Family Story

Reading the obit of my Uncle John reminded me as well how young my dad was when he came over from Norway. I don't think he knew much English either. I knew Grandpa Jacobsen came over first but hadn't realized it was actually five years before the rest of the family came to the States.

I guess an uncle in Norway told my dad (and siblings?) that the butcher's in America made sausage out of Norwegian boys and girls. Some time after arriving in the States, he was walking home from school with one of his brothers, not knowing that there was a tornado headed straight for them.
Well, a butcher grabbed them out of the way and took them down to the basement where he made sausages. I guess my dad thought for sure that what he had been told would be coming true. He must have been terrified.

September 14, 1928 -- Tornado
A violent tornado, estimated at F4 intensity with winds over 200 mph, tore across Rockford. The tornado first touched down 8 miles south southwest of Rockford, and moved across the southeast part of the city. Four factories were damaged or destroyed, including the Rockford Chair and Furniture Company. Eight workers were killed there when the 3-story building collapsed. About a mile downstream, 3 boys were killed in a garage. The tornado was on the ground for 26 miles, dissipating in Boone County near Capron. A total of 14 people were killed, with around 100 injuries reported