Bennie was born January 21, 1883, to John and Kari Haugen at Ada, Minnesota. That same year, the family came to Griggs County and homesteaded in Greenfield Township. They lived in a sod shanty. A story is told about severe conditions. It was so cold that Beanie's hair froze to the wall while he was sleeping.
When Beanie was about nine years old, he and his older brother, Henry, began to ride oxen out in the field and learned how to farm watching their father. Farming was a life of hardship but the Norwegians were very hard working and determined to make the best of a situation.
Beanie married Oline (Horvie) Harvey. She left Norway March 10, 1909, with a friend, Carrie Horvie. They traveled three weeks crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Ellis Island, through which immigrants had to pass, was a welcome sight. After they had passed the immigration check, they came by train to Hannaford where Oline's sister, Bertha, Mrs. Henry Haugen, lived. Oline met Henry's brother, Beanie, and on December 11, 1909, they were married at Union Church.
They began farming on rented land until 1917. That year they bought 320 acres for $45 per acre. There was a house on the land. The basement was dug into a small knoll with a top story of wood. This house was too damp to live in so they built a new house with a full basement. It was a three-story house with hardwood floors. This was the home in which I (Sylvia Peterson) was born. There were fun filled days for the younger children who used the old house for a playhouse. There was also a thick grove of trees where we played and made special childhood memories.
The terms under which my folks bought their land stated that one-half the income would go to the owners and the other half to my folks. My dad had to pay the taxes and the farming expenses; whatever was left he could spend on his family. He was to do this until the land was paid for. In 1930, the farm prices dropped and by 1932, he had to let the land go back to the original owners. Depression prices were so low that they sold wheat for 20 per bushel; oats for 5 per bushel; cattle at $20 per head. Drought and hail also took a toll of the crops.
My recollection of our early farm life was one of varied hardships. Often it was a struggle for survival but there were times of joy and fun also, which helped us to appreciate and love one another.
My dad entertained his family with his violin which we dearly loved to hear. In his younger days, he played for family wedding dances and also played the alto bass horn in the community band. Our entertainment at home was music. Piano, guitars, banjo and mouth organs were played as nearly everyone in our family was able to play some instrument or sing.
I recall seeing my dad and older brothers repairing the harnesses with rivets; making rope on a special apparatus; mending canvas the best they could so it could be used another year; sharpening sickles on a foot pedaled grindstone. All these tasks were completed by many of the men with no labor saving devices available to them.
Our mother was a competent homemaker. She made bread, lefse, flat bread, but not very many sweets. We often had homemade ice cream when ice was available. She was a self-taught woman who learned the English language by reading many books and newspapers. She had an attitude of unselfishness, patience and gentleness with her family. Our parents were two very courageous people who brought us a great heritage which we cherish.
In 1937, my folks bought a farm in Dover Township and there they found a much less stressful life as they made a new life for their family.
By the end of the 1950s, Dad's health was failing so the brothers, Norman, Melford and Clarence continued the farming operation. In 1959, Bennie and Oline celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with only the immediate family and their brothers and sisters attending due to Bennie's failing health. Bennie passed away May 12, 1960. Oline died on April 11, 1977, after spending her last four years in the Griggs County Nursing Home.
Eleven children were born to Bennie and Oline:
1. Sophie (Mrs. Harvey Peterson);
2. Oscar, single, deceased;
3. Clarence (Gertrude Johnson Jones) deceased;
4. Bernice (Glen Cowing);
5. Lillian (Mrs. Alvin Lesley;
6. Mildred (Mrs. Wesley Dawson) deceased;
7. Sylvia (Mrs. Lesle Peterson);
8. Esther (Mrs. John Thompson);
9. Norman;
10. Melford;
11. Beverly (Mrs. Oliver Cooper).
Source: Hannaford Area History North Dakota Centennial 1889 - 1989 Page 133