Famous People from North Dakota

North Dakota Biographies, Famous People from North Dakota

Alexander McGillivray

Elizabeth Bodine (1898 - 1986) Humanitarian.

Gen. George Armstrong Custer (1839 - 1876) and the 7th Cavalry were stationed at Fort Abraham Lincoln outside Mandan. In 1876, they left on the journey that ended at the Battle of the Little Big Horn.

Angie Dickinson (1931 - ) Actress; born in Kulm.

William H. Gass (1924 - ) Writer and philosopher. He wrote Omensetter's Luck and a book of short stories called In the Heart of the Heart of the Country; born in Fargo.

Phil Jackson (1945 - ) Basketball player and coach; grew up in Williston and played college basketball for the University of North Dakota.

Norman Kittson (1814 - 1888) Fur trader and transportation entrepreneur. His ventures helped open the Red River Valley to settlement.

Louis L'Amour (1908 - 1988) Author known for his vivid descriptions of frontier life; grew up in Jamestown.

Peggy Lee (1920 - ) Singer; born in Jamestown.

Meriwether Lewis (1774 - 1809) and William Clark (1770 - 1838) led the Corps of Discovery through North Dakota, where they spent the winter of 1804-1805 near Washburn at Fort Mandan.

Cliff Fido Purpur (1914 - 2001) First North Dakota native to become a National Hockey League player; born in Grand Forks.

Teddy Roosevelt (1858 - 1919) Ranched near Medora and credited his Badlands experience from 1883-1886 for molding him into a president.

Sacagawea (c. 1790-1812 or 1884) Shoshoni Indian woman who, with her husband Toussaint Charbonneau, served as interpreter and guide for the Lewis & Clark Expedition.

Sitting Bull (1831 - 1890) Lived the last years of his life at Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, near Fort Yates.

More Famous People of North Dakota

Dr. Robert H. Bahmer U.S. archivist

Dr. Anne Carlsen educator

Ronald N. Davies jurist

Ivan Dmitre artist

John Bernard Flannagan sculptor, Fargo

Phyllis Frelich actress, Devils Lake

Rev. Richard C. Halverson U.S. Senate chaplain

Dr. Leon O. Jacobson researcher, educator, Sims

Harold K. Johnson army general

William Lemke representative

Marquis de Mores cattleman

Casper Oimoen skier

Arthur Peterson radio and TV actor

James Rosenquist painter, Grand Forks

Eric Sevareid TV commentator, Velva

Ann Sothern actress, Valley City

Dorothy Stickney actress Dickinson

Edward K. Thompson editor

Era Bell Thompson editor

Tommy Tucker band leader, Souris

Lawrence Welk band leader, entertainer, Strasburg

Larry Woiwode writer

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