Christian Gulliek Sonju was born June 27, 1853, in Eiker, Buskerud, Norway, which is near Skotsleven. His parents were Gulliek Kittleson and Maren Helene Odegarden. Probably for economic reasons, on May 1, 1879, Christ boarded a ship in Christiania (now Oslo), Norway with his destination being Baldwin, Wisconsin. He was 26 years old. One of his traveling companions was Ole Fogderud, who also settled near Hannaford.
Elen Dorthea (Thea) Varp was born November 15, 1857, and was from Eiker, Norway also. Her father was Christian Olson Varp. They also used the last name of Fierdingstad at times. She left the Christiania port on March 8, 1883, to join Christ in Wisconsin. They were married in Baldwin October 20, 1883. After the grasshoppers destroyed everything in their area in Wisconsin in 1886, Christ and Thea homesteaded on Section 4, Bartley Township, about five miles west of Hannaford.
Christ and Thea raised three sons here. Melvin was born September 12, 1888. He married Florence Hoggarth and they had two children, Lawrence and Dorthea. Melvin died August 28, 1972. Gustav was born September 27, 1892. He married Delia Brunberg and they had three children: Delores, Walden and Audrey. Gustav died July 22, 1961. Oscar was born April 23, 1895. He married Myrtle Gilbertson and died at a young age on March 22, 1923.
Christ Sonju died May 26, 1934, from an upper arm fracture and possible embolism. This was caused by a granary door that was blown shut on his arm by the wind. Thea Sonju died shortly after on October 7, 1934. They say she had myocarditis, with bronchitis contributing, but we wonder if it wasn't from a broken heart.
Source: Hannaford Area History North Dakota Centennial 1889 - 1989 Page 232