Tveter, John Howard

Tveter, John Howard

• 1981-05-28 (Creation)

2 file folders
1 sound cassette
2 compact discs

This interview was conducted with Howard Tveter on May 28, 1981 in Gig Harbor, Washington. It contains information on family background, growing up in Gig Harbor, community activities, family, and Norwegian heritage. The interview was conducted in English.

Also see Hans Tveter (cousin).

Folder Contents

Box 3, File 5 Personal and Family History
Tape Archive Sheet, Family Background, and Tape Index

Box 3, File 5A Correspondence and Forms
Release Form
Letter from Janet Rasmussen thanking Mr. Tveter for his participation.
Handwritten Tape Archive Sheet and Family Background

Interviewed by Morrene Nesvig
Transcribed by Mary Sue Gee, Julie Peterson and Becky Husby
Encoded by Kerstin Ringdahl & Amity Smetzler
Recording Quality: Good

Hans Tveter (cousin) oral history interview

Biographical Note

Howard Tveter was born on January 18, 1912 in Tacoma, Washington to Nels Tveter and Oliana Sunde. Nels was from Skjeberg, Norway and Oliana was from Nordfjord, Norway. Nels came to America in 1901, living first in Wisconsin and then the Tacoma area, where he worked as a carpenter.

Oliana first immigrated to South Dakota before coming to Tacoma, where she had a sister. After they were married, Nels and Oliana moved to Gig Harbor, which had a large Scandinavian population. As a child, Howard spoke Norwegian until he began attending school at the age of five, and his mother tried to keep the Norwegian culture alive in the family by celebrating the 17th of May and maintaining traditional Norwegian Christmas customs. Howard's daily activities included helping with the farming, berry picking, and his father's carpentry.

Howard married a Yugoslavian woman, whose mother worked in the berry fields for his family. They had three daughters: Beverly, Kathryn, and Linda. Howard is active in the Sons of Norway and has visited Norway as well as Yugoslavia. He enjoyed the visit but is glad his parents came to the United States.

Lineage

Full Name: John Howard Tveter
Father: Nels Tveter
Mother: Oliana Sunde
Spouse: (?) Tveter
Children: Beverly Tveter, Kathryn Tveter, Linda Tveter