VOL XV NO 2 MAY, 1995Serving Norwegian-Americans of Sigdal - Eggedal & Kredsherad Ancestry

7 Lag Announces Wahpeton Stevne Program - July 13-15Advance registration and dorm reservation forms for the 7 Lag Stevne July 13-15, 1995, to beheld at NO State College of Science, Wahpeton, NO, may be photocopied if you wish to keep yourSAGA intact. See page 11. It's time to make plans, coordinate calendars, and note the deadlines.

Chet Habberstad, 7 Lag coordinator, and Carol Toso, assistant coordinator, have announced thetheme, "Ever the Land", along with entertainment and programs for all registrants. MarilynSorensen, coordinator of the genealogy committee, has arranged presentors for family historyclasses Thursday. Finding the appropriate number of machines to read microfiche and microfilmrecords by over half of the registrants has been one of many reasons the 7 Lag rates Wahpetonhigh as a good place for a stevne.

With a registration fee of just $13, anyone cantake in activities--for one day or all three days.Wearing your badge admits you to all events(so please allow time to register!). Stevneguests (age 12 and older) may attend themusical programs Friday and the play Saturdayevening at $4 per person per program. *

Norwegian church records on microfilm areamong the main resources on loan fromVesterheim Genealogical Center, Madison, WI,and the seven individual lag have built upsubstantial libraries of bygdebeker, familyhistories, maps and other data. Bring yourresearch-to-date and copies, not originals, ofimportant papers.

GENEALOGY SCHEDULE - JULY 1309:45 am Registration Opens10:00 - 10:45 am Beginning Genealogy,

Thelma Johnson11 :00 11 :45 am Norwegian Immigrant

Process, Marlys Larson1:00 - 1:45 pm 1801 Norwegian Census,

Betty RockswQ/.~2:00 • 2:45 pm Reading 'Script, Jim Pederson3:00 • 3:45 pm Church Records, Dick Holter4:00 - 4:45 pm Oslo 'Passenger Lists/Boats,

Dolores Barron5:45 - 6:30 pm Paper Trails of Our

Ancestors, to be announced6:45 - 7:30 pm Family History Centers,

Leroy Madson7:45 - 8:30 pm Viking Kings, Eva Pearson

FRIDAY - JULY 1408:00 - 1 pm* Continuing Registration08:00 - 12 noon Genealogy08:00 - 6:00 pm Norwegian arts & craft sale

(Sale continues Saturday)09:00 - 10:00 amSpeaker or film10:30 - noon Speaker or film, repeated

For those not in the genealogy room, the film,"The Fabulous Days, 1925-1930", will tell andshow some of the events of that period.A second offering in the same time slot,possibly a speaker, is yet to be confirmed.

If you pre-registered, please try to pick up yourbadge before registration closes so YOL{ are notasked to pay again for the first stevne programwith entertainment:

MUSICAL FRIDAY· 1:30 PM*Bob Gustafson, Ft. Ripley, MN, will open theFriday afternoon program in the Cultural Centerauditorium with the 'call of the lur'. Theparade· of national flags and the individual lagbanners will be next, followed by Gustafsonwho also plays both lur and kohorn. You willcertainly not want to miss the headlineentertainers, Bill and Susan Goodman, who willpresent a Musical Variety Show. They haveversatile vocal and instrumental skills,delighting audiences nationwide.

CONCERT FRIDAY - 7 PM*This program, also in the Cultural Centerauditorium, will feature a concert by theWanderers Orchestra from Hamar and Oslo,Norway, a group of actors and professionalmusicians. Later on, Marlyn Westby willprovide music for dancing in the RedwoodRoom at the Student Center.

SIGDALSLAG SATURDAY - JULY 157:45 am • Sigdal Lag Breakfastlfrokost; 84thannual meeting and program follow. Advanceregistrations determine room size. Until 3:30pm - Our lag programs conclude.

5:30 pm - BANQUET, Student Center (p. 11)7:00 pm* - Per, Act III: "THE DAKOTAPIONEER" concluding drama ends in ND.1992 & 1993 programs featured Acts I & II.

City and Campus Maps for July 13 - 14 & 15Wahpeton, North Dakota

Register at #12(6th St N)

STEVNE MOTELSmap

Comfort Inn - Wahpeton(A)209 13th St S(701-642-1115)

Starlite - Wahpeton (B)Hwy 127 & S 11th St(701-642-6627)~.

