•VOL XXI NO 1 FEBRUARY 2001

Serving Norwegian-Americans of Sigdal-Eggedal& Kredsherad ancestry since 1911

Stevne Entertainment Includes:Chuck Suchy

well-known western folk singerSkiJlmusikk

with Paul Wilson and Mary AbendrothLeikkaring Dancers

from Borgund Lodge, Rapid City, SO

STEVNE PROGRAM

WEO-July 1 1 Arrival and SetupTH-July 12 B AM General Forum

13-Track Electives at SDSM&T}• GENEALOGY RESEARCH• FORUMS on family history &

the Norwegian immigrantexperience

• optional DAY TOURof the Black Hills*. Exhibitors & Vendors

7 PM Program at Sons of NorwayBorgund Lodge hall: Openingevent with dignitaries,entertainment, music, drama,dance, and storytellers.

FRI-July 13 B AM General Forum13-Track Electives at SDSM& T)• GENEALOGY RESEARCH• FORUMS on family history &

the Norwegian immigrantexperience

• optional DAY TOURof the Black Hills* * Exhibitors & Vendors

7 PM Program & Lighting Ceremonyat Mount Rushmore Memorial;Performance following

SAT -July 14 B AM - 1 :30 (?) PMSigdal Lag's own 90th yearAM meeting and programs.

5 PM Banquet at Surbeck Centerwith Bunad Parade,

all at SDSM&TB PM PROGRAM with guests and

entertainment

SUN-July 15 9AM outdoor worship(stave church lawnl

12:00 NOON - Checkout and departfrom campus

More details will be available in the MaySAGA. Submit BY APRIL 10.

Norwegian Heritage in the Old West Draws7 Lag Stevne to Rapid City July 12-15

Family vacation plans in the Black Hills could mesh well with the7 Lag Stevne to be held July 12-15 at the South Dakota Schoolof Mines and Technology (SDSM& T) in Rapid City, South Dakota,a choice known to students from Norway.

"Discover Norwegian Heritage in the Old West" is the theme, andeveryone needs to register with one of the sponsoring groups--Hadeland, Land, Numedal, Ringerike-Drammen, Sigdal, Telelagand Toten Lag. A general (visitor) registration will also beavailable. Arrival the day before will allow full participation.

The stevne welcomes children Iso list their names and ages sostorytelling and other age-appropriate activity may be planned).If under age 16, no registration fee is required. Families will wantto visit the geological museum on campus.

Campus meals andlor residence hall housing are ordered directlyfrom SO School of Mines & Technology, University SchedulingCenter, 501 E. St. Joseph Street, Rapid City. SO 57701-3995.The campus requires pre-payment in full by credit card, monE!yorder or check. (At this point, Sigdalslag is not planning abreakfast or box lunch together as a lag Saturday).

Good news! Register prior to 'February 28 and save money.Look at the program (Ieftf, read about the day tours, makeSaturday evening banquet choices at $25 per person, and mailyour check with the registration form to Don Skadeland.treasurer, 106420 St, Omaha, NE 68127.

The genealogy research room will be open Thursday and Fridayfrom 8 AM to 4 PM. Each of the seven bygdelag has excellentresource materials that can be supplemented by unique databasesthat Norway has placed on Internet. Internet access is plannedalong with research assistance provided by experienced laggenealogists and committee members.

Thursday and Friday offer day bustours, as well. They'll include CusterState Park, Black Hills National Forest.a visit to Crazy Horse MonumentNisitor .Center, and a trip to Mt. Rushmore(Friday only!. Thursday's tour returnsearly enough for dinner before theprogram at Borgund Lodge Hall, Sonsof -Norway. Friday's tour remains atMt. Rushmore for the grand lightingceremony and then returns to campus.Cost is $40 per person and includes lunch. Please choose just oneday for a tour to best accommodate choices. (See p. 4)

FRA PRESIDENTENby EarlO. Knutson

The first six months on thisjob have been fairly busy-- notwith traveling but withcommunicating. Lots of ideashave been bounced aroundwithin the Executive Board,looking for ways for us towork more efficiently. Thankheavens for e-mail!

Vice President Ruth Manninghas agreed to oversee ourfinances. She will receivepayments for dues fromeverywhere except Canada,and she will try to forecastour income and expenses atleast one year ahead, to seethat we don't take on projectswe can't afford.

