Sangerfest in the spring. spring. the in Sangerfest

the replica they won at the the at won they replica the

about stabburs and show show and stabburs about

Diana Myhre explain more more explain Myhre Diana

Come hear John and and John hear Come

structed in 1990. 1990. in structed

8 8 Heyerdahl Thor

Minot where it was recon- was it where Minot

assembled and shipped to to shipped and assembled 7 7 Memoriam In

Norway. It was then dis- then was It .

lica was constructed in in constructed was lica

6 6 Elections Elections

6 6 Notes Nancy’s

built about 1775. This rep- This 1775. about built his craft. craft. his

way. The original was was original The way.

knives and demonstrate demonstrate and knives 5 5 Events of Calendar

farm near Telemark, Nor- Telemark, near farm

Perry will bring his his bring will Perry

4 4 Day Erikson Leif

of a storehouse from a a from storehouse a of

with a Sami-style knife. knife. Sami-style a with

3 3

This stabbur is a replica replica a is stabbur This

3 3 Month Foundation

and the other Blue Ribbon Ribbon Blue other the and

3 3 Congratulations!

with a dress carving knife knife carving dress a with

He won one Blue Ribbon Ribbon Blue one won He

2 2 Dagen Med Gratulerer

Vesterheim Gold Medalist. Medalist. Gold Vesterheim

2 2 Page Member

these ribbons to become a a become to ribbons these

earned enough points with with points enough earned

Issue This Inside

hibition of Folk Art. He He Art. Folk of hibition

heim’s annual National Ex- National annual heim’s

Blue Ribbons in Vester- in Ribbons Blue

Perry Straw won two two won Straw Perry

Norwegian Knifemaker Knifemaker Norwegian

2014 Oct.. - Sept.

Perry Straw Straw Perry

Stabbur Stabbur

October 26 26 September 28 28 September

h t n o M e h t

f o y a d n u S h t 4

OUR UPCOMING MEETINGS MEETINGS UPCOMING OUR

PM 0 0 : 6 — 0 0 : 3

: s g n i t e e M

EDITOR: Thomas Maxson, 715 Laurel Avenue, Des Plaines, IL 60016, 847-297-1656 847-297-1656 60016, IL Plaines, Des Avenue, Laurel 715 Maxson, Thomas EDITOR:

PRESIDENT: Nancy Robinson, 835 Circle Avenue, Forest Park, IL 60130, , 708-366-1538 708-366-1538 , 60130, IL Park, Forest Avenue, Circle 835 Robinson, Nancy PRESIDENT:

593 #5- LODGE NORWAY OF SONS

ELVESUND ELVESUND Page 2

MEET A MEMBER: JACK LUND

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Congratulations to Jack Lund who was Committee for 18 years, the first recipient of the Burr Ridge Patriot usually as chairman or co-chairman, and Award that was presented to him on for being Poppy Day Committee Chair- Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 18, man for 18 years. Jack was presented 2013. Jack was honored for spending over with a bronze plaque and a second bronze 900 hours playing bingo with spinal injury plaque was mounted on the wall at Burr patients at Hines Hospital, being on the Ridge City Hall.

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MEET OUR NEW MEMBER —

Elizabeth W. Maloney Be sure to add Elizabeth to your Directory. 1128 Schneider Ave. Oak Park, IL 60302 708-948-7176

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MEET OUR NEW GOLDEN MEMBERS

To qualify as a Golden Charles R. Blomster Elaine L. Ostrem Member, you must be at Thomas J. Maxson Ruth B. Peck least 65 years old and a John D. Myhre Mary Ramsland Sordel member of Sons of Norway for 30 years.

______GRATULERER MED DAGEN

September October 2 Gardis Dahle 10 Judy Arnold 22 Jerry Amen 21 Linda Courtice 25 Solveig Pedersen 22 John Myhre 30 Ernie Halverson

Page 3

CONGRATULATIONS ELVESUND!

There are eight districts in Sons of But the best prize of all, for 2012, Norway. We are District 5 and our con- Elvesund was presented with a plaque vention is in June every two years. The announcing we were recognized as convention covers resolutions suggested by various lodges and are voted on by LODGE OF THE YEAR the attending delegates. Elections of the Board of Directors is also held. Congratulations to all of you! Eve- ry member of our Lodge, take a bow! And merit awards for the previous two years are presented. At the previous two conventions, 2012 and 2010, Elvesund was awarded Merit Awards at the Bronze level. CONGRATULATIONS!

