Budstikken July 2011 Wergeland Lodge #5/028 P.O

Budstikken Volume 46 Issue 7 Budstikken July 2011 Wergeland Lodge #5/028 P.O. Box 3591, La Crosse, WI 54602-3591

Next Meeting—Thursday, July 7 Fra Presidenten: American Legion Hall Last month while doing research for this col- 711 S. 6th Street, La Crosse umn, I ran across the term stave churches 6:00 pm Pot-Luck Dinner several times. This month my topic will be 7:00 pm General Meeting the history and construction of several of them. A stave church is a medieval wooden church with a post and beam construction related to timber framing. The wall frames are filled with verti- Program for July 7 Meeting cal planks. The word “stav” in Norwegian refers to the load bearing posts, hence the term stave church. Similar but an older type of construction is called the post church. Logs were split in two halves, rammed into the ground and given a roof. This was a simple form of construction but very strong. If set in gravel, the wall could last for decades, even centuries. Remains of buildings of this type are found over much of Europe. Stave churches were once common in Northern Europe. In Norway alone, it is believed between 1000 and 2000 were built.

There is one remaining stave church in Sweden built around the year 1500 but all the other surviving ones are in Norway. Of the 28 or so surviving stave churches in Norway today, the Urnes Stave Church in Luster, beside the Sognefjord, is the only one in the world to be included on UNESO’s World Heri- tage List. It was built before the year 1150. When Ramona visited Norway with our daughter several years ago, they visited the Borgund Stave Church, also near the Sognefjord which was built in the late 1100’s. "Eat Like a Viking." Ramona’s great grandmother Come along with Owen Christianson on a trip Thoreson was confirmed at the Lom back through time to the age of the Vikings. Owen Stave Church which was built in the uses Scandinavian turning to show how Vikings year 1158 in Oppland . Many other stave churches were destroyed and ate, drank, worked, and played with objects made rebuilt but incredibly, about 28 by turning on a lathe. originals still remain.

The above picture shows Owen and Elspeth If you want to see a replica stave Christianson with Wergeland member Lee Grippen church closer to home, you can see (center) at the Norskedalen program on May 1st. one in Little Norway in southwest- ern Wisconsin. There is also one in Door County WI, one called Chapel in the Hills in Rapid City SD, one Index in Moorhead MN, and others in Lom Stave Church Monthly Program, President’s Letter...... P.1 Minot ND, and in Warren County, (from Wikipedia) Birthdays, Kalendar, Looking Ahead, Minutes ...... P.2 Indiana. Any of these would be an Member News ...... P.3 interesting and educational place to visit. Library News, Looking Back ...... P.4 New Members, Midsummer Holiday ...... P.5 See you at the potluck July 7th! Announcements, Cloudberies ...... P.6 Language/Culture, Norway News...... P.7 Fraternally, Present Officers, Norskedalen Events ...... P.8 Adrian Johnson

P-2 Budstikken July 2011 July Birthdays 1 La Vern M Korb 1 Julia F Nordby 2 Luanne K Hjelle 2 Frieda E Nowland 3 Jean S Marck 4 Norma Anderson Thursday, July 7 at American Legion 6 Miranda C Rodriguez Pot-Luck Dinner at 6 p.m. 6 Evelyn L Skogen 7 Elnor H Haugen Bring a Dish to Pass 8 Clara E Sween Table Service will be Provided 9 M.Paul Hendrickson Meeting and Program will Follow 10 Wesley N Bangsberg 10 Arvid Iverson Questions: Call Kathi Beane at 608-788-0397 11 Hans L Amundson or Vernetta Moe at 608-786-1022 11 Sandra K Stavlo

