The Kraft family lived in Emmons County, North Dakota and attended the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Strasburg.

Anton Kraft was born on November 17, 1894 to parents Stephan, Sr. and Frances (Fischer) Kraft. His parents were German-Russian immigrants who came to the United States, later settling in North Dakota, in the early 1890s. Barbara Wald was born on January 28, 1894 to parents Anton and Agnes Wald. She was the daughter of German-Russian immigrant who came to the United States in the late 1880s. Anton and Barbara (Wald) Kraft were later married and they had eleven children: Alice, Lawrence, Anton, Agnes, Frances, Eva, Gladys, Augustine, Elmer, Paul, and Stephen. Anton Kraft, Sr. died on July 28, 1977 at the age of 82. Barbara (Wald) Kraft died on January 12, 1983 at the age of 88.

Agnes (Kraft) Stevens was born on May 27, 1922 to parents Anton, Sr. and Barbara (Wald) Kraft. She was the fourth of eleven children. She later married Florence Stevens, and the couple had two children: Sandra and Cary.