Berndt was born in Askevold, Norway on May 16, 1846.  He attended school in Bergen, 1869-71 and was trained as a teacher at Askevold Teachers' Training School, 1871-72, and taught at Bergen 1872-73 before immigrating to the United States in 1873.  He attended Luther College, 1874-75, and Luther Seminary, 1880-82 (C.T.).  He served as pastor for congregations in Tracy, Minnesota, 1882-99; Pensacola, Florida, 1899-00; Decorah, Iowa, 1900-02; Ossian, IA, 1902-12; Brooklyn, New York. 1914-20.  First editor of the Decorah Posten and authored several books including Ragnhild (1876). Died June 10, 1926.

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Askevold ble født i Norge. Han gikk på skole i Bergen og fikk utdanning som lærer før han utvandra til Amerika i 1873. Han studerte ved Luther College og Luther Seminary. Han jobbet som prest i menigheter i Minnesota, Florida, Iowa og New York, redigerte Decorah-Posten og skrev flere bøker, blant annet romanen Ragnhild (1876).