7 Lag Selects Habberstad for July 13-15 Stevne

VOL XV NO 1
FEBRUARY, 1995
Serving Norwegian-Americans of Sigdal - Eggedal & Kmdsherad Ancestry
7 Lag Selects Habberstad for July 13-15 Stevne
Last October 29 experienced coordinators were chosen for the 7 Lag Stevne July 13-15, 1995, at
NO State College of Science, Wahpeton, NO. Chet Habberstad will be 7 Lag coordinator once
again while Marilyn Sorensen continues coordinating the genealogy committee as well as family
history seminaTs during the stevne.
Elected to the executive board was Oscar Lund as vice chairman while Borg Hanson, Marilyn
Somdahl, and AI Stevens were re-elected as chairperson, secretary and treasurer, respect!vely.
Carol Toso agreed to work with Habberstad as assistant coordinator, and each I.a~ was assigned
some responsibility for the stevne. Sigdal Lag will be responsible for advance publicity.
Stevne sponsors are bygdelag with Norwegian
ancestry
originating
in Numedal, RingerikeModum-Eiker, and Sigdal located in Buskerud
tylke; Hadeland, Land, and Toten located in
Oppland tylke; and Telelag for Telemark tylke.
These
organizations
plan
entertainment,
genealogy sessions, and provide a time for
each group to meet on its own Saturday, July
15.
Members need to circle those dates on the
calendar without delay, especially if you are a
member who has never attended a stevne.
Aren't
you missing an opportunity
for an
enjoyable
weekend?
Please mention
to
friends that evening programs are open to the
public.
Worldwide
interest in Norway has
grown since the Olympic Games there a year
ago. And NOSeS's staff & facilities serve us
well; this is the fifth time since 1988 that
Wahpeton has been the chosen site.
If the format remains close to other years:
Genealogy search time and classes begin
Thursday morning from~:30
a.m. to 10 p.m.
Genealogy continues until 12 noon Friday.
Shared activities
or entertainment
occurs
Friday afternoon and evening and Saturday
evening after a banquet about 6 p.m.
If you look for handmade Norwegian gifts for
weddings, birthdays, or Christmas, you will
not be disappointed.
Exhibitors interested in
selling Norwegian crafts and artistic objects
July 14 and 15 should indicate intent and
availability soon by writing Roland Krogstad,
2718 Regent Street, Madison, WI
53705.
Describe what you have to offer and he will
explain the procedure to follow this year.
Forms for registration
and housing
college will appear in the May SAGA.
at
the
Modern high-rise dorms are available or you
may make your own motel reservations by
telephone:
Comfort Inn. Wahpeton 701-642-1115
Starlite. Wahpeton 701-642-6627
Super 8, Wahpeton 701-642-8731
or 1-800-800-8000
Scotwood. Breckenridge, MN 218-643-9201
or 1-800-341-8000
Limited camping at a Wahpeton city park:
Chahinkapa Park 701-642-2811
Will Sigdal Lag members who play musical
instruments, sing, or have something to offer
for the Sigdalslag program Saturday, please
contact one of the officers by March 1? A
violinist would be especially useful this year.
A Sigdal Lag breakfast is being planned for
Saturday morning, July 15.
Two more announcements may affect you. It
would be helpful for all members to complete
a Sigdal genealogy survey, beginning with the
earliest ancestor leaving Norway.
Forms are
available from Lee Rokke, genealogist.
Pictures of members
are sought
for lag
archives.
If you joined after 1992 or did not
submit a picture for the Sigdalslaget Album,
please send the editor a clear picture of the
member/s (including minor children).
Identify
who's
who on a separate paper.
Faces
should
be
about
dime
size
and
light
backgrounds are preferred.
If you want the
picture
returned,
please
send
a
SelfAddressed, Stamped Envelope.
Letters to the Editor
Ingvald Granum, Daniel Lie and Hans Wold's norske julebrev ":'fereaddressed to, both. S.0m.dahls;others were
addressed only to the editor. A Granum story is on the opposIte page and Wold s actIvIty IS on page 12.
Tusen takk for the letter and enclosure.
I
greeted you at the Sigdalslag stevne at St.
Cloud, Minnesota, in 1989.
I'm sending you a copy of the book about
Gulsvik relatives that I wrote in 1985 which
was written in English in 1989.
It is my
meaning
that
you,
as
president
of
Sigdalslaget, have information and an interest
in this book.
Guttorm Anderson Gulsvik whose father was
Anders
Wegager
of
Kr0dsherad
married
Gunhild Guttormsdatter
Gulsvik, moving to
Sigdal in the 1600s and was married to a
widow from Albj0rk.
And since a widow
from Basheim had the son, Anders Strand, he
in turn married a widow from Jellum. Anders
had a son Knut who came back and took over
Nordre
Gulsvik,
marrying
Sigrid
Guttormsdatter
Gulsvik.