Super 8 - 210 Bypass (C)995 21st Av N, Wahpeton(701-642-8731 OR1-800-800-8000)

Scotwood-Breckenridge (D)US Hwy 75 & MN 210(218- 643-9201 OR1-800-341-8000)

v"'~~e('o'"

tr>"v 08th Ave N.

Cbabinkapa Park offerslimited camping - 701-642-2811(The city owns & operates afine zoo for its size, too)

To FergusFell.

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I'm enclosing a picture as requested of members.. (Feb 95 SAGA).

We are going to Eggedal in April to take part inthe 50th anniversary of the Battle of Haglebu. Weare also taking part in the veterans' parade May8. Harold was wounded at Haglebu April 26,1945, in the battle with the German SS.

I believe the AI Gronvold you mentioned in theFebruary issue is a second cousin to Harold.Harold came to his uncle, Ellef Medalen, Barton,NO, in June, 1950. He came to Alaska in April,1951.

I have highlighted a paragraphfrom the 1949 booktranslation (below), identifying the two (HomeStrength resistance) people who were there.Harald Medalen was one of these; the other wasGunnar Bakke, who died in a car accident manyyears ago. Is there any way we could obtain acopy of the book this came from?

Sincerely,

s/Sigrid MedalenBox 352,Petersburg, Alaska 99833

Editor's note: In Sigdalslaget - 1949 is an account of the unveiling of the memorial stone at H~glebuin Eggedal, Norway. Reprinted below is the original (page 34) Norwegian text and the translation byRosella Goettelman, (column 2, page 9, of a 1993 SAGA):

"To staute H.S.-Gutter stod A:resvagt vedStenen, da General Hansteen greb Ordet og talteom hvilken enorm Betydning denne Kampheroppe hadde havt for Norges Frihedsverk-- oglod derpaa Dugen falde. Saa stod den der,denne vakre graabrune Sten tat av NorgesGrundfjeld, vrerdig og enkel, fragtet hid fraStedet hvor de ferste Skuddene faldt, medNavnene paa de dede hugget indo Da Dugenfaldt, satte Musikken i m!J,;f "Ja, vi elsker". Detvar et fJieblik man sent viI glemme. "

Two stalwart H.S. boys stood honor guard bythe stone when General Hansteen talked aboutthe enormous importance this battle had hadin Norway's quest for freedom. Then thedraped flag was allowed to fall. There it stood-- that handsome gray-brown stone, taken fromNorway's mountain-- dignified and simple. Itwas hauled here from the place where the firstshots fell, and now the names of the dead werecarved into the stone. Just as the flag fell toreveal the stone, the band struck up "Ja, vielsker dette landet". That was a moment onewon't soon forget!

Englishtranslations of the seven books publishedbetween 1914 - 1949 by Sigdalslaget are inprogress. Work began with the first book, butwe now report that it appears the first book tobe ready is Book 4 for 1932. That originalvolume contained 150 pages (slightly less than6x9" size), including the index. The new formatwill be 8.5x11" size and fewer pages.

Basic decisions on reproduction, bindings, andthe number of copies will be made soon. Pleasesend Marilyn Somdahl, president, a postcard orshort letter to tell us which books and years youmay buy, assuming costs are reasonable.

Sig Bergerud, Rosella Goettelman and the lateSam Haugland were translators. Diane Kirstand Lee Rokke typed manuscripts. Still-in-progress proofreaders are Rosella, CorrineJohnson and Marilyn Somdahl.

Genealogy Views and News

A special medal should go to Paul Larson,Cresco, Iowa, for helping "sell" Sigdalslag to aprospective member.

A letter of inquiry was sent to the North CentralIowa Genealogical Society. It did not contain aSASE, so according to their policy, they couldnot answer it. Paul recognized the name as aSigda I family, and answered it for them. Theresult of this work is that Davona Cook becamea member!

Davona Cook, Colorado Springs, Colorado, isresearching the family of Edward Winnor.Davona's detective work resulted in a birth date,and then I was able to determine that EdwardWinnor was actually Asle Trondsen Finnerud.

Edward came to the United States in 1861 withhis parents, Tron Anderson Finnerud and KristiGautesdatter Dybendal. They settled in RockCreek, Iowa. Edward moved to South Dakotaand went into the lumber business. He spentseveral years in Minneapolis as the president ofthe Winnor-Adams Lumber Company. His officewas located in the Lumber Exchange Building.It has not yet been confirmed, but Davonathinks that he may have been a member of theSouth Dakota Legislature.

