Urenstad, Denmark was the birthplace of Bertel Peter M. Pedersen on October 3, 1876. This was also true of Anna Westergaard Larson, born October 22, 1876. Here they grew to adulthood and here they were married in 1904. They worked as farm laborers until 1907, when, with their two children, Marie and Paul, they came to Elkhorn, Iowa. Here a son, Franz, was born. In 1909, the family moved to Brookings, South Dakota. Bertel worked for the Railroad, the State College and farmed for three years. At Brookings, three sons; Ross, Harold and Lewis were born, and a daughter, Marian, joined them.
In 1920, the Pedersen family moved to Barnes County, settling 7½ miles south of Valley City, in Section 23, Maresh Township. In 1927, another move was made to Section 8, Nelson Township.
Mrs. Anna Pedersen died the following year, and Bertel passed away in 1933. Today, Franz and Norma continue to live on the farm acquired in 1927.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 191