My husband and I came to Griggs County in April 1946 from Seattle, Washington. Lasse had been discharged from the Army the previous fall, having spent 21h years stationed at Fortaleza, Brazil, with the Army Air Force. I had taught school at Svea Consolidated, Litchville, North Dakota, for two years and Solway, Minnesota, for seven years. Lasse wanted to resume farming as he had farmed in Foster County previous to World War II. He asked L. A. Sayer to let us know if there were any farms for rent, and in March he called us in Seattle. Mr. and Mrs. HERMAN MICHAELIS wanted renters. This is how we happened to come to Griggs County and establish our first home on the Michaelis farm. They continued to live in the "big" house while we lived on the same farmstead in the "small" house. These were happy years in spite of no modern conveniences. Our three children were born while we lived there:
Lasse bought Herman's machinery, cattle and horses. The International H tractor was our first new equipment and is still in use and in good condition
In the fall of 1948, the year Ronnie was born, we had our first electricity. (We had had a stand-by plant for a couple of years.) We remember the night the lights went on in our Section of the county. They twinkled in the dark night like so many stars because everyone had their yard light on. Then came all the modern electrical appliances and conveniences that accompany electricity. What is so amazing is that we didn't have them until 1948. We were indeed entering a new era.
Lasse was born in Griggs County near West Prairie Church where his parents had settled after arriving from Norway in the early 1900's. They moved to Foster County in 1918. He again became a Griggs County resident in 1946 when we moved to the Cooperstown area. I was born at Juanita in Foster County, on the same farm HIS parents later owned and which we now own in partnership with Alton Hegvik.
Lasse raised pure-bred Shorthorn cattle for a time. He was a 4-H leader and our children were active in 4H. His health greatly curtailed his farming operation, but he continued actively engaged in farming until 1974.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 312