Edward's brother Anders became a pastor inthe Lutheran church, and he used the name ofVinnor. His brother, Gunnar Winnor, was afarmer near Osage, Iowa. His sister Ingeborgmay have married a Jacob Snyder. We have notyet found information about his sister Gunhildor his brother Tron. If any of these names ringa bell, please let me know.

Our Canadian users have\/(ept our postage fundafloat this period. The mail has beenexceptionally heavy, but thanks to Kristine andJack, we are still in the black.

Kristine Sandsbraaten, originally of Niacam,Saskatchewan, has sent a gift of $10. Kristineis a descendant of Haakon HaakonsenSandsbraaten, who came to Canada in 1926,along with his brother Albert. They settled inNiacam. Haakon married Gunvor MargaretheHagen, Tynset, Norway. Kristine is theirgranddaughter, and we thank her for the gift.

The Sigdalslag postage fund received a $20 giftfrom member Jack Johnson, Omemee, Ontario.

Jack is a descendant of Jon Pedersen Kjernas,who with his wife, Anne Kaisa Nilsdatter, andfive children came to Minnesota in 1892. Theymoved to Duff, Saskatchewan, to homestead in1904. Thanks to great-grandson Jack for hisgift.

Tusen takk! Two publications were added tothe Sigdalslag library. Both can be examined atthe stevne in Wahpeton. Most recent is a largebook, The Glesne Family History: TheDescendants of Even Reiulfsen Glesne, 1774-1994 given by its author, John Lundquist,

Edina, Minnesota. Remember the interestingstevne presentation about Even R. Glesne lastyear?

Shirley Sampson, Hoffman, Minnesota, has senta booklet, "A Diary of a Pioneer Day Traveler."This diary was kept by Andrew (Anders Olsen)Anderson while he was traveling with a wagontrain enroute to California. It was translatedfrom Norwegian by Mrs. Clara Nordsiden andAndrew's granddaughter, the late Lyla AndersonNelson, printed and distributed it.

A daily record was made from Racine County,Wisconsin on April 8 through July 24, 1864near Nevada's East Walker River in the easternfoothills of the Sierra Nevada. There the horsesand mules being driven by the wagonmaster andunpaid "hands" were to rest four to six weeksbefore they could be driven over the mountainsand sold at a profit. There was little grazing inCalifornia due to drought.

Andrew's friend accompanied him on thejourney. His name was A. P. Anderson, a tailor,who would settle later on in Watertown, SouthDakota. They found ranch work "up in AntelopeValley" July 24, the same day they left thewagon train.

Andrew, the grandfather of Earl and ArvidAnderson, came from Norway with his parentsin 1840. They settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,where he grew up. He was a blacksmith, firstin Beloit and later in Cottonwood County,Minnesota. He also was a carver of woodenbowls and spoons, and he made a kubbestol toshow his family what they were like.

The booklet contains a picture of Andrew withhis creation, and a biography is found in thebook, Sigdalslaget - 1929.

Bergeruds Open Their HomeTo Welcome More Guests

Summer is approaching and if you plan tostay ~vernight in the area around Fergus Falls,there IS some news worth passing on.

After many years of hosting family reunionsor friends at a distance, Jim and SylviaBergerud have hit upon a way to do evenmore entertaining at their large countryhome.

Quite a few visitors came from Norway;many visited in connection with Sons ofNorway lodge activities.

"That's where we got this notion (to opena be:d and breakfast), and I supposeAme:ncans are as nice as Norwegians, "Sylvia was quoted as saying in TheResorter, Daily Journal, Fergus Falls, MN,last August.

Withtw? people in ~ six bedroom countryhome, Jim and Sylvia researched the ideaand advertised in the Minnesota registry forbed and breakfast establishments. Alllic.enses were obtained the previous fallWith the official opening during the springof 1994.

The official name is B's Bed, Breakfast andBakery, and it is located one mile west and ahalf mile south of the junction of OttertailCounty highways NO.1 and 110 about 11miles south of Fergus Falls. '

Guests have a choice of three countrybedrooms with double beds and shared bathin a century-old home surrounded by a groveof trees, rich farmland, and the pleasure ofnature's bounty.

Jim Bergerud's grandfather, Erik Hansen,befo.re he changed his name to Bergerud,applied for the land f~m President JamesGarfield in 1881, and Jim and Sylvia have thedocument to support 'this fact.

Their home is a place for Scandinaviantradition and family history in both furnishingsand decor.. G.uests ~ay use two fireplaces,one of which IS of fieldstone which containstwo stones from Norway, The mantle is a logfrom the log cabin where Jim's mother was~aised on the .Boe farm. Before that fireplaceIS a large split stone that originally was thefront step of their home.

