Over 90 Attend Centennial; Elect Two New Officers
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VOL XIX NO 3 OCTOBER 1999 , Serving Norwegian-Americans of Sigdal, Eggedal and Kredsherad Ancestry OVER 90 ATTEND CENTENNIAL; ELECT TWO NEW OFFICERS Meeting Saturday, July 31, at 1 PM during the three day Norwegian- American Bygdelag Centennial, Sigdalslag held its business meeting at Luther College's Valders Hall in Decorah, Iowa. Over 90 Sigdalslag members attended the Centennial. The minutes of the secretary reported 64 signing the meeting roster along with six guests (whose names were not received). Two were newly elected to the Sigdalslag styre (board) as vice presidents: Earl O. Knutson, Budd Lake, New Jersey, as second vice president and Larry Rolfstad, Rapid City, South Dakota, as third vice president. Carol Meade, Ruth Manning, Twila Halvorson, and Donald Skadeland were re-elected, while the editor, genealogist and historian are appointed positions. All serve one year terms. Addresses - page 12. Slides were shown of sites to be visited in Marguerite Meade, daughters of the lag Sigdal, Eggedal and president, who did the fjord horse Kmdsherad during the demonstration at the Farm Park along with an Sigdal 2000 tour by exhibit from Dancing Reindeer Farm, hosts, Larry and Linda Milltown, WI. Rolfstad. Owners of the horses are John and Edel Independent travel via Headington, also Sigdal members, who live other carriers, practically in Decorah. speaking, is not an As president of Bygdelagenes Fellesraad, option since the same the national council of bygdelag which motor coaches will be sponsored this event, Marilyn D. Somdahl, used during the five days gave greetings at three evening programs and in Sigdal. Registrations presented symbolic gifts to the current and taken will now go on a past presidents of Valdres Samband, the waiting list since the group starting the bygde/ag movement in June 11 tour departure America 100 years ago this past June. is fully booked. See Somdahl also spoke in June and July at two earlier sambandsstevner at Willmar, page 5. Minnesota, and Fagernes, Norway. People who wish to buy Goettelman's English translation of Sigda/s/aget JOIN - RENEW MEMBERSHIP for YK2f Rosie Goettelman first wore her new - 1949 signed up with Sigdal-Eggedal bunlld to usher at names, e-mail or It's time. This is the last of three issues for the Centennial's final program July 1999. If Christmas gift subscriptions have 31. (NAS/Felles,aad photol addresses. It will be a large book appeal, please act-- before you lay both the coupon (p 121 and the thought aside. If which is now in the married, we welcome BOTH spouses and minor process of being edited. Details will be published in children at the same residence and a picture later issues. (wallet size or head/shoulders; identify with an address label or post-it on the back). Besides many volunteers, Sigdal Lag participants in . the broader Centennial program were Elaine Hasleton, Copy/photo deadlines are JANUARY 10 (Febl, Family Search internet site; Laurann Gilbertson, Lee APRIL 10 (Mey), end SEPTEMBER 10 (Oct). Rokke, and Georgia Rosendahl, presenters; Elvera Bisbee, demonstrator of her rosemaling; Birgitta and OVER90 MEMBERSIN IOWA FOR1999 LAG CENTENNIAL Paul & Jean Akre. OR Donna Anderson. GA , Shirley Augustine. AZ June & Don Barrett. CO -·Elvera Bisbee, MN M. Kay Buckingham, IA Ruth E. & David Christ, IA Marilyn &. Don Cresap, OR Audrey & T om Erber, IL Vivian &. Clarence Erbes, MN Leland &. Marilyn Erickson, MN -·Laurann Gilbertson, IA Rod & Sharon Gilland, NO Rosella Goettelm.lln, IA Twila & Arvin H.lllvorson. MN Rebecca Hanna, IA Klemet Haugen. MN James Hanson, SO *·Elaine H. Hasleton, UT Eunice Helgeson, MN Sandra Hendrickson, MN Sylvia & Craig Hertsgaard, MN Milton & Pauline Jellum. SC Corrine Lesteberg Johnson, MN Pearl Johnson, MN (cancelled I Kenneth Jones. MN Lincoln & Marlene KI.llbo, VA Earl O. Knutson. NJ Sandy Hendrickson. NABC Hospitality Chair lIeft), Ruth Gibson, Mary Hendrickson, Donne Koppenh.llver, NO Cornelia Backman. and Rosella Goettelman await banquet guests. (AH/FeUesraad photo) Linda & Allen Lerson, MN Peul Lar8on, IA Julie Megee, CO Dan & Ruth Hoff Manning, NE Phyllis Merquardt, MN Marion Matson, MN FRA PRESIDENTEN: Cerol Rugland Meade, MN - ·Birgitta Meede, IA As we wrap up the great Bygd.Jl!lllLCenteJJnialjaOeJ;orah,we'll hear *·Mauguerite Meade, MN Alice & Fred Mensing. MN about the Leiv Eriksson millennium celebrations, marking 1000 years in Amy & Michael Michelsen, MN America. Irene & Harry Navarre, NM Not counting the 65 American evening program performers, there were M.llry Jones Nystrom, MN 1020 registered at the Centennial, and the lag secretary reported that 64 Arthur &. SueAnn Peterson, CA Larry &. Linda Rolfstad, SO members attended the July 31 Sigdal lag meeting along with six guests. David and ··Lee Rokke, MN As you see, over 90 Sigdal members registered from 20 states (left). About Joann Ronningen. MN 30 have