Tag: Lake Vänern

Visiting Relatives in Sweden

Flo First Arrives in Mariestad

My Mother and Audie Murphy Ch. 111

Our Swedish relatives live near the southern shores of the two great lakes, Vänern and Vättern. Our grandmother, Gerda, grew up on a farm called Stora Myran, near the village of Lugnås.

Gerda’s father, Lars Persson (d: 1910) was first married to Sara Jonsdotter, who died in 1871. His second wife was Sara Nyberg (d: 1924). Altogether they had 16 children, and you can see why I have trouble keeping track of them all. Some died and most, including Gerda, emigrated to the US. Two daughters, Julia and Amalia, stayed in Sweden.

Luggage tags from Flo’s travels in Sweden
The Swedes gathered in Mariestad to welcome Flo
Flo captioned these pictures “Mariestad, Sweden (Aunt Amalia’s home)”. This is where she stayed while visiting the relatives.
Sometimes they traveled by ski. Cool contraption to replace poles, maybe like training wheels?
Aunt Amalia (I think), one of the two daughters who did not emigrate
Cousin Britta threw a party and made a cake that says Welcome Florence
Cake and coffee reprise. Cousin Ingabritt, Molly and Flo visiting in Jönköping, 1979. Flo died four years later in 1983.