Lorain Bergan, Wendell, MN, tipped SAGA offabout the new business, reporting that he can

attest to Sylvia's culinary skills because hehad been a guest there at Christmas time.

Both the Bergan and Bergerud families haveroots in Sigdal-Eggedal, and Jim's brotherChester was a lag officer a few years ago.The bakery is intended to provide the mainfeature of the operation. Besides the usualbreakfast items, some of the specialties are

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waffles, cream cheese filled French· toastsouffle, quiche, and (of course) caramel andcinnamon rolls. After breakfast when theguests are ready to leave, they will get a'sweet send-off'.

"What we'll do is fill their Thermos and sendthem on their way with a baked goody."

Reservations can be made by calling 21 8-736-4720. Dinner is also available uponrequest and Bergeruds will host dinner partiesof up to 10 guests.

Some of the events that draw guests include:Summerfest, .Fergus Falls, the third weekendin June; Flekke Fest, Elbow Lake, the firstweekend in August; Lake Region SteamThreshers Reunion, Dalton, the secondweekend in September. There are alsoweekend flea markets at Battle Lake fromMemorial Day to Labor Day.

Welcome New MemberDavona Cook, Colorado Springs, Colorado

SAGA Seeks Literary ContributionsSubmissions are welcome of member storiesor pictures for use as space permits.

ENLISTING YOUR COOPERATION:Lovoll Begins Research on Descendants of Norwegian-Americans

by Lee RokkeOdd Lovoll, the King Olav V Professor of Scandinavian Studies at St. Olaf College, Northfield,Minnesota, is undertaking a major study to determine what has become of the descendants of thent:arly 8~0,000 Norwegians who, between 1825 and 1925, settled i the United States. The studywill also Include how the 50,000 post-World War II immigrants have fared.

Professor Lovoll and his assistant, Terje Joranger, a graduate student from Norway, will be visitingNorwegiar:' bast:d organizations, individuals in their homes, places of employment, Lutheran and otherco~grega~lons, In ~rder ~o understand the current state of affairs among Norwegian-Americans. Theproject will result In a history of the post-World War II period into the 1990's.

JIM & SYLVIA BERGERUD - 218-736-4720Route 5, Box 61, Fergus Falls, MN 56537

Professor Lovoll is seeking assistance from anyNorwegian-Americans who are interested incompleting an initial questionnaire, which will becompletely confidential. the questionnaires willbe used as historical documents, and theinformation they provide will become part of acomputer data base.

This is an enormous undertaking, requiringassistance from the Norwegian-Americancommunity. Assistance is requested in locating,identifying and surveying people of Norwegianextraction. Several of our members havealready completed this initial questionnaire, forwhich we say Tusen Takk! More are needed,however, to make this project a success.

If you are willing to share information, pleaseask for a questionnaire to complete.(Questionnaires will be provided at Wahpeton orby sending a SASEto Marilyn Somdahl, 10129Goodrich Circle, Bloomington, MN 55437.)

Remember that all Norwegian-Americans areinvited to respond. Tell your families, friendsand neighbors so that they can send theircontributions to this project.

(Used with permission of the author who edits A VISENwhich first published the article in May, 1995)

C"g's BEDBREAKFAST& BAKERY

Elvera Bisbee & Viola KnottBid 'Velkommen til hytta'!

A troll stands guard at Nordgaard Hytta. Butsurely you will come to visit on a warm, sunnyday when it is too bright for him to see you.

All good Sigdalslagfriends are invited to see the10 foot by 14 foot cabin built in June 1994 anddecorated inside in the Norwegian traditon withtreasured rosemaling motifs. Viola was theowner and apprentice and Elvera the masterartist/teacher; together they worked in tandemwith the terms of the Minnesota Folk Arts Grantawarded during 1994.

The objective was to learn and to pass on todescendants the ethnic tradition of rosemalingand the painting of folk figures and scenes. Theartists hope guests will find some of the delightthey took in their work.

Open HouseHours: June 24 - 10 am to 5 pmSunday,June 25 - noon to 5 pmSaturday,July 1 - 10 am to 5 pm

Location:From US Hwy 14 between Tracy and WalnutGrove, MN: 3 miles north on Co Road 8; theneast 1/2 mile on gravel road to farm. ORFrom MN Hwy 19 between Marshall andRedwood Falls: 3 miles south on Co Road 8 to

Milroy andcontinuesouthanother 9 miles; theneast 1/2mile to the Knottfarm.

