John Eide was born Ole Johannes Eide on April 20, 1900 in Brathammer, S©ırstokke, Karmøy, Norway. Brathammer was his grandfather's home and Karmøy is an island between Stavanger and Haugesund. John's parents were Ole Mandius Eide, also known as Johannes Løberg, and Gertrud Brathammer. John's father immigrated to America before he was born and became an American citizen. Ole then returned to Norway to marry Gertrud, whom he took back to America. However, Gertrud became sickly and lonesome and returned to Norway to care for her family and run a store at Brathammer. Ole continued living in both America and Norway, and he and Gertrud had four children in addition to John: Adolph, Amanda, Carl, and Tom. John went to the Christian school when he was younger, but believes he was truly saved when he was seventeen. He and a neighbor were coming home from a dance on New Year's when "a spirit came upon them." They used to call Karmøy "Hellige Øy," which means Holy Island.
From the description of Ole Johannes Eide Oral History Interview 1982. (Eugene Public Library). WorldCat record id: 658213742
