since 1911 may, 2011 volume 31, issue 2 sigdalslag saga · 2017. 9. 12. · stevne schedule 6...

Inside this issue:

Velkommen, nye lagmedlemmer!

SIDNEY & CATHERINE

BERGAN

Bismarck, North Dakota

KIRSTEN FJELD ZILLMER

Northfield, Minnesota

LAVAUGHN CRAIG

San Francisco, California

DARRELL TUKUA

Blaine, Minnesota

MERLE THORUD

Portland, Oregon

gift of Phyllis Abrahams

ELIZABETH ANDREWS

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

JACKIE HENRY

Northfield, Minnesota

May, 2011

Volume 31, Issue 2

Serving Norwegian-Americans of Sigdal, Eggedal & Krødsherad ancestry

Sigdalslag Saga

Since 1911

Welcome everyone to the 7-Lag Stevne, hosted by Sigdalslag this year and held at theBest Western Doublewood Inn and Conference Center in Fargo, ND, July 14-17th.The stevne theme, “Strength in Unity,” is a translation of the motto which is inscribed on thebanner presented to Sigdalslag in 1915 by the people of Sigdal Kommune. Our logo, featur-ing a knot and the flags of Norway, the United States and Canada, symbolizes the connectionthat ties us all together from the farthest reaches of Norway to the faraway lands of Americaand Canada. This connection is especially significant for Sigdalslag this year because we arecelebrating 100 years since our founding in 1911 at Fergus Falls, Minnesota. More that 125visitors from Norway will join us in celebration of the festivities.

Fargo, the home of many of our Norwegian immigrant ancestors, lies across the RedRiver of the North from Moorhead, Minnesota. The flat plains of the Red River Valleyattracted settlers following events such as the enactment of the Homestead Act and the ex-pansion of the railroads. “Dakota Fever” affected many of our pioneer ancestors, bringingthem to this vast area to begin a new life. Despite the many struggles they endured, thesetough and determined people persevered and were able to provide that “better life” for theirfamilies.

The Best Western Doublewood Inn and Conference Center has reserved the entirecomplex for us during the stevne. The rooms are very reasonably priced at $76 and areequipped with a microwave, small fridge, flat screen TV, coffee maker, hair dryer and hi-speed wireless internet. There is a restaurant on site, the Dakota Grill, and a lounge/casino.The indoor pool is heated and a small workout center is available for exercise. The classesand events, except for the tours, will be conveniently located on the main floor of the Dou-blewood Inn. The DoublewoodInn may be easily reached from I-29 in Fargo. Take exit #64 to13th Avenue. Travel east on 13th

Avenue a short distance to theDoublewood Inn at 3333 13th

Avenue South.

For those opting to stay else-where, blocks of rooms havebeen set aside for stevne atten-dees at these motels:

(Continued on page 3)

Seven Lag Stevne 2011Fargo, North Dakota

By Donna Kulenkamp

Doublewood Inn in Fargo, North Dakota

Stevne Tours 4-5

Stevne Schedule 6

Stevne Classes 7

Stevne Lodging 8

Registration Forms 9-10

Andreas Mørch 12-13

Harold Medalen 14-15

Folk Dancing 15

Lag Support to Norway 16-17

Dear “Cousins”,

WelcomeSweet Springti

me, we great thee with Joy! Or spring has

sprung the grass has riz, I wonder where the birdiesis?

I imaginefor all of those who live in the Northern

climes,

spring can't come soon enough and this year is seems very slow.

The excitement for the Sju Lag Stevne is mounting

. As stated

earlier,we look forward

to welcoming two groups of Norwegia

ns,

which will includeabout 140 traveler

s. What fun we will have

connecting with these Norwegia

n “cousins”.

As you will read elsewhere in the Saga the classes/

lectureshave

been assignedand we hope to have somethin

g for everyone. There

will be many choicesfor each time slot, so you will have to

decide what you want to do. There will also be two tours on

Friday and one self-transported

trip to Bonanzaville on Saturday

morning.The General

Meetingon Friday evening

will includeDr.

Steven Hoffbeck, Professo

r of Historyat Moorhead

State Univer-

sity who will speak on “HayloftMemories

: Barns of Minnesota

and North Dakota.”

The SaturdayBanquet

will have two choicesfor the entree and we

will have the Emert Brothers, associat

ed with Sigdalslag, who

are championfiddlers

for entertainment, as well as Art Lee,

Prof. Emeritusfrom Bemidji

State University, a humorist

and

author of things Norwegian.

For Sigdalslag I think a high point will be our General

Meeting

and Smorgasbord on Sunday,

when we will have more time with our

Norwegian guests and will hear a talk about Sigdal “From Crofts

to Luxury Cabins:A Huge Leap in Time and Developm

ent”, from

Birger Moen, who is on the newspaper Bygdepos

ten, and one of the

tour leadersfrom Norway,

along with Sigrid Kvisle,Director

of

the Sigdal Museum,who will be a lecturer

on Saturdayspeaking

about the “Sigdal,Eggedal,

and Krødsherad Bunads of Today.”

After a smorgasbord banquet,

we will hear again from the Emert

Brothersand then Writer & Professo

r at BemidjiState, Will

Weaver,whose short story, “A Gravesto

ne Made of Wheat” became

the acclaimed and loved movie, “Sweet Land”.

His topic will be

“With Love From Minnesota The ‘Old Country’

in MidwestFiction

and Film.”We will also have the DVD of “Sweet Land” availabl

e

for sale at cost, $15.50.

We hope that some of this will piqué your interestand you will

join us to celebrate our first 100 Years!

For all of you at-

tendingStevne,

we are requesting that you bring a dozen cookies

for sharingin the Hospital

ity Room. At our Lag businessmeet-

ing we will be taking nominations and electing

new officersfor

President, Vice-Pre

sident and Secretary. I looking

forwardto

greetingmany of you at Stevne!

Safe travels,

Judy Sosted

Fra Presidenten:

Sigda ls lag Saga Volume 31, Issue 2

2011 SigdalslagOfficers

JUDY SOSTED President1118 Lia CourtNorthfield, MN [email protected]

EARL O. KNUTSONVP 1/Membership

722 Second Street SWWillmar, MN 56201(320) [email protected]

DONNA KULENKAMP VP 21292 Dunberry LaneEagan, MN [email protected]

KAREN OLSON VP 3P.O. Box 225Northome, MN [email protected]

JANICE JOHNSON Treasurer8451 Nicollet Avenue SouthBloomington, MN [email protected]

AMY MICHELSEN Secretary18730 Roanoke St. NWAnoka, MN 55303-8971(763) [email protected]

GARTH ULRICH Genealogist3099 Dunn DrivePrince Albert, SKS6V 6Y6 [email protected]

DIANNE SNELL Historian31326 122nd Court SEAuburn, WA 98092(253) [email protected]

SCOTT BRUNNER Saga Editor555 Hilltop DriveGreen Bay, WI [email protected]

ED ESPE [email protected]


Hampton Inn, AmericInn Lodge and Suites, Country Inn and Suites, Holiday Inn and Motel 6. In addition, the LindonwoodCampground is conveniently located for campers, although campsites have not been reserved. You may contact the Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-235-7654 for additional help in finding lodging.

Upon arrival, please go to the Redwood Court to pick up your registration materials, name tags and brochures. Lookfor the huge wall schedule prepared for us by Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau. You will always be able to seethe what, when and where of the stevne.

Sigdalslag is hosting a Thursday evening genealogy open house, 6:30-9:30 PM, July 14th. It is possible that many of youwith ties to this area may connect with distant “cousins” or perhaps just gather for a pleasant evening with fellow attendees. Dr.John Haugo will present a program on “Norman Borlaug, Nobel Laureate Agricultural Scientist.” Martin Borlaug, who had an-cestral ties to Norway, developed a hardy strain of wheat as a young research scientist that transformed wheat production inmany parts of the world. A movie, “Sweet Land,” will be shown to conclude the evening’s activities. This movie is based on ashort story by Will Weaver, our speaker at Sigdalslag’s Anniversary Celebration on Sunday. DVDs of the movie will be availablefor purchase. As usual, there also will be a class to orient first time stevne attendees.