Pastoral scenes withtrolls or mountains orwaterfalls find their placealong with treasuredfamily furnishings. Achina cupboard,a hearth,and skates from Swedenall give clues about thepeople using this space.So prized and cozy andartistic-- Congratulations!

Talented Musicians Provide Incentive to Arrive Early FridayYou may have heard BILL and SUSAN GOODMANperform previously because they have entertainedat many of the events that Scandinavians attend --twice at Nordic Fest at Decorah, the Syttende Mailuncheon in Minneapolis, Minnekirken of Chicago--to name just a few.

They have lived and performed in Europe, includingNorway, as well. Hailed by a Norwegian critic as"one of America's leading sopranos", Susan hadthe opportunity to study with Elvira de Hidalgo inMilan and with Arrigo Pola, who also taught MariaCallas and Luciano Pavarotti, respectively. Amongher many musical theatre and operatic roles duringeight years residence in Switzerland, she hasperformed in concerts and with opera companies inZurich, Bern, Basel, Vienna, Luzern and Geneva.

Like her husband, she plays clarinet along withpiano, organ and synthesizer. Besides a master'sdegree in voice performance from NorthwesternUniversity, she has training in ballet, jazz andmodern dance and is fluent in foreign languages.

What's more, Susan Wold Goodman was born inLa Crosse and raised near Spring Grove,Minnesota, where she grew up with the specialcultural traditions of a Norwegian community.

Married 12 years ago, Goodmans frequentlyperform in the Midwest, but increasingly venuesinclude Florida, Chicago or Arizona.

Bill spent five years in Trondheim as a psychologist at the School for the Blind, and learned tospeak the language fluently. He took part in the TrondheimMarching Band and was solo clarinetistin the U.S. Marine Band,though he doubles onsoprano saxophone, alto J

saxophone and drums. Hisrich baritone voicecomplements his wife's forthe wide variety of beautifulmusic and interesting talk--including Norwegian--t4rttyou will hear. You'll wantto arrive Friday in time toregister. before the programbegins!

Performing in concert atStearns Cultural Center at 7pm Friday, THE WANDERERS ORCHESTRA will feature a variety of instrumental and vocalselections. Coming from Hamar and Oslo in Norway, this foursome have engagements in threestates as they entertain on their eighth concert tour in the United States this summer.

You'll hear English songs, Norwegian ballads, and modern and old time dance tunes interspersed_ with the comic banter popular on Norwegian television and radio. (continued on next page)

u.s. 99th Infantry Holds 50-Year ReunionAs the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Norway is remembered, modern readers should know about these men.

Observing the 50th anniversary of V-E Day,May 8, 1995, were European survivors whoremember occupation forces and the efforts ofthose--living and dead-- who devoted their livesto freedom during World War II. Of thoseremembered, the 99th Infantry BattalionSeparate of the U.S. Army was especiallyhonored.

The 50th Battalion reunion will be held inDenver this August. For further informationcontact John Christopherson, 1391 S. VrainWay, Denver, CO 80219-3719 or telephone303-935-9257.

The Allies' policy was to first secure victoryover the Axis powers in Europe, includingGermany and Italy, before pressing for victoryover Japan. One strategy was to give specialassignments to soldiers with foreign languageskills. Therefore, people with emotional andmotivational family ties could help liberatehomelands of their parents or grandparents fromFascism.

Fluency in Norwegian was a requisite to servein the 99th Battalion, organized in May, 1942.Special relationships with both the UnitedStates and Norway existed because this was abattalion of Norwegian nationals and Americansoldiers intended to serve as part of the UnitedStates Army from the beginning. It wastransferred to the OSS, the Office of StrategicServices, which was responsible for clandestinewartime operations.

Camp Ripley, Minnesota, was chosen as thetraining site for 1000 men, and they undertookperhaps the toughest commando preparationsever given for winter conditions. Wintersurvival techniques, skiiing, mountain climbingand mountain combat were added to the basicinfantry skills. In August, 1943, training movedto England and Wales. This unit shipped outJune 17, 1944, for tM invasion in France,fighting in Normandy & Northern France, theRhineland, Ardennes; Alsace, Central Europe,and Norway. A select group took part inOperation Rype (named for the ptarmigan)whose mission was to destroy German railroadtraffic in Norway.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt inspectedthis unit, and Britain's Winston Churchill andU.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower discussedits mission several times. Conjecture was thatNorthern Norway might be liberated before thesouth and a temporary capitol would beestablished at Trondheim.

