I7io Cabin to Find HOME in ND PARK

MARCH, 1991 i7iO CABiN TO FiND HOME IN ND PARK

New~ d~tailing a major gift of antIquIty from Sigdal destined for a specIal herItage park in Minot, ND, was announced last year and reported in BUSKERUDS BLAD & DRAMMENS TIDENDE newspapers. That gift "Vatnasstua", is a ca~in dating from about 1710 WhICh has been granted leave by the government of Norway which must approve such bequests. As transportation arrangements are worked out, master rosemaler Hans Wold (shown here) has been restorIng roseQaintlng done about 1810 by Gulbrand Larson Foss. Wold's "history" on the back the door shows its connection Vatnas church and St. Olav spring ("kilde"). This issue has more about Wold's work plus ~AT'LLAG (ttl'~(IL a story by Kathleen Stokker~ &\\EETS &\\A\' 3-11 The cabin has special ties to Bygdelagenes Fellesraad SigdlZilings and (Nat'l Lag Council) has Minot. It is the its annual meeting Sat, birthplace of Sidney May 4, at MindekIrken Rand's grandmother, M~nnea~olis, from 9 a~ and it fInds a new tll 2:~0 pm, according home in the city where to Marilyn Somdahl, a Sigdal emigrant and president. leader, Erik Ramstad, Cost is $8 per person donated land on which (lunch incl) and guests Minot was first built. may attend along with 2 Members met Wold at delegates from each of the St. Olaf stevne in 30 member lag whose 1984, accompanied by annual dues-- $5 are his wife Olaug and paid. g~anddaughter Anita. HIS reputation in the An afternoon & evening US grew after teaching genealogy program will rosemaling and be held Fri, May 3, at knifemaking classes at Minnehaha Lutheran Vesterheim Museum that Church, Mpls. This is year. the first year it is open to ALL interested! Further news will Call Maril~n for more shared as it comes Info b AP IL 10 If you are Interested in one or both events. .~~:'.~~!:.~i:.~!\.wtQ)i'.cDtWi\. ,..•••.." ..••..." ..•••.."··:.9.::;)r·:.9.:;)r·~.9.:;)r·••••. Velkommen~ THE DEnEAlDuY PADE The publisher of the Kr¢dsherad Index has informed us that due to heavy Christmas business other projects were put on hold. It now appears tDat those ordering books should have them in hand in March. -*- Bernice Leite of New London has informed us that Rev Joel Njus is translating the old Norwegian records from the East Norway Church near New London. The successor church~ First Lutheran of Norway Lake, will be publishing a history book in 1~92 that will contain information from the translatlon. Several people from Sigdal settled in Norway Lake. If you are interested in reserving a copy of the church history, write to First Lutheran Church of Norway Lake, 6219 Cty Rd 40 NW, New London, MN 56273. QUERIES: Respond to Lee Rokke, 3608 Spencer Blvd, Sioux Falls, SO 57103 1) Does anyone know anything about P.O. Enneberq? He was from Sigdal. Was he the first man in Clearwat~r County ln 188~? 2) Daniel Lie, Hokksund Norway, is searching for descendants of Rev. Anders Larsen Lobben. Rev. Lobben served congregations in Jackso~ Trempealeau Counties, Wisconsin, and Watonwan in Brown & Martin Co, MN. In 1884-1888 he was at Mobridge in Walsworth Co, SD. If you know of any descendants, let Lee Rokke know. She'll help Mr. Lie make the contact. ~) Searching for descendgnts of Nils Halvorsen Stetnset d& Mari~ ~degarden who came to the Us ln 1888. They had severa chi! ren .an were known to be in the a~ea of Cripple Creek, Colorado, at one tlme. They may have changed thelr name to Stone. -*- QUERIES about Jen~& Turi Green's children below: (ref Oct 90 SAGA) Respond to Garth Olrlch, PO Box 28, Spalding, Sask. SOK 4CO CANADA 1) second child: Kjersti Green~ born Dec. 24, 1857; married Ole Evensen Bjornerud in 1879. Thelr son, hven Olsen, was born at Sundseie Aug 2~ 1879, ?nd ~~e f?mily.came to America in 1880. Wh~re did they live: Where lS I<.Jerstlburled? ..What became of the Chlld Even after Ole married Kjersti's sister, Turi Gree~?· .. - 2) third child: Live or Levi had a daughter born Aug 7 1881 at Greenseie, Sigdal, named Oliana Mathilde Pedersdatter. Family came to America in 1882~ and Live may have been married to Peter Green then. What became of uliana?

