Anxious to become an American

 My grandmother Dagmar, told me "don't ever leave your home. I feel like a person torn, a person who doesn't really fully belong anywhere. When I am in Chicago, I long for Norway. When I am in Norway I long for Chicago. Who am I really now?" She became an American citizen during World War II after being in the U.S. almost 20 years. After my grandfather's death she returned to Norway, became expatriated and again took on Norwegian citizenship. I would imagine feeling torn between two worlds is the experience of many immigrants.

Not so with my grandfather Paul. America was his dream. He loved this country. Of course he was proud of his Norwegian heritage but when he got on that boat he meant business and he never looked back. He shortened his surname from Sevaldsen to Sevald, to sound a bit more "American". How eager was he to become an American? He stepped off the ship Bergensfjord onto Ellis Island on August 1. 1923. Just two weeks later on August 16, 1923 he filed this "Declaration of Intention" in the Superior Court of Cook County in Chicago, Illinois. I didn't even think it was legal to do it that quickly!

However quick and sure his intention was he still had to wait the obligatory 7 years. September 30th 1930 Paul Sevaldsen officially became Paul Sevald, a proud citizen of the United States of America.

Sibling Saturday - The Gundersen brothers

Rolf, Oddvar, Finn and Nils Gundersen - Skien Telemark, Norway

The late 1930's - my great grandfather Nils Gundersen Øvald (far right) poses outside his home in Skien Norway with his three sons. At the time all three were working for him as he captained the boat Union III up and down the Telemarken Canal.

        My Grand Uncles (left to right)
        Rolf Gundersen
        b. 26 September 1912 Skien, Telemark, Norway
        d. 03 January 1997 Skien, Telemark, Norway
        Oddvar Gundersen
        b. 19 November 1917 Skien, Telemark, Norway
        d. 09 May 1991 Skien, Telemark, Norway
        Finn Gundersen Øvald
        b. 27 June 1910 Gjerpen, Telemark, Norway
        d. 21 Dec 1946 Skien, Telemark, Norway

I met both Rolf and Oddvar when I visited Norway in the early 1980's. You could not find two nicer men. They were quite respectful of their older sister, my grandmother Dagmar, and their wives and families were equally as kind and welcoming. Exemplary people.

Sibling Saturday - The Gundersen sisters

1952

On one of her many visits to her family in Norway 

my grandmother Dagmar poses with her sisters.

                    my grand aunts
                    Dagmar Gundersen Sevald (top left)    10 Jun 1900 - 12 Jun 1991

                    Hanna Mathea Gundersen Gubberud (top right)    7 Dec 1904 - 22 Mar 1989

                    Solveig Gundersen Vollen (bottom left)    30 Dec 1907 - 22 Oct 1996

                    Gudrun Marie Gundersen (bottom right)    19 Dec 1898 - 19 Oct 1989

***click on photo to enlarge for easier viewing***

Gudrun Marie Olsdatter

Gudrun Marie was the daughter of Ole Olsen and Nilia Josephine Gundersdatter. Nilia was the older sister of my grandmother Dagmar's father, Nils Gundersen. Unlike my grandmother, who emigrated to America. Gudrun remained in the town where she was born. She married Nils Olaves Fredricksen Klevjer and the couple had three children.

My grandmother Dagmar's cousin

and my first cousin 2x removed

Gudrun Marie Olsdatter

20 Feb 1900 - 29 Sep 1959

Porsgrunn, Telemark, Norway

*click on photo to enlarge for easier viewing*