Two motor coach tours on Friday, July 15th, have been planned. See the registration form for reserving places for both ofthese tours. The first, on Friday morning, will visit the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead, Minnesota, the home of replicas ofthe Hopperstad Stave Church and a Viking ship, the Hjemkomst. Participants should meet in the parking lot to the front of thehotel as the bus will leave promptly at 8:30 AM. Please allow adequate time for checking in and boarding. The second tour willleave at 12:30, again promptly from the front parking lot, for the drive to Fergus Falls, site of Sigdalslag’s first meeting. High-lights of the tour will include a visit to the Ottertail County Historical Museum, the historic city of Fergus Falls, and a dinner atBethlehem Lutheran Church. For those individuals participating in both tours only, we have arranged for a box lunch to beavailable since there may not be time for a restaurant meal. The box lunch may be ordered on the registration form. The tourto Fergus Falls will return to the Doublewood Inn in time to attend the evening meeting.

A third option on Saturday morning, July 16th, is a self-driving tour to Bonanzaville, 1351 West Main Avenue, WestFargo, which is a short drive from the Doublewood Inn. Bonanzaville features a collection of historic buildings from the areaarranged in a village-like setting. Please indicate on the registration form if you have an interest in going to Bonanzaville on Sat-urday morning since this will help them determine staffing for the day. Adult admission is $7, Children $4, children 5 and underfree. Pay at Bonanzaville. Prices are subject to change. The village opens at 10:00 AM.

The genealogy room will be open 6:30-9:30 Thursday evening, 1:00-7:00 Friday and from 9:00-2:30 Saturday. Each ofthe lags experienced genealogists will be available for research help and will have resource materials on hand.

Note the variety of classes offered in addition to the tours. Our talented presenters have prepared a unique array of classesto interest everyone attending. There may be some changes or additions before stevne. We have added programming for chil-dren to provide for the growing number of young people who attend the stevne, either with a parent or grandparent. As withprevious years, students will be welcomed with free registration.

Two requests: Kim Baird, textile expert, who will present a program on quilts, has requested that anyone owning an old quiltbring it to show and share or bring a picture to her session at 10:00 on Friday. Betty Knutson will once again be presenting herHardanger Embroidery Workshop. Interested participants should contact her directly for instructions per the registration form.

Dr. Steven Hoffbeck our speaker for the general meeting on Friday evening, July 15th, is a history professor at Minne-sota State University, Moorhead, Minnesota, and author of several books including The Haymakers, a Chronicle ofFive Farm Families. “Hayloft Memories: Barns of Minnesota and North Dakota” is histopic for the evening. Dr. Hoffbeck will offer books for sale and also autograph yourpurchase.

Max Manus, a Norwegian movie about a WWII resistance leader, is scheduled for4:00 on Friday afternoon. It is based on a true story of Max Manus and his “Oslo”band of saboteurs who fought against the occupying Nazis.

The 7-Lag banquet on Saturday evening, July 16th, offers two menus: 1. HandRolled Chicken Cordon Bleu with Ham and Swiss Cheese served with Rosemary RoastedPotatoes and Glazed Candied Carrots. 2. Slow Roasted Beef with Jardiniere Sauce servedwith Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Glazed Candied Carrots. Both menus choices include aMandarin Salad with Crispy Wontons and Poppy Seed Dressing (on the side) served withthe hotel’s signature Popovers. Traditional Rice Pudding topped with Lingonberry Sauceis on the menu for dessert. And … let us not forget the lefse!

(Continued on page 4)


Musicians from Oregon, Andy and Dan Emert, National Champion Fiddlers with ancestral ties to Sigdal, will favor uswith their music while leading us into the banquet area. They will also play as they lead the Bunad Parade and as we areseated. CDs of their music will be available for purchase after the banquet. Our speaker for the evening, Art Lee, retired Pro-fessor of History at Bemidji State University, is a celebrated humorist and author of books with a Norwegian flavor.

Sunday is reserved for the individual lag meetings, places and times to be determined.

Sigdalslag will sponsor a special celebration in honor of its 100th birthday on Sunday, July 17th. Smorgasbord Banquet:$23. You are all invited, whether or not you have ties to Sigdal, Eggedal and Krødsherad. We are all connected through ourimmigrant ancestors who braved so much to come to the New World. We are honored that so many Norwegian visitors will behere to share in this celebration. A general meeting at 8:30 AM is planned to begin the day to be followed by a program entitled“From Crofts to Luxury Cabins: A Huge Leap in Time and Development,” presented by Birger Moen, a visitor from Norway.Following a delicious smorgasbord banquet, we are privileged to present Andy and Dan Emert, National Champion Fiddlers,who will play selections of their music. Will Weaver, author of books which include A Gravestone Made of Wheat, a collection ofshort stories, one of which was the basis for the movie, Sweet land, will speak. His presentation, “With Love From Minnesota:The ‘Old Country’ in Midwest Fiction and Film,” will conclude Sigdalslag’s Anniversary Celebration. Mr. Weaver will havebooks available for purchase and signing. Look for the separate Centennial registration form included in this newsletter to regis-ter for this event.

Miscellaneous Information:

-There is a restaurant on site for meals as well as a lounge/casino for lighter fare.

-Our Hospitality Suite will be open during most of the stevne for beverages, cookies and visiting.

-The Birch/Walnut rooms will be home to the vendors, times to be determined.

Additional classes, demos, workshops:

-Darlene Ellefson, Lefse Demo

-Linda Mohn, Sigdalslag Member, Norwegian Folk Dance, adults and children

-Birgitta Meade, Sigdalslag Member, CONCURRENT CHILDREN’S PROGRAMING, Friday and Saturday afternoons.

All of us in Sigdalslag hope you will have an enjoyable and festive experience at the 7-Lag Stevne this summer! Welook forward to seeing you!

Stevne Tours

HJEMKOMST CENTER TOUR: $15, 8:30-11:30 AM, Friday, July 15th:

Participants will board a motor coach for the trip to the Hjemkomst Center where they will learnabout the Hjemkomst, a replica of a Viking ship, and the Hopperstad Church, a replica of anancient stave church. They will also view a documentary of the Hjemkomst’s story.

Built by Robert Asp, a Moorhead school guidance counselor, the Hjemkomst was sailed fromDuluth, Minnesota, to Bergen, Norway, in the summer of 1982. Modeled after the Gokstad bur-ial ship (built around 800 AD), the Hjemkomst made the 6,100 mile trip in 72 days. The ship’screw of thirteen included four of Robert Asp’s children, three sons and one daughter! The shiptook 100 oak trees, 7000 rivets, and 8 years to build. It is 76 feet long, 17 feet wide and weighs16 tons. After completion in 1980, Mr. Asp was able to sail it on Lake Superior before hepassed away later that year. It had been his dream to build a Viking ship such as this and sail itto Norway, the land of his ancestors. Hjemkomst (pronounced Yem-komst) is the Norwegianword for homecoming.

The Hopperstad Stave Church is a replica of an ancient church found in Vik, Sogn, Norway,which was built in the mid 1100s. It was the dream of local chemist, Guy Paulson, who withthe help of family and friends constructed the church over a span of five and a half years. Stave churches derive their namefrom the vertical log columns that act as corner supports. There are several types of stave church, but the common elementto all is the corner post or stave and a framework of timber wall planks standing vertically. By the year 1500, it is believedthere were more than 1000 of these churches in Norway. Fewer than 30 survive to this day. The stave church combined art

Hjemkost Center


Hjemkomst Stave Church Hjemkomst Ship

with wood working. Mr. Paulson, a talented wood carver,completed all the ornate carvings himself. The church wasdedicated in 1998 as a gift from the Paulson family to theCenter and the city of Moorhead.

