    
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Administrative
Information
Scope and Content Note
Biographical Information
Lineage
Selected Search Terms
Partial Interview Transcript
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Information
Resources
Robert A. L. Mortvedt Library
Pacific
Lutheran University
Tacoma, WASHINGTON 98447
Phone: (253) 535-7586 E-mail: archives@plu.edu
New Land
New Lives Oral History Collection
Elsie Karlson Odmark
A Guide to Her Oral History Interview |
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Administrative
Information
Creator:
Odmark, Elsie Karlson
Collection Nr: t072-073
File Content:
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2 file folders
0 photographs
2 sound cassettes
0 compact discs
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Processing Information:
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The
interview was conducted using a cassette recorder. A research
copy was also prepared from the original. To further preserve
the content of the interview, it is now being transferred
to compact disc. We deliberately did not transcribe the
entire interview because we want the researchers to listen
to the interviewee's own voice. The transcription index
highlights important aspects of the interview and the
tape counter numbers noted on the Partial Interview
Transcription are meant as approximate finding guides
and refer to the location of a subject on the cassette/CD.
Interviewed
by Morrene Nesvig
Transcribed by Mary Sue Gee, Julie Peterson and Becky
Husby
Encoded by Kerstin Ringdahl & Amity Smetzler
Recording Quality: Good
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Restrictions:
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The
collection is available for research.
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Preferred Citation:
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[Collection
Number, Collection Title]
New Land New Lives Oral History Collection
Scandinavian Immigrant Experience Collection
Robert A.L. Mortvedt Library
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA 98447
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The
interview was conducted with Elsie Odmark on July 29, 1981 in
Tacoma, Washington. This interview contains information on personal
background, family, life in Sweden, emigration, work, church
and community life, and Swedish heritage. This interview is
excellent. It is lengthy and detailed and gives insight into
the transition from an impecunious lifestyle to a life in "the
land of plenty." The interview was conducted in English with
some Swedish towards the end of the interview.
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Elsie
Odmark, originally Elsa Karlson, was born on June 1, 1904 in
Töreboda, Sweden. Elsie's parents, Hilda Larsson and Per August
Karlson, farmed in Sweden but were quite poor. In search of
better employment, her father moved to America in 1911, and
that is the last Elsie remembers of him. At that time, five
of Elsie's brothers and sisters already lived in America; there
were twelve children in the Carlson family. Since they had so
little money, Elsie began working for her room and board when
she was only eight years old. Per Karlson sent money to his
family back in Sweden, and more of her siblings moved to America.
When Elsie was ten years old, her mother died, so an older sister
living in the United States returned to Sweden to take care
of the family. In 1915, Elsie finally moved to America with
some of her siblings. She settled in Nebraska with her mother's
cousin and began attending school. Elsie's family rented a farm
across the road from the renowned Boys Town, founded by Father
Flanagan. Her father assisted the new home for boys by teaching
them to farm. Elsie was confirmed in Nebraska, even though her
family was not active in the church. Elsie's family began to
scatter among different states; Elsie moved with an older sister
to Chicago and did housework to earn money. Then she lived for
a time with her oldest sister in Muskegon, Michigan. Other members
of her family joined them after her sister's husband died of
tuberculosis. One sister encouraged Elsie to attend a dance
at the Vikings; there she met Adolph Odmark, a "handsome Swede."
They married in 1928 and soon thereafter took a trip to Sweden
to visit relatives for four months. Elsie and Adolph, residing
in Muskegon, Michigan, raised four children: Marianne, Raymond,
Richard, and Donald. For many years, Elsie worked in the food
industry, even establishing her own successful catering business.
Around 1970, two of Elsie and Adolph's sons encouraged them
to move to Tacoma; they retired just before they made the move
out west. Elsie became very involved in the community through
Bethel Lutheran Church, Vasa, and the Vasa Friendship Club.
