Lars Lerum was born in Sogndal, Norway, August 26, 1880. He came to the United States when a young man. When he arrived, he came to his uncle, Andrew Fortney at Hannaford. He was engaged in farming - farming with a good friend, Louis Quissel from Montana for some time.
Mrs. Lerum, the former Gina Erikson, was born in Solvorn, Norway on June 19, 1889 and also came to the United States when a young girl, at the age of 20. She went directly to relatives at South Dakota and remained there until informed of an opening as cook at the Finley Hotel, Finley, North Dakota. While working there she met and married Lars, getting married at Cooperstown on December 5, 1911.
When looking for a site to build a new house, Lars picked a hill southwest of Hannaford from which, on a clear day, he could see seven churches. They farmed until 1918. When boom times came, they listed their land for sale for $3500, thinking no one would ever pay that much for one quarter of land. Much to their surprise, the land was sold the following day. They then moved into Hannaford for winter months with their two young daughters, Jeanette and Clara. In May of 1919 they went back to Norway, Jeanette attending her first year of school in Norway. Not being satisfied there, they returned to North Dakota in March of 1920 and again resumed farming. Two other children were born to them, Eleanore and Lloyd.
Jeanette is married to Henry Montplaisir and they have an apartment house at Fargo, North Dakota. They have twelve children.
Clara was married to the late Otto Olson and passed away in 1957 at the age of 39, leaving four children.
Eleanore is married to Clinton Brown and lives at Hannaford. They have four children.
Lloyd is city engineer for the city of Santa Rosa, California and resides at Sebastapol, California. Lloyd is married to the former Marilyn Peterson of Petaluma, California and they have four children.
Mr. Lerum passed away at the age of 69 in January 1950. Mrs. Lerum moved to Hannaford and resided there until she suffered a stroke and passed away in April 1974 at the age of 84. '
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 225