Norwegian security forces. When hostilitiesended on the European continent, the 99th wasdispatched to Oslo, arriving May 29, 1945. Itsmission was to disarm the German occupationforces--over 350,000 strong-- and to send themback to Germany.

When King Haakon returned to Norway June7, 1945, the nation was again free and thework of the 99th Battalion--the smallestindependent infantry unit of the US. Armyduring World War II -- was finished.

It was attached to First Army Headquarters,but was previously assigned to variouscombat divisions. In a total of 101 combatdays its personnel won 15 Silver Stars, 20Bronze Stars, 307 Purple Hearts, and 817Combat Infantry Badges.Source: News of Norway, May 1995

Evening ProgramsAppropriately named, the WANDERERS whoperform in hotels, theaters, pubs and cruiseships, are trained actors as well as musicians.They have cut five LP records. Their largestaudience in this country was 90,000 at theNorth Dakota State Centennial in Bismarck andalmost that many attended the 1991 NorskHestfest, Minot, ND.

nDakota Pioneer" Follows BanquetFollowing the festive banquet 5:30 pmSaturday at the Student Center, the eveningprogram moves to the Stern Cultural Centerat 7 pm for PeT, Act III, "Dakota Pioneer".E. Palmer Rockswold, whose original book isnow in its eighth printing, served as thedramaturge for this new work with CharlesSorum directing. PeT is loosely based onhistorical events in the Rockswold family.Rockswold, a retired educator, was previouslyHadeland Lag president and well known to 7LAG audiences.

The cast includes young people from PelicanRapids High School who have performed ActsI and II at previous stevner in Wahpeton in1992 and 1993.

From the circumstances in Norway that ledpeople to emigrate through the personalhardships of separation, the US immigrant,personified by "Per", experiences thehardships and hurdles as well as theopportunities the new country offers. Act IIIbrings the action to the prairie land.

NEWSBITSTwo prospective members will receive thisSAGA from return postcards via Sons ofNorway forwarding to the Fellesraad. Theyalso indicated interest in Sigda I Lag on thatcard. Each lag got a complete record of suchqueries during the past year at the May 6annual meeting. Welcome! We hope you willobtain memberships and/or consider attendingthe 7 LAG stevne at Wahpeton or our 85thanniversity stevne to be held July 11-13,1996, at Waldorf College, Forest City, IA!

Those finding no current lag for their area ofancestry may consider attending a "neighborlag" whose genealogist may assist them--(call Marilyn Somdahl). They may also bereferred to Blaine Hedberg, VesterheimGenealogical Center, 415 W. Main, Madison,WI 53703.

About 200 names of people possiblyinterested in additional bygdelag in Hedmarkhave been collected. People from 0sterdal,Hedemarken & Hamar, and Odalen & Vingerare invited to meet August 18-1 9, 1995 inMadison, WI, which also holds its 2ndScandinavian festival that weekend. Send aSASE to Roland Krogstad, 2718 RegentStreet, Madison, WI 53705. Or speak tohim at Wahpeton--he's chairing the salesdisplay.

CORRINE JOHNSON has become a celebritylately. Her picture and another of SIDNEY &LOIS RAND, taken at the SON Centennialdinner, appeared in Mp/s/St.Pau/ magazine.She celebrated a very important May birthdayand she and MURIEL HOFF were delegates tothe Fellesraad breakfast meeting. Othersattending were JOHN LUNDQUIST, RMEdelegate NARV SOMDAHL, secretary EUNICE

HELGESONandMARILYNSOMDAHL,re-electedFellesraadpresident.

Marie Mosal, Edina, andCorrine in her Kredsheradbunad.

LEE ROKKE,Corrine,John andMarilyn alsoattended theMay 5FellesraadGenealogySeminar(now in its6th year).

Presentors included Odd Lovoll, professor atSt. Olaf College, Northfield, MN; MariannTiblin, Scandinavian bibliographer at U of M'sWilson Library; and Barbara Oestreich, agenealogist who tracks hard-to-find-immigrants in the US and Canada.

KEITH ENGER has been organizing an Engerfamily reunion to be held at Spring Grove,MN, this July 28-29-30. That is also NordicFest at Decorah, IA. EVELYN O'CONNORJONES graciously verified the information byphone. Her cheerfulness belies her fight forlife and breath. She has an oxygen tank athome and welcomes meals-on-wheelsweekdays. Time is short, she says. Perhapsa brief letter or note from a Sigdal Lag friendremembering the laughter and good timestogether -- (via the mailman this week)--might let her know we applaud her courageand send our best thoughts.

