tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78422326372078020782024-03-14T07:23:05.896-07:00Erling Nicolai Rolfsrud and Jessie Beverly Brown RolfsrudBeverly reminisces about her lifeā¦ followed by a Chronology of the life of Erling Rolfsrud, in his own words.
Presented by Stan and Kathleen Rolfsrud, address inquiries to Rolfsrud@gmail.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-52387025149232932672014-12-13T19:06:00.001-08:002014-12-13T19:06:37.254-08:00Jessie Beverly Rolfsrud <span style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">I was born in a small house on upper Main Street in Hettinger, North Dakota. Named Jessie Beverly I was called exactly that by my father throughout all the years, and I guess he deserved to use the full name in honor of my mother and since he was the person who delivered me into this world. (The doctor was indisposed that day.) It was Sunday, May 23, 1920.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">Jessie (mother) did not expect to survive this one, but struggled to and did. Her strength was tried severely in caring for me for after only three weeks I contracted whooping cough. Then it was my life that was in question. Father and mother took turns nursing me through the days and nights of the entire summer. </span><br style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">In 1922 we moved to Aberdeen and stayed there for two years. Then to Sheridan Avenue South in Minneapolis for two more. The stories have it that I ran away frequently. I do remember being found down at the 43rd Street fire station where I enjoyed playing with the fire dog. I toured the outer fringes of the city looking for the chickens which I knew to be out there.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">My four older siblings have often reported that my foibles had a way of interrupting their schooling and fun with friends because they had to take their bicycles and spread out looking for me. They never said that they called the police, however.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">Father's business in the city did not do very well, so he, mother and I returned to Hettinger. The others have said that they stayed behind in order to complete their high school education to a point. They joined us in Hettinger later. Bayard came first. We lived in small houses in town. I learned to read and write early, so that I entered school in the second grade, at age 6. Mother was an excellent teacher - my very best.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">Ralph, Dorothy, and Richard joined us eventually. They renewed friendships from before and I remember that any old thing served as an excuse to get up a party with them. This continued into the next years, which we spent on "the farm" two miles north of town. Father built up a Holstein herd, raised crops, eventually selling milk to the store in town. We became pretty well wiped out as a result of the economy of the times plus a dreadful drought. I didn't realize how poor we really were. We had such a happy surprise in 1930 when Kaye arrived, and I was happy anyway to be living near so many animals. The old love for chickens died, though when I had to feed so many of them and then become Chief Picker when it was time to prepare the beheaded ones for dinner.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">In the early thirties, Dorothy was with us. She taught in the local high school. We were losing everything on the farm it seemed. In 1933, Father found work in the County Agent's office in Steele, Kidder County North Dakota. While he was gone Dee, Kaye, Mother, and I lived together in one of our "rentals" in town the winter of 1933-1934. Dee got a job teaching at Wheaton College in 1934-1935, so Kaye, Mother, and I then lived in Steele with Father. I spent one school year there, then Father got an advancement to the State Office (same AAA setup) in Fargo.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">Before moving to Fargo, Father very generously sent his four girls in his new car to visit Aunt Kate in Santa Ana. The whole summer was a holiday for us, except that Dorothy took courses at UCLA.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">We drove back to North Dakota then and took up residence in Fargo. Dorothy and Clarence were married the next week, on September 7, and I went to school my Junior and Senior years there. We used an apartment briefly and then moved into a nice house on Tenth Street South, housesitting for a Dr. Hotchkiss. Kaye started school. Mother obtained voice lessons for me.