Excitement grows with the Sigdalslag decision to join with four other bygdelags, Hadeland, Land, Telernark and Toten, in sharing a portion of the time June 29-30 and in separate sessions which are of special purpose and interest to each lag when all gather on the St. Olaf College campus, Northfield, Minnesota. Velkommen! Each lag will use advance registration and payment of fees. You may wish to complete this form today when you have read this newsletter. No tickets will be available for the bapquet buffet except by advance sale. A visitor badge will be issued for those able to attend only a portion of the day to include a user fee at $ 3..00 each day. All lags have the same registration fee. Highlights of the weekend will include the evening programs Friday and Saturday to which the public is invited. Dr. Harland Foss,. President of St. Olaf College will bring greetings and Dr. Sidney Rand, former ambassador to and a past-president at St. Olaf, together with his wife Lois will present "Nilkkenog Nissen" in Sigdal and Hadeland Friday evening. Music and singing and coffee offer opportunities to participate. Saturday afternoon and evening the Gjevre VII family will provide instrumental music. Five children and their parents perform and share a Norwegian-American heritage that lS lively, informative entertainment. Folk dancers known as among the most acclaimed in Norway present the after-the- banquet program Saturday evening. The Sogn-Fjordane Ringen in bunads of various districts of Norway's west coast performs regional Cbygedans) dances such as vestlands , gamalt, , , ; pattern dances such as reels, row dances, couple dances-- all turdans forms; popular or old-fashioned , reinlender, schottische, and dances for couples; and finally the songdans which derive from the Middle Ages and are kept alive in the Faeroe Islands in the tradition of the epic lays. Hardanger music provides the sound and art of 8 strings--four of which simply for resonance. UPON ARRIVAL at the Student Center, you will pick up your badge, room key and banquet tickets; fees will have been received by Sigdal Lag Treasurer Elaine Schulstad June 15. If you prefer not to use Larson Hall (has an elevator) on campus, make reservations DIRECTLY with a Northfield motel: College City Motel, N. Hwy # 3, Northfield, WIN 55057, PH. 507-645-4426 Hillcrest Motel, N. Hwy # 3, " " " 507-645-5607 Travel Host, S. H•..,y # 3 " " " 507-645-0371 StUa:Et Hotel, 212 Division St., " " " 507-645-5661 Camping: Nerstrand Woods State Park or the Arnold Ness farm (Make written inquiry in advance to Arnold Ness, R. 1 Box 26, Northfield, r~Jo 55057).

BANQUET BUFFET }~DW--Saturday evening, June 30, 5:30 PM @ $10.00 per person-- children age 10 and under ~ $5.00. NO TICKETS after June 12. Menu: Norsk meat balls, baked spare ribs, parsley potato~s, peas/carrots, cranberry salad, riskrem & spritz, beverages. * * * * * * * * * * * * You may sell Nor'degian crafts you have made if you have made arrangements with Mrs. W. D. (Cora) Koester, R. 1 Box 317, Northfield, MN 55057, as stated in the February newsletter.

Send registration fee, room reservation' fees, and banquet money before June 12. Enclose form on last page. Come for the entire Stevne or as long as you can.

Bring yellow Bigdalslag Genealogical Survey form filled in for Lee Rokke, our librarian. If you haven't received a copy, please request one.

Bring genealogy material for research at the library, open for our convenience Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Ask local newspapers and radio stations about free publicity for news release about the enclosed, "FIVE BYGDELAGS MEET AT ST. OLAF COLLEGE".

Bring the enclosed st. Olaf College campus map with you. Registration is at the STUDENT CENTER.

~1J~IDAi£ tAQi PRex;RAM 1984

Registration for all lags. Student Center hallway - $9.00 per person Number of registrants paying the $9.00 fee determines size of meeting room and entitles them to admission to everything except the banquet: evening entertainments, meetings and Friday coffees, (AM, PM, evening) Visitor badges for persons attending only one day or one event ..$3.00 Exhibits, Displays, Craft skills, Visiting & Coffee - Fireside LDunge adjacent to registration.

