaas, Casper Berve, Oliver Berve Eilert and Oliver Berve Private Eilert Berve, served in the military during World War I. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ole Berve, Manfred, ND. He entered the service September 3, 1918, and went to Camp Grant to receive his preliminary training. He left for overseas November 13, 1918 and served with the infantry until after the close of the war. He was mustered out at Camp Dodge May 1, 1919. He moved to Wells County in 1895 and settled with his parents 10 miles east of Harvey. He was reared there and continued to live on the farm. He was a veteran of WWI. Mr. Berve moved to Harvey two years before his death. He was a member of the American Legion Post of Harvey and the Bethel Lutheran Church. He is survived by a brother Oliver. (source - obituary)