John Bakke immigrated to the Ambrose area from Norway sometime prior to 1920.  He homesteaded northwest of Ambrose on a quarter of land next to land that later became the Christ and Kaare Knutson farm. In 1920 John sold out to Sander Torgeson and returned to Norway for unknown reasons.  That first quarter of land is still in the Torgeson family and is farmed by Howard.  Murray Torgeson moved the house that was on the land to his own farm to the south.  Murray’s daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Joe Radenic, now occupy that house.

John returned to the Ambrose area for good about 1925 and purchased three quarters of farmland. In 1926 he married Agnes Opperud of Lincoln Valley Township near Colgan.  The couple initially lived in the city of Ambrose. About 1930 the family moved to two more quarters of land they bought west of Ambrose, where they spent the rest of their lives.   The house in the photo to the right sits prominently on that land and can be seen to the west of the Ambrose cemetery.

John died in 1948 at the age of 78.  Agnes, who was quite a bit younger than John, chose to remain on the farm.  She showed admirable courage and determination by raising nine children by herself while continuing to farm the land for the next 29 years.  Ill health forced her to move to the nursing home in 1977.  She died in 1987.

The John and Agnes Bakke children were:

Martha, born 1927, lives in Minot, ND
John, born 1928, lives in Burlington, ND
Eddie, born 1929, deceased
Adeline born 1932, deceased
Twins Andy and Alton, born 1933. Andy lives in Minot.  Alton is deceased.
Twins Edwin and Elmer, born 1934. Edwin "Ed" lives in Crosby, ND.  Elmer is deceased.
George, born 1935, lives in Williston, ND

The Bakke Boys: Ed, Elmer, Andy, Alton, George

This photo of John, Agnes and five of their boys on their couch at home was published in a book about the Great Depression.  They used dried cow manure for insulation in the house but it was still very, very cold inside in the winter.  The family raised cattle, pigs, chickens and horses.  They farmed with horses until 1950.  Harvest was done by shocking but they did have a gas tractor to run the thresher.  All of the children attended school in Ambrose.  Only George, Martha and Adeline continued on from grade school to high school.

At age 20 Ed moved to Crosby to work in the Tuftedal Chevrolet garage.  He joined the Army in 1959, was discharged in 1961, and returned to his job at Tuftedal Chevrolet.  In 1965 he started his own auto repair business, which he operated until his retirement in 1999.

Family history taken from a May 2006 interview of
Ed Bakke conducted by Donna Haslett-Nelson.
Click here to view additional Bakke family photos.