The Book of Me Written by You ~ Prompt 7 ~ My Paternal Grandparents

The prompt for week 7 is Grandparents

What were their names?

Where were they from? 

Were they related? – Cousins perhaps

Where were they born, another Country or state/area

Photos

What did they do? 

Did you know them? 

What was your relationship with them?

If you didn't know them have you researched about them?

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My Paternal Grandparents.

My biological, paternal grandparents were Thina Westby and Erik Lundberg.

My parents divorced when I was just a couple of years old, and my biological father and I became estranged for most of my adult life. Consequently, I did not spend much time with my paternal grandparents.

My paternal grandmother was born in Minnesota. My paternal grandfather was born in Sweden. They were not cousins.

My grandmother’s job was being a mother to her 6 children. With two sets of twins, I am sure her hands were very full most of the time. My grandfather was a carpenter. With the help of a couple of his sons they built the house the family last lived in.

In all honesty, I can’t say I remember much about them, physically. I do have photos, copies I scanned of photos from other members of the family. Since I regained contact with the family I have really appreciated seeing the photos of them and feel disappointed I didn’t know them better.

Erik and Thina Lundberg. Scanned from Family photo. 

Original held by family [address for private use] California.

My most vivid memory was of me in their home, the one my grandfather and his sons helped build, with lots of people around.  We were in the front room and I was sitting on the floor by a chair or the couch. My grandmother asked me if I would like some iced tea. I had never heard of iced-tea before, let alone tasted it. I felt very special to be offered some. I was given a glass from which I drank and found out I really liked iced-tea. I am guessing I was probably somewhere around 5-6 years old at that time.

I am sure they missed me. It must have been difficult not to be a part of my life. Being a grandmother now myself, I can’t imagine not having contact with my grandchildren.

I remember being very comfortable whenever I was in their house, and maybe even being there to open a Christmas present from them one year.  My memory seems to tell me my grandfather was a very happy–go-lucky type of guy. Smiled all the time. My memory also says that my grandmother was always busy, being the caretaker of the family. But, beyond this, I don’t remember anything else.

I am very fortunate to have contact again with this side of my family again. Unfortunately, my grandparents had already passed away when this happened. I have learned about them a bit more from my dad before he passed away and my aunts and uncles.

I have not conducted much research on my grandparents, but I have learned enough to go back a few generations on each side. Thanks to a blog post regarding my grandfather's mother, a cousin in Sweden found me. I actually just returned from my first trip to Sweden about a month ago. I attended the National Archives and saw where my grandfather’s mother and sister are buried in Sweden as well as met several new cousins. 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts! 

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