Wuflestad History

My dad, Conrad Wuflestad was born in Stavanger, Norway, November 1878.  He came to America in 1886, with his parents, four sisters, and three brothers.  They settled on a farm in Griggs County.  Dad worked on the Cooper Ranch as a young man, the Wuflestad Brothers had a threshing rig too.  Later he attended a business college in Fargo, North Dakota, and Moody Institute in Chicago, Illinois.  He traveled with Reverend Ludwig Lunde, singing together.

Dad married Emma Kopperud at Hawley, Minnesota June 18, 1915.  Mother was born at Grafton, North Dakota in November 1888.  She attended Minnehaka Academy in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and a business college in Fargo, North Dakota.  She did secretarial work before her marriage.  They built a new home on a farm southeast of Cooperstown.  Dad did threshing for others, besides farming and having cattle.  Mother was a busy lady doing her duties.  A son was born in 1916 who died at birth.  October 1917, Ruth was born, who died in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1936.  October 1919 Enoch was born, and July 1923 was my birth date.

Our family enjoyed singing and playing instruments together.  We moved to Minnesota the fall of 1931.  Erick Saxberg, and dad drove horses and hayracks loaded with machinery, the 200-mile trip.  They camped at farm places, nights.  It was a slow trip.  Quite different from the present day way of moving.  Hans Seldal with his truck, and with Oswald Wuflestad's help moved our furniture.

In June of 1951, Maurice Wathne and I were married at Hawley, Minnesota at the same place where mother and dad were married.

We went to the Langford school as kids, as did dad and Maurice's.  We settled west of Cooperstown, on the Wathne farm, where we live at the present time.  Larry was born May 1952.  He attended Cooperstown schools, Valley City College, and is employed at Melroe, Bart was born July 1956.  He attended Cooperstown schools, Wahpeton, S. S. S. , and is employed in a store at Mayville, North Dakota Maurice is employed at Melroe also.  Melroe is a boost to Cooperstown like Cooper's Ranch was.

Dad, mother, and Enoch moved back to Cooperstown in 1956.  Dad died in 1968.  Mother and Enoch reside at the Nursing Home.

We're members of Bethlehem Church.  Also I have enjoyed playing for the Country Four Quartet, and soloist Mike Nevland.

Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 280