11 Eileen G Temte 12 Leann M. Theisen Looking Ahead…… 13 Karen L Scarseth Eugene Johnson grew up in Stoughton WI. There are things about this Scandi- 13 Jensine D Wing navian community that we may not have known. Gene will update us on Stoughton’s importance…. even world-wide. 14 Robert A Brantley 14 Carolyn I Skogen 15 Marion M Strand WERGELAND KALENDER 16 Richard A Granum July 7: Pot-Luck Dinner and General Meeting 16 Marian E Mickelson 6:00 pm - Dinner, 7:00 pm - General Meeting 16 Marilyn E Trisch July 12: 8:30 am-Board Meeting at Perkins on Hwy 16 July 18: Deadline for Budstikken Articles 17 Corrine T Abegglen July 27: Budstikken mailed to Members 17 Roger I Bean Aug. 4: General Meeting for August 17 Mary J Brague 17 Karen S Kesselring 18 Randi L Brye Sekretær Notater…. 18 Gary L Gilbertson SONS OF NORWAY 18 Alice A McHugh WERGELAND LODGE 18 Joyce E Olson Lodge Meeting June 2, 2011 Minutes 19 Esther A Sagen 21 Marla Klocke Those in attendance at North Presbyterian Church were entertained by Roger 22 Judy A Brown Tweiten from River Falls WI beginning at 7:00 p.m. Mr. Tweiten has always maintained his interest in music and dances of Norway. He played a wide vari- 22 Lois S Nelson ety of musical folk instruments and sang. Afterwards many enjoyed the pie and 22 Don R Peterson ice cream social. A free will offering was taken for the performance and for the 23 Adeline B Pederson ice cream social. 24 Robert C Thomsen 26 Ria Midtlien The President announced that the July meeting will be a pot luck. Please bring 26 P. Tom Skogen a dish of your choice to share with others. 26 Linda S Trautmann It was estimated that 150 people enjoyed the evening. 26 Dorothy E Wedwick $188.00 was collected at the pie and ice cream social. 28 Shelley M Jerviss 31 Eugene W Johnson Submitted by 31 Donald A Sannes Kathi Beane, Secretary P-3 Budstikken July 2011 Dis og Dat …. Tusen takk…..

Christine and Clayton Hanson spent two weeks Norwegian heritage was on display at Gundersen traveling through Norway. Finn Brobakken hosted Clinic during the month of May. Patients, visitors, and them for a few days and they celebrated Syttende Mai staff were intrigued by the variety of heritage pieces and together. From Snertingdahl they traveled by train the historical information presented. Mange tusen takk to over the mountains and down to Bergen. While staying Julia and Al Forde, Hjordis Helgestad, Beth Kabat, in Bergen, Haugesund, and Os they were hosted by Carol Stekel, and Cathy Ells for sharing items for the friends Christine met on facebook. Then it was back to displays depicting our heritage. Exhibit shown below. the states. (And mange takk to Cathy Ells for organizing this for Wergeland Lodge.) God Bedring … til Carolyn Skogen who had surgery June 13. She will be starting radiation therapy. Bing continues with dialysis. til Hjordis Helgestad who had been hospitalized at Lutheran. til Joyce Olson who was scheduled for eye surgery on June 21st. Sports Medal to be Awarded at July Meeting

Jean Davis, our Sports Director, will be presenting a Sports Medal to one of our members. Also, information will be presented about how you may earn a medal for your leisure or sports activity.

Zone 1 and 2 Officers Seminar Holmen KornFest Parade on August 20th

on August 20 Our lodge has been well represented in this This year Zone 1 and 2 members will have a parade for many years. Can you march and combined officer’s seminar. It is being held at show off our lodge? We need someone to help Owen and Elspeth Christianson’s Viking longhouse carry the banner and as well as other marchers. at Stratford WI (north of Marsfield). Elspeth will Please call Viv Sacia at 608-526-3181 if you can be cooking a Viking feast. Officers and especially new officers are urged to attend. Everyone is in- help. vited and you may come even if you are not an officer. More information will be coming. Actually the Viking longhouse is to be raised on Gratularer…… July 30 much like the old barn raisings. Remember Wergeland mem- that Owen is also doing our July meeting. You may ber Elwood Harebo ask him any questions that you may have at that was honored on June time. 3rd during the Please notify President Adrian by July 15th if graduation ceremo- you think you will be able to attend. Car pooling nies at Logan High School in La Crosse. He was elected to Change of Address: the Logan Wall of Einar O. Olson Fame in honor of his 840 Mill St., Apt 19 many years officiat- West Salem WI 54669 ing sports and working with youth and community organi- Phone: 608-786-2825 zations. Elwood continues his involvement with sports Phone Number Changes: and kids having worked basketball games this past season Glenn Borreson—608 317-8811 and is now involved with baseball this summer for his Mary Borreson608 317-8839 grandson’s team. P-4 Budstikken July 2011 Looking Back Through the Budstikkens By Historian Jan Storlie

