Since 1911 October, 2002 Volume 22, Issue 3 Sigdalslag Saga Serving Norwegian-Americans of Sigdal, Eggedal & Krødsherad ancestry Inside this issue: News from 2002 7 Lag Stevne Fra Presidenten 2 by Dianne Enger Snell The 2002 7 Lag Stevne is now behind The Saga’s New Clothes 2 us and Sigdalslag, at 83 members and friends, enjoyed th e largest registration Ola & Per Home in 4 in 20 years. The theme of the Stevne Spring Grove was “Join Hands and Dance” – and Rosella’s Search for her 5 that we did. (Actually some danced Roots and some only watched the dancing, but either way it was enjoyable.) NSI Fall Meeting 5 The joint meeting of the bygdelags of Sigdal, Telelag, Land, Numedal, Vesterheim Museum 6 Hadeland, Ringerike-Drammen Dis- Celebrates 125 years tricts and Toten took place July 11-13 VIKINGS! Smithsonian 6 on the beautiful campus of St. Olaf’s Photo by Ed Espe Institute comes to MN College in Northfield, Minnesota, an Sigdal members in the Bunad parade (l-r) Corrine Johnson, Marilyn Sohmdahl, Earl Knutsen, and Carol Meade. Members Surveys 7 apropos setting for an event centered on Norwegian history and culture. Registration began Thursday morning in Bun- als to share with eag er “roots-seekers,” enhan ced trock Commons Hall along with the opening of by her impressive knowledge of the history of the genealogy research room that ran until noon Sigdal Kommune and its families. Velkommen, nye lag medlemmer! on Friday. Our Sigdalslag genealogist, Lee A variety of vendors were out in force Thursday Rokke, laid out a wide array of reference materi- and Friday, offering su ch tempting wares as x KRISTIN RISLEY Columbus, O hio books, artwork, jewelry and clothing of Norwegian x SHARON S. WICKLUND Dalton, MN persuasion. x BARBARA WEST A bonus of meeting at St. Milwaukee, WI Olaf’s w as the chan ce for some to do research in the x D. R. THUEN Deltona, FL impressive Rolvaag Lib rary on campus and enjoy a x WILLARD ANDERSON Chapel Hill, NC docent’s tour of the Norwe- gian American Historical Association (NAHA) archives, located in the Gifts and Memoria ls basement of the library. $ 2 0 from Kris tin R is le y (Continued on page 3) Researching their roots in the genealogy room at the 7 Lag Stevne Page 2 Sigdalslag Saga V olume 22, Issue 3 2002-2003 Sigdalslag Fra Presidenten: Officers EARL O. KNUTSON President 722 SW 2nd Street Willmar, MN 56201 320-222-1613 [email protected] Saga has a new look! This is fitting because, CAROL MEADE VP 1 starting with this issue, we have a new editorial 4133 Lyndale Avenue S team - Cynthia Peterson and Marilyn Moen. These Minneapolis, MN 55409 two will try their best to do the job that Marilyn 612-827-6139 Somdahl has done alone for 15 years. I'm sure that [email protected] the readers will join me in welcoming Cindy and Marilyn M., and in wishing Marilyn S. a happy GARTH ULRICH VP 2 Box 28, Spalding SK retirement. I hope readers will start to submit SOK 4CO, CANADA news articles to Cindy or Marilyn M. 306-633-2274 In addition to the new editorial team, [email protected] Sigdalslag has a two new elected officers - Judith Sosted (third Vice President) and Amy Michelsen JUDY SOSTED VP 3 (secretary). The other four elected officers are 1118 Lia Court holdovers from last year. All six were elected at Northfield, MN 55057 the business meeting on July 13th. I'm grateful to [email protected] all for their willingness to shoulder the work needed to keep Sigdalslag moving forward. DON SKADELAND Treasurer -three 10642 “O” Street For those who could not attend this year's Omaha, NE 68127 stevne (July 11-13 at St. Olaf College), I can tell 402-331-5906 you that it was a very good meeting. Eighty [email protected] Sigdalslag members attended. Marilyn Somdahl told us that this was the largest registration that she AMY MICHELSEN Secretary could remember in her 20 years. The total 18730 Roanoke St. NW registration including all the seven lags that meet Anoka, MN 55303-8971 together was in excess of 340. 763-753-5484 [email protected] Ha det bra, LEE ROKKE Genealogist 13465 Garden View Drive Earl O. Knutson Apple Valley, MN 55124 President, Sigdalslag 952-432-9767 [email protected] MARILYN MOEN Co-Editor 32557 Clay Bank Road Erhard, MN 56534 The Saga’s New Clothes [email protected] “Gee, why does th e Saga look different?” Halstenrud farms. My story is pretty much out- CINDY PETERSON Co-Editor/ Hopefully, that is positive critique! Due to the lined on my web site at www.omoth.com Publisher 3520 Banyan Street retirement of our longstanding and loyal editor, My husband Cliff, our dog and two cats live Santa Rosa, CA 95403 the Saga has taken on two new co-editors. in beautiful northern California wine