GUSTAV ADOLP ANDERSON
Dec. 26, 1904 - Jan. 17, 1981
Gustav (called Gust, not Gus, by his brothers) came to the United States in 1922. He was on the same ship with actress Greta Garbo. He was also called by his brothers "the power house". He had amazing brute strength. He would close a big machinist vise down and then bend the handle. I can remember at family gatherings he would playfully grab one of the brother's knees in his viselock hand and they would start to dance.
Gustav was an excellent machinist, having learned this trade from his father-in-law, Johnny Johnson. He could make almost anything on a lathe to perfection. He was also an excellent mechanic. As a young man, he played the accordion. He laughed a lot and was fun loving and somewhat "ornery."
Gustav had a dry sense of humor and said several things which the family laughed over for years. Here are a few: A salesman came to the A&B Garage and tried to sell Gust something as he was working away on a car. The salesman asked if he was interested and he replied, "I wouldn't even think about it!"
Another event in the A&B Garage happened when he had difficulty trying to start a customer's car. Otto asked him if he had tried to crank it. He replied, "I cranked it till I boiled the water in the radiator." He once described a lady he had talked to who had loose dentures, as sounding like a typewriter. In 1960, he had a heart attack and had stopped smoking. I asked how he was doing and he said, "I would like to have a cigarette at least 3 feet long."
Gustav and Otto were naturalized in this country under the family name of Anderson. All of the others were naturalized under the name of Borgstrom which was bestowed upon them by the priest of the Lutheran Church after they completed their confirmation class. Anderson was a very common name so the priest changed their names to Borgstrom. The immigration authorities gave them their choice of keeping the name Borgstrom or going back to the family name of Anderson.
Gustav married Kathie Johnson, who was ½ Swedish and ½ German, in September 1928. They had two children: Frances (Kathie) and Robert.
Gustav, Erik and Otto remained close to each other in geographical area throughout their lives. For much of their lives, they did not stay in one place long.
The following is a list of Gustav's work history and area where he lived (the dates may not be exact):
- 1920's-1933 A&B Garage, Oklahoma City mechanic
- 1933-1934 Houston machinist
- 1935-1936 Tacoma, Wash. machinist
- 1937-1941 Welch, Okla. mechanic
- 1942-1943 Chicago tool and die maker
- 1944-1945 Owned farm Minnesota
- 1945-1947 Tinker AFB machinist
- 1948-1950 Owned farm, Big Cabin
- 1951-retirement Pryor machinist, John Deere
It appeared to me that Gustav, Erik and Otto in the earlier years of their
lives were searching for something which they didn't find until the last few
years of their lives.
Gustav died of a heart attack on Jan. 17, 1981 and is buried in Pryor, Okla.
Cathy, Kathie and Bob Anderson