An important return keeps Nordby farm in the family

AMIDON - Douglas and Vivian Nordby were making it just fine when they both worked in Seattle at Boeing Aircraft Company.

Douglas was a mechanical engineer and worked in the Tool Design Engineering Department. Vivian worked as a secretary.

The Nordbys were coasting along until Vivian's dad, Lud Olson, called and announced he was retiring from operating the family farm. Olson asked the Nordbys if they would be interested in taking over the operation.

It was a big decision for the couple. They both carried good-paying jobs. Vivian grew up on the farm northeast of Amidon and was accustomed to farming and ranching.

But for Douglas, it was a different story. He grew up in Madison, Wis., where he attended the University of Wisconsin. He also competed in football and golf while attending college.

The city boy decided he wanted to give farming and ranching a whirl. It was the best move the Nordbys made.

"His boss told him if he wanted to go he would give him a year," Vivian said. "He could come back and his job would still be here."

The move back east helped keep Olson's farm in the family. It will turn into a century farm in October. Douglas and Vivian's son Donald and his wife Sarah now operate the family farm.

When Douglas met Vivian

The Nordbys met in Seattle. Vivian took a trip to Alaska with a close friend. The pair ran out of money and stopped in Seattle to look for work.

Douglas and Vivian were married June 15, 1953, and purchased the family farm in 1958. The Nordbys are parents to three children - Douglas Jr., Donald and Darcy.

Douglas got his first taste of farming when Lud showed him how to plow in April. Lud made a round with him and took off to play cards in New England while Douglas plowed.

Douglas ran over some fence with his tractor and didn't know if he was cut out for farming. But it was the peaceful atmosphere of southwestern North Dakota and the abundance of wildlife that kept Douglas interested in staying on the family farm.

"He just liked the place," Vivian said. "He loved the community, the small town and he raised a good family. His dad said he wouldn't be here five years. He never went back."

Vivian wasn't too excited to return to the family farm at first, but grew to love it with her husband. The couple settled in and also became Sunday regulars at the Lebanon Lutheran Church in Amidon.

"I had a lot of friends in Seattle," said Vivian, who was a school teacher. "Moving back was the best thing we did. We were in a big city and there were so many people."

The Nordbys raised Herefords and horses until Donald and his family took over the farm operations. Health reasons forced Douglas and Vivian to move off the farm and into Bowman in 1997.

Settling the farm

Lud settled the family farm on Oct. 29, 1906. He came to North Dakota from Chetek, Wis., at the age of 21.

After living with his brother Julius for 16 years, Olson married Hannah Anderson. The couple had three children - Luther Ordell, Vivian and Leone McBride. Luther died at birth. Leone lives in Spokane, Wash.

Hannah died Oct. 23, 1954, from a heart condition. Lud retired and spent his winters in Arizona until his death on Dec. 29, 1961.

Lud and Hannah expanded the family farm. He bought Julius' land when Julius made the decision to move to California in the 1930s to work as a carpenter.

The couple also bought Hannah's parents' farm after they died.

Cattle are still the focus of Donald and Sarah's operation. They raise Black and Red Angus - some crossed with Simmental. They also raise hay, seed corn, barley and oats.

"We are just happy one of the kids was interested in the place," Vivian said.

The Nordbys plan to have their century farm celebration Oct. 7.