Peder Furubotn's wife was named Gina, born with the surname Sandal in Bergen in 1892, and lived until 1973. She rests in the same grave as her husband Peder Furubotn (1890-1975), along with their only son, Gilbert, and youngest daughter, Magda. Their middle daughter, Ruth Lyssand, is buried in Os, outside Bergen. The entire family played a significant role in the fight against Nazism. Gilbert was "the Norwegian voice" from Moscow Radio, which had frequent broadcasts in Norwegian to occupied Norwegians during the war (see the book by Morten Jentoft).

Here, we will primarily focus on the two women, Gina and Magda (see the book by Ingeborg Solbrekken), who accompanied their father through the illegal resistance activities from 1940-1945 on Norwegian soil and participated in perhaps the most dangerous resistance work in Norway during the war. As prominent women in the resistance, their role in the struggle has been underestimated, while they can be seen as shining symbols of the courageous efforts made by women, which are hardly mentioned in retrospect. What is unique about these two women is that they were constantly on the run from the bloodthirsty Gestapo for almost five years without being captured.

In this context, we will only publish Gina's simple note from 1970 as a reminder of this family's contribution to Norway's freedom.

Norway has not yet honored them with a dignified memorial. We refer here to the notes about the location of their grave:

Grave number: 14.037.06.001

Peder, Gina, Gilbert, and Magda

14 is Nordstrand

037 is the burial plot

06 is the row in the burial plot

001 is the position, at the outermost end of the row.

PARKING is available at the parish hall near the church; the grave is located at the other end of the cemetery.

The grave is protected and will not be replaced by burying other deceased individuals. It is trimmed every year. That's all. If any further information emerges in this matter, we will publish it.

Torgrim Titlestad, Stavanger, April 26, 2023.

The letter in its entirety:

Since we were wed in Bergen Cathedral about 60 years ago, I have been together with my husband, Peder Furubotn. I was also with him when the Germans attacked Norway on April 9, 1940.

From April 9 onwards, we had to take measures to secure our safety, knowing that the Nazi regime would pursue my husband. In August 1940, he was interrogated by the Gestapo in Bergen and was supposed to be put under house arrest after the questioning. However, my husband left the Gestapo building, took me with him just across the street from where we lived, and through back alleys, we managed to escape, even though the Germans had placed guards around the house. Our daughter was sent away from her school with the help of a messenger just before the Gestapo came to fetch her.

From that day until the end of the war, I lived together with my husband, daughter, and my husband's colleagues. We narrowly escaped arrest time and time again, and we were repeatedly saved from direct attacks by the Germans on our hiding places. I was always in fear of being killed directly or captured during arrests or other ambushes. Engaging in all the hardships of the resistance, long marches in mountains and valleys, both winter and summer, as an organizer of food and care, as a housewife and mother, and as a collaborator in our hiding places, I was there to do whatever I could to make Norway free from the oppressors.

I mentioned some of the places where we stayed for extended periods of time:

Åsane, Evanger in Bergen at various locations, Dyngeland in Fana, Trollhaugen in Fana, Titlestad in Fana, Midtsæter in Os, Øvredalen in Os, in Oslo at several places, Grorud, Høyenhall, Harestua in Hadeland, Hemsedal, Vestre Slidre, Etnedal, "Solli" in Søndre land, Eina, Skriulægret, Østre Slidre in the village, and Rabalden sæter, Vestre Slidre, Fagernes, and Reinli in Aurdal. We were in Reinli when the peace came, from where we went to Oslo.

Oslo, November 15, 1970.

Gina Furubotn