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.
December 14, 2025
I’m going to continue reading from the story written by Joyce (Rugland) Morken this year about
her grandparents Gilbert and Guri Pederson, and their children Per and Bergit, who immigrated
from Norway in the 1880s. After they arrived, more children came along, Oscar, Martin, Iver, and
Anna. Gilbert took an active part in his new country, farming north of Roseau, and helping
establish a school and Moe Lutheran Church.
Diseases were a constant worry. Measles, mumps, typhoid, diphtheria, plus the common cold
were all sources of illness and death. Fortunately, doctors had come to settle in Roseau and a
dentist arrived. Vaccine for smallpox was available by now, quack peddlers would arrive and
peddle their wares, too. Farms often had barnyards that affected clean water. Public bathrooms
in town solved some problems. On February 21, 1902, 7 year old Iver died. His mother, my
grandmother Guri, died 5 months later from cholera. Iver probably died of cholera, too. My
mother, Anna, was 6 years old. At the time of Guri’s death, Peder was 23, Betsy was 20, Oscar
was 16, and Martin was 12. Since Anna was only 6, [her sister] Betsy became my mother’s
mother, and helped raise her. I knew Aunt Betsy as a loving aunt just down the road from us. She
was more like a grandmother, and we loved her. She married Ole Dokken and all her children
were wonderful cousins.
Unfortunately, on August 20, 1913, Moe Lutheran Church was destroyed by a severe wind storm!
Fortunately, the altar, church bell, and organ were almost intact. The pews were repainted and
used in the basement of the new Moe Church. The Luther League was organized in 1910 and
Mrs. Anna Pederson Rugland was elected to serve on the constitution committee. {Anna had
married Sam Rugland, whose father, Lars Rugland, helped start the Pine Creek Church.} Gilbert
went back to Norway and married Knut Dokken’s sister Marget in 1903, then returned to Roseau.
He retired and moved into town with Martin taking over the Pederson farm. This Century Farm is
one of many in the county and was celebrated one year at the museum, so I have a copy of the
poster about the farm.
Gilbert Pederson died on October 30, 1920. His obituary describes him as a devout and active
worker, interested and active in civic affairs. He was the assessor of Jadis for 12 years. His work
has touched many lives. He rests in Rose Cemetery along with Guri and Iver and his
descendants.
Moe Lutheran Church has served our family well for many years. I was confirmed there in 1941,
Shirley in 1945, as well as many of our cousins – Marvin and Luella Pederson, Harvey Johnson.
On the Honor Roll for service in WWII are my brothers Wilmer, Gordon, and Earl. Jack Morken
and I were married there on May 9, 1953. My brothers’ families are members now.
Floods in June 2002, unlike any other flood, inundated the town of Roseau – due to heavy rain
and a release of water upstream. The Roseau River crested at 23+ feet, 7 feet over flood stage.
Moe Lutheran suffered so much damage that a decision was made to purchase land on higher ground and build a new church. The main part had been built up with steps leading to it, so its contents were not damaged. The basement and contents – a total loss. But Moe Lutheran
All of Gilbert and Guri’s children were my aunts and uncles, and I owe them much for the lovingcare I received from them, especially after the deaths of my Dad (6 th grade) and Mom (7 th grade).
My parents, Anna (Pederson) and Sam Rugland had 6 children. My brothers Gordon, Wilmer, Earl, then Inez, myself, and Shirley. My dad was a quiet, hard working man, and my sons look so much like him. My mother, Anna, was a wonderful mother! She was patient, caring, always busy.
She never complained, even when the city cousins were around all summer and made extra work. Now that I make lefse, I wonder how she did it on a wood stove. She sewed our clothes, had this huge garden that I helped weed, then canned all this for winter. Yet she had time to tell me Norwegian stories! I wish my children could have known her. [Anna’s 10 years older brother] Oscar was a bachelor, and must have been 6 foot 9 inches or more. He was a big tease, always giving advice. Once he was giving my mother a bad time for letting [sister] Inez go to a high school dance. “She’ll go straight to hell!” he yelled. My mother calmly said, “Then I’ll go with her since I said she can go.” So he left! My mother was rather quiet, but stuck to her guns.
Gilbert and Guri left a wonderful family. I hope this personal note adds a little additional interest to this family story. They left a legacy worth recording.
Thanks to Joyce Morken for sharing this part of her family history.
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.