VOL XXII NO 2 M4Y 2002www.sigdalslag.org

Serving People with Ancestry in Sigdal Eggedal and Kmdsherad since 1911

St. Olaf College ChosenFor 2002 Stevne July 11-1-3

Sigdalslag invites its members and friendsto the campus of St. Olaf College,Northfield, MN, for the 7 Lag Stevne July11-13. The theme, Join Hands and Dance,embodies the spirit of the event withtalented Norwegians and Americans comingtogether for this annual celebration.

Outstanding musicians and d~ncers willperform at three stevne programs. It is the16th year that groups with origins in Land,Hadeland, Numedal, Ringerike-Drammen,Sigdal, Telemark, and Toten havecollaborated to plan the 7 Lag Stevne.

.. . , Vocalist Kristen Bergland, a soprano whoA Youthful, Award-winning Fiddler s Club of Ba, Telemark loves to share her songs with audiences,

joins the dancers of the Dassell Leikarring,Dassell, MN, Friday night and Saturday evening the Junior Spelemannslag of Ba, Telemark, Norway, willprovide the featured entertainment following the 5:30 PM banquet which will be held off campus.

Y tterboe Hall is the airconditioned residence hall withan elevator that will be yourcomfortable home when youchoose to have convenienceand many amenities oncampus. A full meal packagewhich includes meals withbeverage and tax is availablefrom lunch ~Thursday to lunchSaturday. Cash payment forindividual meals is alsoavailable, providing that anaccurate estimate of whichmeals you will eat is filled outon the registration form, foundon page 10. Sunday breakfastis available.

Your diligence is asked insending all fees by June 18 tothe lag treasurer who is listedon the registration form. Thischange from previous years

means additional work for the7 Lag planners, lag volunteers,and treasurers; therefore, notethat after June 28, 2002, allfees become non-refundable.

Registration envelopes,including your residence hallkeys, will be available Thursdayat 8 AM in the entrance levelof Buntrock Commons, the newactivity center built in 1999.(Someone will assist with roomcheck in Wednesday eveningfrom 6-9 PM; check the bulletinboard at Buntrock for mostcurrent information).

With vendors of arts and craftsnear the genealogy researchspace in Buntrock Ballroom,most stevne attendees will beheaded for the third level assoon after 8 AM as they can

get there. Sign in at thegenealogy desk before youbegin to use the wide varietyof resource materials and filmsthat are best accessed duringthe stevne.

Genealogy-related classes willbe Thursday only, but researchcontinues through noon Friday.Docents from the Norwegian-American Historical Associationwill offer tours of NAHA'sarchival holdings bothmornings, but you must checkthis:- on the registration form.

For readers not familiar withNAHA, here is a paraphrase ofits purpose: It was organizedin 1925 to locate, collect,preserve and interpret recordsand stories of Norwegian-Americans,(Continued page 6)

FRA PRESIDENTENThis will be the last issue of SA GA under the

current editorlpublisher, Marilyn Somdahl. Shehas done this job and the newsletter mailingssince October 1987 and from 1982-1995 she

was also president. She hasset an awesome example ofvolunteer service to theSigdalslag. Tusen takk,Marilyn! I feel certain that shewill continue to serve in manyways, including assisting thenew editor.

Oneof the big tasks facingthe Sigdalslag this spring is tofind a person to take over thenewsletter,

Our bylaws state that theLag shall publish threenewsletters (February, May,

October) each year, and I believe that this activityis a "vital sign" of the health of our Lag. Theeditor serves in an appointive position, so I amcontacting persons on a list compiled by theExecutive Board at their January meeting. Eachone that is interested also needs adequate timeto determine how this important job could fit intotheir lives. I wouldn't have it any other way. I'mhopeful, but not certain, that we can have a newperson in time to produce the October SAGA.

Another task facing the Lag is to field a slateof candidates for six offices and hold the electionfor these one-year terms Saturday at the stevne.As specified in the bylaws, this task falls to theNominating Committee which Francis Turmo hasagreedonce again to chair. Marguerite MeadeandMarilyn Somdahl have consented to serve withhim. If they ask you to stand for one of the openpositions, I do hope you will give it seriousthought. To date. two current officers (a vicepresident and secretary) wish to retire.

Once again, the bylaws were reviewed by theBoardat the January meeting. taking into accountthe motion for postponement which passed.following discussion at the 2001 stevne. Therecommended changes. which will be brought toa vote in July, appear below. (Note that thecurrent bylaws may be seen on the web site,www_sigdalslag.org.1

Ha det bralEarl Knutson

Changes Proposed in Bylaws

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS,Section 2, to read asfollows: The historian, the Sigdalslag SAGAeditor, the genealogist, the representative to

Norwegian Stevner, Incorporated, and the tworepresentatives to Bygdelagenes Fellesraad shallbe appointed by.the president with the approvalof the other elected officers.

