VOL XII NO 3 OCTOBER, 1992Serving Norwegian-Americans of Sigda/ - Eggeda/ & Kmdsherad Ancestry

New Officers Elected For 1993 In Wahpeton

New officers were elected to lead the 7 LAG COUNCIL which again voted Wahpeton, NO, to bethe stevne site on the customary weekend, July 8-10, 1993. Circle those days on your calendar!

Chet Habberstad led the meeting (open to every officer in seven member groups) August 29 atthe Willows Restaurant, St Cloud, MN. He coordinated stevner in 1992, 1990 & 1988, butdeclined for next year. Appreciation was shown by applause.

Lag Approves FundsFor Book Proiect

The publication project, begun at the RiverFalls stevne, was given funding at the 1992stevne. It was also decided to extend thedeadline for pictures and information untilAugust 15 for members who had not had achance to respond earlier.

Included in the motion was a ceiling on costsand an opportunity for members to reimbursethe lag, especially for postage & handling.An invoice will accompany the distribution ofthe published book.

Names and dates are now being verified orcorrected before bids are obtained for thefinal revision.

HJ!JSTFEST VOLUNTEERSHELP FIND FAMIL Y TIES

Are any Sigdal members attending theH0stfest at Minot, NO, October 14-177 Ifso, you may wish to volunteer 2 - 4 hours toinform people about the 30 bygdelag groupsand how they can "explore their roots" atthe Norwegian Bygdelag booth.

Support this year comes from a partnershipof the National Council with about 20participating groups. Brochure advertisingenables those interested to also contact a lagofficer.

If you are willing and knowledgeable aboutNorwegian geography, contact PriscillaSorknes, 4115 - 37th Av S, Minneapolis, MN55406 or leave a message at 612-721-2702.First, state your name, lag & phone number;then tell her which days you'll be in Minot.

Dean Sorum (HadelandL Moorhead, MN, isthe 1993 coordinator; Carole Nelson (Telelag)Appleton, MN, ass't coordinator; & MarilynSomdahl (Sigdal), secretary. Allard Stevens,Granite Falls, MN, treasurer, and MarilynSorensen, Arden Hills, MN, genealogycoordinator were re-elected. Both belong toRingerike-Modum - Eiker Lag.

An investigative site committee was electedto research workable future stevnerlocations.

Each lag took responsibility for 1993 plansafter evaluating the stevne this year. Sigdalwas asked to take charge of exhibits andsales displays.

Sigdal officers attending were Muriel Hoff,Nancy Nelson, Corrine Johnson, Lee Rokke,and Marilyn Somdahl.

Program suggestions for entertainers andstevne speakers may be sent immediatelythrough your lag president or directly toJulian Sandsness who was appointed towork with the coordinators as programchairperson. His address is 6727 - 15thAvenue South, Richfield, MN 55423.

Nancy Nelson was asked to coordinate thefeasibility Qf providing a bus to Wahpetonfrom outstate Minnesota if interest is highenough to warrant such arrangements. On ~postcard, let her know how many might beinterested from your family along with yourname, address, and phone number. (We needan estimate--not a firm commitment).

Please address to Nancy Nelson, 6120Oxboro Av N #309, Stillwater, MN 55082Qy Oct 20.

Over 300 Attend In '92: Sigdal Registers 56

Sigdal registered 56 of 298, the total 7 LAG registration for the July 9-11, 1992, Wahpeton stevne.Guests at the banquet & evening programs pushed the attendance figures higher.

Very well received was the Friday evening dramatization of PER, Act I by Palmer Rockswold, HadelandLag president. Actors, including Rockswold as narrator, were directed by Charles Sorum with vocalistPriscilla Sorknes and Evonne Anderson, pianist. Afterward Harold & Bonnie Anderson provided musicfor dancing.

Saturday evening favorites (pictured at right)were the pre-teen "Fiddlers Three" and the UvdalFolk Dancers from Numedal, Norway, followedby a bunad showing.

Genealogy seminars and research held Thursdayand again Friday morning were used by morethan half of those registered, attesting toexcellent planning by all 7 LAG genealogistsalong with many other helpers.

Reggie Habberstad, son of Coordinator ChetHabberstad, played the lur Friday afternoon tocall all groups to the opening 7 Lag session.Sigdal Lag VP Don Skadeland carried theNorwegian flag and Dale Overland of Telelagcarried the US flag, preceding the parade of lagbanners. Larry Opsahl led the singing of thenational anthems and a song session later on.

RepIe~senting 'the NQrwegian Consulate atMinneapolis, Vice Consul Lars Leberg told aboutfamily connections to the bygdelag and aboutthe loyalty of Norwegian-Americans caring fortheir ethnic culture and heritage in the Midwest.

College and city officials brought greetings,along with Marilyn Somdahl, president of theNational Bygdelag Council. Each lag presidentspoke briefly, and Lorna Anderson, secretary ofTelelag greeted those unable to attend that lag's85th stevne in Norway.

