Evan W. Everson was born in East Toten, Norway, April 29, 1857, one of nine children born to Andrew (1826-1892) and Johanna (1828-1904) Everson. At the age of nine he came to America with his father. He was on his own, working for his board and room and going to school when he could. His father worked to pay for their passage, and to make enough to bring the rest of his family over. Being right after the Civil War, times were hard. At the age of 23, Evan came to Dakota Territory. He worked as a cook on the railway around Mapleton. He filed on the first homestead in Greenfield Township in 1890.
Evan met Betsy, who came from Norway with her brother, Martin. Betsy worked in a hotel in Sanborn. In 1884, he sold his claim and returned to Riverfalls, Wisconsin, where his family had settled and he and Betsy were married. They returned to Walum Community in 1892, where Julia, Edwin, Benton, Myrtle and Axle were born. Later adopting Helen.
Betsy's father came to Walum Community in 1888, and filed a claim which Evan moved on to in 1894. In 1922, he moved into Walum.
He served three terms in the State Legislature, 1912, 1914 and 1916, representing the 16th District, Griggs and Steele counties. Always a Republican, he joined the Non-Partisan League. Later he fought the League when he disagreed with Townley and other leaders of the movement. He organized the Independent Voters Assn., became the first president and served for several years.
From 1923-1928, he operated a General Store in partnership with his son-in-law, Oscar Gilbertson. He passed away in 1931. Betsy moved to Kalispel, where she lived with her daughter, Adeline until her death in 1944, at the age of 82.
Clara (1885-1978) married Oscar Gilbertson in 1912. He was Depot Agent in Walum from 1913 to 1928, when he moved to Binford. While in Walum, five children were born. Olive 1913, Everett 1916, Donald 1918, Violet 1920-1976, Roy 1923-1988.
Oscar died in 1939, after which the family moved to Kalispell, where Roy finished school. Clara then moved to Tacoma, Washington, Roy on to Concordia.
Everett went into the Lutheran ministry. His first parish was in Crosby, North Dakota, then Absarokee, Montana, and Brookings, South Dakota, after which he was Deacon of the South Dakota District. He married Olivia Torvik. They had six children.
Donald went into the Lutheran ministry, married Jannett in 1945. They have four children and served in California.
Olive married Pastor Wm. Hood. They served in Montana, Ladysmith, Wisconsin, and Washington, where Bill died of cancer. Olive still lives in Washington. She has three children.
Roy went into the ministry, married Gwen Haugen in 1948. First parish was Hannaford 1949-1953. Then Plains and Hot Springs, South Dakota, 1953-1956; New Town, 1956-1964; Williston, 1968-1971. From 1971-1984, he was Deacon of the Western North Dakota District. In 1987, Roy and Gwen went to Issaquah, Washington, where Gwen still resides. They have one son, Joel, of Bismarck. Julie Sherburne, East Glacier, Montana; and Martha Sutor, Bellevue, Washington.
1888-1962: Adeline Cooley lived in Kalispell a number of years, then moved to Medford, Oregon, where she died. She had one daughter, Lillian Grilley (1912-1974).
1890-1987: Mabel married Hans C. Jenson in 1917. They lived in California until after his death. Mabel then moved to Texas to be with her sons, Elwood, Gerald and Paul. One daughter, Arlene (1922-1923).
1892-1931: Julia married John Danielson in 1914. He died in 1920, after which she spent most of her time in California.
1889: Myrtle married Ernest Iverson (1898-1968). They had three children: Elsworth (1922-1941), Geraldine (1927-1932), and Herbert (1937). He married Francis Benton in 1975. They both teach music in California.
1911: Helen married Elmer Gilbertson in 1932. They lived in Kalispell, Montana. They had two children: Geraldine (1934-1959), and James (1937). Elmer has passed away and Helen still lives in her home at Kalispell.
1894-1982: Edwin Everson grew up on the homestead. He was married to Sylvie Brunberg (1869-1964), from Menahga, Minnesota, daughter of John Brunberg and Betsy Brunberg (1874-1954). They raised 14 children: John, Thelma, Virginia, Marion, Robert, Wallace, Lowrence, Leonard, Carol, Edna, Norma, Irene, Ralph and James.