3) fifth child: In~ebOrg - born at Sundseie, Sigdal July 261 1865. came to America in 882; her husband was John Olson. Any in~o? o Correction ~ APOLOGIES FROM THE EDITOR to two paid-in-advance registrants for the July stevne at Wahpeton, ND, whose names did not appear in Oct '90 SAGA. Sigdal registrahts = 60 (3 genealogy + 48 + 9 exhibitors & other lag)

LAG THAII~S ICI~.tI'SHEI~AItf.'I~ HIST.'I~I[AL 1991 GIFT [ALE~ItAI~S Sigdal Lag appreclates receiving Kr~dsherad's calendar once again along with extra copies for distribution. It is easy to see how special we are by looking at the cost of the postage! The selection of older, interesting photos makes each of the ten a collector's treasure. Gudbrand Halmrast writes, " I hope that these will delight you and call forth memories of the home territory!" Indeed~

TUSEN TAKK TIL ORDF0RER GUDBRAND HALMRAST for hilser og ti julegaver sam vi mottat i fin form. Na kan vi ~nsker aIle venner i Norge: God Paske! Again, our fondest thanks to all our friends in Kr~dsherad. Members have an opportunity to defray postage costs (Nor & US) when they order 2 their own calendars (p.12). ARRANGE STEVNE HOUSING SOON IF YOU ARE CERTAIN TO NEED AIR CONDITIONED ROOMS THIS JULY 11-13 NOW IS THE TIME TO GET YOUR STEVNE MOTEL. A TOWN CELEBRATION "River Fa1Is Days" WILL BE HAPPENING THERE ON THE SAME DATES. Here's the info on dorms, food service and motels. Forms for U/W facilities in May SAGA. U/W DORM FEES--$12 per person, single room; $18 per couple, double rm. Add $3 for A/C to this, but it may NOT B~ WIDELY AVAILABLE. U/W FOOD SERVICE--offers TWO PLANS with pre-payment 2 weeks in advance. ALL MEALS: (3 days)= $30.60 OR, $18.60 (Fr1/Sat, not incl banquet) SPECIFIC MEALS: B = $2.95 L = 4.40 0 = 5.85 RIVER FALLS MOTELS (Phone area code 715) Best Western Motor Inn~ 708 N. Main 425-6707 Knollwood House Bed & ~rkf, Rt 1 425-1040 River Falls Motel, 1300 S. Main 425-8181 HUDSON, WI (s of 1-94) (Area code 715) Best Western Hudson House Inn 386-2394 Comfort Inn 386-6355 Super 8 Motel 386-8800 SEE page 12 for more stevne information.

