These stories can also be heard on Sunday mornings around 10 am on WILD 102’s “Look Back in Time” program. Each week’s radio story will be posted here on our website.
Weekly radio stories are researched, compiled, and read by Sheila Winstead, RCHS Board Member.
September 28, 2025
Mr and Mrs Erick Byfuglien left Etnedalen, Valdres, Norway for the United States, arriving in New
York the 29 th of April 1899.
Two weeks later, they left New York, arriving in Portland, North Dakota, on the 17 th of May 1899.
On the 23 rd of April 1900, a son was born and named Knut.
In September 1900, Mr and Mrs Erick Byfuglien and son moved to Pinecreek, Minnesota, in
Dieter Township, where they homesteaded and lived for 6 years.
February 28, 1903, a daughter was born to the Byfugliens and named Jennie. In June of 1905, a
baby boy was born at Pinecreek, baptized as Oluf Byfuglien, and sadly died and was buried in
the Pinecreek Cemetery 4 months later. His grave went unmarked for many years but had been
noted on the old cemetery map and his birth recorded in the church records. When Pinecreek
formed a Cemetery Association in about 2005 and created a directory, this old burial was noted,
and his surviving relatives, who had been unaware of him after 100 years, placed a small marker
for him on his gravesite.
In 1908, the Erick Byfuglien family moved to a homestead 2-1/2 miles north of Ross, still in Dieter
Township. Here they lived for 35 years.
During their time on the homestead, Knut and Jennie walked 2-1/2 miles to school in Ross.
At age 17, Jennie worked in Bell’s Restaurant in Roseau during the winter months, and during
the summer she was on the farm helping with farm work.
Jennie and her brother Knut started the L. B. Hartz Store in Ross. The first year the store was
opened, there was a tremendous flood and rowboats were used to run from the store to the road.
Olaf Arneson was born in Eidskog, Hedemarken, Norway to August and Matilda Arneson
December 9, 1894. He was one of 12 children, 6 boys and 6 sisters.
When Olaf was 18, his parents passed away. So, in 1913 at the age of 19, Olaf started for
America. He left Eidskog the 2 nd of June 1913, arriving in Quebec, Canada, June 23, 1913. He
came to Roseau County July 4, 1913. His brothers Harald, August, and sister Mary arrived
ahead of him. Olaf became a U. S. citizen in 1942.
In 1926, Olaf Arneson met Jennie Byfuglien, and on the 10 th of December 1927, they were
married at Moe Lutheran Church with Pastor Dreyer officiating. Five children were born to Olaf
and Jennie Arneson, 4 sons: Milton, Otto, Jimmie and Glen, and one daughter, Elaine, all were
married and at the time the story I’m reading from was written, Olaf and Jennie had 12
grandchildren.
Olaf and Jennie owned and managed the L. B. Hartz Store and Standard Service Station in
Ross, Minnesota, from 1927 to 1962. During their 35 years, there were 7 floods, yet through
these hardships, they continued to stick to their business of serving over 100 families in the
Ross, Pinecreek, and Fox communities. In 1932, Olaf and Jennie purchased the Moorhead farm
north of Ross.
The store served as a gathering place for the community where goods were bartered, farmers
brought in eggs and in turn purchased groceries.
The store became a general mercantile store where on the counters were seen not only
groceries, but drugs, dry goods, clothing and sundry other items.
In the early days of the store, transportation was by horse and buggy, and by boat during the
summer; and by horse and sleigh and by skis and toboggan during the winter. To accommodate
the public, a horse hitching rail was built on the south side of the store.
During the early days of the store, groceries and other goods were brought to Fox by rail, from
where Olaf picked up his groceries first by horse and buggy, later on by Model T, Model A, etc.
In 1943/44, L B. Hartz began delivering groceries and salesmen began arriving delivering their
wares.
That store from Ross is now at the Pioneer Farm west of Roseau.
Thanks to WILD 102 for this time to share our county’s stories.
Thank you to 
for letting us share our county’s history with your listeners by donating air time, studio time, and production staff every week.