Te1elagetLAND

TorEN

GENEALOGY-BIRTHDAYDRAW MEMBERS TO

PARTY7-LAG

NOR W E G I A NMEET JULY

MUS I C10 - 12

Over 70 members will attend the 75th anniversary --the birthday of Sigdalslaget--in NorwayJune 25-29. The founding took place on St. Hans, June 24, 1911 at Fergus Falls, Minnesota.Will you be a part of the celebration at Luther College July 10-12?GENEALOGY - Th/Fri: Excellent resources and genealogists will be available for all lags--Hadeland, Land, Numedal, Ringerike, Sigdal, Telemark and Toten. Weekday hours, 7:30 - 4:3UPM at Preus Library; (closed Saturday, but Lee Rokke will assist anyone in the Sigdal roomSat AM, upon request). Meeting room/rooms info at registration desk.DORM HOUSING - Send enclosed form + check to Luther College. ~ring an oscillating fan, ifyou do not have an earlier, reserved motel room. ONEOTA Coffee Shop (Student Union Bldg)is open 9:30 - 4 PM; (Sat. 10 - 5 PM). Per person prices/hours for Cafeteria full mealservice (downstairs): B= $ 2.25 from 7 - 8:30 AM; L=$3.25 from 11:30 - I PM; D=$5, 4:30 til6 PM. Bygdelags eat at the 1st time noted! 'fo avoid long waiting in line, Sangerfesterswill comprise the second setting.I: AnV ANCE REGISTRATION I Friday Evening & Banquet forms due to Don Guttormson JUNE 25!!

11:00 AM11: 30 AM

1:00 PM4:30 PM4:30 - 57 PM Option

7-7:15 AM9:00 AM9:UO AM

11: 30 AM1:00 PM

THURSDAY, JULY 10* Registration begins, Student Center Lounge

Cafeteria lunch or Oneota Coffee Shop* GENEALOGY - Marilyn Sorenson has organized your choice of 4 options,including Gerhard Naeseth's presentation #1. Coffee on your own, OneotaGenealogy sessions adjourns til 9AM FridayCafeteria Dinner - $5Sangerfest Program, Faith and Life Building - $4 per person

F~IDAY JULY 11Cafeteria Breakfast - $2.25 (Library opens 7:30!)Registration with Coffee & Cookies, Student Center Lounge

* GENEALOGY - Workshop/O~tions continue; Naeseth presentation #2.tiook~tore open 9 AM til 4:30 PMCafeteria Lunch - $3.25

* JOINT SLVEN LAG PROGRAM, inquire about location at registrationGreetings & Lag Presidents reports; entertainment from each lag

* Dorian Theatre entertainment, Center for Faith f, LifeProgram includes exerpts from Song of Norway

I': SEVEN LAG BUFFET BANQUET with $9 advance tickets Menu: Baked ham,meatballs, boiled potatoes, vegetable, relish tray, fresh fruit platc',wheat rolls & lefse, juice G crackers, salad, butter cookie:; t: ice'cream.Coffee, tea or milk.

I': EVENING PROGkAM (prep:tid with banqupt) Sin[';-a-lonp,;"Prp;;prvinr,OurHeritage," a filmstrip/ta-k by IBrrel lIC'nninp;,VestC'rheim cumtor;Norway trio - Skiaker/Gar.l'11,.jRand; CoffeE:'aftorward

(continued)

SATURDAY, JULY 12Cafeteria Breakfast - $2.25No Sigdal Business MeetingSigdal Lag Genealogy Assistance - Lee Rokke, librarian & genealogist(Meeting room to be announced Friday evening for Saturday use)

10 AM option - VESTERHEIM MUSEUM "Open House", downtown Decorah via SHUTI'LE BUSGuides, craft demonstrations, hospitality coffee - special (~) rate:$1.50 per person admission

Also options: Porter House, Vesterheim areaQuilt Show, Roberts High School gym, FRIISAT afternoon/evening

Lunch Your choice; bygdelags are served at 11: 30 AM at Luther cafeteria1:15 PM** HAPPY 75th BIRTHDAY PROGRAM - Welcome to new members. Hilsen (greetings)

trom Norway stevne participants. Bring a visual aid--a picture orfamily object-- that boosts your identity! Short musical/dramaticpresentations should be indicated on advance registration blank

'/:30 PM option: SANGERFEST GRAND CHORUS CONCERT, Faith & Life BuildingThis 50U voice program is comprise of 18 Norwegian male choruses.(Individual choruses appeared Thursday evening) Duration 1~ hourEstimated 9 PM concluding time. Cost: $5. per person

(note:Members depart for Norway about June 15 with variOUS return dates, some as late as July 9)QUESTIONS concerning food/room arrangements as well as "optional dowtown attractions"may be directed to Marilyn Larson, Summer Conference Coordinator, Luther College, Decorah,zip 52101. Telephone: (319) 387-1357. She needs the room reservation;---Don Guttormson needs the advance registration/ Friday evening form found e1sewhere~

VUL. VINU. 2

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Delecates LEe Rokke and MarilynSomdahl represented Si'gdal Lagi-i,:',';,\',,::.c,';,tt.he: i,:\nnu,,~lmeeting of,01,11 byc)dE~liJ,g,:;in the US. "T'hei'i'cmi,:';E' ur (ine;'ic",l,"e:-:hibit andGusiness session were held at. MNiii.,;,;tC\liC;;,llUoeiL,tv, f3t. F'<':lul.

i'-IcJI"C,~i,'ArlUl :'.;CH'I, Hadf,?larld Lag, wa~:;re-elected ccuncil president.L2ch lag will contribute $25",'iil'; UC,';, 1. 1v in E"dcl it i un to c:\nnualdues of $5 in future vears.