Former Sigdal VPs, Lorain Bergan & ChesterBergerud, sang with the Heimskringla Choir ofFergus Falls' SON. Comic relief was provided bySelmer Jordheim. Dr Verlyn Anderson thenspoke about historic trends in emigration fromNorway to the US. This served as a preparationfor the evening drama which he introduced.

LaVerne Murch, a SigdaI member who showedand sold her rosemaling in the exhibit/displayarea, contributed two articles for door prizes atthe Saturday evening banquet. Sam Hauglandasked the blessing in Norwegian. The mealfeatured beef, fish, green & cooked vegetables,fruit appetizer, flatbread, lefse, coffee andriskrem with raspberry sauce for dessert.

Uvdal Leikering, Numedal

GENEALOGY NEWS

Many took advantage of all the resources wehad available at the genealogy session atWahpeton. It was a great success! Eventhough Telelag met in Norway, there were morepeople than. last year --largely from theremaining six groups.

People have learned that we make an effort tosecure many microfilm and microfiche machines,hundreds of films of church, census, probateand emigration records, besides libraries of"bygdebl2Jker" plus local & family histories thateach lag collects.

Special thanks to Corrine Johnson and RosellaGoettelman who worked many hours helpingpeople with SigdaI genealogy resources. Wewere very busy; we could use more helpers.

After the stevne, I've gotten requests for extrahelp with problems. Most have been solved,and I've prepared a few family trees. I'm stillworking on one that is a real puzzler.

Loren Johnson and Garth Ulrich turned in surveyblanks for Sigdal people who were not in theirimmediate families. This helps locate more ofthe immigrants. Thank you both!

Rosella Goettelman, too, spent much timeresearching the Little Iowa Congregationrecords. Several pages included Sigdal peoplein these old records ... many of whom we hadno record of earlier!

& VIEWS

One of the highlights of the Norway vacation thatDavid & I took this June was a personallyconducted tour of Villa Fridheim by IngvaldGranum. Since our last visit, we saw growth--many more dioramas of fairy tales have beenadded, enhanced by light and sound. It wasdelightful to watch one little girl searching for thefrog that she could hear croaking.

GRANUM

SHOWS

OFF

VILLA

FRIDHEIM

Research areas in the basement are impressive.Besides a large collection of bygdebl2Jker,there isa display of flags from nearly every kommune inNorway.

Large paintings were being hung in the centeratrium by artist Egil Torin Ncesheim, one ofNorway's most renowned illustrators. Ncesheimhas done posters of trolls that are especiallyassociated with Villa Fridheim as a logo.

Granum was a gracious host, and he sendsgreetings to all of you. He was at Fargo for the1982 stevne and he spoke when the lag visitedin 1986. Much of our royal treatment then wasdue to his initiative.

Another person members will remember is PastorNj1'l1Gjennestad. He and his wife Elizabeth tooktime to spend an evening with us, too. Herreputation "as an artist is growing, and her gifthas become a constant reminder of Sigdal in ourhome! It is "Fra B1'lsheim", a watercolor of LakeSoneran and Andersnatten.

It is the kindness of the people there that makesa trip to Sigdal, Eggedal and Kmdsherad such arich experience.

Krodsherad Will Host Olympic Torch Runners

A placein Gameshistory

Ullehammer, Norway willhost the 1994Olympic Win-ter Games. Past and futurelocations:LocationChamonix, FranceSt. Moritz,SwitzerlandLake Placid, N.Y.Garmisch-Partenkirchen,GermanyCanceledCanceledSt. Moritz,Switzerland0150, Norway . 1952Cortina d' Ampezzo, 1956ItalySquaw Valley, Calif. 1960Innsbruck, Austria 1964Grenoble, France 1968Sapporo, Japan 1972Inns bruck, Austria 1976Lake Placid, N.Y. 1980Sarajevo, Yugoslavia 1984Calgary 1988Albertville, France 1992Lillehammer, Norway 1994Nagano, Japan 1998

Year19241928

19321936

194019441948

The Olympic torch will come to Kredsherad a year from this December in connectionwith celebrations of the upcoming Olympic Games at Lillehammer in 1994.

According to Ingvald Granum, the relay of the Olympic torch from Morgedal toLillehammer will come to spend the night at Norefjell December 14-1 5, 1 993. Therewill be a big folk gathering and cultural fest at Noresund Stadium, the municipalityoffices as well as other festive arrangements.

Villa Fridheim will host a pre-Christmas festival in connection with the Olympic torchrunners. Granum, a life member of Sigdalslaget I Amerika, is director of VillaFridheim Foundation and an OL Stafetten committeeman.

Readers may not be aware that the grand slalom events of the 1952 Winter OlympicGames were staged at Norefjell, which is just over an hour's drive from 0510.

Lillehammer, NorwayUnlike the 1992 Winter Olympics, the venues for the 1994 Gamesare an easy commute. Only 62 miles separate Hamar (the site ofs~atlng events) from Kvitfjell in Ringebu (site of alpine events).Liliehammer, Norway's wmter sports capital. is the site of the 1994winter games.