From these come
two branches of my roots.
My
maternal
grandmother
was
Ingeborg
Hagensdatter
Tiege from Eggedal and my
paternal grandmother was Berit Amundsdatter
Kittilsviken of Sondre Sand urn in Kr0dsherad-so I have quite a large attachment
(of
common ties) with members of Sigdalslaget i
Amerika.
Therefore this genealogy book goes
to you.
I am soon 99 years old and the age gives
more and more validity to my claims!
Med hUsen, Knut A.M. Gulsvik
Gulsvik pa Fla, Norway
rTUSEN TAKK!
But it was not easy to
distinguish spellings in the underlined words
above from a still vigorous and assertive
handwritten two pages.... The lag appreciates
Knut's generosity.
- EdITor)
Thanks for the kind reminder of my dues.
Without .. I might have lapsed altogether.
I
thoroughly
enjoy the SAGA--it's
very well
done.
My maternal
grandfather's
name became
Andrew
Haugan
when
he came to this
country, but his brother at Brooten, MN, kept
the family name. He was Olaf Thorson (or
Thorsen), a full brother of Andrew.
My
mother, Anna Haugan Barr, had a female
Thorson cousin at Brooten.
contact with those relatives.
I would
like
I'm going to change my name slightly (also on
the alum roster at Bemidji State University),
hoping it will attract someone with roots near
Brooten, MN.
Sincerely, Verna Haugan Barr Haines
1630 Greenmound St, Rockford, IL 61107
Daniel Lie, Hokksund, Norway, again sent two
hardcover gift books to the Somdahl home in
time for Christmas.
Volumes II and III of
Eiker's history will be available for use at
genealogy sessions at 7 Lag Stevne.
Check
both RME and Sigdal tables at Wahpeton
because Lie, who has roots in both areas,
began sending
publications
in the
early
1980s.
He is delighted that these resources,
published
by
0vre
og
Nedre
Eiker
municipalities, will be accessible to everyone.
Volume II, Sigden og Sagbladet by Ole Georg
Moseng, shows how the peoples of Eiker
(eikvreringene) were influenced by living along
the river beginning
in the Middle Ages.
Development
of
water
power,
communications and food changed over time.
A period of growth, new clearing (of woods
for farms)
and central
organization
were
replaced by falling
population,
abandoned
farms, and self direction locally.
Beginning in
the 1500s, sawmills and mines also began to
provide livelihoods to the people.
Both
books
are
well-documented
with
illustrations and great pictures, many in color,
chosen by Bent Ek, photo editor.
Vol II is
349 pages and Vol III is 453 pages, including
excellent indexes.
Vol III, written
by Ove Bjarnar, is called
Elvekulturen.
The river culture and civilization
from the 1700s on presents changes in
society and economics with maneuvers and
readjustments necessary to thwart continuing
threats to the stability of the area after the
1885 division of Stor-Eiker to
'Upper' and
'Lower' kommuner.
Krodsherad's
.'-.---
Living Landmark Reaches 80th Year
The editor presents this translation of a newspaper column, "My Day" initialed by N.D. which ran last
September to honor Ingvald Granum, longtime ordforer and later rtJdmann.
He is now Sigdalslag's only life
member, and we thank him for his interest and support of our lag. Members of Sigdalslag salute you and
send our best wishes to this "towering personality under Norefjell", as the original news photo described him.
birth certificate doesn't determine whether or
not one can take a stand for the common
good.
In line with this he has always
supported Villa Fridheim, the "dearest child"
of his advancing years.
"Gammel mester i uvacer og mildt sus" (The
old master in storms and mild breezes) was
the
headline
Drammens
Tidende-Buskerud
Blad used when Ingvald Granum was 70
years old.
Like the official
"Den gamle
mester", the ancient oak tree at the minister's
farm near Olberg Church, he has also been a
landmark in Kradsherad.
His 80th birthday
was Wednesday, September 28.
The clouds of veneration
are gone.
But
certainly
not
the
track
of
(Granum's)
footprints and his life's work; they absolutely
have not
disappeared.
And this
work
revolved around the public good in Kredsherad
for most of an extraordinarily active life. For
28 years he directed and put his own stamp
on community
development
under Norefjell.
Twenty years ago we wrote that no matter
how you looked at it, it was a fact that
Ingvald Granum had, to a high degree, been
the leader and 'point man' who accentuated
18 years
of
rapid
development
of the
Kradsherad community.
There is scarcely anyone today who could
doubt that Ingvald Granum deserves much of
the credit for present day industry cropping
up in the district.
The result of the work this
pioneer did in Kredsherad at the end of the
1960s has, in more recent years, had a more
positive outcome in the form of much lower
unemployment
figures in Kredsherad than in
neighboring communities.
Many marks of distinction
have come to
Ingvald Granum.
