Lifetime Leaders of Rodeo & Ranching Rodeo Ranching Great Westerner Western Entertaiment & Arts Rodeo Producers & Livestock Special Achievement Cowboy Long Rider Legacy Award

Ranching

Victor J. (Vic) Christensen
1998 Hall Of Fame Ranching Inductee

 Victor J. “Vic” Christensen was the son of pioneer ranchers Hans and Johanna Christensen. The Christensen family arrived at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory, in the 1870’s. The family later moved to a Dunn County site in the 1880’s and then to the Figure Four Ranch near Fort Berthold, McKenzie County. Initially, the Figure Four was principally a horse ranch.

 Vic was born in 1895 and attended the University of North Dakota and the University of Minnesota, where he earned a law degree. He then returned to the family ranch and, upon the death of his father, took over the operation 30 miles north of Killdeer.

 In addition to land holdings in Dunn County, the Figure Four also leased land on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, where Vic led the annual big lease round up. Following World War I, the price of horses dropped so the Figure Four became a cattle operation, known as one of the finest operations in the state.

 The Christensens maintained a home on the ranch and in Watford City. Vic became known as “The Flying Cowboy” because he often used a small plane to travel between Watford City and the ranch. Vic served as president of the North Dakota State Cattlemen’s Association and died in 1953.