Haf Jell(pronounced Hauf' yell)location: 9 miles (15 km) northof Lillehammer, in themunicipality of Oyer.PopUlation: 4,500 in OyerAltitude: 3,494 feet (1,065meters)Events: Alpine skiing. This isNorway's national center foralpine sports. (Fjell is Norwegianfor mountain.)

Kvitfjell(pronouncedK'veet'veeifhell)location: 31 miles(50 km) north ofLillehammer, in thecommunity of Ringebunear the village ofFavangPopulation: 5,500Altitude: 3,280 feet(1,000 meters) at thesummit. Events:Men's alpine skiing. Anew ski center isbeing built here.

Lillehammerlocation: about 105 miles (170 km) north of OsloPopulation: 23,000Altitude: 656 feet (200 meters) above sea levelEvents: Opening and closing ceremonies, biathlon,cross-country skiing, nordic combined skiing, skijumping, freestyle skiing. Olympic village will be here.

Hunderfossenlocation: 9 miles (15 km) north ofLillehammer, but still in theLillehammer municipalityPopUlation: 23,000 (Lillehammer)Altitude: around 300-400 metersEvents: Bobsled and luge Racerscould reach speeds of 75 mph (122km) on this below-ground course.

Hamarlocation: about 36miles (58 km)southeast ofLillehammer, also onLake Mjosa.Population: 16,000Altitude: 500-656 feet(150-200 meters -about the same asLillehammer)Events: Figureskating, short trackspeedskating.Gjovik (pronounced Yearh'vik)

location: about 24 miles (40 km) southwest ofLillehammer, on Lake Mjosa.Population: 26,000Altitude: 500-656 feet (150-200 meters -- about thesame as Lillehammer)Events: Ice hockey in arena blasted out of solid rock.

LEIF Draws Top Talent To Minneapolis Oct 8-12

Mindekirken, the Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church of Minneapolis, is sponsoring the 5th annual Leiv J ..HEriksson International Festival October 9-12. Scheduled are "Kardemomme," a film suitable for all ages (~TIW"'"eve at 7 pm, Nicholson Hall, U of M); a banquet with Minneapolis Nordmann-Forbundet (Sat eve); aSunday worship service at 11 am and a Festkonsert at 2 pm at the church; and finally, a recital by severalmusicians and poetry reading of Eyvind Skeie (Mon eve at 7 pm, American Swedish Institute).

Special Norwegian speakers and musicians willprovide a variety of cultural opportunities. Oslosoprano Elisabeth Ekornes, poet and baritoneEyvind Skeie, as well as Sigmund Groven,harmonica player extraordinaire are some of theartists.ST OLAF A WARDS

KING OLAV V CHAIRTO ODD LfJVOLL

St Olaf College, Northfield, MN, has created achair in Scandinavian-American studies, the firstof its kind in the US.

Odd S Levoll will formally be installed November6 to the new position, the King Olav V Chair, inconnection with Founders Day at St Olaf.

Levoll is a professor of history at St Olaf as wellas publisher for NAHA, the Norwegian-AmericanHistorical Association there.

Research, interpretation and teaching ofScandinavian-American immigrant history is thepurpose of the position. Funding comes throughgifts from Norway, St Olaf and NAHA.

The name of the chair was chosen to "symbolizethe strong ties of St Olaf College to its traditionsand history," Levoll said. The late king visitedthe college in 1939 as Crown Prince and again asKing of Norway in 1968, 1975, and 1987.

Reservations for the banquet and lunch Fridayare due before the SAGA will arrive, but ticketsare available at the door at $4.50 for the film,and $6 each for the Sunday afternoon concertand Monday evening recital, the latter atAmerican Swedish Institute, 26th St at Park Av.Parking is on the south side of the building.

Photos and helleristninger or rock carvings willbe on exhibit at Mindekirken all day Sunday.You will meet Sigrun Garfors, the artist-photographer, and be able to buy some of theworks exhibited. You will also want to meetBjern Johan Serensen who was installed Sept20 as the pastor. He was born in Harstad,Norway and he arrived in Minneapolis thisAugust. The church is located at 924 E 21st St(parking at East Franklin & 10th Av).

Call the church for tickets or information: 61 2-874-0716 or write the church, PO Box 7320,Mpls, MN 55407.

To commemorale the 1994Lillehammer Winter OlympiCS,four different gold coins and 12different silver coins will be struckin a total of 1,994, 000 pieces.The gold coins -120,OOOofthem

. have a face value of NKR 1500,while the silver coins are in twoseries, NKR 100 and NKR 50 re-

spoctively.The gold coins show motifs of

the history of skiing in Norway.The images on the l00-kroner coinillustrates top-level Winter Olym-pic disciplines while the SO-kronercoin fealures popular Norwegianwinter activities.

Confirmation Day At Olberg & Sandum's Sceter

Among the questions I asked at the NorwegianConsulate in 1977 were, "Where is Kmdsherad?Is there still such a place in Norway?" That wasindeed the beginning of my research into myfather's roots there. Now after 15 years andmany hours of microfilm reading, letter writing,and researching other sources, I've had contactwith more than 50 second & third cousins wholive there.

