It’s not every day that people involved with local chapters of national organizations receive recognition from the group’s headquarters.

However, that’s just what happened recently to Albert Lean Carol Petersen, 87, who was recognized with a pin from the national Danish Sisterhood of America headquarters for 50 years involvement with the organization.

The Danish Sisterhood, Petersen described, “was a bunch of Danes who came over from Denmark and met here.” The national group started in 1883.

Years ago, there were both a Danish sisterhood and brotherhood in Albert Lea; however, the sisterhood disbanded at least 10 years ago because of decreasing attendance, she said. Many of the women have since joined the brotherhood.

During her prime involvement in the sisterhood, Petersen said she was in charge of annual local luncheons at her home on Bridge Avenue, which usually included 30 or 40 other women. There were table covers, napkins and of course, fine food. Each year of the luncheon, she made party favors for her guests.

“I think Carol’s delight in the sisterhood was her spring luncheon,” said Grace Tomson, friend and fellow Danish sisterhood and brotherhood member.

“I always heard it was Carol’s luncheon.”

Tomson said it is not a common occurrence for women to receive the 50-year pin, so she thinks it is an especially notable achievement.

“I was surprised they had done anything about it because we were disbanded,” Petersen said.

Tomson added: “Not many ladies can go back 50 years, because at that time women weren’t recognized in many parts of society.”

Petersen — who said she originally joined the group because her late husband, Cliff, was Danish — actually is mostly of Norwegian heritage. She’s only been to Denmark once.
Age: 87

Address: 1800 Michael Place, Albert Lea

Livelihood: retired

Family: son Larry Petersen; daughter Linda Zimney; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren

Interesting fact: Petersen said she and her late husband, Cliff, started the aebleskiver breakfast at Ascension Lutheran Church. The event is now an annual event.

Despite this, however, she said she’s picked up many of the ways of living, traditions and recipes of the Danes — and some of the accent, too. It’s been a time of fellowship, fun and doing good for others.

Petersen noted she and her husband lived in Alden around the time she joined, which was 50 years ago in March. She said she can remember the group meeting in the upstairs of one of the downtown buildings.

Then when they moved to Albert Lea, the Danish Sisterhood met at the corner of Clark Street and Newton Avenue, in what is known to many as the former Veterans of Foreign Wars building.

The theory behind the sisterhood and brotherhood has been to help others, she said.

“If someone was down and out you helped them out,” Petersen said. And of course there was the social aspect of it, too.

She has memorabilia of her years with the Danish Sisterhood around her condominium that remind her of her experiences over the years with others in the group.

She also still gets a Danish Sisterhood publication, though the group is no longer in operation in Albert Lea.

Aside from the Danish Sisterhood, Petersen said she has enjoyed cooking, baking and needlepoint over the years. She said her family and her church have been the important parts of her life.