Johan Falkberget was born on the Lillebakken farm in the Rugldal valley of Røros Municipality, Norway.

He formally changed his surname for writing purposes in 1893, from Lillebakken to Falkberget—the name of the farm he then lived on (this was a normal practice in those days).

While living there, he represented the Norwegian Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) for Sør-Trøndelag in the Storting from 1931 to 1933.

[1][2] He died on 5 April 1967 and is buried in the family plot in the upper churchyard at Røros.

"The miners' toil and rhythm of life became the fulcrum of Falkberget's literature", according to biographer Sturle Kojen.