Mathias Lyngby was born October 26, 1884, in Biri, Norway to Karenius and Agnetha Lyngby. He was baptized and confirmed in the Biri Church which is there today. He was the oldest of nine children, five boys and four girls. They were Mathias, Maria, Johannas, Christian, Anna, Karin, Peter, Ingeborg and Olaf. Mathias came to America at the young age of 17 and was the only member of the family to come to America. He settled in Hannaford, North Dakota, and his first job was working in the livery stable which was in connection with the hotel. He was sort of a jack of all trades, doing much cement work, sidewalks and cisterns in the Hannaford, North Dakota, area. He did a lot of butchering cattle for the farmers and at one time had a Meat Market in Hannaford. He worked for the Great Northern as coal dock operator in Hannaford and Williston. He also did farm work and worked on the Stone Farm, and Odney Windingland farm.
Karen Thuen was born March 29, 1890, in Stienjer to Leonard and Ameila Thuen. Her father was a shoemaker of trade. Karen was baptized May 17, 1890, in the Malm Church near Stienjer. Karen was from a family of eight, four girls and four boys. They were Karen, Kathinka, Ronouge, Valborg, Eugene, Mike, Martin and Berger. Many nieces and nephews and cousins of Mathias and Karen are living in Norway and England. Karen came to America at the young age of 17, and settled in Hannaford, North Dakota. Karen was very active in the Hannaford, North Dakota, Ladies Aid as it was called then, now the Women's ELCA. She crocheted many beautiful things and donated them to the Bazaars. She was also noted for her angel food cakes, lefse and kransers.
September 16, 1911, Mathias Lyngby and Karen Thuen were married in Cooperstown, North Dakota. The minister was N. J. Vikingstad, Lutheran pastor. Their witnesses were Ole Forseth and Valborg Christianson.
Mathias and Karen had five children.
Carl, wife Elizabeth, two daughter and two grandsons. Carl and Bess live in Arizona during the winter months and at Red Willow Lake resort during the summer.
Amelia, husband Orval Jahr, three daughters and eight grandchildren and one great-grandson. Amelia and Orval live in Moorhead, Minnesota.
Ingvald, wife Bea, one son and two granddaughters. Ingvald and Bea live in Mesa, Arizona.
Reynard, wife Marilyn, three sons and two daughters and four grandchildren. They live in Mesa, Arizona, in the winter and Fargo, North Dakota, in the summer.
Myrtle, husband Melvin Corneliussen, four children, three boys and one daughter and two granddaughters. Melvin and Myrtle live in Comstock, Minnesota.
Mathias passed away July 6, 1960. Karen passed away October 24, 1963. Both are buried in the Hannaford Cemetery.
Source: Hannaford Area History North Dakota. Centennial Page 200