Ylvisaker was born in Norway.  He immigrated to America in 1868.  He graduated from Luther College in 1888 and attended Luther Seminary.  He was also the president of the North Dakota District of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America.

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Ylvisaker ble født i Trondheim. Han kom til Amerika i 1868. Han gikk ut fra Luther College i 1888 og studerte også ved Luther Seminary. Han var president for et av distriktene til Norwegian Lutheran Church of America i Nord Dakota.