PI t CJu.;··.. [)+ t.I"1 r:~ c; (;:\1:) it 0 1 ~:~r" DLlrl d ~::;nd sculptures was ~onducted

1)1101" t.u lunel', i,:lt.C;\'lt-ic,;tL,ut.hc!ri:'\f'1:::1i 1,\1' 'C: h " F;~u':: ';;c~.l 1 F:~I-i d I C'?';! ~, 1';11-15(.I i. ;' (':' c: L (JI'-' • ':::p u I,: \:0:, ;:';I,b uu t:. I" E~C 01'" d!.';' r? ':;(;::'1'--v d t.:i. Dll •

F'FNJI"II f:3E Dr::TD NEW YCH~b::Tf-iLL SHIPS

{""1ER 1Cf-~C; I T'Y

ARF~I VE

I'm v E:£;;,vlLJ S I:::lJ Ivl·~JULY 4

"Promi se of f--imerica" e:,:h i bit If?i:'~VE!SSt. F'aul June 1. It mav bE~ ~~eF.~r--1inJune and Julv at South Street SeaportMusE!um~ New York, NY.

Nordic cultural events will beincluded in the Statue of LibertvCentennial, including the ships,CHF=<nH 1AI\!, F~ADICH an d SORU-iNDET ~ wh ic hwill sail in the Tall Ship F'arade July4.

(4 few ~:;ummer camp op€;!nirl(}~:;fcwstudving Norwegian language andcuI tur--e m,,~y e:-:ist, i 'f you <.:\I'·'f?1::Jf?b"jeenthE! ages 7-18. Write to Int.ernationalLanguage Villages, Concordia College,Moorhead, MN 56560 fur infurmation.

Skogfjorden, northeast of Bemidji unTurtle River Lake, offers hiking,soccer, rosemaling, woodcarving, norskcuoking & stitchery.

VOL. VINO. 2

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pg. 31.'JH6 HI Ul)(.)!._ L{\L:i ~3rC:\,'t',IL: F'f~(Jl.H'~~I"1 (Sample schedule--

subject to change)Winge fjord tour returns to Uslo this afternoon.Upti.rJn to tii\k(:~ in MIDSUI'II'IU~'Ei EVE CELI::lmnTJ.UI',L, Uyqduv.(Ctu;)ck n'£':~f.i;sagE?cEmter, HOTEL [lUI\lDEliEIt'\EN,Os.lo, fur'f,'pf.i!Ci. + ic!;;;r-E?gar'dinq <'\1'1 in v itat iem t CJ mE?et. NCJr-~"'E;:>(] 1 ,,1'\

NOREFJELLAGET members at the FOLK MUSEUM, Dygd¢y.)Fr"l2e day.BL'£.:;(pn:~pa:i.d in US) to Sigdi\l m::r'AfHS nUNU[liLII'IL,11at AM. Intermediary stop (7) may be arrg.Assemble at the townhall.Wel com<=.,iandor iE?ntat ion, Or"df!<.In?r-Havi::,\r-dNymDt-~f'l"Visit Sigdalsheimen. LunchTour" thE? lower part (::J+ "bygda" tel Vahnas chur-·ch.Aftengudstjeneste (church service), coffee servedH(::J%I: 'f i.~mi 1 i (;:115 p:i. c k up q LlE?S t f.5 ,:t t: S i q d a.l Un qd orn--';.,d'JI)u.lAssemble at Granli TrevareIndustrial visit & LunchLeave fr"om I\lEFAChristian Skredvig'si home, HnG(.:\I\I. Co++(,,:,'e.Sigdalslaget annual meeting, Eqgedal Bcrqstue.Kommunal middag, Eggedal BorggtueHost families & guests go homeAssernblf~ at f:::1~::Hte+os1f.ito r'ide musettJrltr<:d.nDepart Kl~ftefoss via KRODERKIPPENKrmderen Station: Welcome, Ord+~rer Gudbrand H01mrastf<are Waal(:,'?I~,t-'IC. Greetings by Fm club :-;< band mG~ll\tH2r-,:;Viewing a historic tree: Garnle MesterOlberg church - Examine jUbilee records; meet lav .leaderBJmrka - Re+reshments (lunch)(Veikaker chapel, if time permits)

Ringnes G~rd, a renowned farmstead.Tour & refreshments.Arrival at Villa Frldheim with Ingvald Granum, host.Tour and viewing of museum exhibitsMidday, Villa FridheimEvening F'ro(.;}r"amHost families and guests go homeFF~EE TII'1E -- pr-ivately arr-g to see/del what suit.:'£/OU.

