Hans Christenson was born in Voss Gulbrandsdalen, Norway, in 1865. He came to the United States in 1869 with his parents Christ and Yonjer (Hammer) Christenson, and her parents Jacob Hammers. They settled at Rushford, Minnesota while the older men went to take homesteads near Odin, Minnesota and to build homes for their families. Many pioneers came to Minnesota to take homesteads at that time. Times were hard for all but they were real friendly and helped each other. Some of the people built log houses, some sod houses and some built dugout homes. The latter of which had trimmed trees placed closely over the top and then strips of sod laid over these. These were very warm and comfortable.

Marie Christenson's parents, Joe and Ragnild Mathistad, came from Sell, in Vaage, Norway. They came by sail boat and it took them seven weeks to cross the ocean. Marie was born in 1871 in a covered wagon on the way to Butterfield, Minnesota, from Rushford. After living in the new land a short time the settlers built schools and churches. At first they burnt twisted hay and flax straw for fuel. Joe Mathistad helped to build the first railroad across southern Minnesota. Hans Christenson was married to Marie Mathistad in 1892. The Christensons lived on the shore of Fish Lake, Minnesota, and in 1908 they moved to Barnes County in North Dakota and finally settled in rural Dazey, North Dakota. The couple raised six children: Palmer, born in 1893, now deceased, was a farmer at Rogers, North Dakota; Emma (Mrs. Emil Tharaldson) born in 1894, a retired teacher; Rolla (Mrs. Jack Tester) was born in 1896. Also a teacher, she is now deceased. Joe, born in 1898, is a retired farmer and resides in Fargo, North Dakota; Helmer born in 1900, lives on a farm south of Dazey and is retired; Milton born in 1910, lives in Puyallup, Washington and is retired.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 45