Realf Ottesen Brandt (September 12, 1859 – March 23, 1927) was an American

Lutheran Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic Church launched th ...

minister.

Background

Realf Brandt was born near the

Jefferson Prairie Settlement Jefferson Prairie Settlement was a pioneer colony of Norwegian-Americans located in the Town of Clinton, in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. This site and the nearby Rock Prairie settlement outside Orfordville served as centers for both N ...

Rock County, Wisconsin Rock County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 163,687. Its county seat is Janesville. Rock County comprises the Janesville- Beloit, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Ma ...

. His father, Nils Olsen Brandt (1824–1921), who had been born

Slidre Slidre is the administrative centre of Vestre Slidre Municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. The village is located along the Slidrefjorden in the Valdres district. The village is located along the European route E16 highway, about northwest ...

Valdres Valdres () is a traditional district in central, southern Norway, situated between the districts of Gudbrandsdalen and Hallingdal. The region of Valdres consists of the six municipalities of Nord-Aurdal, Sør-Aurdal, Øystre Slidre, Vestre Slidre ...

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...

, served as President of Luther College. His mother, Diderikke Ottesen Brandt (1827–1885), was born in Sande parish on the

Oslofjord The Oslofjord (, ; en, Oslo Fjord) is an inlet in the south-east of Norway, stretching from an imaginary line between the and lighthouses and down to in the south to Oslo in the north. It is part of the Skagerrak strait, connecting the Nor ...

. In appreciation of her many contributions to Luther College, the alumni association in 1883 had her portrait painted by

Herbjørn Gausta Herbjørn Nilson Gaustå also Herbjorn Gausta (June 16, 1854 – May 22, 1924) was an American artist who is best known for his landscapes, portraits, and scenes from rural settings. He left an early record of immigrant life in his portraits and ...

. Realf Brandt was a graduate of Luther College in 1877 and of Luther Seminary at

Madison, Wisconsin Madison is the county seat of Dane County and the capital city of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census the population was 269,840, making it the second-largest city in Wisconsin by population, after Milwaukee, and the 80th-lar ...

in 1883.

Ministry

He was ordained a Lutheran minister on September 2, 1883, by the Reverend U. V. Koren. He served in the Lutheran ministry for 44 years. He served for 17 years in

Deuel County, South Dakota Deuel County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,295. Its county seat is Clear Lake. The county was created in 1862, and was organized in 1878. It is named for Jacob Deuel, a legislato ...

and for 27 years at

McFarland, Wisconsin The Village of McFarland is located on Lake Waubesa adjacent to the southeast side of the City of Madison in Dane County. The population was 8,991 at the 2020 United States Census. McFarland has approximately 43.50 road miles, is slightly le ...

. Both Brandt Township in Deuel County and the village of

Brandt, South Dakota Brandt is a town in Deuel County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 114 at the 2020 census. History Brandt was laid out in 1884. The town was named for the Rev. P.O. Brandt. Geography Brandt is located at (44.664256, -96.623601). ...

were named for him. Starting in 1906 and working with Halvor Hustvedt, Brandt was one of the first editors of ''Lutheran Herald''. This was the first general church organ published in English by a Norwegian-American synodical body. Brandt was a member of the

South Dakota Board of Regents The South Dakota Board of Regents (also known as SDBOR) is a governing board that controls six public universities in the U.S. state of South Dakota. These include Black Hills State University, Dakota State University, Northern State University, S ...

from 1890 until 1892. He also proved himself a leader of the movement to outlaw liquor in the state of

South Dakota South Dakota (; Sioux language, Sioux: , ) is a U.S. state in the West North Central states, North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Lakota people, Lakota and Dakota peo ...

. Realf Brandt married Thalette "Lettie" Mathilde Galby (1859–1939) in 1880. The daughter of John T. Galby and Margaret Aaker of

Ridgeway, Iowa Ridgeway is a city in Winneshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 275 at the time of the 2020 census. Geography Ridgeway is located at (43.297884, -91.989187). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total ...

, Lettie was educated at the Breckenridge Institute in Decorah. She served as officer in several Lutheran church organizations, including two terms as secretary of the Eastern District Women's Missionary Federation.

References

Other sources

*Lomen, G. J. ''Genealogies of the Lomen (Ringstad), Brandt and Joy's Families'' (Northfield, Minnesota: Mohn Printing Company, 1929)

External links

Brandt Hall at Luther CollegeLuther College Brandt Family Papers
by

, (1883) {{DEFAULTSORT:Brandt, Realf Ottensen 19th-century American Lutheran clergy American people of Norwegian descent 1859 births 1927 deaths People from Deuel County, South Dakota People from McFarland, Wisconsin Luther College (Iowa) alumni People from Clinton, Rock County, Wisconsin 20th-century American Lutheran clergy