Sigdal Museum. Bygdelag Day: meet the CulturalCornmi t teEi!aqd 8i gdal-Eggedal Bygdeungdomsl aget at tl'l if,;fair. DE?monsti-at.ions, small ql-oup t.our·s, t.1-;:r.dit.,i,ullaJnorsk ,foods prep~red and sold--about 4 hours of activities.Gather at Sarnfunn'iihLlset, 5i gdc.''\l's comrnun i ty <::81''','':'.(:21-+ or'FESTMOTE, the fe'iitival program jointly sponsoredby Sigdal & Kr~dsherad kommunes for host familiesand American lag members.Evening program closes. Heimreise.STEVNE CLOSES AFTER CHURCH SERVICES TODAYGudstjeneste, Holmen church, Prestfo5sI<:i•..·kekiiloff e of all owi ng at: Bor-qst:l.la,p.<:~rish h(::JuSL?

Private ludginq 8< t.ravel connections fu110w -fur-Iel +i::11e"I(."',115with host families.CHARTEr:;: M(JrOF:;:CO("~C:H wi]c·~" .. pick up p..as~;;E!Dl;.It:·)r-,7,,> buund forDrammen and Oslo.

LILLEHAMMER HOLDS2 nd ANN U A L F EST I V A LJ U N E 1 - A U GUS T 3 1

Situated at the northern end of Lake Mj~sa, Lillehammer(pop. 22,000) hosts Americans as well as people of Norwayfor the second yearly festival dealing with emigration. Itis 180 km north of Oslo, and Americans are able to use thearchives, enjoy concerts, dancing or lectures. From Sunday,June 29 - July 4 th some of the highlights: a Bunad Paradewill be July 2 and the Fourth of July will have a Norwegianflavor! This huge troll with his pine tree-staff will say,"Velkorrmen."

Maihaugen: also called The Sandvig Collections, is a very specialopen-air museum founded in 1887 by a dentist named AndersSandvig. It displays an extraordinary collection of 120 buildingsfrom various parts of Gudbrandsdalen and Lillehammer. In thesummertime there are traditional handicrafts being practiced insome of these old dwellings. The museum also has a collectionshowing the history of old handicraft techniques.

Malerisamlingen: or Lillehammer Art Museum, houses a collection of 19thcentury paintings and among them are several national treasures. There is alsoan important collection of art from our own century.

Norsk Kjereteyhistorisk Museum: in English called The Norwegian Museumof Historical Vehicles, is Norways first and only museum of its kind. It is a livingmuseum where the first vehicles and wagons up to the automobile of today, areall placed in their proper environment.

Hunderfossen Lekeland: the latest tourist attraction in Lillehammer, where theworlds largest Troll guards the entrance to a fairytale cave. In this Hall of theMountain Kings you will meet Askeladden - the Ash Lad, Den syvende far Ihuset- The Seventh Father of the House, Prinsessen som ingen kunne malbinde -The Princess who always had to have the last word. In other words: Norwegianfairytales come alive before your very eyes!

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. ,j'" r 'S::Our main purpose is tostrengthen family ties andfriendship between our twonations.We wish to show you themodern country of todayand what Norway was likeat the time of emigration. Our main

street has low woodenbuildings. many datingfrom around the turn of thecentury. Today they housemodern stores for yourshopping convenience.Lillehammer is a wintersports area of renown andthe town is a strongcandiate for the 1992Olympic Winter Games.But it is also a natural for afestival like NorwegianRoots.

REVISED DAILYstevne itinerarywill reach membersbound for Norway inthe next (final) letter.

'host family'--remember that when youinformation is disclosed when guests

Do not be alarmed if you have not heard from amay have hosted groups (choirs or bands), thisare to be picked up!

The names HAGEN and SCHMIDT don't seem to have much in common, but the SAGA provedthey did. Kay Schmidt of Rochester, MN. read a letter in the SIGDALSLAG SAGA issue ofFebruary 1983 about an American officers trips to Eggedal in 1945. Being an amateurgenealogist, she saved the issue because of the similarity of names and places where herancestores had lived. In 1':arch1985 she wrote to that officer, George T. Hagen ofThurmont, Yaryland, also an amateur genealogist. Resulting correspondence revealed thatKay and George have a common ancestor--TORSTEIN TOLLEVSEN--born 16 died 1774. Tracingthrough names like Tollevsen, Torsteinsen, Halvorsen, Olsen, Eriksen, Jonson, and placessuch as Asand, Aasen, and Svartebrata only added to the fun.

VOL. VINO.2

THOl'lASI"EARNLEYTHE SUMI'1ER.'S NAME AT BLAAl<'ARVb'VORKEl'

The romanticist of the Golden Age, Thomas Fearnley, will be the summer's nameat Blaafarvevorket in Modum. Once again Tone Sinding Steinsvik, manager ofBlaafarvevorket, proudly announces a major exhibit, this time for one of our greatlandscape artists from the mid-nineteenth century.

No less than eighty oil paintings and forty drawings and watercolors by Fearnleywill be exhibited. The works will be on loan from museums and private owners inNorway and elsewhere in ~urope.

Thomas Fearnley was chosen because he was in his prime as an artist during thesame time period that Blaafarvevorket was at the height of its success in the 1840s.