VP Garth Ulrich will officiallykeep track of our membershiprolls, and accept dues fromfellow Canadians, thus easingthe load on the treasurer.

VP/NSI representative CarolMeade will oversee thearrangements for the lag'scultural programs at the RapidCity stevne and ~she VIlilicontinue to store our beautifulbanner and artifacts.

We have committed ourselvesto two publishing projects.The first is to complete anEnglish translation of the 1949Sigdalslag book, being editedand indexed by our historian,Debbie Shortino. Secondly,we'll begin a new book aboutand for our recent and currentmembers. Genealogical datamay be sent to Lee Rokke andMarilyn Somdahl will be happyto get articles and recentpictures of members.

Our January board meetingwas held in Story City, a smallIowa town north of Ames,midway between Minneapolisand Omaha. With a half-dayagenda of 15 items, themeeting allowed us toconsider several possibilities tobetter serve our members.

Plan now to beJuly in RapidDakota!

with us thisCity, South

MANGE TAKK TIL KR0DSHERAD FRA LAGET

Mange takk to Kr0dsheradKommune for the 2001Kr0dsheradkalenders sent toCarol Meade!

They will be available forsale/donations in July at theRapid City stevne.

This project of gatheringhistorical pictures and customsfor a year-end calendar hascontinued 14 years. Sigdalslagis appreciative to have thesepictures in our archives.

The mayor wrote thisgreeting on the back cover:Dearfellow residents! The jubileeyear is here. Our own jubilee.This year Krodsherad Kommune is100 years old. Until 1901 wewere directed from Sigda!.Kredsherad's women and menwanted greater influence overtheir affairs. and so it came to be.In 100 years the two localgovernments worked together onan equal basis for the bestinterest of our inhabitants.Bickering and discord don't buildup the country. Let us hope that2001 is a~year--of workingtogether. both betweenKroosherad and its neighbors, andbesidesthat, in the world.With greetings,Krodsherad Kommune.sllnge Thorud, ordforer

One feature of thecalendar is new. Research ofold weather signs or advisoriesfor each month have beenincluded. "A row of days hadspecial significance. Some ofthese live on, but many havebeen forgotten. We have triedto find some that are nolonger usual today." Thosechosen were: Brettemesse Jan11, Agotmesse Feb 5,Gudmundsdsgen Mar 16, MllrkusmesApril 25, Urbani pspse May 25,SkokJef./Isdsgen June 3, Syhesok -Maris besllke/sesdsg July 2, LllTsokAugust 10, Mnimesse . Morsmesse5apt 8, Jomfrudllgen • UrsullldsgenOct 21. Ksrimesse Nov 25,Tollemuse - VlIskllrnotti Dec 23.

Pictured subjects include:four skiers at 'H0gevarde, 1930;Anton GulsenRund, (US driver forRockefeller family), 1910; BjmeSchool (19), 1949-50; Easter

2

1921, Raaens& Runds; May 17,1920, Snersrud School paradewlErik Humlegaard; confirmands,(40+), 1911; S.Vassenrud,1925Asta Aasmundrud Gr~nli;Leineseter, 1920 Dynge &Dannemark; hunters on Norefjell,1920; Ole Bjerkerud's musicalfriends, 1910; Ragna Lesteberg,1905 telephone operator; Margit& KlaraSorteberg, 1918.

Helligdager og merkedager(holy days and days of note) forboth 2001 and 2002 are listed.In text most words would be insmall letters; here the first wordlisted has a been capitalized.Can you match up Norwegiannames with English clues?

