[cookcounty]

"My mother’s Swedish grandparents immigrated through Finland to the US. Her grandfather was forced to serve in the White Russian Army before leaving."

Are you sure they weren't in Finland all along? Finland was regarded as part of Sweden for many centuries. When my Swedish-speaking grandparents entered thru Ellis Island, they reported they came "from Sweden" though they had never set foot in Sweden and neither did their parents. Indeed,in the US Census reports of 1910, 1920 and 1930, they answered as country of origin "Sweden" then "Russia" then "Finland." Technically speaking, all 3 answers were correct.

[wetphoenix]

~Indeed,in the US Census reports of 1910, 1920 and 1930, they answered as country of origin “Sweden” then “Russia” then “Finland.” Technically speaking, all 3 answers were correct.~

Finland wasn’t a nation-state before 1918. It was a part of Sweden before late 18th century, finally annexed by Russia about 1809 (with active support from the Finns, heavily taxed by Sweden). By the end of 19th century there were some misunderstanding between Finns and tsarist authorities and right after revolution, Russian communists granted them independence in 1918 for the first time.