"We think that many in the public will be amayed. Fearnley was very versitileas an artist. His work includes more than bleak recreations of Norway's wilderness.There are also many warm picture~ spawned by his innumerable travels in Europe, inwhich one can sense the blue mediterranean lined by cypress trees", says Tone SindingSteinvik to Norsk Telegrambyraa (NTB).

Lesser known works will now gain exposure and be shown in context of the continuityof his entire career.

}<'earnleywas often called "the European", the compulsive traveler he was. Hevisited England, Germany, Switzerland and Italy, allowing him to become acquaintedwith most of the trends in ~uropean painting.

This will be the third time Fearnley's works are shown in a unified exhibit. Thefirst time was a memorial exhibit in 1901 and the second in 1966, both in Oslo.

Sigurd Willoch, former director of the National Gallery in Oslo, will author thecatalog for this exhibit which opens 24 ~2Y.

Thomas Fearnley sommerensnavn pi BlaafarvevcerketGullalderens romantiker Thomas Fearnley blir sommerens navnpA Blaafarvev~rket i Modum. Nok en gang sh\r daglig lederTone Sinding Steinsvik pi stortromma med en kjempeotstilling,denne gang med en av vue litore landskapsmalere fra midten avlS00-tallet.

Ikke mindre enn 80 oljemaleri-er og 40 tegninger og akvareller avFearnley skal stilles ut. Bildene lA-nes ut fra private eiere og museer iNorge og Europa.

From NYTT fra NORGE - OsloVol. 32, no. 10, 10 March 1986

Valget bar falt pA Thomas Fe-amley fordi han hadde sin twydesom maler i samme tidsrom 80mBlaafarvevrerket hadde sin stor-hetstid rundt 1840-Arene.

Vi tror mange skal forbauses.Feamley var sAallsidig i sin mal-erkunst. Det er ikke bare de dystrefossebildene fra Norges skogersom er typiske. Like typ- iske eraIle de lyse bildene fra hans utal-lige reiser i Europa, der man kanrele blAtt Middelhav mellom trrerog cypresser, sier Tone SindingSteinsvik til NTB.

Bilder som for har vreet mindrekjent, ska) nAfram i Iyset og settesi en sammenheng.

Fearnley ble ofte kalt europe-eren, stadig pA reisefot 80m hanvar. Stedene var England, Tysk-land, Sveits og Italia. PA dennemAten ble ban kjent med de flestestf0mningene i europeisk maleri.

Det er tredje gang Feamleysbilder vises samlet. Fonte gangvar minneutstillingen i 190I ogden andre i 1966, begge i Oslo.

Tidligere direkter pANasjonal-galleriet, Sigurd Willoch, skalskrive katologen ti1 utstillingen,sam Apner 24. maL

VOL. VINO.2

KNOWN OFFICERS LISTED; SEARCH FOR HISTORY BEGINSVolunteers might wish to search for history along with translation ofNorwegian texts. Contact an officer1 if you may be interested, please.

(s e ere tar i e s)1911-1915 G. T. Hagen1915-1946 K. C. Kopseng1946-1953 Gunder Jacobson1953-1971 Anton S. Aasand1971-1977 Mrs. Selmer Skinnemoen1977- C. Eddie Erickson19 Doris Campbell19 Elaine Sch~lstad

editors: Martin T. Braatelien, 1914-1941_______eDtQQ_§~_B~§~Qd~_!212 _

(p1911--19121<"112-19281928-19:551935-1 <"1681968-191'7191'7-19821982-

res ide n t s)Anders "B. PedersenG. T. BraatelienCarlO. HagenTheodore Bjl2lrkaLars N. MohagenDonald H. Berglundl'1ariIyn SCJmdah1

Q. What's the Name? MIDSUMMER'S EVE - JONSOKAFTEN - EVE of SANKT HANSAnswer: all of the above

This vear the night-celebration is Monday, June 23. Daylight aboundsin northernmost Norway, the Land of the Midnight Sun, at this time ofv~ar. Summer solstice --the turning of the sun-- when days grow shorter,held great significance for our oldest ancestors, and on this date somemay be in church to usher in the birthday of John (Johannes --shortenedto Hans) the Baptist June 24, six months before the birth of Christ, whendays begin to lengthen.

"He shall increase, while I shall decrease" is taken literally.Almost all will experience bonfires along a coastline, often best seen

from a boat. Bonfires help "boost" the power of a sun which is going tobecome weaker as the days get shorter.

On this night the ordinary mixed with folk beliefs and Christianity.Fiddle music and food can be found. ~s custom has it, as long as thefire burned, those around it were safe from evil spirits. Witches andtroll folk had to keep their distance-- preferably they would fly to81akoll on a broomhandl e greased with bLltter to meet with "styggen", thedevil.

