Lovoll, Odd S., 1934-]]> Skogen, Paul T.]]> Lovoll, Odd S., 1934-]]> Norway]]> New York]]> Puerto Rico]]> Brooklyn]]> Oslo]]> Bay Ridge]]> Sunset Park]]> Leif Erikson Park]]> Museums]]> Archives]]> Family]]> Education]]> Neighborhoods]]> Community]]> Race]]> Bars]]> Printers]]> Divorce]]> Urban change]]> Construction]]> Labor]]> Wages]]> Sons of Norway]]> Friends]]> Young Vikings]]> Christmas]]> Lutheran Elementary School]]> Identity]]> Racism]]> Marriage]]> Staten Island]]> Gender]]> Syttende Mai]]> St. Patrick’s Day]]> Personality]]> Culture]]> Norwegian-Americans]]> Homebound services]]> Food distribution]]> Sunday School]]> Welfare]]> Politics]]> Social democracy]]> Capitalism]]> Waitressing]]> Restaurants]]> Community boards]]> Community service]]> In this series of interviews by Odd Lovoll for his books “The Promise of America: History of the Norwegian-American People” and “The Promise Fulfilled: A Portrait of Norwegian Americans Today,” Victoria Hofmo discusses her family history and childhood growing up in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City. She talks about her education and friendships with others in the neighborhood, as well as her adult friendships with other Norwegian-Americans and some of their own stories of immigration and life in Brooklyn. Victoria also explains her many activities, organizations, volunteerships, and places of employment, detailing the people she works with and the stories of how she came to be there. She explains some of her feelings on being Norwegian-American and how that has affected her sense of culture, and ends by giving her opinions on welfare in the United States and Norway.

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Hofmo, Victoria (1959-)

Victoria Hofmo was born on April 4th, 1959, to Patricia Richter and Sherwood Hofmo in New York City. She was born and raised in Brooklyn’s Bay Ridge neighborhood. As a child, she enjoyed spending time with her Norwegian grandmother, although she only developed a passion for her Norwegian background later in life. Victoria earned a degree from Sarah Lawrence College and then opened the Scandinavian East Coast Museum in New York City. She has also worked as an after-school organizer for children, a waitress, a community board organizer, a Sunday School teacher, and an English teacher. Victoria has a daughter and sometimes writes for The Norwegian American.

]]> Lovoll, Odd S., 1934-]]> Hofmo, Victoria]]> Lovoll, Odd S., 1934-]]> Joranger, Terje Mikael Hasle]]> Bakke, Helen]]> 2019/008 Audio 58A]]> Lovoll, Odd S., 1934-]]> Jensen, Edgar H.]]> Lovoll, Odd S., 1934-]]> Strom, Sivert]]> Lovoll, Odd S., 1934-]]> Hagen, Hans]]> Lovoll, Odd S., 1934-]]> Nerston, John]]> Minnesota]]> Young America]]> Norman-Young America]]> Minneapolis]]> Twin Cities]]> Family]]> Faribault]]> Disability]]> Paralysis]]> Deaf]]> Lutheranism]]> Religion]]> Bible study]]> Values]]> Incarceration]]> Prison]]> Crime]]> Legal system]]> Court]]> Law]]> Murder]]> Justice system]]> Burglary]]> Alcohol]]> Drugs]]> Norwegian language]]> Food]]> Lefse]]> Lutefisk]]> Screen printing]]> Juvenile detention]]> Correctional facility]]> Education]]> Theft]]> Car accidents]]> Driving]]> Injury]]> Christmas]]> Traditions]]> In this series of interviews by Odd Lovoll for his books “The Promise of America: History of the Norwegian-American People” and “The Promise Fulfilled: A Portrait of Norwegian Americans Today,”

Odd Lovoll interviews Darby Opsahl. Darby gives a brief background on his family’s Norwegian history, then talks about his family’s values and closeness. Afterwards, he describes his childhood and illegal activities with friends, including his stay in a juvenile correctional facility, leading up to his conviction. He also describes the car accident that paralyzed him, and finishes by reflecting on Norwegian-American familial values.


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Opsahl, Darby Jon (1968-)

Darby Jon Opsahl was born August 14th, 1968, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Vera and Jon Opsahl. Darby grew up in Young America, Minnesota, where he enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Later on, he did some work as a screen printer. Darby was in a car accident in 1991 that left him with lasting injuries, and in 1994 was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. In 2004, Darby appealed his sentence, but the judgment was ultimately upheld. Darby has two children.

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