Elgar came to Griggs County from Finley, North Dakota in 1955 and farmed August Sonju's land. He married Ernestine Grady Peterson December 27, 1958 in Moorhead, Minnesota. Ernestine was originally from Hendrum, Minnesota. They farmed several farms in the area before buying the Standard Oil service station from Henry Harris on December 1, 1967. Henry Harris had been a Standard dealer for 47 years, 18 years as a bulk dealer and 29 years as a service station operator.
Ernestine has been employed at the Griggs County ASCS office in Cooperstown for the last 14 years.
The Paulsens bought the Trinity Lutheran parsonage in 1969, where they presently live.
They have one son Scott Peterson.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 page 154