ARTICLEV - MEETINGS, Section 1, change theword "recommended" to "determined".

ARTICLE VI - EXECUTIVE BOARD, Section 5,change "finances" to "non-budgeteddisbursements". Also, rearrange the sentencesas follows: The treasurer and one other Boardmember shall be authorized by signature card todisburse funds. The treasurer shall be authorizedto pay all bills approved by the Executive Boardor by the annual budget. All non-budgeteddisbursements shall be approved by the presidentand one other board member before they are paidby the treasurer.

ARTICLE VIII - PUBLICATIONS, to read asfollows: Editors for special publications shall beappointed by the president with the approval ofthe Board.

ARTICLEXI - DISSOLUTION,Section 2, add theword "monetary" to read: All remaining monetaryassets . .. Add Section 3 to read: TheExecutive Boardshall determine the dispositon ofreal assets.

COMING THIS SUMMER

JUNE 15 - The Norwegian Glee Club HostsRegional SANGERFEST 2002 Concert350 male voices, soloists,Augsburg Centennial Singers andBloomington Symphony Orchestra

7 PM, Radisson Hotel South. 7800 Normandale Blvd,Bloomington. MN Send check for $ T5 ticket withSASEnvelope to Gary Rust, T217 E. T32 St, Burnsville,MN 55337-3946. Inciude your name and phone number.

JULY 14 - 70th NORWAY DAY, Minneapolis. MNat Minnehaha Park, (south side of city)• 10 AM Christian worship service• Purchase- ethnic & Americanpicnic foods

or bring your own• Arts and crafts display and sales• National anthems led by Nordkap Male

Choir a'\d Norwegian Glee Club• Children'sparadeheadsafternoonprogram

of music, song and dance• Nestog's Old-time Orchestra. 5 piece

dancegroupfrom Telemark,NorwayThe event is sponsored by the Norwegian NationalLeague of Minnesota.

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English Translation of 1949 BookWill Be First Sold at Northfield

Sigdalslaget - 1949 will be available at theNorthfield stevne!

At its ;neeting in January, the lag board heard areport that the text and pictures had beensubmitted to the publisher for printing. A decisionwas made that the date of first sale would bemade at the 2002 stevne at St. Olaf in July.

As in the past, books will be for sale at theSIGDAL registration table where you pick up yourbadges (and Ytterboe Hall keys this year). Try toarrive before Friday noon or purchase one at theSigdalslag annual meeting on Saturday. Theregistration will be consolidated for all lag at noonFriday.

Because the lag has been steadily gainingmembers, the board authorized printing morecopies than for earlier books. In addition there aremany people who sent in material, so the lengthof the 1949 book fills the third volume by itself.

This hardcover book will match earlier ones insize. color. and $25 in price, Dianne Enger Snell.Auburn, WA, did the word processing and DebbieJackson Shortino, Bellevue, NE. was the editor.Dean Skadeland, Kansas City. MD, served as aconsultant.

Lag History in English

Rosella Goettelman. Decorah. who is our principaltranslator, undertook this most recent book as herfirst project, possibly because she had a copy inhand or because it did not have the old, wigglyGothic type that is difficult to read. Many findthat the Gothic style of certain letters requiresquite a bit of detective work to be sure you havethe right letter so words are more readily foundin a Norwegian-English dictionary. Words in localdialects, which give colorful expression, may notbe found in printed dictionaries either.

Not content to rest on her laurels, Rosie re-visitedher manuscript to be sure her work was up to thecaliber of the more experienced translator shehad become during the completion of subsequenttranslation projects. Coming generations nowhave an opportunity not only to learn about theirancestors who left Sigdal, Eggedal, andKr0dsherad, but also read in a language they canunderstand.

Besides family biographies and accounts of earlier

stevner, this volume is poignant because itcontains much about American descendants inmilitary service in World War II.

It also describes life during the occupation inNorway with the grand jubilation May 8. 1945,when the war in Europe ended. and again May17, the first time in five years when everyNorwegian flag was flying simultaneously.

Poems and verse written for annual meetings orspecial occasions occurred fairly frequently in theoriginal volume, and are often best left in theirfirst language. Eva Aasand penned many of themand set a few to music as well. She also wrotea charming autobiographical account in prose.She had lived in Bellingham, WA, but she did notstay in America; she returned to live in Norway.

Several articles from the book have appeared inearlier issues of this newsletter, including theepisodes of the fighting at Haglebu. Eggedal,during the last days of April 1945 when liveswere lost. Another compared life in Eggedaldecades earlier with that of the 1940s.

