Born: 16 Oct 1848, Trysil, Norway
Married: 5 Feb 1870, Holmes City twp, Douglas Co, MN
Died: 19 Apr 1882, Holmes City twp, Douglas Co, MN
Buried: Trysil-Bethesda cemetery, Holmes City twp, MN
Spouse: Andrew Knudson
Parents: Halvor Olsen Strandvold
Marie Hansdtr. Tuven
Mette was the youngest child of Halvor and Marie Strandvold. She was nearly 20 years old when she came to America with her parents and her siblings and their families. Halvor T. Næs had accompanied the Strandvolds on their long trip to America and had hoped to marry Mette. However, she chose to marry Andrew Knudson. They settled down to married life in Holmes City township. Andrew and Mette gave a portion of their land for the new Trysil Church and thus, lived next door.
Seven children were born to this union. Mette died a couple weeks after giving birth to the 7th child. Their oldest child was then 11 years old.
E.P. Lobeck journal:
” April 19, 1882. Mette Strandvold died this morning. On March 29th, she had given birth to a child, Hannah Matea. April 24, 1882. Matte was buried today. There was a big attendance.”
After Mette’s death, her mother Marie, now widowed, moved in with Andrew to take care of the motherless children. Marie stayed until 1885 when Andrew remarried to Dorthea Mauseth. In summer of 1885, Mette’s sister and family, the Per Torgalsen Nordbys, arrived from Trysil and settled in Harwood township, near Fargo, ND and Marie went to live there. Mette is buried at Trysil Cemetery.