After four trips to Norway, these cousins havebecome as much a part of my extended family asmy first cousins in the USA. All of us are excitedabout finding each other. Learning and speakingNorwegian & the Krylling dialect has, of course,helped bridge the distance which gets closer witheach visit!

This year I'd accepted an invitation from relativesto attend confirmation services, Monday, June 8,the second day of Pentecost, at Olberg Churcr ".Noresund (where my grandparents were marriedbefore coming to Minnesota). On the precedingWednesday evening a catechization service washeld for the 24 confirmands. Each one stood atintervals in the church's center aisle, facinganother confirmand, to answer questions as eachname was called by the pastor, Kjartan Almas(who accepted a call in Vestfold fylke later in thesummer).

Following the service, my second cousin, GunnarL0vas & his wife Bj0rg, were hosts to 35 dinnerguests in honor of their daughter Marianne. It washeld at a mountain inn called Sandum's Sooter, onNorefjell.

This was an elegant, formal meal to mark a once-in-a-Iifetime occasion with an abundance of bothhot and cold foods. Toasts and specially writtensongs provided the entertainment at the dinner.Additional guests came later in the afternoon: a25 member "Ieikering" or folk dance group.Gunnar was the accordionist for this group andMarianne and her sister Linda were dancers. Whenit was time for "kake og kafte", twenty six cakeswere brought out for the enjoyment of the guests!

The bunad is often given at confirmation by theparents. It represents a sizable investment (shoes,jewelry, bead work, embroidery) in time & inkroner. Each area has its own traditional design.

PICTURED BELOW IN KRYLLING BUNADER (frontrow, left - right): Linda L0vas, Marit Fjeld, Bj0rgL0vas, Nina Jokerud, Inger Lise Halmrast, MarianneL0vas, Corrine Johnson, Bloomington, MN. Backrow: Randi Jokerud, Anne Finnerud, TorildJohansson, Gunnar L0vas, Edvin Jokerud, MagnhildL0vas & Gunvor Svang.

newsbits + newsbits + newsbitsA hearty welcome to first time members, DON & ELAINE BERGAN, LILLIAN & NORMAN BORSETH,JOHN & GERT DONLAN, RUBY & DOUG GROVE, WAYNE & SHIRLEY GUNDERSON, INGA HONRUD,LINDA LEICHT, MARILYN & CLIFF MOEN, DEB & LARRY REED, ELEANOR SCHULTZ, LEON STOVERN &LEN TWETEN. It is also great to see many renewing or returning members.

LES & DOROTHY DALE are taking turns recuperating. They expected to attend the Wahpeton stevne,volunteering for registration duties, but Les wasn't able to. Later on they missed a military reunionbecause Dorothy was in the hospital. God bedring! We'll enjoy seeing both of you rested and mendednext time.

EVELYN & KEN JONES are excused for missing the stevne this year as well. July 11 was theirgranddaughter Janelle's wedding day.

Members who traveled in Norway during August were LAURAL GUNDERSON, DOROTHY & EUGENEECKHOFF, LORETTA & DENNIS SUMSTAD, and Kenny & Janeen Gunderson. One report has it thatLaural gave Olaf 0degaard a hand chopping wood in Kredsherad while others in his family touredelsewhere. Not bad for a fellow who celebrated his 79th birthday Sept 3! "Gratulerer med dagen!"

Speaking of birthdays, this year marked the 60th for RON DAHLEN. His wife JOYCE orchestrated agrand surprise party. After a "roast" by a series of friends, she presented her gift, keys to a brand newFord pickup. Yes, good things do come in small packages!

Word has reached SAGA of several other members taking trips to Norway this summer includingRACHEL THOMPSON, HELEN & DEANE MELLUM, MARILYN & DON CRESAP, LARRY & LINDATHORSON & family, EUNICE HELGESON, LORAIN BERGAN, IRENE LARSON, and LEE & DAVID ROKKE.

Congratulations are also in order for Lee & David Rokke's 40th anniversary August 22. Theircelebration was at their lake home with the family.

Marriage. vows taken September 26 by LAWRENCE & GLORIA (Johnson) SOLUM enlarges lagmembership by one! Best wishes from Sigdal Lag for a happy life together at Hector, MN. Gloria &Larry met many members at Wahpeton.

Elected president of the Society of Actuaries, Walter S Rugland begins a yearlong term of duties this October. He is a consulting actuary with Milliman &Robertson, Inc, Bloomfield, Conn. The SOA serves to promote actuarialscience through education, research, and professional membership. Highstandards of competency and conduct are encouraged among its members.Rugland also currently serves a second term as a Luther College regent.(Luther Alumni Quarterly, Vol 27 No 1)

This year Africa was the destination for EVELYN EVENSON while HARRY &IRENE (O'Connor) NAVARRE visited Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the OrkneyIslands. Navarres report much evidence of the Viking influence. "Stone ringseverywhere'" Irene says Harry is sitting out a few dances just now as kneereplacement surgery was scheduled in late Sept. Best recovery wishes ...

