2017 Stevne at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa
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OCTOBER, 2017 Volume 37, Issue 3 Sigdalslag Saga Since 1911 Serving Norwegian Americans of Sigdal, Eggedal and Kr0dsherad Ancestry Inside this issue: SIGDALSLAG TRIP TO NORWAY Fra Presidenten .............2 SUMMER 2017 Norway Trip................1 & 3 7-Lag Stevne..............4 & 5 by Jean Knaak Fylker Reorganization....6 Sigdalslag had a great group on our Norway trip Stevne 2018 Info............7 from June 19 through June 29, 2017. Norway is New Members................7 unique and scenic with fjords, ocean, lakes, moun- Irene Navarre Turns 100..8 Nels Glesne Turns 100...9 tains, and valleys. New Member Profile......10 The group met in Trondheim on June 20 after Meet James Benson coming either directly to Norway or from earlier Robert Tangen Obit.......11 travel to England, Scotland, Italy, Paris and Spain. Kenneth Mollerud Obit...11 They also came from a number of areas in the United States and Canada. This was more of an individually planned trip to allow for different trip lengths and different points of The Norefjell-laget embarkation. was begun in 1935 to Our first full day was inTrondheim on June 21. We had a group tour serve people from the featuring an easy to understand guide for Nidaros Cathedral plus the associ- Sigdal-Eggedal-Krød- ated Archbishop’s Palace. The crown jewels and the cathedral and its story sherad area who were highlights. At our special hotel we had the breakfast which has been moved to the Oslo area voted the best and wished to stay con- hotel breakfast nected with each other in Norway. and with their home We had area. They developed an interest- this beautiful banner. ing train ride The lag functioned until through the the early 1990s when it Gudbrandsdal disbanded. The ban- Valley to Lille- ner was moved to be hammer, which displayed at the Folk was an Olym- Musik Senter in Prest- pic site and we foss, Sigdal. overnighted there. Early on Friday, June 23, we were met by Sigrid Kvisle, our guide, and our tour bus. Eidsvoll, the scene of the his- toric signing of Norwegian independence in 1814 was a special tour for that day. The group at Våtnas Church (cont. on page 3) Sigdalslag Saga Volume 37, Issue 3 2017 Sigdalslag Officers Fra Presidenten, This has been a great year! A highlight was our trip to Norway JEAN T. KNAAK, President with 27 participants. Everyone had a good time together, form- 2456 Arkwright Street ing friendships and enjoying our beautiful Sigdal area. Again St. Paul, MN 55117 651-483-9261 Sigrid Kvisle, the former museum director, was a wonderful [email protected] guide for our group. LILA HARP, VP 1/Membership We want to especially thank the Meade family for arranging and 102 W Calle de Caballos, hosting our lag event while in Decorah! We are grateful for our Tempe, AZ 85284 720-935-7705 unique program at the Hauge Church including Norwegian food, [email protected] an interesting speaker, Dale in very old minister garb provided by the Meade family, and a visit to the Meade’s fjord horse. KAREN OLSON, VP 2 P.O. Box 225 Northome, MN 56661 The stevne in Decorah was put on by Telelag and featured a [email protected] number of Norwegian visitors including dancers who provided wonderful entertainment. Our thanks to Telelag for their hard LIZZIE HANSON ROE, VP 3 work. 321 3rd St SE Melrose, MN 56352 [email protected] This was the first year for a newly formatted Fellesraad annual meeting and workshop on May 5 and 6. There were over 100 LINDA MOHN, Treasurer attendees during the two days. Please consider attending on 514 3rd Avenue SW May 4 and 5, 2018 at Mindekirken. Jamestown, ND 58401 [email protected] Our 2018 event is the 7-lag stevne at Willmar, which will be the ROD PLETAN, Secretary responsibility of Sigdalslag. The committee has already been 7414 West Broadway meeting. We are looking for volunteers to serve on sub-com- Forest Lake, MN 55025-8474 mittees and to be volunteers. The dates are July 12 - 15, 2018, 651-464-6636 Thursday through Sunday. There is information elsewhere in [email protected] the newsletter about room reservations and it would be wise to GARTH ULRICH, Genealogist reserve early. Our last 7-lag stevne in Willmar in 2004 was very 3099 Dunn Drive successful. If you have Norwegian relatives, please ask them Prince Albert, SK to attend. We are hoping that there will be a tour group from S6V 6Y6 CANADA Sigdal. The Willmar/Norway Lake area is a prime Norwegian [email protected] area so there is a lot to see and do. Please email at knaak002@ gmail.com if you can assist. There will be more information in SHEILA WINSTEAD, Historian 30511 