NyttiJrsdag-fastelavnssondag, 25 februar-Palmesondag-Skiaertorsdag--~Langfredag-PiJskedag, 15 april-2.piJskedag-Off. hoytidsdag, 1 mai-Frigjoringsdag 1945, Bmai-Kristi Himmelfartsdag,24 mai-Grunnlovsdag, 17 mai-Pinsedag, 3 juni-2. pinsedag-Sankhans, 24 juni-Olsok, 29 iuli-FN-dagen, 24 oktober-Bots- og bededag,27 oktober-Allehelgensdag, 3 november-1. sondag i advent-Juledag=2. juledag, 26 desember

•

a. Constitution Dayb. birth of John the Baptistc. All Saints Dayd. UN Daye. Good Fridayf. 2nd day of Easterg. 2nd day of Pentecosth. 2nd day of Christmasi. Labor Dayj. LiberationDayk. Ascension DayI. New Year's Daym. PalmSundayn. Holy Thursdayo. St Olav's Dayp. Day of prayerlrepentanceq. Pre-Christmas season startsr. Sundaybefore Lents. EasterSundayt. PentecostSundayu. birth of Jesus

GENEALOGY NEWS & VIEWSBy Lee Rokke

,

Sigdalslag Surveys Received from• 'Violet Walk, Grafton Iowa, on the family

of Gulbrand Gulsen Bakken"Jerry Franck. Mendota Heights, MN, on

the descendants of Asle EriksenOlbergsundet

•Oelphin Johnson, Superior, WI, sent theresult of his searches of several of hisancestral lines. Some places representedare Oppegllrd in Lunder; Gulsvik, BUllen andVoid in Fill; Freysok in Gol. The materialhas been filed with the Sigdalslag familyhistories under Del Johnson's name .

•Violet Walk is also searching for informationon Barbro Gulsdatter, born at Haugeneie,Eggedal, 2 August 1836. Emigrated in

Judy Sosted ILl of Northfield, MN, gets translation assistancefrom 1861. If you can help, contact Lee Rokke,RosellaGoenelman,Decorah.IA at Wahpetonlast year. (Rokke photo) 13465 Garden View Drive, Apple Valley

MN 55124. Phone: 952-432-9767e-mail: <Ieerokke@aol.com >

Civil War Soldiers Had Roots in Eggedal, Sigdal, Kredsherad

Men who took part in theCivil War were identified inDrom og dramatikk - I detnorske Amerika, by TorbjlilrnGreipsland. Published jointlyby Norsk Utvandrermuseet,Ottestad, Norway, and Harryand Josefa Andersen, Chica90.Printed by Genesis Forlag,Oslo, 1997. Page 94:

Aslesen Halvor, fra Eggedal.dade i 1863

Bennet, Gunnar, fra EggedalBergerud, Stengrim, fra SigdalBergetangen, Helge Olsen, fra

SigdalBlakeberg, Thomas, fra SigdalEvensen, Even, fra SigdalHalvorsen, S, fra SigdalHansen, Erick, Ira SigdalHansen, Hans, fra Tungen, SigdaIHansen, Mats, fra KmdsheradHansen, Stengrim, Ira SigdalHover IHovet}, Halvor H, fra SigdalHover IHovet}, Ole H., fra SigdaIHover, Oscar E., foreldre fra Sigda IJohnsen, James, fra SigdalJohnson, Ole fra SigdaIKittelsen, Charles, fra SigdalKopseng T., Ira SigdaILarsen, Jacob, fra SigdalLarsen, Nils, fra SigdaILein, R., Ira KmdsheradLillemoen, H., fra Sigdal

Olsen, Christopher, fra SigdalOlsen, Thom., fra SigdaIPaulsen,Truls, fra SigdalRamstad, Gunder, fra SigdalReiersenFingar, fra SigdalRialsenOle, fra SigdalRime, Ole, fra EggedalRugland, Christopher, Ira EggedalSkor (Skaar)Jacob fra EggedalSteenersen, Knut fra KmdsheradStengrimson, Jacob, Ira SigdalSt.a A. S. Andersen, fra SigdalSundvold, Ole Larsenfra SigdaITorkelsen,Larsfra Sigdalfait i slag

16 desember1864 iTennesseeAaby, Sigbj.rn Halvorsen, Ira

Sigdal

In his book, I ring om Fjeslia,Ola Kvisle tells that SivertPettersen was the son of PetterGundersen Blegeberg and TuriSkjulsdatter. The family lived atFjllslia, Rollag.

Ulvestad writes that SivertPettersen was out on the honorroll because of his actions atthe battle of Stone River.Suddenly, when his divisionwas divided, a rebel cavalryman demanded that hesurrender. Sivert shot him todeath instead of obeying.Therefore he saved both himselfand several of his companions,

3

who were able to regroup andmount an attack. Later, SivertPettersen was taken prisoner,and died in Andersonville."