Many folk traditions were known. One is never to work on jonsok.Herbs were gathered for healing; future weather was forecast based onjonsok weathe-. Most of all, it is a day still well observed in Norwaywith merriment and a mystery of summer fullness before it diminishes!

f.:cg§§nt_Qf.f.t!;;§C§Marilyn Somd~hl, 10129 Goodrich Circle, Bloomington, MN 55437

UI"'villeRuud, 10709 Morgan, Bloomington, MN 554:';;;1Don Guttormsmn, RR2, Box 154, Spring Grove, MN 55974

~ee Rokke, 10409 Ewing, Bloomington, MN 55431Elaine S~hulstad, 16 Madison Avenue SW, Wadena, MN 56482

VOL. VINO.2

$6.00 MEMBERSHIPS and/or DONATIONS 1986IN ADDITION TO THOSE FROM OCTOBER 1985 & Fb~RUARY 1986 SAGA

2707 E. 18th Ave.4514 Lookout Mountain134 Merrie Lane616 Julii st.

Borud, GraceEllingson, Dorothy & DuaneGanzel, Marjorie & WilliamGimse, Mrs. JuneHagness, Thea & CliffordHanson, Anita & James (Rev.)R. 11 Box 970Hemry, Inga & Norman 4449 18th Ave. S.Kalloch, Eunice 417 Carlisle Blvd. SEKjome, Ruth A. 210 W. Grant st. #427Larson, Rev. & Mrs. ArtLarson, PaulLarson, RogerLillemoen, Ruth & Russell~Enolopoulos, AnitaMattke, June & Wm.Melstad, I'!larciePaulson, Thelma & ArlandPletan, Audrey & Rodney 7414 W. BroadwayRedalen, Joyce & Elton RR Box 110Risbrudt, Delloris & Glenn R. 1 Box 136Skjervem, Mr. & Mrs. Carmen 2774 Spruce DriveTeigen, Evangeline & Lyle R. 2Thoresen, Ethel ~ John 8307 Oxborough Ave. S.Gill, Adele 923 Lima Court NESkalland, Olaug Karin Haugerudvn. 82

Blume, Ilene & John R. 1

517 Mechanic St.P.O. Box 1216P. 0. Box 41524 Goethals39 W. Golden Lake Rd.R. 1 Box 57

HibbingRapid CityRacineWillmarFordvilleRapid CityJlhnneapolisAlbuquerqueMinneapolisBryantOsageCarmelWendellRichlandCircle PinesEdinburgMaddockForest LakeFountainDaltonCheyenneOsloBloomingtonAl;buquerqueN-0674 Oslo

Nicollet

MN 557463D 57702WI 53405MN 56201ND 58231SD 57702JlTI'J 55407NM 87106MN 55403SD 57221IA 50461CA 93921MN 56590WA 99352MN 55014ND 58227ND 58348MN 55025MN 55935MN 56324WY 82001MN 56744MN 55437NM 87123

6, NorwayrllN 56074

Having learned ~ the following deaths, we extend sympathy to the family and frieds of:Gudrun Eng, mother of our librarian, Lee Rokke. Gudrun's parents were Ole Bakken andr~rie Stinseth from Krpdsherad.Esther Rokke died in April, 1986; wife of Oscar, Warren, r~ and mother of member~vengelTeigen and siblings.]Virs.Lorain (Louise or Lou) Bergan of Wendell, IcNpassed away April 5, 1986."Bergie", daughter, Solveig (IJIrs.John Myott of I'linneapolis,Son, Stephen ofSD and one grandson, Chad, survive.

l{usbandWatertown,

VOL. VINO.2

Torgunn Granum wrote a delightful letter abouther experiences as a Norwegian exchange student thatwe share with SAGA readers. She arrived last Augustand returns to Kr¢dsherad July 2.

This January 8 she turned "big 18" followingwhat was probably her first Christmas away fromhome.

"Maybe I should tell why I wanted to come--the U.S. is the country of freedom, new opportunities,and today West Europeans are so much influenced byAmerica. It would be like "heaven" I thought--some-thing really great. It is a good experience: thelanguage, the people, the town (2,300), and learn-ing about the farmers economic problems. Everythingin Kinsley is based on farming, and that's scaryright now."

"It is not so different here from home. We areall people who struggle for the same things, and youeasily get into a routine. Now I realize that peopleare "just people" in the U.S. too."

"My best friend, Eli, now lives in Raleigh, NC.She is another reason I came. We saw a magazine about a schoolyear here. When I askedmy dad (Svein Knut Granum), he said, "If you can name 15 American states in fiveminutes, we might think about it!" Well, I did it. The AISE program did accept me andin May a letter came that said: 'Welcome to Kinsley, KS.' We couldn't find Kinsley onthe map and I hardly knew where Kansas was, but so far everything has been just fine."

She love~ to travel, looking forward to an April trip to Washington, D.C. Futuregoals include Australia and a U.S. return trip.

School activities--debate, choir, sports--and dancing keep Tory busy just now."I played (basketball) for the first time in my life. It was fun. When I became prettygood, the season was over. People in Kinsley are very nice. I was not the star, butwhen I went out on the court, they clapped and cheered. I will always remember the gameI made a freethrow--the whole gYm (roared). It is hard to explain (the feeling). Peoplereally give you support."

"Anyway now track is the big thing. I will probably run the 400 m. and 800 m.I'll try to do my best. That's all I can do, right? We still have track in early June,so we may not see each other in Norway. But never say never."

"My American family saw the VCR of Kr¢dsherad and thought it was interesting andvery beautiful. Kr¢dsherad is a lake--really a fjord in the middle and mountains around.I miss my family, friends and kr¢dsherad. I guess you know my grandfather, IngvaldGranum. He is busy with Bj¢r¢ya - Villa Fridheim and is getting ready for Sigdalslaget'strip in June. I want to go home, but in other ways I want to stay here."

