Perseverance and Persistence

This is a biography of my Swedish immigrant father, born just over a century ago, who came from the province of Småland, Sweden in the mid 1920’s through Ellis Island, New York City, New York.

His life covered the great depression, the atomic era, the industrial revolution and the space age. Nils Patrick Lennart (Leonard) Sandberg displayed the traits of perseverance and persistence in all his contentions to subsist and progress in the New World.

He learned to do his best from his Blacksmith father which he in turn taught his children. He raised his children, Ralph and Marilyn, in Lafayette, Indiana at the Evangelical Covenant Church along with his wife, Helen Swanson Sandberg. He taught and instilled in them fairness, honesty, kindness, trustworthiness, and Christianity. Our father wanted us to be strong, upstanding citizens, but I realize I have a bit of his stubbornness as well.