There will be an opportunity to review Hjemkomst Cen-ter’s Heritage Hall exhibit, “150 Years of Immigration”,which focuses on immigrant life in Clay County and theregion from the 1850s to today. Learn who came here,when, what made them leave their homeland and why theychose to stay.

Visitors may also spend time in the Clay County Archives,situated on the lower level, which houses archival materialavailable for research. Motor Coaches must be boardedpromptly at 11:00 for the trip back to the Doublewood Inn.

FERGUS FALLS TOUR: $29, 12:30-7:00 PM, Friday, July 15th:

Fergus Falls, Minnesota, was the site of Sigdalslag’s first annual meeting in 1911. The tour will leave Fargo by motorcoach promptly at 12:30 and arrive at the Otter Tail County Historical Museum in Fergus Falls by 1:30. From authenticallyrecreated dioramas and period rooms to creative hands-on activities, the museum is a unique cultural and educational re-source in Otter Tail County. You will learn, for example, about education and the early years in Otter Tail Schools. Thepioneers, many of whom were our very own ancestors, organized these schools beginning in 1869, in hopes of getting“something better” for their children. The museum is also home to a genealogy and local history research center where visi-tors may have access to information helpful in researching family history.

The afternoon will continue with a narrated motor coach tour of Fergus Falls, a city located on the Otter Tail River. It hasbeen said that Otter Tail County was named by the local Native Americans who compared a sand bar in Otter Tail Lake tothe tail of an otter. It was water that drew people to Fergus Falls which was settled when transportation and industry weredependent on water power. Dozens of historic buildings and sites in the downtown area tell the story of those who settledhere. Included in the drive will be the beautiful campus of the Regional Treatment Center. The castle-like KirkbrideTower, built in the 1890s, is one of the few remaining complete examples of a Thomas Kirkbride designed psychiatric hos-pital. At one time, the complex housed as many as 2000 patients.

The tour will conclude with a church supper at Bethlehem Lutheran Church which had its beginnings as far back as 1872.Bethlehem Church was destroyed by a tornado in June of 1919, an event which devastated the entire area. The church wasquickly rebuilt by Bethlehem’s 200 members and ready for use again in 1920. After a delicious and typical church supperof meatballs, mashed potatoes and lefse, attendees will board their motor coach for the trip back to Fargo arriving in time toattend the 7-Lag yearly meeting.

BONANZAVILLE: 1351 West Main Avenue, West Fargo, ND 58078, $7 adults, $4 children 6-16, free for children 5 andyounger, open at 10:00 AM, Saturday, July 16th.

Bonanzaville is located not far from the Doublewood Inn so attendees may drive to the site of this historical village of morethan 40 buildings. Guests will take a step back in time to the Red River Valley at the end of the 1800s and early 1900s.Tours are self guided to allow time for visiting the many attractions. The buildings are restored to the style of the periodand are filled with authentic artifacts from Fargo’s earliest house dating from 1869 to the Page Hotel which didn’t close itsdoors until 1967. Look for the one-room schoolhousewhich served students well into the twentieth century, theCass County Courthouse which is arranged as it was in1904, the Land Office Bank where hopeful land seekersfiled the papers necessary for land ownership, the Furn-berg Store which provided settlers with supplies and wasalso the local post office, and so much more. Experiencewhat it was like for people who lived and worked in theRed River Valley’s settlement days.


Stevne Daily Schedule

Thursday, July 14, 2011

6:30-9:00 Registration (Redwood Court)

6:30-9:30 GENEALOGY OPEN HOUSE, free and open to the public (Woodland South)

7:00-10:00 Hospitality Room Open (Suite 174, across from registration area)

7:00-7:45 First Time Attendee Class (Chestnut Room, next to Hospitality room)

7:00-8:00 “Norman Borlaug, Nobel Laureate Agricultural Scientist,” Dr. John Haugo (Woodland N and E)

8:00-10:00 Movie, Sweet Land (Woodland North and East)

Friday, July 15, 2011


8:30-11:30 Hjemkomst Museum Tour (Meet bus in front hotel parking lot, bus leaves

promptly at 8:30)

9:30-5:00 Hospitality Room Open (closed 12:00-1:00)

10:00-3:30 Classes (Elm, Cedar, Chestnut Rooms)

12:30-7:00 Fergus Falls Tour (Meet bus in hotel front parking lot, bus leaves

promptly at 12:30)

1:00-2:00 Children’s Class, Birgitta Meade, (Executive Board Room II)

1:00-7:00 Genealogy Room Open (Woodland South)

2:30-3:30 Children’s Class, Birgitta Meade (Executive Board Room II)

4:00-6:00 Movie, Max Manus (Woodland N and E)

7:30 General Meeting and Program (Woodland N and E)

9:00-10:00 Hospitality Room Open

Saturday, July 16, 2011


9:00-2:30 Genealogy Room Open (Woodland South)

9:00-1:00 Hardanger Class, Betty Knutson (Executive Board Room I)

9:30-4:00 Hospitality Room Open (closed 12:00-1:00)

10:00 Bonanzaville opens for drive yourself visit

10:00-3:30 Classes (Elm, Cedar, Chestnut Rooms)

10:00-11:00 Lefse Demonstration, Darlene Ellefson (Executive Board Room II)

1:00-2:00 Children’s Norwegian Dance Class, Linda Mohn (Birch-Walnut)

1:00-2;00 Lefse Demonstration, Darlene Ellefson (Executive Board Room II)

2:30-3:30 Adult’s Norwegian Dance Class, Linda Mohn (Birch-Walnut)

2:30-3:30 Children’s Class, Birgitta Meade (Executive Board Room II)

3:30-4:30 “Randi Bjorkvik Arkiv on DVD,” Anne Sladky (Cedar classroom)

5:30-6:00 Gather by Lags outside of Woodland Square


6:00 Enter Woodland Square by Lags, Bunad Parade

6:30 Banquet and Program (Woodland Square)

9:00 Sigdalslag Open House (Judy Sosted’s suite #162, poolside)

Sunday, July 17, 2011

8:30 Sigdalslag’s 100th Anniversary Celebration & Smorgasbord Lunch Banquet

Other Individual Lag Meetings.

Stevne Class Schedule

Time Cedar Room Elm Room Chestnut Room

10:00 am “Church Split in Norwegian GroveTownship, Otter Tail County”

Chris Schuelke

“Genealogy 101”Rod Pletan

“Quilt History, Norwegianand Otherwise”

Kim Baird

1:00 pm “Clay County Archives”Mark Piehl

“Alt for Norge,” A RealityShow Experience

Pastor Grant Aaseng

“Institute for RegionalStudies, NDSU”

Dr. John Bye

2:30 pm “Canadian Genealogyon the Internet”

Garth Ulrich

“Red River Valley GenealogySociety Library”

Jackie Marler

Time Cedar Room Elm Room Chestnut Room

10:00 am “Keeping Family Histories”Jeff Sauve

“Knives Made in theNordic Tradition”

Erik Meade

1:00 pm “NAHA. An ArchivistBird’s Eye View”

Jeff Sauve

“Skogfjorden, NorwegianLanguage Camp”

Concordia Language Camp

“Retracing a Bike RideAcross Norway”Sasha Aslanian

2:30 pm “Homestead and LandEntry Records”

Dr. Verlyn Anderson

“Sigdal, Eggedal, Krødsherad, theBunads of Today”

Sigrid Kvisle

“The Kensington Runestone.Facts, Fiction and Myths”