Urness Hall, Music Building Afternoon Program ;'~Sing-a-long - Leader Mrs. Donald "Oggs" Berglund; Mrs. Orville Ruud, accompanist. ;'~Genealogyfor Norwegians - Mr. Forrest Brown, Librarian, St. Olaf College The St. Olaf Library and Norwegian-American Historical Association will be open and available for our use on the following schedule: Thursday, June 28----from 8:00 AM til 5:00 PM Friday, June 29----- from 8:00 AM til 2:00 PM, and 3:00 PM til 5:00 PM Saturday, June 30~---from 8:00 AM til 12 noon. Coffee in Firesjde IQ]mge ••.••Exhibits, Displays, Crafts Shuttle bus service to downtown Northfield ~ plus city tour. Supper in cafeteria Urness Hall,Music Building EVENING PRex;RAM ;'~Sing-a~long -"Oggs" Berglund & Milda Ruud 1~Greeting, Dr. Harland Foss, President, St. Olaf College * Northfield Ladies Trio * Dr. Sidney & Lois Rand -"N~kken og Nissen" in Sigdal and Hadeland * Coffee - Fireside Lounge, Student Center

8:30 AM Registration in Student Center hallway. Displays, Exhibits, Fireside LDunge 9:00 AM Separate lag business meetings. (Rooms assigned Friday eve.)

11 AM Combined 5-lag meeting, Urness Hall 12 noon Lunch in college cafteria - or Snack Shop GjevreFamily instrumental entertainment, Urness Hall Donald Berglund, host SIGDAL LAG program - same room as AM business session - coffee

5:30 Banquet Buffet, Student Center (Advance Tickets Only) 7:30 Boe Chapel - Sex;N ex;FJORDNS:RINGEN folk dance plUS Gjevre VII group. ST. OLAF COLLEGE HARL&~F. FOSS. PRElaLDBJ"T NORTUFmLD. MINNESOTA. ~~O~7

WELCOME TO THE 73rd. ANNUAL GATHERING OF THE SIGDLASLAG, JUNE 29-30, 1984, Northfield, MN.

The SIGDALSLAG was started June 24, 1911 at Fergus Falls, lfu. represen~ing the bygder of Sigdal, Eggedal, and Kr¢dsherad, all located east of the Numedal region of Norway.

We are a growing Lag revealing new signs of life. There is a surge of interest in "roots", a growing interest in learning the language, M~n.~. and increased interest and travel between both Norway and America •

SKOGLUND•• CENTER '.::::

1 Administr.tion Building 801' Memori.1 Ch.pd I Christi.nsen H.II of Music

~ ~::~;S::mH:I~ne. '/\ \ t. I" fl.• Ien H.II (.nd g.lIery) C~ HNlth .nd Counseling Center #£J l, H Lertrude Hilleboe H.II 10~) - Y HolI.nd H.II Agnes SCIENCE CENTER / 10 Huyme Memori.1 H.II LARSON HALT. ~ (~ , /;')// II ~ild.hl H.II " u~ L;:::--'~'// 11 Agnt's Killelsby H.II ~ K~___ 0.- (0\. // II Agnt's l.rson H.II~~~2~ I ---::::---- ~ - ~ ~ ~~ /~/_ 14 Agnes Mellby H.~I Load and .~ • ~ ~.// ~ 1-, MohnH.1I Unload Only ~----- ~~ ) ,. If> Old MollO --- • 0 • 17 Powt'r pl.nl I•••~--" _'H_Rul ••• Memori.llibr.r Rist. '!J n. "••• 1'/ 51. 01./ e enter 1l !O S{/t'nce Ct'nter '1 Skoglund Alhlt'tic Center '1 '>"'('n,I,tnd C.III,·r~ St. Olaf College 'I Thorson H.II 'l 1111'.,.",'51"'('(h BlIildin!\ '., weAL R.dio '" YIll'rbot' Hdll \.8,( \ i,it", Pdl~ilJg Information $6.00 MEMBERSHIPS and/or DONATIONS In addition to the memberships listed on 'page 11 of the November 1983 ~ and page 7 of the February 1984 SAGA are:

