was born in Argyle, Wisconsin on September 10, 1879. His father, Bjorn Bjornsen, and his mother, Ingeborg Baardsen, were from Valdres. He attended Augsburg Seminar 1897 – 1902 (A. B) and from 1902 to 1905 (C. T). He was a Priest in Duluth, Minnesota from 1907 to 1912 and in Rockford, Illinois from 1912 to 1915. He has been a teacher in Music with Oak Grove Seminar since the Fall of 1915.
He graduated from Badfords Music school, Rockford, Illinois, 1915. He has been the choir leader and director of several meetings and eventually was on the Free Church's Music committee.
Source: Norwegians and Norwegian Homes in America by Hans Jervell - 1916 - Page 185