In connection with this we
name the gold service medal of H. M. King
Olav V. It was formally presented in 1981 by
Ragnar Christiansen, then the fylkesmann.
As usual, just before he cleared his radmannsdesk for good at administrative
offices in
Noresund,
he declared, undoubtedly in clear
terms, that he was not at all fond of the
much-quoted
and high~'-praised
"grassroots
politics" .
The "word" has always occupied Granum and
he is a master of expression in many ways.
There are literary contributions from his earlier
years.
He has pleased many with
his
countless oral tales.
He still putters with
words.
He has not avoided challenges.
Therefore he deals with his personal computer
with the greatest naturalness,
even if his
80th birthday goes by!
He added with laughter that initiatives in a
kommune are a solitary job.
Among other
things, one must pursue such activity, seeing
what needs to be done without asking.
"I
never yielded from the concept that the
system with the ordferer in charge was the
best organization for small kommuner. ,.
Kradsherad's
mayor
never
sat
on
the
sidelines.
When he retired 10 years ago as
the community's
top administrator,
Granum
laughed at suggestions that he perhaps could
come back again as an ordferer-candidate.
So far that hasn't happened, but he didn't
shun leadership tasks in the old local political
party for a short period.
It was, of course,
completely in line with his firm belief that the
*
At the editor's request, the Christmas letter
contained newspaper clippings and a personal
account
of the family
gathering
at Villa
Fridheim Sunday, September 24. About 75
people of all ages and generations
of the
family celebrated together--some for the first
time and some for the last time.
3
Genealogy Views and News
The Sigdalslag has received a gift from Leroy
Madson, Totenlag genealogist. It is a copy of
the Portland (NO) Diamond Jubilee booklet,
published in 1957. These local histories are
very valuable to genealogists, and this one is
especially important for Norwegian-Americans.
Portland was a Norwegian settlement, and there
are 55 names on my index of immigrants who
were at Portland.
Because of this book I was able to identify the
Peder Hagen who married Mari Skadeland. She
is mentioned in the Sigdalslaget-1941 book, but
insufficiently identified. Mari's husband was a
son of Peder Pedersen Etersprang and Gullaug
Torsdatter Haugseie. The family is listed in the
Sigdal bygdeboK 011 Kopseng. The parents and
younger siblings were on the "utvandrerslist" in
1870, but not Peder (Jr.). I have added him to
my index. Tor Svanaug & Anne were the three
children who came with Peder and Gullaug,
presumably they also came to Portland, but can
anyone confirm this?
In a biography of a Tollof Flaten I learned that
his son Carl married Guri Medalen.
There is a biography of Fingal Rugland, no
patronymic, no birth, immigration or marriage
date. He married Agnette Jahr near Northwood,
IA. They were in Portland in 1874. He had a
brother Stephen. Can anyone tell me if these
people .arefrom the Rugland family in Eggedal?
There is a good picture of .Ole Gundersen
Grandalen and his wife Ingebjorg Olsdatter
L0vlie and their family.
Helge Halvorsen Skadeland's home appears in
a silver wedding celebration picture in 1905.
The house is reminiscent of the fancy country
houses in Norway with atarge two-story portico
in the front. Helge H. Skadeland was married
to Anne Rugland.
.
The booklet is a very valuable addition to the
Sigdalslag library, and we thank Leroy for the
gift.
Another important gift came from member Paul
Larson of Osage, IA. He has sent us a copy of
the chronological listing of burials in Trinity
Church Cemetery, Decorah, IA. Again there are
Sigdal names. Paul is one of those who has
gotten involved in helping other SigdaI
descendants find their roots. He spends a great
deal of time traveling around northern Iowa,
searching out cemeteries, and talking to the
elderly people about their connections to Sigdal
families. In the process he has added much
information to the lag files, and has even
recruited some new members.
Some months ago Henry Berg of Portland, OR,
sent me a copy of Torgrim Redalen's articles
published in Langs Uigen, a Norwegian
publication from Numedal. I found them very
interesting because they challenge the here-tofore accepted connections in some of the
families in Buskerud in the Middle Ages.
Affected are the Gulsvik, Skfmore, and
Hvite/Kane genealogies. Particularly, the line of
Sigurd Bonde (Sigurd Bj0rnsen Gulsvik) looks
different from the pedigree constructed by Knut
Gulsvik.
I thought that I would do an article in the
SAGA, but after some consideration, I decided
that I could only think of 12-15 people in the lag
who might be really interested in these families
in the Middle Ages.
Instead, I decided to
translate the articles, and will send out copies
(about six pages, including charts) to anyone
who sends me postage stamps of $.55 for a
9x12" envelope.
There is also an article that was published in
Gjallarhorn, the genealogy magazinefor Vestfold
and Buskerud, written by Finn Wang.
