Mette Marie Madsen was born July 26, 1858 in Hundborg Parish, Hundborg District, Thisted, Denmark and baptized in the Hundborg Parish church on 8 August 1858. Her godparents included her aunts Sophie Marie Nielsen and Ane Madsen, both sisters of Lars Madsen, Mads Christian Christoffersen, her grandfather, and Peder Moller Christensen.

Mette Marie, or Marie, immigrated to South Dakota in 1878. She and her sister Madsine, arrived separately from her parents and six younger brothers and sisters.

On 23 Feb 1880, she married Christian Nassen Johnson, in a double ceremony with her sister Madsine, who married Chris’s business partner Jorgen Johanse Damm.

George Damm wrote: “The first marriage in the East Norden Lutheran Church was solemnized on February 23, 1880, Rev. Jacobson officiating. Further distinction falls to this occasion because of the fact that it was a double wedding, Miss Marie Madsen and Miss Madsina Madsen were to be married to Christian Johnson and Jorgen Damm. The ceremony took place in the sod home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lars Madsen.”

Christian was born 20 November, 1854, in Denmark. The young couple lived on Christian’s claim on the south bank of Lake Thisted. He was a business partner with Jorgen Damm in freight hauling. Christian died May 18, 1880 . He was killed by a lightening strike while hunting near Lake Thisted. He is counted as the first of the pioneers to die in the area. Marie was pregnant at the time, and their son, also named Christian Nassen Johnson was born Jan 8, 1881 and died May 15, 1881.

Marie married Peter Knutson on Oct 20, 1880. They continued to live in Kingsbury County for a period of time, and then moved to Laketon Township, Brookings County, sometime before 1903. Marie and Peter had 13 children. Mrs. Knutson, with her husband, lived in Kingsbury County, and then moved to Brookings County until 1919. At the passing of her husband, Mrs. Knutson moved to Arlington where she lived until a year and a half before her death, and then she stayed with her daughter, Mrs. Sampson Anderson, who cared for her until her death.