Rev. Arlyn M. Anfinrud Box 272 Fessenden ND 58438 Shirley DeMotte R. 1 Box 209 Lewiston IL 61542 George T. Hagen 13002 C. Mink Farm Rd. Thurmont MD 21788 Jerome Leegard R. 3 Box 220 Detroit Lakes MN 56501 Robert & Phylles Marquardt 9219 11th Ave. S. Bloomington MN 55420 Rev. John & Marion Matson Box 26 Comfrey MN 56019 Christian Neggen 8523 Etiwanda Ave. #10 Northridge CA 91325 Thomas Newgard 1404 N. 13th Street Moorhead MN 56560 Mrs. Ivonne Olson Kindred ND 58051 Earl & Wilma Rugland R. 1 Box 26 Roseau MN 56751 Gladys & Gordon Rugland R. 1 Box 32 Roseau MN 56751 Mr. & Mrs. L.Wilmer Rugland R. 2 Box 256 Ros.eau MN 56751

It was voted at the 1983 annual meeting that a household membership be $6.00 which is to include the newsletter, SIGDALSLAG SAGA. Membership cards were included in the February 1984 SAGA if dues were paid according to our records. If you have paid your $6.00 membership fee but have not received a membership card or would like to become a member, please contact Elaine Schulstad, 16 Madison Ave. SW., Wadena, MN. 56482. Please make check payable to "Sigdalslag". Many thanks to all of you who have sent memberships and extra donations; it is greatly appreciated. Also thank you for the notes and words of encouragement. We urge you to send comments, suggestions, and articles at any time. ************

There are very few who haven't been impressed by the Halling dance "master", Rolf Bjprgan, one of theSogn-Fjordane dancers. Acrobatic agility, strength and dancing skill must be combined perfectly to accomplish this special dance. Rolf Bjprgan, in his 30's, performs the Halling at the Scandinavia Hotel at Oslo at least 36 times each summer for American and European tourists who are impressed by this tough man who has mastered all th~ techniques of the Halling. His main hobby has been this dance since he was 12-13 years old, his style for dancing the Halling coming mainly from ¢sterdal and Valdres. Rolf tells us the Halling didn't originally come from Hallingdal, as many believe. The dar:lCeis an import and resembles old folkdances from Russia, England and the Rhein. Whenever there is a local festival, the boys usually request that a Halling tune be played so that they can impress the girls •. The dance g~s lots of opportunity for improvisation~ ************ President: Mrs. Narvel Somdahl, 10129 Goodrich Circle, Bloomington, MN 55437 First VP: Orville Ruud, 10709 Morgan A~e. S., Bloomington, MN 55431 Second VP and Representative to the Bygdelag: Mrs. Harold Campbell, 814 6th Ave. SE., Rochester, MN 55904 Third VP & Librarian: Mrs. David Rokkee, 10409 Ewing Road, Bloomington, MN 55431 Secretary, Tr~. & Editor: Elaine Schulstad, 16 Madison Ave. SW., Wadena, MN 56482 Past President & Advisor: Donald Berglund, 1220 28th Ave. S. #307, Moorhead, MN 56560 The Gjevre FanllIy (JI1r

L to R: Y~rge, John Jr 18, Mary 20, Job~ Sr., Peter 12, Naomi 14, Joan 16, Christmas 1983.

The Gjevre Family Seven was formed in 1981 when Peter, then nine and the youngest, \>Jantedto play his three-quarter size violin with his older brother and sisters. Three violins, 'l viola, a double bass, flute and piano certainl.y do not ma..1<:ea standard ense:-:J.ble but it's all in one family. In .Tune 1982, the Gjevres performed for the International Kiwcmis Convention. Winter tours in 1983 took them to New Mexico and Arizona, and in 1984 to Northern Minnesota including Grand Rapids and Duluth. Enthusiastic reS·2onse to their two performances at the 1983 Nordic Fest in Decorah has led to increased demand for this talented family. The Gjevres were named as the Mid West Finalist for the Amateur Music Family of the Year for 1983 by the American Music Conferenceo The Gjevre's grandparents all came from Norway. The girls weer authentic costumes from the Valdres area of their forefathers when they perform. It is only natural that the Gjevre family would adopt the Valdres V~rch as their theme song and they play this frequently along with works of Grieg, Ole Bull as well as old Scandinavian folk songs and moreo Saturday, June 30, 1984 1:30 PM Music Building, Urness Hall 7:30 Boe Chapel FRIDAY EVENIl-;G 7: 30 PM, Music Building, Urness Hall "N¢KKEN OG NISSEN" in Sigdal and Hadeland