You may write Tory: 915 Colony, Kinsley, KS 67547

VOL. VINO. 2

SIGDALSLAG SECRETARY/TREASURERELAINE (LEEGARD) SCHULSTAD

My sister and I were on our way to the Hallinglagbusiness meeting (My maternal grandfather was born inGol) at Grand Forks, ND in 1979 when our Past President,Donald Berglund said, "They have numbers, we need you".We found a few mostly elderly people who had a plea--recruit Sigd~lings. Thanks to ~x.Berglund for hispatience and faith but persistence to "Begin--Keep on";our Lag has prospered, we again have a full slate ofofficers and our membership is growing •

.At a board meeting in the Berglund home in 1980,it was decided to try a newsletter to be sent to anySigdal family branch we knew. SIGDALSLAG SAGA was bornwith Mrs. Don (Olga or Oggs) Berglund as editor and Iwas to help her. They went to Haiti to volunteer teachat a school in Port-au-Prince for two years and somehowI became editor! Our board of officers and you membershave been most kind to offer assistance and news andthis is what makes our SAGA.

I\1ypaternal grandfather, Jacob Leegard, was born inEggedal, 1857, and emigrated with his older sister, Helg~and his parents in 1858. They were Peter KnudtsonLeegard (buried, 1867, at Silver Lake Lutheran Cemetery,

near Northwood, Iowa) and Astrid Jacobsdatter Aaseneie of Eggedal. Astrid is buried, 1907,at Ebenezer Lutheran Cemetery, near Webster, South Dakota.

Jacob died in 1904 and he and his wife, Ingeborg (Sveen) are buried at RichwoodLutheran Church 'Cemetery north of Detroit Lakes. MN. Also, my parents, Ole and Julia(Hanson) Leegard and my maternal grandparents, Bjorn and Y~ie (Pikop) Banson are buriedat Richwood Church Cemetery.

My maternal greatgrandparents, Knut Olson Biasen Pikop, born 1828 in Sigdal, came toAmerica with his sister, Sigrid, in 1852. Knut married Maria Olson Narumshagen (Ulbergeie)also born in Sigdal 1828. Their first child was born in 1853 in Wisconsin and they movedto Spring Grove, MN. }aria is buried (1883) at Riceford Our Savior's Lutheran ChurchCemetery, near Spring Grove.

In Knut's brother's, Anders O. Pikop, obituary 1901, Knut was listed as a survivorliving near Hillsboro, ND. His second wife, Helena Hillestad, died a widow about 1904.I cannot find record of their deaths or burial. PLEASE, anyone having a clue, let me

-hear from you.My daughter and husband, Verna and Steve Uselman and four children live at Wadena.

Sons, Robert-Wisconsin, Ross-Arizona, and David-Colorado. After my husband died inDecember 1978, I reentered the working world after being a homemaker almost 30 years; Iam employed at Wadena Hardware. Among my hobbies are sewing, gardening, traveling, andgenealogy; however, time does not permit to pursue them as I'd like.

Memorials were received from MarilYnSomdahl in memory of Gudrun Engand

from Elaine Schulstad in memory of IiouBergan.

SANDAKER from NORWAYMEMORIES OF A NORWEGIAN - AMERICAN RELATIONSHIPBy Arvid Sandaker, 3470 Slemmestad, Land, NorwayHis speech following the Six-Lag Stevne banquetin Moorhead, Mn., Saturday, 29 June 1985.

A distinguished Norwegian professor, who was born in l884,has said that as a boy helearned the name America before he had heard of any other country and he heard of New Yorkand Chicago long before he knew anything about cities like London and Berlin. Dakota andMinnesota were mentioned more frequently than Spain or France in the rural community wherehe grew up. The reason was, he said, that so many people had left for America from thatdistrict, and the cultural impact from America in the form of letters, newspapers andoccasional visits by earlier emigrants gave life a greater vision and stirred the imagina-tion of the people in that mountain district.

I grew up fifty years later in a small town in Norway called Gj~vik and I cant say myfirst geographical knowledge came from this part of the world. I was quite young when Irealized that America had a special place in my family.

I know that most all of you here could tell about your personal affection for and strongattachment to Norway. My story is, however, a reversed one! I want to tell you about howI became interested in the Norwegian-Americans and how this relationship has affected me.I hope you will forgive me for being rather personal andeve~ sentimental, butI cannot thinkof any subject that has a more emotional touch than the emigrant and immigrant stories.

The very first time I became aware of the fact I had some very strong family ties in thiscountry was when the Second World War was just over and we were able to resume correspondenceacross the Atlantic. I can vividly remember how my mother reacted when she received a largepicture of her five American nephews who had fought in the war and had returned home safely.She wrote a fine poem in tribute to these young men in uniform - and the first lines were:

"My heart swells with warmth and pridewhen I see these brave boys side by side.They weathered the thunder and blaze of warand came safely home from a distant shore." (Translation by Sandaker)

It is now forty years since the United States helped liberate Norway and the rest ofEurope from the Nazi tyranny. I want to use this opportunity to thank the United States forwhat this nation did during those years of war and also for what America has done up to nowin safeguarding freedom and democracy around the world.