Sigdalslag also published "yearbooks" in thelanguage and tradition of Norway in 1914. 1920,1929, 1932, and 1941. The first volume 'inEnglish translation contained the two first booksand the remaining three are in the second volume.Both volumes have sold out, but they areavailable at several college libraries and researchcenters, including Sigdal and Kmdsheradkommuner. Other locations that have earlierbooks are the National Library, the EmigrantMuseum near Hamar and the regional archives inKongsberg, Norway.

If you would like to have a copy reserved for youat the stevne. e-mail your intentions to ourtreasurer. If you are certain you can not come toNorthfield. you may order by sending a checkpayable to Sigdalslag @$31 POSTPAID for eachbook to Don Skadeland, 10642 a Street, Omaha,NE 68127. They will be shipped following thestevne.

name

address

city, state, zip

e-mail or phone

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Delphin M. Johnson Wrote An Ancestral Story:FINDING 'PREST' MADS HANSEN PORS and his wife, DORTHE LAUGESDATTER

Mads Hansen Pors was born about 1570; he wasprest (the pastor) of SigdaI church in 1617 whenhe died. His wife, Dorthe Laugesdatter, wasborn about 1582 in Modum and died in 1666 atthe OJberg farm in Kmdsherad. They are mydirect line ancestors. It is not often we find somuch written about ancestors so far back and Iwant to share some of this information withother Sigdalslag readers.

We do not know the ancestry of Prest MadsHansen Pors, but we do know he had very goodconnections. In Denmark there was Old Nobilitynamed Pors and it may be that he is from thatline, but to date it has not been proven.

In 1593 he was a student at the Oslo Latin Schooland in 1596 he asked King Christen IV to helphim find a job with good pay. From 1596 to1605 he was Curate in Tune, 0stfold. The veryfact that the king was involved indicates he wasfrom an important family with connections toroyalty.

From 1605 until his death in 1637 he served asthe priest of the SigdaI Parish. He was one ofthe first pastors to be in the timber business anddid much trading in lumber.

We know more of Dorthe Laugesdtr. At the timeshe died in 1666, the Olberg farm was ownedby the Holmen Church in Sigdal. It was used asa retirement home for pastors and widows ofpastors. In 1637 after the death of her husband,Mads Hansen Pars, Dorthe Laugesdtr moved tothe Olberg farm where she spent the remainderof her life. It seems the life of a widow, evenwhen under the protection of the church, wasnot always easy. As a widow, Dorthe was given8 (td) of grain each year by the church. Theparish pastor tried to cut off her grain supplyafter 20 years because he did not like her andshe was living such a long lifel (He was notsuccessful because she lived another nine years.)

Dorthe Laugesdtr, in about 1655, fired up thebaking ovens on the Nore farm. The housesburned when the fire got out of control. Theowner of Nore farm was Ola Nilsen Vassendrud(who is also an ancestor of mine). Ola Nilsensaid she had fired up the ovens without hispermission. Dorthe promised to bring him timberand pay 80 rd so he could rebuild the houses.But Dorthe did not follow through on her promise,so she had to go to court in 1656. This seemsto indicate she was a person of considerablemeans--to be in a position to supply Ola Nilsen

with timber plus pay the cost of rebuilding thosehouses. She must have retained much of herhusband's wealth in timberlands after his death.

The granddaugher of Dorthe Laugesdtr, MartheTorgeirsdtr, born in 1657 at Skinnes, married OlaEivindsen Vassendrud (1655-17321. grandson ofOla Nilsen Vassendrud. So all ended well afterall and this dispute between the grandparents waslong forgotten.

Dorthe's father was Lauge Thomassen, parishpastor at Modum from before 1576 to his deathin 1602. Her mother was Ragnild Andersdtr. Atthis time, we cannot be sure of the ancestry ofeither Lauge or Ragnild.

The Drammen Museum has a painting of PrestLauge Thomassen together with his wife, six sonsand three daughters. The children were 1) ThomasLaugesen 2) Christoffer Laugesen 3) JensLaugesen 4) Daniel Laugesen, pastor at Modumfrom 1602 to about 1633, married Ase Olufsdtr,sister of Margrethe Olufsdtr, 5) Laures Laugesen6) Lauge Laugesen 7) Marret (Margrethe)Laugesdtr, married Peder Buskerud, 81 MarenLaugesdtr 9) Dorthe Laugesdtr.

Dorthe's brother Thomas Laugesen (1565-16301was parish pastor at Toten in 1593 and in Oslofrom 1602 to 1630. In 1594 he marriedMargrethe Olufsdtr (1565-1630). Her parentswere Oluf Reirsen Holter (ca 1530-1474) whowas city manager of Oslo, and Gunhild MogensdtrStore-Stange.