It
concerns the Kopseng, Sund, Skj0nne families
and connections to Lrerdal and Hallingdal with
Narve Kopseng as the central figure. This article
is about eight double pages long. I chose to
translate Redalen's articles because so many of
you know him. It will be a long time before I
have time to translate Wang's article.
Persons having family history books published
are invited to consider gift books to the
University of Oslo Library in Norway.
You many address them to Faith Ann Sevila,
Norwegian-American Collection, University of
Oslo Library, Drammensvei 42, N-0255 Oslo,
Norway.
Have you completed a SigdaIslag genealogy
survey form? Pleasewrite and request one. We
especially seek the earliest ancestor leaving
Norway and the year of immigration to the US
or Canada.
Looking Back 50 Years To Museum Beginnings
by Arnstein lien
_
Written by the son of Carsten Lien, this article and another by Havard StfJvern, museum curator-director, have
been here translated by Marilyn Somdahl. They both appeared in Under Norefjell, Vol X, No.2, 1994. Lien used
newspaper accounts to reconstruct events of June 11, 1944, about the opening of the Sigdal-Eggedal Museum.
This is also found in the minutes of the museum, but look again at the dates. The official opening took place
July 29, 1945/ This year the 50th anniversary celebration will also occur July 29 (Olsok, the day of St. Olav).
In 1944 Norway was under military occupation,
and World War /I raged in all its horror on many
fronts.
Exactly
in that year the Norsk
Folkemuseum
(in Oslo) marked
its 50th
anniversary.
The gravity of the situation was
clearly expressed in the speech of jubilation as
the museum's director said: "We have, in this
night, to safeguard something that is becoming
more and more precious after some time has
passed, and the danger that something can
happen that is entrusted to us has increased."
The
same
year
Sigda I
and
Eggedal
Bygdemuseum was opened.
Along side this
opportunity
it was natural for the national
perspective to come forth. Reidar Kjelsberg who
represented Norske Folkemuseers Landsforbund
said it this way in his opening speech:
"We
have seen it all these years--that word· which
has fallen so matter-of-factly
before, but now in
a notable way becomes living for us. When
fedreland is mentioned now there is something
like warm rain running down our collective back.
Fatherland, home, history --these words give us
warmth, and when Bj0rnson speaks to us about
"mother Norway",
there lies some genuine,
original emotion in this.
Fifty years have passed.
In our part of the
world we live in peace and freedom.
The
concept of the museum has perhaps found
another meaning in our day.
We live in a time of swift changes, but it is not
possible to keep in step completely with new
things. We can feel the 'eed to go back to our
roots and fill up with the values that an earlier
generation created.
.
This year it's also 50 years since the SigdalEggedal Bygdemuseum was opened.
An old
number of Buskeruds B/ad brings us back to the
big day, June 11, 1944. "The weather Sunday
was ordered for the occasion.
The June
sunshine flooded over the valley's green fields
and well-kept farms, and a large Norwegian flag
snapped vigorously in the wind * over smiling
birches and over the museum buildings at
"Verkenstomta".
Nature's beauty, the old log
houses, the not-so-few bunad clad women and
the good words and peace that settled on the
whole
occasion
created
the
right
mood,
underscored by the national music that the
assembled group heard by people from the
Spellemannslag in Sigda I with Stubberud up in
front.
First, those assembled took a quick tour around
about the old rooms where many admirable and
enthusiastic words fell over everything old and
interesting one saw. And so they walked thick
and fast, partly outside, partly inside in the large
room in "Eikjebygningen"
with speeches, songs
and music.
School
director
Erling
Hoff
chaired
the
arrangements committee, and won recognition
for the program. Among those named as driving
forces in work for the museum was 0.0. Bakken.
"We'll stand now and applaud him today for
everything he accomplished," said Hoff.
Now we go back to Reidar Kjellberg's opening
speech:
What we have seen of the restored
buildings has filled us all with admiration for the
work that has been done here, everything is
competently done with forethought,
a warmth
and charity so one must take off our hat in
thankfulness.
And it is a great joy for me,
representing Norske Folkemuseers Landsforbund,
to be here and greet you from all of our country's
museums, large and small alike, and wish the
community good luck.
Everything here is so
"ekte" (genuine); it has the stamp of authenticity.
This will be a source of strength
for the
community, as the work to date is --and will be- pursued, that thought for equality and the
common good of home and community
will
prevail.
With thanks for what here is done, I
declare the museum open. May prosperity and.
good fortune follow.
Thereafter
Henning
Aisvik,
conservator
of
Drammens Museum, brought greetings: I believe
Sigdal and Eggedal Bygdemuseum
has all
conditions
to become
like a picture
book
(showcase) because it is rich in cultural relics.
Besides, the museum has a conscientious and
energetic leadership which understands exactly
how to approach the task. Not everyone has the
ability to bring forth the work as it has been donf
here in the valley. Not everyone has
Sigdal-Eggedal Museum Beginnings ...
perseverance and endurance to struggle through
difficulties.