Another fond recollection from the time just after the war was the relief aid Americanpeople gave to Norway. I can still smell the fragrance of real coffee and of chewing gumthat filled my nostrils when we opened the so-called "Amerika-pakker". I can also rememberthe good laughs we had when we tried on some of the rather unusual and a bit strange lookingAmerican clothing and footwear. We wore it all with gratitude to those kind people over herewho had donated, collected and sent these things to us.

The next time my family had a real personal and very unique American experience was in1949. Once again my mother was inspired to write a poem. I will give my English version

Iof the first stanza:"One gray November day with sleet and rain

a message arrived from the American plain;Now my dreams and hopes will finally come truewhen Scandinavian Airlines takes me home to you!

It was my uncle Andrew, or Andreas, as we said, who came back for a visit after 46 yearsin Wisconsin. My grandmother was then 90 years old and my mother had to break this wonderfuJnews to her very gently and prepare her for the meeting of her son after all these year.

It was this exciting visit by my American uncle and what he had to tell that really trig-gered my interest for America and for the Norwegian people there. Now I learned that mymother had another brother who also had been struck by the incurable America fever, and thatI had almost as many first cousins in America as in Norway.

Besides taking a closer look at the collection of family photos my grandparents hadreceived through the years from their emigrated sons, I also took time to listen to what mygrandma had to tell about her 3 brothers and 2 sisters and even her parents who had leftfor America in the l880s from Torpa in Nordre Land. I will return to this family exodustoward the end of my talk.

The first and at that time unrealistic plans of visiting, yes even of migrating to Americastarted bUilding themselves up in my young head. In order to improve my English and to learnmore about the American Way of Life in a different way than it was presented to us in the filmsfrom Hollywood, I started subscribing to the Saturday Evening Post - which has now gone downin history - and also another POST I became acquainted with in my early teens. It was theDECORAH POSTEN with its archaic Norwegian spelling and its antiquated printing opened my mindto the strange but strong existence of the Norwegian population in America and their

.fascinating history.I would like to add that it is with thanks to Decorah-Posten, published weekly in Decorah,

Iowa, as you all know, that I received nearly 300 letters in a few weeks from persons ofNorwegian descent allover the States and Canada. They wanted to become my pen pal after I hadwritten to the Decorah-Posten editor asking horn to get me one or two. Of course I didn'thave time not the money to answer all these letters. I picked out some correspondents, and Ihave as a matter of fact kept in touch regularly with two of them for over 35 years. Maybesomeone here tonight is still waiting for an answer from that 15 year old boy in Norway?

The late 1950s and 60s were, however,~~speriod in my life when America was a little out offocus. In those years I was getting myself an education, starting a family and making aliving as a high school teacher and they had the highest priority.

Suddenly this smouldering and almost dying flame of interest in America and my relativesthere was again kindled by the unexpected visit of an old lady from Iowa. She was 80 years oldat that time in 1963 - she will celebrate her 102nd birthday next Sunday. Her name is MarieNissen and is the sister of my paternal grandfather. She and her sister emigrated just afterthe turn of the century to Iowa where they had four aunts and I am sure more close relativesthan in Norway.

It was the fact that the heaviest, or maybe I should say the most fruitful, branches of myfamily tree had spread from LAND in Norway to this LAND across the sea that initiated firstmy genealogical and later my historical research of the emigration to America from Nordre andS~ndre Land. This hobby became almost like a beneficent obsession. The more names and datesI got, the more I wanted. I guess many of you here have felt the thrill or exhilaration whenyou have found or received information about your ancestors and relatives in Norway or here inthe States.

I found that the trans-atlantic emigration from the district of Land on the northern shoresof Lake Randsfjorden in eastern Norway had been enormous compared with other localities. Verylittle was commonly known about it and that this mass removal of people had been neglectfullyreferred to in the local history books.

I asked one well informed local historian if he knew or could guess the total number ofemigrants to America from Land parish. I got the impression he really made an excessiveestimate when he said 500. He was almost stunned when I informed him that a minimum of 6,500had left for America from his district up to approximately 1910.

This was how I came to write a book about this subject and I am proud to say that LandHistorical Society was the very first institution of its kind in Norway ever to publish sucha ~pecial volume of "bygde"-books in 1973. Since then many others have followed. The interestfor this fascinating subject is spreading like never before all around Norway.

The realization and appreciation of the NORSK AMERIKA has never been stronger than nowamong the Norwegians. It seems to me there is a growing awareness and pride of Norwegianidentity and heritage among people over here, too! This Rally in the Valley is a wonderfulmanifestation of it.

As a student of Norwegian-American History I was fortunate to experience something inaddition to all this general confidence and even admiration in some parts. Inmy travelsthrough the Midwest I have seen what the Norwegian immigrants and their children haveaccomplished in their new homeland. I also have a real understanding of their sacrifice andstruggle in building this country. What I had read in the old America letters I foundhidden away in some drawer in Norway and the descriptions of immigrant life in history bookswas visualized and verified to me. America was the land of opportunity, the land of equalityand the land of hope for the impoverished, the underprivileged and the depressed masses ofEurope.

It also struck me how the Norwegian settlers must have been grieved by homesickness in

: SANlJAKER CeNT.)in these unocustomed surroundings ond how they must have longed for a refreshingly coolNorwegian summer on a real hot and humid day in the American midwest.

