Bernie L. Walters

Bernie L. Walters brought his family to Barnes County October 1st, 1943. Walters, his wife Mabel, and their eight children lived on a farm about six miles west of Valley City (The Vandroshek farm in Heman Township). Mr. and Mrs. Walters had two more children (Patricia and Dorothy) after they moved to the Valley City area. There were then 5 girls and five boys.

Bernie L. Walters passed away on December 31, 1950.

On July 24th, 1954, Mabel Walters married Norvald C. Nelson, of Sanborn, North Dakota, an employee of the Northern Pacific Railroad. The family remained on the farm until 1958 when they purchased a house at 605 Central Avenue North in Valley City (the Minnie J. Neilson house).

The ten children in the Bernie L. Walters family are:

  1. Betty (married to Duane Fischer of Valley City and now living in Underwood, North Dakota).

  2. Jennie (married to Donald Dimmer of Alice, North Dakota and now living in Thief River Falls, Minnesota).

  3. Mary Ann (married to E. E. Peterson of Hinsdale, Illinois. They live in Hinsdale).

  4. James (married to Joyce McArtor of Valley City and now living in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota).

  5. William (married to Clair Klienschmidt of Lansing, Iowa and now lives in Wahpeton, North Dakota).

  6. John (married to Arva Nelson of Flaxton, North Dakota and lives in Flaxton).

  7. Edward (married to Caryl Pulst of Cando, North Dakota and now lives in Wahpeton).

  8. Bernie L. Jr. (married to Judy Kreauklau of Noonan, North Dakota and now lives at Larson, North Dakota).

  9. Dorothy (married to Donald Johnson of Lisbon, North Dakota and now lives in Fargo).

  10. Patricia (married to Michael Ranum of Valley City and now lives in Henning, Minnesota).

Bernie L. Walters was one of 8 children born to Mark and Georgia Walters, who settled in the Lidgerwood area of the Dakota Territory. Mrs. Walters was a school teacher back in the sod shanty days. Mark Walters died a number of years ago; Mrs. Walters lived to be over one hundred years old. Of their 8 children, only two, a son and a daughter, are still alive.

After living a number of years in the Lidgerwood area, Mark Walters moved his family to Minnesota.

Bernie L. Walters met and married Mabel Negus, and farmed in Minnesota before moving his family to the Valley City area in 1943.

Mabel Negus Walters Nelson sold their farm and house in 1968 and now resides in Valley City.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 260