The wedding of Thomas and Margrethe Olufsdtrwas a grand affair such as had not been seen inNorway since the wedding in Bergen in 1565 ofEric Sch0nning and Brynild Trondsdtr Benkestok.The wedding took place at the farm Hallinstad in0stre Toten. The ceremony was performed byBishop Jens Nielsen. Wedding guests were fromnoblemen's families and included pastors andprominent citizens from the towns and farms inNorway.

The marriage of Dorthe Laugesdtr and the pastor,Mads Hansen Pars, produced these children:1. Lauge Madsen Pars (ca 1621-1707. He wasparish clerk of Sands"",,, for 36 years. He hadmarried three times, b'ut had no children.2. Mari Madsdtr Pars, born ca 1615 in Modum,died ca 1669 at Skinnes in Kmdsherad. Shemarried Torgeir Knutsen Skinnes, Kmdsherad (ca1615-1696). Mari and Torgeir had five children.

Thanks to Del's family of Superior, WI. Seep. T 1

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Genealogy News & Viewsby lee Rokke

We must say a special thanks to Dr. Sidney A.Rand who has given the Sigdalslag an entire five-volume set of the Sigdal bygdeboker! The bookswere !Jresented to him by the Sigdal kommunewhen he served as the United StatesAmbassador to Norway during the Carteradministration.

Sidney's maternal grandparents, Anders PedersenBratelien and J0ran Olsdatter VatnAs, wereemigrants from Sigdal who settled at Rothsay,Minnesota. His grandfather, Anders B. Pedersen,was one of the founders and the first president ofthe Sigdalslag. Thecabin known as "Sigdal House"at the Scandinavian Park in Minot, North Dakota,was moved to the US from his grandmother'sancestral farm, VatnAs, and dedicated at the 1991Norsk H0stfest,

The picture, right, appeared in March in theWestern Viking in connection with the new USAmbassador John Doyle Ong assuming his postat the direction of President George W. Bush.The residence with its stylized Art Nouveaumotifs has provided a suitable home for 17American ministers and ambassadors to Norwaysince the grandiose house and gardens were soldto the US government in 1924 by the widow ofits original owner.

It was designed by Norwegian architect HenrikBull and built in 1911 for Hans Andreas Olsen,then Norway's Consul General at St. Petersburg,and his wife, Esther Wilhelmine Olsen, the nieceof Alfred Nobel.

Five Cousins MemorializeGuri and Halvor Plettenhagen

Great-great grandchildren of Guri Jakobsdatter(1804-1859) and Halvor Olsen Plettenhagen (1795-1859) decided a bronze plaque in their memorywould be fitting. Before a cemetery could beestablished, they were buried in Sec 19, HartlandTwp, Worth Co, Iowa. Unnamed grandchildrenwere later buried at this site at Rugland farm.

lag members Robert Towne, Art Peterson, CarolRugland Meade, Walter Rugland and Archie Ruglandplan to affix the plaque to the back of an existingmonument in Silver Lake Cemetery, near Ruglandfarm. Look for the stone of Gusta Wikko Peterson,of Art's grandma's family (2/1 0/1 870-2/15/19501.

Daughters of Halvor and Guri were Astrid Reiersen,Sigrid Rugland, Ingeborg Halvorsdatter, GuriLangen, Beret Wikko, and Ole Halvorson, the son.

The US Ambassador's Residence in Oslo

~..~ -

MEMBERS SEND IN SIGDALSLAG SURVEYS

·Roger Dudley, Denver, CO, on the the family ofMari Nilsdtr Enderud who married Gullik Kravik*Phyllis Greer, Tioga, ND, on the descendants ofReier Knutsen Rugland·Joyce Narveson, LeSueur, MN, on the family ofNarve Olsen Nordlie .·Sigrid and Harold Medalen, Petersburg, AK, onthe family or Turi Kristiansdtr Medalen Odden.They also sent pictures of the Odden family andthe Sigdalslag stevne in Grand Forks, ND, in1950. Some of the people on the picture wereidentified. It is not often that we are fortunateenough to learn the names of people on the lagpictures.*Cynthia Clemmentson Parris, Hollister, CA, onthe descendants of Klemet Torgersen S01and(Asendeie) .*Kay Marie Olson-Bowers, Amherst, SD, anAhnentafel chart for Ingeborg Olsdtr Vatnas.*William Syverson, Lakewood, CA, on thedescendants of Reier Ellingsen Veggesrudeie.*Charlotte Linden, Mason City, lA, on thedescendants of Haldor Narveson Gronhovd.*Jule C. Tukua, Santa Ana, CA, has donated alarge updated three-ring binder of the Ole andGunhild Tukua family, both descendants andanacestors.·Marcia Garner, Pendleton, IN, on the family ofAnders Olsen Medalen and Berit OlsdtrGronhovd. Her pack included many wonderfulpictures.*LeRoy Flagstad, Rapid City, SD, on the familyof Jacob Olson Tangen*Ivan Brattelid, Marcell, MN, on the family ofJakob Jansen Jellum·L1oyd Svendsbye, St. Louis Park, MN, on thefamily of Anders Andersen Svendsbye·Ann Osmundson Berrie, Emporia, KS, on thefamily of Kristoffer Fingarsen Hov (Strand)

