Hans Bernard Omdal was born in Haugesund, Norway July 16, 1872. He was educated in Norway, attended a military academy and served in the Norwegian army. His trade in Norway was a stonemason.
He married Karen Hansel in Norway, and they came to the United States in 1904. They spent the first winter in Grand Forks, and then moved to Shepard, North Dakota in Griggs County, where they lived a few months with the Andrew Brosten family. Then they moved into Shepard where H. B. managed the grain elevator. He also managed elevators in Mose and Binford, and bought a farm in Rosendal Township on which they built a house, barn, and other outbuildings.
Hans and Karen had six children.
Lars,
Nels, and
Bjarne, born in Norway,
Charles,
Erling, and
Myrtle born in Shepard.
In 1934 they retired, moving to Grand Forks. Mrs. Omdal died in 1935, and Hans died in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1960, at the age of 88.
Lars Omdal, the oldest son of Hans and Karen, was married to Laura Petterson in 1919, and for three years they farmed in Rosendal Township. For several years they farmed near McHenry, then in 1940 they moved to the farm Hans B. Omdal built in Rosendal Township. They farmed there until 1953 when they moved to Fargo. They lived in Fargo ten years, and then moved back to Binford, where Lars worked for the Edlund Garage. He is now retired.
Lars and Laura have six children:
Clifford,
Alma (Mrs. Kenneth Overby),
Myrtle (Mrs. Gordon Overby) all of Binford
Lillian (Mrs. Roy Overby) Fargo, North Dakota
Florence (Mrs. Ray Bruer) of Hopkins, Minnesota and
Marvin who lives in San Angelo, Texas.
Clifford Omdal married Evelyn Rockvoy of Willow City in 1967 and they are farming on the Omdal farm in Rosendal Township.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 417