Melvin Conrad


Best Western Doublewood Inn and Conference Center: 135 rooms have been reserved at $76 plus tax per night for the “7Lag” Group. The cut-off date for reserving is 21 June. Rooms are equipped with microwave, fridge, coffee maker, flat screenTV, high speed internet, etc. A restaurant on site offers a very reasonably priced breakfast.Phone Number: 701-235-3333Address: 3333 13th Avenue South, Fargo, ND 58103

Hampton Inn: 20 rooms have been reserved at $99 plus tax per night for the “Norwegian Group”. The cut-off date for re-serving if 31 May. Rooms have either a king bed or 2 double beds. They offer a continental breakfast.Phone Number: 701-235-5566Address: 3431 14th Avenue South, Fargo, ND 58103

AmericInn Lodge and Suites: 30 rooms have been reserved at $81.90 plus tax per night for the “7 Lag Stevne” Group. Thecut-off date for reserving is 16 June. Each room has 2 queen beds, microwave, fridge, flat screen TV, etc. They offer a freecontinental breakfast.Phone Number: 701-234-9946Address: 1423 35th Street Southwest, Fargo, ND 58103

Country Inn and Suites: 30 rooms have been reserved at $99 plus tax per night for the “Norwegian Group”. The cut-off datefor reserving is 14 June. Each room has 2 queen beds, fridge, microwave coffee maker, etc. They offer a Deluxe Continentalbreakfast.Phone Number: 701-234-0565Address: 3316 13th Avenue South, Fargo, ND 58103

Holiday Inn: 20 rooms have been reserved at $94.95 plus tax per night for the “Norwegian Group”. The cut-off date for re-serving is 14 June. Each room has one king bed or 2 queen beds. This is a full service hotel with all the usual amenities. Thereis a restaurant, coffee shop, lounge, casino and swimming pool with water slide.Phone Number: 877-282-2700Address: 3803 13th Avenue South, Fargo, ND 58103

Motel 6: 20 rooms have been reserved for the “Norwegian Group”. Thursday, 14 July, the rate is $49.99 plus tax for one adult,$55.99 plus tax for two adults. Friday and Saturday, 15 and 16 July, the rate is $59.99 plus tax for one adult, $65.99 plus tax fortwo adults. The cut-off date for reserving is 14 June. Each room has two double beds or one queen size bed.Phone Number: 701-232-92511202 36th Street south, Fargo, ND 58103

Lindenwood Campground: Campsites available but none reserved.Phone Number: 701-232-3987Address: 1712 5th Street South, Fargo, ND 58103

The Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-235-7654 is available for help in locating lodging if theabove hotels are filled.

Stevne Lodging

From our Genealogist Garth Ulrich: Thank you to Halvor Kvisle. Halvor translated thearticle “The Husmann Contract” from Norwegian into English for last February’s Saga.


7-LAG REGISTRATION FORM

July 14-16, 2011,

Best Western Doublewood Inn, Fargo, ND

Name(s) _____________________________________________________________________________

Print for badges

Street__________________________________ City___________________________ State___________

Zip___________ Phone_________________________ E-Mail__________________________________

Stevne Registration Fee:$20 per person (postmarked before June 19) $20 X__ person(s)= $__________

$25 per person (June 20 and thereafter) $25 X__ person(s)= $__________

Stevne registration covers classes, presentations, genealogy room and entertainment for one or all days. Does not include tours or banquets.

Students will be admitted free but still must register. Include name and age of students to help us plan

Children’s programming:___________________________________________________________

Saturday Evening Banquet and Program: $23 per person (children included)

Chicken Cordon Bleu: $23 X ____ person(s)= $__________

Slow Roasted Beef: $23 X_____ person(s)= $__________

For special dietary needs, contact Jean Knaak at phone: 651-357-6139 or e-mail: [email protected]

Hjemkomst Center Tour:

8:30 AM-11:30 AM Friday, July 15 $15 X_____ person(s)= $__________

Fergus Falls Tour:

12:30 PM–7:00 PM Friday, July 15 $29 X_____ person(s)= $__________

Box Lunch may be ordered ONLY for those persons going on both the Hjemkomst and Fergus Falls Tours.There may not be enough time to eat lunch in a restaurant between tours. Lunch includes Subway, chips, cookie, and water.Club:_____Veggie:______ $6 X______person(s)= $__________

*No refunds after July 1, 2011* TOTALS= $__________

Bonanzaville: 10:00 AM Saturday, July 16th, $7 adults, $4 children, free for 5 and underYou may drive to Bonanzaville and stay as long as you like. Please indicate if you are interested in visiting as this will help determine

how Bonanzaville will staff that day. Number of persons interested: ________

Hardanger Embroidery Class: 9:00 AM-1:00 PM Saturday, July 16thClass size is limited and pre-registration is needed. Cost $5, payable at time of class. Please contact Betty Knutson to sign up:Phone: 320- 222-1613 or e-mail: [email protected]

I/We are members of: ___Hadeland ___ Land ___ Numedal ___ RDD ___ Sigdal ___ Telemark ___ Toten

Please check all that apply.

Please mail this form with check payable to Sigdalslag no later than June 29th to:

Janice Johnson, 8451 Nicollet Ave. S., Bloomington, MN 55420


SIGDALSLAG 100TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

BEST WESTERN DOUBLEWOOD INN

FARGO, MN

SUNDAY, JULY 17, 2011

Welcome everyone! Help us celebrate Sigdalslag’s 100th anniversary!

Join in the festivities, whether you have connections to the Sigdal, Eggedal and Krødsherad areas of Norway or just wishto participate in this historic event. Sigdalslag is hosting many visitors from Norway, giving us the opportunity to fosterthose connections that tie us all together!

Please use the form below to register for this event since it is separate from the 7-Lag Stevne.

Name(s) ______________________________________________________________________________

Street___________________________________ City__________________________ State____________

Zip______________ Phone_________________________ E-Mail________________________________

REGISTRATION: $23 x ______ person(s)= $___________

This registration fee is only for Sunday, July 17, 2011 and includes meeting, program, and Smorgasbord lunch banquetper person registered, including adults and children.

Schedule (tentative): TOTAL= $___________

8:30 AM: Sigdalslag General Meeting

10:00 AM: Coffee Break/Socializing

11:00 AM: Speaker, Birger Moen from Norway

12:00 Noon: Smorgasbord Lunch Banquet

1:00 PM: Music, Andy and Dan Emert, Champion Fiddlers

1:30 PM: Speaker, author Will Weaver, “From Minnesota with Love: the ‘Old Country’ in Midwest Fiction and Film”

Two Sigdalslag Logo items will be available for purchase at the Fargo 7-Lag Stevne. Long sleeved blue cotton denim shirts ($28) andwhite ceramic mugs ($5) may be purchased in Fargo without the added shipping cost (substantial savings for anyone ordering online,especially from Norway). Please see www.sigdalslag.org and visit the “Members” link to find pictures and info. The shirts run large in size.

To save the added cost of shipping, please indicate an interest in these items so that adequate numbers of shirts and mugs can be orderedand available for purchase at the 7-Lag Stevne in Fargo: XS_____, S_____, M_____, L_____, XL_____, XXL_____. Larger sizes areavailable at $4 extra. Mugs_____.

Please mail this form with check payable to SIGDALSLAG no later than June 29th to:

Janice Johnson, 8451 Nicollet Ave. S., Bloomington, MN 55420


These photos are in the Sigdalslag Archives, please contact Lag Historian Dianne Snellif you have any information regarding them.


The Life and Works of Andreas Mørchcompiled by Dianne Snell, Historian

“Teacher, local historian and bygdebok author. Languageresearcher, genealogist and lay minister. These culturalpursuits are descriptive of the life of Andreas Mørch.”This tribute was written on February 7, 1992, by BorgvoldMoen in the Drammens Tidende & Buskerud Blad in honorof Andreas Mørch’s 90th birthday. A little over a monthlater, March 19, 1992, he died at his home in Prestfoss,Norway.

