Thorfin Jesten Interview

Collection

Identifier: SC 1056

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains a typed summary of interview (4 leaves) with Leonard Sackett on August 28, 1954, concerning his life, with mention of Mrs. Chaffee, his various farm and railroad jobs. Corrections to the interview done by H.L. Chaffee.

Dates

August 28, 1954

Creator

Jesten, Thorfin, 1882-1959. (Person)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.

Copyrights

Copyrights to this collection is held by the NDSU Archives

Biography

Thorfin Jesten was born in Christiansand, Norway (now known as Kristiansund, Norway) on September 24, 1882 (there are some sources that say his birthday is September 24, 1883) to Andrew and Bertha M. Jesten. Around the age of five, the Jesten family immigrated to Evansville, Minnesota where his uncle had a farm. The family eventually came to Moorhead, Minnesota before moving to Casselton, North Dakota in 1888.

When Thorfin was 16, he started working in the Amenia and Sharon Land Co. as an office boy. While working there, he was tutored by Mrs. Chaffee. Later in life, Thorfin worked various labor jobs including being hired in 1904, as an engineer for the Great Northern Railroad.

Thorfin enlisted in the Army on March 11, 1918 and was part of the 14th.Grand DIV Transportation Corps. He served as a railroad engineer during the war. He was discharged August 4, 1919.

Thorfin died January 2, 1959 and is buried in the Casselton Cemetery, in Casselton, North Dakota.