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">About the time I graduated in 1937, the AAA was declared unconstitutional and Father had no job. He finally got into the North Dakota Welfare system that he served until his retirement at age 70. In late 1937, I somehow got a job myself with the AAA as some part of it must have been reinstated! I could save money for college and in 1939 I entered Wheaton College, continuing to work my way. Incurring no debt whatsoever (easy as nobody could or would loan me a single cent). I had earned over two thirds of my credits toward a degree and felt free to marry.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">By taking correspondence courses from UND and some applied music at Concordia College, I did receive a BA from Concordia College in June 1944. All this and welcoming Rebecca Beverly in 1942! We lived first in Fargo, then in Moorhead--no car and it was wartime. The five years (1941-1946) were extremely difficult. Linda was born in 1945. I had a severe breakdown from which by the grace of God I recovered well (bootstrap-type operation) and never had it happen again.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-84194120797155441812008-10-30T15:58:00.000-07:002015-02-02T15:07:11.720-08:001912<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Erling Rolfsrud</b></span><br />
<br />
Born September 3, Keene, North Dakota to Nils and Rebecca (Heide) Rolfsrud. Baptized at farm home, October 13, by Rev. I.J. Buckneberg (See "Prairie Cleric" in EXTRAORDINARY NORTH DAKOTANS and "Plank-Riding Preacher" in NOTABLE NORTH DAKOTANS.) Sponsors were: O.E. Olson, Mrs. Marie Sundblad, Bertin Moe and Martha Moe.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-72439376093854124262008-10-30T15:56:00.000-07:002008-10-31T07:23:45.902-07:001913<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohg9afmd8f2DZ1dSkSurv06bixGfwMcyOE1AYUr-r1KPtuCLuFJJwt4Uyj2L-8rzAouosb6M7R2S54nv4JljNQsDjiPZkLMuwPlHg_pNSHFMvoxzx59HIAeBaQ-rfwr0Y6MNGeLq7KqZs/s1600-h/DSC_0026.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263323256894064754" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 135px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohg9afmd8f2DZ1dSkSurv06bixGfwMcyOE1AYUr-r1KPtuCLuFJJwt4Uyj2L-8rzAouosb6M7R2S54nv4JljNQsDjiPZkLMuwPlHg_pNSHFMvoxzx59HIAeBaQ-rfwr0Y6MNGeLq7KqZs/s200/DSC_0026.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>After a bumper flax crop, Nils Rolfsrud took his family to Norway intending to buy a "gaard" and live there. Plans did not materialize. Erling learned to walk in Norway.</div><br /><p align="right"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Erling's mother, Rebecca Rolfsrud, with her Norwegian parents.</strong></span></p><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-22239657143057654882008-10-30T15:53:00.000-07:002008-10-31T07:25:51.587-07:001914<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIr3CT_mqklWnF1rwOWkzOB8Zh4BQ-o9rS57gZ_z99quNWxZInqGDqh_vudFyBSGCfyFnDDnPjUIZCEsEzX_ic6-RceKyL9O-18PGOdC7hUiNLvp1693Twl7Pgn4myILpf8xC__joPggf/s1600-h/DSC_0030.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263324085910945570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 161px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIr3CT_mqklWnF1rwOWkzOB8Zh4BQ-o9rS57gZ_z99quNWxZInqGDqh_vudFyBSGCfyFnDDnPjUIZCEsEzX_ic6-RceKyL9O-18PGOdC7hUiNLvp1693Twl7Pgn4myILpf8xC__joPggf/s200/DSC_0030.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Nine months later, the Rolfsrud family returned to McKenzie County. The farm having been rented to Kittil Skavanger, Nils built a frame hotel in Watford City, the town being established that year at the end of a new railway branch. For several years thereafter, the family lived on the farm spring and summer and early fall, and moved to town to operate the hotel during the winter months.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-13531550086683620802008-10-30T15:49:00.000-07:002008-11-01T09:52:34.939-07:001918<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggoynWF-B-67gBAk3FR8FKPg4UTYFS8ybx6I9mFYQC3c9anIPPkNCUbdcN8kOd2S75qLt-m9WfjQru53B15nlveXiKRU2JQYnz43C2zstQw573Rls08ZKUiSaHCGlvGL7wAlKC84UxYWFi/s1600-h/DSC_0004-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263732981555617858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 120px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggoynWF-B-67gBAk3FR8FKPg4UTYFS8ybx6I9mFYQC3c9anIPPkNCUbdcN8kOd2S75qLt-m9WfjQru53B15nlveXiKRU2JQYnz43C2zstQw573Rls08ZKUiSaHCGlvGL7wAlKC84UxYWFi/s200/DSC_0004-1.JPG" border="0" /></a>Erling started school (three weeks at Olsen School, which was 1 1/2 miles south of the farm in the Blue Buttes School District. Then transferred to Watford City where Miss Mae Scollard as teacher (of whom I was so terrified I could not learn).