North Dakota Archives

LongeviQuest is saddened to report the passing of Helene Sandvig. She was born in Chaffee, Cass County, North Dakota, United States on 25 November 1911 and passed away in Fargo, North Dakota, United States on 5 December 2023 at 112 years, 10 days. At the time of death, she was the second-oldest living person in the U.S. state of North Dakota, behind Clarabell Demers.

Raised on a farm near Chaffee, Sandvig experienced a rural upbringing, tending to pigs and chickens. Her education took place in various rural schoolhouses, sometimes requiring her to alternate with siblings in staying home for housework on Mondays. Sandvig pursued a teaching career, earning her certificate from Valley City State Teachers College (now Valley City State University). At just 19, she began her teaching journey, even using a horse and buggy to pick up her students.

On her wedding day.
(Source: InForum)

Sandvig’s life path shifted in 1938 with her marriage. Choosing to dedicate herself to their farm, she stepped away from teaching. Although childless themselves, the couple opened their hearts and homes, fostering several children. Their farming life took them south of Embden before settling near Leonard. When her husband fell ill in 1974, they decided to sell the farm and move into an apartment in Leonard. In 2013, at the age of 101, she moved into a nursing home.

Helene Sandvig passed away in Fargo, North Dakota, USA, on 5 December 2023, at the age of 112 years, 10 days.

LongeviQuest is extending our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and friends of Mrs. Helene Sandvig.

LongeviQuest is delighted to share the 112th birthday celebration of Helene Sandvig. She is an American supercentenarian currently known as the second-oldest living person in North Dakota.

The party was held inside Bethany Retirement Living’s Chapel, and it was packed with friends who were reminiscing about Helene’s life and how she used to be the biggest chatterbox.

Helene was born on 25 November 1911 on a farm near Chaffee, Cass County, North Dakota, USA.

Helene Sandvig at Valley News Live at 10:00PM KVLY – VOD

After graduating from high school, she got her teaching certificate from Valley City State Teachers College. She was already teaching at the age of 19 while also picking up her students in a horse and buggy.

In 1938, she married Edwin Sandvig and had no children with him. However, the couple fostered several children. After the marriage, she gave up her teaching career, and the couple focused on farming.

In 2013, she moved into a nursing home at the age of 101. Helene currently lives in Fargo, North Dakota, USA.

For more information, please visit Helene Sandvig’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is delighted to share that Clarabell Demers, North Dakota’s oldest person, turns 113. She is an American supercentenarian known as the current oldest living person in North Dakota, USA.

Clarabell Demers was born on 3 November 1910 in Acton, Walsh County, North Dakota, USA.

Her granddaughter, Leanne, shared a recent photo of Clarabell holding a congratulatory certificate from the Office of the Governor of South Dakota. This is in recognition of her turning 113 years old, thus making her the oldest person in the state. The photo was then publicly shared by the WDAY Meteorologist Lydia Blume in her social media post greeting Grandma D.

Clarabell Demers’ 113th Birthday

In 1930, she was married to Frederick Demers with whom she had three children with. The family lived on a farm until 1944 before they purchased a building and refurbished it ito JR’s Bar. She and her husband ran the bar until Frederick passed away in 1979. Since then, it was operated by their son, Donald and grandsons Guy and Gene.

Clarabell is currently residing in Grafton, North Dakota, USA.

LongeviQuest sends our warmest greetings of celebration for Clarabell’s birthday.

For more information, please visit Clarabell Demers’ Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is delighted to announce the age validation of Clarabell Demers of the United States at age 112. She was born in Acton, Walsh County, North Dakota, United States on 3 November 1910. Demers grew up in the village of Oakwood. She was a lifelong member of the Catholic Church there before going on to St. John’s in Grafton where she lives at present. Demers is currently the oldest known living person in North Dakota, USA.

As a child.
(Source: Facebook)

In 1930, Demers got married and the couple had three children whom they lived with on a farm until 1944. They purchased a building and refurbished it into JR’s Bar, which she ran with her husband. The bar is now operated by her son and grandsons.

In November 2022, she had 19 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, and 14 great-great-grandchildren. At the time, she credited four ounces of red wine a day for living a long and healthy life.

For more information, please view Demers’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is delighted to announce the age validation of Lillian Moran at 112 years old. She is an American supercentenarian currently known as the oldest living person in Minnesota, USA.

Lillian Moran was born on 18 March 1911 in Maddock, North Dakota, USA, to parents Jacob Jacobson and Emma Julia Nottestad. Her father was a farmer, so Lillian grew up milking cows and working the fields.

Moran with her father in 1914.
(Source: CBS News Minnesota)

In 1940, she was married to John Moran, and the couple had a son named Gary Wayne Moran. The couple farmed near the small town of Flora until her husband passed away in 1963. She then lived in Minnewaukan, North Dakota, for some time before she decided to move into an assisted living facility when she was 98 years old.

Lillian celebrated her 112th birthday late in May 2023 instead of March after she tested positive for COVID-19 during that time. On a positive note, this was the second time she beat and survived the virus.

Lillian Moran currently resides in Moorhead, Minnesota, USA.

For more information, please view Lillian Moran’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest has validated the reported age of Lillian Wilson at 110 years old. LongeviQuest research indicates that upon her death on 4 November 2020, she was the second-oldest living person in the U.S. state of North Dakota.

Lillian Wilson (110 Years Old)

She was born on 28 November 1909 in North Dakota to Canadian-American parents, the only daughter among her parents’ three children. The family had a farm in Tatum Township of Ward County, North Dakota, USA where Lillian was born. The family then moved to Aneta after Lillian’s father passed away during the 1918 flu pandemic, but they eventually returned to Ward County in 1925 when Lillian was in her sophomore year of high school.

She had quite an impressive educational background as she acquired a teaching certificate, a degree in History and Social Science, and a master’s degree in library science. Lillian Wilson never married nor had any children.

For more information, please view Lillian Wilson’s Directory Profile here.