She and Adolph visited Sweden two more times before Adolph was
diagnosed with cancer and passed away. Although Elsie moved
to America at a very young age, she treasures her Swedish heritage
and enjoys practicing Swedish traditions.
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Full Name: |
Elsie Odmark
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Maiden Name: |
Elsie Karlson
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Father: |
Per August Karlson
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Mother: |
Hilda Larsson
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Brothers and Sisters: |
August Karlson
Ellen Bylund
Anna Karlson
Harvey Karlson
Freda Dahlman
Bertil Karlson
Nels Karlson
Swen Karlson
Knute Karlson
Lars Karlson
Erik Karlson
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Spouse: |
Adolph Odmark
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Children: |
Raymond Odmark
Marianne Odmark
Richard Odmark
Donald Odmark
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This collection is indexed under the following headings
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Personal Names |
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Odmark, Elsie
Karlson, Elsa
Karlson, Per August
Larsson, Hilda
Odmark, Raymond
Odmark, Marianne
Odmark, Richard
Odmark, Donald
Odmark, Adolph
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Family Names |
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Odmark family
Karlson family
Larsson family
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Geographical Names |
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Töreboda (Sweden)
Älgarås (Sweden)
Finnerödja (Sweden)
Nebraska
Muskegon (Mich.)
Tacoma (Wash.)
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Subjects |
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Family -- Sweden
Sweden -- Economic conditions
Emigration and immigration -- Sweden
School attendance -- Sweden
Marriage
Ocean travel
Naturalization
United States (Steamship)
Boy's Town (Nebraska)
Vasa Lodge (Tacoma, Wash.)
The Vikings (Muskegon, Mich.)
Bethel Lutheran Church (Tacoma, Wash.)
Sweden -- Social conditions -- 1945-
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Occupations |
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Farming -- Nebraska
Domestics
Caterers and catering
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Genre/Form |
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Oral history
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Institution |
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Pacific Lutheran University. Scandinavian Immigrant Experience
Collection
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The
partial interview transcription highlights important aspects
of the interview. Numbers on the left may be used as guides
to important subjects. Two numbers separated by a slash indicate
that the first number is for cassette and the second for CD.
049 ELSIE KRISTINA KARLSON ODMARK. In Sweden her name was Elsa
Karlson. Born June 1, 1904 in Toreboda, Vaestergotland, Sweden.
Toreboda is located on the Goeta Kanal between Stockholm and
Goteborg (Gothenburg). This was a small farming community.
118 PARENTS: Mother, Hilda Larsson. Father, Per August Karlson.
He was a farmer. Elsie's parents started farming after they
were married.
140 They were poor. Her father went to work on the railroad.
That's the last she remembers of him before he left Sweden in
1911.
157 BROTHERS AND SISTERS: John August, Ellen, Anna, Freda, Gustav,
Bertil, Nels, Swen, Knute, Elsa, Lars, and Erik.
189 GRANDPARENTS: Doesn't remember them on either side.
194 BACKGROUND OF NAME Karlson: Doesn't know.
223 They were very poor when Elsie's father left for America.
Five of Elsie's brothers and sisters were already in America.
Oldest brother saved money to send father to America. Her brothers
all settled in St. Edward, Nebraska. Later they moved to a place
12 miles west of Omaha, Nebraska.
249 In Sweden, they were very poor. Elsie went out to work for
her room and board when 8 years old. Cleaned up house, making
beds, feeding…
260 chickens, and going to school. Family rented a two room
house. Big living room with open fireplace. Big kitchen with
two beds in it. Elsie and her two little brothers were the only
kids home. Mother got sick. Elsie went with her to a health
resort in Landsbro (?), Sweden. This was a well-to-do community.
The children made fun of Elsie because she washed the clothes.
A kind woman said she'd wash the clothes so the kids wouldn't
make fun of her.
299 Elsie's oldest brother had promised to come home after five
years. He came in the fall after they'd come back from Landsbro.