Thanks to GARTH ULRICH who sent news clippings from Saskatchewan. These letters from KristineSandsbraaten to hometown readers tell about student life at a folkskole in Seljord, Norway whereculture and language are taught along with music & violin performance. See page 9.

Solveig Bilstad had a surprise for the editor after the July stevne. 'She had mailed a note and picturesfrom Norway before she flew here for the 7 Lag meetings in Wahpeton. The hitch was that it had notarrived before we left, so our joy came when mail service resumed. Hopefully SAGA can dedicate oneor more future articles to Norwegian, Canadian & American artists connected with "our" areas ofNorway or with Sigdal Lag. Solveig & her husband visited Sigdal Lag's meeting and brought greetingsfrom Norway in person. Tusen takk!

Two corrections are noted from the May issue: 1) Solveig Bilstad did not lead the tour from Numedalthis year. 2) the date of the Ardinger death was September 1991.

IN MEMORY

LAURA HOVET looks at her great-great-grandchild, Bryce Oelage, who isheld by his mother Rachel. Standingare grandmother Ruby Grove (left) andLaVerne Murch, the great-grandmotherwho loaned this §. generation picture,taken at Christmas, 1991.

MARILYN SOMDAHL, Pres/Editor612-831-4409

10129 Goodrich CircleBloomington, MN 55437

DON SKADELAND, 1st VP402-331-5906

10642 "0" StreetOmaha, NB 68127

CORRINE 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

NANCY NELSON, Secretary612-430-3134

6120 Oxboro Avenue N #309Stillwater, MN 55082

MURIEL HOFF, Treasurer612-777-7395

3512 White Bear A venueWhite Bear Lake, MN 55110

OSCAR ENGER, a member who lived in Chanute, KS died Feb20, 1992. He attended the 1991 stevne at River Falls, WI.Among his survivors is a son Keith, Humboldt, KS.

GUORUN ENGER KAISER, Oscar's sister, died more recentlyaccording to Irene Navarre, a cousin. Gudrun was one of theearly women pharmacists in West Fargo, NO. Oscar &Gudrun were the last of their generation... children of thePalmer Enger family.

LAURA HOVET (Oct 13, 1898 - May 23, 1992) Funeralservices were held May 26 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church,Hillsboro, NO, with burial at Hyllestad Cemetery, Buxton, NO.

Survivors include two daughters and a granddaughter who areSigdal Lag members: LaVerne Murch, Hillsboro, MargaretRohman, Fargo, and Ruby Murch Grove, Grand Forks.

Other family members include sons, Orlin, Medford, OR, andRichard, Iowa City, IA; daughter Ruby Latvala, Central Point,OR; sister Emma Thoreson, Crookston, MN, along with 20other grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. Preceding her in death were son Glennand daughter Phyllis Ruckreigle, two granddaughters, fourbrothers and three sisters.

Born to Hans and Live Vinnord Eken at Emerado, NO, Lauralived in Buxton following her marriage March 30, 1918 atHillsboro to Jacob Hovet. She was a member of the GoldStar Mothers and a life member of the Buxton AmericanLegion Auxiliary. In 1947 they moved to Grand Forks. Jacobdied in 1959. Laura lived at Hillsboro for the past 11 years.

NOW IS l-HE TIMETO JOIN OR RENEW

Dues for 1993 are now being received. Sigdal Lagmembership is Jan 1 - Dec 31. SAGA is sent 1st Classpostage to 1 or 2 adults at the same address Feb-May-Oct.Minor children living at home are also members if name/ageis listed below:

city/state/zip

_ 3 years at $20 _ 1yr at $8

Use separate paper for gift memberships. Checks (in UScurrency, please) payable to Sigdal Lag, c/o MURIEL HOFF,Treas, 3512 White Bear Av, White Bear Lake, MN 55110

FROM SEUORD FOLKSKOLETO FAMILY & FRIENDSIN SASKATCHEWAN

by Kristine Sandsbraaten

Nov 20, 1991 Boarded the train from Seljord fora 5 hour trip to Stavanger, then to Byrne to dad'scousin Anne-Lise & family who'd visited us inCanada in July, 1986. It gets dark about 4 pmnow, so I didn't see much of the countryside.

Her place reminds me of our farm in Dahlton withits groves of spruce and rocks. One day (of fourthere) we drove to the North Sea coast. It hadrained all night and much of the day, so· the seawas rough--huge waves pounding the rocky shore.Huge rocks littered the beaches. One place wasknown as "Hitler's Turf" because the Germanshad placed rocks end-to-end to keep Allied tanksfrom entering the country. Rocks also makefarming difficult.