Therefore we will all examine the
first, provisional result, giving the men creating
the museum fullest honor. And I will add that
it has been an undivided pleasure to work
together with them when contact was sought
with Drammens Museum. It has surely been a
certain and nearly intuitive response by those
demanding ones who make a show of museum
work.
The program continued inside "Eikjebygningen".
There Ole O. Reistad, chairman of the museum's
committee, thanked a list of persons who in
different ways had proudly contributed to the
work of the museum.
First and foremost to
Steinar Eken, Lars Gunnerud, Steinar Aasand
'D'ho gave the Eikjebygning, Berganstua and the
Asand cow barn, respectively.
Thank yous were also in order to "sigde/ingene"
Carsten Lien and Andreas MBrch for valuable
help, advice and deeds. M0rch said the idea for
a museum was not new.
Already between
1910 - 1915 Chr. Kopseng, then a teacher and
stortingsmann, began to advocate that the valley
should get its own museum.
Thormod Skatvedt, by writing his book· about
Sigda I and Eggedal, also stimulated interest in
community history. Skatvedt was permitted to
be at "Verkenstomta"
because he was in his
home district that summer for health reasons.
Skatvedt read some of his poems and was
thanked for all his work in the community.
Spellemannslag presented the musical portion.
Here's how "Buskens" reported the closing:
For
its own account, we will add that everyone who
took care of the opening ceremony for Sigdal and
Eggedal Bygdemuseum deserves all credit and
praise for its work. The day will stand for guests
outside the area as a rich experience.
We will
preserve the memory about a lovely day in one
of the country's most beautiful extended valleys
with a highly cultivated population, uniformly
joyous and enriched to meet each other for this
occasion.
Notes about the 1945 opening
by Hilvard Stovern
How one shall understand or accept the opening
is somewhat unclear. The last annual meeting of
the Fylkeslag where the sitting committee was
elected was at Solvang during the summer of
1941.
From April 19, 1942 and onward until June 10,
1945 the Sigdal and Eggedal Fylkeslag did not
have a form for actual meetings or activities. The
Fylkeslag stood as the owner of the museum and
the Fylkeslag chose the museum board members.
Sigdal and Eggedal Fylkeslag was a union of all
of the ungdomslag in the community, and it was
through initiatives from these groups that the
museum was founded. A proposal from "Tor" lag
came from a period when Andreas M0rch was its
leader.
This proposal together with clarification
from
M0rch that Stina og Steinar Eken were willing to
give "Eikjebygningen" to a forthcoming museum
in the community were important "bricks" with
which the foundation of the museum could occur.
The museum board had, however, functioned all
during the war.
The museum board passed a
resolution April 3, 1944 to choose a committee
that would plan the opening of "Eikjebygningen"
June 11 of the same year. Committee members
were Andr. O. Berg, Erling Hoff and Andr.
Pedersen.
Einar Thingelstad stands in front of the Eikje building
during its restoration.
The opening stevne was concluded with a party
for those invited in the Sparebank building.
More speeches followed. Sokneprest Gunnar B.
Thoresen thanked for the food.
Later in the
evening Carsten Lien lectured on the church and
the arts, and Andreas MBrch read snippets. of
his reminiscences collected from people in Sigdal
and Eggedal. Thorstein Eken, frk. Lombnes, and
At the first board meeting after the war, June 10,
1945 it was decided that Sigdal and Eggedal .
Fylkeslag's annual meeting should be held at
Prestfoss July 29, 1945 and that the official
opening of the museum should happen at the
same time.
With this background, it naturally happens that
Sigdal and Eggedal Museum's 50th Anniversary
celebration will take place July 29, 1995, (Olsok).
Krndsherad Offers Tourists Activities and Fantastic
Views
Pictures & text by Corrine Lesteberg Johnson
Kredsherad offers numerous activities in addition to its magnificent mountain and lake scenery.
It
is where Norefjell becomes a the winter destination of ski tours. The ski runs near Noresund were
the site of the grand slalom events at the 1952 Olympic Games, and they are popular because they
can be reached from Oslo in about an hour and a half.
Housing can be obtained at the Norefjell peaks in new cabins and lodges built mostly for skiers, but
used in summer by tourists.
Mountain hotels have fine amenities and the views are fantastic!
Last summer I visited relatives in Kredsherad again, but I found many other interesting
tourists and travelers as well. One of the ways to enjoy the mountains is on horseback.
picture
on the next
page shows
my relative,
Marianne Levas, with a group that spent six days
riding and camping on Norefjell.
Among the places
offering trail rides and horses for rent is a gaard or
farm on Rundskogen, near Noresund.
Your vacation could include hiking, berry
hunting or fishing.
Bring your camera!
places for
The large
picking,
What could be more refreshing on a warm day than
a lake cruise on the paddle wheeler, Kryllingen.
