The Strand Family Home

Just as is written on the photo:  Per, Knut, Anne-Berit and Inger-Mari (or Lillemor) Strand in1938

Gamle Mau'ern, as Mauritz-Hansensgate was fondly called, was the Strand family's home for over 70 years.

My Uncles Per and Knut were adorable, don't you think?  My mother, Anne-Berit and her sister, Lillemor, were too.   The above photo was taken before World War II would ravage their country.

Here is what "gamle Mau'ern" looks like today:

The family in front of of #4 Mauritz Hansensgate in 2013
Anders, Jeff, Christian, Kirsti, Nils and Linnea

Visiting in 1963

My mom, Anne-Berit, with me and my little brother Jay visiting with Bestemor and Bestefar

Where were you in 1963?  I'm betting a bunch of you weren't born yet!

In 1963, my mom took my brother and me to visit her family in Norway.  We stayed with my grandmother (Bestemor) and grandfather (Bestefar).

My grandmother was a wonderful cook. She would hold court in her kitchen, as you see her in this photo, making meals and entertaining guests. My grandfather was (in my humble and truly biased opinion ) the nicest man on the planet.

It was a lovely summer.

Jay and I with a kitten who came to visit

Jay was three years old that summer, and I was 11.  Jay loved my grandmother's waffles and spent a lot of time enjoying them.

Eating Grandmother's heart-shaped waffles!

Jay had gotten his "Flight Wings" pin from the Pan Am stewardess.  That was really cool for a three year-old!  He wore that cowboy hat (below) everywhere.  It was a little too big for him and often sat sideways.

He was adorable.

In the kitchen with Bestemor

Norwegians can't pronounce the English "J" sound.  It comes out as a "Sh" or Yah" sound instead.
My grandfather lamented that he had one grandson and that grandson had a name he couldn't pronounce.  My brother Jay was therefore given an easily pronounceable Norwegian nickname:  Knotten.

Translation?  Well, the Peanuts comic strip, when translated into Norwegian, is called "Knottene".

Knotten and I had a great summer together.

Hiking in the Forest

Lillemor, Anne-Berit, Willy and Annemor

The Strand family were all nature enthusiasts, as are all Norwegians to this day.  Here are Aunt Lillemor (Inger-Mari) Strand, my mom Anne-Berit Strand, my 'Uncle' Willy (actually their cousin, Uncle Erling's son) and his daughter Annemor on a backpacking trip.

I'm guessing this was taken just after World War II.

Willy served as one of the guys in white, on skis, who fought the Germans - sometimes in hand-to-hand combat - during that terrible war.  He didn't like to talk of his experiences during that time.
I remember him as a truly good guy, and a terrific soccer player!

I love this photo!

Bestemor in Salt Lake City

My grandmother, Sigrid Sophie Olsen, is standing on the left
The lady in the center has been identified as Lagertha Larsen Kristiansen, Bente Bakken Karlsson's great aunt.
I have no idea who these other women are, but they look like a Relief Society Presidency!

My grandmother, Sigrid Sophie Olsen, was born and raised in the country of Norway.  In the early 1900s she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

She, like many others, felt the urge to "come to Zion", or emigrate to Salt Lake City, USA.  Many Norwegian Mormons had already made the trip - by the thousands.  In those days there was an entire Norwegian-speaking branch (congregation) of the Church in the Salt Lake area.

I know these photos were taken of my grandmother when she was visiting Salt Lake.  I have no idea who the other ladies in these photos are.

I love the styles!  This was during World War I.

Following the war, Miss Olsen returned to her native Norway.  She wasn't happy in Utah and had been homesick for the fjords and mountains of her native land.

Miss Sigrid Olsen is on the far left.

Grandmother was a tiny woman, maybe 4 foot 9 inches or 5 feet tall.  I love the hats, don't you?

I thought you might enjoy these photos.  She was a beautiful woman, don't you think?