Blanche's Story in Blanche's words:
My parents emigrated from Norway to Benson. Syver Berg was born on February 3, 1866 in Selje, Norway. The family famed and fished for their livelyhood. He spoke of times while fishing, when the sea was so rough they could have drowned. The home farm is now occupied by his nephew, Sievert Berge. My father worked in a store in Bergen for four years before emigrating to the United States in 1891. He came directly to Benson and worked on farms and in stores in the area. In 1923 he was appointed Benson City Clerk and was reappointed each year until his retirement in 1946.
Anna Hauge was born March 7, 1880 in Bergen, Norway. The youngest in a family of nine children. She came to Benson in 1899, making her home with her brother, Mons Hauge, and cared for his four young children after his wife's death.
My parents were married in 1909. Five children were born, two sons died in infancy, three daughters, Borghild, who died at age five, Alfhild, who married Orloe Salls of Litchfield, Minnesota, and Blanche, who married Hjalmer Erickson of Benson.
They were active in Our Savior's Church and the Son's of Norway. Mother died May 14, 1944, at the age of sixty-four. Dad died February 7, 1963, at the age of ninety-seven.
There are nine grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.
I was born in Benson July 9, 1920. I attended the Benson schools and upon graduation I attended business school in Minneapolis and returned to Benson. I have been employed as a secretary at the First State Bank, Dr. R.N. Sampson, and State Farm Insurance.
We were married June 28, 1942 at Our Savior's Church in Benson. We celebrated our 50th anniversary in 1992.
Hjalmer and I have made our home in Benson for our entire lives except for two years in Newport, Rhode Island, while Hjalmer served in the Navy. Hjalmer was born in Benson March 11, 1920, the son of Ingvald and Anna Erickson. He attended Benson schools and upon graduation worked with his father in the Southside Meat Market until joining the Navy in 1941. He served with the PT Boat Squadron in Newport, Rhode Island and the Phillipines until his discharge in 1945.
When Hjalmer returned to Benson, he worked at the Southside Meat Market until 1955. He was Sales Representative for Swift & Company for 23 years, retiring in 1978. He was a member of the Fire Department for thirty-one years. He was Chief for six years.
We have two daughters. Anne Marie was born April 14, 1949 and Linda was born June 17, 1950.
Linda is married to Charles Stromgren. They live in Blaine, Minnesota. They have a son, Adam.
Anne Marie is married to Dick Cain. They reside in a log cabin in Deer River, Minnesota. They built the cabin by themselves with the help of Dick's son, Joe. Anne Marie and Dick went to Madrid, Spain in 1988, where they taught English for a year. While there they toured Europe. In Norway they met members of the Hauge and Berg families. They enjoyed it so much they hope to return some day.
My sister, Alfhild and I, went to Norway in 1977. We visited the birthplace of our parents. We met twenty-five relatives. We visited the homes where our parents were born. The Hauge farm has been in the family since 1519.
