Marcus B. Tufteland was born in Bergen Township, Nelson Company, North Dakota - then Dakota Territory, to Mr. and Mrs. Knute Tufteland who were pioneers in Nelson Company He received his education through eighth grade in a rural school. He took his High School and College training at Augsburg College and attended Augsburg Seminary, the University of Wisconsin and Luther Seminary, and was ordained into the ministry on June 13, 1920. His first parish was at Cass Lake, Minnesota
His wife, Mary Collins, was born on a farm near Backus, Minnesota In 1909 the family moved to Mekinock, North Dakota. In 1916 the family moved to Cass Lake. After graduating from High School she was employed at Cass Lake. Marcus and Mary were married on September 11, 1923 at the Trinity Lutheran Church at Cass Lake.
In the fall of 1924 the Tuftelands moved to Griggs Company North Dakota where Reverend Tufteland served the Kloten Lutheran Parish which included besides the Kloten Church, Norway Church nine miles west of Aneta and the West Prairie Church which is in Griggs Company This Parish he served for thirty-two years. There was forty acres of land with the Parsonage and a neighbor rented the land for many years. The Tuftelands had a few head of cattle and raised some chickens and turkeys.
The Tuftelands were the parents of Kenneth, born August 12, 1924, and Mildred born May 25, 1928. Kenneth and his wife, the former Viola Nelson live on a ranch near the Heart River at New Salem, North Dakota Mildred and her husband, Luther Lee resided in Fargo for many years and for the last few years at St. Cloud, Minnesota They have 4 children.
The Tuftelands often recall the snow winters 19551956 when the roads were blocked for several weeks. A mailbag was dropped from an airplane at the Parsonage and neighbors would come to pick up their mail. One of the first winters Reverend Tufteland served here the coulee between the parsonage and the West Prairie Church was so filled with snow the horses fell through and were unable to move. Reverend Tufteland had to unhitch them so they could manage to get out. After making a track they were hitched to the end of the tongue and finally got the bus up the hill. One time Reverend Tufteland walked all the way to West Prairie to conduct a funeral service but was fortunate in getting a ride back. One spring when the roads were bad his son took him to West Prairie with a tractor.
Pastor and Mrs. Tufteland recall many pleasant memories during their stay in Griggs Company In the summer of 1928 the three congregations surprised them with a new Model A. Ford. In 1948 the congregations, friends and relatives gave them another pleasant surprise on their Silver Wedding Anniversary.
When Reverend Tufteland retired from the Parish in 1956 all three of the congregations had farewell parties for him and his family. In 1973 the Tuftelands were again honored on their Golden Wedding Anniversary by members of all three congregations.
The last memorable event that they attended in Griggs Company was the 90th Anniversary of the West Prairie Church on Sunday May 18, 1975 where they enjoyed meeting so many West Prairie friends from Griggs Company and some from Nelson Company, and some of the former Pastors and wives. Bishop Nelson Preus was also present for the occasion and delivered the sermon in the forenoon.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 382