Name/Title
Sokness family: Joseph and Viola (Wateland) Sokness, residents of Grandin, North DakotaEntry/Object ID
2026.18.1Description
This family history folder contains documents and photos on the lives of Joseph Sokness and Viola (Wateland) Sokness, and their son Dennis, who were residents of Grandin, North Dakota, located on the border of Traill and Cass Counties.
As noted in brief family history documents in the 1976 Rural Cass County book and in the 1982 Grandin Centennial book, Joseph 'Joe' Sokness was born on 17 april 1906 in Colfax, Richland County, North Dakota, and Viola Wateland was born on 22 February 1908 in nearby Galchutt, Richland County, ND. Viola was confirmed in about 1922 [see TCHS Catalogit photograph entry 2026.20.1].
Viola Wateland and Joe Sokness married on 2 September 1933 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead, MN. After Joe and Viola married, they lived in Colfax, ND, where Joe Managed the Cargill Grain Elevator. In 1940, Joe and family were transferred by Cargill to Warren, MN, where they had their only child, son Dennis Sokness, born 15 August 1944. In 1949 Joe, Viola and son Dennis were transferred by Cargill to Marshall, MN, and then in 1951 to Cargill in Grandin, ND. In 1953, Joe resigned from Cargill and worked for R.F. Gunkelman & Sons by Grandin. Joe retired in 1971. Their son, Dennis lived in Grandin and worked at nearby Agra-By-Products Farm until his passing, age 71, on 26 January 2016.
Joseph Sokness lived to the age of 80, passing away on 11 May 1986 (see Obituary). Joseph had a brother, Carnel Sokness of Colfax, ND, who died age 60 on 23 August 1968 (see Memorial Obituary).
Viola (Wateland) Sokness lived to the grand age of 97, passing way on 14 June 2005 in HIllsboro, ND (see obituary). Viola had a brother, Syver Wateland, who died age 79 in 1982 in Wahpeton, ND, and another brother, Melvin Wateland, who died age 84 in 1983 in Wahpeton (see Memorial Obituaries).Acquisition
Accession
2026.18Source or Donor
Cass County Historical Society, Louis Rosenau Estate Collection, Dennis PetersonLocation
* Untyped Location
Resource RoomBuilding
Plummer House
