A life in the village – The Tillberg family’s journey from Stockholm to Likenäs

At Backa Farm in Likenäs, it’s quiet and peaceful

A few goats graze peacefully in their pasture. A pile of firewood waits to be carried into the woodshed. Christer and Maria Tillberg have lived here for 36 years.

– Now it’s just Maria and me living here, but when our six children were still at home, there wasn’t much peace and quiet, laughs Christer. We have six children and ten grandchildren who drop by now and then to visit, so there’s still plenty of life and activity here. And our son Petter has just bought the house on the other side of the road.

From city life to country living

Christer and Maria moved to Likenäs in the early 1990s. They met while both were studying in Innsbruck in 1976 and have since moved around, working and studying in several places across Sweden.

– Christer trained to become a doctor, and I became a nurse. Just before we moved here, we were living and working in Falun, says Maria. We both grew up in Stockholm, but we didn’t want to move back there. When Christer got a tip from a friend about a doctor’s position in Likenäs, we decided to go for it. We wanted to live in the countryside on a farm, so it suited us perfectly.

At first, they rented a house near the health center in Likenäs, but the longing for something of their own soon took over. After passing by the Backa farm, where they live today, several times, they contacted the owner and asked if it was for sale.

– We were lucky, because the lady who lived here wanted to sell, and her son didn’t want to take over the farm. However, the buying process turned out to be a bit complicated. The Agricultural Board said no, since the property included a lot of forest, and we were seen as a couple of “sidewalk farmers from Stockholm,” laughs Christer.

Community life as a path to belonging

The Tillberg family quickly and easily became part of the community.

– In the beginning, it was a bit difficult. I was called the doctor’s wife for a while, and that didn’t feel so great. But then Christer joined the hunting team, and that’s when you start being seen as one of them, says Maria. We already had three children when we moved here, so through the school and the various clubs the kids joined, it became a natural way to get to know other families.

Community life has been a big part of the family’s life. The children started playing sports at an early age.

– The kids did track and field with IFK Likenäs, and we were also on the board of that club. Then they started skiing and competing for Branäs Alpina. We went to many competitions - yes, almost every weekend was spent on the slopes, says Christer. One of the children even attended a ski high school, so you could say we’ve spent quite a few hours on the slopes. These days, we don’t downhill ski much; we mostly do cross-country instead. I usually make a trail in the field outside, about 7.5 kilometers long. Sometimes tourists come here to ski on our tracks, and they’re welcome to. Otherwise, there are fantastic cross-country trails in both Branäs and Långberget - we go there every now and then.

But it hasn’t all been about sports. Christer was on the board of the Utmarksmuseet when it was founded 27 years ago.

– He was involved for 15 years, and then I took over, says Maria. I’ve just finished that assignment so I can focus on other things. Now I sing in the Dalby Church Choir and also serve on the church council. I also help organize a culture camp in Ransbysätern for children during the summer holidays.

– Ha ha, yes, you’re involved in just about everything, laughs Christer.

An active life

You might think there hasn’t been much time left for other things, but one of Christer’s great interests is forestry and buildings.

– I enjoy buying forest land. And I love houses. I usually say that I collect children and houses, laughs Christer. Several of the buildings we have on the farm were moved here from other places and then renovated. We also have a summer cottage on Väddö and a farm in Gällivare, which I’m currently renovating together with our son Max. Of course, it’s hard to find time to be everywhere, and that’s a bit of a shame.

– Yes, because we love to travel too, and we’ve done quite a lot of it. We’ve taken the Trans-Siberian Railway, been to the USA and Australia, and the whole family attended a wedding in India. We’ve been careful to keep our everyday finances in good order, so we’ve been able to afford to travel, says Maria.

– Hunting has now become the whole family’s big passion. Five of our children have gotten their hunting licenses, so during “moose hunting week” in the fall, the house is full of children and grandchildren. I stay home and handle the meals and logistics while the others are out in the forest. It’s so cozy having everyone here at the same time, says Maria.

– We also had a bit of an advantage since Christer was a doctor at the small health center and I worked there as a nurse. That way, you get to know most people in the community, says Maria.

A life in motion with roots in Likenäs

Now both are retired, but they still work from time to time. Christer serves as a school doctor in Munkfors, sometimes works at the Likenäs health center, and spends a few days each month at a treatment facility. Maria also occasionally fills in at the health center. Life on the farm in Likenäs is anything but stagnant. From the busy years of raising small children to today’s calmer yet still active life, Christer and Maria have built a life defined by community, engagement, and a deep love for both people and place.

– We haven’t regretted moving here for a single second. I’ll live here until the day I die, and I’ll work until I drop, says Christer with a smile.

With children and grandchildren who love to come home, hunting weeks that bring the whole family together, skiing in the winter, and travels whenever the mood strikes, it’s clear that the Tillberg family hasn’t just put down roots in the community – they’ve become a natural part of it.