</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-9803461915149351502008-10-30T15:47:00.000-07:002008-11-02T09:57:36.743-08:001919<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTT9oeZlt-wBa9BOUrx_5m0_D2EV6w4Ivp2u-id-icWbbiyMILV7BisSMLrIsmJ9hJlAbASMqdsIO2RcCs6581Ew64CZGXigDVu0KbsLHcI70vvO-dG0ncloceZ0rjlOz2m-QhV2LR0Erm/s1600-h/DSC_5862.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264120685979272946" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTT9oeZlt-wBa9BOUrx_5m0_D2EV6w4Ivp2u-id-icWbbiyMILV7BisSMLrIsmJ9hJlAbASMqdsIO2RcCs6581Ew64CZGXigDVu0KbsLHcI70vvO-dG0ncloceZ0rjlOz2m-QhV2LR0Erm/s200/DSC_5862.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Y7TUnU-WUt0KZhc-OQ8xJQcL7aa478czDCfapza2KrMzIQlusOu93g1-27kDGgXThtym5M0WNf6XSuj4VP7tiy_GNO01R_Uafnk__ebdovwdfmq4mFo7jAQ-D56BHS3f-nk9PQ0KJUb0/s1600-h/DSC_5861.JPG"></a>Back on the farm a few weeks with Miss Mabel LeVang at the Olsen School. She taught me that school could be enjoyed. STONE JOHNNY SCHOOL is dedicated to her.</div><div> </div><div align="right"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Toy fire engine Erling enjoyed></strong></span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"><toy></strong></div></span><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-91347433724286683522008-10-30T15:45:00.000-07:002008-10-30T15:47:56.107-07:001919-1920Keene Consolidated School with Miss Magnhild Haugen, a teacher I adored. First grade again as I had learned very little the first year. Nils Rolfsrud died of "heart trouble" on July 5, 1920, and was buried in the Clear Creek Cemetery.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-64082259991869828392008-10-30T15:44:00.000-07:002008-10-30T15:45:25.598-07:001920-1921Second grade with Miss Haugen. She promoted me to third grade mid-year.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-28091214120769637462008-10-30T15:43:00.000-07:002008-10-30T15:44:15.284-07:001921-1922Fourth grade with Miss Elizabeth Lala.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-6359049891456855902008-10-30T15:42:00.000-07:002008-10-30T15:43:12.813-07:001922-1923Fifth grade with Miss Synnove Ness.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-7220324867395572492008-10-30T15:40:00.000-07:002008-10-30T15:42:17.398-07:001923-1924Sixth grade with Miss Ida Enstad. (Mrs. Ida C. Grotenhuis, 401 Maurice, Albert Lea, MN)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-87189733747764308492008-10-30T15:39:00.000-07:002008-10-30T15:40:14.666-07:001924-1925Seventh grade with Miss Linda Peterson.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-33223312470221351972008-10-30T15:37:00.000-07:002008-10-30T15:39:23.645-07:001925-1926Eighth grade with Mr. Edgar W. Gunderson (See THE TIGER-LILY YEARS). Graduated, May, 1926, from eighth grade.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-11935478634460220582008-10-30T15:34:00.000-07:002008-10-30T15:37:01.946-07:001926-1927Freshman, Watord City High School. Roomed with Haakon Gryte, boarded with my sisters who had a room in the Rolfsrud Hotel. Member of the first class to be confirmed at the newly-constructed Clear Creek Lutheran Church.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-6653407959429893002008-10-30T15:29:00.000-07:002008-10-30T15:34:19.786-07:001927-1928Could not afford to go to high school. Stayed home and drove school bus and studied high school subjects in the basement of Keene Consolidated School along with John Larson and Orville Anderson (also bus drivers and former classmates). Passed state board tests in May but refused credit because we had not had instruction in a classroom under a teacher. Also took correspondence courses in Poultry Husbandry and Swine Husbandry from the Extension Service, North Dakota Agricultural College, Fargo.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-20193949885725039542008-10-30T15:26:00.000-07:002008-10-30T15:29:27.744-07:001928-1929Watford City High School, taking six subjects. Miss Anne Holey, English teacher, triggered my interest in writing. Wrote features for LONE WOLF HOWLS, school paper printed in THE WATFORD GUIDE.