When he left for America again, he took another brother with
him.
323 Older sister, two older brothers, herself, and two younger
brothers were left in Sweden. Two older brothers were working
for farmers and going to school. They worked only for room and
board, just as Elsie did. Her father would send his check home
every month.
352 Her mother died when Elsie was 10 years old. Her sister,
who was 18 years old, came home and took care of them. Once
the check missed the boat. All they had was a little sugar.
Her mother had a well-to-do brother who had a farm. Elsie's
sister was too proud to accept help that was offered. Two of
his hired help came down. Said they'd ask Uncle John if they
could bring some food to them until the check came. Sister wouldn't
accept that. The hired help suggested they just take some food
from him then. She accepted that. Elsie loves America because
she's never been hungry here.
422 TRIP TO AMERICA: First boat they were to come on sank. Brother
got chickenpox. That's why they couldn't go. Plan was for the
whole family to come. Mother died. As youngsters, they thought
they'd have plenty of money and no poverty in America. Wouldn't
have to work as hard.
500 Many got seasick on the trip. Elsie didn't. Sailed from
Oslo on the ship, "United States." Took train from Algaraas
to Oslo, Norway. On the boat they played the song, "Amerikabåten
lägger ut" (The America boat is leaving). Her brother fought
with a groups of Finns on the way.
555 They traveled third class. People were very nice to them.
Remembers seeing the Statue of Liberty. Examined at Ellis Island.
Thought they…
580 could go right away. Had to have three signers. Sent telegrams
to two sisters in Omaha, and their father who was running a
farm outside of Omaha. Elsie and the others had the required
$25, the train tickets to Nebraska, and were healthy, but they
were underage. Mr. O'Keith (owner of the farm her dad rented),
Mr. Swanson (president of Nebraska Clothing Co.), and a lawyer
in Omaha (that one of her sister worked for) were the signers.
628 There were people who didn't make it through Ellis Island.
If they were dirty or unhealthy they were sent back. There were
mostly Swedes, Finns, and Norwegians on the boat. Ellis Island
seemed like a prison, but the officials weren't mean.
656 TRAIN TRIP FROM NEW YORK TO OMAHA, NEBRASKA: Six of them
traveling speaking Swedish. Sat where four seats faced each
other. Two youngest would sit on the oldest sister. Tells a
story about the train conductor. Food much different than Swedish
food. Thought the scenery was beautiful.
712 Nobody met them at the station. Finally, a beautiful woman
came up and spoke Swedish to them. Offered to help. She got
a policeman who was Swedish. He arranged for a taxi to take
them to McCarter's Store. There was a Swedish girl working there.
Mr. McCarter gave them each a banana. Didn't like it.
774 Brother came with a lumber wagon and two horses to pick
them up. Whole family was together that evening. Very exciting.
Interested in the furniture and the oven in her father's house.
Next day looked at the chickens, pigs, and horses.
812 They came in May 1915. Didn't bring anything special with
them. She has only one picture of her mother and father.
829 REASON FOR SETTLING IN NEBRASKA: Mother had a cousin living
there. She was married to the man who her mother wanted to marry.
She couldn't because he was just a hired hand on her father's
place. This young man went to St. Edward, Nebraska and married
Elsie's mother's cousin. Mother's sister and oldest brother
went there too. Many Swedes there.
864 Started school the next fall. School outside of Omaha, Nebraska,
across from McCarter's Store. Teacher, Miss McDermouth, very…
876 helpful. Father spoke Swedish at home. He was a farmer.
His children always spoke Swedish to him.
901 LANGUAGE DIFFICULTIES DIDN'T TROUBLE HER: Having only an
eighth grade education did. She got over her "inferiority complex"
when she was 26 and went to Sweden. She found that many with
twelve years of education were no better than she was. She had
good manners because she'd worked for many wealthy people in
Omaha.
