| Summary: | Martin and Lena Hildremyr Martin Hildremyr was born in Myhre Hildre, Norway, in the year 1882, the same year as the town in North Dakota which was to be his home was founded. He arrived in Petersburg in 1902 and stayed for a short time with his uncle Jonas Hildremyr before continuing on west to Washington. Soon he was on his way to Alaska caught up in the excitement of the gold rush. Highlights of this adventure was panning for gold, going down the Yukon River in a small boat, and being chased by a bull moose which was breathing down his neck as he reached the railroad trestle just in time. Some of the gold nuggets he panned were fashioned into a handsome watch chain. After a trip back to Norway, Martin returned to Petersburg and along with Ole H. Reiten purchased the Ole Rustebakke property north of the machine company’s warehouse to build a garage. They made cement blocks from pit run gravel during the winter months and began construction during the spring of 1912. Martin later assumed ownership of the Petersburg Garage. Lena Hildre came to Petersburg in 1903 from Hildre, Norway. Her brothers Ole and Oluf had returned to Norway for a visit and convinced her to come to America with them. She lived with her brother Ole and family and later homesteaded in McKenzie County in western North Dakota. After the required residency of eighteen months, Lena returned to Petersburg and the next year she and Martin Hildremyr were married. The following years were busy building a new business participating in the life of the community and the church, and raising and educating their five children: Obert, Peter, Clarice, George, and Mildred. In 1933 they joined the Petersburg Outing Club and the family enjoyed many summer vacations at their cottage on Lake Plantagnet in Minnesota. As a pioneer in the automobile industry, Mr. Hildremyr saw many changes during his years in business. In the early days the Model T Fords came in by rail, four to a railroad car and only partially assembled. During this time he also had a taxi (livery) service for salesmen coming into Petersburg by train, for the doctor making housecalls out on the farms, and even on special occasions for young couples on a date. In 1930 he changed from the Ford Company to a Dodge and Plymouth franchise. The years during World War II were difficult with their three sons all serving in the armed forces both in the States and overseas. Returning home after World War II George continued his business education earning a certificate of accounting from UND. He entered into partnership with his father in the Petersburg Garage until Mr. Hildremyr retired. George continued developing and operating the business moving from the original location to the highway in 1964. Obert purchased the Petersburg Oil Co. in 1945, and changed the name to Sparky’s Oil Co. also moving to the highway location. They both retired in 1975 and sold to Cenex. After graduating from UND, Peter moved to Niagara, Wis., where he was purchasing manager for Kimberly Clark Paper Co. retiring in 1974. He is presently vice president and treasurer of Niagara Area Credit Union. He married Berneice Bradke of Niagara. Clarice received nurses training at Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis and graduated from Waldorf College, Forest City, Iowa. She married Kenneth Bronson who was district materials Engineer for the Washington State Highway Department retiring in 1975. He is now senior materials engineer at Pacific Testing Laboratories. They have three sons: Curtis and Paula Bronson, Clifford, Laurie and Heather Bronson, and Christopher and Lynn Bronson, all of Seattle. Mildred graduated from Waldorf College and UND. She married Dr. John Hogg who is director of research, Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo Michigan. He retired in 1981. They have a daughter and two sons: Karen and John Dacey of Woods Holem, Mass., and John, Jr„ Dacey, John, Beth, Bree and Jack Hogg of Missoula' Montana; and Thomas, Janine and John Hogg of San Jose, Calif. Obert and Agnes Hildremyr Obert (Sparky) Hildremyr, son of the Martin Hildremys, started as manager of the Petersburg Oil Co. in 1937. At that time the site was in the east end of town on the old highway. Sparky married Agnes Bronken, daughter of the Hjalmer Bronkens of Niagara, N.D., in 1941. They were married in the Congregational Church at Niagara, N.D. They were told there hadn’t been a wedding in the church for 30 years and there hasn’t been a wedding since then either. Sparky entered the armed services in 1943 and served in the states and 18 months overseas. He returned in 1946. He purchased the Petersburg Oil Co. in 1946. In 1958 when the Highway No. 2 was rerouted south of town he built a cafe and service station along the highway. The garage was built in 1964 and his brother George operated the garage and had the dealership for Chrysler and Dodge cars. Sparky retired in June of 1975 and sold the business to Cenex Oil Co. that year. Sparky Hildremyrs have three daughters, Marcia married to Polk Griffin and they have two children, Scott and Amy, and live in Aurora, Colo. Marcia is an elementary teacher in Aurora. The twin daughters are Jane and Jill. Jane is married to Larry Hovland and they reside in Pelican Rapids, Minn. They have three boys: Matthew, John and Mitchell. Jane is a librarian in the Rothsay school district. Jill resides in Tempe, Ariz., and is a speech therapist in the Phoenix school district. In the spring of 1981 Sparky and Agnes moved to Grand Forks, N.D. Dennis Hillebrand family. Dennis and Louise Hillebrand Dennis Hillebrand was born April 4, 1945, in Grand Forks. His parents are Oren and Jennie Hillebrand of Petersburg. He attended country school in Nash Township and Unity High School and graduated in 1963. He attended school at 1445 Scanned with a Czur book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited in Adobe Acrobat Pro
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