Arne Lima was born at Gjesdal near Stavanger, Norway on July 4, 1872. Like so many others he decided to seek his fortune in the land of opportunity and in the spring of 1893 he emigrated to America.
He had borrowed money for his ticket so the uppermost thought in his mind was to find work as soon as possible in order that he might pay off this debt. He worked for different farmers from time to time and for a number of years he worked at the R. C. Cooper Ranch, as did also his brother Ole. His sister, Ane Vatne, worked for Mrs. Cooper.
Later he filed on a homestead in Broadview Township where he put up a small claim shanty. After living in this one-room shanty for some time, he had HANS SELDAL build a two-room house. In the kitchen he had a range, which served for heating as well as for cooking. Much of the time flax straw was the main fuel used. One night after he had gone to bed in the other room he noticed in the darkness something glittering in the region of the chimney, and upon closer investigation he found that the rags he had stuffed into the chimney hole to keep the smoke from coming into his room had caught fire. The fire was quickly extinguished but this would no doubt have ended in tragedy had he been asleep.
After a few years he bought an adjoining quarter Section of land. Many and varied were his experiences as he began farming in 1902. He did his cooking and washing, and from a neighbor he learned to make bread. In order that he might learn to speak, read and write the English language he attended the Freer School for a couple of, winters at the end of which time he received an eighth grade diploma. Upon being asked by his teacher what he now was going to do he replied that he was going to be a farmer.
In due time he became tired of being a bachelor and on his third visit to Norway to decided to look for a helpmeet. He became acquainted with Karoline Vormedal from Haugesund, whom he married and brought with him back to America. He continued to live on the farm until his death, which occurred in 1954. His wife passed away in 1969.
He was very much interested in politics and civic affairs. He helped organize the Karnak Farmer's Elevator Company in 1916 and he served as its secretary -treasurer for many years. He also served as Township supervisor and as Township clerk.
Their four children include:
Ragnhild (Mrs. Gilbert Johnson), Hope, North Dakota, Gunhild (Mrs. Virgil DeCerbo), East Quogue, N. Y. , Ansgar, Phoenix, Arizona and Jacob, Leonard, North Dakota
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 241