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BUNTROCK OFFERSFOOD SERVICEAT ST OLAF COLLEGE

Full meals are servedthe following hours atthe STAV Cafeteria.Breakfast - 7:15 ·8:15 AMLunch - 12 - 1 PMDinner - 5 - 6 PM

Beverages, snacks, soups,salad and sandwiches areavailable at the followinghours weekdays atThe CAGEMon-Thurs

closesFriday

closes

7:30 AM4:30 PM7:30 AM1:00 PM

ABOUT YTTERBOE HALL• Air conditioned·Parking nearby·Campus convenience·NSI Recommended

NORTHFIELD MOTELS

Americlnn Motel & Suites800-634-3444507-645-7761

Archer House Historic Inn800-247-2235507-645-5661

College City Motel507-645-4426

Country Inn800-456-4000507-645-2286

Riverview Legacy Motel877-787-5335507-645-9980

Super 8 Motel800-800-8000507-663-0371

(2002 ST. OLAF STEVNE continued from p.1)and their settlements in our country. This is intended to affirmpresent day identities in relation to the contributions made by theseimmigrants.

There are several categories of NAHA membership and automaticallyinclude the annual publications of books, newsletters, discounts onpurchases of previous publications, and priority use of the archives.The Norwegian American Historical Association is located in the OleE. Rolvaag Library which adjoins Buntrock Commons,

Enjoy the Entertainment

Excellent stevne entertainment is one of the delightful reasonspeople enjoy coming to the 7 Lag Stevne year after year. This yearour featured entertainers include vocalist Kristen "Kristi" Berglandwho performs at the opening program Friday afternoon at 2 PM inthe Buntrock Ballroom.

For the evening performance Friday at 7:45 PM, also in BuntrockBallroom, Ms. Bergland joins the featured Norwegian-Americandancers of the Dassel, MN, Leikarring. Don't miss them!

Followinggraduationfrom St. Olaf,BerglandstudiedNorwegianchoral musicand folk musictraditions asa Fulbrightscholar inTrondheim,Norway.Singingprofessionallyin the TwinCities, she isalso currentlypursuing adoctorate inV 0 c a IPerformanceand Pedagogya t theUniversity ofMinnesota.

How many Dassel dancers do you know?

The Dassel Leikarring was organized 20 years ago under theleadership of Kjell and Elaine Nordlie who were folk dancers inNorway before moving to Dassel. (Kjell was a dance instructor inhis native Norway.) Eighteen Dassel residents, who come fromvarious walks of life, spend two hours rehearsing on Sundays withthe gentle but energetic music of Scandinavia.

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SIGDALSLAG MEETSSATURDAY JULY 138: 15 AM Board Meets9:30 - 8usiness Meeting

ElectionsBylaws1949 Book Sales

10,30 AM Refreshments11 12:30 PM Cultural

portion of the program

The Dassel dancers havehosted their sister leikarringin RAde,0sHold, Norway, aswell as a Swedish group andone from Lindsborg, Kans~s.They traveled to Norway tocompete in " day-longcompetition to perform thefJsrfold springar in fourtowns. Fiveof seven NSIreps met last Novomber, Fromlelt are Narv Somdahl- ROD;Marie

Brown, TOten;C.rol M""de, sec.lSigdal;Sandra Hendrickson, chairlland; and ArnoldN... , 2002 coordinator/Telelag,Among over 50 dances in its

repertoire are several fromall of Scandinavia·" the LIi'rpu Larpu from Finland,the Swedish Jamslpolska, the Danish TuppedeHfme bes;des eight variations of the Norwegiangamme/ reinlender alone, They have been dancedat Scandinavian festivals throughout the US

Telelag celebrates if. 95th anniversary ano NSI isfortunate to have the So Junior Spe/emann.lag(fiddlers' clubl trom Telemark, Norway, to lidole,sing and dance at Northfield. Johannes Sunosvelenhas been mentor and leader for the past 10 yearsPer Anders Buen Garnaas and Torgei' Strand arechampions in the junior division of the nationalcompetitions or kappleik. Moreover, So as a cityproduces excellent Hardanger t;ddles, violins, andpeople interested in pursuing the best of theplaying tradition.

