Louise Kaas was born in Veldre, Hedmark, Norway, July 10, 1855, the daughter of Kristian and Pernille Kaas. She - as baptized in the Veldre Church. In 1861, when she was six years old the family left for the United States. Taking passage on the sailing ship NORDLYSET at Oslo, they arrived in Quebec, Canada, July 10 of that year after 11 weeks and three days on the ocean. There was much sickness among the passengers and many, mostly children, died and were buried in the Atlantic.
The family came to Long Coulee, Wisconsin near LaCross, where a brother of Mr. Kaas had settled three years previously. Three years later, July 1866, they moved to Pigeon Falls, where Mr. Kaas secured land, built a home for his family, and remained the rest of his life.
The oldest of six children, Louise began teaching at 16 years. When her mother died she had to take her youngest brother Albert, then of pre-school age, along with her to school when she taught. Her first school term she received $22 a month. She recalled vividly the days when she taught 85 robust boys and girls in the one room school provided at that time. After 15 years of teaching in Wisconsin she went to Cass County, North Dakota and taught schools in the Fargo vicinity until 1889, when she moved to Griggs County. Here she continued to teach until she retired in 1918. She taught in rural schools in the Mabel Township area and in and around Walum. When teaching in the Goplen School in Greenfield Township she would walk back and forth to Hannaford weekends. Following her public school teaching of 40 years she taught Sunday School for 20 years.
Soon after moving to Griggs County, Louise built a home in Hannaford. That was in 1907. She continued to reside in Hannaford until 1947 when she moved to the home of a niece, Mrs. Melvin Jackson, in Minneapolis. She died February 11, 1951 at the age of 94 years and seven months. Of six brothers and sisters, Louise was the last survivor.
Louise Kaas was a faithful member of the Hannaford Lutheran Church. Although she never married, she was intensely interested in young people and they loved to visit her home.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 142