7 '"LAG STI\'IE .IIILY 11 III 13, I~I\'II~FALLS, II God Bedring! Get-better-again wishes to MILDRED RUUD, ORLANDO GJESDAL, OLE FOSS, and any other members who have battled health problems since 1990-1991 OFFICERS the October SAGA. The editor has it on good MARILYN SOMDAHL, Pres/Editor authority that Ole talked the 612/831-4409 hospital staff into serving him IEISIIITS 10129 Goodrich Clrcle Bloomington, MN 55437 lutefisk at Christmastime! CHESTER BERGERUD, 1st VP Rt 5, Box 82 WELCOME ALL NEW MEMBERS. Your name will be in Fergus Falls, MN 56537 the next SAGA if dues arrived very recently. LORAIN BERGAN, 2nd VP Give us your ideas for a great 80th year. Box 145 Wendell, MN 56590 Special thanks to LEE ROKKE for her superb book! LEE ROKKE, 3rd VP/Genealogist 605/338-4695 It represents untold hours of work. DAVID & Lee 3608 Spencer Blvd will return to the Twin Cities to live later on, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 if you call & can't reach her. NA~I~ONg~~~~~ ~~cN~t:~~9 Stillwater, MN 55082 MURIEL HOFF, Treasurer 3512 White Bear Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110 Bridal party: Tora (Glesne) L Einar Thoresen. Lived til 1957 Ragne, Kristine, and Margit Vinna Elling Skaseth et al 0vre Flagseter, 1928 Kr~dsherad leaders 1976-1979: Morskogen, Skinnes, K. Waaler, Halmrast, Kva..-, & Mayor I.Granum Ytre Kr~dsherad Athletic Club - 193~ A. Raen, I. Granum, A.Sundhaugen, E.Finnerud, G.Skalien; E. Bj~re, O. Skogly, O.Raaen, K. Raen & K. Bjerkerud Haymaking - Sandumseter, 1936 Additional farafacts JULI Cows at 0vre Noreseter-1920 AUG Reidar Braten & Bj~rn 1947 Haying SEPT Norefjell, Peacetime multer search 1945 - J. Kaldager, K. Trangen, E. Haugen & son Bjarne 30 women & children rel.xing - 1943 in Glesnegrenda-Bratastua at Flaglimyrene ANDRESONBAKKAN -Gunderson update to Bjerkerud plan// Now at Hamar, Norge via Vining, MN, USA 1911 Christmas Eve - spndre Bj~re Per Luntepladsen Here 50 Christmases THE !iT ElbfiV !iPRING fiT VfiTNfi!i BY KATHLEEN STOKKER ~

For hundreds of years Norwegians made pilgrimages to various natural springs dedicated to St. Olav, believing them to possess healing power. Perhaps the best known of these springs is the one at Vatnas church in Grenskogen between Sigdal and Eggedal. It is well worth a visit, though somewhat off the beaten path; the closest stop on the bus route left me walking six miles along the roller-coaster hills along the narrow road leading to it~ As the farmers' barley fields gave way to increasingly dense forest, I wondered if I might have passed it by. Then on the right-hand side of the road loomed a yellow church, looking every bit the Church of Gold legend claims was its model:

When King Olav traveled around Norway to enforce the Christian faith, he also came to Sigdal. After baptizing the inhabitants, he and his retinue went hunting but lost their way. Exhausted and thirsty, they eventually came to a narrow valley. As the king dismounted, he promised that if he f.oundwater here, he would have a church built on the very site. No sooner had he spoken these words, than a spring began flowing from the hard rock out-cropping ••••The king and his men, ready to perish from thirst, rejoiced and drank merrily. King Olav repeated his promise. Preparing to leave, he spotted a grouse on a tree branch and took aim. Then he saw a tiny church of pure gold hanging 4bove the bird. The king order.edthat the church be built in its image (Andreas Faye, Norske Folke-Sagn, 1833).

I thought of this story as I awaited admittance to the church. Like a number of Norway's historic churches, Vatnas is privately owned and the key kept on a neighboring farm. Inspecting its circular door handlp, I read: "Denne Ring hafver ieg Lofve til Vatnas I

After viewing the church's interior, I went back outside and followed a well-worn path into the woods, coming after a couple of minutes to a large stone out-cropping. Half way to its top was a triangular depression, about 18 inches on each side and a foot deep. Here was the once-venerated water. Legend tells that St. Olav's horse made this natural basin with one of his silver-shod hooves, a fitting metaphor for the indelible impression left upon Norway by his work of (allegedly and single-handedly> converting the country to Christianity.

