Ole G. Broten

Ole G. Broten, a brother of John Broten, was born at Krager, Norway on November 16, 1875, the son of Gunvold Broten, an ice shipper.  He came to the United States at the age of 24 and later to Griggs County to make his home on a farm near Walum.

In 1914 he married Ingeborg Norderhaug Brekke who had two daughters, Hilda and Inga.  Three sons were born to them, Garfield, Olaf and Vernon.

Garfield married Clarice Lunn of Hannaford in 1941.  They farmed near Hannaford and then moved to a farm 3 miles west of Dazey where they farmed until he retired due to ill health and moved to Valley City, where Mrs. Broten now resides.  They had one son, Lyle, who is married and living at Fargo.

Olaf married Helen Knuass, December 15, 1940.  They moved on a farm 3 miles west and 1/2 mile south of Dazey, which they later purchased and where they still live.  Their children are: 

  1. Linda (Mrs. Vernon Schuler), Valley City
  2. Louise (Mrs. Paul Henderson), Tower City
  3. James, Grand Forks
  4. Judith Ann at home

VERNON married Grace Kolberg, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Kolberg, October 7, 1941.  They farmed on his father's farm for a number of years, and then moved to Hannaford where they operated the Cafe in part of the Sinclair Building for a few years.  Vernon then became manager of the Hannaford Municipal Store, later moving to Fargo where they now live.  Their children are: 

  1. Larry, married and living in Chicago
  2. Robert, married and living in Chicago
  3. John, married and living in Fargo
  4. Jennifer (Mrs. James Link), Minot
  5. Susan (Mrs. Steven P. Detwiller) whose husband is in the service

Ole G. Broten died on December 3 at his home, one mile west and one mile north of Walum, at the age of 50 years and 17 days.  Mrs. Broten continued to live on the farm until the boys were grown.  She put in many long hours of work to operate the farm until her boys were old enough to farm.

Mrs. Ole (Inga) Broten lived on the farm until the early 40's when she purchased a house in Hannaford just east of the W. D. Sinclair residence.  She lived here until the late 60's when she moved to Fargo to live with her son, Vernon, because of ill health.  She died in July of 1971.

Garfield was in ill health a number of years and died in January of 1972.

Olaf recalls the many trips made on a bus by team to the Bartley School.  It was a long way from their home and they started early and got home late and their feet were often very cold by the end of the trip.  Lunches had to be carried every day.  He recalls, too, that when they went to high school in Hannaford, the room they rented wasn't heated and their soup would be frozen when they wanted to prepare it for a meal.

Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976  Page 218