Knut E. Lyseng

Knut Engebretson Lyseng Born: February 29, 1824, Skrautvål Married: October 13, 1852, East Slidre, Valdres Died: January 27, 1917 Buried: Scandia Lutheran Church Cemetery, Armena, Alberta, Canada
Marit Eriksdatter Kolstad Born: June 19, 1828, East Slidre, Valdres Died: June 20, 1909 Buried: Scandia Lutheran Church Cemetery, Armena, Alberta, Canada Picture from Anna Hong, Our Norwegian Ancestors pg. 35

Knut E. Lyseng daughters - Photograph: Ruthanne Henderson

Photograph: Ruthanne Henderson

https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/land/land-grants-western-canada-1870-1930/Pages/image.aspx?URLjpg=https%3a%2f%2fcentral.bac-lac.gc.ca%2f.item%2f%3fid%3de005270674%26op%3dimg%26app%3dwesternlandgrants&Ecopy=e005270674
                                   

In 1857 Knut obtained the ancestral Lyseng farm and some other land from his father. When his
sister, Marit Hong became widowed and ill in 1860, he moved his family to South Hong farm in
Tretten, Gudbrandsdalen, to take care of her.

In November 1864 he sold her farm and arranged for her life time care. He and his family emigrated,
leaving April 11, 1868 on the frigate Hannah Parr that sailed from Christiania (Oslo) to Quebec.
Knut is listed as passenger #357 and Marit is #358 on the passenger list, using the surname Halvorslien.
On the Atlantic, the frigate was badly battered by a great storm, which destroyed most of the mast and
sails. Drifting helplessly for some days, a fishing vessel finally rescued them and towed the frigate into
the port of Limerick, Ireland, where they were treated with great kindness by the townspeople. After
seven weeks of being refitted, the frigate was able to continue its journey to North America. 

After landing in Quebec, the family went by train and boat to La Crosse, Wisconsin. The family moved
to southwest Minnesota, where they established a Lyseng settlement near Clinton. Winters were severe;
once all the cattle were blown away or were frozen to death. 
 
About 1900 Canada offered homestead land at $10.00 per quarter in the Armena district of the North-
West Territory (now called Alberta). Knut and six of his children sold their farms in Minnesota, and
moved to Canada arriving in 1901, taking homesteads near one another. The rigorous pioneer life that
they had experienced in Minnesota was now repeated in an even less settled land. They endured many
more hardships in helping to tame the wilderness.

Eventually, a small house was built for the Knut and Marit and they lived there for some years. They
then lived with various members of the family. Their last years were spent with their third son, Knut K.
and his wife, Anne. Marit died in June of 1909 and Knut E. died in January after being bedridden for
some time - due to an accident where he fell at Scandia Church and and severely fractured his hip.

Knut E. Lyseng was skilled in working with his hands. He made bells of every size and shape. He fashioned
rocking horses for grandchildren out of tree trunks. He also carved bowls and ladles. He used to sit and
read the Bible in Norwegian and participated in daily family devotions. Marit was a skilled knitter - with her
specialty being beautiful Norwegian mittens and gloves. She was also in demand as a midwife.

Both Knut and Marit are buried  at Armena, in the Scandia Lutheran Church Cemetery.