Mørch’s first teaching job was at Heimtun Folk HighSchool in 1923, and the last 30 years of his life were spentas a teacher and director of Kringstad School in Sigdal. Heserved Sigdal’s main church as “klokker” (clerk) from1939-1976.

As an author, Mørch’s first book was Fra Gamle Dagerpublished in Oslo in 1932 and he went on to publish manymore books and local histories. In 1978 he published awork with over 12,100 place names from Sigdal and Egge-dal, and that same year he was awarded a Gold Medal byKing Olav V for his cultural endeavors.

Mørch can truly be called the “Father of Genealogy” in theannals of Sigdal and Krødsherad Kommuner. Probably hismost noteworthy accomplishments were as author of theSigdal/Eggedal bygdebøker, Volumes I-V, (1954-1965) andKrødsherad, Volumes I-III (1975-1976). These volumeshave been valuable resources for Sigdal and Krødsheraddescendants to research their roots and locate their ances-tral farms and families. The Sigdal bygdebøker were up-dated in 2008 bringing the farm histories up to the presentday.

Håvard Støvern, a good friend of Mørch and director of thePrestfoss Museum at the time of Mørch’s death, said ofhim: “Mørch has had his finger in almost everything hav-ing to do with cultural history in Sigdal. I think nobodyreally understands how much he has accomplished for the(Sigdal) bygda.” Støvern added, “He has always been easyto work with, he has a fine sense of humor, and likes to getothers laughing.”

Regarding Mørch’s books, his “soknprest” (pastor) NjålGjennestad wrote in the church newsletter Menighets-bladen, “When we came to Sigdal area in 1980, we weregiven Vol. IV & V of the bygdebøker in order to understandthe people better, or so the mayor said. With these booksthe people have perhaps also learned more about them-selves!”

Andreas Mørch was passionate in his quest to connect thepeople of Sigdal and Krødsherad with the descendants ofthe immigrants in the New World. In 1980 he made his

first trip to America with his wife and a friend, Tostin O.Aasen, to gather information, to update his research and tochronicle the stories of the relatives of Norwegian familieswho had immigrated. During his stay here he attended theStevne in Moorhead where he showed slides and spoke tothe group about family history. Mørch taped many inter-views with Norwegian families he met in the States.

In an interview published in the Grant County Herald, July10, 1980, Mørch said he had been studying Norwegianfamily histories in Sigdahl (sp.), Eggedahl (sp.) and Hom-medahl (sp) for 60 years. He explained that these“provinces” in Norway were like large populated town-ships with many small farms. In the article Mørch and hiswife Kristine were pictured with their hosts, Mr. and Mrs.Art Sand of Elbow Lake, MN, and his friend Aasen at theSand home.

Mørch stated that from his home in Prestfoss, he operatedan “information service” of sorts to help people locate theirNorwegian roots. He received and answered many lettersfrom Americans wishing to find their relatives in Norway.

Mørch explained that when he was 17 years old he devel-oped an interest in the history of his region and began re-searching and writing the history of each family.

Mørch and his son Asbjørn made a follow-up trip to Amer-ica in May-June of 1981 at the urging of the mayor of Sig-dal, Håvard Nymoen, and partially supported by Sigdalslagby way of a challenge fund.

The challenge was to get ten sponsors who would contrib-

Andreas Mørch


ute $100 each to initiate the fund. By the publication of theApril 1981 Saga seven sponsors had answered the chal-lenge. By the time Mørch and his son arrived on May 20,two more sponsors had been added.

In a letter from Mørch published in the 1983 Saga, Vol. IIINo. 1, in part: “I promised last summer to give to the Sig-dalslag a short summary of the tour which my son and Imade in Minnesota and North Dakota in May and June of1981. It was really an adventure for us which we valuehighly….”

“With the Berglund’s cozy home in Northfield as a startingpoint we traveled south to Rock Dell and Rochester, whereAlvin Evenson guided us around in old Sigdal Territory.Whenever we came to a new place we made use of thetelephone book to determine whether there were still any ofour people living there. In most cases they were the de-scendants of people from our district.”

“Most of the people we met who had come from Sigdaland the surrounding area in Norway were between 70 and

95 years old. We were able to make tape recordings ofSigdal-Eggedal dialect which in a few years will be irre-placeable. We also took about 600 photographs of peo-ple.”

“May I put it this way,” he continued. “It must now bethe Sigdalslag’s task to gather material in each county orarea, with one or two persons being responsible for col-lecting it. Material which is gathered in this way shouldbe preserved at one of the universities, perhaps two, inMinnesota and North Dakota.”

In the summer of 1984 Sigdalslag sisters Irene Navarreand Evelyn Jones and their husbands traveled to Norwayand while there, they met with Mørch and mayor HåvardNymoen to help pave the way for the Sigdalslag 75th anni-versary trip to Norway in 1986. Says Irene, “It was a verycordial meeting, however communication with Mørch wasdifficult since he spoke very little English.” FortunatelyEggedal cousin, Guri Enger, who could interpret bothways, was by their side. Bjarne Nerdalen, another ofIrene’s Eggedal cousins, arranged the meeting at thePrestfoss museum.

Although there is no doubt that Mørch and his works havebeen an invaluable asset to the people of Sigdalslag, thereis one more side benefit that is less well-known. Hisbooks were the inspiration for our Genealogist EmeritusLee Rokke to become a Sigdalslag member. After shestarted using Mørch’s books for genealogy research, shewent to the 1981 Stevne at Devils Lake, North Dakota,just to meet him and joined at that time. The rest is his-tory! Lee has been and continues to be one of the Lag’svalued treasures and has carried on Mørch’s legacy tostrengthen the ties of the Norwegian-Americans with theirNorwegian relatives. And she has a St. Olaf’s medal toprove it for her work to “keep and strengthen the strongbonds between Norway and the Upper Midwest.” (AnitaHelland, presenter and then Norwegian Consulate).

I’m sure that Andreas Mørch is smiling with approval thatthe work he started is still going strong on both sides -through the Sigdal Museum at Prestfoss in Norway andthrough Sigdalslag of America.

Planning meeting in Eggedal 1984 or 1986 Heritage Tour

From left: Sigdal Mayor Håvard Nymoen, Guri Enger ofEggedal, Andreas Mørch, son Asbjørn Mørch, and

Irene Navarre of Albuquerque, NM.


Under Norefjell portrait:Harold Medalen – from Eggedal, resistance fighter

during the war and fishing in Alaska

Article from Under Norefjell, 2010 No. 2,by Håkon Frøvold (translated to English by Scott Brunner)

Harold was born on the farm Medalen in Nordbygda,Eggedal in 1926, the second child in a Christian family ofthree. His parents were Helje and Jørand (Stavn) Medalen.In August this year, we met him at his youngest sister’s,Mari Frøysa. He is a tall, powerful 84-year-old whogreeted us with his wife Sigrid. Much of the purpose ofthis meeting was to get a glimpse into his eventful and dra-matic life. He speaks in the Eggedal dialect with a sprin-kling of American - not surprising after about 60 years inAlaska.

The war years 1940 to 1945After elementary school he was to get a job on a farm or asa forestry worker. As the war went into the 1940s, heeventually became engaged in resistance work and at-tended the Officer Candidate Course winter/spring 1945,which took place at Djupsjøen and Haglebu (places northof Eggedal). On the 26th of April we know that there wasengagement with enemy forces around Haglebu waters,and Harold had his position in a military unit at Grantan-gen (Norwegians fought one of the last battles of WWII atGrantangen). After about four hours of shooting, the Nor-wegian forces chose to withdraw. At that time six Norwe-gian soldiers were killed and three people were seriouslywounded. One of the injured was Harold Medalen. A riflebullet had struck into his right upper arm. The hole of thebullet entry was pretty insignificant. But where the bullethad exited, it had torn out so much muscle mass that youcould fill the hole with almost an entire hand. He wasplaced on a sledge and carried northwards towardsBromma (place near Nes, Hallingdal). After a while, aGerman-Fiesler Storch (a small aircraft) at low altitudetried to find out where the Norwegian forces had taken theroad. The men hid under firs and dense thicket. Harold,who was lying on the sled, was camouflaged with barkpieces, and through the spruces he saw clearly the pilot ofthe plane which flew slowly just above the treetops. AtTrøgaset (near Flå, Hallingdal) another of the woundeddied.