Ulvestad in his book saysthat there were two by thename of Hover who took part'in the Civil War, namely HalvorH. and Ole H. Hover. Eitherthat is is a misprint of Hovet,or they have changed theirnames in the USA. In his bookabout the Civil war, Ager givesa picture of Halvor O. Hove,who probably is the sameperson as Halvor H., becauseboth authors report that bothHalvors settled in Eureka,Kansas, which is not the mostcommon place for Norwegiansto settle.

In the 1966 yearbook forModum it was reported that in1847 Halvor Olsen Hovet fromSigdal moved to the USA, 28years old. With him were hiswife Dorthe and his three yearold son Ole.

If you are aware of othernames that should be added tothe list, or if you can give moredetailsabout their service,pleasesend a note to Lee Rokke, whocompiled this list.

Getting to Know - - -TWllA HALVORSON

If you have ancestry inSigdal, you may well share aconnection with Twila GulsonHalvorson, secretary ofSigdalslag. Her paternalgrandparents from Sigdal werefrom Vatn<'is Ithe house inMinot, NDl, Lyubratan andEbbesberg and Viksbratenwhile maternal grandparentswere from Eggedal, includingGronhovdeie, Engereie, andPletaneie.

Twila hails from Hatton,ND, where she was born onthe family farm. She attendeda country school in TrailCounty and graduated fromMayville (NDI High School in1948 and from ConcordiaCollege, Moorhead, MN, in1952. In 1955 she concludedher education at the MayoClinic School of PhysicalTherapy, Rochester, MN.She's worked as a PhysicalTherapist in Northfield,Starbuck and Detroit Lakes.

Marrying a Lutheranpastor, Arvin Halvorson, in1956, Twila shared in servingMinnesota parishes at Sebeka,Northfield, and Starbuck aswell as Emmanuel NursingHome, Detroit Lakes. Duringthese years they raised threechildren who married andmade them grandparents tosix children.

Since retirement in 1996,Halvorsons spend considerabletime at their lake cabin nearPark Rapids. "Our familiesjoin us for a time eachsummer," Twila adds. They

obviously enjoy traveling andhave visited several places onother continents. In seeingmuch of the USA, they oftenpull their travel trailer.

Elected to office in 1998,Twila organized ushers for thestevne last year at Wahpetonand assisted in a similar wayat Decorah, Iowa, for theNorwegian-American BygdelagCentennial in 1999. See theOCT 1999 SAGA for Arvin'spicture.

Getting to Know -RUTH MANNINGHaving relatives in Fergus

Falls, Ruth Hoff Manning waselected as one of three vicepresidents in 1998.

She writes: "I'm a nativeMinnesotan who is 3/4Scandinavian--half Norwegianand a quarter Danish. The restis a conglomeration of ethnicbackgrounds.

This January 16 I've beenmarried 36 years to Dan whodoesn't seem to have a dropof Scandinavian blood in him.He's a retired civil engineerfrom the US Army Corps ofEngineers. When he proposedmarriage, he promised meriches and travel.

So far I've had the "travel."We lived in Frankfurt,Germany, for about 40months 11982-85) onassignment with the Corps.

We traveled extensively in

4

Europe during that time. Wereturned to Germany andsurrounding environs for sixweeks during the summer of '--./1999.

Last year we took part onthe Sigdalslag tour to NorwayIfantastic!) with a three daylayover in Iceland. In Marchwe're headed for two weeksin London, and again inIceland.~

I am now retired ... again. Iworked for the University ofNebraska at Omaha for 12years, retiring from the PRoffice three years ago. Irecently completed 14 monthsof part-time employment doingthe books for my son'sinternet business which herecently sold. Both ourchildren, David and Jody, aremarried, BUT we still are notgrandparents.

I have a lot of interestsincluding cooking and baking,reading, surfing the web onmy IMac, entertaining,genealogy, plus all kinds ofactivities at Lord of LoveLutheran Church.

I love being a part of thE! 0SigdaI Lag and maintainingtouch with my heritage."

Stevne Program: SundayIcontinued from page one)

Pastor James Hanson, aSigdal member, invites you tooutdoor Sunday worshipservices at the Chapel in theHills Stave Church at 9 AMJuly 15.

