Facts
Name: Karen Severtson Peterson
Birth: 17 May 1867 • Oslo, Akershus, Norway
Parents:
- Father: Syver Pedersen Soikkainen Utgårdstangen (b: 18 JUN 1836 Norway • d: 29 Dec 1915 Chippewa County, Minnesota, USA)
- Mother: Olea Svendsdatter (b: 22 Mar 1842 Østmarken Vinger • d: 14 Nov 1913 Chippewa County, Minnesota, USA)
Spouse:
Marriage: 06 Oct 1886 • Lac Qui Parle, Minnesota, United States
Children:
1. Olaf Hastad 1887–1888
2. Hanna Sophie Hastad 1887–1887
3. Henry Ovidius Hastad 1889–1892
4. Sivert Olai Harstad 1892–19319046
5. Olianna Hildora Harstad 1894–1895
6. Anna Christina Harstad 1896–1964
7. Henry Ovedius Harstad 1898–1956
8. Oliver Levi Harstad 1901–1992
9. Gustav Nelberg Harstad 1903– 1904
10. Idor Torval Harstad 1903 -1904
11. Gustav Idor Harstad 1905–1987
12. Myrtle Telnora Harstad 1908–1987
Death: 02 Sep 1955 Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, USA
Karen Severtson (or Pederson they can be interchangeable) on 17 May 1867 in Oslo, Akershus, Norway to Sivert Pederson and Olea Svendsdatter. She was the 3 of 9 children. The oldest two were boys and the rest were girls. She moved to the US with her family between 1882-1884.
Karen Severtson married Ole Harstad on 06 Oct 1886 in Lac Qui Parle, Minnesota. Ole was 22 years old and Karen was 19. They had a set of boy/girl twins on 18 Dec 1887 Hanna and Olaf. Hanna died on 31 Dec 1887 and Olaf died 1 Jan 1888. They had a total of 12 children. 8 boys and 4 girls.
1. Olaf Hastad 1887–1888
2. Hanna Sophie Hastad 1887–1887
3. Henry Ovidius Hastad 1889–1892
4. Sivert Olai Harstad 1892–19319046
5. Olianna Hildora Harstad 1894–1895
6. Anna Christina Harstad 1896–1964
7. Henry Ovedius Harstad 1898–1956
8. Oliver Levi Harstad 1901–1992
9. Gustav Nelberg Harstad 1903– 1904
10. Idor Torval Harstad 1903 -1904
11. Gustav Idor Harstad 1905–1987
12. Myrtle Telnora Harstad 1908–1987
They lived in La Qui Parle from 1887 – 1896 when they moved to Montevideo, Chippewa County where the last 6 kids were born then they moved to Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota where they lived the rest of their lives. During the summertime Ole would take Karen and the kids out to the Lake and the kids would go out to the freshwater oyster beds and dig up oysters all summer long trying to get pearls to sell and help make money. Myrtle kept several pearls she had gotten from that.
Ole and Karen lived with their son Gustav in 1930. Myrtle and her son William Neisinger lived with them. Ole died in 1933 and Karen lived on her own until she died.
According to family stories she lived in Camden in a 3rd Floor apartment. When she was past 80 years old the doctors told her, she needed to quit going to church dances. She said they could take away her dances but they weren’t going to take away her fishing.
Myrtle would take Andy and Larry to her house to visit. They would walk up the stairs and have to sit on the floor next to her rocker. They would each get one piece of candy from the candy dish. While they ate their candy, they would sit next to the rocker have to keep their toes back to make sure to not get them smashed by the rocker. Once they were finished with their candy, they would all go over to the park and Larry and Andy would finally get to play while the ladies talked.
Karen died on 2 Sept 1955 at 88 years old in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota. She died of Coronary thrombosis 4-5 hours with other significant conditions of Arteriosclerosis and coronary disease 10 years. She was buried in the Crystal Lake Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Frees Family History 
