THX, TRAVIS
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This is an explanation for the Norwegian post card I sent you. I got this from my cousin who lives in Mayville, ND.
Subject: Peder Carlson information from Clarissa’s cousin, Betty Knudson Roberts
Hi Don,Â
A few days ago, my husband and I looked through a collection of old papers and among the papers was a picture postcard that had been sent from VesterÃ¥len to Mr. Peder Carelsen at Kelvin PO, Nord Dakota, U. S. Amerika. The postcard was sent by a Magda Holgersen prior to Christmas in 1905 and was apparently received by Peder in North Dakota in 1906.  Norway’s Queen and King, Maud and Haakon VII are on the postcard as well as a baby, future King Olav V.  On the front is written “died Nov. 20–1938 69 yrs old.”  This was handwritten in ink on the front of the postcard and obviously was added at a later date–it  refers to the fact that Norway’s Queen Maud died in November of 1938.  After we checked the Internet for information, we knew the postcard had been actually sent to your grandfather, Peder Carlsen.  The woman who wrote on it and sent it to Peder Carlsen was born in Øksnæs as was Peder.Â
After checking through many of the old Nordland church records–Hadsel, Bø and Øksnæs, I have learned that Magda Holgersen was Peder Carlsen’s cousin. I now have accumulated some historical background on the family of Jensine Ursella Jonsdatter, Peder Carlsen’s mother. If you or Christine are interested, I would be happy to write down the information and e-mail it to you.    Â
From what I was able to translate at a glance, in the postcard Magda was greeting Peder from his mother, and she asks whether Peder is married. She adds Merry Christmas & Happy New Year. I haven’t actually written down all of the Norwegian words to completely translate the message–it is very short and that probably is the gist of it.Â
In my research, I found proof that Ove Johnson Woie in Clifford, North Dakota was Peder Carlsen’s uncle. That’s why Peder came to Clifford, no doubt, and met Christine there. My mother had either written or mentioned that Peder was Ove Woie’s nephew and today, I found information in the Norwegian church records that matched some of what had been written in Clifford’s history book, Prairie Portraits.  Â
I don’t know how this picture postcard happened to end up with the Knudson family. Sometimes, people would give Mom things that were written in Norwegian. Maybe someone in the Carlsen family gave it to her after Peder and Christine had passed away. In any case, if you’d like, I could mail the postcard to you. I thought it was a pretty special item since it is 105 years old (and will be 106 years old in December).Â
Best regards and Happy Easter,
Betty
                Norwegian voice said. “‘Dis
                North Dakota. Ve
                    don’t like some a yer policies so I am callin’ to
                tell ya that we are
                    officially declaring war on ya!”
                    “Well, Sven,” Barack replied, “This is indeed
                important news! How big is
                    your army?”
                    “Right now,” said Sven, after a moment’s
                calculation, “there is myself, my
                    cousin Knute, my next-door-neighbor Ole, and the
                whole dart team from the
                  VFW.”
                    Barack paused, “I must tell you Sven that I have one
                million men in my
                    army waiting to move on my command.”
                    “Wow,” said Sven, “I’ll haf ta call ya back!”
                    Sure enough, the next day, Sven called again. “Mr.
                Obama, da war is still on!
                    “And what equipment would that be, Sven?” Barack asked.
                    “Vell sir, ve got two combines, a bulldozer, and
                three big farm tractors.”
                    President Obama sighed. “I must tell you Sven, that
                I have 16,000 tanks
                    and 14,000 armored personnel carriers. Also I’ve
                increased my army to one
                    and a half million since we last spoke.”
                    “All right den, said Sven. “I’ll be getting back to
                ya.”
                    Sure enough, Sven rang again the next day…
                “President Obama, da war is
                    still on! We have managed to git ourselves airborne!
                We up an’ modified
                    Ole’s ultra-light vit a couple’ a shotguns in da
                cockpit, and four big boys
                    from the Norskie Cafe haf joined us as vell!”
                    Barack was silent for a minute then cleared his throat.
                    “I must tell you, Sven, that I have 10,000 bombers
                and 20,000 fighter
                    planes. My military complex is surrounded by
                laser-guided, surface-to-air
                    missile sites. And since we last spoke, I’ve
                increased my army to TWO
                    MILLION!”
                    “Two million you say?,” said Sven, “l’ll haf’ to
                call you back.
                    Sure enough, Sven called again the next day.
                “President Obama! I am sorry
                    to have to tell you that we have had to call off
                this here war.”
                    “I’m sorry to hear that,” said Barack. “Why the
                sudden change of heart?”
                    Vell, sir,” said Sven, “we’ve all sat ourselves down
                and had a long chat
                    over a few beers, and come to realize that there’s
                yust no vay ve can feed two million prisoners.”