Craig Edwards from the Chanhassen National Weather Service presenting the Family Heritage Award to Martha and Luther Opjorden. November 2005.
We received sad news that Martha and Luther Opjorden passed away in January 2026. The Opjordens were dedicated observers at Milan, Minnesota, for the National Weather Service's "cooperative" network. The station is recognized nationally for its outstanding and comprehensive climate observations spanning three generations of Opjordens, with records into the 1890s! The State Climatology Office relies on the Milan station heavily because few other rural stations have the same consistency, the same quality, and the same longevity of observations. It is truly an outstanding station.
The family legacy began on August 7, 1893 when Mr. O.K. Opjorden started the observations at his Milan farm. He continued for 28 years before passing on the duty to his daughter, Miss Ragna Opjorden, in October of 1921. Her brother, Mr. Torfinn Opjorden, took over observing in January of 1925. Fifty seven years later in May of 1982, Torfinn turned the weather station over to his son, Mr. Luther Opjorden. He and his wife, Martha, continued to take observations on the family farm for the next 43 years. To ensure no observations are missed, Luther and Martha had their friend, Deb Hanson, fill in while the family was on vacation.
Because of their location in rural Minnesota, their meticulous observations, and using original equipment, the Opjordens’ site in Milan was an excellent way to watch trends of climate over the past 130 years. Some of the trends incude that it doesn’t get as cold as it used to during the winter in Milan and the growing season has gotten longer.
Martha and Luther went above and beyond the typical weather observer will be greatly missed.
Updated February 19, 2026
PJB/KAB