Knute Anderson and Ragnhild Lysne were born in Sogn, Norway, where they grew to adulthood and were married. They came to the United States with their two boys, Andrew, 7, and James, 3, in 1881. They settled on a farm in Willow Township, Griggs County. Knute Anderson's original surname was Erie but he changed it to Anderson shortly after coming to North Dakota. Three more children were born after coming to North Dakota, David and Caroline who died in infancy and John who farmed the home farm in Willow Township, until ill health forced his retirement.
Andrew Anderson, known to many as A. K. , owned and farmed land in Pilot Mound Township, for many years. This land is now owned and farmed by Ronald Anderson, son of Russell Anderson, and a great-grandson of the Knute Andersons.
James Anderson was the only one of the three boys to marry. He married Mary Bergh and they lived their entire lives on a farm in southern Nelson County close to the original home in Willow Township. James had three children.
Obert, who was married to Bernice Alfson of Binford. They had two daughters:
Rhoda Schmaltz, now of Spokane, Washington, and
Sylvia Lyngby of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Obert passed away in 1942.
Russell married Elaine Alfson of Binford and has spent his entire life on his home farm and farming the original Knute Anderson homestead in Willow Township. He has three children,
Ronald of McVille,
Sharon Winsness of Edina, Minnesota, and
Bradley at home.
Cora Richtman of Fargo, the youngest of James' children lives in Fargo. Her only child, James, lives in Fargo with her.
Knute Anderson died and was buried in Sogn, Norway when he made a trip back to his homeland. His wife, Ragnhild, and sons Andrew, James and John are buried in the family lot in the Norway Lutheran Church cemetery of Aneta. The two children, David and Caroline, who died in infancy, are buried in the Sheyenne Lutheran church cemetery south of Pekin where Andersons belonged when they first came to North Dakota. Later they transferred to the Norway church. Descendants of Knute and Ragnhild now living include a grandson Russel of Pekin, and a granddaughter, Cora Richtman of Fargo, six great -grandchildren and nine great -great -grandchildren.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 493