Like other St. Olav springs, Vatnas neither freezes in the winter nor runs dry in the summer; the water appears to come as if by magic from inside the solid rock. These properties must have attracted people's attention and aroused their curiosity; they named the site for the inexplicable phenomenon (Vatn as means "water hill") and told legends to e}~plainit. ..•....STttl(l~EI~'SSTln~\' SJT8bfIV iPRIN[;-- Unique to the Vatn~s legend. however, is the mention of the miniature church of gold. Where did this detail come from? Further investigation reveals that a Catholic saint's reliquary once stood on the altar of Vatnas Church. (See Siqdal & Eqqedal. Vol 5, p 774, M~rch) From a description of Sigdal parish written in 1745 by Pastor Nils Bernhoft we learn:

Vatn~s Church lay abandoned after the Black Death of 1350 until 1665, when the altar and a crucifix as well as a miniature gilded-copper church were found in the overgrown forest by the church. This miniature church was placed on the church's altar when it was restored in 1665.

Bernhoft's description indicates that not even the clergy knew what to make of the "miniature church", which along with other items of Catholic inventory had been hidden (and perhaps used in secret services involving the St. Olav spring?) in the woods behind the church. After all, over a hundred years had passed since the Lutheran Reformation of 1537 had outlawed the veneration of saints and banished from Norwegian churches such remnants of Catholicism as the reliquaries containing their remains.

The Vatnas reliquary, resembling a stave church with its two dragonheads protruding from a peaked lid, measures a little less than a foot long x 5" wide x 16" in height. Its wood is coverd with golden metal pressed into vertical reliefs of Christ and Mary, the apostles and pilgrims. Because the reliquary stood on the altar of Vatnas Church for at least 80 years (from its re-discovery in 1665 through Berholft's 1745 description), people had plenty of time to wonder about its origin and purpose. Lacking any official explanation, they seem to have used their imaginations and incorporated it into the legend of the church's founding. The imperfectly understood Catholic reliquary, still to be seen in Copenhagen's National Museum (since 1748), thus accounts for the unusual detail in the story of St. Olav's founding of Vatnas Church.

(Author Kathleen Stokker is Professor of Norwegian at Luther College. Later this year another periodical will carry her story of three St. Olav springs, including Vatnas. SAGA acknowledges the photo and article with thanks! - Ed) GIFTS & MEMORIALS

$2 given by Elaine Schulstad $5 given by Garth Ulrich Written December 17, 1990, painter Hans Wold sent the lag president pictures in a Letters letter filled with best Christmas and New Years greetings:

Many thanks for the cosy Christmas greeting. It was so pleasant to see that you are interested in Vatnasstua, so I'm sending some pictures from the rosemaling restoration. We are so lucky to have a little place at Grenskogen--close neighbors to Vatnas--therefore i know the place well and the painting of Gudbrand Larsen Foss who painted here about 200 years ago. Unfortunately the painting was strongly worn, so I was invited to freshen up the MORE 1991 MEMBERS colors, to the joy of both the (OTHERS: OCT 190 SAGA) museum's director and curator. It has been so much fun to work *Aase. Helen Kenyon MN with this. *Baasen. Avis ~ Morris Wendell MN *Berg. Henry Vancouver WA *Bergerud. James A. & Sylvia Fergus Falls MN Buckingham. Kay Lou1sville KY Burris. Gloria & Don Vancouver WA Dahlen. Helmer Michigan ND DeLong Jr .• Doreen & Harry Richmond CA DeMotte. Shirley Lewistown IL Ellingson. Duane & Dorothy Rapid City SD Hanson. Rev.James & Anita Rapid City SD *Haugland, Leva & Sam Spring Grove MN Helgeson. Eunice Maple Grove MN *Hemry, Inga Richfield MN Hendr1ckson. Sandra & Tom Lakeville MN Kastelle} Harald & Ruth Los Angeles CA Larson. Anne San Diego CA *Larson. Irene Wendell MN *Larson. Paul D. Osage IA *Lillemoen. Ruth & Russell Wendell MN *Mattke. June Circle Pines MN *Meade. Carol Minneapolis Mn *Mensing. Alice ~ Fred Minneapolis MN *Mensi,ng. Kay L. Minneapolis MN *Navarre. Irene & Harry Albuquerque NM *Nelson. Mrs. Melia Caledonia MN *Nelson. Nancy C. Stillwater MN *Nielson1 Lawrence & Catherine Sugar City ID *Olson. lnez & Lester Duluth MN *Paasch. Norma & Wm Moorhead MN *Pehrson. Dee A Madison WI *Rand. Dr. Sidney ~ Lois Minneapolis MN *Rugland. Archie & Carol Northwood IA *Rustad. Colleen Nevis MN *Sampson, R. N. & Shirley Hoffman MN *Shaver, Patricia & Craig St. Cloud MN *Solum. Lucille & Lawrence Lester Prair MN *Somdahl, Marilyn ~ Narvel Bloomington MN *Stovern Hildier & O. B. Willmar MN *Sund. iG adys ~ Russell Osakis MN *Sundahl, Carrol & Dorris Alexandria VA *Tiedeman. Richard Brooklyn Par MN *Tyberg. M/M Sheldon Elbow Lake MN *Ugstad, Esther Bergerud Mesa AZ *Ulrich, Garth Spalding, Sa Can *Van Zante~ Donnalee Eddyville IA *Watnaas, bene Vin1ng MN *Will, Earl & Barbara St. Petersbu FL *Wil11ams Addie & Ted White Bear L MN *Winistorfer. Jo Ann & Nicholas Bismarck NO *Woodman. Tora Rochester MN

