Hannaford, North Dakota
was born in Trondhjem on April 28, 1861 and he came to America in 1885. He received his school education in Norway and his theological Education with Luther Seminar in Madison, Wisconsin and Northfield Seminar. He was ordained as a Priest in Northfield, Minnesota in 1888. He first went to Dazey, North Dakota with a Calling from the Eidfjord and St. Olaf Parish. He has had a large mission field and he has been with and has built six churches in Griggs and Steele County, North Dakota. He has traveled much around the prairie and for a time had a mission field 40- 50 miles from his home, which is now in Hannaford, North Dakota. He was and is a pioneer priest par excellence in Steele and Griggs County North Dakota.
His wife, Julia Sletten, was born in America of Norwegian parents in Kenyon, Minnesota. , of staut Hallingslaegt from Gol in Hallingdal. Her father, Ole Sletten, just died recently. He was very church interested. She has a brother, Pastor O. Sletten in Minneapolis, Minnesota, who is a very highly acclaimed priest in the Free Church. They have nine children. Two of the daughters and one son have gone to Concordia College and one son is at St. Olaf's College.
Pastor Thoreson has shown much interest in St. Luke's Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota. Not alone has he worked for the hospitals sake inside his Parish, but also as a spirit provider visiting his Parish members, when they have been at the hospital - one side of his activities is that he has been in there so much - He understand the Hospital, as well as sick. He is a good priest, a good human being and a good Norwegian.
Source: Norwegians and Norwegian Homes in America by Hans Jervell - 1916 - Page 33