NORWAY DAY will be July 9 at Hwy 55 andMinnehaha Parkway, Minneapolis. A worshipservice at 10 AM precedes the children'sparade. Sale of Norwegian arts & crafts andentertainment includes the KillingbergOrchestra from Leksvik, Norway.

News clippings about members are alwayswelcome. Thank you to RUTH KJOME forthe last issue and to LORAIN BERGAN now.

Members may also wish to send historicalmaterial, old photos, or interesting newsabout members to include as space permits.The lag would also like recent snapshots orhead and shoulders pictures of all newmembers along with a completed genealogyform available from Lee Rokke.

How exciting to be a published author!ROSELLA GOETTELMAN's story about hergreat-grandfather, Ole Myran, was selectedfor inclusion in an anthology called, My Folksand the Land of Opportunity. Sponsored byCappers magazine, the short story contestawarded each author a copy of the book inwhich their story appeared. (A picture isforthcoming) .

Rosella reports that her brother, TELFORDANSTEN, is now back home at his ruralDecorah farm. "He looks (good)-- just thesame as always, but he is giving up longdistance driving," she writes. Do we need tohear from someone with passenger room thatis planning to drive to Wahpeton from Iowa??

VELKOMMEN TIL 1995 STEVNER

JUNE 8-10. 1995 - NORDLANDSLAG and BAIKI meet at Hotel Androy, Superior, WIDonna Anderson. 715-392-9024, 1900 New York Ave W202, Superior, WI 54880

JUNE 8-10 • 1995 - VESTLANDSLAG meets at St Olaf College, Northfield, MNSponsoring bygdelag include HARDANGER LAG. M0RE og ROMSDAL LAG, NORDHORDLAND.

ROGALAND LAG. SOGNALAG. SUNNHORDLAND LAG & VOSSELAG.Zona Mathison, 218-233-4649, 1328 - 20th Ave S. Moorhead. MN 56560Dave Cross. 612-374-4563. 1016 Thomas Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55405

JUNE 10, 1995 - NORDFJORD LAG meets at Swift Falls Park, Swift Falls, MNLuAnn Williams, 612-721-7170. 4237 - 28th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55406

JUNE 15-18, 1995 - HALLINGLAG meets at Pacific Lutheran University. Tacoma, WAPeter Gandrud, 218-751-4803. 2425 Washington Ave S, Bemidji, MN 56601

JUNE 22-24, 1995 - VALDRES SAM BAND meets at Arrowhead Lodge. Black River Falls, WILeland Pederson. 612-239-2356, Route 3 Box 226. Glenwood. MN 56334

JUNE 23-24, 1995 - SUNNFJORD LAG meets at Sawmill Lodge, Grand Rapids. MNPeter & Pat Grimsbo. 218-326-1012, 4210 Highway 2 West. Grand Rapids, MN 55744

JUNE 23-24. 1995 - TR0NDERLAG meets at Royal Inn, Montevideo, MNBernice Oellien, 612-752-4757. RR1 Box 28, Madison, MN 56256

JULY 8, 1995 - SETESDAL LAG meets at Oklee High School, Oklee, MNJames Avron, 218-222-3331, Box 30, Middle River, MN 56737

JULY 13-15. 1995 - 7 LAG STEVNE meets at NO State College of Science, Wahpeton, NOCoordinator Chet Habberstad, (below) Pre-register with individual lag:HADELAND LAG - Dean Sorum. 218-233-1617, 1702 - 16th Street S, Moorhead, MN 56560LANDINGSLAG - Marj Wills. 612-489-7652, 66 E. Larpenteur Ave, St Paul, MN 55117NUMEDAL-KONGSBERG - Chet Habberstad, 218-826-6268, Rt 2 Box 158, Underwood, MN 56586RINGERIKE-MODUM-EIKER - Cliff Thompson, 612-929-9695, 5252 Richwood Dr, Edina, MN 55436SIGDAL LAG - Muriel Hoff, 612-777-7395, 3512 White Bear Ave, White Bear Lake, MN 55110TELELAG - Sue Hanson, 612-835-3795, 5715 Mt Normandale Drive, Bloomington, MN 55437TOTEN LAG - Helen Ann Nelson. 612-765-2558, 308 W. Walnut Street, Sacred Heart. MN 56285

AUGUST 5. 1995 - NORDFJORD-WIS, meets at Sugar Creek Bible Camp, near Ferryville, WIJacob Vedvik, 608-734-3192, RFD 1 Box 17, Ferryville, WI 54628

