I come from a slightly different line of Heftes, also coming from the Gol/Aal area of Hallingdal Norway. The earliest known usage of the name Hefte I know of in my tree is Anders Ivarson Hefte -- the family in that region of Norway also often used the name Gjeldaker.

Ole Anderson Hefte emigrated to Inwood, IA in the late 1880s, early 1890s. He was called the "black eyed norwegian" because he had dark hair and dark eyes. Ole was a dancer and fiddle player. He loved to dance. One of the dances he did included a flip that would leave a footprint on the ceiling.

I've got a fairly extensive history from parts of this tree, and look forward to hearing from other relatives.

Here is a partial tree for 3 generations starting from Anders Hefte.

Tony Hansen, tony@att.com

1 Anders Ivarson Hefte b: March 19, 1821 d: July 10, 1900
. +Kristi Knudsdotter Brennehaugen b: December 26, 1830 m: December 23, 1853 d: 1917
. 2 Ivar Anderson Gjeldaker b: November 26, 1853 d: 1938
. 2 Knudt Gjeldaker b: January 16, 1859 d: Unknown
.... +Ingeborg Elevsdotter Moen b: April 21, 1861 m: May 01, 1889 d: Unknown
.... 3 Kristi Gjeldaker b: June 23, 1890 d: Unknown
.... 3 Elef Gjeldaker b: July 04, 1893 d: September 15, 1966
.... 3 Andres Gjeldaker b: March 16, 1895 d: Unknown
. 2 Andres Gjeldaker b: December 09, 1861 d: Unknown
.... +Margit Olsdotter Strand b: February 23, 1866 m: April 25, 1889 d: Unknown
.... 3 Andres Bernhard Gjeldaker b: June 30, 1890 d: Unknown
.... 3 Ragnhild Gjeldaker b: October 27, 1891 d: Unknown
.... 3 Olaf Gjeldaker b: July 29, 1897 d: Unknown
. 2 Ole Anderson Hefte b: May 05, 1864 d: August 11, 1917
.... +Birgit Svendsdotter Bransgaard b: July 18, 1868 m: Unknown d: April 25, 1903
.... 3 Olive Hefte aka: Olava Hefte b: December 12, 1891 in Inwood, IA, USA d: August 12, 1962 in Arlington, Kingsbury Co, SD, USA
....... +Halvard Lie aka: Halvor Lee b: December 19, 1890 in Skjold, Norway m: June 28, 1916 in Inwood, IA, USA d: June 30, 1978 in Arlington, Kingsbury Co, SD, USA
.... 3 Andrew Samuel Hefte b: February 26, 1893 d: July 27, 1980
....... +Maud Bell McConneil b: August 29, 1902 in Clinton/Wapella, De Witt Co., IL, USA m: d: March 16, 1986 in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha Co., SD, USA
.... 3 Bertha Gurine Hefte b: January 03, 1895 d: Unknown
....... +Bill Johnson b: Unknown m: d: Unknown
.... 3 Kristine Beatha Hefte b: September 01, 1896 d: Unknown
....... +Donald Basye b: Unknown m: d: Unknown
.... 3 Benjamin Oliver Hefte aka: Benny Hefte b: February 03, 1899 d: June 29, 1958 in Victor, Montana
.... 3 Irene Hefte b: September 15, 1900
....... +Leo Gracey b: December 04, 1892 m: d: December 10, 1967
.... 3 Bergit Hefte b: April 24, 1903 d: October 06, 1981
....... +Will Peterson b: Unknown m: d: 1950
. 2 Bergit Hefte b: May 05, 1864 d: Unknown
.... +Asle Trulson Rimehangen aka: Asle Haugen b: Unknown m: d: Unknown
.... 3 Aagot Gjeldaker b: December 12, 1882 d: Unknown
.... 3 Theodor Gjeldaker b: February 01, 1885 d: Unknown
.... 3 Oliver Gjeldaker b: August 10, 1889 d: Unknown
.... 3 Kora Gjeldaker b: April 01, 1892 d: Unknown
.... 3 Alex Gjeldaker b: November 08, 1895 d: Unknown
.... 3 Laurits Gjeldaker b: June 28, 1897 d: Unknown
.... 3 Klara Gjeldaker b: June 20, 1900
. 2 Botolf Hefte b: March 01, 1869 d: Unknown
.... +Julia Knudson b: Unknown m: d: Unknown
. *2nd Wife of Botolf Hefte:
.... +Ragnhild Akland b: Unknown m: d: Unknown
.... 3 Arthur Gjeldaker b: Unknown d: Unknown
.... 3 Ole Gjeldaker b: November 02, 1874 d: March 13, 1891
.... 3 Child3 Gjeldaker b: Unknown d: Unknown
.... 3 Child4 Gjeldaker b: Unknown d: Unknown
.... 3 Child5 Gjeldaker b: Unknown d: Unknown
.... 3 Child6 Gjeldaker b: Unknown d: Unknown
.... 3 Child7 Gjeldaker b: Unknown d: Unknown