Louis and Mabel (Gilliland) Bruhn were both born in Pipestone County, Minnesota. Louis was born in Sweet Township to Peter and Matilda Bruhn on January 23, 1903, and Mabel to Samuel and Matie Gilliland in Troy Township on September 14, 1907. They were united in marriage on June 23, 1928 in Madison, Minnesota and began housekeeping in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, later living in Vermillion, Iroquois and De Smet. They moved to Valley City in September of 1938 when Louis began teaching in the Business Department of Valley City State Teachers College.
Louis was a member of the Valley City Commission for four years and Mayor for eight years. He has been associated with the Methodist Church, Kiwanis, Masonic Lodge, Shrine, Eagles, Square Dance Callers, Boy Scouts, Barnes County Wildlife and is listed in the Outstanding Educators of America and other state and national Who's Who publications.
Mabel taught a rural school in Pipestone County before her marriage and after moving to Valley City completed an elementary degree at Valley City State Teachers College in 1951. She accepted a position as half-time kindergarten teacher in the Valley City Public Schools, later becoming a full-time teacher in which position she continued until her retirement in 1973.
Both of the Bruhn children were born in South Dakota - Shirley Lou in Iroquois on November 26, 1934 and David Samuel on November 14, 1937 in De Smet. They are both graduates of the Valley City College High School. Shirley attended STC for 2 years then transferred to the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks where she was granted a degree in Physical Education and Music. After 2 years as Educational Director of the Methodist Church and the YWCA in Mason City, Iowa, she was employed by the YWCA in Honolulu for 2 years. She then returned to the Mainland and received her M.A. in Theology at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She taught one year in the Physical Education department of Highland Park High School before marrying C. A. Lindsay on June 26, 1965. They now reside in Lake Forest, Illinois.
David attended STC for one year and then transferred to the Forestry School, Fisheries Division in Moscow, Idaho at the University of Idaho where he received his B.S. degree. He was employed by the North Dakota Wildlife Service for a short time before joining the National Fisheries Service with added training in the Interior Department in Washington, DC and Marion, Alabama. He has been a National Fish Hatchery manager in Manchester, Iowa and Cook, Washington and has been manager of a trout hatchery for the past two years in Hagerman, Idaho.
David is married to the former Marlene Graveen of Valley City, who also graduated from the University of Idaho, with an elementary degree. They have 4 children - Tamara 18 years, Monte 16 years, Samuel 8 years and Tony 5 years.
The Louis Bruhns continue to make their home in Valley City where they enjoy their hobbies and do some traveling to other parts of this country and abroad.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 37