We saw Old Stavanger, the harbor, and a placewhere Viking graves were found along the sea.Some were dug up in the 1950s. All the graveshave rings of stones (of different shapes or rings)surrounding them. Scenery enroute back (toSeljord, Telemark) had lots of variety: flat coastalland, mountains covered by misty fog, deepvalleys, evergreen forests, islands in fjords,isolated farms with old stone/wood barns. Someof it like northern Sask & B.C. And there was ababy moose--my first glimpse of wildlife--runningalongside the train.

December at Seljord Several in our class began inHolland where they celebrate St Nicholas Day Dee5. All DutCh students get a box of candy fromhome (if they've been good all year). Allete'smother sent chocolate initials along for Solveig & Ifor the first letters of our names. Christmasvacation was Dee 18- Jan 5 although we beganDee 1 with Advent service at Seljord church at 6pm.

Dee 17 Today we gave two concerts. Myteacher Vidar's wife Ragnhild & I played a Bachduet at school. She plays viola (and the authorplays violin). Vidar was impressed with ourperformance. On the way home from the church,we carried torches, sang and stopped at thesenior citizens home to sing carols. I visitedAnne-Lise, Liv & family a few days at Christmas--my first without snow! We had some rain,walked on the rocky coast of the North Sea in theafternoon, and exchanged gifts, after eating lotsof rich food. Thick, meaty traditional ribs wereserved for the main meal--some use pork, somelamb. The next day Liv's parents came over andcelebrating continued.

From Stavanger, I took the train to Bo. At leaston the trains you don't pay to use the washroomslike you do in most public places in Norway.Travelling is expensive, but with my student card,I go for half fare. At Kongsberg I stayed a dayand a half with Aunt Ella who is 81. She and hercompanion were preparing for their annual

pilgrimage to some place warm -- Australia thisyear. Then I continued to

Prestfoss, Sigda I, staying with second cousin Ole& Magnhild Sandsbraaten on the farm of thesame name. I slept in the same house whereGrandpa Haakon was born and lived until comingto Canada. The house was built in 1842 withrestorations in 1949 and 1977. Ole has a sawmillon the farm and I called home from there NewYear's eve. I had a lot of fun at Ole's since hischildren Thea, 21, Haakon, 19, and Lars, 17, tookme around. We went to the dance and visitedmany relatives.

The Sandsbraaten farm is a beautiful place. Theroad runs right beside the yard. Across the roadis Sandsbraaten Lake, and farther down is ageneral store owned by Nils Sandsbraaten (whereI got some calendars). Ole & Magnhild have thesame picture hanging in their house as we haveback home called "Strong Man of Norway". Hehappens to be Ole Olsen Ovnan (1831-1908),great grandfather to my Grandpa Roy Knutson.(Nels & Helga Voldeng in Ontario also have this intheir living room). Small world after alii Ole tookme to Grenskogen where Grandpa Haakon'smother Anne was born. It also is kept up and stilllived in by Sandsbraaten descendants.

Dad's cousin Torger Sandsbraaten gave me thefamily tree which dates back to the early 1700s.

Like most of the students, I had some .difficultyobtaining my residence permit. Now there is aruling it must be done in Canada before coming.But I appealed it and it finally came through.

January I was happy that Sam, my Vietnamesefriend who rooms next door, came back fromHong Kong after New Years. He was there nearly2 months following the murder of his father inOslo in late October. At 17 he is not old enoughto take over his father's business. His halfbrother is in Oslo, but his mother & sister are inNorth Vietnam. He is lonely without his family.

I'm practising more now. I missed a few daysduring the holidays. I have a slight cold, nothingserious. I'm getting quite good at reading andwriting Norwegian, but still have some difficultyspeaking. School is going well. It is nice not tohave exams to worry about. Some of the boys inour house call me "mom" becasue.1 am 4-5 yearsolder. Solveig & I have been teaching them to bemore domesticated.

The winter is mild. We have some snow here inSeljord, but all of it melted at Prestfoss &Kongsberg. I miss home, family & friends buthave much to do in the 3 1/2 months I have lefthere. I'm planning to visit GrandmaSandsbraaten's remaining sister & other relativesFeb 1-4. Each month we get one four dayweekend so we can travel if we want.

Gunnar Sandsbraaten and his wife Lina met mytrain at Oslo. They were very hospitable andgood to me (as are all the people here in Norway),showing me points of interest and taking me torelatives.

2nd week of Feb The Seljord Folk-school MusicGroup was in Oslo three days. We went to theOslo Philharmonic rehearsal, and in a part for thefirst violins, they sounded like one violin! Theywere fantastic! We toured various musicalinstitutes. On our last evening we saw thepremiere of Tolve Skillings Operan, (Beggar'sOpera) in Ny-Norsk language which I founddifficult to understand. We are learning the oldNorsk, but it was very well performed. We toured"Lydskole" where students learn about recordingand lighting systems. We returned to Seljord,performing at the Culture House the sameevening. Next day were practice sessions for thenext day's contest. We won the 1st stage of thecompetition.

