Helmer Christenson came into the world on September 15, 1900, on a farm in southern Minnesota during a severe electrical storm that killed three cows and seven pigs on his folks' farm. His father must have wondered if it was a fair trade. Helmer was the third son of Hans and Marie (Matheslad) Christenson, there being two older brothers; Palmer and Joe, and two older sisters, Emma and Rolla.
A younger brother, Milton, was born later in North Dakota. At the age of one, he moved with the family to northern Minnesota to reside for three years before coming to North Dakota, and the Dazey area, where he resided to the present time. He received his education in the Dazey schools with one term at the University of North Dakota. During his lifetime, he served on numerous boards, local as well as county, and on one state board (F.H.A.). While serving on school. boards at Dazey and North Central of Barnes, he enjoyed the privilege of handing a high school diploma to each of his four children upon their graduation. He has been a lifetime member of the Lutheran Church, and a member of I.O.O.F. Lodge for 52 years.
In 1934 he was united in marriage with Myrle Goheen of Russel, North Dakota, a teacher who had attained her training at Minot State College. They settled on a farm 1½ miles south of Dazey where they have now resided for 41 years. To this union were born four children; two girls and two boys.
Daughter Lois was the first-born, on December 25, 1935. Lois took nurses' training at Jamestown College, attaining a RN Degree. She and her husband, Rick Getty, have one daughter, Sandy. Son Larry was born February, 1938. He graduated from the University of North Dakota and from Law School at the University of Minnesota. He and his wife, Darlene, have one daughter and one son. Daughter Carol was born December, 1941. She attained her degree in elementary education at the University of North Dakota. After some teaching, she married Fred Speaker, and they have two daughters. Son Carter was born May, 1946, graduated from the University of North Dakota, and stayed to acquire a Master's Degree in Biology and Fish and Wildlife. Employed by the Federal Government, he is stationed at Bismarck, North Dakota, where he lives with his wife, Gwen, one son and two daughters.
Myrle and Helmer Christenson have attained their goal in life. Their children grown and gone. They have retired from farming and now they "Live in a house by the side of the road (North Dakota # 1) to be a friend to man."
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 46