Lutefisk and Shoo Fly Pie

"Lutefisk" because that is the ethnic food I most remember from my childhood, back in Tacoma, Washington. Lutefisk meant Christmas to my Norwegian father and his parents, and to me as well. To my mind it is an "acquired taste", but there are many Norwegians who enjoy it. (Neither Mother nor I ever quite acquired the taste!)

"Shoo Fly Pie" because Shirley, my wife, is part Pennsylvania Dutch, and grew up in Lancaster, heart of the Pennsylvania Dutch country. I came to know and love the wonderful food of that area, and we were both shaped by the food we ate, as well as the areas where we grew up and lived.

I am researching our ancestors, including the following surnames: Andersen, Biddle, Clark, Fuller, Hart, Imhoff, Levenhagen, Mathison, Miller, Minnich, Mueller, Sinner, Tyson and Wertz. My Andersens are descended from Anders Olsen (1822-1889) from Stadsbygd, Norway. The Mathisons are descended from Mathias Davidsen (1813-1894), Hemnes, Norway. My Imhoff, Levenhagen and Miller/Mueller lines are German, as are Shirley's Tysons. All her Clark, Fuller, Sinner, Minnich, Tyson and Wertz families lived in or near Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

I welcome information about any of these families, and will be pleased to share whatever information I have.

Family Photos

• William Hart (16 KB)
  William Hart, Shirley Andersen's grandfather. He was born in 1859 and died in 1938, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
• Al and Gladys Andersen (45 KB)
  My parents, Alton Andersen (1907-1995) and Gladys Imhoff Andersen (1911- ) at their 50th wedding anniversary reception, June 13, 1981.
• Albert Miller and family. (71 KB)
  Albert and Mary (Levenhagen) Miller and their daughters (l to r) Mabel, Lydia and Cora.
• Mary Miller and Sophia Levenhagen (41 KB)
  Mary Levenhagen Miller (on the right) and her mother, Sophia Kepke Levenhagen. Photo taken by Braun's Gallery in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.

Family Tree Maker Reports and Trees

• InterneTree: Jerome J Andersen

Related Links

• Stadsbygd, Norway