The museum is in Watford City. The accident happened on Dec. 5, 1905. Nils died July 5, 1920.An account of the accident was written up in a Wisconsin newspaper:
An accident occurred Dec. 5th at a coal mine near Berg in which some former Spring Valley citizens were concerned.
Ole Ryan and his sons Elmer and Oscar, with two neighbors, Nils Rolfsrud and Pete Tanberg, were digging coal for their own use; they had an overhanging ledge, and were under it when it fell.
Tanberg was killed, Rolfsrud was badly hurt, and Oscar Ryan was also hurt, but no bones were broken. The others escaped injury.
The Wisconsin newspaper actually spelled "Rolfsrud" as "Rolfrud." I have corrected it here. This may have been the first time a U.S. newspaper incorrectly spelled "Rolfsrud." The first time, yes, but certainly not the last.
Photo at right: Grandfather Nils also had a pair of reindeer boots. Great Grandson Douglas Rolfsrud helped display them for this photo. The boots look warm; must have come from Norway. Not a lot of reindeer in NoDak.