As I have followed in the paths of the early Norwegian settlers, preferably those who hadcome from Land, I was amazed to hear so many of their descendants could still speak orunderstand Norwegian.

There also was a silent language which I perceived with stronger sentiment. It was allthe Norwegian names and inscriptions on the innumerable gravestones which I saw in themany old Norwegian cemeteries. Here I found names of people that I had seen listed in thechurch books in Norway or registered in the emigration protocols in the city of theirembrakation.

Then and there I really felt the need or urgency to go back to Norway and tell aboutthese almost forgotten and anonymous people who had not forsaken their native land as manywere inclined to think in Norway in the years of mass emigration. Their love of Norwayand their allegiance to the United States were combined in such a way that this amalgamationis almost as strong today among 2nd, 3rd and 4th generations of Norwegian~Americans as itonce was among the native born Norwegians in this country.

This Six-Lag meeting has certainly convinced me of that!

SIGDALSLAGElaine Schulstad16 Madison Ave. SWWadena, MN 56482

SIGDAL GIFT FUND CONTRIBUTORSIN ADDITION TO THOSE FROM FEBRUARY SAGA

Bergquist, Hazel & Ed, Detroit Lakes, MNCampbell, Doris, Rochester, MNDeMotte, Shirley, Lewistown, ILFoss, Gudrun, San Diege, CAHagen, Evelyn & Ge orge, Thurmont, MD.Hagness,·Thea & Clifford, Fordville, NDHemry, Inga & Norman, Minneapolis, MNHendrickson, Tom, Sandra, Heather, Eric, &

Nicholas, Apple Valley, MNJones, Kenneth, Evelyn, Jennifer, & Janelle,

Minneapolis, MNKjome, Ruth, Minneapolis, MNLarson, Paul, Osage, IALillemoen, Ruth & Russell, Wendell, MNMattke, June & Wm., Circle Pines, MNMellum, Helen & Deane, Springfield, ORMobraaten, Marlyn, Elbow Lake, MN

Navarre, Irene & Harry, Albuquerque, NMNess, Rev. Or1in, Lakota, NDNystrom, Mary, Steve, & Dan, Monticello, }mPaasch, Norma, Moorhead, MNPeterson, Ardis, Rochester, MNPletan, Audrey & Rodney, Forest Lake, MNRisbrudt, Delloris & Glenn, Dalton, MNRuud, Milda & Orville, Bloomington, MNTeigen, Evangeline & Lyle, Oslo, MNVaron, Gladys, Camarillo, CAWilliams, Adelaide & Ted, White Bear Lake, MN

The SIGDAL GIFT FUND has been established to procure the gifts Sigdalslaget will presentto Sigdal Kommune and Kn~dsherad Kommune, the municipalities who have invited lag membersto celebrate its 75th anniversary in the places our ancestors called home.Every donor who sends a -check marked "SIGDAL GIFT FUND" will be identified along withthe gift card; please send to Elaine Schulstad, 16 Madison Ave. SW, Wadena, MN 56482.The executive board wishes to express its thanks to everyone who has sent a gift; yourgenerosity is truly heartwarming and appreciated!

For those of us who will be staying in Norwegian homes during the Anniversary Stevne,it has been suggested that a 1987 SAGA gift subscription might be appropriate andappreciated by our Norwegian hosts. If you so decide, please fill in the subscriptionblanks found elsewhere in this issue. Thanks!

I BONDEHEIMENRosenkrantzgt.80159 Oslo 1Norway/Norwegen

Tel (02) 42 95 30Telex 74087Bank 8494.06.00528

U1UUf,L U·lLi {H)lhll\jLEJUL.Y lU--l2. 1'1fJ6

RLurS1RA1IUN FUR I-LAU SILVNELU1HER COLLEGE. DECORAH, IA

HI:FUI~L JUI'lE::::~~j,pleE~sf.0miid.l'for'm~(check toDon C;Ut.tol"'mscm,2nd VP, F-~R2. £<0:-: l:jl.~, bpring Gr"ove, 1-11\1 5::::.;',/4

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REGIS1RAflON rEE for 3 day bygdelag meeting - per person - $9 $Inc J udl'?'::;:

oM· c:uIIE'oE\"-IcH::ilitvfef2" which take~:;the placE~ of mf.~eting room r'E)ntcl!s;,including Sigdal meeting room Saturdav

* ~ridav coffee breaks - AM regist.ration & post conc~rt* Dorian lheatre Program of Norwegian music* Genealowy - 4 options~ with Gerhard Naeseth, Vesterheim Genealogical

Center, micl-o-lilm. micr-afilm reader's (chur"ch ~(vital records)G0NUUEf & FRI EVE PROGRAM - July 11 - $9 per person $

'for-badgf2~;).....'"_._.._,2 i P

_._._._._._ ..._~_._._._._._._._._._._._._._._.~~emberships go with the calendar year and include the SAGA; one of the benefits tocontinuine or becoming an informed member. The fee is $6.00 for either family or single.i\;embershipcards will be mailed with the next SAGA. Checks should be made payable toSigdalslag and mailed to Elaine Schulstad, 16 Hadison Avenue SW, Wadena, 1"N 56482.