Velgjer Svien

Velgjer Svien
Birth:	10 October 1842 Valdres, Norway
Death:	23 January 1953 Minnesota, USA
Age:	110 years, 105 days
Country:	NORUSA
Validated

Velgjer Svien (née Nystuen; 10 October 1842 – 23 January 1953) was a Norwegian-American verified supercentenarian.

Velgjer was born in Valdres, Norway, as Velgjer Tostensdatter Nystuen. Her mother died when she was eight years old, aged only 33, but her father made it to 92. Svien moved to United States in 1854, along with her father and siblings. The boat trip took 11 weeks. They started living in Wisconsin before moving to St. Ansgar, Iowa.

In 1860, she married another Norwegian immigrant, Andrew J. Svien. The couple moved to Minnesota five years later. They had four biological children and one foster daughter. The 4 children were: Carrie (1861-1939), John (1864-1903), Thomas (1867-1918) and Anna (1870-1948). They opened a hotel in Northfield. Andrew also worked as a farmer and policeman. Velgjer’s ”Americanized” name was Ellen Johnson. Her secret to longevity was to lead a stressfree life. She was said to never worry about anything.

Her husband died in January of 1927, aged 89. By 1929 daughter Carrie was also a widow and the two started to live together, an arrangement that lasted until Carries death at age 78. Her oldest grandson, William Lockrem (who died in 1974, at 88) and his wife then took care of her for the remaining years of her life.

Both her 100th and 105th birthdays were great occasions for celebration, and Valgjer enjoyed it a lot.

She died on 23 January 1953, at the age of 110 years, 105 days.

References

• Ancestry Boards
• Find A Grave