Sigdalslag Saga
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Since 1911 February, 2006 Volume 26, Issue 1 Sigdalslag Saga Serving Norwegian-Americans of Sigdal, Eggedal & Krødsherad ancestry Inside this issue: Norway’s Princess Martha-Louise Turns Author by Dianne Snell Fra Presidenten 2 Princess Martha-Louise, daughter of could be traced back to Norway. His father To Norway this Summer! 3 King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway, was then the Danish crown prince and his has become well-known in her native coun- mother was from Swedish royalty. Carl 2006 Stevne update 4 try for her talent as a storyteller. She has himself was married to Maud, the daughter done readings for children throughout of King Edward VII of England and Dan- Norway and has hosted television shows ish-born Queen Alexandra. On November Anton Aasand - past lag 5 Historian & Saga Editor reading fairy tales. Now she has turned 18, 1905, Prince Carl was elected as King author, by writing a fairy ta le of her New Member Spotlight 6-7 own. Princess Martha recently completed Saskatoon to Sigdal 8 a tour United States tour and promoting her new book, “Why Kings and Queens Ibsen 2006 11 Don’t Wear Crowns.” The book gained acclaim in Norway in 2004 and the first English edition was printed in Members Surveys 11 2005 by Skandisk, Inc. Princess Mar- tha began her 10-day promotional tour in the United States on October 8 and Velkommen, nye made stops in New York City, Minot, lag medlemmer! ND Hostfest, Seattle and Poulsbo, x PAUL BRAATELIEN Washington, and Los Angeles. West Chicago, IL The book is fictional but based on x ERVIN ROKKE Bethlehem, PA fact, and tells the story of her grandfa- ther, King Olav, who was only two x JOHN D. CYRUS years old in 1905 when his parents, Chaska, MN King Haakon and Queen Maud were P hotos by Dia nne S nel l x ERIC VICTOR FORMO chosen to become the first reigning Princess Märtha Louise Seattle, WA royalty of Norway in over 500 years. x PHILIP PAYNTER of Norway and changed his name to Haa- Labelle, FL Previous to 1905, Norway had been ruled by Danish kings for 400 years fol- kon. He also changed his son’s name from lowed by 100 years of Swedish rule. After Alexander Edward Christian Frederick, to gaining independence from Sweden the Olav, a royal name from old Norway. On June 22, 1906 the coronation of King Haa- Gifts and Memoria ls Norwegians decided that a monarchy would be good for Norway and set out to kon VII and Queen Maude took place. $50 Memorial for Knute find a new king. Their wise choice was Olsen from grandson Philip (C o nti nue d on page 3 ) Paynter Prince Carl of Denmark as his ancestry Page 2 Sigdalslag Saga V olume 26, Issue 1 2004-2005 Sigdalslag Fra Presidenten: Officers EARL O. KNUTSON President 722 Second Street SW Willmar, MN 56201 (320) 222-1613 [email protected] - GARTH ULRICH Here we are in mid-January. Days are short, nights VP 1/Membership are long. I sometimes wonder what it would be like to Box 130, Spalding SK live in northern Norway at this time of year, with 24 SOK 4CO, CANADA hour nights. (306) 633-2274 This is my sixth year as president, and it is shaping [email protected] up as a momentous year. For one thing, our new Sigdalslag JUDY SOSTED VP 2/Heritage book, the seventh in the series, should go to the printer 1118 Lia Court sometime this year. Many people have contributed to this Northfield, MN 55057 project, none more than Lee Rokke and Judy Sosted who are [email protected] editing and organizing the material. When this book rolls off the press, there will be a celebration! Like the RODNEY PLETAN first six books, this one will be a great resource for VP 3/Technology future generations. 7414 W Broadway Another momentous event this year will be our tour of Forest Lake, MN 55025-8474 – if it comes to pass. We need 25 reservations by (651) 464-6636 Norway [email protected] April 15 in order to carry on with the planning. If we cross that threshold, we can accept some additional res- DR. DEAN SKADELAND ervations over the next 6 weeks. I think it is a good Treasurer trip at a good price – see the information elsewhere in 7315 NW Barry Road this issue. Give it careful thought, and join us if you Kansas City, MO 64153 can. Remember to get those reservations in before tax 816-741-9449 day, April 15th. [email protected] By the time you read this, the Executive Board will AMY MICHELSEN Secretary have had its winter meeting, which is our main board 18730 Roanoke St. NW meeting of the year. We'll be discussing the book, the Anoka, MN 