Golden Wedding in Blaine, Washington On the 13th day of March, 1943, a festive occasion was held in Blaine celebrating the fiftieth wedding anniversary of the honored guests, Petur and Maria Finnson. The party was held in the banquet hall of the Icelandic Free Church. The Rev. Albert Kristjansson was master of ceremonies and the large turn out attested to the popularity of the couple.

Petur Finnson was born on the 29th of October, 1869 at the farm of Fitjum in Miðfjord in Hunavatnssysla in northwestern Iceland. He is the son of Finnur Finnson, who was the farmer at Fitjum, and his wife Margaret Tomasdóttir. Petur grew up at Fitjum with his father and stepmother whom he respected and loved as his own mother. When he was fourteen years old, he went to Faxafloi to work as a commercial fisherman. (Note: Faxafloi is a large gulf in the southwestern coast of Iceland. The bay on which Rejkavik is situated opens on that gulf (flói)). He followed this vocation for most of his life in Iceland. He came to America in 1890. His first years in North Dakota he worked at farm labor.

In 1892 he married Maria Johannesdóttir. Her mother was Sigurbjorg Kristjansdóttir whose family origins were in Thingyarssysla. Maria was born at Ljósavatn in 1870.

In 1901, the couple moved west to the coast and settled in Marietta in the state of Washington. Two years later they moved to Blaine and have lived here since then. Petur has worked as a commercial fisherman, farmer, and as a day laborer. His mind has always been inclined to the sea and he is never more contented than when he is on the sea.

They have been blessed with six children, two of whom died young. Living are: Jakobina Ísafold Freeman, married to Kristján Jónsson Freeman. They have their home in Blaine and have brought up one of the largest and most promising families that I have knowledge of among the Icelanders. The children are 13 in number and all have great potential. One of Petur and Maria's sons is Gislí Sigurjon. He is married to Steinunn Valdimarsdóttir. They have two children and live in Anacortes, Washington. A daughter, Sigriður, is married to Adolph Anderson, a man of Norwegian descent. They have four children and make their home in Blaine. Another son, Magnus Adalsteinn, is married to an American girl. They have one child. Their home is in Blaine.

In all, Petur and Maria's descendents are more than 30 in number. It is a large and beautiful group that any grandfather and grandmother would be content to have - content and proud.

The couple, Petur and Maria have been very popular in their neighborhood, good members of society, cooperative and ready to be of help. Their home is a model of peacefulness and harmony. Their popularity is surely manifest in this gathering. Men and women enjoyed themselves extremely well and received pleasure and satisfaction from seeing the eldery honor guests so sprightly in spirit and sound in health.

The following addressed the group: Reverend Albert, Reverend Guðmundur Pall, Mr. Danielson, Mr. Hannes Teitson, Mr. J.F. Johnson, Mrs. O. Poulson, Mrs. Albert Kristjansson and the undersigned. Mrs. Adolph Anderson, the daughter of the honor guests delievered a written message from her parents and Mr. Chris Freeman presented them a gift, a floor lamp, from the family, with a few words. Their neighbors gave them easy chairs and the Ladies Aid society gave Maria an embroidered tablecloth.

Then we must not forget the best on the program - the singing of the Freeman children. They could easily establish a choir that any church would welcome.

We are a little more fortunate and a bit better for having celebrated with the happy people for this short time and we wish our elderly honor guests all that is good in the future.

-H. E. Johnson