Hillerud Farm celebrates 100 years
Just outside Ryley is the Hillerud Farm, which celebrated its centennial milestone in mid-July.
Taken care of by Ken Hillerud and his family, the farm was originally established and looked after by Hillerud’s grandfather Hans Berg Hillerud.
“Our grandfather came from Norway through Minnesota, finally planting his roots in Canada in 1904,” Hillerud said. “He began his homestead here, while the rest of his family went on to Washington State.”
Hans Berg Hillerud, their grandfather operated the Livery Stable in Ryley from 1910 to 1917.
“But then cars were starting to come in so he began to wind down a bit, leasing out the stable and then selling it,” Hillerud added. “That’s when they bought the farm, around 1917 and moved to the farm in 1918.”
The little house that was called the “pink shack” is where Hillerud’s parents and their siblings were raised.
The present house was built in 1928.
According to Hillerud, the Livery Barn was still being used until two years ago, and as for the farm, it’s operational.
