Gunil (Gunhild) Endru Bjornson was born January 22, 1860, in Highland Prairie, Fillmore County, Minnesota. She was confirmed at Highland Prairie Lutheran Church on October 18, 1874.

     Gunil and Thor were married on February 12, 1887 at the Highland Prairie church parsonage. She was only 37 years old when she died in 1897.   She left behind  6 children. The oldest, Sophie, was 9 years old. Carl celebrated his first birthday just a month before Gunil died.

     Her funeral was held at Willow Creek Lutheran Church in Overly ND and she was buried in the church cemetery.     More...

Thor's Second Wife, Lina

 Lina Katherine Berge was born on April 5, 1876 in Oakridge, Houston County, Minnesota. She was baptized at the Rushford Norwegian Lutheran Church.

   Lina was sent to North Dakota to help Gunil shortly before Carl's birth. Gunil did not recover, and Lina served as her caregiver until her death.

    In 1898, Lina and Thor married and returned to Minnesota, settling in Polk County. Their first farm was near Fosston and later they purchased a farm outside McIntosh.

     Lina died in Moorhead, Minnesota on February 17, 1945 at 68 years of age. She is buried with her husband in Trinity Church Cemetery, rural McIntosh MN.    More...