Alfred Christopher Bellerud was born to Mads and Alvilda Bellerud on January 4, 1933 on the family farm between Adams and Park River, ND. He grew up on the family farm and attended the country school house through the eighth grade when he began working on the farm. He married Edna Kjenstad on June 28, 1952. Al served in the United States Army from 1953 until 1955 during the Korean conflict. Alfred and Edna were married 18 days shy of 68 years. They were blessed with two children, Pamela Jayne and Paul Wayne.