County Rd 15 the winter newsletter. Roseau, MN 56751 218-463-3271 Attention Norwegian bakers! We are having a one and a half [email protected] day food event at the stevne. We need demonstrators plus individuals who might bake products at home that cannot be JEAN BORGERDING, SAGA Editor demonstrated in our facility. The item can be described, recipes 509 8th Avenue NE Minneapolis, MN 55413 provided, and sampling. These will be our treats with coffee 612-379-4280 at the stevne, replacing the hospitality room. Please volunteer [email protected] your friends since we know that many of you are shy about your abilities. DALE BUISMAN, Webmaster 38265 Great Oaks Court Hilsen, North Branch, MN 55056 651-277-6885 Jean [email protected] [email protected] Page2 Sigdalslag Saga Volume 37, Issue 3 (continued from page 1) We arrived in Sigdal, our home for five nights. We stayed at the Eggedal Borger- stua, Folk Musik Center and with relatives. The next day started with a tour of Lauvlia, the home of Theodore Kittelson, a well know artist who had many pictures of trolls and other Norwegian scenes. We then visited Skredsvig-Hagen the home of another renowned artist, Christian Skredsvig. On Sunday, June 25 we visited Hol- men church in Prestfoss, the site of religious ceremonies for many of our ancestors. We then visited Våtnas Church where many were dressed in bunads for a baptism. Sigrid Kvisle hosted a lovely lunch at her home for our entire group. In the afternoon we went Sidgdalslag group at the home of Sigrid Kvisle to the Sigdal Museum and presented a Sigda- lslag book for their research library. We viewed Our noon meals and two evening meals the museum and preserved buildings and were were a part of our package developed by Sigrid provided with some special individual genealogy Kvisle. In Norway, food is expensive and it is assistance. interesting to note that Norwegians do not eat the On Monday June 26th, we visited the quantity of food that we do in the United States. Oberg church. Then we went by boat to Veikaak- On Wednesday our bus took us to Oslo er church and visited Veikaaker farm. Tuesday where we stayed for additional nights to sightsee June 27th, took us to Blaafarveværket, the cobalt before leaving for works. We saw the Vikersund ski jump on our home. way to Villa Fridheim lunch. That night we had a This was a celebration dinner at Solumsmoen, Hilde Marit’s really touching time Barn. This was a very festive venue night with to get near our heri- Norwegian summer food and special music. tage. Please plan on attending in 2022. Ginny Blood & Mark Gronseth, entertaining at the stave church Sidgdalslag group at the Celebration Dinner Lexi & Lizzie Roe at Eidsvoll Page3 Sigdalslag Saga Volume 37, Issue 3 DECORAH 7-LAG STEVNE HIGHLIGHTS Telelaget hosted a very successful 7-Lag award winning fiddle playing and story telling. Stevne at Luther College in Decorah, IA on July The Tinndølan Folk Music Group completed the 20-23, 2017. evening’s entertainment. They are a group of Sigdalslag President Jean Knaak got the young performers (aged 13-21) that are intent meetings started early with the 2018 Stevne on keeping the traditional dance, song and fiddle Planning committee meeting being held at 1 PM music alive. Their dancing was very spirited and on Thursday. Immediately following was the quite acrobatic. Sigdalslag Board meeting. These were complet- We especially ed with plenty of time to eat in the cafeteria and enjoyed see- then enjoy the Opening General Session, which ing the Halling began at 7 PM. dance per- The program was great with performanc- formed. es by Tone Jorunn Tveito from Norway, The Saturday brought more classes in the Luren Singers and the Nordic Dancers, both of morning (we learned to make flatbread from a Decorah, IA. The Luren Singers called for any crew from Norway) and the dismantling of the alumni in the audience to join them for the final genealogy area by noon. I am always impressed song of their performance. Sigdalslag’s own, with how hard Paul D. Larson joined them. He said he remem- working and bered the song well as he had performed it with helpful the them many times in the past. Sigdalslag There were plenty of interesting classes crew is. What on Friday and also a tour. A very popular class a good bunch was “Sustain your Legacy-Write Your Family of people! History!” taught by Anette Holt Bratsberg from Our Skien in Telemark Norway. It was quite inspiring Sigdalslag so soon the libraries will be full of family histo- ry books! She has previously given classes at Norway House in Minneapolis and is considering another in the spring. Keep an eye on their schedule, as it was a very good class.