From Norway to Pine Lake Township

Five generations of Woldens have or are living on the farm east of Pine Lake making it another Century Farm designation from the State of Minnesota. The Wolden Family received their award at the 2016 Clearwater County Fair.

In the year 1900, Knut Volden learned of the Chippewa Land Rush. Knut lined up on the Chippewa Land Border west of the farm and ran to east to stake his claim.  He ran to the land that is now the Wolden farm south of Gonvick.

Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States signed the certificate on November 2, 1906 that Knut Volden had established and duly consummated in conformity to law his 160 acres of land in Pine Lake Township. 

The Chippewa Land Act required the prospective owner to plant some trees and open a certain amount of acres to grow grain crops. They also had to erect buildings in which to live.  The old log home was built first.  Not long after that a grainery was built so that grain could be stored and Knut and Marit’s sons could live upstairs.

Other people who had claimed land around Knut in that township included: Ino P. Sandeen, Claus J. Grue, Sam Salveson, Hans A. Sletter and TM Vangen.

Knut and Marit immigrated from Valdres, Norway in 1882 and settled in Mayville, ND.  Most families from the Valdres region settled there.  They then moved to Erskine in 1885 where they started a family.  All of their children were born on a farm near Erskine except for their youngest daughter, Nellie.

Knut worked the land himself in Pine Lake Township raising mostly hay right away for the cows, which he cut with a scythe. With his sons helping him they did a lot of clearing of the land.

In the early 1920’s they officially changed their name from “Volden” to “Wolden” as there were two Oscar Voldens on the mail route and they kept getting the mail mixed up.

Knut quit farming in 1924 and his son Oscar Arnt took over the farming. Knut quit farming in 1924 and his son Oscar took over the farming work.  Oscar, a World War One veteran,  married Minnie Sundrud in 1924, and three sons were born to them while still living with his parents in the small log home.  When Oscar received his  Veteran’s “bonus” of $1,500 he had a house built for them on the farm, and there their sons,  Dennis, Marvin and Royce grew up.  Later, a daughter, Eileen, was born also. One day Marvin was carrying wood in for grandma Marit when he was 5 years old with grandpa Knut. Marvin went into the house and told grandma that “grandpa went to sleep and he won’t wake up”. Grandpa Knut died in 1931. 

Oscar bought the farm from the rest of the family in 1941 when his mother Marit died. 

Oscar’s two best horses for work on the farm were named King and Queen. In 1947 he purchased his first tractor a Model A Farmall from his brother Sivert Volden, who had a farm implement business in Gonvick. Sivert never changed his last name to Wolden. 

Going swimming in the summer evenings after the chores were done, was a real treat since there was no running water for showers in the house and they were only one mile west from Pine Lake.  In the winter time Marvin, Dennis and Royce had their trap lines where they caught weasels, muskrat and mink for their hides which were sold to gain spending money. They also cut wood as young men.  They also learned marksmanship by hunting rabbits and partridges in the Buer woods across the road from the farm.

They all attended the District 36 school a “one-room country school house” also known as the Wolden school, because of its nearness to the farm.

In winter times the teacher would stay with the Woldens and pay a small amount for board and room. Zona Granley was one of the teacher’s and as a young single woman married Olaf Buer who lived across the road. Teacher’s salary was about $30.00 a month.

Dennis farmed with his father Oscar until 1950 when he was drafted into the Army, trained as a medic and served in the Korean War, often treating wounded soldiers right in the battlefields.  Wounded twice himself, he returned home but never completely recovered and passed away in 1956. He is buried in Bethlehem Cemetery south of Gonvick, the church that the Wolden family attended for many years.

Eileen Hanson passed away in 1997 and is buried in Itasca Calvary Cemetery near Grand Rapids. Royce  Wolden lives in Sawyer, Michigan with his wife Marilyn. 

Oscar farmed alone until Marvin started farming in 1962. Marvin worked for the Duluth Mesabi and Iron Range Railroad where he retired in 1992.

Marvin met and married his sweetheart,  Mary Lou Arveson in June of 1957, while she was working in the telephone office in Thief River Falls.  They raised five children:  Evelyn, Wayne, Alan, Kevin and Matthew.  In his retirement,  Marvin and Mary Lou now live on the home farm with Matthew and his son Carl where Matt also helps keep up the farm for his parents.  

Evelyn has recently returned to the home farm from Hibbing where she had worked as a nurse.  She has two daughters: Emily and Amanda. Now Evie works part time for Essentia Health in Fosston.

Wayne is married to Lori (Johnson) of Clearbrook and they live in Wadena. They have three children: Tyler, Justin and Christina.  Wayne is the Business Manager with Minnesota State Community and Technical College.  

Alan is married to Jackie (Hazeman) and they live in Bemidji.  They have a son, Hunter.  Alan is a teacher with Red Lake School System.

Kevin lives in rural Trail and he has one daughter, Autumn.  Kevin works for Red Lake Rosie. 

Royce married Marilyn Carlson of Morton Grove, IL, while they were attending St. Paul Bible College, in preparation for Christian Ministry,  They have three children: Tim (Anna) of Nehalam, Oregon,  Tami (Kirk) of Woodinville, Washington and Terry at home. After serving churches for 40 years in ministries they are retired and living in Bethany Beach near Sawyer, Michigan.

Eileen passed away in 1957 while living  in Bovey. Eileen’s children are Steve, who is working in North Dakota, Joanie, rural Grand Rapids, Tom in Hawaii,  Jeri in Calumet, and Jana in Deer River.

Congratulations to the Woldens.