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-35858768030657916542008-10-30T15:25:00.000-07:002008-10-30T15:26:48.454-07:001929-1930Graduated from high school in May. Double wedding that same month when Agnes married Sidney Veeder and Rena married Bennie Veeder at our farm home.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-32449543743432210032008-10-30T15:21:00.000-07:002008-10-30T16:43:47.260-07:001930<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_4zFN2qDXYZFYpmaPmRJQNWnDYw3b__ADHub6z96b90ouHzEZdjbW2NFyiYPBiUxG_j51kW6b0BJAahfovVkgDOX-hwtkq5G3XzTw7yNg0Ao9ZXVU89tuk23EBQ3Y4-AlFRY2knztXUw/s1600-h/1459124755_211c386cf2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263096781938092018" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 163px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 129px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_4zFN2qDXYZFYpmaPmRJQNWnDYw3b__ADHub6z96b90ouHzEZdjbW2NFyiYPBiUxG_j51kW6b0BJAahfovVkgDOX-hwtkq5G3XzTw7yNg0Ao9ZXVU89tuk23EBQ3Y4-AlFRY2knztXUw/s200/1459124755_211c386cf2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Summer rural teacher training course at Minot State Teachers College. Also worked on the novel I had started when I was sixteen. In September began teaching at Rocky Glen School, 8-month term at $76.96 per month, lived in schoolhouse. Bought a reconditioned Underwood typewriter for $25 from a Chicago firm, taught myself to touch type. Worked on my novel.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-31439365908618593512008-10-30T15:18:00.000-07:002008-10-30T15:21:19.415-07:001931Sold my first children's story to a Sunday School story paper. During the summer, worked on the farm, slept in the granary and worked on my novel at night. In September began teaching at the Olsen School, 8 months at $80. Wrote at the schoolhouse early mornings.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-88225416533921426282008-10-30T15:15:00.000-07:002008-10-30T15:17:59.467-07:001932June 12, Halvor married Martha Braaten at Keene parsonage, Rev. Haktor Moe officiating. I was witness along with Margit Braaten (later, Mrs. Oscar Jonsrud). Spent summer tending cattle and milking ten cows 10 miles north of our farm, living in a deserted claim shanty. A correspondence friend typed my novel. FreeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-43684474116712734882008-10-30T15:13:00.000-07:002009-01-01T17:37:15.255-08:001932-1933<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfUhmq9uezkJW8hAnER_tbk_5gJM64VM4Rie1bsYdu1oBOPqpGc3EB6AdVgSxOaccz7_os0UmU3X5EqeQPNJ_YUg79zEEMIz89RBBEVjsIW0IeSZ2DwTSdjxVNkfhWhJfCFdGJgFsDvNz/s1600-h/DSC_0002-3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286504398797918530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 230px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfUhmq9uezkJW8hAnER_tbk_5gJM64VM4Rie1bsYdu1oBOPqpGc3EB6AdVgSxOaccz7_os0UmU3X5EqeQPNJ_YUg79zEEMIz89RBBEVjsIW0IeSZ2DwTSdjxVNkfhWhJfCFdGJgFsDvNz/s320/DSC_0002-3.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Second term at Olsen School, $65 a month because of worsening economics in Depression. Sent novel off to a New York critic, paid $15 reading fee and was informed the novel would interest no publisher.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-39934337404663399102008-10-30T15:12:00.000-07:002008-10-30T15:13:13.452-07:001933Stayed with Bennie and Rena that summer, tried to write short pieces and sold some.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-68310954605925101072008-10-30T15:08:00.000-07:002008-10-30T15:11:51.360-07:001933-1934Concordia College. Dwindling funds, so did light housekeeping in a room at private home with Norval Hegland (later known as "The Flying Pastor of Alaska"). Did professional typing for a few authors. Worked on home farm during the summer.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-46577654470415206432008-10-30T15:03:00.000-07:002008-10-30T15:08:43.327-07:001934-1935Washed dishes at Coffee Shop, north Broadway in Fargo, midnight until 3-4 a.m. Got fired just before Christmas because I got sick and with approval of the cook did not come to work one night. My indignant landlady, Mrs. Milton Lawrence (room on Sixth Avenue North, Fargo) procured a better job for me at Herbst Cafeteria afternoons, a job I kept the rest of my college career.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7842232637207802078.post-37584139181282787722008-10-30T15:01:00.000-07:002008-10-30T15:03:47.664-07:001935Mama died May 7. I stayed in Fargo that summer, working at Herbst, and writing.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0