(Torbjorn, I sent this Friday last directly to you but no reply so I am now trying the bulletin board in case you did not get the first sending) Phone: 850-623-6628

My daughter sent me your e-mail which was quite a surprise. I am Ludwig's son, Ludwig Herman Opager. I am living in Milton, Florida, USA with my wife, Nancy, of 39 years. All four of our children, Erik (8/15/62), Kristin (11/3/64), Jennifer (5/12/72) and Grace (1/30/78) are married with only Erik having one child, 3 month old Caroline. I am 63 years old and somewhat retired from employment as a civilian civil engineer with the U.S. Navy. However I now do part time computer work, budgeting, accounting for our church which also has a christian school and other ministries.

I was born in Chicago, Illinois on 26 March 1938 to Ludwig (Ellen's son) and Jennie Opager who also had three girls preceding me, Eleanore (Babino), 27 August 1928, Irene (Schutz) 30 March 1933, Signe (Baffa), 15 January 1937.

I only knew Ellen as Besta for the first 10 years of my life as I believe she died in 1948 or there about. She had here in the U. S. her sons Ove and Ole, and her daughters, Caroline, and Ova. They are of course all passed away. My father Ludwig died at age 64 on 31 August 1959 in Berwyn Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. My mother died at age 96 on 26 March 1999, my birthday. She was of norwegian ancestry since her father, John Peder Pettersen came from Kristiansund, and her mother Anna Marie Dahl came from Trondhjem. They settled in South Dakota in the upper part of the middle of the U.S. My mother came to Chicago to find work where she met my father. So all of Ellen's children who came to the states lived in Chicago. Ove married Carrie (childless), also from South Dakota, Ova (childless)married a swede named Al Hulquist, Caroline married a norwegian named Burkland and they adopted two girls, Esther (died as a teen) and Ruth (who married a norwegian but divorced after having two sons and then married a man from South Dakota and still lives there I think). Ole married Emma (norwegian) who had two children, John and Evelyn (LeGear), all have died.

I have in my records that Ellen's husband, my grandfather who never came to the states, was born in Bjugn, Norway. I have a corner cupboard that was given to me by my uncle Ove in his last years with names carved on inside of the door, H.O. Opager, 1801, O. H. Opager, 1823, H. O. Opager, 1852, Bjugn. The front of the door is carved with the words, ANNO 1653 or 1656. It is carved with viking shields along the sides next to the door. Looks like it was made to mount on the wall in the corner and hold several bowls and wooden spoons.

Well this is a start. Please tell me about yourself and where you live. My wife and I are planning to visit Norway for the first time. We will be in Oslo, on Sept 5th and plan to train up to near Kristiansund a few days after. Will probably have only 9 days in your country as we also plan to tour the Netherlands. My wife's ancesters came from there so we want to see what that is all about also. Perhaps we can meet if it is possible. Sincerly, Ludwig Opager