After several hours of strenuous hiking and with the helpof the man known as Hallgrim Tørrisplass, they reached acabin by Svantjenn. There Harold lay for six days alongwith another wounded soldier and his brother Kristian andKnut Urdal. The damage in his arm was getting worse andHarold was taken down to the village, where he lay for an-

other four days at the parsonage in Nes (Hallingdal). Thenthey began to fear that it would become gangrene and hewas taken to Dr. Pahle in Ål (Hallingdal). He was calledthe railway doctor and was known to be good to “fix” vari-ous injuries. From there he went to Drammen hospitalwhere he stayed until mid-June. Harold has never had acompletely healthy arm, and has ever since been strugglingwith pain.

AlaskaAfter the war there was little work and Harold took oddjobs, among other things to keep the cabins in order whichMr. Mowinckel had in various sizes and prices. Chancewould have it that the Norwegian consul in Seattle, USA,visited the cottage of Mr. Toralf Mowinckel (uncle of Mr.Magdalon who later settled in the lower Eggedal). Haroldcame in to talk with him and discussed that he should comeover to the West Coast, and that he could get work there.He went in 1950 and started work at a sawmill in Peters-burg, which is a small town in southern Alaska. The popu-lation of the town consisted largely of people who eithercame from Norway or stemmed from there. Most camefrom north-west Norway.

Quite soon Harold began to join a crew on fishing boats,fishing for salmon and halibut. This was an occupationwhich gave relatively good income, and in 1964 Haroldbought his own boat. Thus it was fishing for salmon andhalibut off Alaska’s west coast which became his liveli-hood. The fishing took place at any time during the sum-

Crown Prince Harald and Harold Medalenin 1990 Grantangen

mer. The salmon were caught with drift nets, and halibut with line. They stayed outat the fishing grounds several days. The catch was put on ice before they reached theshore and before the fish was delivered. When Harold was not out at the fishinggrounds, he worked at a marine dealer and elsewhere on the pier in Petersburg. Har-old married in North Dakota to Sigrid Dokken, whose father was from Nes in Hal-lingdal. They have four children and two of them have taken over two fishing boatsof which Harold is now retired. Harold has visited family and acquaintances in the“old country” many times. Several times he has participated in the memorial markersfor the Haglebu squad, most recently it was held in August 2010. When then-CrownPrince Harald visited Grantangen at Haglebu in 1990, Harold presented him a capfrom Alaska, and in 1995 Harold was granted an audience with King at the palace.Despite the hardships both mentally and physically during the war and a strenuoustime in Alaska, Harold is today an incredibly spry man, with humor and a twinkle inhis eye. And maybe there will be another trip back to family in Eggedal in a fewyears.

Note: Harold Medalen is a current Sigdalslag Member. His family anticipates attending the 2011Stevne in Fargo. Harold with a nice

Pacific Salmon

My Interest in Norwegian Folk Danceby Linda Mohn

My interest in Norwegian ancestry began when I took aScandinavian history class in college. In order to com-plete my paper for the class, I interviewed my grandfatherwho told me the story of his grandparent’s journey toMinnesota from Norway. This led to a genealogy projectdone jointly with my father, who translated pages fromthe bygdebøker of Krødsherad, Buskerud, which includedthe ancestral farm Sortebergmoen.

In 2004 I joined both the Sons of Norway and the Norwe-gian Troll Dancers in Jamestown, North Dakota. JuliaSchlacht started the Norwegian Troll Dancers in 1977 atthe age of 70. As an immigrant daughter, Julia wanted topreserve the dances she learned growing up in North Da-kota. In 1997, the Sons of Norway developed the culturalskills program for Folk Dance and in 1998 the Jamestowngroup became the first group in Sons of Norway to earntheir cultural skills pins. Julia (who was now 99) contin-ued to lead the group until 2007. In 2006, I received mycultural skills pin for Folk Dance, which means I mastereda song dance, figure dance, and couples dance at the easy,intermediate and advanced levels for a total of 9 dances.In 2007 Julia turned leadership responsibility over to me.

Since 2007 the Norwegian Troll Dancers have attendedthe Sons of Norway District IV Folk Dance workshops,where we learn more dances. We currently have approxi-mately 30 different dances that we perform. There are 14dancers in the group of women, who range in age from 30to 85. Twelve of us have earned cultural skills pins forfolk dance. Each dancer wears a bunad during perform-

ances. My bunad, which is green with a plaid apron, ispatterned after the bunad from the Nordland fylke, whichis where Donna Island is located, where my paternalgrandmother was born.

Every year the Norwegian Troll Dancers perform at Syt-tende Mai for the local Sons of Norway lodge and for sixlocal nursing homes. We have also performed at localCultural fests, Music in the Park and we will be perform-ing at Enderlin, ND on May 14, 2011, for their NordicEvent.

In July 2011 I am looking forward to teaching some danceto both children and adults at the 7 Lag Stevne. I hope tosee some of you there.


Early Sigdalers Supported Their Native HomeCompiled by Dianne Snell, Historian

The Founders of Sigdalslag strongly believed that one ofthe goals of the organization should be to provide assis-tance to the people of their native land, specifically the citi-zens of Sigdal, Eggedal and Krødsherad.

A group from Sigdalslag visited the home parish in 1914and presented a memorial gift of kroner 8,500 to establish afund to bring electricity to Eggedal, with the promise thatcollecting for the fund was still going on.

The Eggedal residents put on a big dinner and celebrationfor the Americans. “Lights and power in our homes iswhat our Eggedøler over there will give us,“ stated Sher-iff’s Officer Kopseng, chairman of the welcoming commit-tee, “But now it is our turn and our duty to bring thethought to reality.”

The Americans, however, did not go home empty-handed.At that same celebration, the appreciative Norwegians pre-sented the Sigdal visitors with a beautiful silk banner - thevery same banner that Sigdalslag has proudly displayed ateach annual Stevne since 1915.

The banner was manufactured in Norway by Karl Lundand paid for with a collection from the people. The frontside shows Norway’s coat of arms encircled by a wreath,and the words, in Norwegian of course, “There is strengthin numbers” and in smaller letters, “A remembrance of1914.” On the back side, which is as beautiful as the front,are the words, “The world is wide and the ways aremany.” (Translations by Rosella Goettelman)

As Rev. (Olaf) Turmo stepped to the platform for the ac-ceptance speech, an electric light shone out over the hall.Chairman Kopseng had arranged for an engineer, generatorand other equipment to be there to give the people “a littletaste of what the future had in store.” Rev. Turmo offeredthese words to the hosts: “You think you have much to bethankful for, but we have more. We owe everything to oldNorway.”

The banner was formally presented to the Sigdalslag as-sembly during the Stevne in Fargo, ND in 1915. PresidentG. T. Braatelien, accepted the priceless gift with thesewords: “The large gathering here today shows that we areproud of the parish we are descended from. We are proudof our ancestors. We remember the land in the north withlove, especially the parishes which now honor us with thatbeautiful gift. We receive it with thanks and the hope thatwe over here will hold our inheritance in high regard.”