Fem år siden (5 years ago) July 2006

Jonathan Nowland, who helped his mother Frieda present last month's program on Tarkjel Landsverk, I was at Luther College in Decorah IA, recently and was Telemark Poet, was recently selected to travel to able to purchase a new book for our library at the cam- Ethiopia, Africa, next February as part of a church pus bookstore. Linka's Diary, A Norwegian Immigrant delegation. The delegation is expected to visit hospi- Story, In Word and Sketches is a book that a couple of tals, schools, AIDS clinics, and orphanages, as well as you have asked about. Here it is. Marvin G. Slind is the Diary Editor and Gracia Grindal is the Sketch Editor church congregations. of this book published in 2008. It tells part of the story Midsummer Fest at Norskedalen—Coon Valley of Caroline Dorothea Margrethe Keyser, called 'Linka', 8-5 pm SAT., and 10- 5 pm SUN, JUNE 24-25. born into a prominent family in Kristiansand, Norway on Congratulations to Pauline Abel, who was recog- July 2, 1829. nized by Gundersen-Lutheran for being the volunteer of the year. She married Hermann Preus, emigrated to America in Congratulations to Phyllis Branson, who was rec- 1851, raised their children, and led the life of a pastor's ognized by the La Crosse Tribune on May 15 for being wife in Spring Prairie WI, now known as De Forest. The an outstanding volunteer in the community . diary has historical value because it provides us with a glimpse into the life of a nineteenth-century Norwegian woman. It also provides an introduction into early Ti år siden (10 years ago) July 2001 church history. The Preus line of pastors were prominent figures in the formation of the Lutheran Synods in Pot luck enjoyed by 118 members. Program: America. Preus Library at Luther College is named for Elaine Nelson discussed some of the superstitious be- Hermann Preus and his son who both served there as liefs which have long been part of Norwegian culture. college presidents.

Femten år siden (15 years ago) July 1996 The editor has divided the book into four sections: 1) Adolescent observations, 2) Engagement and mar- Program: "Pet Therapy" was presented by Deb riage, emigration, 3) Observations of America, and Woerpel of the Coulee Region Humane Society. 4) Drawings & sketches. Part One sometimes reads Sports Director Beth Kabat is a pet therapy volunteer. like a 'Norwegian Facebook' - daily jottings of mundane and significant events in her life. In Part Four, the Sketch Editor provides a summary of the happenings in Thoughts to Ponder the sketches for the reader. Besides the diary entries of Linka, the book includes letters from friends and other “It is vital in all cultural life to maintain a link between the pastors’ wives over the span of 20 years. The diary present and the past. entries, letters, and sketches welcome you into the life If there is anything that history makes clear it is this, that of Linka, a proud Norwegian woman, creating a life in when a people becomes interested in its past life, seeks to the new country of America. Sit back and enjoy the visit acquire knowledge in order to better to understand itself, it with Linka. always experiences an awakening of new life."

For those of us who grew up Norwegian and Lutheran, Ole Edvart Rolvaag in the Midwest, these stories could have been written by one of our relatives. It is familiar to us all. Ole’s Take on Aging Karen Scarseth, Ole complained that the problem with retirement was that Librarian he never knew when he was done. ****************** “It is awful to grow old by yourself”, said Ole. “Lena " Let us remember our ancestors; some of them have left hasn’t had a birthday in seven years!” behind a name, but of others there is no memory. These ******************* were Godly people, whose good deeds have not been Ole applied for a job as a prison guard. He was asked how forgotten, and their names live on generation after gen- he would control them. “Simple,” Ole replied, “If they eration." don’t behave, out they go.” (From Internet, Source not given) Thanks to Marilyn Trisch P-5 Budstikken July 2100 New Members: (continued from June Budstikken)

Ruth Scholze – Ruth is the LMC Director at Evergreen Elementary, being the librarian for 404 Students in grades K- 5. She is married to Edward, and has a son Joseph who got married on May 21st to Brooklynn Rowland. She also has a daughter Hannah, who has also joined our lodge at this time. Ruth’s Grandmother is her Norwegian connection and of course, Halfway Creek Lutheran Church. She likes to bake, read, walk, and enjoys visiting family and friends. She also likes music.

