Martin A. Kroshus was born 26 Jun 1891 at the home farm in Mary Township, Norman County, MN. He was the son of Halvor Anderson Kroshus and his wife Kjerstie Gulbrandsdatter Melbostad Kroshus.

Martin was the 10th of their 14 children. His siblings were: John A. 13 Aug 1874-9 Oct 1941 (Anna Bertine “Annie” Ulvan 9 Jun 1881-13 Feb 1964), Anna F. 22 Nov 1875-16 Oct 1913 (Fred O. Tufte 17 Jul 1863-9 Sep 1951), Karoline A. 20 Jan 1878-24 Oct 1889, Gust Andrew Kroshus Anderson 25 Mar 1880-6 Feb 1962 (Elizabeth Sprung 31 Mar 1882-20 Jan 1983), Maria Christina, twin of Gust, 25 Mar 1880-ca 1882, Henry H. 28 Sep 1882-18 Sep 1950 (Julia VanDerMeer 13 Jun 1884-3 Mar 1967), Mary 1 Oct 1883-25 Jul 1977 (Lauritz Oli Olson 13 Apr 1881-4 Oct 1966), Tilda 15 May 1886-1 Sep 1915 (Martin H. Ellingson 7 Mar 1890-16 Aug 1962), Clara Christine 13 Mar 1888-25 Apr 1977, Oscar 14 Sep 1892-1955 (Inga Jacobson 26 Jan 1895-8 Sep 1966), Joseph H. 28 Dec 1893-9 Mar 1986 (Alida S. Hovland 18 May 1897-29 Aug 1961), William Jennings Leonard 4 Jan 1897-31 Jul 1919 and Emma H. 13 Feb 1901-31 Jan 2000 (Clarence Randal Berg 4 Nov 1900-14 Jan 1992).

Martin was baptized at the Bethania Lutheran Church 9 Aug 1891. His sponsors were: A. J. Kroshus, Lars Melbostad, Clara Melbostad, Marie Johnson and Fredrik Fredrikson. He was confirmed 5 Nov 1905 at the Bethania Lutheran Church.

He attended the local rural school and then went on to attend Dakota Business College in Fargo, ND.

He married Olga Marie Wiig of Perley, MN 2 Dec 1913.

During WW I they lived in Vancouver, WA where Martin worked in the shipyards. During hard times, Martin and his sons cut firewood for grocery money. They also moved buildings for hire and for a time had a garage in Perley. Martin also worked in construction in addition to his farming. He served on the local school board and was sexton of the Bethania Cemetery. Martin and Olga continued farming east of Perley until 1974, when they moved to Moorhead, MN in retirement.

Martin and Olga were the parents of eight children. They were: Herbert 17 May 1915-18 May 1915, LeRoy “Clifford” 27 May 1916-22 Nov 1981 (Alma S. Amundson 18 Jan 1924-8 Mar 1999), Kenneth Howard 7 Mar 1918-10 Nov 1998 (Della Mary Hitner 6 May 1932-19 Jan 2010), Doris Irene 21 Apr 1921-28 Dec 2005 (Stanley Portal Nichols 26 Feb 1911-22 May 1999), William Walter Wendell 28 Dec 1923-12 Feb 1949, Glen Eugene 17 May 1926- Living (Lola Maxine Bjerke 11 Dec 1931-24 Jun 2006), Vernon 30 Jan 1929-7 Feb 1929, Vern Robert “Ole” 23 Mar 1930-26 Apr 2012 (Evelyn G. Dalen 2 Jan 1930-14 Mar 2014), James Harlan “Jimmy” 15 Nov 1935-Living (Beverly Price). (Note: Bethania Ministerial Records say Herbert was born 14 May 1915 and died 14 May 1915 with his funeral on 17 May 1915 at Bethania.)

Martin moved to the Moorhead Manor Retirement Home in the fall of 1981. He passed away there 21 Oct 1981 at the age of 90 years old. Funeral services were held for him at the Bethania Lutheran Church, rural Perley 24 Oct 1981.