Einar Strand's "Church" Biography

"Under the Northern Light's Sky"

In the late 1960s, Hilmar Freidel undertook a daunting task -  he wrote a history of the Norwegian Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the year 1851 through 1966.

Brother Freidel was a wonderful man who loved kids and billed himself as "Santa Claus's Brother" to me when I was a little girl.  He even visited me my freshman year at BYU, so I remember him warmly.

In this book are all kinds of references to my various family members, on both my mother's and father's side of the family, but in this post I will only address his biography of my grandfather, Einar Strand.

I have taken it upon myself to translate this from pages 150-152.  (Please feel free to write me to correct anything I may have gotten wrong.  I did this quickly and may have translated a few things poorly. I will be grateful for any corrections.)

Einar Strand

35.  Einar Strand was born on the 22nd of July in 1893 in the Frogner Parish of Lier.  He was baptized [a member of the LDS church] the 15th of May 1920 in Oslo and was ordained as an Elder the 2nd of June, 1921.  He was for a while the President of the Drammen Branch Sunday School, and was a member of the Drammen Branch Presidency from 1922 until he moved to Oslo in September of 1927.  In 1929 he became a member of the Oslo Branch Presidency, and on the 2nd of November, 1930, was called as the Branch President.  He had this calling until the 14th of January, 1934, - and he was so popular and held in such high esteem that the Oslo Branch Relief Society honored him, and the immediate members of the Branch presidency, with a special party in their honor which was held on the 23rd of January, 1934. 

A report tells:

“The party started with a hymn and prayer, after which Sister Kristofa Sønsteby read a prolog (poem) in honor for the old Branch Presidency.  Sister Ljungberg, the President of the Relief Society, thanked these good, dear brothers for the good support they had had from them, and for their good fellowship in working together.  – The New Branch Presidency was also wished welcome. – After that she gave the former Branch President and his two counselors each a beautiful flower.”

(A large part of this honor fell also on the two active Brothers Ramm Arveseter and Gustav Fernsjo as Brother Strand’s counsellors, and Brother Oscar R. Lindbo as Branch Secretary.)

In August 1937, Einar Strand was once again called as Branch President, and he held this position until September, 1946.  Other data we can note: [He served as] Teacher in Oslo’s Sunday School Adult class (Gospel Doctrine) for a total of 25 years.  19 Years straight as a teacher in the Genealogical Class, not to mention many years of teaching in the Young Men’s organization, together with teaching in his Priesthood Quorum for 30 years.  Under Mission President Jospeh A. Gundersen, he was called as President of the Elder’s Quorum in the Oslo and Drammen District, and was in that capacity until the Fall of 1964.  Afterwards, he was called as Secretary to the Elder’s Quorum in Oslo 2 Branch, and as District’s Council member in Oslo District.  For many years under Mission Presidents Axel J. Andresen’s and Joseph A. Gundersen’s time, he was called to preside over regular meetings in Odalen, together with the missionaries that from time to time worked there.

Brother Einar Strand’s talents in the gospel belong to the most gifted, his courage was eminent.  His courageous comments and leadership in difficult times have awakened notice, thought and discussions amongst the Church membership, but his will and abilities to defend his ideas has also created fruitful afterthoughts.  There is not enough said how he, as a member of the Church, has fought a marvelous spiritual battle and has been a strong and solid pillar in the Gospel framework – as well as when the opposition came from outside the church.

Those who had the opportunity to seek his unwavering optimism and enjoy a feeling of safety and cheer in those days when the land was under the ruling government’s watchful and vengeful eye [i.e. World War II occupation by Nazi Germany], will never forget him.  His unbelievable ability to uncover so-called ‘illegal’ news, he used to give hope and faith to all who despaired.  This showed a fearless joy of giving the worth of which can not be measured.

But it almost went wrong in the summer of 1943 when he was arrested, beaten and placed in a dark cell in Victoria Terrasse [the police station, which became Nazi headquarters] in Oslo.  That morning he had promised to visit a sick woman who was in the hospital, to give her a blessing.  In that lonely prison, he prayed to be able to fulfill his promise to this woman, and God heard his prayer – because he was released in the same hour.  A second time he was arrested, but was again returned unhurt from those who would have judged him.

