Comments on: Lista, Norway – A Slice of the U.S.A and a Whole Lot More

By: Kara

Kara — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 19:45:01 +0000

@Linda Mattson, I am John’s sister. He would love to connect with you. His email is johnhelander758@gmail.com and mine is kara@khelander.com

By: Linda Mattson

Linda Mattson — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 19:49:32 +0000

In reply to John Helander. @John Helander, John, my grandmother Helga Smith was your grandmother’s older sister. She came to the US at the age of 16 in 1903. She took my sister and I to Lista in 1967 to visit. I am starting to work on my ancestry and hopefully will return to Lista next year. Would love to connect with you…

By: John Helander

John Helander — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 20:10:30 +0000

My grandmother, Solveig Smith , was born and raised in Lista. She grew up on a farm at the very southern most part of Litsa. She came to the US when she was 19 in 1924. The Germans seized the farm for use as an airfield during WWII. Most of her siblings came to America after WWI.
She had many stories about the farm, particularly about how it was the only flat spot in that part of the country and how much the Germans wanted it. I am anxious to hear form anyone who can fill me in more about Lista and her farm. Thank you very much!

By: Penny Stevens

Penny Stevens — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 06:23:23 +0000

In reply to Katie Riley. @Katie Riley, My family were fishermen and boat builders, farmers, as well. Kristiansen is the family name. Loved my 6wks there!

By: Penny Stevens

Penny Stevens — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 06:20:22 +0000

I am an American with Norwegian heritage. Spent 6wks in Lista with family there in 1970. I was 18. Most fantastic. It was a boat building and commercial fishing community then, too. I crabbed along the rocks of the fjords with friends during the long daylight hours of the night, and walked through caves where you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face until you emerged into sunlight and the drop from the land to the fjord below. Used to smuggle guns during the Nazi occupation.

By: Corinne Vail

Corinne Vail — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 23:37:24 +0000

In reply to Katie Riley. Katie, It's so fun to visit where your family comes from, isn't it?

By: Katie Riley

Katie Riley — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 18:00:48 +0000

My cousin and I visited Lista in 2019 and hired a local historian to give us a tour. Our great-grandmother Anna Bolette Hansen was born there on Vestre Hauge farm in 1851. Her family croft was still standing, though in ruins. The WWII German barracks were fascinating. We saw alpacas on the windswept rocky shore by the lighthouse — a surreal sight!

By: Corinne Vail

Corinne Vail — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 16:56:09 +0000

In reply to Kenneth Andersen. Kenneth, So true! It can get quite cold. It's a beautiful place, though, most of the year.

By: Kenneth Andersen

Kenneth Andersen — Sat, 14 Nov 2020 02:53:03 +0000

My parents came from Lista after WW11. My mother from Lunde near Farsund and my father from Hassel which is between Vanse and Borhaug where the lighthouse is. I have been over several times. It is beautiful there. Just don’t go there in the winter. The wind from the North Sea is frigid.

By: Corinne Vail

Corinne Vail — Tue, 29 May 2018 12:40:47 +0000

In reply to Judy Lusk. I'm sorry Judy, I don't live in Norway. Good Luck!