John Olsen Nysetvold

John Olsen Nysetvold
Haltdalen, Norway

Nysetvold History

Taken From The Norman County History Book

John Olsen Nysetvold was born April 15, 1850 at Haltdalen, Norway. He

was reared on the home farm in Norway and there he received his

education in the local schools.

He helped his father operate the farm and so acquired a practical

training that was a great benefit to him in America. . .

In 1872 John Nysetvold immigrated, first going to Iowa where he worked

for two of his uncles almost a year, then on to Wisconsin where he

worked six years lumbering. By now he had enough capital to set himself

up in farming, and in 1878 he came to Norman County, Minnesota.

Here he homesteaded 160 acres in section 32, Flom Township, where he

lived the rest of his life. To break up the land he used oxen, which

served his purpose for fourteen years. These were also used to haul his

grain thirty miles to the nearest market.

Soon he began building first house, a small frame structure fourteen

by sixteen feet, roofed with pieces of sod. The other farm buildings

were of logs, but as time went by he added to the farm home and barn —

the former becoming an eight room house with a hall.

He was a grain farmer; raising mostly wheat and had some graded stock.

In 1883, John was united in marriage to Guri Stuedahl, who was born in

Tydal, Norway, April 22, 1857.

They were charter members of the Norwegian Lutheran Church, Aspelund,

at Flom and he served as trustee many years.

He helped organize the school district and was its clerk for over

thirty years.

He was the first township clerk of the Flom Township board.

Before Flom had a designated post office the Nysetvold home was used

as a post office for a period of time. Mrs. Nysetvold carded and spun

her own wool and knit for her children and later stockings, mittens and

scarves for the grandchildren. John died in 1929, Guri in 1935.

There were four children born to this union: Ingeborg, (Belle) the

only daughter, born in 1883, took over where her mother left off and was

house keeper for her two brothers who never married, but continued the

farm after their father died. Belle served many years as church

organist. One Sunday a year an offering was taken to pay the organist.

She was a competent seamstress and sewed for many friends. She had

flocks of chickens and a large garden, and was a wonderful cook. She

died in 1961.

Henry, born in 1890, and Johan (Johnny), born in 1892, were a team -

working together, using and updating the good farming methods of the

father. They, too, were active in community and church. Johnny died in

1964; Henry sold the farm to a relative and moved into Twin Valley where

he lived until he died in 1973.

Ole, born in 1885, spent his boyhood on the home place— but found a

higher interest in building than in farming. He spent some time in

Montana as a carpenter and when he returned to Norman County he bought a

tract of land in Twin Valley—built a home and was married in 1912.

His bride was Mina Aasgaard who was born in Home Lake Township in

1891, the daughter of Martinus and Maria Aasgaard of Stange in Hedmark

and Eidsvoll in Akershus. Ole inherited the industry and thrift of his

forbears. and in a few years had advanced himself to become an

architect, contractor and builder.

Many buildings, churches, homes, barns, etc., stand today as monuments

to his talent and industriousness. His sons helped him when they became

old enough.

The second world war came and all four sons entered service. Building

was at a standstill and Ole had a family to feed. He went to Couer d

Liene, Idaho, and worked on a government project in the forties, and

later worked on the' Alaskan Highway, putting up buildings necessary for

the 'work of the road crews.

When the war was over he was back in Twin-Valley actively drawing

plans and contracting for building projects again.

Ole was active in the community, being a member of the Twin Valley

Council many years, a member of the fire department, a trustee of Zion

Lutheran Church where they were lifetime members!

Mina was a Sunday School teacher and a life member of Zion Church

Women. There was a large garden for her to can and preserve; she sewed

all her children's clothes, was a good friend and a concerned neighbor.

Ole died in 1962 and Mina in 1967

To their union were born eleven children: (Gladys (Mrs. A. S. Heiberg)

of Twin Valley; Miles, a Lutheran pastor in Castlewood, South Dakota;

Orwin, results engineer with the Municipal Utilities in Willmar; lona

(Mrs. K. E. Kvenvolden) of Fergus Falls; Arnt, an Electrical contractor

in Twin Valley; Paul,retired from Navy Ordinance In Bremerton,

Washington; Loanna (Mrs. W. E. Wagstrom), Moorhead; Judith (Mrs. M. E.

Pfaff) Appleton; Enid (Mrs. Phil Myrold) Thief River Falls; and Dorothy

(Mrs. Robert Hammer)Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. One daughter died in

infancy.

John O. Nysetvold

Funeral Services were conducted October 29, 1929 over the remains of

John Olsen Nysetvold from Aspelund church by Rev. B.L. Opdahl. Mr.

Nysetvold having passed away on October 25th after a somewhat extended

illness. He had been a resident of Norman County since 1878 and was one

of the influential and substantial citizens of the community in which he

lived.

The deceased was born in Holtaalen, Norway on Aptil 15th, 1850, and came

to America April 19, 1872. After a short stay in Iowa he went to

Wisconsin where he remained for about 6 years, and took a homestead in

Flom township, Norman county, in 1878, residing there since that time.

He was united in marriage on April 14th, 1883 to Guri Henningsdatter

Stuedahl, who survives him and to this union four children were born,

Ingeborg, Henry and John at home and Ole of Twin Valley. The community

mourns the loss of one of its pioneer residents and extends sympathy to

the bereaved family.

Contributed by Margit Bakke