Erick Olson was one of the early settlers and pioneer farmers in Norma Township. He was born in Toten, Norway in 1845 and as a young man came to Harmony, Minnesota, where he married Helene Johnson. They were married in the Greenfield Lutheran Church at Harmony in 1878.
In 1880 he and his wife and 15 month old daughter, Minnie (Mrs. Ole Olstad) came by wagon train to what was then Dakota Territory and homesteaded on the Northwest ΒΌ of Section 18 in Norma Township. At that time it was called Norman Township but the name was later changed to Norma.
Their first home was a sod house.
They had five daughters: Minnie, (Mrs. Ole Olstad) Tillie (Mrs. Anton Ouren) Gena (Mrs. Edwin Maasjo) Emma, Helma, and one son Edwin. All were born in Norma Township, except Minnie. Edwin served in the Air Force in France during World War I.
One daughter, Gena (Mrs. Edwin Maasjo), born in 1889, is still living and resides in Valley City. She also owns the farm on which her parents homesteaded. It is operated by her son and family, O'Niel Maasjo of rural Valley City.
Erick Olson was a member of the Norma Dist. # 11 school board and he and his wife were also members of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Norma Township.
He passed away in 1916. His wife's death occurred in 1898. They are buried in the Emmanuel Cemetery southwest of Fingal.
Their first child, Minnie, married Ole Olstad and they farmed in Nelson Township. They retired from farming and moved to Valley City where Mr. Olstad was custodian at the public schools for a number of years.
They had 7 children: Palma (Mrs. Jens Rensby) resides in Valley City. Her husband passed away in 1956.
Olga (Mrs. Alfred Aau) and her husband live in Valley City.
Edward is married and lives in Fargo.
Martha (Mrs. Carl Moneson) lived in Valley City and passed away in 1969.
Helma died in 1918 at the age of 12.
Leonard was married and lived in Portland, Oregon at the time of his death in 1967.
Clara (Mrs. Barney Doering) lives in Lisbon where she and her husband have business interests.
Their second child, Tillie, married Anton Ouren, and they farmed in Norma Township. They retired from farming in 1939 and moved to Valley City where Mr. Ouren was employed by the State Highway Dept.
They had 2 children:
Emma is single and maintains her own home in Valley City, is active in her church and participates in many other activities.
Mabel (Mrs. S. T. Johnson) is deceased. She and her husband lived in Valley City and later at Breckonridge, Minnesota.
Their third child, Gena, married Edwin Maasjo and they farmed in Norma Township until retiring. Her husband passed away in 1959 and she still resides in Valley City.
They had one son, O'Neil. He is married and he and his wife farm in Norma Township.
Their fourth child, Emma, died at the age of nine.
Their fifth child, Helma, died at the age of 21.
Their sixth child, Edwin, never married and passed away in 1928. He attended Business College, worked in the Oriska Bank for a time and several business establishments in Valley City. He also saw service in World War I overseas.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 183