The Einar O. and Guri Stromme Family

Pioneer Stromme came to North Dakota from Norway in the Mid Eighties.  He first homesteaded in Greenfield Township, approximately three miles east and one mile south of Hannaford, were he built a Sod House.

He married Guri Tyssen prior to coming to the United States.  Their youngest child Anna Christina Stromme was born while they lived in the Sod House.  Anna talked about how the house would get covered with snow in the winter snow storms and how they would have to dig the snow into the house to be able to shovel steps up the surface.  In the spring and summer she said that the Indians traveling by would trade almost anything for food and clothing.  These were friendly Indians who as far as she knew never caused any trouble.

Later, Einar Stromme moved to a farm about a mile west of the Sod House location where he built a modern house and barn and raised his family.  Guri, his wife, died in 1922 at the age of 66.  Einar lived to the age of 88.  He died in 1937.

Anna Christina had one brother, Carl.  Her sisters, Alitta married Oscar Nelson, Olina married Ole Kaastad, Gusta married E. Steffenson, Emma married Iver Kvamme, and Mary married Haldor Stromme.  Anna Christina married PETER AALGAARD on January 12, 1910.  Peter came from Norway in 1903.  Their first home was on a farm rented from Haldor Stromme, a few miles west and north of Karnak.  On this farm, Rose and Leif, their two eldest children were born.  They later moved to a farm west of Hannaford owned by a Mr. Stuart.  Here Algot, Margaret and Leonard were born.  Later on a farm north of Hannaford Rachel, Stella and Selmer were born.  Robert and Albert were born on a farm east of Hannaford, this farm their Grandparents, Einar and Guri Stromme owned at one time.  Peter and Anna later moved to Hannaford where they resided for most of their remaining years.  Peter and Anna died in 1969 and lie at rest in the Union Cemetery.

Peter and Anna Aalgaard raised ten children and as of this summary there are a total of 29 Grandchildren and 29 Great Grandchildren.

  1. Peter and Anna's oldest child, Rose, married Helmer Brudvig.  They have four sons and six grandchildren.  Rose and Helmer Brudvig now reside in Fargo, North Dakota 
  2. Leif Aalgaard married Helen Vance.  They have two children and two grandchildren.  Leif and Helen presently live in California.  
  3. Their third child, Algot, married Bernice Flifflet.  Algot and Bernice have three children and two Grandchildren.  Algot and Bernice live in Hannaford, North Dakota.  
  4. Margaret married James Porter.  They have five children and eight grandchildren.  Mr. and Mrs. Porter live in Minnesota.  
  5. Leonard married Ruth Seaman.  They have four children and three grandchildren.  Leonard and Ruth Aalgaard live in Grand Forks, North Dakota 
  6. Rachel married Lawrence Pratt.  They have four children and four grandchildren.  Rachel and Lawrence Pratt live in Cooperstown, North Dakota 
  7. Stella married Ira Larson who have three children and four grandchildren.  They make their home in Oregon.  
  8. Selmar married Vera Sartout.  They have one child.  Their home is in California.  
  9. Robert and Geneveive Aalgaard have one child and also, reside in California.  
  10. The youngest, Albert is single.

 

By Leonard Aalgaard

Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976  Page 307