This fiddle group itself exoels in contests. It isexpected to perform for about 350 Saturdayevening following the banquet at 5:30 PM 8t theAmerican Legion Ballroom, just north of downtownNorthfield on H;ghway 3. Take St Olaf Street laroad downhill in front of Buntrock Commons) tointersect w;th this road, Social dancing will be laterin the evening. There is ample seating tn inviteguests to order tickets for tables of eight. Youmust wear your badge and present a ticket fo, thebanguet.

Eoch lag will arrange ilS own rides to the banquetat its annual meeting. Individual lag will meet toelect officers and enjoy a cultural program Roomsize will be based on the numbers registered.

Northfield, situated on the Cannon River, is .Isohome to Carleton College and offers interestingshops and cafes downtown,

SAGA Editor Bids Farewell

Upon learning last July that Ringerike DrarnmensDistr;cts Lag had found a new editor during itsbusiness meeting at Rapid City, your sditorimmediately notified Earl Knutson to look for areplacement. Her husband, Narv Sorndahl, editedthe RDD BREV for nine years. She has edited 45112 pi issues for Sigdaislag since October 1987.

An aging PC and software with non-functioningfeatures like spell-check are other factors, but thenews still was published on time Back a coupledecades are evidences of dot-matrix type on myarticles and presidem's columns during ElaineSchulstad's excellent editorship, {1980-19871.

Sigda/slag SA GA has received its kudos for contentand promptness over the years, News and culturalarticles thought to interest more members tookprecedence. Our members liked pictures, too,Feedback;s good; articles, obituaries, and historicalpieces to share are even betterl Support the nexted;tor..'s, as befits the Slgdal tradition.

Th,nks for the memor;es, friends'

Marily~ Dahlen Somdahl, retiring editor

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Bj0rndalen Wins 4 Gold MedalsIn Salt lake City Olympics

Gold. Gold. Gold. Gold! Each of those 2002Olympic medals belong to Norway's Ole EinarBj0rndalen (pictured below), who grew up inSimonstranda in Modum, a mile from Sigda!. Hisfather, Hans, was from Bj0rndalen farm in Sigdal,and he is a first cousin of Canadian members,Einar Bjorndalen and Sonja Bjorndalen Minchau.

Bjorndalen, now living in Trondheim, won all themen's biathlon races, bringing Norway's total to11 gold, 7 silver and 6 bronze. Eleven was anational record for Norway, and only Americanspeed skater Eric Heiden has won more goldmedals (5 in 1980) in the same Olympic Games.Look at web page < www.bjoerndalen.com>

Even after missing two shots,Bj0rndalen skied faster thananyone else in the biathlon20k and in the 10k he wasunbeatable. Then there wasthe 12.5k pursuit, and withthree others, he won the 4 x7.5 relay.,<., .. ,

:.,'" )As one of the best alpine skiers of all time, KjetilAndre Aamodt captured two gold medals. Norway'sother gold awards: men's curling (over Canadal,men's cross country relay (over Italy), skier TorArne Hetland won gold for cross-country sprint (afirst-time Olympic categoryl, Bente Skari inwomen's cross-country 10k, and Kari Traa aswomen's mogul winner.

Norway moved up in the standings behind Germanytwice: into second place when the Russianwomen's cross country relay team was disqualifiedand to bronze when cross-country skiers fromSpain and Russia were caught using the illegalsubstance, NESP.

Eggedal was represented in the 2002 Games byIngeborg Helen Marken in downhill and grandslalom events. In all 81 athletes from Norwayparticipated and many interested members of theroyal family attended the Olympics.

HRH Crown Prince Haakon and his wife, HRHCrown Princess Mette-Marit, spent the first weekat the games, followed by HM King Harald whostayed in Salt Lake City until the end of the games.Princess Martha Louise took in the Paralympics inMarch.

Culturally, the Norway House in Park City was abig hit for social gatherings, dining andentertainment, or a visit to a Norwegian ski history

•

exhibit. The Norwegian Church Abroad even heldchurch services there. It was a place to watch thegames on a big screen, meet athletes, celebrities,and media representatives of the NorwegianBroadcasting Corporation (NRKI.

1952 Oslo Winter Olympic MedalistHonored in Utah in February

Stein Eriksen, winner of the grand slalom goldmedal at the 1952 Oslo Winter Olympics held atthe Norefjell venue in Kr0dsherad, was rememberedat Deer Valley Resort, Park City, Utah, 50 yearslater, just prior to the 2002 games.