The door I'm sending was several years ago sold away from the place, so I had to go out in the area and find it again. (See page one. It is shown propped against the woodpile at closer range here. The letter continues on the next'page) (Wold photos and letter continued from previous page)

Breskapd~ra, the door between both koved~rene (narrow--probably to sleeping or storage rooms) had been painted over. When I had removed this, I found enough .of the 'old roses' that they could be reconstructed.

I have also taken the liberty to paint a little history on the back side of the door (see p. 1) --this is, of course, for you Americans that are interested in background information from the mother country.

After New Years, I'll have a hip operation and hope to be well enough for a trip to America when Vatnasstua is moved there. Det hadde v;:ert artig.

NE\VSIIiTS Glossary for page 8: barn=child. disponent=manager. MARILYN & NARV SOMDAHL visited d~d=died; +etter=cousin; . major Scandinavian cities last folkeavstemning=vote of"the November: Copenhagen Bergen, people; foreldre=parents; Oslo, Stockholm, and Helsinki. f~dt=born; gemal=husband~ consort. gift med=married to; Last year there were inquiries hertug=Duke; about travel to Norway. There skipsreder=shipowner; may be plans for 1992 if enough stamtavlen=genealogical table. tentative interest is shown. A tysk grev= German Count; . "needs" survey could help tailor valgt=elected; Storbritannia= the trip to those considering it. Great Britain; Sverige=Sweden How about 1-2 group days in Sig- dal, Eggedal & Kr¢dsherad? 10 De/2

• Edward VII, kongo • Alex.andra, dron- • Sophia. dronnlng BY Storbrltannla, kei· niog BV England :y~~~:r"~;on:1~,:;av Sverige 09 Norge 5er av India (1841- (1844-1925). Dalter (1829-1907)_ Sonn av (1836-1913)_ Daller 1910). 801m BV dron~ BV Christian IX og Oscar I og Josephi- av hertug Wilhelm BY niog Victoria 09 hen- Louise av Hessen· ne, prinsesse all her- Nassau og Pauline 8V Wurttemberg. F0dt ~~ ge~al.~;~nhsS:~~Kassel, 09 dermed lugdommel Leuch- s"ster av kong Haa- tenberg I Tyskland. sam prinsesse all Coburg-G~lha. kons far Frederik VIII. Oscar yar lJarnebarn av Carl Johan . ~:~tYl~~~~~.Nas-

• Maud, dron- • Carl, prins BY Sverige (1861- (~~g9_~~3~)~rg8 1951)_ Prins F"dt som prin- Carl bar ogsA tit- sesse BV Eng- telen her1ug ay land. Gift mad Vasterg6Uand. prins Carl, sel- Hans lulle navn nere Haakon, I var Carl Oscar 1896. Fullt nav": Wilhelm. Maud Charlotte Mary Victoria.

