Varney, Emma

Varney, Emma

• 1981-05-27 (Creation)

2 file folders
1 sound cassette
1 compact disc

The interview was conducted with Emma Mehus Varney on May 27, 1981 at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. It contains information on family background, emigration, marriage and family, community involvement, and Norwegian heritage. The interview was conducted in English.

Folder Contents

Box 3, File 4 Personal and Family History
Tape Archive Sheet, Family Background, and Tape Index

Box 3, File 4A Correspondence and Forms
Release Form
Letter from Janet Rasmussen thanking Mrs. Varney for her 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

Biographical Note

Emma Varney was born on April 11, 1908 in Nesna, Norway, which is located north in Helgeland near Mosjøen. Her parents were Ludvig Mehus and Eva Pedersen Mehus, and Emma had three older siblings: Elias, Henry, and Sigurd. Ludwig was a fisherman, and he immigrated to the United States in 1910, settling first in North Dakota. Due to a bad tornado, Ludwig later moved to Seattle, Washington, where his brother lived. Here, he began fishing again and did construction work on the Smith Tower during the winter.

In 1916, he sent for his family and had a home ready for them in Frigaria, Washington, where he had established a chicken farm. Emma attended her first eight years of school in a one-room schoolhouse and then went to Vashon Island and Seattle for high school. She married James Varney from Quatsino, Canada and has three sons: James H., L. Phillip, and Richard A.

Emma is very active in church and is also a member of Nordlandslaget, Norse Home Guilds, the Order of the Eastern Star, and the Leif Erikson League. She has served on the Board of Directors and as Secretary for the Norse Home Guilds, been a Matron for the Order of the Eastern Star, and served as Secretary for the Leif Erikson League. Emma is proud of her Norwegian heritage, but glad that her parents immigrated to the United States.

Lineage

Full Name: Emma Mehus Varney
Maiden Name: Emma Mehus
Father: Ludvig Mortensen Mehus
Mother: Eva Pedersen Mehus
Paternal Grandfather: Morten Mehus
Paternal Grandmother: Ellen Mehus
Maternal Grandfather: Peder Larsen
Maternal Grandmother: Kristine Larsen
Brothers and Sisters: Elias Mehus, Henry Mehus, Sigurd Mehus
Spouse: James Varney
Children: James H. Varney, L. Phillip Varney, Richard A. Varney