Born into a family of Norwegian athletes, Eriksenlearned gymnastics from his father, Marius whocompeted in the 1912 Summer Olympics inNorway. He and his brother, Marius Jr, learned toski and to walk about the same time. Training ingymnastics provided agility and flexibility.

"Skiing is one of the greatest joys in my life,"Eriksen is quoted as saying. But like Eriksen,Olympic contenders today still need a good mentalattitude and training--hard work, courage anddetermination--for a good outcome.

Fame grew in 1954 as he became the first alpineskier in the world to win triple gold in the slalom,giant slalom and combined races at the WorldChampionships in Aare, Sweden. Eriksen movedto the United States in 1954 and became a skischool director at many places before designing anddeveloping the Stein 'Eriksen Lodge at Park CityMountain Resort, Park City, UT, with his businesspartner, Edgar Stern, in the mid-1980s.

According to an account in Western Viking, thenamesake hotel offers 'lavish accommodations,fine dining and excellent service'. A mannequinin one of the boutiques displays the ski clothesEriksen can be sighted wearing that day for thewatchful looking out at the slopes from the finerestaurant, Glitretind.

Eriksen was awarded Knight First Class by theKing of Norway in 1997 for contributions to theworld of sport and his commitment to people ofNorway. He also holds a St. Olav's Cross, whichis given for outstanding service to Norwegiancitizens who permaneptly live abroad.

Tennis, hunting, fly fishing and archery arepursued off-season. Calling both Utah andMontana home, he and his wife, Francoise, haveone child, Bjorn, and he has three children from aprevious marriage: Julianne, Stein Jr, and Ava.

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Norwegian Americans Also Celebrate Syttende MaiHow will you spend May 17, the day to celebrate Norway's Constitution? Here are three options.

Spring Grove, MN - May 18The big day in this community near the border with Iowa will be

Saturday, May 18. It is noteworthy because the characters, ala og Per,from one of the longest running comic strips to appear in newsprint, willbe immortalized in bronze at an afternoon unveiling and dedicationceremony at Viking Memorial Park. The sculptor, Craig Bergsgaard,Littleton, CO, grew up on an Iowa farm but graduated from Spring GroveHigh School.

Created by Peter Julius Rosendahl between 1918 and 1935, the comicstrip, "Han ala og Han Per", used clever dialogue of the characters wellsuited to the rural predicaments he drew. It was an everyday mix ofimmigrant talk neither American English nor Norwegian! It originally ranin Decorah Posten and it is currently carried by Western Viking, Seattle.

The celebration begins at 8 AM breakfast and goes throughout the daywith distinguished speakers and activities, in'eluding a meatball dinner(reservations 507.498.5617) and a dance to the music of the Footnotes.(Also see www.springgrovemn.comJ

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Brooklyn, New York - May 19If you live in New York City, the Committee

for 17th May of Greater New York plans one ofthe oldest festivals to mark Norway's 188th yearsince its Constitution Day. The 51 st ConstitutionDay Parade will take place Sunday, May 19 at1:30 PM on 3rd Avenue in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

The theme of the NY parade is, "Norwegian-Americans Salute the Heroes," dedicated to allwho lost their lives or worked to help othersduring the terrorist attacks last September 11.

The visiting band from Norway, ArendalVeterankorp, will be joined by local bands toprovide music along the parade route for anexpected 100,000 spectators. (Contact EvaldOlson 718.745.6653 or Christine Thorsen718.442.1881 for route information.) A shortprogram follows at the reviewing stand on thesouth side of Leif Erikson Park. Dr. Paul Qualbenwill speak (among others) with additional musicalperformances. Atle Leikvoll, the Consul Generalof Norway in New York, will place the crown onthe head of Miss Norway, Alison Leah Nerjes.

Minneapolis-St. Paul - May 17 -19Syttende Mai MN hosts a banquet May 17

with two guests from Norway: ElisabethTandberg, soloist, and speaker Bjorn Haenres, amember of the Norwegian Storting (parliament),at the Doubletree Park Place Hotel, 1500 ParkPlace Blvd, St Louis Park. Social hour 6 PM anddinner at 7 PM. A drawing for two tickets toScandinavia via Icelandair happens just beforethe 'final-hurrahs'. Checks of $45 per personpayable to Syttende Mai MN must be receivedMay 10, c/o Sons of Norway, 1455 West LakeSt, Minneapolis, MN 55408.