Another charity taken on by early Sigdalslag members wasfor the building of a “gamleheimen” (old people’s home)

in Sigdal. This project was a passion of the Lag founder,Anders B. Pedersen, who was president for just one yearand then retired due to poor health, but was active in heartand in deed until his death in 1919. As early as 1916 headvocated that the group should contribute to a fund forthis facility in Eggedal, and he never wavered from thatgoal. He suffered a stroke in 1916 and was too ill to attendstevner any longer, but he sent out hundreds of letters toSigdalslag members and other immigrants from the Sigdalarea, and wrote articles for the Norwegian newspapers. Asa result a Sigdalslag fund was officially established for theold people’s home, and at the annual meeting in Minot, NDin 1917 the following was reported:

“Vice President K E. Nelson made some remarks in regard

to the Sigdal gift. He announced that $201.25 was left to

be collected and now Erik Ramstad had said that if the

other Sigdøler would pay $1.25 he would put in the re-

maining $200. Nelson said that he had $1.25 quite handy,

Standing by the banner in 2004, Francis Turmoof West Hurley, NY, the grandson of Rev.Olaf Turmo who first accepted the banner

from the residents of Sigdal in 1914

so he put it in the Sigdal gift. So now the collection reachedthe amount that was first decided upon for the old people’shome in Sigdal. F. T. Grønvold, chairman and treasurer ofthe Eggedal gift, reported that $2,400 had been collected andthe money had been sent to Norway. It was deposited in abank there and is earning interest. It was decided at thecommittee meeting that there still will be an opportunity todonate to the Eggedal gift if there are some who would liketo give to the cause. A little money has come in at this stevnetoo. He hoped that the others would take the opportunity toadd their names on the list.”

As later history would show, Sigdalslag continued donatingto the old people’s home fund well after it was built. Inmeeting reports from 1931 at Decorah, it was stated thatmoney was still coming in as memorials. At that time Presi-dent Carl O. Hagen said, “Previous reports in the DecorahPosten were Kroner 25,011.70, of which kr. 20,000 is in gov-ernment bonds and kr. 5,011.70 in Sigdal Savings Bank.”Additional donations of approximately $550.00 were re-ceived during that stevne.

These gifts generated by our early founders were gifts thatjust keep on giving to the present day. Of course, Eggedalstill has electricity, and the old people’s home remains asbeautiful as ever and is still being used in another capacity.What is the status of the gamleheimen today? This updatecomes from Sigrid Kvisle, Sigdal-Eggedal Museum Directorand historian in Prestfoss:

“The home was, so to say, finished in autumn of 1921 butdue to lack of money they postponed the opening ceremonyuntil 1922. I have been doing a lot of research in old files inSigdal kommune to find out who the architect was, as it isassumed it was Arnstein Arneberg – one of Norway’s mostfamous architects. (The Viking ship house, Skaugum (royalfamily), Oslo Rådhus etc.). He was a good friend of ourpainter Robert Wik living in Sigdal, and Arneberg visitedhim and drew his house from around 1911 on Skogheimfarm. I still have not found the information I want, so wehave to guess. However, my grandpa Halvor Kvisle was thehead of the building committee – and my aunt Aase born1907 used to say it was Arneberg.

It was used as a home for old people until 1972 – when thenew Sigdalsheimen was finished. Then it was used as a kin-dergarten and meeting places for retired people etc. until itwas taken down and stored at the Museum-area in 1987.

I think the rebuilding started 1989-1990 and was finished(painting/furniture and other equipment) in the summer of1995 as Folkemusikksenteret (The Folk Music centre). Itcontains Folk Music archives, rooms for rent, and a lot ofmusic-dance activities and events organized by ourselves orhired by groups. The administration of the Museum is hereas well.”

Sigdal Gamleheimen under construction, circa 1919(from the Sigdalslag archives)

Gamleheimen in Sigdal at its original locationcirca 1930

The same building today as the Folk Music Centerat the Prestfoss Museum

(Two photos complements of Sigrid Kvisle, Sigdal Museum)


Member News ... Please share with us your families news of marriages, graduations, long

term anniversaries, significant milestones, and the passing of loved ones.

In Memory…

Irvin Holtan

(Irvin’s maternal grandfatherwas John Jacobson Ness,

who left Sigdal and came toMinnesota in 1869)

Irvin Nordean Holtan, 91 diedon January 6, 2011 in OklahomaCity, OK. A memorial servicewas scheduled at Mt. FranklinBaptist Church in El Paso,Texas on Sunday, January 16,2011 at 3:00 PM. Stories, jokes,photos and praises to the Lordwere welcomed. Irvin was bornon February 23, 1919 in Hay-field, Minnesota, to Gilbert Oand Ella Sophia Jacobson Hol-tan. He was christened at Trin-ity Lutheran Church, located inHayfield, Minnesota. He wasraised on a farm in the samevicinity where he attendedschool until the eighth grade.On December 28, 1940 he mar-ried Lois Margaret Lang in Trin-ity Lutheran Church, Hayfield,Minnesota. They were marriedfor 61 year until her death onNovember 30, 2001 in El Paso,TX. After the start of WorldWar II, he served in the USArmy and volunteered to be-come a paratrooper. As a mor-tar man in D Troop of the 507thRegiment, he jumped into com-bat in Normandy, France withthe 82nd. He fought in the Bat-tle of the Bulge in Belgium andjumped into combat across theRhein River in Operation Var-sity, in Wesel, Germany bothwhile serving with the 17th Air-borne Division. His unit wasalso briefly attached to the

101st. He was awarded theBronze Star, the European-African-Middle Eastern TheaterService Medal, the DistinguishedUnit Citation Badge. Irvin wasvery proud of capturing a Ger-man soldier during the Nor-mandy Invasion, even thoughhis rifle was empty at the time.He returned to the States afterthe war, he used the G.I. Bill toreturn to the classroom in ElPaso, TX. After completing theclasses he went to work for andlater retired from the El PasoElectric Company first as a ma-chinist and later maintenancesupervisor at the Rio GrandePower plant. Irvin was able toreturn to Normandy, France forthe 25th, 45th, 49th, 50th and60th Anniversary of the D-DayInvasion. Irvin was active mem-ber of Mt. Franklin BaptistChurch where he was a deacon,Sunday School leader andteacher and Royal Ambassadorleader. He was also attendedGrandview Baptist Church.Irvin was a proud member ofthe Benavidez-Patterson "AllAirborne" Chapter, El Paso,Texas. He a general handy manand was always ready to helpfriends and family in need. OnJuly 4, 2004 Irvin marriedDelores Roselyn Rapp Holtan,at Mt. Franklin Baptist Church,El Paso, Texas. He was pre-ceded in death by his wife Lois,of El Paso, his parents, an infantsister, Ardella Frances Holtan,and brother Ernest GordonHoltan all of Hayfield, Minne-sota. Survivors include his wife,Delores Holtan of El Paso, TX,his sister-in-law, Mildred"Millie" Lousia Jensen Holtan ofHayfield, Minnesota. His threechildren: daughter MildredArdella Pritchett and husband

Raymond of McIntosh, NM,son Archie Gilbert Holtan andwife Carol Ann Perkins Holtanof Oklahoma City, OK, anddaughter Dorothea "Dottie"Jane Barnes and husband Wil-liam Robert "Bill" of San Mar-cos, TX. His grandchildren:George Pritchett and wifeSharon Norsworthy Pritchett ofRound Rock, Texas, Ruth AnnPritchett Cooper and husbandDarrel Lynn of Albuquerque,Kevin Gilbert Holtan and wifePatricia Kohler Holtan of Com-fort, Texas, Karen Marie HoltanPatti and husband Mark Reid ofMarlbrough, Massachusetts, andWilliam Alan Howard BaileyBarnes of San Marcos, Texas.Irvin was a wonderful husbandand father, gentile, peaceful andspiritual, and someone welooked up to and are proud tobe known as his wife and chil-dren.

