 Articles...
 Vrensted...
 Dansk...
Biography Source: Barnes Country History 1976 Page 191.
Paul Andrew Pedersen, oldest son of Anna and Bertel Pedersen, was born November 11, 1906 in Vrenstad, Denmark.
Paul Andrew, Maria and Gitte(me)
Eva and Paul Andrew, Minna and Christen (my mother and father)
In 1907 at the age of 9 months, he came to America with his parents. After living some years at Elkhorn, Iowa, and Brookings, South Dakota, he came with his family to a farm in Barnes County.
At a young age he started to work as a farm laborer for surrounding farmers. He was able to work for others because of the number of younger sons left at home to help his father.
On June 30, 1932, he married Ruth Falstad of rural Kathryn, North Dakota, at Britten, South Dakota. The couple started farming in the fall of 1932 in Green township on the east 14 of section 3, known then as the “A. P. Paulson farm.” Two children were born: Dorothy (Mrs. Curtis Torgerson, Clarkfield, Minnesota) and Robert Gerald (rural Valley City).
January, 1939, Ruth Pederson died at the farm home at the early age of 25.
Paul continued farming and on January 27, 1940, he married Synove Farstad (rural Kathryn, North Dakota) at Valley City, North Dakota.
As they continued to farm, Carol (Mrs. Jerome Schlager of Sacramento, California) and Bertel (rural Kathryn, North Dakota) were bom.
In the fall of 1942, they purchased the then known as “the Herb and Annie Tooley” farm; the north Vi of section 14 in Green township.
Now the family was increased with: Pamela (Mrs. Robert Perkins, Recife, Brazil), David (of Mobridge, South Dakota) and Diane (Mrs. Jack Bjerke of rural Valley City, North Dakota).
When they lived here, the children attended Green Consolidated School District 99, and later the elementary and high school affiliated with the Valley City State College.
Earl Falstad, the son of Mrs. Pedersen, now resides at Spokane, Washington.
Paul Pedersen served two terms as supervisor of Green township and is presently on the board of the Ringsaker cemetery.
Mrs. Pedersen presently is secretary of Sons of Norway, Hjemdal Lodge #481.
Being Paul was the oldest son, he was needed at home and was able to attend school only during
the winter months. When spring came, he had to leave school to help with the field work.
When he started farming on his own in 1932, he owned five horses and furrowed his land with a two bottom plow; when he quit farming in 1975, he used a 930 Case with a five bottom plow.
During the winters before 1947 when North Dakota State Highway # 1 was completed directly in front of the Pedersen home, the only transportation to town and to school was by horse and sleigh. The family car had to be left one mile from the house where adequate roads were kept open.
The construction of this road made county transportation and mobility convenient and available.
Today*, Paul and Eva (Synove) still live on the farm in Green Township.
*In 1976
___________________________________________________________________
The necrology
Paul Andrew Pedersen was born November 11, 1906 in Vrenstad, Denmark, the son of Bertel Paul and Annine (Westergard) Pedersen.
The Pedersen family came to America in 1907 settling in Elk Horn, Iowa. Two years later in 1909, they moved to Brookings, South Dakota.
Paul and his dad arrived by train in Valley City, North Dakota in 1920.
The family joined them later and they moved to the Drake farm in Maresh Township.
Paul completed 8 years schooling at the Drake school.
In 1926, the Pedersen moved to the O.P.Enerson farm in Nelson Township where Paul continued farming with his father and brothers.
Paul married Ruth Falstad of Kathryn, North Dakota on June 30, 1932.
Paul and Ruth farmed on the A.P. Paulson place in Green Township. Ruth died in January of 1939.
Paul married Synove “Eva” Falstad on January 27, 1940 in Valley City. In 1942, the family purchased the Herb and Annie Tooley place in Green Township.
Paul continued farming until retiring in 1975. Paul and Eva moved to the Fireside condominiums in Valley City in 1995.
Paul enjoyed hunting and card playing througout his life and after retiring he enjoyed gardening, and woodworking and sharing his gifts with family and friends.
One of the highlights of Paufs life was being able to return to Denmark in 1972 to his birthplace and to his many cousins and relatives.
Paul was active in the Barnes County Farmers Union for many years and represented North Dakota farmers in Washington D.C. lobbying for better farm prices. He was also a member of the Sons of Norway.
He is survived by his wife Eva and their eight children; Dorothy (Curtis) Torgerson, Clarkfield, Minnesota, Earl (01ive),Phoenix, Arizona, Carol Schlager, Roseville, California, Bertel(Diane), Kathryn, North Dakota, Pamela Perkins, New Orleans, Louisiana, David (Connie), Williston, North Dakota, Gerald Robert (Beth), Valley City, north Dakota, Diane (Jack) Bjerke, Valley City, North Dakota; 14 grandchildren; 8 great grand children; and a brother, Axel, Valley City, North Dakota.
His parents , 2 sisters, and 4 brothers preceded him in death.
