Hans Kristian Dommersness, known as Krist, was born March 16, 1889, in Vikebyd, Norway. His parents were Knut and Helga Dommersness. They had three sons: Hans, Edward and Krist.
Dina Johanna Eidsvag was born December 11, 1889, at Tittelsness, Norway. Her parents were Daniel and Johanna Eidsvag. They had eight children: Kia, Olava, Anna, Gunnar, Dina, Johan, Andreas and Kristopher.
Vikebyd and Tittelsness were small fishing and farming villages. Money was scarce. Both the men and women worked hard to make a living. The average size farms were 10-20 acres. Krist heard about America and the big farms there, so he decided to go to America, to settle in North Dakota. He said goodbye to his parents and brother, Hans, never to see them again. He settled near Rogers, North Dakota. His brother, Edward, had gone there earlier. Later he sent for his bride to be, Dina Eidsvag, of Tittelsness, Norway. Dina worked in a Matt Butik (grocery store) in Tittelsness. Krist and Dina were married December 13, 1909, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They rented a farm near Rogers, North Dakota. They milked cows and raised grain crops. Krist's brother, Hans, remained in Norway. He farmed and worked in a Sparebank (bank).
Krist changed his name from Dommersness to Knutson, using his father's first name and adding son. Dina changed her name from Eidsvag to Olson. They had 13 children.
1. Hilmer, born January 26, 1910, died February 28, 1988.
2. Daniel, born August 26, 1911.
3. Henry, born July 16, 1912.
4. Olaf, born March 26, 1914, died January 30, 1974.
5. Otto, born January 22, 1916, died December 27, 1925.
6. Christine, born April 26, 1917.
7. David, born April 6, 1919.
8. Hans, born May 16, 1921.
9. John, born February 26, 1923, died March 3, 1923.
10. Carrie, born February 22, 1924.
11. Carl, born February 11, 1926, died February 13, 1989.
12. Agnes, born October 1, 1927.
13. Robert, born February 9, 1929.
The older children attended a one-room rural school near Rogers, North Dakota. They could only speak the Norwegian language, so had to learn the English language in school. Farming was done with horses and horse drawn machinery. Later, Krist and Dina heard of a farm for rent near Hannaford. This sounded good to them, so they rented a farm west of Hannaford and moved their family there. Krist's brother, Edward and his family, moved to Grafton, North Dakota. Tractors were being built at that time, so Krist purchased his first tractor, a Hart Parr. Farming was easier now. The older sons had left home and were working on farms as farm laborers. Hilmer in the Civilian Conservation Corps, and agency authorized by the government to hire unemployed men for public conservation work.
The younger children attended Bartley School. Krist and his older sons drove a school bus in the winter, a covered horse drawn sleigh with a little wood stove in the center of it. Benches were on either side of the stove for the children to sit on. Krist or his sons would get up early, fire up the wood stove, hitch up the horses and leave for school, picking up the neighborhood children on the way to school and bringing us home after school. We children welcomed the warmth from the stove in the cold North Dakota winters.
Later Krist and Dina purchased three quarters of land, one mile north and three miles west of Hannaford, so they moved their family to their new home, a treeless farm on the flat prairie.
Three of Krist and Dina's sons served in the Armed Forces during World War II. Olaf was stationed in Australia and the South Pacific. Hans was stationed in England and Carl in Korea. They all returned home safely after the war. Robert stayed home and helped his dad farm, milk cows and raise sheep.
Hilmer married Mary Lockwood of rural Valley City. They farmed near Hastings, North Dakota. When Hilmer retired, they moved into Valley City. The had seven children: Alvin, Jerry, Kenneth, Dale, Darlene, Judy and Shirley. Shirley died June 29, 1981. Hilmer died February 28, 1988.
Daniel married Maggie Dickinson Rhuberg of Park Rapids, Minnesota. Maggie was a widow with three children: Clifford, Donald and Betty. Daniel and Maggie have a son, Daniel, Jr. Daniel worked as a farm laborer. He retired and lives at Jessie, North Dakota.
Henry married Elsie Larson of rural Valley City. They have five children: Ira, Eldred, Judy, Bonnie and Eugene. Henry worked on farms for many years. He retired and lives in Sharon, North Dakota.
Christine married John Cook, Jr., of rural Valley City. They have five children: Jeanette, Kathleen, Dorothy, William and Marjorie. John farmed and worked in an agricultural office in the court house in Valley City. He died in 1971.
David married Irene Iverson of Sanborn, North Dakota. They have five children: David, Jr., Timothy, Brian, Joyce and Mitchel. Timothy died in a car accident in Minot, North Dakota, September 1, 1976. David worked as a mechanic. He retired and lives in Jamestown, North Dakota.
Carl married Leona Mortenson of Hannaford. They have four children: Duane, RoxAnne, Ronda and Kevin. Carl owned and managed Knutson Implement of Baldwin, Wisconsin, for many years. Due to ill health, he sold his business and worked as a salesman and farmed. Carl died February 13, 1989.
Carrie graduated from Hannaford High School and then worked as secretary in the court house in Valley City. She married Dan McDonald of Valley City. They have four children: Carol, Karen, Daniel, Jr., and LeRoy. Dan owned and managed McDonald Construction. He retired and they live near Raymond, Washington.
Agnes graduated from Hannaford High School, attended Valley City State Teachers College. She taught one-room rural schools for five years. She married Edwin Johnson of rural Cooperstown. They have sons, Neal, Nolan, Jeffrey and Bjarne. Edwin farmed. He retired and they live near Cooperstown, North Dakota
Hans married Clara Reitan of rural Valley City. They have six children: Albert, Jane, LeRoy, Linda, Allan and Steven. Hans worked for Boise Cascade Paper Mill until his retirement. They live near International Falls, Minnesota.
Robert is a resident of the Memorial Rest Home of Michigan, North Dakota.
Olaf died January 30, 1974, at the Soldiers Home at Hot Springs, South Dakota, where he had made his home, He was a farmer.
Krist Knutson died July 31, 1963, and Dina, January 3, 1965.
Source: Hannaford Area History North Dakota Centennial 1889 - 1989 Page 182