Olav V kronprinsesse BY Norge. ~~~le:"Yd~~~?r~'~~~~~rl~~ Fedl 28. mors 1901, dud 5. med navn Alexander Edward aprtl 1954. Fodt sam syensk Christian Frederik. Ble norsk prinsesse. Gilt med sin fetter kronprlns j 1905 da hans far kronprins Olav i 1929. Hen- ble valgt iii Norges konge. nes fulle navn: Martha Sofia Lovisa Dagmar Thyra.

Astrid prin5esse BV Norge. redl 12. !ebruar ~r~r~~.n~0dt ~~ 1932. Gill juli 1937. For- 1961 med prlnsesse BY Johan Martin Norge. F0dt ~~r~~rl ~~~~~ 9. juni 1930. Ferner, dis- raldsen. Gift i ponenl j Fer- Gift i 1953 1968 med da· mad skips~ ner Jacob- vrerende kron- sen A/S. Fullt reder Erling prins Harald Lorentzen. navn: Astrid av Norge. Maud Inge- Basalt i Bra- borg. sil. FuJII navn: Ragn- hild Alexand- ra. -

• Haakon Lo· • Ingeborg Lo· • Rognhild rentz en. F0dt rentzen. F0dl Alexandra Lo- 23. august 1954. 27. lebruar rentzen. Fodl 8. • Haakon Magnus, • MArtha Louise, prin- Gill i 1982 med 1957. Gill i 1982 kronprin~ ,ay Norge. maj 1968. sesse ay Norge. Fodt Martha Freitas med Paulo Ri- F"dt 20. lull 1973. 22. september '971. To barn. beiro, En barn.

• Kong Har,lld Vs slekr kan rned s,kkertJet f0res lifbake gift med Hedvig, saster av gfCv Adolf av Holstein (dansk lJIglev Egi/Hlar I. Han var \t8saflundl?r herrtlgen av Sacl}- land den gang). Gjermom deUe svogerskapet kom slek- sen og nevnes iskrifll'ge kUder, 1081. S/ekten er1

S. LUTHER KLEVEN (Feb 25, 1924 - Dee ELMER S. BJORNERUD (July 29 23, 1990) Funeral services were held 1908 - Aug 11, 1990) Funerai Dee 27 at Central Lutheran Church, services were held at Our Minneapolis, and burial was at Glen Saviour's Lutheran Church, Haven Memorlal Park, Crystal, MN. Colorado Springs~ CO, where he was a member. ~urial was at Survivors include his wife Carol Evergreen Cemetery. (Bjornrud) Kleven, a member of Sigdal Lag, Robbinsdale, MN; daughters Janet Survivors are his wife, Aline (Mrs. Siegfried) Kulat; Kristi (Mrs. (Tronerud) Bjornerud whom he Richard) Patterson; son Dean (wife married in hlS home community, Linda); 6 grandchilaren; 2 brothers and Fosston, MN, October 23, 1937; 4 sisters. a daughter Linda Herpin of Colorado Springs and three Born in Sisseton, SO, Kleven and his grandchildren. family moved to Minneapolis where he graduated from South High School I Born to Even and Karoline Augsburg College and the Unlversity o~ (Green) Bjornerud, Elmer grew Minnesota with time out for service in up and graduated from high the U.S. Navy during World War II. He school ln Fosston. He devoted 32 rears to elementary teaching graduated as a pharmacist in in Minneapo is. 1933 from North Dakota Agricultural College, Fargo, During the summer, he operated a house ND, where he affillated wlth paintlng business. He was an usher at Kappa Psi fraternity. After Central Lutheran and he enjoyed operating drugstores at Akeley woodcrafting and continued to teach and New London, he moved his community education classes for adults, family to COlorado Springs especial y English as a second language. where they resided the past 37 years. He was a pharmacist 50 KING OLAV V DIES AT 87 years.

