Erling Konstantin Einarsen

Erling Konstantin Einarsen was born on January 15, 1899 to Karl Johan Einarsen and Julie Karoline Tønnesen in Bergen, Norway. He was their only child; however, his father had five children from a previous marriage. At the time of his birth, Erling was living at Asylpladsen 2b with his parents and his eleven-year-old half-sister, Signe. His older half-sister, Inga, was likely living with them at this time as well.

Sometime before Erling was ten years old his parents separated for unknown reasons. His father continued to live at Asylpladsen 2b with Inga, while Erling and his mother had moved to an apartment at Henrik Wergelandsgate 17. As his mother was unemployed she was quickly reduced to poverty and was consequently receiving financial support from Bergens Fattigvesen, a government relief program.

Around the time of Erling’s confirmation, it appears that he and his mother moved back in with his father who eventually died on September 23, 1919. Two months later, on November 29, 1919, Erling married Gunhild Karoline Johnsen, the daughter of a blacksmith. Together they lived with his widowed mother at Asylpladsen 2b where they started raising their family. Gunhild gave birth to four children – Karl Gerhard (1921), Else Marie (1924), Gerd Margrethe (1929), and John (1931).

According to his youngest daughter, Gerd, Erling enjoyed fishing, taking the family camping, and going out for walks together in Nygårdsparken. He had a temper and liked order. However, Gunhild, his wife, was “like a lamb in comparison and often had to calm him. She enjoyed participating in women’s associations.”

Erling had a stable job as a tram driver and conductor for forty years. He started working for Bergen Sporvei shortly before his marriage and remained with them until his retirement in 1959. Throughout those years he was a committed member of the tramway employee’s association and a temporary member of the tramway singing association. He lived out the rest of his days at Asylpladsen 2b, which he eventually sold to his oldest son for NOK 21,000. On March 19, 1964, Erling passed away at the age of sixty-five.