Erick Johnson was born April 15, 1873, at Stavanger, Norway. He came to the United States through Canada as a young man eventually arriving in Highland (Filmore County), Minnesota.
Erick married Isabella Johnson of Highland, Minnesota. They were the parents of three children. George married Bessie Strickland of Canada and was Standard Oil man in the Sutton, North Dakota, area for many years before moving to Minot, North Dakota, living there until his death in March 1973. George and Bessie had no children but did raise Bessie's younger sister, Charlotte. Ida (Mrs. Melvin Overland) and Emelia (Mrs. Knute Wold), both now deceased, spent their lives in the Lanesboro and Rushford areas of Minnesota. Isabella Johnson died in 1909, leaving Erick with three young children, the youngest one four years old.
Julia Gilbertson was born March 16, 1878, at Highland, Minnesota, to Andrew and Inger (Bollarud) Gilbertson. She was the third oldest of nine children. Julia worked for a time for Erick Johnson keeping house after the death of his wife.
Erick Johnson married Julia Gilbertson on July 4, 1911, at Highland, Minnesota. Erick and Julia spent the first years of their married life close to family and friends near Highland. Three children, Alvin, Thelma and Ernest were born to them there.
In 1918, the family moved to Wibaux, Montana, where a baby daughter died at three months of age and is buried there. They moved back to Minnesota and after a few more moves in Minnesota, the family moved to Alberta, Canada. They moved to North Dakota on March 5, 1926. They lived on many farms around the Karnak and Walum area.
Julia died April 27, 1935, on the former Henry Curtis farm south of Karnak, North Dakota. The moves continued to the now Bud Lausch farm and then in 1942, to the Iver Haugen farm in Greenfield township (Section 23-145-59) where they stayed. Erick continued to live there until his death on November 18, 1946. Both Julia and Erick are buried at Sunnyside Cemetery east of Dazey, North Dakota.
Alvin Ingvald was born June 16, 1912. He attended schools in Minnesota, Canada and in the Karnak area of North Dakota. Alvin Enlisted in the Army during World War II serving as a Staff Sergeant in Europe and the Pacific. After returning home he continued to farm in partnership with his brother, Ernest, the home place in Greenfield Township. Alvin was a member of the American Legion and township boards. He enjoyed politics, baseball and coffee in the bowling alley with the afternoon crowd.
In 1974, Alvin went to live with his sister, Thelma Campbell and nephew, Bob, in Helena Township. In 1982, Thelma and Alvin moved into a new home in Hannaford where he lived until his death on September 23, 1983. He is buried at Sunnyside Cemetery east Of Dazey, North Dakota.
Thelma Helen was born May 14, 1914. She attended schools in Minnesota, Canada and in the Karnak area of North Dakota. As her mother was ill the last years of her life, Thelma took over the duties of the household and continued to do so after her death. Many school teachers boarded with Thelma during the school year.
On October 20, 1950, Thelma married Lloyd Campbell of Hannaford, North Dakota, and moved to the farm in Helena Township where they farmed until Lloyd's death on September 15, 1971. They were the parents of two sons: Donald, born October 10, 1951; and Robert, born June 7, 1953. Don married Carol Brunsch July 6, 1974, at Woodworth, North Dakota. They moved on the Alvin and Ernest Johnson farm in Greenfield Township. Thelma continued to live on the farm in Helena with Bob and her brother, Alvin, until Bob's marriage to Beverly Biberdorf, June 11, 1982, at Willow City, North Dakota. Thelma and Alvin moved to Hannaford in 1982, where she continues to make her home.
Ernest Joseph was born November 19, 1915. He attended schools in Minnesota, Canada and the Karnak area of North Dakota. He served in the Navy during World War II as a Seaman 1st Class in the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters.
Upon returning home from the service, Ernie farmed in partnership with his brother, Alvin, on the home farm in Greenfield Township. Those who would stop by for a visit would always find the coffee pot on. On January 27, 1973, Ernie married Marion Doele. They continue to make their home southeast of Walum, North Dakota. Ernie retired from farming in 1981.
Source: Hannaford Area History North Dakota Centennial 1889 - 1989 Page 168