OLAV V (July 2, 1903 - Jan 17 1991) inherited the throne in 1957 upon the death of his father, a Danish prince, who took the name Haakon VII as King of Norway. Haakon was chosen king by invitation of Stortinget (Parliament) after the Norwegian people voted to have a constitutional monarch when they peacefully dissolved their union with Sweden in 1905. Known as the people"s king or "Folkekongen",Olav was an Olympic athlete who' became a beloved dutiful, and highly respected leader. At 87 he was also the world's 01dest reigning monarch. A genealogical chart of K" Of V 19031991 r?yal~.appearing in Dagbladet is.found ~n th~s SAGA, mg ~ - wlth Klng Harald V, whose succeSSlon was lmmedlate, Queen Sonja, and their children, Crown Prince Haakon Magnus and Princess Martha Louise. Families of Prlncesses Astrid and Ragnhild are shown. King Harald is the first king since 1370 to be born in Norway. Former US Ambassador Sidney A. Rand and his wife Lois represented the United States at funeral services held January 30 at Oslo Domkirken along with representatives from 100 nations. Klng Olav was buried at Akershus next to his wife who died in 1954 and near his parents, Haakon VIr and Queen Maud, (granddaughter of Queen Victoria) who died ln 1938. Ever since an extended US tour in 1929, then Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Martha had endeared themselves to Americans. During World War II, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt invited Olav's wife and children to live in the US while the Norwegian government operated in exile from England. (t;:rownPrince Ol.~v was chi,?fof Norwegian.d,?fense forces)• New generatlons greeted Klng Olav ln subsequent V1S1tS to US and Canadian cities or institutions --especially those with cultural or ancestral ties to Norway. Because Americans felt warm bonds of heritage with Olav, about 1600 mourners attended regional memorial services January 30 at Washington Cathedral and at Mindekirken, Minneapolis. 9 TOURISTS ATTRACTED TO NOREFJELL EXPANDED SERVICES FOR 1980S BEGAN IN 1899 IN KRODSHERAD

For the fourth time the municipality of Kr~dsherad sends Christmas greetings in the form of a calendar. This time thanks go to three enthusiastic workers: Helga 0degard~ Ragne Hansen and Bodil Granum. (The cover photograph deals with Norefjell and its development as a tourist spot.)

In 1889 Sandum was the point of departure for tourists or travelers that intended to cross over the mountain (Norefjell). There was a guide service of 10~ of whom seven were obligated to guide using horses. Costs med hest (m.h.) or with horses are given in kroner: to Sandum Seter = 1 krone~ to Augenshaug = 5 kr~ to H~gevarde = 6 kr/m.h. To Haugen in Eggedal = 10 kr (m.h?) and 24 kr/m.h. for guides to Skj~nne in Numedal. Truls Sandum has rightly obtained the honor to have opened Norefjell to tourists.

Danish tourists referred to a trip to Kr~dsherad: "They came by train from Stockholm to Kr~deren station. Via steamboat til Sandum-- then by foot from there to Sandum-seter--a three hour hard march with 8 foot long birchsticks in the hand to keep the balance. The seter had 4 wooden buildings surrounded by forest. A pretty sight for Danish tourists. There were 22 sleeping rooms with 2~ 3~ or 4 beds in each. There were a dining room~ a fireside room~ open balconies~ a swimming brook and a showerbath arranged for the most part by Nature. Imagine them in this magnificence at a height of (650 meters over havet) 2~145 feet above sea level."

Truls and Live Sandum operated Sandum seter more than 40 years. (The inset photo on the front also shows servants at the seter in 1910.) Hostess Live Sandum (past age 60 here) sits in the center of the first row. She continued to run the place another 20 years. To her left is Helga H~geli. Standing at right is Sigrid Flaglfen.

Norefjell, with its proximity to the central areas in Eastern Norway, has always been a natural destination for excursions by row after row of tourists and then some --both summer and winter.

In these later years Norefjell has also blazed its own trails for hikers & skiers --starting out from Norefjell's central areas to: H~gevarde, Tovaseter, and Haglebu. Since the summer of 1990 comes a gigantic investment (gamble) directed especially toward slalom~ but also with continual thoughts of development friendly to families and to protecting Norefjell's natural environment in tour areas. Norefjell Ski & Open Air Center will open its newly constructed operations Saturday, December 8, 1990, and the mayor will seize the opportunity to express wishes for continued positive development at Norefjell that is best for Kr~dsherad.