Ruth Roosa

(Sigdalslag member)

Ruth E. Roosa, age 84, a resi-dent of West Chicago for 57years, died peacefully Saturday,August 7 surrounded by herfamily. She was born on August27, 1925, in Chicago, to Tosten

and Martha Kjemhus.

On April 28, 1945, Ruth marriedArnold Roosa in Chicago. Theybuilt their home in West Chi-cago in 1953 and raised threedaughters. She was active invarious churches includingWheaton Evangelical FreeChurch and Faith CommunityChurch in West Chicago. Shewas passionate about familyhistory and was proud of herNorwegian heritage. She wasloved and adored by all she met.

She was survived by her hus-band, Arnold, her daughters,Judith VanZanten of West Chi-cago, Patricia (Kim) Wall ofMontgomery, and Deborah(Steven) Ferguson of West Chi-cago, seven grandchildren, Msgt.Bryan (Sara) VanZanten, Mi-chael (Jennie) Wall, Steven(Linnea) Ferguson II, DanielFerguson, Timothy Wall,Melissa (Param) Ferguson-Thadani, and Sarah (Michael)Clark, five great-grandchildren,Steven Ferguson III, Jacob Wall,Nathan Ferguson, Shaun Wall,and Lillian Clark, and three step-great-grandchildren, Brandyn,Mikey, and Nicole Baluga. Ruthwas preceeded in death by herparents, two sisters, and son-in-law.

Visitation was held on Tuesday,August 10 from 4 to 8 p.m. atHultgren Funeral Home, 304 N.Main Street in Wheaton, andwhere a funeral service was heldon Wednesday at 10 a.m. Inter-ment followed at Chapel HillGardens West in OakbrookTerrace.

Memorials were directed toFaith Community Church, 910Main Street, West Chicago, IL60185.


Surveys & library Contributions - yours are welcome!

These have been added to the Sigdalslag library:

Th. Kittelsen: De lyse arene i Sigdal. Purchased by Sigdalslag. Catalog for exhibition works of Th. Kittelsen held at Stiftelsen

Modums Blaafarveværk the summer of 1980. Depicts trolls and other Norwegian myths and scenes. Color and black & white illus-

trations.

Sigdalslag Web News:

The 2011 Stevne information has been posted. Listed in full are Stevne accommodations, schedule of events, and biographies of

Stevne entertainers and class presenters. You can register on-line and pay via PayPal, or print registration forms for mail-in registra-

tion.

Ancestral Homes farm photos added:

1. Enger Eggedal submitted by Dianne Snell

You can send your farm digital pictures to our Sigdalslag Webmaster, Ed Espe, at [email protected].

Andersen, Karin Aasne

Andersen, Kjell Erik

Andersen, Vidar

Andersen, Synnøve

Arnesen, Bodil

Bakke, Ragnhild

Bjerke, Gerd Beate

Bjertnes, Engebret

Bjørhovden, Gunnar

Bjørndalen, Håkon

Bjørndalen, Marry

Bjørnstad, Kirsten

Bleken, Ingrid

Bråthen, Kåre R.

Florholmen, Åse

Foss, Lars

Fredriksen, Kjell- Arne

Fredriksen, Lillian

Frøvoll, Bjørg

Faane, Tobias

Grønhovd, Else

Grønhovd, Kjell-Arne

Grønhovd, Helge Kristoffer

Gunnes, Anne Lise

Gunnes, Per Arne

Green, Astrid

Green, Ole

Green, Sigrid

Green, Ingeborg

Green, Kåre

Hagavold , Lars

Hagavold, Hanna Karin

Hagavold, Nils

Hagavold, Tore Åge

Hagavold, Torunn Wenny

Hvila, Sigmund

Håre, Nils

Iversen, Knut

Iversen, Tove

Juvet, Bjørn Helge

Kjemperud, Dorothy

Kjernaas, Signe

Kjølstad, Anne-Gudrun

Kjølstad, Egil

Kleiv, Solveig

Klægstad, Tore

Kvisle, Eli Rishovd

Kvisle, Kjell

Kvisle, Sigrid

Lien, Torill

Medrud, Toril

Moen, Birger

Moen, Wenche Glanaas

Mørch, Ragnhild

Narum, Kjellfrid Eva

Nevra, Kitt

Nymoen, Ingar

Nymoen, Karen Sofie

Ragnhildsrud, Halvard

Ragnhildsrud, Synnøve

Ramstad, Hedvig Kristine

Ramstad, Margarethe Medalen

Randstrøm, Rolf

Rimejorde, Bjørg

Rimejorde, Thor Ole

Rolfsrud, Gunnar

Rolfsrud, Knut O.

Rugland, Randi

Rundtom, Ragna

Rustand, Erling

Rustand, Kjell

Rustand Magnhild

Rypås, Kristi

Sand, Arild

Sand, Turid Warloff

Sandvik, Inger

Skatvedt, Marit

Slagstad, Ommund

Slagstad, Guri

Solberg, Bjørg

Solberg, Hans Erik

Solli, Astrid Sandberg

Strøm, Greta

Strøm, Tor Ivar

Sørensen, Karla Julie

Torgersen, Pål

Torgersen, Ragnar

Tveiten, Gunvor

Tveiten, Steinar

Ula, Tore

Ulberg, Anna

Vatnås, Olaf

Vatnås, Liv-Rannveig

Vidvei, Kristian

Vik, Tor Arne

Vik, Torstein

Øen, Runar

Ålien, Liv

Åsand, Ragnhild

Åsen, Ingrid

Åsen, Ola

Åsen, Gunnar

Tour Group from Norway attending the 2011 Stevne in Fargo

Serving Norwegian-Americans of Sigdal,Eggedal & Krødsherad ancestry

Sigdalslag SagaFIRST CLASS MAIL

SIGDALSLAG SAGA IS PUBLISHED IN FEBRUARY,

MAY AND OCTOBER

SIGDALSLAG EDITOR555 HILLTOP DRIVEGREEN BAY, WI 54301

Comments? Suggestions? SAGA solicits featurearticles, news, pictures & obituaries from members.E-mail [email protected], or contact theeditor (see Pg. 2).

Next deadline: September 15, 2011

Changed your mailing or e-mail address?Don’t miss an issue! Please contact Amy Michelsenat [email protected]

NOTE: the YEAR shown on the mailing label nextto your name indicates that your membership ispaid thru DECEMBER of that year.

JOIN SIGDALSLAG NOW! Date______________ Check if Renewal: or Gift:

Full name/s__________________________________________________________________

Street ______________________________________________________________________

City_____________________________________ State______________ ZIP_____________

E-Mail _________________________________________ Phone ______________________

BUSKERUD Family Origin in (circle one) - SIGDAL EGGEDAL KRØDSHERAD

Emigrant Ancestor’s name ______________________________________________________

Farm name ______________________________ ________ Year Emigrated ____________

2011 Dues: USA and CANADA $10/YR or $25/3 YR, in US dollarsELSEWHERE $12/YR or $30/3 YR, in US dollars

Make check payable to Sigdalslag and mail to:AMY MICHELSEN18730 Roanoke Street NWAnoka, MN 55303-8971

Residents of CANADA should make check payable toGarth Ulrich and mail application to:

GARTH ULRICH3099 Dunn DrivePrince Albert, SKS6V 6Y6 CANADA

Write “Sigdalslag dues (3 yr or 1 yr)” on the memoline of the check. Dues in Canadian dollars shouldbe made in the amount equivalent to $10 US (1year) or $25 US (3 years) on the date written.

MembershipAcross the Globe

USA - 259Canada - 22Norway - 70Sweden - 1Japan - 1

We’re on the Web!www.sigdalslag.org

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since 1911 may, 2011 volume 31, issue 2 sigdalslag saga · 2017. 9. 12. · stevne schedule 6...

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