Tina Dale

DALE, OLSON, IVERSON, BROBERG, BRANDHORDT

Posted By: Ruth Tower (email)
Date: 8/24/2005 at 20:04:06

From The Bode Bugle, Centennial Edition, Volume 100, Number 11, Saturday, June 27, 1981:

Tina Dale recalls arrival in U.S.: When you visit Mrs. Tina DALE you will see a hand-carved Norwegian couple, a red, white and blue Norwegian flag and a small United States flag. These tell us much about this Bode resident. The miniature pair remind her of her aunt and uncle who lived near the ocean in Norway, the Norwegian flag of the country of her birth, and the Stars and Stripes of the day it was presented to her and she got her American citizenship.

Bethina, the daughter of Molly and Ivar IVERSON, was born in the house built by her great-grandfather, on Sept. 19, 1894, in Dale, Norway, a small rural community completely surrounded by mountains. There were 13 children in Tina's family.

Tina left Norway because of the first World War and came to America in 1914. She and her brother left their home on Sept. 17, sailed from Oslo on the United States on the 18th, celebrated her 20th birthday on the North Sea and landed in New York, Sept. 27, 1914. Her future husband, Haldor OLSON, was also on the ship. They had lived neighbors in Norway and because there were so many Olsons, Haldor took the name of DALE from his home town. Tina's future sister-in-law, Synneva (Mrs. Joe I. DALE) came to America at the same time. This was the second trip for her brother and Haldor. They had both been in America for seven years before returning to Norway for a visit. Tina had wanted to come to the United States when she was confirmed, but her parents thought her too young.. Later her brother sent her a ticket, but she got sick and missed sailing on the Titanic, which hit an iceberg and sank on its first voyage.

Tina came on the train to Bode. Her uncle, Eric DALE, and some of her brothers and sisters were living here. They lived in the house where Sig RONGVED now lives. She soon found a job in the country with a farm family who paid her $2 a week. She later earned $4.50 a week, but had more work to do and more people to cook for.

Tina and Haldor Dale were married in 1915 by Rev. J.E. JORGENSON at the "old parsonage." This is the house at 307 Christiana Avenue where Leonard JOHNSON now lives. Haldor and Tina lived for a month in the E.J. ERICKSON house before moving to the farm where "Link" OLSON lives. They always lived in the Bode area except for seven years on a farm near Rutland.

Haldor and Tina had four children: Ivan at Bode, Kenneth and Harold from Humboldt, and Astrid, Mrs. Ben BROBERG; from Red Wood Falls. They also took care of a little girl after her own mother had died. She is now Mrs. Greta BRANDHORDT from California. Tina also has 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren in her family.

The years on the farm were busy ones for Tina. She remembers the big gardens, raising chickens, canning their own meat and vegetables and making soap. She did everything on the farm except plow. She wold probably have done that too, but she didn't like horses. When she lived in Norway she had been scared by a runaway team and never trusted horses again.

Haldor and Tina moved to town on Oct. 3, 1949, and their home was across from Ted's Service where Tom EISENBARTH lives. Haldor died in 1956 and Tina now lives in an apartment. In 1957, she made a trip back to Norway to see a brother and sister who still live there. She had lived in America for 43 years and decided it was time to get her American citizenship before her overseas visit. She received this in Fort Dodge.

Tina belongs to St. Olaf Lutheran Church, the Ladies Aid, and Ruth Circle. She keeps her hands busy with knitting and crocheting gifts for her family.