Dinner’s on us at For both 2012 and 2013, Elvesund The September 28 was awarded at the Silver level; for the meeting 2012 year, we were 1 point shy of GOLD!

______OCTOBER IS FOUNDATION MONTH

The Foundation is a If each member attending If you do not live in the very important segment of the October meeting would area or are unable to attend our international organiza- bring a contribution of your the meeting, send a “mail in tion through its scholar- age times 5 cents, this gift” marked “Foundation” ship programs and human- should generate a little ex- to: itarian aid. We would like tra contribution for this Margaret Bisberg to continue our support year, in additional to the this year of the Foundation contribution our lodge will 1506 Courtland Avenue as we have in the past. make. Park Ridge, IL 60068-5333

Page 4 DAY — OCTOBER 9

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An official .U.S. holiday, Leif Erikson Day a sign of an ill-fated trip, Erik stayed behind. commemorates the achievement of famous Where in is ? The Norse explorer, Leif Erikson. Credited with Groenlendinga saga suggests Erikson made being the first European to reach the North three landfalls: the first at , now American continent, Erikson arrived almost widely believed to be Baffin Island in the pre- four centuries before Columbus. In honor of sent-day Nunsvut, ; the second in this special date, let’s take a closer look at a or what we would now know as few facts about the holiday and the man who Labrador, Canada; and Vinland. inspired it.

Although it is believed that Vinland is lo- cated somewhere in Newfoundland, perhaps at the excavated site of an 11th-century Vi- king base camp found at L’Anse aux Meadows in the 1960’s, the definitive site of the settle- ment remains heavily debated. In fact, the etymology of the Norse word itself has yielded at least two possible meanings, “wine-land” or Erikson or Eiriksson or Ericson? The “pasture-land” depending on translation and spelling of Leif Erikson’s name varies in rela- interpretation of the descriptions provided in tion to the language it is being translated to. the saga. While it is predominantly believed In his own languae, , his name that the correct translation is “wine-land,” would have been Leifr Eirksson. theories point out that the wild grapes de- scribed in the sagas cannot be found today as Leif was the second son of legendary Norse far north as Newfoundland. Explanations for explorer, , who is believed to have this are varied, offering that perhaps Erik- established the first European settlements in son’s men mistook wild berries for grapes, around A.D. 980. Erik the Red that the climate was warmer and more hospi- was supposed to join his son’s expedition to table during that time, or that the saga writ- North America but a fall from horseback prior ers simply embellished the abundance of the to the ship’s boarding left Erik with misgiv- land to make it more appealing. ings about the voyage. Believing his fall to be

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Why October 9? The official date of Leif Erikson Day doesn’t directly corre- late to Erikson’s arrival in North America. Instead, in a nod to the same explor- ative spirit that fueled Erikson’s journey, the date marks the arrival of the very first immigrant ship from Norway, the , to New York in 1895. Ex- actly 100 years later, President Coolidge declared Erikson the first European to discover America during a commemorative address in . In the years that followed, several US. States adopted the date as a state holiday and in Sep- tember of 1964, Congress approved a public resolution authorizing President Johnson to declare October 9 as Leif Erikson Day nationwide. Page 5