It
operates on beautiful Lake Krederen for tourists and
locals alike.
Many years ago people came by
scheduled
boat to Olberg Church or for travel
connections
at Krederen Railroad Station.
Glesne
and Veikaker Chapels are also near Krederfjord.
It's
quite a sight to see the farms flying Norwegian flags
or pennant,
vimpel --especially the famous old
Ringnesgard.
Or to look !ill at the Noresund bridge.
One of the imposing places can be revisited by car,
namely Villa Fridheim.
Little
more
than
a
decade
ago,
Villa
Fridheim
was
still
a
vacant,
neglected
summer
place
partly
hidden
among stands
of spruce.
Today it is
an
enchanting
"troll
and fairy tale castle" on
Bjer0ya, an island in Krederen.
Completely restored, this four-story mansion and tower has been
operating as a community center since 1986.
Artists are featured in changing exhibits along with
permanent displays.
It is a place where both cultural programs or family parties are held.
History buffs will find Arken Antiques satisfying.
This antique house in Noresund
tools and household items which are similar to those used by our krylling ancestors.
has furniture,
Ski Norefjell in Winter, but Enjoy Riding in Summer!
,Scandinavia !' TV Series
Comes to PBS Late May/June
Over
three
years
in
the
making,
the
production
first
advertised
as "the Viking
Project"
will
be
previewed
by
major
underwriters
and the diplomatic corps at a
special reception March 8, 1995 at the new
Finnish Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Final filming was completed last September in
Greenland and Iceland. ~/iewers
will share in
the adventures of all of the Nordic countries,
and there will be one "last push for funds.
Bygdelagenes
Fellesraad,
the
national
bygdelag council,
gave a small gift three
years ago. One of the 14 half-hour segments
concerns emigration to America.
Check local listings late in May.
Release of
the documentary to PBS depends on raising
roughly
a half
million
dollars
for
post
production bills and promotion, according to
Frank Frost, writer/producer.
Leadership's Common Touch
Environmental Challenges Design for Living
In the Light of the Midnight Sun
Family Life in Scandinavia
A Woman's Place
The Sea that Links Us
NEWSBITS
Cheers
for
TELFORD
ANSTEN now at Green
Lea Manor in Mabel, MN,
for rehabilitation following
hospitalization
in
La
Crosse, WI. After a slight
stroke,
Telford
had
difficulty walking, but he
is doing well now and
taking
care of himself.
The doctor thinks he'll be
able to go home in the
spring. He's even able to
be dancing. Those of you
who know Telford well,
know that this is the best
medicine of all.
"God
Bedring!"
Corrections from the last
SAGA:
Two other lag
with 62 and 61 had more
registered at La Crosse
than Sigdal's 60 (page 1).
You may be looking for
John O. HAMRE (page 2).
MARION MATSON had a
Christmas
letter
from
Torgrim Redalen, Kongsberg, Norway, in which
he related that he visits the new archives in his
city almost every Saturday.
LEE ROKKE's
Kredsherad Index is reported to be very helpful
to people researching in Buskerud fylke.
One of the exhibitors at La Crosse was Dick
Lucy, an Irishman who makes and sells sterling
silver jewelry as a hobby.
His wife Marit, a
native Norwegian, claims ancestry in Sigdal,
Ringerike and Numedal. She oversees the vital
statistics from Norway for the central family
library for the Church of the Latter Day Saints,
Salt Lake City, UT.
Here's what to read if YrN are artistic and wish
to have a sales display at Wahpeton:
Sigdal members
and others
interested
in
exhibiting and selling handmade items in the
Norwegian
tradition
should
indicate
their
interest, describing their work in a letter to
Roland Krogstad, 2718 Regent Street, Madison,
WI 53705 within the next month. Space is at
a premium
and everyone
wants to have
different choices of handmade items to buy.
Registration
materials
will
be
sent
and
applicants will be notified whether or not their
application
was
accepted
based on
(1)
relationship to Norwegian heritage and culture
(2) diversity
of products
(he's hoping for
weavers, painters, needlework, carvers, knitters
etc); (3) exhibit space available.
DUANE
ELLINGSON
is
president of Borgund 532
at Rapid City, SO. He was
featured in the November
Viking magazine because
his lodge hosted Sons of
Norway
dancers
from
Norway
and
then
a
Norwegian film crew last
summer!
Another SON
president
is
PHYLLIS
GREER of
Tioga,
NO.
SAGA's
editor
also
composed and edited the
SON
International
Convention Program Book
celebrating
its
100th
anniversary in Minneapolis
last August.
And both
lodges bought ads!
DOROTHY ECKHOFF really
is a country girl.
And a
great blonde hunter. BILL
LARSON BEKKESTAD sent
the picture.
She shot her
first bear, weighing in at
180 pounds, near Ackley,
MN, after a "patient 14
hours on her stand the second day of the
opening weekend of bear season." Are we ever
impressed! Congratulations!
