Born: 27 Oct 1881, Trysil, Hedmark, Norway
Married:13 Mar 1906, Minneapolis, Hennepin co, Minnesota
Died: 17 May 1964, Minot, Ward Co, North Dakota
Buried: Bowbells Cemetery, Bowbells, Burke Co, North Dakota
Spouse: Helga Halvorsdtr Myrsjøberget
Parents: Ola Olsen Hammersgaard, Opset & Thea Tørrisdtr Nordre Nes (Jon-Nes)
Coteau, North Dakota
The funeral will be in Zion Lutheran Church here for Gunnar Opseth, 82, longtime Coteau farmer, who died Sunday at a Minot home for the aged. Rev. Richard Hagestuen of Powers Lake will officiate and burial will be in Bowbells Cemetery.
Mr. Opseth was born Oct. 27, 1881 in Trysil, Norway and came to the United States in 1903 and homesteaded in North Star Twp, Burke County. He was married March 13, 1906 in Minneapolis to Helga Sjoberg. They returned to his homestead and farmed until 1927 when they moved into Bowbells. Mrs. Opseth died Sept. 23, 1958. Survivors include a son, Harold, of Bowbells; a daughter, Mrs. Palmer (Ingrid) Nelson, Bowbells; eight grandchildren; three great- grandchildren; and a sister in Norway.
He was preceded in death by a son, a daughter, five sisters and four brothers.
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From the Burke Country history book. The excerpt was written by Harold and Ingrid:
Gunnar Opseth was born in Trysil, Norway. He came to the United States in 1903. He first came to Dazey ND between Valley City & Cooperstown where he worked and went to school. Mrs (Helga) Opseth was also born in Norway. She came over 3 years later & they were married in Minneapolis at the Ness home, an aunt & uncle of the couple. They homesteaded in North Star Township 5 miles east of Nortgate. They were naturalized in 1911.
In the early 1900s, the only way of getting across the Des Lacs Lake was by a ferry which was operated near their homestead. Ingrid (Mrs. Palmer Nelson) was born November, 1912, and Harold in April, 1915.
The Opseths moved to a farm 3 miles southwest of Coteau in 1927. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Excitement ran high in Coteau and Bowbells in August, 1955, when oil was discovered at the Opseth well. The Opseth oil well was called New Field. Bowbells was bulging with oil brokers. The well was plugged 3 or 4 years later.
They were active in church work both in Kopperud Church across the Canadian line by Northgate and in the Coteau Zion Lutheran Church.
They moved to Bowbells in 1956. Mrs. Opseth passed away in September, 1958, and Gunnar in May, 1964.
Children:
Gerda Helene, born 12 Sep 1911; died 23 Feb 1912
Ingrid, born 29 Nov 1912; died June 1994.
Olaf, born 1913; died 1913
Harold O., born 8 Apr 1915; died 15 Jul 2002