Long distance relatives have expressed their support to each other through gifts
By Patricia Buschette
It was at a funeral in 1973 that Don Peterson of Milan, Minn., and Halvard Pettersen of Vinstra, Norway met for the first time. While they are not blood relatives, the deceased Austin Teigen was family to both men.
The connection and friendship shared between Don and Halvard grew strong following the funeral, and may be best explained through the gifts shared over the years; some gifts were given decades before they met. Gifts were given to help in a time of need, and then in gratitude for that help.
How Halvard and Don related to Austin Teigen? Halvard and his mother Anna and sister Jorunn had spent time at the home of Halvard’s uncle and aunt, Austin and Hanna Teigen, and their daughter Dorothy, who lived in Moorhead, Minn. Hanna Teigen and Anna Pettersen were sisters. And Austin Teigen was Don Peterson’s second cousin.
“The newly found relationship was more than a family connection, as they became good friends,” Don’s daughter Ruth Ann Lee said. “Their fun and gentle natures created a friendship that lasted years and resulted in Don’s many trips to Norway and Halvard’s 20 trips to Minnesota,” she said.
The connection that Don Peterson, now deceased, forged with the Pettersen family has now been assumed by descendants of both families.
The story of the families has deep roots that go back 70 years. World War II was officially over, and German soldiers no longer patrolled the streets of Vinstra, Norway. Still, for the people of Vinstra, life remained a struggle. There was little food and resources were scarce.
Halvard Pettersen, who was eight years old, saw the desperate conditions of the people in Vinstra. “I grew up in a working family,” he said. “My mother, Anna Pettersen, ran a cafe and my father, Johan Pettersen, was a taxi driver and came to know many people. During these difficult times, our family would receive boxes from our family in Minnesota.” It is estimated that over time 120 boxes of goods, so badly needed, were received from America. “When gift boxes were opened, the contents were distributed to people who really needed the help,” he said.
The Pettersens’ friends and neighbors were invited to the Pettersen house where the contents were distributed. The boxes included foodstuffs that included coffee and sugar. One of the treats was chewing gum. Ruth Ann, who heard the story many times, recalled the story of the chewing gum. “Each stick of gum was carefully cut in pieces so it could be shared with as many as possible,” she remembered. “Even the wrapper was saved so someone could lick it,” she added.
“There were items of clothing that could be worn for such celebrations as weddings, so scarce in wartime,” Halvard said as he remembered their joy. “When the people saw what the boxes held, they were so grateful and happy, they danced around our kitchen,” Halvard said.
The chance meeting at the funeral in 1973 had great meaning for Halvard, as he had a deep and abiding appreciation for his family that lived in America as he remembered their kindness. The image of the desperate need and the generosity of others was something Halvard never forgot.
The surnames of the two families are similar. However, the Peterson name was adopted when the family arrived in the United States from Norway. Donald and Alta Mae Peterson’s daughter, Ruth Ann Peterson Lee, has learned much about her family, and has assembled photos and family history.
Ruth Ann described the history of the Peterson family. “The family farm is located just four miles east and south of Milan where I grew up. This farm was originally settled by Great grandfather Gulbrand Froshaug, who emigrated from Norway. He later changed his name to Peterson. There, he and Aasta Simile Peterson raised their family that included their son Andrew.
Andrew and Helma Teigen Peterson farmed the land until retirement when their son, Donald, and his wife, Alta Mae Peterson, became the next generation to care for the land. It was here that Ruth Ann grew up to appreciate the rich heritage of land and family.
Ruth Ann and Jerry Lee’s son Jason assumed the ritual begun generations earlier.
Many years had passed since the aftermath of war and Halvard wanted to express his appreciation to his American family. He determined that he would construct a stabbur that would remind the families of his gratefulness. Because of his friendship with Don Peterson, he decided that the gift that represented his appreciation to the Teigen and Peterson families would be located at the Peterson farm of rural Milan, Minn.
What is a stabbur? In Norway, a stabbur serves many purposes. “It is often used for storage for food, for drying meat, and for grain and flour,” Halvard said. At times it is used for additional sleeping space.
Halvard designed and built the stabbur of Norway pine. “It took about five months to build,” he said. He had it shipped to the United States in 1987. Components of the structure were packed in a large container, and shipped from Oslo. When it arrived in Canada, it was sent on to St. Paul and then shipped by truck to the Peterson farm in Milan. Halvard followed to assemble it.
“In 1987, people from the community gathered to assemble the stabbur,” Ruth Ann said. “However, having just arrived in the United States, Halvard learned of the loss of his mother, so returned to Norway leaving the effort unfinished. He later returned, bringing his son, Jan Olav to help.”
According to Ruth Ann, Milan resident Billy Thompson made many videos of friends and neighbors who helped with the process. “Halvard did not allow any power tools in the reconstruction,” Ruth Ann said.
Family friend Ann Thompson of Milan remembered her father filming the reconstruction of the stabbur on the Peterson farm. “He didn’t speak Norwegian,” Ann remembers, except for a few phrases that allowed him to communicate. However, in addition to the documentation of the re-construction process, Billy Thompson also recorded the relationship of the workers and the resultant friendships that were formed.
“We had so much fun,” Halvard said about the process. “It was a good feeling to give something back.”
In October 1987, the Stabbur was completed and dedicated with a well attended event. The date is carved on the Stabbur along with names of surrounding areas of Vinstra, Norway, Halvard’s home town.
The stabbur was given an authentic look with a sod roof. “Miniature Goats were brought over from neighbors Anita Zalenka and Paul Lines to graze the sod roof,” Ruth Ann said. The sod roof has since been replaced with a metal roof.
This stabbur became a reminder of the relationship between the two families that has captivated the attention of people from the area.
Ten years later there was a near catastrophe. One side of the stabbur began to sink into the ground, causing the structure to lean to one side. The Peterson family anxiously contacted Halvard who solved the problem in a most creative fashion.
Halvard, constructed two posts to stabilize the stabbur. These were not just functional posts, but supports that incorporated intricately carved figures hand-carved by Terje O. Lien of Norway and named “Ola” and “Kari.” In addition, turn-screws were installed, should further adjustment be necessary. The turn-screw mechanism was cleverly hidden behind the nameplates.
The stabbur is located just outside the perimeter of the Peterson house and farm buildings. It has become a fixture on the farm site and welcomes visitors. However, another catastrophic event occurred on May 14, 2022. A storm came through the community and the Peterson farm was badly damaged.
“The end of a machine shed was peeled back like a sardine can,” Ruth Ann said. “Trees were uprooted south of the garage driveway, and the east side of the north barn was blown out. The shed and shop were damaged, as well as equipment. There was damage to the siding and shingles of the house.”
However, amazingly enough the stabbur was untouched.
In Ruth Ann’s words, “The stabbur endured.”
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