A Very f'rlerryChristmas and a Happy New Year! With greetings from i

Six Rugland siblings gathered last July after the Wahpeton Stevne to observe 100 years of the Pinecreek (MN) Church on Highway 89 in Roseau County.

In the picture (L-R) are Shirley DeMotte (IL), Inez Olson, Duluth, Joyce Morken (CA) along with the brothers who reside at Roseau-- Gordon, Wilmer, and Earl-- who enjoyed seeing old friends after the church services and sampling foods under the big tent near the present church (1908). Just below it is the original church, now a historical site (1894).

Even though the first church in Roseau County was not built until 1894, the congregation was organized in December, 1890, by their grandfather LARS RUGLAND who had emigrated with his father Christopher and three brothers from Eggedal and Eiker, Norway. Initially, the family settled in Iowa in 1862. Lars lived in Portland, ND for several years before a permanent move to Pinecreek during the spring of 1899 along with several Norwegian families from Portland.

Rev. N. H. Askeland was the first resident pastor. The original church, now preserved as a histor~cal site, has its own story. It happened that logs cut in the pine forests of Canada had been planned for use as a fort during a scare of an Indian uprising~ The rumor was not true; instead the lumber went into this church which continued in use until 1908 when the present church was built and it became a school. (Gordon went to school there). Use of the Norwegian language for worship continued until about 1940.

Because of its proximity to the US-Canadian border, the residents of both countries share use of the Pinecreek Airport. Inez believes it could be the only one shared by two countries. The church never closes--and her ties to it and long friendships made the celebration special. She concludes, "We enjoyed the day so much, and with all those great Norwegian cooks, we certainly didn't go away hungry!" RIVER FALLS, WI - JULY 11-13 HADEL AND. LAND. NUMEDAL RINGERIKE -MODUM-EIKER SIGDAL. TELEMARK. TOTEN a/w PlJflN~ f9KfiY Ff9R dDbY 11-13

Plans for the July 11-13 stevne at the University of Wisconsin at River Falls are progressing on schedule, according to E. Palmer Rockswold, the new 7-Lag coordinator. If lucky, we could enjoy the talents and company of a violinist from Telemark and musicians from Numedal, Norway.

Sigdal observes its 80th anniversary this year. you like the lag to celebrate?

BE SURE YOU'RE STILL A ~tn~\\'i\\'GIFT (i\LE~I.i\I~S MEMBER--about 45 haven't renewed memberships to IF you wish to own a 1991 Norweaian calendar date. (We have 1987 from Kr~dsherad, please use the form below. rates, even with postage Send along a check payable to Sigdal Lag increasing, and can't Calendar to the treasurer. celebrate as well without Members pay $4.50 for each calendar; others YOU. If 91 doesn't come $5 each. FIRST COME; FIRST SERVED. after your name on the (See pp. 2 & 10 inside for details) mailing label, send $$)

This SAGA lists Wisconsin motels and campus food & DUES (1991) ARE RECEIVABLE from all whose dorm rates. River Falls address labels bear 90 or earlier years Days + training camp for following their names. SAGA is sent to singles or families with minor children KC Chiefs are on the at the same address for $8 annually, OR 3 calendar while we're years for $20 1n US/Canada. Elsewhere: $9 there. Plan accordingly. or $22 (US currency, please)

Each lag needs volunteers To MURIEL HOFF, Treas.~ 3512 WHITE BEAR AVE, as genealogy assistants, WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN w5110. Enclosed is ticket takers, at the $ in payment of Sigdal Lag dues. Memoersnfp cards will be sent. registration desk or to share musicial talents. (Consider ONE)

Super genealogy Thursday; Dancers, sing-a-longs, bunads for Saturday eve; a terrific banquet buffet and a beautiful campus~ Stay tuned--final plans and reservation forms will be in the May SAGA.

Come, experience the call of the lu~~ Enjoy~

SIGDALSLAG SAGA Marilyn Somdahl~ Editor 10129 Goodrich Circle Bloomington, MN 55437