Hannah Scholze – Hannah is the Archivist for Holmen Area Historical Society. She does cataloging, caring for, and preserving items in the Historical Society’s collection. Her parents are Ruth (above) and Edward Scholze, and she has a brother Joseph Scholze. Hannah has several genealogical lines that have roots in Norway. She is also the historian for Halfway Creek Lutheran Church, which had a great influence among Norwegians in La Crosse County. Ad- ditionally, Holmen was settled by a large population of Norwegians. Hannah enjoys researching genealogy and local history, baking, reading, hiking, singing, and visiting with family and friends.

Mark Dyar -- Mark is currently employed as the Special Education Coordinator for Houston Public School's online programs. He works with special education teachers and related services staff to provide special education services for students enrolled in the Minnesota Virtual Academy, an online public school program. His wife, Joyce (Halverson) and Mark were married in La Crosse on October 20, 1973, moved from the area in 1974, and returned in 1991. They have two children, Andrew and Rachel. Their daughter Rachel is getting married on May 14th, 2011 in Steamboat Springs CO. Mark’s mother's family settled in the Bad Axe area and Newton Valley in Vernon County. They believe that her father Tennes Nelson came from the Stavanger area and his wife Alma Tollackson's father, Torkel Tollackson emigrated from Mageland-Lunde Rogaland, around 1867. Joyce's father was from Houston MN area. They are interested in finding out more about their Norwegian ancestors and hope to travel to Norway in the next few years. They are hoping that membership in the Wergeland Lodge will help them pursue these interests. They enjoy boating and fishing on the Mississippi; hiking and hunting the hills of Vernon county; and traveling as far and often as possible.

Sven's Funnies..

Ole and Sven were waiting at the bus stop when a truck went past loaded up with rolls of turf. Ole said, “I’m gonna do dat when I win da lottery.” “What's dat den?” asks Sven. “Send me lawn away to be mowed

Norway's Midsummer Holiday

Sankthansaften is celebrated on June 23 in Norway. The day is also called Jonsok, which means "John's wake," important in Roman Catholic times. The holiday, which falls adjacent to the summer solstice, began as a pagan holiday celebrating new birth and fertility. Christians have more recently used the day to commemmorate the coming of John the Baptist, who was known to have been born six months before Christ. In most places, the main event is the burning of a large bonfire, and in some parts of Norway, a pre-1800's tradition of arranging mock marriages continues to be kept alive. An old Swedish tradition advises an unmarried girl to pick seven kinds of flowers and jump over seven roundpole fences before bedtime on midsummer´s eve. During the night, she will then dream about the man she will marry. A Midsummer Bonfire

Lena says, "Eat up that broccoli Ole. It'll put color in your cheeks.” Sez Ole, "Do you really think I want green cheeks?" P-6 Budstikken July 2011 Cultural Skills Program The concert by Roger Twieten was a big Unit 4: Rosemaling success as was the Looking for a new summer hobby that is fun and connects you to your Norwegian heritage? Be sure to tasty pie/ice cream visit the members only section of the Sons of Norway social that followed. website to check out the latest of the redesigned Cul- tural Skills Program units. With new photos, forms and Thanks for supporting diagrams the new rosemaling unit is sure to please! our Wergeland Lodge. While you're visiting the site, be sure to take a look at our other redesigned Cultural Skills Program units on hardanger embroidery and cooking! To learn more about the Cultural Skills Program, Great call (800) 945-8851 or email [email protected] Selection of Pies

