Rasmus Olson was born October 2, 1866, at Helgeland, Stavanger, Norway. He was baptized and confirmed in the Hoiland Church at Sandnes. At the age of 21, he emigrated to America, first settling at Granite Falls, Minnesota , where he farmed for several years. Then journeying westward by team and wagon, he came to Cooperstown where he engaged in blacksmithing. He returned to Norway in 1904. There he was married to Maria Buggeland June 3, 1906.
He returned to America and resumed his former trade at Cooperstown. In 1907 he came to Hannaford where he again entered the blacksmith business. He continued in his business until his death on October 29, 1940. He was in partnership with John Ober for a number of years. Their son, Otto, took over the business after his death. Otto, their only child, was born at Hannaford on October 6, 1909. He attended school in Hannaford and went into blacksmithing with his father. He married Clara Lerum, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lars Lerum of rural Hannaford, on April 11, 1937, in Hannaford. They were active members of Faith Lutheran Church. Mrs. Olson died August 26, 1957 and Otto died on May 19, 1973 in the Griggs County Nursing Home in Cooperstown. He had retired from his business a number of years before due to ill health.
Their children are:
1. Charlotte Oline, born February 28, 1941 in Hannaford. She attended schools there and worked at Security State Bank before going to Fargo. She attended Business College there and then worked for Northwestern Bell Tel. Company She married Roger Walter Olgard at Hannaford, May 6, 1961. They have two sons:
2. Shawn Scott, born October 6, 1962 in Moorhead, Minnesota and Mark Lane, born October 26, 1967 in Fargo. They make their home in Fargo.
Darrel Richard, born November 11, 1942 in Hannaford. He attended schools there and also North Dakota State University in Fargo, graduating from Concordia College in Moorhead. He worked with the missiles before attending Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul. He married
Phyllis Diane Kent of Casselton on August 17, 1968, in Casselton. They have two sons:
Matthew Kent, born January 21, 1970 in Sisseton, South Dakota while Darrel was an intern pastor at Peever, South Dakota , and Paul Richard, born March 12, 1974, in Redfield, South Dakota when Darrel was serving as pastor in Orient and Falkton, South Dakota. They now make their home in Ellendale, where Darrel is pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church.
Rodney Lane, born September 17, 1948 in Valley City. He attended schools at Hannaford and graduated from Valley City State College. He has been teaching elementary school in Hallock, Minnesota since that time. He married Pauline Kay Wangerud of Fargo, on November 28, 1970, in Fargo. They have one son, Brian Lane, born August 18, 1974, in Grand Forks.
Constance Diane, born July 13, 1951, in Valley City. She attended school in Hannaford and then Valley City State College. On August 28, 1971, she married Lloyd Doyle Hass of Valley City, in Hannaford. They have one son, Kevin Duane, born February 27, 1972. They now live in Fargo, after previously living in Valley City, Grand Forks and Moorhead, Minnesota
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 page 151