924 14 YEARS OLD: Graduated. Stayed home and kept house. Two
oldest sisters had stayed home the first few years. It was the
third sister's turn but she wouldn't stay home. Elsie had got
a scholarship to business school but had to give it up.
942 AMERICA THE LAND OF PLENTY: Opinion hasn't changed. Could
still be great if people weren't so greedy.
962 Tells story about one of their first suppers in Nebraska.
Sister called them to come in for supper. They thought she meant
soup. Saw the dinner table. Bread and butter, milk, chicken,
vegetables, potatoes. Next best thing to heaven.
981 Rented a farm near Boys Town, Nebraska. Four miles from
where they were before on Lincoln Highway. Many Germans in the
area. Germans treated the Swedes and Father Flanagan's boys
rudely. This was during WWI. Authorities came to make sure the
Germans weren't speaking German in school. Boy's Town was across
the road from Elsie's family. Elsie's little brother loved Father
Flanagan. He played with the boys there. Flanagan started out
with six boys. Elsie's father helped them learn to farm. Gave
them potatoes and pork. Elsie's brother went to visit Father
Flanagan each year until Flanagan died. He was a very nice kind
man. Elsie's father is recognized in the history of Boy's Town
because of the help he gave them.
SIDE II
016 CHURCH LIFE: Confirmed in Benson, Nebraska. Her family was
not active in the church. Elsie had promised her mother that
she would get confirmed in America. Father felt church was too
far away. Brother, three years older, confirmed too. Father
didn't come. One sister came. Took horse twelve miles every
Saturday for one year. Confirmed in Swedish.
118 Good experiences with some Germans. Mrs. Standard, a neighbor,
had no children. Taught Elsie many things. Taught her to make
bread. Only had bad experiences with German children.
145 MOVE TO CHICAGO: Oldest sister moved to Michigan. Married.
Had a little boy. Elsie's father sold out. Moved to Michigan.
Following year, Elsie and an older sister (10 years older) moved
to the north side of Chicago, amongst the Swedes. Elsie did
housework. Had done…
189 that in Omaha for one year. Cooked there. Most people she
worked for were nice. Duties: get up in the morning, do housework,
and cook. The judge she worked for in Omaha treated her like
another member of the family.
248 Worked in laundry in Chicago for a while. Didn't like it.
Went back to housework. Always cooked American food. Didn't
have Swedish food until she went to Michigan. Learned from on
old Swedish lady.
308 MARRIAGE: Went to Muskegon, Michigan when she was 21 because
her oldest sister who lived there had a baby boy on her birthday.
Elsie had to get her tonsils out while there so she stayed longer
than planned. In December of that year, her sister's husband
died of TB. Her sister didn't have much so Elsie stayed to help
out. Her father and little brothers were living in Michigan.
Her brothers in Nebraska moved to Muskegon. Sister in Chicago
came a few months later. Sister had a small farm in the boy's
name. Rented a house in town.
392 Elsie started working in the office of Brunswick Records.
Elsie's sisters worked in their factory and made twice as much
money. Soon the whole family was working in the factory. Elsie's
sister had two boys, the six-month-old Roy Bylund and a two
year old.
448 Sister came home from a dance. Mentioned that a handsome
Swede was there. Elsie loves Swedish dances, schottis, hambo,
waltz, etc. Went to the next dance at the Vikings and met the
handsome Swede, Adolph Odmark. He had come to the U.S. in 1925.
Married in 1928.
499 Adolph got a letter from his mother in Sweden. He'd promised
to go back to Sweden in two years. She wrote that oldest son
promised the same thing. Broke promise when he got married.
Elsie told him he was going to go back to Sweden to visit his
mother. They saved money. Didn't have quite enough to for Elsie
to go. Elsie's sister gave them what they needed.
540 FIRST TRIP TO SWEDEN: Met his mother. She was very nice.
They stayed for four months. He was from Ornskoldsvik in Aangermanland.
