VOL XX NO 3 OCTOBER 2CXXJ Serving Norwegian-Americans of Sigda!, Eggeda! and Kradsherad Ancestry Lee Rokke Presents Emigrant Research to Sigdal-Eggedal Museum in Prestfoss by BirgerMoen,Bygdeposten journalist LeeRokke, (lag genealogist), Apple Valley, Minnesota, has done a fantastic job cataloging the names of 5000 people who emigrated from Kmdsherad and Sigdal. Several archive boxes were delivered to the SigdaI og Eggedal Museum as a gift which will be a great advantage for people of the district. Those who seek information about their families who emigrated can obtain information in an effective manner, thanks to the comprehensive and prolonged work back of the archive material. The excellent work Lee Rokke has produced consists of an index full of names of Norwegians who emigrated from Sigdal and Kredsherad, beginning with the first who left in 1839. You can look for your relatives by first name and patronymic, followed by the place they lived. It could, for example, be Ole Olsen Ovnan. In Lee is shown ageinst the houses and Simoa River at the index there is also information about where the Prestfos8, Norway_ Photo by Sigrid Kvisle. Sigdal·Eggedal individual is found in the bygdebok and in sources in Museum director. America, together with other valuable information. Lee Rokke had ancestors from Kredsherad and her husband had ancestors from Sigdal, so for many years Need to arrange vacation time to include she has had a great interest in the genealogy and the Black Hills? Join Sigdal Lag at the 7 LAG history of the emigrants. A few years ago she had the STEVNEinRapidCity, SO, JULY 12-14, 2001. opportunity to meet Andreas Merch in America. Her NSIrepresentatives for each lag meet October wish was to have copies of the bygdeboker he wrote. 28 to make final plans. Her happiness was great when she was given those as IN THIS ISSUE look for more pictures and a gift. This was the germination of the work she has highlights of the lag's summer Norway tour. Members will celebrate 2001 as the 90th continued for (20) years and has resulted in the Sigdal Lag anniversary year. It's your excellent gift to the museum. newsletter, so send items of interest about Besidesthe ring binder containing the index, there are your family or Norwegian activities in your several archive boxes where the names can be found area. We'll use as many as space allows. each in its own envelope. These envelopes contain Deadlinesare Jan 10, Apr 10 and Sept 10. more information about the people who emigrated, their About 115 householdshaveyear2000 after descendants, and what happened in America. Often nameson address labels,so RENEWNOW; it's they are thick envelopes with very detailed information. the last issue of 2000. NB!: Those with ANY Lee Rokke has also corrected many mistakes in the addresschanges must notify the editor Ie-mail Sigdal and Kredsherad bygdebeker. That says much or POcardl to keep getting what you paid for! about her knowledge and insight about the Norwegian (Write/clip the return addressandtape it in your emigration to America. addressbook). The PO likes 'good' house and apartment numbers. We will mail just one (Reprinted from Bygdeposten, June 22, 2000, published SA GA to relatives you request get one. Send in Vikersund, Norway.) names with membershipform, p. 12. FRA PRESIDENTEN : Greetings to my fellow members of Sigdalslaget! As president, my appraisal of the Lag is that it is generally in good shape. It was reported at the business meeting July 15 that we had members in 306 households, up 18 from a year earlier. (It could be more--about a third still have time to renew membership to get future information or to re-join if membership has lapsed.) Good news from the treasurer was a balance on hand of $9,217 (portions of which are earmarked for future SA GA newsletters, and for the Book Publishing Fund.) This is remarkable because the main income is the membership from one year or three year member- households. Memorials and interest have been used for publishing books. Therefore, I'd like to say tusen takk to the presidents and officers of recent years for taking such good care of the Lag. Betty .!lind Earl O. Knutson enjoyed Sigdal Sigdal Lag has developed a nice set of member services. This events in June. (eW Photo) newsletter is one example--it is classy now and gets better every year. Another is the genealogy library that has been assembled by Lee Rokke. Then there are special projects such as the recent re-publication of the Lag's history books in English and the recent Norway tour, designed and led by Larry and Linda Rolfstad. These set a high standard for future projects. - Grateful that the Lag is in good shape, I pledge to work with my predecessor, Carol Meade, who will continue as NSI representative, and