These stories can also be heard on Sunday mornings around 10 am on WILD 102’s “Look Back in Time” program. Each week’s radio story will be posted here on our website.
Weekly radio stories are researched, compiled, and read by Sheila Winstead, RCHS Board Member.
June 2, 2024
Many people in this area had relatives still living in Norway as that country became occupied by
Germany during World War II. It was difficult to get communications to and from that country.
There was a very strong Resistance movement there, but life was not easy during those years.
A story from the Badger Herald-Rustler from February 20, 1941 was published in the Roseau
Times-Region on March 6, 1941.
“Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Peterson motored to Duluth Friday for a visit with their nephew, Erling
Mikkelson, and his wife. While there they had an unusual pleasure of meeting Theodore Broch,
ex-mayor of Narvik, Norway, who was in Duluth on a lecture tour. The meeting took place at a
“Midnatsol” reception Saturday afternoon, sponsored by the Duluth Nordlands lag at Foresters
hall. Mr. Peterson has three brothers living at Narvik and Mr. Broch, who knew them well, gave
Mr. Peterson all the information he could about them.
Mr. Broch related that when the Germans invaded Norway they seized all the ports, including
Narvik. They rounded up all the officials and lodged them in jails unless they promised to follow
out their orders. Mr. Broch, as mayor of the town, which office he had held for ten years, refused
to comply and he was promptly condemned to be shot. Mr. Broch is 37 years of age, is a lawyer,
and besides Norwegian he speaks German fluently, also English. When he was ordered
executed the town council and other influential friends pleaded to have him spared, arguing that
as he was the only German-speaking man among them, they needed him for their interpreter. He
was spared this time and left the town but was again arrested in a town farther north and lodged
in jail. This time he too was ordered shot, but he escaped from his prison and donning women’s
clothes he escaped to Sweden. From there he flew to Moscow and worked his way to Japan and
thus came to America last year. He expects his wife to come here soon the same way.
Mr. Broch stated that all the business buildings at Narvik had been destroyed in the
bombardment except one belonging to Mr. Peterson’s nephew and as a natural result he did a
flourishing business after peace resumed. Narvik, which originally had a population of 10,000,
was all but deserted, but is now being rebuilt. None of Mr. Peterson’s relatives had been injured
as far as could be learned although he has not heard from them for a year.”
Communications with relatives in Norway were sometimes shared with the Times-Region as it
helped others understand the conditions over there. “George Brager had a letter last week from
his aunt, Netta Solum, who is living in Halden, Norway. Halden is south and across the fjord from
Oslo, Norway.
In her letter she states that they have nothing now but wood to use for fuel and that food is
getting scarce. She hints at a number of things that are happening, and that their big hope is that
peace may come to put an end to suffering and suspense.
She was here some years and went back to Norway. She was back here in 1932 for a visit but
went back to care for her sister who is not well. This aunt is past seventy years of age.”
People in this area did as much as they could to help their Norwegian relatives. On May 8 th , the
Roseau Times-Region told of a Norse Relief Benefit play at Ross Store.
“Jeg Mindes” (“I Remember”) is the title of the benefit play to be presented at the Odegaard store
building, in Ross, Friday evening at 8 o’clock. This entertainment is a benefit, with net proceeds
going to the Norse Relief Fund.
“Jeg Mindes” is a play in five scenes, in which are four Hildreds: Pioneer Hildred, Daughter
Hildred, Granddaughter Hildred, and Great Granddaughter Hildred. Daughter Hildred tells the
story of Pioneer Hildred to her granddaughter as she pages through the old family album. The
story is in English. The five scenes are:
Scene One – A room in a home in Norway (Pioneer Hildred shown as a Norwegian bride).
Scene Two – A meeting of the “Sy Forening” (sewing society) nine ladies, some dressed in
Norwegian national costumes and some in costumes of fifty years ago. Speaking in Norwegian.
Scene Three – A Norwegian school practice program, by a group of children. Humorous-in the
Norwegian language.
Scene Four – Grandmother’s birthday party. This scene also includes a monologue of the late
tragedy of Norway. In both languages.
Scene Five – “Ungdomsminder” – The pioneer bride is reminded of her youth in her homeland of
Norway.
Members of the cast are Mrs. Howard Lindland, Mrs. Ned Dunham, Mrs. Emil Lee, Mrs. Jesse
Nelson, Mrs. Olaf Arneson, Mrs. Helge Lee, Mrs. Nels Braaten, Miss Berget Lee, Mrs. Alfred
Sorteberg, Miss Gurie Lee and a group of children.
Rev. C. B. Nervig of Roseau will give a talk and sing a solo. O. G. Gunderson will be there with
his violin, Clarence Bertilrud with his flute, Olaf Arneson with his accordion and Willie Magnusson
and a group will sing duets and solos of Norwegian songs between scenes.”
Two weeks later, an article told about the success of that program in Ross.
“Norse Relief Fund got good boosts the latter part of last week through benefit programs given at
Ross Friday evening and at Roseau Municipal Auditorium Saturday evening. The former was
sponsored by the Concordia congregation and was staged at the Odegaard store building at
Ross. The latter was sponsored by the Roseau County Norse Relief Association. Both assembly
places were crowded.
The event at Ross was well planned and well executed. The scenes staged were acted in a
masterful manner, portraying scenes as though Norway had been transported to Ross. A lunch
was served after the program. The play was divided into five scenes. It began with the home to
which the bride has come, followed by the Ladies’ Aid meeting, a Norwegian school, the
grandmother’s birthday, and the scene of reminiscences. The Ladies’ Aid and the school house
scenes were especially humorous while the other scenes were sobering.
The same program will be given at the Wannaska Hall Friday evening, May 30 th , beginning at 8
o’clock. The net proceeds will go towards the Norse Relief Fund.
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