Ole Forland was born in Kassin, Minnesota on October 10, 1865.
He was the fourth child of Andrew Oleson and Sarah (Gunderson)
Forland of Norway.

Ole married Mary or "Marie" Evensen about 1884. She was born
in Christiania, Norway, May 25, 1864, the daughter of Even and
Anne Kathrine (Rustand) Nilssen of Norway.

Mary was a very good seamstress and sewed for many of the
pioneer families of the Turtle Lake Country. She also served as
midwife, when there was need for one.

Ole homesteaded eight miles northeast of Turtle Lake, N.D. In
1902 he moved from Turtle Lake to McLean county and helped
with the harvest of flax. Ole came from there to Lethbridge,
Alberta looking for work in about 1908. His wife Mary and the
four younger children, Manda, Alice, Edwiti, and a daughter came
later. They stayed for a few years, then Mary and the younger
children returned to Bismark. Mary died May 24, 1917 and is
buried in Bismark.

Ole and Mary had nine children, Anna, Alfred, Emma, Alma,
Clara, Manda, Alice, Edwin, and a daughter who is the only one
living and is now eighty years old.

Ole lived with Pete and Alice (his daughter) helping at different
times, herding the sheep and helping out where ever he could.
A grandson, tells of the good crop of potatoes that Ole raised
one summer, as high as twenty potatoes to the hill.

Ole stayed and bought a quarter section of land in the Lens
district. This was in the late twenties. He farmed this land
for several years.

Ole was a carpenter by trade. He built a few houses in this
area. The story is told of Ole when he was up on a rafter and
it began to break. Ole being of Norwegian descent, spoke
broken English. Harry Boyd yelled, "Jump Ole, jump!. Ole
replied, "How can I yump if I've no place to stood.

One time when Ole, Pete and some of the children were standing
in the corral Pete said, "Watch that old buck Ole, he's eying you
up". Ole said, "Oh he won't hurt nobody". Just then the old buck
let go and pow! He hit the post that Ole was leaning on and
knocked him down. They all had a good laugh.

Ole was a fun type sort of a guy and he liked a good time. For
a pastime in the winter he operated a small still, made rye
whiskey, and entertained his friends.

One time while Ole and some of the guys were coming home
from town, it was very muddy. The old cars at that time didn't
have much power. They got stuck coming up a hill and they
all got out to push. Ole fell down in the mud. He just rolled
over and said, "I'm taking a bath."

A granddaughter, tells that Ole helped to lay the cement side
walks in Lethbridge. Ole sold his place in Lens and walked
across the border. He went to California where his daughter
and son Edwin lived. He stayed at Edwin's.

Ole died of a heart attack, March 18, 1934 in Longbeach,
California. He is buried in Westminster Memorial Park,
California.

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