When Thor was 22 years old, he met a woman at a summer party in Svelvik who really caught his interest. The year was 1950, Thor did not know, but he had just laid eyes on his future wife.
Liv was 17 years old at the summer party in Sande, and was quickly fascinated by the young handsome man, who just wanted to dance with her that night.
– Dad met mom out on the dance floor. That’s how you met in the old days. Now many people meet on apps like Tinder, but in the past, then it was just at such summer parties that you were happy to meet your life partner.
Per Lønning (62) tells Dagbladet. He has just told parts of the life story to his dear parents, Liv and Thor Lønning. From the time they met until they lost each other.
The latter is not long ago. What happened was quite special.
Liv and Thor Lønning’s death was first mentioned by Drammens Tidende.
WEDDING PICTURE: Here we see the first picture taken by Liv and Thor, after they gave each other their yes. Photo: Private
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Got incurable cancer
Dagbladet gets hold of Per over the phone. It’s Wednesday, and the day before the urn reduction.
He says that his parents are going on a final journey together, before their love story is over.
Per is the youngest of three siblings. Sister Grethe (67) and big brother Tom (65) have all been involved in organizing what will be a memorable farewell to their parents.
Together with them, eight grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and two small great-great-grandchildren will say goodbye to Liv and Thor.
THE CORE FAMILY: Thor and Liv had three children together. From the left we see them with Per, Tom and Grethe. Photo: Private
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The couple died on January 4 and 6 this year. Thor was the first to lose his life. It was then four weeks since he had been told that he had incurable cancer.
The cancer message came just before Christmas. Per says that his father’s rapidly declining form, and the fact that everyone knew he was going to die, marked their last holiday together.
– It was scary that he got cancer. He who has always been active and active. We were a little shocked that he got it, and it put a damper on the merriment during the Christmas celebration.
Newborn baby died of lassa fever
– Dad lived a long and nice life. He was the security of the family, and the one who always encouraged us to do things. Mom was strict, but in a very good way. They complemented each other well, and had almost been married for 70 years when Dad died. He turned 93 and his mother turned 88, says Per.
– I think maybe they were waiting for each other. Mom had been pretty bad for four years, but she stuck to it. When Dad first died, it took a short time before she followed.
HAPPY: Dagbladet has talked to Per Lønning and granddaughter Cathrine Lønning Pettersen, and has heard many good memories with Liv and Thor. Photo: Private
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Per and the family are currently sad about the loss of the two family members, but when he reminisces back to his childhood on Åssiden in Drammen, it is clear that he is smiling.
– It was a safe and warm place, where the door was always open, for those who needed it. I had a good childhood with my siblings, and will always have fond memories of my parents.
The signs: Forgetful or early dementia?
Grandson: – Cruel
One of their grandchildren, Cathrine Lønning Pettersen (35), tells how painful it has been for her to lose both grandparents in such a short time.
– It was cruel to lose them with such a short distance. I’m not used to losing so many around me, so it was very painful for both to die so quickly. For a short period, I was one hundred percent on sick leave from work, because the grief really took me, Cathrine says to Dagbladet.
Cathrine works daily as a hairdresser, and has been with her grandparents at least once a week for ten years.
– I was Grandma’s personal hairdresser and came by to roll out her hair. The older ladies take great pride in the fact that their hair will look really good, just like us young people, but the hairstyles are often a little different, says Cathrine.
«SEE GRANDMA»: Cathrine has good memories with both grandparents. When she thinks of her grandmother, she remembers the holidays she, her mother and grandmother took together to the south. Photo: Private
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The 35-year-old says that his grandfather was the tribe in the family, and the one you could usually lean on.
– Grandpa taught me to drive a car and take the note. He was often the one who drove us to handball training, as he thought it was important to do something in the evenings. I also remember the trips to Holmestrand in the summers. We fished up so many mackerel that we could not keep the count once, Cathrine smiles.
A SECURITY: According to Cathrine, Thor was someone you could really trust, the one in the family she refers to as the security itself. She will miss his commitment and spark of life. Photo: Private
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– A place to miss them
She eagerly tells about her grandparents and how she used to listen to their stories from the old days.
– They did not have the opportunity to write everything down in the past, they had to remember their stories, and they did. Grandma talked about life both before and after Grandpa when she sat in the hairdresser’s chair. I especially remember the story of when they had to hide the pig in the woods during World War II, the grandson says over the phone.
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She says that it has been difficult to have to wait a month and a half before the urn reduction, and that she is looking forward to an end.
– For me, this will be an end. It should be good to be able to go somewhere when you miss them, as I often do. A place where you can feel a little closer to them, says Cathrine.
THE SMILE THEY DON’T FORGET: Thursday 17 February is the urn reduction of Thor and Liv. The family will never forget them, and will always appreciate the memories that were made in the house on Åssiden in Drammen.
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