with the other officers to keep it so. At the same time, we will be looking for ways to modernize and improve our services. sl Earl O. Knutson, president she was two, pictured on her mother's arm. ABOUT OUR OFFICERS - - - EARL O. KNUTSON, a former VP, was GARTH ULRICH, Vice President: elected Sigdalslag president in July. Living in Our newest officer joining the Sigdal Board is New Jersey, he and his wife Betty (Elizabeth Garth Ulrich, who was also elected July 15. He Barnes) not only participated in the Norway was among the first Canadian members to join tour, but also drove to the 7 Lag Stevne July the lag-and-has-been an active, young member 13-15 at Wahpeton. In January he attended a since the 1980s. Minneapolis board meeting at (then president) He was born June 3, 1973, in Spalding, Carol Meade's home, despite a heavy snowfall. Saskatchewan, Canada. His father, Garry, is of Born in 1936, he hails from Sunburg, MN, Austrian-Norwegian descent and his mother, and can boast of four paternal great- Lena (Halvorson) Ulrich, was of Norwegian- grandparents that were pure Sigdeler! They Swedish descent. His emigrant ancestors from came from the Hovland, Storebraten, and Sigdal were Jens Olsen Flaganeie and Turi Stevern farms, all south of Lake Soneren in Stenersdatter Halvorset who lived at Skavridalen Sigdal. His mother's ancestors were also under Gren Sere. Norwegian. After grade school in Earl attended country schools in Kandiyohi Spalding, he attended and County, MN, and New London (MN) High graduated from high school in School. He earned a BA degree, majoring in 1991 in nearby Naicam, SK. physics and mathematics, at Concordia College, He earned a Bachelor of Moorhead, MN. He enrolled in graduate school Education degree in 1966 from at the University of Minnesota, eventually University of Saskatchewan at earning a PH.D. in mechanical engineering. In Saskatoon. terms of career, Earl worked as an engineer- Teaching elementary special scientist in Minneapolis, Chicago, and New York education classes at Wollaston City. Lake, SK, an isolated Dene Since he retired in 1995, Earl has worked community far north in the province, has been with his sister researching family history. They his work since. This fall he returns to the U for wrote one book, Our Reigstad Family. Another a post-graduate (Special Ed) Diploma. Besides to be called Our Sigdal Families is in the Sigdalslag, Garth is .a member of Totenlag, working stages yet. He became a member in Valdres Samband, Romerikslag and Solerlag and 1997 and several relatives are members. of several genealogical societies in Canada and Earl has two daughters and two grandchildren the United Statets. In Spalding, he maintains from an earlier marriage. His father's sister is strong ties at Dovre Lutheran Church and serves Alice Mensing, who has been at stevner since as secretary of the looal museum. ILR Pharo) 2 MAKE PLANS EARLY FOR 2001 STEVNE IN RAPID CITY (Information about the Rapid City Stevne arrived as this issue was enroute to the printer. Many will want to respond before the next SA GA arrives. PffJasfJfJ-mail mfJ or sfJnd writtfJn addrfJssfJs of family (non- mfJmbfJrs) nfJfJding rfJgistration/housing forms bfJforfJ thfJ FfJbruary issufJ carrifJs thfJm. - Editor) It's time to begin planning your "Norwegian Heritage in the Old West." That's the theme of the exciting 7 Lag Stevne to be held at Rapid City, South Dakota, at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology JULY 12-14, 2001. Early registrations are encouraged to assist overseas guest participation and planning. Home stay requests in Rapid City to accommodate Norwegian dignitaries and visitors for this event are needed by JANUARY 31. The registration fee is $30 or $25 per person, if received by JANUARY 31, 2001. Banquet and bunad parade follow each lag's daytime meetings Saturday: Norwegian salmon OR Buffalo prime rib at $25 per person. Thursday and Friday offer a choice of three daytime activity options: algenealogy research and workshops, b)forums on the immigrant experience or c) a scenic Black Hills day tour at additional cost. The evening program Friday will include the lighting ceremony of the 60-foot faces of four US presidents at Mt. Rushmore. Sunday services at 9 AM will be at the Borgund-style stave church, Chapel in the Hills. Campus food service and housing will be available directly from the School of MineslTechnology. Residence hall fees are' double room @ $21 47 ner N.orway tour 2000 le.aders. Linda and L~rryRolfstad. dressed In their . ~ Slgdal bun.de, for dinner. Ruth Manmng photo person, per night; single room @ $25.62 pp/pn. (Bring an electric fan; rooms are not air conditioned). The daily 3-meal plan (not banquet) is $17.64 for adults and $8.82 for children age 6 or younger.