Annar Pettersen, Magnhild Pettersen, and Jay Pettersen
Recorded
August 6, 2025
37:09 minutes
Id:
mbb000657
Description
Magnhild "Maggie" Petersen (80) speaks with her brother Annar Petersen (89) and his son Jay Peterson [no age given] about his life in Norway under Nazi occupation and the family's immigration to the United States.Subject Log / Time Code
Annar Petersen shares that he was born in Norway in 1936. He speaks about the war starting in 1940 when he was four years old.
Annar says his parents Svere and Froidis Petersen worked for the largest war contractor, Hitler's Germany.
Magnhild "Maggie" Petersen asks Annar about the gathering of cousins where she learned that Annar had been in a gang.
Annar shares that he didn't go to school because the Germans had taken over and that they had class in a church every other day.
Annar recalls being 9 years old when the war ended. He lived under Nazi occupation for 5 years.
Annar shares how his aunt, his father's sister, encouraged them to come to the United States.
Annar says his father had been in the US, but had to return in the 1930's due to the depression.
Annar remembers his grandparents, who owned two apartment buildings in Norway.
Annar explains that their father was a welder and their mother worked at a laundry.
Annar says it took three year for the family to save up enough money to travel to the US and they had to secure a sponsor.
Maggie explains how they became naturalized citizens.
Maggie and Annar note that family didn't come through Ellis Island, because it was closed.
Maggie asks Annar how they got from New York to Vermilion, South Dakota.
Annar remembers arriving at the Vermillion train depot. It was full of snow, a few weeks before Christmas.
Annar shares he was popular in high school because he was two years older than his classmates and could buy beer.
Annar recalls serving in the National Guard and in 1961 being activated due to the Cuban Missile crisis. He was honorably discharged from the Army.
Maggie asks Annar about his family and children. Their names are Julie, Joel and Jay. Maggie asks about that decision because the letter "j" is not pronounced in the Norwegian language.
Participants
- Annar Pettersen
- Magnhild Pettersen
- Jay Pettersen