As an Elder, as Branch President, as a help to the Mission, and an unshakeable champion of truth, he was among the best; but as a human being, as a never failing friend to children, as a comforter and source of cheer in times of sorrow, and as the rousing force when it was time for a party, as poet and author of more songs and poems than can be counted, he showed another side of his character and gifts that are not any less as well thought of.  It was difficult for while to think of Osterhausgaten 27 (the address of the Oslo Branch chapel until the 1970s) without “Pappa Strand” – as the children usually called him -  But he also placed his mark on other places, not in the least Drammen and Odalen, and other places in Norway and Sweden which he visited.

Brother Einar Strand’s effectiveness within the Church, also consisted of visiting the sick and the conducting of funerals, usually at any time of the day – with the result that he was often away from his home and his own family.  His wife, Sigrid Strand, must therefore also stand among those women who in their own way made huge sacrifices [for the Gospel].  A husband who goes completely in and is willing to sacrifice his time for good deeds, can not be completely successful if he doesn’t have a wife who shares his faith and is willing to share the burdens that surely come along with it.  The activity that in one way or another must come to a home where the husband is strongly needed, insures that the wife must shore up the things that are lacking, and in this regard Sister Sigrid Strand has known the cost of being married to a man who is constantly in demand.

But such it is when a married couple go whole heartedly into a calling – whether it is as Mission Leader, Branch President, Organist, Conductor, or whatever; and when a man is strongly active, so must one understand that at the same time there sits at home someone who in their own way share in that and should also share in the success that follows.

Here are copies of the actual book pages:


Page 150




Page 151




Page 152



Grandmother's Maids - Mina

Mina
I'm sorry this detail is so blurry.  I had trouble finding photos of her.

For many years, (like half a century, I think) a wonderful woman named Mina Mørch was a maid for my Bestemor.  A fixture in the Strand household, I got the impression she loved my Bestemor dearly and looked up to her.  She never called Bestemor Søster Strand or Fru Strand or even Sigrid, it was always “Strand”.  Mina was a diminutive lady with a quiet dignity.  Her wrinkled face had once been quite pretty.  She often asked Bestefar for advice and for priesthood blessings.  I know she worked very hard all her life, yet was faithful in paying her tithes and offerings and attending church.

Mina’s husband was an alcoholic and a ne’er do well kind of guy.  Together they had 16 children – all single births!  Mina kept her 16 children clothed and fed by taking in washing and ironing and working for my grandmother and probably others.  Mina was also one of my grandmother’s best friends.  Bestemor once asked Mina why she had so many children when her husband was such a scoundrel.  “He’s my husband, Strand” was all Mina answered. 

Mina was a woman of great faith in God.  From her 16 children, the Lord raised up the first Stake President of the Oslo, Norway Stake, and it’s first patriarch.

There’s a funny story about Mina’s husband (which may or may not be apocryphal!).  One night he was in charge of getting the children to bed, as Mina was working late.  They had a tiny apartment and the children slept on sofas and pallets all over the place.  When Mina got home, she asked how everything had gone.  “Not bad,” her husband replied.  “Except for this one here.”  He pointed to a youngster sound asleep nearby.  “He gave me a devil of a time.”

“Well, no wonder,” answered Mina, “he’s not one of ours.”

Mina was thrilled when I was born, as I was born on her birthday, the 18^th of October.  She considered it quite an honor that one of Strand’s grandchildren was born on her birthday.

This sweet woman worked her fingers to the bone until she was quite elderly.  Then, her oldest children took over and finally provided her with a better life.  Mina had always longed to see Salt Lake City.  The kids all chipped in when Mina turned 70 years old and sent their mom on a trip to Zion.  She was thrilled beyond speech.

Our whole family drove up to Salt Lake City during her stay to spend some time with her there.  I was so thankful that this wonderful lady got a chance to realize her dream before she passed from this life.  It was the last time I saw her alive.  I loved her a lot.


Mina, Anne-Berit, Marianne and Jay at the "This Is The Place" Monument outside of Salt Lake City, Utah, circa 1967