Manfred History & Preservation, Inc.
Nels and Annie Overrein
Husband's Full Name: Nels Hansen Overrein
Husband's Place of Birth: Steinkjer, Nord Trondelag, Norway
Husband's Father's Name: Hans Olsen
Husband's Mother's Name: Anna Hendrietta Andersdtr
Husband's Siblings' Names: unknown
Wife's Full Name: Oliana (Annie) Stromme
Wife's Place of Birth: Norway
Wife's Father's Name: unknown
Wife's Mother's Name: unknown
Wife's Siblings' Names: unknown
Children's Names: Helen, Olaf
2nd Wife’s Name: Nanna Straume
Nels Overrein immigrated from Trondelag, Norway in 1906. While in Manfred he worked for the wagon shop and also as a blacksmith for Jens Renden, who was from the same area in Norway. In 1908 he joined the Manfred Band, playing a “horn”.
Nels worked as a blacksmith for the wagon shop in Manfred. He also worked for Jens Renden in his blacksmith shop. Both Nels and Oliana were born in Norway and came to this country in 1906 and 1908 respectively. On January 14, 1910 they were married in Fessenden. Their plan was to make Manfred their home for the winter and move to Montana in the spring where Nels had a homestead. They had two children, Helen, born in North Dakota and Olaf born in Montana.
The 1920 census reveals that Nels was a widowed and living with his stepbrother in Bellingham, Watcom, Washington. On April 20 1921 he was married to Nanna Straume in Bellingham. He was a blacksmith and continued to live in Washington until his death at age 95.