Bernhard M. Bottolfson was born on November 22, 1894 in Waterville, Allamakee County, Iowa. His father is Benjamin M. and his mother is Thora Marie Jensen Bottolfson. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I as a Private in Machine Gun Company, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. He accompanied the Machine Gun Company to the front and was injured on May 4, 1918. He was in several hospitals in France until finally discharged on Sept. 20, 1918, rejoining his company five days later. He was Killed in Action on October 9, 1918 (at the age of 23) in France and is now buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial, Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Departement de la Meuse, Lorraine, France.

Source of information: A newspaper clip from findagrave.com