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SOGN OG FORDANE-RINGEN FOLK DANCE GROUP SATURDAY EVli;NE.G 7:30 PM, Boe Chapel (seating capacity noo) NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE

FIVE BYGDELAGS MEET AT ST. OLAF COLLEGE FEATURE NORWAY AND U.S. TALENT DeScendants from five Norway districts - Hadeland , Land, Toten, Telemark and Sigdal - will hold a joint bygdelag meeting at Northfield, Mn., on the St. Olaf College campus, Friday and Saturday June 29-30. Entertainment includes Sogn-Fjordane, Norway, folk dancers and the Gjevre family of musicians from the Red River valley. Programs will be shared and enjoyed together concluding with a Norsk banquet Saturday evening. A business meeting will be held by each lag Saturday forenoon. Fun and social meetings for each lag are planned Saturday afternoon. People interested in family history and genealogy are welcome to the Friday afternoon session, June 29, which will be led by Mr. Forrest Brown, Librarian, St. Olaf College. The college library and Norwegian American Historical Association facilities will be avai.lab1e during the two day meeting. Dr. Sidney and Lois Rand will speak Friday evening on a "Norway Today" program. Their family roots are in Sigda1 and Hadeland , Norway. Dr. Rand was the US ambassador to Norway. A Northfield Ladies Trio will entertain. A Saturday afternoon and banquet highlight, June 30, will be the lively instrumental music by the Gjevre VII family - dad, mother and five children. Their Norwegian folk tunes will cause toe tapping and head swaying as people are caught up in the pleasure of the entertainment. b The Norway Sogn-Fjordane folk dancers, dressed in authentic eo~£lg1~,also perform Saturday evening after the banquet. Their Norway regional old fashioned dances will include the traditional springar from western Norway. Sogn-Fjordane vocal and instrumental music will round out the evening program. The public is invited to the Friday and Saturday evening programs, June 29-30, on the St. Olaf College campus, Northfield, Minnesota ..

Morgan Olson, Coordinator Five bygde1ag meeting, 3416 Parkview Blvd. , Minneapolis, Mn. 55422 Ph (612)588-7024 ~~ /7l~I1-' -l4 MAlL detached form below with check payable to SIGDAL LAG BEFORE JUNE 12 to Elaine Schulstad 16 Madison SW PICK UP BADSE, ROOM KEY & BANQUET TICKETS JUNE 29 Wadena, MN 56482 at 10 a.m. at St. Olaf Student Center (registration)

REGISTRATION FEE & BADSE- admission to all entertainment, meetings and coffee. $9.00 per person X ---person/s.. $ _ DORMITORY ROOMS: double occupancy @ $7.50 per person per night single occupa~cy@ $9.50 per person per night RESERVE rooms at LARSON HALL (elevator available) as follows: Thurs/June 28 tor 2 persons@$7.50each 2/$15.00$ _ for 1 person@$9.50each 9.50$ _ Fri/June 29 for 2 persons@$7.50each 2/$15.00$ _ for 1 person@$9.50each 9.50$ _ Saturday/June 30 for 2 persons @$7.50 each 2/$15.00 $ for 1 person@$9.50each 9.50$ ---_ Special needs? (Children using------sleeping bags in parent's room - no charge. All food costs ages 10 and under @1/2 adult cost. Child banquet tickets- $5. X _ $-- BANQUET BUFFET Sat/June 30 at 5:30 p.m. @$lO.OO per ,person X $ This is the only opportunity to get these (in advance) None available after June 12.

Name/s for badges & _ first children------Address Zlp Phone _

SURVEY: Please guess when and how many set price cafeteria meals you will need. This will help St. Olaf food service plan for us. Breakfast, 7-8:30 a.m.--$2.65; Lunch, 11:30-1 p.m.--$3.90; Supper, 5-6:30 p.m.--$6.90 Would like lunch Friday, June 23 Yes( ) No( ) ..How many people? _ Would like supper Friday, June 29 Yes( ) No( ) ..How many? Would like breakfast Saturday, June :W ••. Yes( ) No( ) ..How many? Would like lunch Saturday, June 30 Yes( ) No( ) ..How many? Would like breakfast, Sunday, ~JLY 1 yes( ) No( ) ..How many? Elaine Schulstad 16 Madison Afenue SW Wadena, MN 56482