From Florida the news that AL GRONVOLD is
making progress following major surgery is good
to hear.
May you gather strength with each
and every passing day.
Violinist Kristine Sandsbraaten wrote from a
new location, Alberta, this time. She keeps in
touch with great-aunt Ella Sandsbr~ten and the
cousins in Norway ever since she attended the
Seljord Folkeh0gskole in Telemark in -1991-92.
Her experiences appeared in the SAGA when
she returned to Saskatchewan.
Thanks for the
new address.
Friends sending obituaries for this SAGA were
JUNE
KJOME,
ROSELLA
GOETTELMANN,
CORRINE JOHNSON
and
Landing
Thelma
Johnson.
Members may also wish to send
historical material, old photos, or interesting
news about members to include as space
permits.
In memory of Helmer Dahlen
$10 given by Marion Matson
$10 given by Alice & Fred Mensing
IN MEMORY
SELMER JOHANAS HAUGLAND (March 5,
1914 - December 28,
1994) died at
Lutheran Hospital, La Crosse, WI, at age
80.
Funeral services were held December
31 at Trinity
Lutheran
Church
in
Spring Grove,
MN,
and
burial was in
the
church
cemetery.
Arrangements
were by Roble
Funeral
Home.
Born to John
and
Anna
Kvammen
Haugland
in
Black Hammer
Township,
Houston
County,
MN,
Sam grew up
in the
Spring
Grove community
and
graduated from high school there.
husband Ralph; by
Nelvin and sisters
Martha.
brothers
Sophie,
Henry
Anna
and
and
CLARA SKINDELIEN NEGAARD (March 14,
1906 - November 28, 1994) died at
Belgrade (MN) Nursing Home at age 88.
Funeral services were held December 2 at
First Lutheran Church of Norway Lake with
burial in the church cemetery.
Visitation
Thursday evening was at Johnson Funeral
Home, New London, MN, and at the church
Friday prior to the service.
Clara was
born to Sigvart
and Viel
Lesterberg
Skindelien In Norway
Lake
Township, near New London. She grew up
on the family farm and attended local
schools.
She married Edwin Negaard
October 28, 1930.
In the early 1950s Negaards moved to
California and then moved back to Willmar
in 1955. In the early 1960s they moved to
her parents' farm in Norway Lake Twp. In
October she moved to Belgrade Nursing
Home.
He never forgot his wedding anniversary
because he married Leva Solum March 5,
1938, his 24th birthday, in Spring Grove.
They farmed all their married life in this
area.
Clara has attended numerous stevner along
with her family, all of whom are Sigdal Lag
members. Her picture at the last Wahpeton
stevne appears on page 6 of the SAGA,
October 1994.
Many lag members got to know both Sam
and Leva well on the 1986 tour in Norway.
They have often
entertained
since at
stevner and elsewhere. Sam along with Sig
Bergrud and Georgia Rosendahl performed
the "Ola og Per" characters for the 80th
anniversary stevne in 1991.
She is survived by her husband, Edwin, and
by three daughters,
Rosalie and husband
Don Olson, Jean and husband Everett
Shogren, all of San Diego, CA; Beverly and
husband Jim Lundeen, Littleton, CO; six
grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
t,
The Spring Grove Valheimers were SigdaI
Lag breakfast guests at La Crosse last July,
with a performance following,
including
Sam and with Leva at the piano (see the
October 1994 SAGA). Not only the music,
but also the action and props in the skits
were important.
Survivors include his wife Leva, one son,
John and his wife Susan Haugland of
Spring Grove, ten grandchildren and two
great grandchildren and sister-in-law, Esther
Haugland, Caledonia. He was preceded in
death by a son, Donald, by two daughters,
Lorraine Houdek, Ingrid Ardinger and her
Grand Forks, ND
Marie & Olberg Hagen, Jr.
South Lyons, MI
University of Oslo Library
......... :.:;:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:.:
.
:-:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:-
••••
~~~
BYGDELAG
CALENDAR
Please keep for reference.
MAY
-
PART
I
Part II will be carried in the May SAGA
5. 1995 - FEllESRAD GENEALOGY WORKSHOP from 12:30 - 8:45 pm,
Transfiguration Church, 11000 France Avenue South, Bloomington, MN
6, 1995 - BREAKFAST/BRUNCH and the ANNUAL MEETING OF BYGDELAGENES FELLESRAD
Tickets by mail. Transfiguration Church, 8:30 am until 12:45 pm ONLY
0
MAY
JUNE 8-10. 1995 - NORDLANDSLAG meets at Days Inn, Superior, WI
Contact Donna Anderson. 715-392-9024, 1900 New York Ave W202, Superior, WI 54880
JUNE 8-10 • 1995 - VESTLANDSLAG meets at St Olaf College, Northfield, MN
Participating bygdelag include HARDANGER LAG. MORE og ROMSDAl LAG. NORDHORDLAND LAG.