Whole family…
569 was nice. Wanted to stay there. Took the boat to Gothenburg
(Goteborg). Took train to Aangermanland. Didn't know about midnight
sun. They…
618 saw a beautiful waterfall at 11:00pm. Tells about first
breakfast food. Didn't know how to eat Swedish food. Many relatives
and friends…
644 came to visit. Went to dances over there. Adolph's mother
didn't approve. Elsie convinced her it was all right. Elsie
left before her husband did. His mother was sick. Elsie went
south to visit her relatives.
670 BECOMING A U.S. CITIZEN: Father didn't take out the papers
that would make them citizens while they were in Nebraska. Adolph
took out his first papers as soon as he came to the U.S. Elsie
took out hers after she met Adolph. They were rejected because
they went back to Sweden too soon. Took out first papers again
after they came back. War broke out. At the factory, they asked
Elsie if she was a citizen. She wasn't. Her husband was just
about ready to become citizen and then she could take out her
second papers. She feared she'd get laid off. They checked her
records at the courthouse. Let her work if she promised to take
out citizen papers as soon as Adolph became a citizen.
703 Became a citizen when 40 years old.
717 SWEDISH ORGANIZATIONS: The Vikings. They had all kinds of
Swedish activities, dinners and dances. Brother's wife knew
some of the Swedish boys who attended the dances. Took her there
and introduced her. Brother and sister-in-law left her there
and went to a show. Elsie danced nearly every dance. Had fun.
749 Before Elsie got married, she went out with kids to American
dances as well.
764 CHLDREN: Marianne, Raymond, Richard, and Donald. Gave her
kids American names that Swedes could pronounce. Raised her
kids in Muskegon. All graduated from high school. All baptized
and confirmed at the Swedish church in Muskegon (Samuel Lutheran).
810 CATERING SERVICE: Company Elsie worked for moved to Arkansas.
Left employees without a pension. Elise told them that they
wouldn't make it. They had a thousand people wishing them bad
luck. They went broke. This was the Norge Corporation that made
Norge refrigerators.
822 Elsie didn't need to work anymore. Her kids were grown up.
She'd have a babysitter come to the house and watch the kids.
844 A restaurant in town (Docks?) called. Wanted her to wait
on tables. They called again to help in the kitchen. Husband
suggested she go into catering. Inherited $200 dollars from
a brother who passed away in Alaska. Went into a partnership
with Marsha Smith. Started this when she was 60 years old. Did
most of the cooking in her home. Catered…
915 the fish fry at the Elk's park. Did all the frying at the
park. Deep-fried the fish. Had 90 people at first fish fry that
summer. 400 at the last fish fry in August.
927 Cooked whatever the people wanted. Cooked Swedish food for
the Vikings. Did charity work for the church and for the city's
"All Nations Celebration" at the YMCA. Cooked Swedish food.
939 Joined the Vikings when 46 years old. (See also II-717).
942 Made good money catering. Had five girls working for her.
They enjoyed it.
950 Husband worked for Bennet Pump for 35 years. Worked in the
factory. Her son-in-law works there too.
955 Vikings have insurance. Similar to Vasa or Sons of Norway.
Elise and her husband came to Seattle for a Viking convention
once.
961 Their sons led them to Tacoma to live. They were both in
Vietnam. The oldest one was an officer. Came to Fort Lewis for
the first time. Liked it. Came back from Vietnam very unhappy
about the war. Only a political hassle. Middle boy's wife was
having her last baby. Elsie came out in January to help. This
was 12 years ago. Thought it was beautiful. They sold their
house in Mukegon, Michigan and drove west. Elsie did the driving.
She was 66 then. Visited their daughter in Oklahoma and Elsie's
brother in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Were very happy to come
to Tacoma, Washington. They retired just before they moved west.
