Haugland was born in 1905 near
Minot, North Dakota, the daughter of
Norwegian immigrants Nels and Sigurda (Ringeon) Haugland, who were dairy farmers. She taught in
Ward County from 1923 to 1925 and received her teaching certificate in 1928 from what is now
Minot State University. Her political career began in 1936 when she first ran a Minot district House of Representatives seat, however, she was unable to win because a broken leg kept her from campaigning. During her time in office, Haugland's main focus was on improving education and a commitment to aiding farmers. She successfully helped
Minot State University acquire 10 new buildings. Haugland's efforts to improve farmer's problems and living conditions was recognized by former first lady
Eleanor Roosevelt in her book,
Ladies of Courage (New York, Putnam. 1954), when she wrote "Go down the list of laws passed by the North Dakota legislature in the last 15 years to help meet the farmer's problems and improve his living conditions, and you will find that Brynhild Haugland had a hand in every one of them." Haugland died at the age of 93 in 1998. ==Awards and recognition==