55303-8971 trip, our finances, and some changes including making the (763) 753-5484 Saga available to members via the internet. [email protected] Ha det bra, LEE ROKKE Genealogist Earl O. Knutson 13465 Garden View Drive President, Sigdalslag Apple Valley, MN 55124 (952) 432-9767 [email protected] DIANNE SNELL Historian 31646 110th Pl. SE Editor’s Corner... Auburn, WA 98092 253-351-0926 are printed in Norwegian. If you are will- [email protected] Greetings from the editors desk! Thanks to all who submitted articles for the past ing to assist her with this important offer- MARILYN MOEN Co-Editor year and to our new members for sharing ing please call or email her at her address 32557 Clay Bank Road Erhard, MN 56534 their own family history with us. Without listed on the left side of this page. [email protected] you we would not be able to maintain this As usual, I invite you to submit your own CINDY PETERSON Co-Editor valuable link to our heritage! articles of interest for publication. In few 3520 Banyan Street Thanks to Dianne Snell for her wonder- decades your grandchild might be enlight- Santa Rosa, CA 95403 ened by your stories just as Philip Paynter 707-573-1504 ful contributions as our lag Historian! To [email protected] continue her work, Dianne is in need of has! (see his letter in the Mailbag on pg. 5) translators for our archival materials that Regards, Cindy Peterson Sigdalslag Saga V olume 26, Issue 1 Page 3 (Continued from page 1) had multiple copies for her to sign, and she graciously com- This is precisely where Princess Martha’s book begins, plied, greeting each person that passed by. when the new Royal Family takes up residence in the palace Princess Martha Louise was born in 1971 and has one in Kristiania, (Oslo) and begins the process of changing brother, now Crown Prince Haakon. themselves into Norwegians and learning Norwegian ways Martha Louise gave up her royal title such as skiing. Little Olav comes to the because she wanted to become a part of palace all excited about the thought of sitting “normal society.” She is married to Ari on his throne wearing his crown, but soon Behn, a writer, and is the mother of two finds out that those activities were not nearly daughters, Maud and Leah. Martha Louise as much fun as he had imagined they would studied English literature at Oxford and is be. certified as a Physical Therapist. She is an The Princess turned author wowed the advocate for disabled children and manages audiences with her narrations of some Nor- her own business as a cultural mediator. wegian fairy tales and by telling the children She recently released a CD with the Oslo what it is really like to grow up as a princess. Gospel Choir, and as an avid horse lover She “accidently” lost a shoe on the way out she produced a television series about on stage, and then asked, “Is there a Prince horses. Charming in the crowd.” She told about “Why Kings and Queens Don’t Wear getting in trouble as a child for trying on Crowns,” is delightful reading for all ages Queen Elizabeth’s fur coat and boots while and the whimsical illustrations by Svein England’s monarch was attending a State Nyhus add much to its charm. The book is available in Dinner in the dining room with her parents. The highlight book stores and through Vesterheim. of her presentation was a partial reading of the book, and then the signing began. Many people in the packed house (Sources: Viking Magazine, October 2005; Why Kings and Queens Don’t Wear Crowns, book jacket; Nordic Heritage Museum, Seattle, WA) TO NORWAY THIS SUMMER! Consider going on our planned trip to Norway, August 8-18, 2006. The main stop will be Sigdal-Eggedal- Krødsherad, where we will have four days and nights to meet distant relatives and walk the trails our ancestors walked. We will a lso vis it Oslo, L illehammer, Trondheim and Røros. The cost of about $2150 includes airfare, motor coach, 5 nights in hotels, 5 breakfasts, and 2 dinners. For the four nights in Sigdal-Eggedal-Krødsherad, travelers may make their own arrangements to stay with relatives or we can help in booking hotels. Linda McCormick of Borton Overseas Travel in Minnea- polis, who will be happy to answer questions, is arranging the trip or us. She can be reached at 612-822-4640, ext. 12, or [email protected]. Linda will be happy to send you a brochure and a reservation form. You can also contact Earl Knutson at [email protected] or 320-222-2613. For those with internet access a pictorial preview of the (C o nti nue d on page 9 ) Sigdalslag tour group in 2000.