1046 Made a lot of money from her catering. They took a trip
to Sweden. Charter flight. Didn't like the drinking that went
on on the way home. Tells about her first drink in Sweden when
and her husband went to visit his mother when they were first
married.
TAPE 73
SIDE I
011 THIRD TRIP TO SWEDEN: Her youngest brother wanted to go
to Sweden. His Swedish wasn't that great. His wife is of German
background. They wanted Elsie and Adolph to go too. They flew
to Copenhagen, Denmark. Went to Malmo, Sweden and rented a car.
This was 1974.
101 Drove up through Gothenburg (Goteborg). Drove to Toreboda.
Found her cousin there. Stayed there a while.
152 Drove to northern Sweden. Visited her husband's relatives.
Stayed at their summer cottage. Drove down through Norway, back
to Malmo, Sweden, and home again.
167 Husband had been tired over there. After they came home,
they found he had cancer. Brother had a heart attack. Good thing
they went in '74.
191 SWEDEN TODAY: Disapproved of their free sex, drugs, and
the school system. Problems that the U.S. has too. Kids don't
have to work hard. Too free. Sweden is beautiful. Take care
of their old people. No poverty. Doesn't approve of Swedish
military policies.
269 TACOMA: Lonely at first. Left all her Swedish friends in
Michigan. Moved into an apartment. Didn't like it. Found a small
house. One Swedish neighbor. Many nice neighbors. Found out
oldest brother died. Sons home from Vietnam, without work. Boys
went fishing a lot.
310 Saw in a newspaper that Arvid Lindgren, who lived up the
road, was 85 and belonged to the Vasa. She hadn't joined in
Michigan because she didn't have time. Went to Mr. Lindgren's
house. Asked how she could join. He told her to call Elsie Person.
She joined by herself. Husband wouldn't go with her. Was a hostess
for one their luncheons. Ruth Nelson helped her. Got acquainted
with people that way.
377 Started going to the Christmas morning services in Swedish.
This was Bethel Lutheran Church on 54th and I. Belongs to that
church.
403 Belongs to Bethel Lutheran Church, Vasa, and the Vasa Friendship
Club. Helps at Scandinavian Days every year. Makes coffee all
five days. Has worked there every year since her husband died.
National Vasa convention to be held in Tacoma in 1982. Making
silk flowers for the convention. Thelma Johnson is in charge
of arrangements.
433 Loves the Scandinavian community in Tacoma. This group has
been good to her. Haven't forgotten her since her husband died.
She'd like to go visit her daughter in Michigan but she wouldn't
live there.
469 GRANDCHILDREN: 9-2 in Castle Rock, Washington.
477 SWEDISH TRADITION: Christmas, have potato sausage. Family
doesn't like lutfisk. Has lutfisk dinner for friends. Christmas
Eve fixes dinner for the family. Meatballs, sylta (made with
veal), cheese, hardtack, thin bread. Her daughter always used
to play the piano and they'd sing Swedish Christmas songs.
525 Children don't speak Swedish. She was disgusted with the
German kids when she went to school. Didn't want her children
to be like that.
535 Her children are interested in Sweden. Her oldest son took
Elsie and Adolph out to Pacific Lutheran University once for
some kind of Swedish activity in Olson Auditorium. Tells about
when they brought in the Norwegian and Swedish flags.
582 Says a prayer in Swedish.
603 Elsie came to the U.S. when quite young. Remembered a lot
of things. Her father always bought a newspaper called "Svenska
Amerikaneren" (Swedish-American). It had stories and interesting
articles in it. Elsie has read that from the time she came over
here. It was printed in Chicago. Two youngest brothers don't
speak much Swedish. The one who went to Sweden started to pick
it up while there. He liked Sweden.
634 SWEDISH HOSPITAL: Very proud to be Swedish. Swedes are hard
working. Most of them very good people. Wouldn't choose to be
anything else. Still, she loves America. This is her home.
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