In the 1930 census he is a laborer in a twine factory.
He registered for the World War II draft as Olaf Ingvald Petter Hjellen. At that time, he lived at 7021 24 NW in Seattle. He was employed by Mitte Linne and Nett Co. of Seattle. He gave, as his “person who will always know your address,” Anna Aarlf of Seattle.