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

September

September 7 Annual Scandinavian Day, Vasa Park, South Elgin, IL 10:00 AM—6:00 PM. $10.00 adults, children under 12 free. 847-695-6720. www.scandinaviandayil. com September 20 Viking Ship Visitors’ Day, 1:00 PM—4:00 PM, Good Templar Park, Geneva, IL. Adults $5.00, teens $3.00, children 12 and under free. www.vikingship.us. The Viking is a replica of the Gokstad ship. In 1893 she sailed across the Atlantic from Bergen, Norway to New York and on to the World’s Colum- bian Exposition in Chicago. Docent-led tours begin every 30 minutes. Last tour begins at 3:30 PM. September 21 Skjold News Benefit, 3:00 PM, AUYA Ukrainian Center, Palatine, IL. $11:00 buffet. Donate a nice gift for the auction. www.skjoldlodge.com September 26 Gospel Hymn Sing, Fox River Lutheran Church, Sheridan (Norway), IL, 6:00 PM. Refreshments and snacks following. Part of a weekend celebrating the 175th Anniversary of the first Norwegian Lutheran Church in America. September 27 Dinner and Drama, 5:00 PM, Fox River Lutheran Church, Sheridan (Norway), IL. The drama depicts the trials and troubles of finding a good church back in the 1800s. Catered dinner requires reservations in advance. 815-695-9926. September 28 Rededication Service, 3:00 PM, Fox River Lutheran Church, Sheridan (Norway), IL September 28 Stabbur, Elvesund Lodge meeting, St. Michael’s Church, 500 E. 31st St., LaGrange Park, IL, 3:00-6:00 PM. Elvesund will provide a celebratory meal.

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October

October 4 Scandinavian Park 14th Annual Fish Boil and Harvest Festival Vasa Park, South Elgin, IL. www.vasaparkil. October 12 Leif Erikson Day Celebration / Wreath Laying Ceremony, Norwegian National League, Humboldt Park, 1440 N. Sacramento Drive, Chicago, IL. 1:00 PM. www.nnleague.org October 18 Viking Ship Visitors’ Day, 1:00 PM—4:00 PM, Good Templar Park, Geneva, IL. Adults $5:00, teens $3.00, children 12 and under free. (See September 20 above for details). October 25 Normenneness Singing Society 144th Anniversary Banquet, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Northbrook, IL. www.norwaysings.com October 26 Perry Straw, Norwegian Knifemaker, Elvesund Lodge meeting. St. Michael’s Church, 500 E. 31st St., LaGrange Park, IL, 3:00-6:00 PM.

trees. on grow money your help can He 4146. - 442 800 at Regan Greg call information,

Remember Remember Sons of Norway is a financial benefit society. If you need financial planning or insurance insurance or planning financial need you If society. benefit financial a is Norway of Sons

MONTH AWARENESS INSURANCE LIFE IS SEPTEMBER

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Maxson. Tom or me see positions,

If you have any questions about a position, or if you would like to serve in any of these these of any in serve to like would you if or position, a about questions any have you If

Director Medal Sports  ies taken at meetings and sent by sent and meetings at taken ies

events of scrapbook Keeps — Historian mon- Counts — Secretary Financial  

pathy meetings board and meeting

well, and sym- and well, - get birthdays, including of minutes Takes — Secretary 

Sends out various greetings greetings various out Sends — Sunshine Recruitment. bership. 

In charge of mem- of charge In — President Vice newsletter creates and Writes — Editor  

President table refreshment and up - clean 

Officer positions for our lodge are: lodge our for positions Officer In charge of kitchen, kitchen, of charge In — Refreshments 

programming and

Arranges for speakers speakers for Arranges — Director Social  ber. Transfer of Boards is in January. in is Boards of Transfer ber.

for the Board of Directors is in Novem- in is Directors of Board the for deposits make bills; Pays — Treasurer 

It may seem far away, but elections elections but away, far seem may It Treasurer. to off Signs International.

ELECTION DAY IN NOVEMBER IN DAY ELECTION

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need to know how many are coming. are many how know to need

the meeting September 28. But we we But 28. September meeting the

The Lodge is “buying us dinner” at at dinner” us “buying is Lodge The

Park! Vasa

9056 - 579 - 708

District 5! We had a successful day at at day successful a had We 5! District

Ship . . . and Lodge of the Year in in Year the of Lodge and . . . Ship

SEPTEMBER 28 SEPTEMBER

ty . . . Four rivets for the Viking Viking the for rivets Four . . . ty

derful song to our 30th anniversary par- anniversary 30th our to song derful IF YOU’RE COMING YOU’RE IF

son Male Chorus bringing some won- some bringing Chorus Male son MARY VANN MARY

our enthusiastic marchers! The Bjorn- The marchers! enthusiastic our

PLEASE RSVP TO RSVP PLEASE

weather for Syttende Mai along with with along Mai Syttende for weather

far! A few highlights: wonderful wonderful highlights: few A far!

