David Rolfsrud was among the first of our relatives to greet and welcome us to the Rolfsrud Reunion Saturday. David is the great grandson of Norwegian immigrants Nils and Rebecca Rolfsrud, who homesteaded land in Western North Dakota over a century ago.
David, and other Rolfsruds, still work the orginal land. . . and many more acres. Nils and Rebecca had five children who have all passed on. But descendents from each one came from far and wide Saturday for a celebration and time of respect for those who worked so hard to make good lives for their families.
Principal organizers were David's dad, Harold Rolfsrud, as well as Rosalie Veeder and Karen Kirmis. Their children and others worked to see that there was plenty to eat at the Keene Dome and that everyone had a great time. They succeeded.(Photo info: Top photo is of David Rolfsrud. He lives with his wife, Gena, and sons, Ty and Cole at the Rolfsrud Ranch. Shading her eyes to meet relatives on a Sunny Saturday morning was Larry and Carolyn Veeder's daughter, Julia Crozier. She's an artist like her Dad and lives in Winona with her family. At right is Rosalie Veeder, a principal reunion organizer, who asked her daughter, Tara Joan Jackson, to photograph the event. Below are Rena's sons, Gerald and Bennie Veeder. Gerald worked for 32 years for Carolina Freight Carriers in Cherryville, North Carolina. His brother is a retired minister who graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with a degree in Ministerial studies. More photo info below.)
After a couple hours of visiting and eating, each family history and makeup was briefly reviewed. Then everyone piled into pickups and 4-wheel drives as Harold Rolfsrud guided a tour through some of the rugged property immediately adjacent to the farmstead.Clear Creek Church, the Olson homestead, and the ruins of a number of homesteads were visited, as well as an Indian teepee site and a steep dropoff known as the Buffalo Jump, where bison were driven over a steep cliff to their deaths.
Karen Kirmis, Harold's retired sister, along with her husband, Don, built a cabin overlooking the Missouri River breaks, not far from where Lewis and Clark must have passed. Far below this spectacular cabin site runs a humble barbed wire fence line, installed four decades ago by Erling's boys, Stan, Steve and Virgil Rolfsrud, who worked on the Rolfsrud homestead farm during their summers.
It is said to still be standing.(Photo info: Above, Harold Rolfsrud guided a group to a number of historic sites, including the Manning homestead. At right, Douglas Rolfsrud's daughter Morgan cavoted on the foundation of the Jokestad homestead, located west of the Rolfsrud place. At left is the log cabin Karen Rolfsrud Kirmis and Don built on the former Braaten property. Click on it for an enlarged view. It overlooks the Missouri River Valley and affords, among other things, spectacular sunsets from its front deck.)
If you attended the Rolfsrud Reunion, please send your impressions to trailboss@swpub.com to help put together some items we will publish from time to time on this here Rolfsruds and Friends blog.