The May 18 Loring Park Festival (near theBasilica on Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis) beginsat noon with wreath laying at the Ole Bull statuewhere Bjorn Hernres will speak, followed by theparade. Children's games will be led by ANSA(Ass'n of Norwegian Students Abroad). Choral,dance and fiddle groups will perform along withSkalMusik, Brainerd, MN. Come and exploresupporting organizations, (including BygdelagenesFellesraad with its new banner), vendor tables;have some norsk food and watch skilled artistsdemonstrate acanthus-, chip-, and figure carving,knitting, weaving, rosemaling, bentwood and stavcontainers, and Viking crafts. $3 (exact change)parking is available in the ramp near MCTC. Butyou can ride a Metro Transit bus FREE May 18by wearing a Syttende Mai button! It costs $1and is sold by individuals and Sons of Norway.

Wreath laying at the bust of Henrik Ibsenoccurs May 18 in Como Park, Lexington atKaufman in St. Paul, from 3:30-4:30 PM, withentertainment by the Peer Gynt Youth Dancers.

May 19Mindekirken (mindekirken@mindekirken.org) serves

breakfast, holds 11 AMservices, offers aneighborhood parade at12: 15 PM and a 4 PMconcert: sopranoElisabeth Tandberg Ileft!.James Reilly, piano; withShirley LillehaugenSantoro, violin, and MikeSantoro, piano. 1$10donationl. Pastor JensArne Dale bids youwelcome(612.874.0716).

9

IN MEMORY

OELPHIN "Del" JOHNSON (June28, 1931-April 27, 2002), along time resident of Superior,Wisconsin, died at St. Mary'sMedical Center, Duluth. Serviceswere May 1 at the Darrow RoadWeslayan Church, Superior, withburial at Minong Cemetery wheremilitary honors were accorded byAmerican Legion Post 465.

Born at Gull Lake, WI, Del grewup there and in Chittamo, WI. Hegraduated from Minong HighSchool in 1948 and attended WIIndian-head Technical College,Superior.

He enjoyed membership inSigdalslag and Hallinglag,Disabled American Veterans, andDarrow Road Wesleyan Church.For many years he worked withhis wife in Child Evangelism,traveled twice in Norway, andwrote family articles Ip.8l ongenealogy.

Del served stateside in the Koreanconflict with the US Army andmarried Lois Wilcox Oct 6, 1956,in Shell Lake. For 17 years hewas a superintendent for DuplexManufacturing Company and forLakehead Constructors as aheavy equipment operator for 13years, retiring in 1986.

Survivors are Lois, his wife of 45years, Superior; two sons, JeffreyD. Johnson, Seattle, WA, andJon IKimberli) Johnson, Lindale,TX, and one daughter, JulieKrisak, Superior; grandchildren:Holly, Jennifer, Daniel and NathanKrisak; Cody and MatthewJohnson; brothers John (Bev).Kalispell, MT; Gilbert,Minneapolis; Melvin (Irene),Wauneta, NE; Helmer (Betty).Superior, WI; Arlen (Sandy).Spooner, WI; sisters MarjorieSmith, Minong, WI; Del's twinDelores Tietz' and MarleneJohnson, both of Superior. Hewas preceded in death by hisparents, John E. and Myrtle(Haynesl Johnson, a daughter,Diane, and two brothers.

CAMPUS MAP of St. Olaf College. Take 51.Olaf Ave west fromdowntown Northfield or from 1-35W take Highway 19 east until youturn N. at the main entrance to the campus, (lower left on map).

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MN HIGHWAY 1.9 • ",.. i i

World Famous Norwegian Explorer Dies In Italy

Services for Thor Heyerdahl, 87, were held in Oslo, Norway,April 26 in the 17th century Lutheran cathedral with BishopGunnar Staalsett presiding and with the royal family attending.But burial was to be in Italy, where he died in his sleep April 18at his home in Cola Michari.

Heyerdahl, the Norwegian who gained worldwide attention bycrossing the Pacific Ocean on a balsa reed raft in 1947, becameill and was hospitalized In Italy during the Easter holidays.

Kjell Magne Bondevik, Norwegian prime minister said, "Norwayhas lost an original and spectacular researcher, explorer andadventurer. "

Heyerdahl's book, Kon- Tiki, revealed how his expedition over101 days and 4,900 miles disproved his critics who said sucha feat was impossible. He set off from Peru and reachedPolynesia in a bid to prove his theories of human migration.

Other expeditions IRa liRa II) were alsll aboard reed rafts.His archeological research was often controversial, butaudiences of people kept coming to hear lectures of his latestresearch. His third wife, Jacqueline, said he had made 70airline trips last year.

Thanks for sending notices for this page in a timely fashion. This is the wayour lag chooses to honor departed members, according to bylaws. (Sendnews or stories to the genealogist or president between editorsl.

11

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