country, 707-573-1504 For those of you who I have not met, please where I work as a civil engineering design tech- [email protected] allow me to introdu ce myself. My name is Cind y nician, and Cliff is a golf course superintendent. For submissions or questions, Peterson and I have humbly accepted the posi- We were fortunate enough to participate in please contact Marilyn Moen tion as your new Saga co-editor and publisher. the Lag’s 2000 Norway trip along with my sister, or Cindy Peterson A member for just a few short years, my an- Gloria, and her daughter, Kendra. It was a cestry is from Eggedal, Norway, where my fam- (Continued on page 9) ily emigrated from the Åmot (Omoth) and Sigdalslag Saga V olume 22, Issue 3 Page 3 2002 Stevne... (Continued from page 1) sota, organized 20 years ago, showed their stuff O. E. Rolvaag, author of Giants In The Earth, Friday evening under the tutelage of Kjell and was the Association’s first secretary in 1925 and Elaine Nordlie, formerly folk dancers in Nor- laid the groundwork for the creation of the way. Saturday evening b anquet-go ers enjoyed archives consisting of papers, books, pictures, the singing, dancing and fiddling of Bø Junior newspapers and periodicals related to No rwe- Spelemannslag, an award-winning group of gian-Americans. NAHA has become a valuable young people from Bø, Telemark. source of immigration history has been a model The business meeting for our Lag was held for other ethnic groups who want to preserve Saturday morning at Christensen Music Hall the history of their peoples. NAHA members with about 60 in attendance. The agenda in- enjoy special benefits such as free publications cluded a welcome by Presid ent Earl Knutson, a (usually one or two books a year), newsletters, special welcome to new members, and a mo- and priority use of the archives. ment of silen ce fo r deceased members of the Entertainment for the three days of the Stevne past year. Carol Meade presented a slide pro- Photo by Sandra Towne focused on the musical side of Norwegian gram of Norway scenes set to music. Members Happy 90th birthday to Alice Mensing! culture. Soprano Kristen “Kristi” Bergland were asked to introdu ce themselves and tell She attended her first Stevne in 1913, performed vocal selections at the joint 7-Lag about their relationship to Sigdalslag. as evident in a Lag photo, where she meeting on Friday afternoon and again at the was just an infant in her fathers arms! The Saturday banqu et was h eld at th e American Friday evening Legion Hall in North- program. She field to meet and greet studied in old and new friends for Norway as a the final gathering until Fulbright next year. The tradi- scholar and tional Bunad Parade of now sings native costumes and an professionally evening of so cial dan c- in the Twin ing followed the fea- Cities. The Photo by Ed Espe tured entertainment. Torgier Straand of the Leikarring Photo by Ed Espe Bø juniorspelemannslag-The Bø Dancers of We hope to see you Don Skadeland, Garth Ulrich, Carol Meade, Earl Knutsen, Junior Fiddlers Dassel, Minn e- next year in Winona! Marilyn Somdahl, Judith Sosted, Lee Rokke, Twila Halvorson Sigdalslaget 1949 yearbook still available “Takk fra meg!” The new hardcover English translation of the 1949 book went on sale in July and many are still available for $25 each plus $6.00 shipping and Members were generous with the praise handling ($31 US) by mail order or online at www.sigda lslag.org as I retired as Sigdalslag Saga edi- tor. I've valued lag friendships and coop- eration with our areas in Norway for the Order form for: Sigdalslaget - 1949 yearbook past 20 years. Now le t me say how much Name ______________________________________________________ I appreciate your gifts, hand written Street ______________________________________________________ notes, and the several tributes delivered at the stevne! Special thanks to Håvard State ____________________________________ ZIP_______________ Støvern in Prestfoss and to Sidney and Phone _________________ E-Mail _______________________________ Lois Rand in Northfield for their good Make check payable to Sigdalslag words. Qty. Price each Total Send to: Don Skadeland @ $31.00 10642 O Street Fondly, Marilyn Somdahl Omaha, NE 68127 Page 4 Sigdalslag Saga V olume 22, Issue 3 Ola and Per, home in Spring Grove The sculpture was erected in wants his hat donated to “that pring Grove, th e first Nor- S Viking Memorial Park in museum” in Decorah, Iowa. wegian settlement in Minne- Spring Grove, hometown of Sculptor Bergsgaard discovered sota, celebrated its Ses quicen- both Rosendahl and Bergs- Per’s last requests while re- tennial last May which included gaard.