The following biography was written by Orpha Henjum Backhaus, Nels's granddaughter. She wrote this for a family genealogy for her children and grandchildren:

"Nels Nelson Henjum was born in Sogn, Norway in 1848. In the early 1870's he left for America, coming by boat to New York, then traveling by train to Worthington, Minnesota, which at that time was the end of the railroad line. From there he went east to Fillmore County, either by wagon or on foot. While living there, he was married to a girl named Caroline, last name unknown. They had two children, a son Benjamin and a daughter, Caroline. The daughter died as an infant and his wife died also. Both are buried in Fillmore County.

In 1874, he left Fillmore County and came to Minnehaha County, South Dakota with the third group to settle there. He walked from Worthington to Minnehaha County but when he arrived, the snow was so deep he couldn't find the sod house he was to live in, so turned around and walked back to Worthington again. Later in the spring he walked back to Minnehaha County and with the snow gone, was able to live in the sod house. The sod house was really a dug-out about four feet down in the ground with a peaked roof over it whose bottom edges rested on the ground. The farm was five miles west of Sherman and had been purchased from Hans Berg who had homesteaded it. The sod dug-out served as a house until an L-shaped house was built sometime later. In 1908, a beautiful, large two-story house was built.

In 1890 or 91, he married Jonetta Myrmo and they were the parents of 10 children, five sons and five daughters. He was one of the founders and an active member of Norway Lutheran Church. He served as the KLOKKER and it was his duty to read the prayers, choose the hymns and lead the singing. If the hymns were unfamiliar, he would read the words, a verse at a time and then lead the congregation in singing them. As Klokker, he was always seated in the front pew on the right side of the church. The custom at that time was for the men to sit on the right side and the women and younger children on the left. The eldest son was allowed to sit with his father on the right. The services were in Norwegian and Norwegian was spoken at home. Everyone wore his best to church and it was the father's job to shine all the shoes, using stove blacking for polish. The first minister at Norway Church received a yearly salary of $35.00 and each family in the congregation gave him one sack of wheat and one sack of oats.

Nels was the first farmer in the area to put up woven wire fence and all the neighbors came to watch the pigs running around in such a big field after the small pens they were used to. Nels was a hard worker and a good husband and father but is said to have had a fondness for racing the neighbors with horses and buggies or wagons.

In March, 1910, he made a trip to Dell Rapids to make a payment on the farm. The weather was cold and he contracted pneumonia. A doctor and nurse were called and Oacar, the oldest son, was sent on horseback to Sherman to have a preiscription filled for him. The doctor thought he would be all right but had arranged to leave the nurse there to care for him. Just as the doctor was leaving, the nurse hurried out to tell him that Nels had passed away. The date was March 26, 1910. Neighbor men came over to wash the body and prepare it for burial. He was buried in Norway Cemetery. His youngest child was born serveral months after his death. His widow and children remained on the farm, with the oldest son, Oscar, who was just 14 at the time, taking over the duties of his father."

According to the genealogy by Orpha Backhaus, Nels's parents' names are unknown. They lived in or near Sogn, Norway and the following children were born to them there:

Knute: Children were Martha, who married Petro Quamen; Jane, who married a Berg; Caroline, who married a Best; Nels; James; Sievert; Johnny; Alvin and Conrad. Knute died and was buried in Silverton, Oregon.

Caroline: Married a Simonson.

Uni: Married Hans Loftesness and had Nels, Henry and Milton. She is buried in Norway Cemetery.

Sigri: Married John Brown; had Carrie, Neal, Martha, Mary, Johnna, Anna, Julie, Ole and Selma. Sigri is buried in Norway Cemetery.

Nels Nelson: The subject of this biography.

At the end of the biography, Orpha listed the children born to Nels and Jonetta Myrmo Henjum. They were:

Martha Natalie: born 1892. Married Neal Brown. Had Nedra, John, Dale, Glen, Marvin, Virgil, Pearl, Shirley and Alice.

Alma Oline: Born 1894. Married Fred Severson and had Carnie, Arlene, Norman, Harvey, Lowell, Dennis, Joyce, Betty and Ronald.

Oscar Norman: Born 1896. Married Lillian Hustead and had Orpha, donald, Ruth, Robert, Keith and Bonnie.

Nora Jontinka: Born 1898. Married John Royce and had Maxine and Franklin.

Albin Joseph: Born 1900 and married Irma Fuerhelm. They had no children.

Alice Selma: Born 1902. Married Otto Rudd. They had no children.

Melvin Oliver: Born 1904. Married Mildred Kapaun and had Gerald, James, Dorothy, Patricia and Larry.

Neil Eugene: Born 1906. Married Edna Holling and had David.

Julie Marie: Born 1908. Married Lowell Eyer and had Lowell Jr. and Julie Kay.

Nels Justine (Paul): Born 1910. Married a lady named Julie and had Mary, Rita, Sandra and "Butch."

Correction #1: According to his gravestone, Nels was born in 1849. He could also have been born in 1848 as Orpha stated in her biography of Nels. I've noticed sometimes birth dates are incorrect depending upon who was the informant on the death certificate.

Correction #2: Thanks to Amy Miller, who gave me the links to Nels' parents. I have added those to this memorial.

Correction #3: The daughter Nels had with Martha was Gertie Susanna Henjum, born in Arendahl, Fillmore County, Minnesota on July 11, 1887. (Minnesota Birth Index)