Marshall County, South Dakota

Early Norwegian Settlement

Kristian Klefstad, Østen Klefstad, Amund Viken, Karl Viken, and John Paulsen, all from Fron, Gudbrandsdalen, were the first Norwegian settlers in Marshall County. They came from Chippewa County, Minnesota, and settled in the vicinity of Kidder in 1882. They were followed by Ole Ruswick from Hemne; John Hovren and James Hovren from Øyer; Paul Holen, Ole Holen, and Jacob Hansen from Fron; as well as Nels Odland, B. C. Odland, Iver Amundsen, M. H. Leland, Christ Stakke, John Olsen, Ole J. Olsen, and Bernt Mathisen. During the early years, the settlers lived in dugouts. Milnor, about thirty-five miles away, was their nearest post office and market. They hauled wheat and other farm products there by ox team and purchased their supplies there.

Settlement among the Indians

The first white settler in the Marlow area, among the Indians, was Siver Flexhaug from Ringerike. The first settlers in the Storm area were Christian Nilsen from Aure; Hans Thomson from the Trondheim area; Johannes Svendsen; and Ole Hannem. 

Churches and Congregations

Pleasant Valley Congregation was established at Kidder in 1884 and was the first Norwegian congregation in the county. Its first pastor was Knud O. Storlie, who at that time belonged to the Norwegian Synod. By 1905, Marshall County had six Norwegian congregations and four churches. Five congregations belonged to the United Church and one to Hauge’s Synod.

Public Office

Ole Ruswick, who later served in the Legislature, was the first Norwegian to hold county office. He was elected Commissioner in 1885. That same year, John Haverli was elected to the Dakota Territory Legislature.

Norwegian Place Names

Norwegian place names in Marshall County included Nordland and Veblen.

Sources:

[Ulvestad, Martin. Nordmændene i Amerika. Utg. History Book Company's Forlag. Minneapolis, Minn. 1907.]