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Larry Aasen was born in a log cabin on the North Dakota prairie — really, he was. In fact the pioneer home is featured on the cover of his latest book.

A city slicker for 60 years, Aasen can’t shake his North Dakota roots.

His wife Martha accuses him of living in the past and Aasen won’t deny it. After all, the past is inspiration for this author of seven books about North Dakota and its rich history.

Aasen was born December 5, 1922 on a farm east of Gardner, N.D. 

As his mother wrote in her diary documenting the day of his birth, “Lawrence Aasen is born. Because of a bad snowstorm, Dr. Gowenlock arrived too late. His car got stuck and he finally got here with a team of horses. Three ladies were here to help me.”

Young Lawrence was raised on a farm north of Hillsboro. He graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1942 and then earned a degree in journalism from the University of North Dakota in 1947. Two years later, he graduated from Boston University with a master’s degree in public relations.

It’s apparent Aasen comes by his latest “gig” — promoter of North Dakota — quite honestly.

He worked in New York City in journalism and public relations for 38 years and “has the scars to prove it.”

He survived by coming back to North Dakota every year for a restful walk around the farm.

“That is cheaper than a psychiatrist!” he jokes.

The decision to retire at 65 came about “the day I was mugged in Grand Central Station,” Aasen relates. Twenty years of retirement have been filled with projects — church work, local politics and three volunteer tours with the International Executive Service Corps in faraway places like Bulgaria, Guatemala and Botswana.

Aasen is a man with an opinion and a purpose. Lately he’s been involved with Westport’s representative town meetings, much like city councils in North Dakota. He’s also a regular contributor to various “letter to the editor” mailbags.

Still a public relations man, Aasen noted that when he introduces himself as a native North Dakotan, “Everyone says I’ve never met anybody from North Dakota!”

Larry Aasen has made it his life’s mission to change that and to leave people with a good impression of his beloved state.