Mange Takk Cloudberries

to all the The scarcity and need for servers and importing of Cloudberries is to those who due to their very limited brought pies. growing area. Cloudberries can only grow on boggy land in the cold northern climates. This is why they Attention Wergeland Members: flourish in Scandinavia, Siberia, the Arctic Circle, Please Read the Following— Canada and the extreme northern parts of the United States. Dear Sons of Norway Members, Even though the cloudberry can withstand You may be aware of a recent letter sent to cold temperatures down to well below -40°F, it is extremely sensitive to salt and dry conditions. some members within the organization from a To flourish, the plants need a precise range of company called "Good News" with a salutation temperatures and a late frost can knock out a of "Dear Fellow Sons of Norway Member" that whole crop. solicits members for a $2.00 payment for Because cloudberries grow best on the afore- "materials". mentioned boggy terrain in northern climates, This e-mail is to inform you that there is no they are often found in places that are well hidden connection between Sons of Norway Headquar- and difficult to reach. ters and the aforementioned company. Also, we The cloudberry harvest in the wild is highly neither support, nor endorse, their business ven- unpredictable due to the unstable weather condi- tures. We are currently contacting the company tions prevailing in the beginning of June when the to request they stop contacting members in a cloudberry flowers. The cloudberry is primarily a wild plant. Be- manner that suggests any relation between our cause of its needs for such particular growing companies. conditions it is difficult to cultivate in commercial If you should receive a letter from "Good production. This means the size of the yearly har- News" you can either disregard it entirely or, if vest can vary widely, seriously affecting the there are questions or concerns, contact Sons of wholesale price—sometimes driving it as high as Norway headquarters by calling (800) 945-8851. $28.00 per pound.

Fraternally, The berries difficult to transport because they are soft and easily damaged when ripe. Sons of Norway Headquarters In Canada cloudberries are only harvested during July and August, which means they are  only available at certain times of the year, adding Lena said, “The man next door brings his wife flowers every to their scarcity. week. Couldn’t you do that?” From SON site Ole replied, “I yust don’t know her dat vell!” P-7 Budstikken July 2011 a little in English... litt på norsk... This is Where We Want to Go This Summer Hit Vil Vi i Sommer Greek salad, olives and a tranquil Mamma Mia feeling is Gresk salat, oliven og idylliske Mamma Mia-strender er fa- the favorite for this summer. Greece beats out Spain for the voritten denne sommeren. Hellas går forbi Spania som som- summer’s most popular travel destination, shown in a re- merens mest populære reisemål. Det viser en undersøkelse search survey by Response analysts on behalf of Star Tour. utført av Respons analyse på vegne av Star Tour. “Greekophiles” "Grekofile" In the countries that were covered in the survey, 22% I landene som var dekket i undersøkelsen svarer 22 prosent answered that they plan to travel to Greece in the summer, at de planlegger en reise til Hellas i sommer, mens 20 prosent while 20% listed Spain as the holiday favorite. With 19% of lister Spania som feriefavoritten. Med 19 prosent av stem- the votes, the Nordic countries take bronze in the survey. mene, tar Norden bronsjeplasse i undersøkelsen. “We have seen Greece's popularity grow. Greece has a Vi har sett at Hellas har blitt mer populært. Hellas har en large place in our hearts. We are ‘Greekophiles’,” says stor plass i våre hjerter. Vi er "Grekofile", sier informasjonss- Elisabeth Larsen-Vonstett, the information director at Star jef Elisabeth Larsen-Vonstett i Star Tour. Tour. Det er ikke mange prosentene som skiller Hellas fra Spania, “There are not many percentage points that separate men det er morsomt å se. Jeg tror vi liker det litt uformelle Greece from Spain, but it is interesting to look at. I think we ved Hellas, sier hun. like the informality in Greece,” she stated. Sommerferie er den tiden på året da mange av oss gjerne vil Summer vacation is that time during the year where many sikre oss noen feriedager under sol og skyfri himmel. Ifølge of us would rather spend our vacation days under the sun underøkelsen planlegger over to millioner å reise bort i som- and cloud-free sky. According to the research survey, over mer. Ikke overraskende mener Star Tour. two million plan to travel abroad in the summer. That is not Vil Vekk surprising in Star Tour’s opinion. Det som derimot er nytt, er at så mange av oss ønsker oss Want to Get Away vekk også i vintermånedene. Sammenlingnet med samme un- What's new is that so many of us desire to get away dur- dersøkelse i fjor, svarte 45 prosent at de planlegger å reise ing the winter months. Comparing with last year’s survey, bort til vinteren, mot 36 prosent året før. 45% answered that they plan to travel abroad in the winter, Larsen-Vonstett tror det har sammenheng med den særdeles compared to 36% of those who answered the year before. lange og hutrende vinteren vi nettopp har lagt bak oss. Nord- Larsen-Vonstett believes that there is a comparison with the menn tørster etter D-vitaminer. Og sol og varme er øverst på particularly long and chilly winter that we have just experi- ønskelisten når vi ser etter reisemål. enced. Norwegians thirst after D-vitamins. And sun and Vi har hatt vinter her siden oktober. Da ønsker man seg bort warmth is highest on the wish list when we are debating året etter, sier Larsen- Vonstett. over a travel location. “We have had winter here since October. Because of this, Hit planlegger vi å reise til vinteren: (Here is where we plan people want to go abroad the year after,” says Larsen- to travel in the winter) Vonstett. 1. Spania/Spain – 31% Translated from Aftenposten 2. Thailand/Thailand – 13% 3. USA/USA – 8% Hit planlegger vi å reise i sommer: (Here is where we plan 4. Tyrkia/Turkey – 7% to travel this summer) 5. Hellas/Greece – 6% 1. Hellas/Greece – 22% 6. Norden/Nordic – 6% 2. Spania/Spain – 20% 7. Storbritannia/Great Britain – 6% 3. Norden/Nordic – 19% 8. Egypt/Egypt – 4% 4. Italia/Italy – 11% 9. Italia/Italy – 4% 5. Frankrike/France – 11% 10. Frankrike/France – 4% 6. Tyrkia/Turkey – 10% 7. Storbritannia/Great Britain – 9% 8. Tyskland/Germany – 8% 9. USA/USA – 8% 10. Kroatia/Croatia – 5%

