By Esther E. Dahl Larsen
Mr. and Mrs. Anton O. Dahl were married in the Karlsö Lutheran Church near Tromsö, Norway, October 29, 1894. This area is in the "Land of the midnight sun."
Dad began to dream of a future in America.
However, in February of 1897, he realized his dream and came to this land of opportunity. His first three months were spent with his brother Reverend Jens Dahl and family of Lake Mills, Iowa. Then he decided to go to Cooperstown, North Dakota as he had a brother John, an experienced farmer, living on the farm known today as the "Otis Knudsen farm."
John taught him the farming methods of that time and Dad was happy as he realized he could earn a living for himself and his family here.
Mother and baby son, August, arrived in September 1897.
The following day, Dad came with a load of wheat and was re-united with his family. It was also mother's first wagon ride. They spent that winter at Uncle Johns and meanwhile my father purchased 160 acres in Romness Township, and built a small house and barn there with the help of friendly neighbors. This took place during the summer of 1898.
In the fall of 1898, they moved into their new home. The house consisted of one large room downstairs and one large bedroom upstairs.
The pioneers were sturdy, worked hard, ate well and felt complete satisfaction in their accomplishments. There were times of joys and sorrows, too. Sunday was a day of rest and as my parents were amongst the charter members of the Romness M. E. Church, they took a very active part in it all their lives.
The years sped by and the family grew until there were six children namely:
August, Selmer, Agnes, Henry, John and Esther. So it became necessary to build a bigger house and barn. The current buildings on the farm were built in 1908-1909.
They were married many years before they bought a clock. They seemed to be able to tell time by the sun. As my mother said, "When the sun's rays reached the table, it was time to start dinner." How they managed on cloudy days, I don't know.
There were happy days such as of 1919, when they celebrated their Silver Anniversary, the Confirmation at church and as the children advanced in school. They lived to celebrate their Golden Wedding in 1944 with their many friends at church.
But sorrows intermingled with their joys when sons, August and Henry, passed away in the fall of 1922. This was Typhoid Fever. This was a very sad winter for all of us. We also had a bitter winter with a snowstorm that was continuous for a whole week with temperatures - 40 degrees to - 50 degrees.
Selmer decided to rent a farm and be on his own. He married Gladys Siem, a sweet girl, who has been a loving wife. This was at the height of the depression in the 30's. Wheat was selling at .250 a bushel and many schools were forced to close. The outlook was bleak for all of us. So I decided to leave North Dakota and enter Nurses training in Chicago. I worked for a few years married, and have lived in the Chicago area since.
John continued caring for our parents and farming on the home place as long as they lived. Due to health reasons, he moved to Tucson, Arizona, where he resides and is also married.
Our sister, Agnes, passed away on December 25, 1948 after several years of grave illness. Two years later, Dad left us, faithful to the end and eager to be called home. Mother lived to be 89 - often lonely missing Dad very much.
They were both gone but left us with a legacy of their fearlessness of life and fearlessness of death, as they were ready to go when God called them home.
Today Selmer's son, Donald, and wife, Penny, and children live on the home-place. They have improved it considerably and it's a joy to visit them, my brother, Selmer and family, and numerous friends in that area. Somehow, I feel that Mother and Dad are pleased and know that the home-place is in good hands.
In closing I will say, "I'm proud to be a daughter of the State of North Dakota.€
ESTHER E. DAHL married William Larsen in 1939 and they live in the Chicago area. They have four children:
Janice, born April 19, 1940 and is a nurse
Carol, born October 1, 1941 and is a teacher
Wilma, born November 15, 1944 and is also a teacher and Ronald, born November 6, 1946 and works with NASA.
SELMER DAHL married Gladys Seim on October 23, 1933 at the Epworth Methodist Church in Valley City, North Dakota. They have four children:
Marloe Ann born July 3, 1935 and died July 6, 1940. Norman Wayne born January 13, 1941. He married Diane Marie Land, April 7, 1962 at Grand Forks, North Dakota and they have four children:
Lisa, Shelly, Scott and Nicole. Norman works for Collins Radio at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Donald Lee born June 22, 1944 and on July 29, 1967 he married Penelope Rondestvedt at Dazey, North Dakota. They have three children:
Tohn, Terresa and Scott
and they live on the Dahl home-place and farm. Dennis Allen born June 22, 1944. On January 6, 1968, he married Marlene Zentz at West Prairie, rural Binford and they have two children Jeffrey and Stephanie. Dennis is a Junior Engineer at Melroe Company in Bismarck, North Dakota
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 389