The class trip was the third week of Feb, the firstI'd gone on since I'm not a sports enthusiast. Butits part of the curriculum so we go sometimes.Now I can say I went skiing in Norway. I didquite well, considering. For the weekend I wentto Kongsberg where a friend picked me up to goon to Prestfoss. Cousin Gunnar took me to Oslofor connections to Tynset. We had our winterbreak of 10 days then.

At Tynset I stayed with Ingeborg Ryen atOsterdalen. We phoned Grandma Sandsbraatenthat day to surprise her. Ingeborg has manygrandchildren and they're constantly in and out.They had more snow--like at home. (At Seljordwe had very little, but lots of ice). Tynsetreminded me of Canada with all the spruce, firand pine trees. Norway has an abundant supplyof wood. The lumberjacks used to roll logs downto the river but are no longer allowed to do that.They use trucks now.

At Tyset Kirke where Grandma was baptised, Isaw her parents' and grandparents' graves. Thevalleys we traveled through, two of them, werewide and had some of the largest farms on itsplains.

Norsk TV is very different from ours. The nightprograms are for children from 6-7:30 pm, thennews, followed by many nature or talk typeshows. They do have cable TV which offersmore variety.

March It was a busy month with much practisingand rehearsals. The Music Group went toNotodden one day for the second stage of themusic competition. Four groups were chosen forthe National finals at Trondheim. Unfortunately,we were not one of the four, even though weplayed the best we ever had. Not much couldhave been improved upon. It's not like the musicfestivals we have back home. Technique doesnot matter as much as originality.

The Outdoor Group (I'm not one of them) left fora week of practice teaching handicapped childrenhow to ski. It is a great experience for them.The Music Group is learning how to teach musicto young children. I've learned a lot in that class.

We lost our friend and classmate Joost fromHolland at the end of March. He fell and broke

his hand, so he could no longer perform. Therewasn't much point of his staying. We all misshim.

My Vietnamese friend, Sam, (next door) was sickfor a while, so I really felt like his mother. Hehugs me, takes his frustrations out on me, thensits on my lap. He likes to keep close tabs onme, but since Joost is gone, he has been verylonely. He finally got some good news, after allhe's gone through since his father's murder lastfall. His mother and sister are allowed to finallyleave North Vietnam, and should be in Norwaythis summer.

March 14 we went to Holmenkollen for the 100thAnniversary of this famous ski jump. A boy fromFinland, 16, won the competition. It was aninteresting experience.

Spring came in late March in all its glory withbirds singing and flowers like the crocus, iris andlady slippers blooming.

April 7 I was up at 6 am. My friend insisted I joinher on her morning jog, something I don't do. ButI went. It was nice out that early with the sunjust coming up, fog on the lake, and birds singing.The next day was very busy. We had theatre-music rehearsal from 9 am to 1:30 pm, then wehad to rake leaves until 3 pm.

From my letters you may think I have a lot ofspare time to travel. That we do, but we makeup for it at class time as our days of study arefrom 8 am to 10 pm most days. On our days offwe are. suposed to be seeing other parts of thecountry, studying the people as they go abouttheir daily lives. We're here not only to learn themusic, but also the culture and language. Thelanguage part is difficlult because of all thedialects, but I understand enough to carryon aconversation for the most part.

We musicians still have to practice every day, too,regardless of where we are. I try to put in fourhours a day. Every so often, my friend Ann fromAustralia & I have a bet on for a week to see whocan put in so many practice hours a day, notcounting rehearsals and lessons. The loser buys acoke or once she had to wash my floor.

Unlike most students here, I have an abundanceof relatives I can stay with on days off. It is agreat way to study the culture.

For Easter break I took the train to Tynset for mylast visit there, having to be back to classes onthe 22nd. We had a concert April 25 at school.The following. week was "line" week, meaningjust music, nothing else. The Music Group touredfive other folkschools in three days givingconcerts. The next week was theatre week. TheSeljord community has an outdoor theatreperformance every spring. This year they aredoing, "Annie Get Your Gun." The Music Groupfrom the school does all the music for thistheatre. So we have done a lot of practising andrecently, rehearsals. It premieres May 9. ThenMay 14 is our own final concert. The next daywe pack up and must be gone by the 16th.

Cousin Gunnar will pick me up on the 15th. Wego first to Kongsberg and Hokksund to saygoodbye to Greataunt Ella. For Maifest the 17th,we will be at Prestfoss with the Sandsbraatensthere. The next day Gunnar and I will go toHallingdal to see what we can find of GrandpaRoy's ancestors. Gunnar has been helping metrace the family trees as far back as possible.

Around May 20th I should be in Amsterdam. Iplan to visit my friend Alletta and see KiraThompson who should be there by now. It willbe good to see myoid school friend again. Myflight home is booked out of Amsterdam for June2. I'm getting a bit anxious to be home inCanada again. It has been a great experience. Ihave made some special friends from all over theworld. I have seen where my ancestors lived,even some of their old buildings still in use (likethe Sandsbraaten house and Grenskogen). I haveseen old pictures including my great great grandpaand grandma Sandsbraaten (they were bothSandsbraatens from two different families).