What a fabulous year we’ve had so so had we’ve year fabulous a What

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NOTES NANCY’S

6 Page Page 7

IN MEMORIAM

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Gladys E. Wick. Born November 26, 1927. Memorial visitation was July 19 at United Lutheran Church in Oak Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials could be sent to United Lutheran Church or Shriner’s Hospital for Children, Chicago. Gladys was a Golden Member of Elvesund, having joined in 1984.

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Margaret Marie Sager. Born February 1, 1918; passed away June 22, 2014. Visitation was at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home in Oak Park, followed by a mass at St. Bernardine Church in Forest Park. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Bernardine Catholic Church in Margaret’s memory.

Remembrance of Tom Maxson: I know many of you may not remember Margaret Sager. She was 96 and in poor health; she moved to Florida to be near her daughter. A long-time resident of Forest Park, she was very active in Elvesund. In fact, she was the president for several years. A little side fact, Margaret was not Norwegian! How did she become president of a Norwegian group? Dan Bjornson was the CPA for the company Margaret was president of. He invited her to one of the lodge’s game nights. In the early years, the lodge held game nights first in the Riverside town hall and later in members’ homes. It was great fun and gave members a chance to get to know each other better. Margaret liked us and started coming to lodge meetings and got hooked on Nor- wegian culture. She was a great cook and a talented needle crafter. She made lots of mittens at the Knit a Mitten meetings when Lodge members knitted mittens for poor children in the area. She also made a lot of the ornaments for our tree. In fact, we still use some of her orna- ments. As you can see, Margaret gave much of herself to the Lodge. She’ll be missed by those of us who knew her. She was a great lady.

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Christina A. Irwin. Born June 10, 1942; passed away July 1, 2014. She lived in Westchester and formerly Oak Park.

President’s note: Although Christina was not a member of Elvesund, many of you may remember her. She was an active member of the Norwegian American Chamber of Commerce. I’m told she was very proud to escort one of her grandsons to the Syttende Mai Banquet this year.

I knew Christina for about 30 years. She was a client of mine in a company I owned in Oak Park. And when I joined a company in Bensenville, she became our accountant. She introduced me to Dan Bjornson, who, in turn, introduced me to Elvesund. Christina was one of our biggest supporters of our Christmas cookie project. We’ll all miss her smile and effervescence. Nancy Robinson President 835 Circle Avenue Forest Park, IL 60130

M e e ti n g s : 3 : 00— 6 : 0 0 PM

4th Sunday of t h e M o n t h

THOR HEYERDAHL’S CENTENNIAL

2014 marks the 100th anni- from coastal Peru to the is- the Atlantic Ocean from Mo- versary of the birth of famed lands of French Polynesia. rocco to Barbados in a papy- Norwegian ethnographer, ad- Heyerdahl sought to prove rus boat called Ra fell just venturer, and writer, Thor Hey- that contact among ancient short of his goal. The next erdahl. He is known for his at- peoples over vast distance year he completed the trip tempts to receate prehistoric was a possibility, and based successfully in a similar ship, expeditions to prove that early the primitive vessel’s design Ra II. Heyerdahl sparked humans were capable of sailing on sketches that Spanish the imagination of the public long distances even prior to the Conquistadors had made of becoming a well loved celebri- invention of the wheel. To com- Inca rafts. The expedition ty for these daring voyages, memorate Heyerdahl’s birth, across the Pacific Ocean last- yet his scientific work was the Kon-Tiki Museum in Oslo ed 101 days and Heyerdahl largely unaccepted. In the will launch a new exhibit, “Thor admitted that he’d worried academic world, however, he Heyerdahl 1914-2014” and will about his safety at times. did succeed in bringing the also have a touring exhibition. Heyerdahl wrote a book fields of anthropology and It was in 1947 that Heyer- about his voyage, The Kon- archaeology into public inter- dahl and the others launched Tiki Expedition: By Raft est. their spectacular voyage in a Across the South Seas which To learn more about Hey- hand built balsa wood raft, the sold millions of copies. erdahl and the exhibit honor- Kon-Tiki, an alternate name for After the success of the ing him, visit the Kon-Tiki the Inca sun god Viracocha. expedition, in 1969, Heyer- Museum’s official website. The crew sailed 5,000 miles dahl’s attempt to navigate