The mission of Sons of Norway is to promote and pre- serve the heritage and culture of Norway, to celebrate our relationship with other Nordic countries, and provide quality insurance and financial products to its SONS OF NORWAY July 2011 Non-Profit Organization WERGELAND LODGE #5/028 Celebrate U.S.Postage Paid Carol Stekel, Editor American Independence Permit No.22 P.O. Box 3591 July 4 La Crosse, WI 54601 La Crosse, WI 54602-3591

OFFICERS TO CONTACT BETWEEN MEETINGS Norskedalen Activities President-Adrian C. Johnson ...... 608-788-7507 Thrune Visitor’s Center: N1646 Mickel Rd., La Crosse WI 54601-8445 Summer Hours: May 1 - Oct. 31 E-mail address: [email protected] Monday-Friday: 9 am to 5 pm

Vice President-Kent Sween ...... 608-781-3666 Saturday: 10 am to 5 pm 1219 Oak Ave N., Onalaska WI 545650-2121 Sunday: 12 Noon to 5 pm e-mail address: [email protected] “Always on a Sunday” Programs at 2 pm

Financial Secretary -Hjordis Helgestad…..608-779- 4008 Programs for July 1075 Kristy Ln., Apt. E, Onalaska WI e-mail address: [email protected] July 2 - Art Fair on the Farm/Ice Cream Social at Skumsrud Heritage Farm Notices of deaths must go to the Financial Secretary July 3 - "Patriotic America with Veterans" Secretary-Kathryn Beane…………………..608-783-3037 with Lewis Ferris and VFW Friends 608 Lake St., Onalaska WI July 10 - "Bluebirds" with Leif Marking e-mail address: [email protected] July 15&16 - Historic Building Chinking at

Editor-Carol Stekel ...... 608-486-2175 Skumsrud Farm (weather permitting) 1809 Buol Dr. Bangor, WI 54614 July 17 - "Land Resourceful" with Loren Cade e-mail address: [email protected] July 24 - "New Directions at Eco-Park" with Jeff Su July 26 - Historic Building Chinking at Bekkum SofN Fraternal Benefit Counselor- July 31 - "WWII Resistance Movement" Helge Enok Vestnes ...... 715-878-9646 with Don Berg W1741 Easterson Rd. Eleva, WI 54738 e-mail: [email protected] Norskedalen Phone: 608-452-3424 cell: 715-797-6414 Web Site: www.norskedalen.org E-mail Address: [email protected]