Edwin had an interest in many things. Loved horses, fox hunting with his hounds, horse racing, and people. Times were hard in the '30s, but with his horse and cattle doctoring, selling cream, we always had food on the table. He made black salve and liniment, which always took care of any injuries, aches and pains we had. It also worked on the cows and horses. He bought wild horses. I'm sure we had more run-aways than anyone in the neighborhood and if you walked through the pasture you could still pick up a piece of harness. We learned to master them. Later it was horse racing. Bob, Wallace, Carol, Norma and Irene rode in the races.
Edwin loved his church always serving in some capacity. He was Greenfield assessor for 38 years. He was known as Gum Grandpa to great grandchildren.
Sylvia gave her family all the love they could ask for. She never asked anything for herself. People who came mostly went home with cream, eggs, milk or a loaf of fresh bread. If we were sick, she would always cook something special for us. We all brought home our friends and had sleighing parties. She managed to feed them.
John (1919), served in the Navy in World War II. He was stationed at the ammo depot in Glenville, Nebraska. He met and married Evelyn Ockingay in 1947. They have one son, David, in Virginia; Linda Niehart, Massachusetts; Lois Rhodes and Janice Ekstrum, Colorado.
Thelma (1921), Mrs. Vernon Rondestvedt. They have a daughter, Darlene Miller, in Binford; Dian Pella, Cooperstown; Donelda Heyerdahl, Hannaford; and Donald in Northwood. They lived in Dazey until 1976, when they moved to Cooperstown. Daughter Ronny (1945-1952).
Virginia (1923), Mrs. Bernard Rondestvedt in 1946. They have a son, Bernard John, Colorado; Rodney (Rocky), Northwood; Tim, Spiritwood; Roger, Hannaford; and a daughter, Penny Dahl, Cooperstown.
Marion (1925), Mrs. Ernest Johnson, lives on the old homestead. Her son, Randy, in Valley City; Gary in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota; Herbert in Fargo. Daughters, Pamala Strawn, Fargo; Stephanie Lind, Texas; and Claudia Milnar, Indiana.
Robert (1926-1971) served overseas in the Army in World War II. He married Dorothy Rahlf. They had seven children listed in Walum history.
Wallace (1928) served in the Army Paratroops. He has one son, Kenny, in Valley City. Wallace and Delila lived in Glenville, Nebraska
Lowrence (1930) and his wife, Anna, live in Cabozon, California He served in the Marines in the Korean War. He has six children, all in California. Sylvia, Mark, Sharon, John, Kristen and Loren.
Leonard (1930) and his wife, Marilyn, live in Clay Center, Nebraska He served in the Army in Korea. He has five children, all in Nebraska. Jean Swenson, Tony, Mary Lou Drudik, and Joe. Karen Brown in Wyoming.
Carol (1932), Mrs. Burnell Graves, lives in Longmont, Colorado. She has six children. Debra Griffin and Scott in Nebraska; Terry, Sonja Hernandez, Terry, Todd and Tawnya in Colorado.
Edna (1934), Mrs. Roy Gunn, Austin, Texas, has six children. Lloyd, Arizona; Wayne, Wyoming; Lonnie, Hillsboro; Wesley, Cooperstown; Linda Otto, Colorado; Wanda Stark, Germany.
Norma (1936), Mrs. Gary Olson, Roll, Arizona, lost her son, James (1955-1979), in a motorcycle accident and another son, John, at six months from crib death. She has a daughter, Constance, and a son, Everett, in Arizona.
Irene (1938), Mrs. Sid Grande, lives in Wellton, Arizona She has one daughter, Sara Thorlin, Fort Lewis, Washington
Ralph (1941) and his wife, Paulette, live in Valley City, where he works at Montana Dakota Utilities. Paulette works at Valley City Clinic. They have three sons: Shad, Rocky and Brent, all of Valley City. He served in the National Guard.
James (1944), lives on the farm with his mother. He served in the National Guard. They have lived there for 50 years.
Source: Hannaford Area History North Dakota Centennial 1889 - 1989 Page 109