Neil Shape was born in Henry, South Dakota, May 14, 1890. He moved to Anderson Township, Barnes County in 1912. He farmed with his brother Joe, Section 19, Anderson Twp. He married Katharine Carroll on December 1, 1914. Katharine, born in Cornell, Illinois, on August 29, 1891, had moved to North Dakota about 1909. She attended Valley City Normal School and taught school in the Leal-Eckelson area for five years.

Neil and Katherine were married in Valley City and lived in the Leal area until 1956. Both of their children - Russell, born September 1, 1915, and Ruth, born January 31, 1923, attended school in Leal and graduated from Leal High School.

Neil and his family moved to the Hulverson farm €“ West ½ of Section 18, and Northwest ¼ of Section 17, Anderson Township in 1930 and in 1940 Neil and Russell bought the farm. They farmed here together until Neil and Katharine moved to Valley City in 1956.

Russell married Lorraine Buck on July 21, 1945. They moved to the Shape farm and still live there today. They have six children - Patricia, now of Sheldon, North Dakota; Susan, now of Rochester, Minnesota; Arlen, now of Hettinger, North Dakota; Marvin, Keith, and Kevin, living at Sanborn. The Russell Shape and Sons farm is located south of Leal in Anderson Township.

Ruth married LeRoy Buck on June 12, 1945. They have two children - Neil, now farming in Anderson Township, and Gary, now residing in Valley City. Ruth and LeRoy lived in Anderson, Edna, and Rogers Townships before moving to Valley City in 1964.

While they lived in Anderson Twp. Neil Shape served on the Township Board and the Law School board. Both Neil and Katherine were members of the Leal Methodist Church and Katharine was a member of the Anderson Homemakers Club.

After they moved back to Valley City, Neil continued working on the farm until his death in 1964. Katharine maintained her residence in Valley City until her death in 1972.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 222