Fedde, Sister Elizabeth (1850–1921)

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Fedde, Sister Elizabeth (1850–1921)

Norwegian-American deaconess. Born Elizabeth Feda (later altered to Fedde), Dec 25, 1850, at Feda, in Flekkefjord, Norway; died Feb 25, 1921, near Egersund, Norway; dau. of Andreas Villumsen Feda and Anne Marie Olsdatter; m. Ola A. P. Slettebö, 1896.

Entered Lutheran deaconess motherhouse in Christiania (Oslo), Norway (1873) and studied religion and nursing; worked as a nurse in Tromsö, in northern Norway (late 1870s–early 1880s); in response to a need for social workers to help Norwegian immigrants, moved to New York City (1883); helped found Voluntary Relief Society for the Sick and Poor (later Lutheran Medical Center) for Norwegians in NY and Brooklyn (1883); when refused support by Christiania motherhouse, opened small hospital to train sisters in Brooklyn (1885) and later began ambulance service for New Yorkers of all nationalities; founded deaconess home in Minneapolis, MN (late 1880s); returned to Norway and settled with husband on farm near Egersund (1896).