Career
In 1871, Gunnar Haugen married the twin sister of Knut Helland, Gunnhild Eriksdatter Helland (1851–1907). Gunnar and Gunnhild were the parents of:
Olav Gunnarsson Helland (1875–1946)
Knut Gunnarsson Helland (1880–1920)
Gunnar Gunnarsson Helland (1889–1976)
John Gunnarsson Helland (1897–1977)
He became a successful violin maker, winning prizes and medals both in Norway and abroad. When Knut Helland died in 1880, Gunnar took over both the family farm and the fiddle workshop, at which time he adopted the surname Helland.
He had the farm for 26 years and then bought a larger farm below Bø Church (Bø kyrkjelyd), now the site of the trade and research center Hellandtunet Forsknings og Næringssenter.