Thordis H. Moe

Thordis H. Moe was born June 25, 1941 in Ketchikan, Alaska to Norwegian immigrants, Borghild and Rikard Hammer. Rikard was a commercial fisherman and Borghild had come to Ketchikan to care for her brother's newborn, Gerda, as her mother had died in childbirth. Thordis had a younger sister, Ingrid.

Thordis' mother took her and her sister back to Norway in 1947, because she was concerned about her family in the aftermath of World War II, as the Fascist Nazi's had occupied Norway and bombed many of the villages. She went to first grade in Norway, so when she came back to Alaska on the Queen Mary she could understand English, but spoke only Norwegian.

She got polio when she was 11 years old and was bed ridden for several months, but her mother gave her Sister Kenny 'hot pack' treatments, so she was able to walk again. After graduation from high school, she attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, graduating with a B.A. Degree in elementary education with a minor in Norwegian.

After graduation, she returned to Ketchikan, met and married a high school teacher and taught kindergarten her first year of marriage. She and her husband had two daughters, Kara and Sonja.

Thordis was a teacher, artist, alcoholism counselor, tourism director, zone director of Alaska for the Sons of Norway and a member for over 50 years. She was a loving wife, mother, grand-mother and great-grand-mother, with a strong Spirit.