AUGUST 5-6, 1995 - SOGNEFJORD LAG. meets at Clinic View Inn, Rochester, MNCharles Hulsether, 60~-734-3095, Mt. Sterling, WI 54645

AUGUST 17-19, 1995.- GUDBRANDSDAL-NATIONAL meets at Royal Inn, Montevideo, MNBetty Strand, 612-571-1831, 2345 Fairway Drive, Columbia Heights MN 55421

SEPTEMBER 14-16, 1995 - SOL0R LAG meets at Comfort Inn, East Grand Forks. MNBernell Bachmeier, 701-780-2721, 749 S. 30th St #129, Grand Forks, NO 58201

SEPTEMBER 23. 1995 - AGDER LAG meets at Blue Mound Inn, Luverne. MNRosa Tofteland Johnson. 507-283-4205, 119 E. Barck, Luverne, MN 56156

SEPTEMBER 28-30, 1995 - ROMERIKSLAG meets at Victorian Inn. Hutchinson, MNEvelyn Krigsvold, 715-835-8718, 2830 - 13th Street, Eau Claire. WI 54703

Inquire at least ONE MONTH prior to each event

Sponsored by Bygdelagenes Fel/esraadPromoting ancestral Norwegian origins & regional cultural traditions since 1916

My/Our names ~-~~~--------Phone __(for badges)

REGISTRATION (Thurs/Fri/Sat - one or three days)*Genealogy *Sales Exhibits *Meeting Rooms

$13 per person*Entertainment & Programs

PROGRAMS ($4 each) 1:30 PM FRIDAY 7 PM FRI 7 PM SAT TICKETS(fNL Y for the public and guests not registered, age 12 & older

TOTAL ENCLOSED $ _

PER MEAL COSTS/HOURS: Breakfast, 6:30-8 AM @$2.75; Noon, 11 AM-1 PM @$4.00; Supper:4:30-5:30 PM @$5.00 HOW MANY MEALS WILL YOU EAT AT THE CAFETERIA:

Breakfast: Thurs Fri Sat (w/Sigdal Lag: 7;45 AM)Noon meal: Thurs Fri --SatSupper: --Thurs --Fri BANQUET

Send no money, but PLEASE EST7MlfiE WHICITlflfFALS YOU WILL EA TAT NDSCS STUDENT CENTER.

MAIL FORM ON OR BEFOREJUNE 28, 1995 with check payable to SIGDAL LAG to

MURIEL HOFF, Treasurer; 3512 WHITE BEAR AVE, WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN 55110

~ State Zip Phone _City

NORDGAARD HALL, a high ~se dorm, has elevators and coin-operated laundry facilities. Since rooms are not airconditioned, you may bril)g a fan. The college will provide linens, pillow and blanket. A resident director will beavailable to check the occupants in and out.

$18.50 per night for DOUBLE ROOM

(DOUBLE) ROOM FOR THE FOLLOWING NIGHTS:

BY JUNE 28 SEND THIS FORM WITH A CHECK FOR THE FULL AMOUNT DUE. It must be RECBVED BY JULY 6.This is the last day cancellation of reservations will be honored and room fees refunded. PICK UP DORM KEYS ATNORDGAARD HALL.

MAIL FORM AND A TOTAL CHECK OF $ (payable to ND College of Science) TO

MIKE JOHNSON, Haverty Hall (phone 701-671-2194)North Dakota State College of Science

WAHPETON, ND 58075

MARILYN SOMDAHL, Pres/Editor612-831-4409

10129 Goodrich CircleBloomington, MN 55437

DON SKADELAND, 1st VP402-331-5906

10642 "0" StreetOmaha, NB 68127

CORRlNE L. JOHNSON, 2nd VP612-831-8637

4575 - 80th St Circle #202Bloomington, MN 55437

LEE ROKKE, VP/Genealogist612-432-9767

13465 Garden View DriveApple Valley, MN 55124

\.HENRY A. BERG, Secretary503-232-6206

1515 SE Ointon StPortland, OR 97202

MURIEL HOFF, Treasurer612-777-7395

3512 White Bear AvenueWhite Bear Lake, MN 55110

DEB SHORT/NO, Historian701-772-0476

315 - 24th Ave SGrand Forks, ND 58201

Invite Someone Else To The7 LAG STEVNE - JULY 13-15ND College of Science, Wahpeton, North Dakota

Sponsored byTOTEN LAG - TELELAG - SIGDALSLAG

RINGERIKE-MODUM-EIKER LAGNUMEDALSLAG - HADELAND LAG - LANDINGSLAG