I have seen a lot of beautiful country. I have abasic knowledge of another language. I havelearned more about not only the culture of myancestors in Norway, but also of other countriesas well, i.e. Gambia, Estonia, Wales, NorthVietnam, Australia, Holland. I had the experienceof studying with a great violin teacher, Vidar. Ihave proved to myself that I can travel abroadalone. It's not really so scary after all. I havebeen very fortunate to be able to meet myfather's family who are all here in Norway. SomeI may never see again, but at least I can put facesto names now. I am so glad I had the opportunityto come and that I took it and did it. It has beena worthwhile experience.

I would recommend Folkschools to any youngpeople who are finishing high school. There areso many of them, not just in Norway, but manyother countries as well. They all offer differentcurriculum--not just music. Some are science,religion, sports--whatever your interests, there is afolkschool offering it. The experiences you gainfrom attending are very worthwhile. The costisn't any more than going to university for a yeareither, at least in Norway, as the tuition is freehere. I would like to see other young people havethe same opportunity.

(Ed note: SAGA (May 92) carried Kristine'spicture. GARTH ULRICH sent the story abovepublished Feb 17 & May 18, 1992, by NaicamNews, Watson, Sask. Kristine's study of music inNorway follows a bachelor's degree in violinperformance at U of Sask, Saskatoon.)

NGG ELECTS LEE ROKKENew officers elected Sept 30 to lead theNorwegian Genealogy Group include AndreasRhude, president, and Sigdal's genealogistLee Rokke, vice president.

Programs and genealogy research nights areheld in Minneapolis the last Wednesday eachmonth. If interested, call 612-432-9767.

LAG ACCEPTS MELLUMBOOK WITH THANKS

Author-member Helen Mellum of Springfield,OR, presented her family history, HogensonHardanger Heritage, to Sigdal Lag thisAugust.

Her Sigdal connection is through RemnaugRustand who (at 12) immigrated with herparents, Halvor Torgiersen Rustand & MariBj0rnsdtr Nordli, and her brother OleHalvorsen Rustand. R0nnaug married LarsH§konson Litlas from Hardanger, and theylived in Fertile, MN. Burial at Rindal, MN.

Vesterheim Genealogy Center has moved toa building at 415 W Main Street, Madison,WI (about 8 blocks from UW Library), and isreached from the 'city-beltline' off JohnNolan Drive.

Large and small donors made the buildingand the move possible. VGC uses the firstfloor with space for storage on the lowerlevel. The second floor tenant providesincome for the center.

Director Gerhard Naeseth said, "We will beable to serve many more customers at onetime, have more room for volunteers, andexpand and improve our resources."

VGC members may get films and books onloan. New rates are in effect, according toVESTLANDET newsletter, as follows: Eachreel of microfilm for one month is $6 pluspostage, and each book rental is $10 pluspostage. Use the old address, VesterheimGen~alogical Center, 4909 Sherwood Road,Madison, WI 53711 for membershipinformation.

Telford AnstenLorain BerganChester Bergerud*Lillian & Norman BorsethDorothy Eckhoff*Duane EllingsonClarence J & Vivian Erbes*Eunice & Mirl Foster*Ellen GloodRosella GoettelmanLaurel GundersonBlanche & Irene HansenLeva & Sam HauglandEunice HelgesonMuriel HoffCorrine L Johnson*Gladys JohnsonDon & Dianne Kirst*Gladys KringstadIrene LarsonCarole Meade"Lillian MellandAlice & Fred MensingMarion MobraatenLaverne MurchGladys NeelsClara NegaardNancy NelsonIvonne & Marian OlsonRosalie Olson*Deb ReedLee RokkeColleen RustadLuetta SeimDon & Lynn SkadelandEverett & Jean Shogren*Beth & Rod SmithLawrence Solum·Loretta SumstadHazel SkaimMarilyn & Narv SomdahlDonnalee & Howard Van Zante*Gene G Watnaas

Marilyn Somdahl10129 Goodrich Circle

Bloomington. MN 55437

Members viewed a 1985 videotape from Sigdal, Norway at the Saturdaymorning annual meeting July 11. The tape was recently converted to theAmerican format at a reasonable price. Among the treasures seen were H~vardSt0vern, curator of Sigdal-Eggedal Museum, and the late Andreas Mmch, authorand genealogist. Both were interviewed by journalist Nils Drols~rum amidscenes and activities of present day Norway.

Sam & Leva Haugland provided music for singing and Corrine Johnson toldabout her trip to Norway and led a discussion. She also visited the classroomof Solveig Bilstad in Noresund. The Bilstads stopped in to bring greetings fromKmdsherad a bit later.

Incumbent officers were elected and members supported the 1992 advertisingproject of Bygdelagenes Fellesraad at H0stfest Oct 13-17 with a $100 gift. Alag publishing project for members was discussed and funded with the provisionthat information and pictures meet an August 15 deadline.

At 1992 StevneIn Wahpeton

Shopping for Rosemaling (L-R:)Gladys KringstadLillian Melland& Ellen Glood