membership or leadership roles in other lag besides ours. Ruth & Arnold Roosa, IL In spite of very hot weather and a 24-hour invasion of tents holding about -.Georgia Rosendahl. MN 8,000 bicyclists pedaling across Iowa, a great time was had by all. One Diane & Harley Rostvold, KY Shirley & Bob" Sampson. MN person called to say she had missed it, but wanted to be sure to sign up Elaine Schulstad, AZ next yearl That's unlikely, but let's do an all-lag stevne again before 2099. Robert & Renee Schulstad, WI A number of lag have their own Web sites. Should SigdaI be among Eleanor Schultz. IA them? We need your input, members! If you are knowledgable about the Don &. Lynn Skadeland, NE internet (that would not be me) and interested in maintaining current Diane &. Dale Snell. WA Merilyn &. Narv Somdahl, MN information that would be helpful to prospective members, it may be that Judith Sosted, MN the board will consider it again. Leland &. Louise Sundet. MN It is also my duty and pleasure to re-appoint for the next year: Larry & Linda Thorson, MN Marilyn Somdahl, editor; LeeRokke, genealogist; Debbie Shortino, historian; Allan Turmo, NO Amy Michelsen and Carol Meade, delegates to May 6 Fellesraad meeting Francis &. Linda Turmo. NY Verna Uselman, MN (council of 32 bygdelagl; and Carol Meade, NSI rep to the 7 Lag Stevne. Anita M. Welsh, WA Besides the Norway trip next year, please mark your calendars for the Addie &. Ted Williams, MN 7 LAG STEVNE July 13 - 15, 2000, at NO State College of Science in -denotes demonstrator, exhibitor, or Wahpeton, NO. The 2001 year is planned for Rapid City, SO, and buses presenter may be ·arranged for those not keen on driving. NSI met September 18 at Alexandria to elect officers and to make future plans. Gifts & Memorials It may be a personal bias, but Sigdalslag can take some pride in the Since the May issue many volunteers we had to help the Centennial run well. Mange takk! .$10 in memory of Lerry Solum and Bemiece Skedeland Hilsen, s/Carol Meade given by Narv 8r. Marilyn Somdahl 2 Reflections on Genealogy at the Bygdelag Centennial by Marilyn Sorensen,guest genealogist The Norwegian-American Bygdelag Centennial each group has. Thanks to several persons with offered an interesting approach to genealogical excellent computer skills, all worked well. research. - Genealogical assistance was provided for the At the 7 Lag Stevne, we have had classes and following sites: 1801 census, 1865 and other time to research using the official records of censuses, Exit lists from Oslo. Stavanger, Bergen, Norway on film. Usually the church books, Rygh Books data base. and Family Search. A list census records, probate records, and related of key sites for accessing other Norwegian reference materials are available for research. information was available. Some of the sites are not easy to search and our volunteers helped In planning this Centennial, we realized that with people learn how to be more effective in so many persons and the fact that most of the searching them. 32 bygde/ag have 100 or more films each, it would not be possible to have enough readers or Other features of the open house included solving space to set up for the research. However, we computer genealogy questions with the available had the opportunity to access internet sites and software and a class on how to begin Norwegian to offer excellent classes. research. Jerry Rosholt sought information for his data base about Norwegians who served in the Internet access helped create an interesting Civil War. Beginning genealogy was taught by genealogists' Open House at Olin Hall. This Peggy Miller of the Vestland group of lags. wouldn't have been possible were it not for members of the Norway List, Norwegian-American Lest we forget, it should be said that many of Genealogical Association, and Minnesota the 60 forums offered as part of the Bygdelag Genealogical Society who volunteered to assist at Centennial had relevance to genealogy. There the various stations established to help were sessions in the strands on history, culture, participants. Most volunteers worked for two and family history--useful in doing family research. hours (although some did more). Participants learned to use internet sites more effectively. Forums discussed the resistance movement during Over 25 persons assisted, including Lee Rokke, World War II, why people left Norway, the first Sigdal genealogist, to make the day a productive good map of Norway, nobility and relevance to one for those who chose these events. family trees, royalty and family trees, several presentations about available records, naming In addition, there was a station that assisted customs lpresented by Lee Rokke), writing family persons in locating their ancestral site in Norway. stories, early Norwegian churches, early A special treat was another site sponsored by the Norwegian settlements, and the Anderson Family History Library in Salt Lake City with their bibliographies on internet.