Ragnar Tallakstad

Ragnar Tallakstad was born in Norway, immigrating to the United States sometime in the 1940s to work in the fishing industry. He lived for a time in Brooklyn, NY, before coming to New Bedford around 1947. 

At the time of his death he was unmarried, with no known relatives in the United States.

Around 5:15 A.M. on September 2, 1957 the scalloper Kingfisher was fishing in Georges Bank, about 200 miles from New Bedford when Ragnar Tallakstad lost his balance and fell overboard. 

Crew members tossed Tallakstad a life preserver, but he was unable to grab onto it. His body was dragged from the water after about 20 minutes of being overboard.