Arthur L. Skonnard

Arthur, youngest son of Martin O. and Andrea (Selbo) Skonnord, was born April 28, 1890 in Skandia Township, Barnes County, North Dakota. He was educated in a rural grade school and attended the Valley City Normal College. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I. After his discharge in 1918, he was employed in the bank at Grace City, North Dakota and then at the American National Bank of Valle City. About 1921 he started farming in Skandia Township, Northwest of Section  1 and Green Township Southwest Section  36, later adding Northwest , Section  2, Skandia Township and in 1945 Southwest of Section  1, Skandia Township.

He married Amanda Eichhorst, daughter of Carl and Margaret Eichhorst of Falkirk, North Dakota, June 24, 1926 She was born November 25, 1899 Albert Lea, Minnesota; is a graduate of Valley City State College majoring in elementary education. They are the parents of four girls.

In 1936 the Skonnord family moved to Valley City but continued farming. In 1937 Arthur operated the Riverside Grocery Store until 1942 when he again devoted his full time to farming. Arthur died March 7, 1963 and Mrs. Skonnard continues to live in Valley City. The farm remains in the family. Their four daughters are:

  1. Shirley Margaret, born March 20, 1927; graduate of N.D.S.U Secondary Education, Home Economics married Dean McInnes, of Page, North Dakota June 27, 1951; three children, Jill, Shelly and son, Kim; lives at Marion, North Dakota.

  2. Harriet Aline, born May 24, 1928; graduate of Augsburg College; Secondary Education Secretarial; married John V. Strom, of St. Paul, Minnesota August 11, 1950; two children Rebecca Jo and Joel; deceased August 6, 1964; family living in Indiana.

  3. Rebecca Anne, born March 26, 1930; graduate of Valley City State College; Elementary Education, Primary; married Donald L. Johnson of Valley City, August 29, 1959; two sons, Paul and Dale; lives in Valley City.

  4. Dorothy Gertrude, born September 24, 1931; graduate of Augsburg College; Social Work; married Marlo D. Petersen of Valley City; four children, Mark, Bruce, Robin and Micheal; lives in Decatur, Illinois.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 224