ROGALAND LAG. SOGNALAG. SUNNHORDLAND LAG &. VOSSELAG.
Contact Zona Mathison, 218-233-4649, 1328 - 20th Ave S, Moorhead, MN 56560
Contact Dave Cross. 612-374-4563, 1016 Thomas Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55405
JUNE 10. 1995 - NORDFJORD LAG (85th Anniv) meets at Swift Falls Park, Swift Falls, MN
Contact Luann Williams. 612-721-7170,
4237 - 28th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55406
JUNE 15-18. 1995 - HAlliNGLAG meets at Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA
Contact Peter Gandrud. 218-751-4803, 2425 Washington Ave S, Bemidji, MN 56601
JUNE 22-24. 1995 - VAlDRES SAMBAND - meets at Arrowhead Lodge, Black River Falls, WI
Contact leland Pederson. 612-239-2356, Route 3 Box 226, Glenwood, MN 56334
JUNE 23-24. 1995 - SUNNFJORD LAG meets at Sawmill Lodge, Grand Rapids, MN
Contact Peter &. Pat Grimsbo. 4210 Highway 2 West, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
JUNE 23-24. 1995 - TRONDERLAG meets at Royal Inn, Montevideo, MN
Contact Clifford Hoff. 712-986-5337. Box 331, Canton, SD 57013
JULY 8. 1995 - SETESDAlLAG meets at Oklee High School, Oklee, MN
Contact James Avron. 218-222-3331. Box 30, Middle River, MN 56737
JULY 13-15. 1995 - 7 LAG STEVNE meets at NDSCS, Wahpeton, NO
Coordinator Chet Habberstad, (below) Pre-register with individual lag:
HADELAND LAG - Verlyn Anderson, 218-233-0685, 904 - 8th Ave S, Moorhead, MN 56560
LANDINGSLAG - Oscar Lund. 612-628-0323, 4057 Fairview Ave N, St Paul, MN 55112
NUMEDAl-KONGSBERG - Chet Habberstad. 218-826-6268, Rt 2 Box 158, Underwood, MN 56586
RINGERIKE-MODUM-EIKERLAG - Allard Stevens. 507-768-3424, Route 2, Granite Falls, MN 56241
SIGDAlLAG - Marilyn Somdahl. 612-831-4409, 10129 Goodrich Circle, Bloomington, MN 55437
TElELAG - Arnold Ness. 507-645-4086, 30195 Northfield Blvd, Northfield, MN 55057
TOTEN LAG - Borg Hanson. 612-835-3795, 5715 Mt Normandale Dr, Bloomington, MN 55437
MARILYN SOMDAHL, Pres/Editor
612-831-4409
10129 Goodrich Circle
Bloomington, MN 55437
DON SKADELAND, 1st VP
402-331-5906
10642 "0" Street
Omaha, NB 68127
CORRINE L. JOHNSON, 2nd VP
612-831-8637
4575 - 80th St Circle #202
Bloomington, MN 55437
LEE ROKKE, VP/Genealogist
612-432-9767
13465 Garden View Drive
Apple Valley, MN 55124
HENRY A. BERG, Secretary
1515 SE Clinton St
Portland, OR 97202
MURIEL HOFF, Treasurer
612-777-7395
3512 White Bear Avenue
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
DEB SHORTINO, Historian
315 - 24th Ave S
Grand Forks, ND 58201
Norskedalen Offers
Woodcarving Classes
Feb 18 & 19 - Becky Lusk, a
Gold Medal carver, will teach
classes in flat plane carving with
a realistic twist at Norskedalen
near Coon Valley, WI.
March 2 - 5 - Glen Sim~son,
another Gold Medal carver, will
hold classes in acanthus carving.
Interest has grown over the last
few years, and there are carvers
of good reputation today. Only
a few years ago it was thought
to be a vanishing art. A special
Sunday program is being planned
for carvers to exhibit and discuss
their work.
For further information,
call
Tammy at 608-452-3424 during
business hours at Thrune Center.
ROSEMALING
BY HANS WOLD, Amot
pa Modum,
Norway,
now includes this commissioned
wedding chest with the "Foss
rose" motif, (developed by Gulbrand Larson Foss in Sigdal in the
1800s).
Along with Christmas greetings from Hans and his wife
Olaug, he reported teaching several students who are interested in
carrying on the decorative traditions of SE Buskerud fylke.
Wolds attended the 1984 Sigdalslag stevne at St. Olaf College and
he has taught classes at Vesterheim Museum, Decorah, IA. The
"Foss" rosemaling design was also used on the large plate, Wold
was commissioned
to paint for Sigdal Lag by Sigdal-Eggedal
kommune in 1986.
RANTEN, a large oil painting by Wold from
Kmdsherad & Sigdal kommuner, was given in 1982.