Built by the Scandinaviancommunity in Rapid City l thischurch is a replica of the 850year old Borgund stavkirke inNorway. Its design and uniquewood carvings will delightyou, and it is situated in abeautiful setting.

A log-cabin museumnearby contains artifacts usedby the Scandinavian pioneerswho settled in this area ofSouth Dakota.

Vespers are held everysummer evening at 8 PM.

Beloved children have manv namesBjereen, Villa Friedheim, Soria Moria

by IngeborgSorumIvar Salter writes in his

1914 Book AboutKrodsherad, "This littleisland between Bj0re andOlberg (church) can by rightbe called Kr0derfjorden'spearl. Originally the islandwas a peninsula, attachedto Leerslandet nearMaritangen, but later cameunder the Bjme farm fromwhich it was first leased bySvend Haug and later soldto (Fru) Thea Haug to odeland own. The island lifteditself up in a slanting,sloping curvature from thewater, overgrown withspruce and pine, besides fineslender birch trees inbetween.

On the highest ground Svend and Thea Haugin 1890-92, along with architect Herman Backer,erected their peaceful manorhome, outfitted withcentral heating and a filtered water system,among other things." It is worth noting that thehouse was called "Villa Friedheim" by Svend andThea Haug.

The owner and builder, "Little Svend" inM011erud,son of Ragneand Svend Skartum fromSigdal, had, by his own exceptional flair andcompetence, struck it big in the lumber business,becomingthe district's leadingexporter of lumber.He married Thea Sveas at Haug in Modum in1859 and took the name Haug. They moved toDrammen where they lived as elegantly aspersons of rank, but they wished for a countryplace in Kmdsherad.

Villa Friedheim was begun in 1890 and wasready in 1892. An impressively short buildingtime with the tools and resources of that time.And often as one sees this magnificient buildingproject that was raised over 100 years ago, onecan safely wonder how it could have been donein just two years. What kind of giants were theythat made provision for their own foundation,with 2 meter (78") thick, enormous blocks ofgranite, without steam shovel or crane? Must notcarpenters, masons, glassmasters and manyothers have made gigantic efforts to get thisincredibly worthy buildingn25 meters (81' 3")high, with balconies and projectionsnready inrecord time? Of coursel Those old craftsmencapably did their thing.

The house was solidly built. Completely frombottom to rooftop, it made use of first-class,robust materials, all from Svend Haug's ownsawmill at Holmen in Drammen. Many of thedecorative parts of the building in the "dragon'sstyle" were from Holmen as well. It was perhapsa compressed time because Svend Haug becamesick and his health deteriorated rapidly. He diedalready in 1891 and, unfortunately, never saw hisgreat fairy tale castle on Bj0mya completed.When the villa stood ready one year after SvendHaug's death, it was the widow Thea Haug whomoved into their home alone--with only fiveservants.

There was much entertaining and social lifeat Villa Friedheim and many of the period'sleading names found their way there. Norway'sleading poet, Bj0rnstjerne Bjmnson, was soenthusiastic about the island that he asked ErikT. Bj0reabout buying it. But the farmer at Bjme,known for his frank way of speaking, repliedabsolutely, "No, no! If you come here to thiscommunity, there'll be too much traffic followingyou." Everyone can, of course, meditate a littleabout the extent to which Kmdsherad's culturallife could have been changed if the Old Bj0re hadsaid, nJa".

Exactly now, in the year 2000, it swarms withknown and lesser known "filmfolk" who portraymodern drama with today's doubtful premise that"Soria Moria", is also known as Villa Friedheim.(continued on page 8)

5

...-.. ._ 7 ... & ... <:7 LAG STEVNE REGISTRATION FORM - SIGDAL LAG _ 2001

Persons Attending: please add ages for children under 16; please printNAME(S) AGE Address _

Telephone _

------------------ e-mail _

Registration Fee Totalsis $30.00 per person

($25.00 before Feb 28, 2001) Registration:...-x $30.00 eaJ (we) would be interested No registration fee for children underin a charter bus to Rapid City (YIN) the age of 16From: # in group ordic Banquet: mdJcate # Banquet: __ x $25.00 ea

Norwegian Salmon

J (we) would be wiling to help in the Buffalo Prime Rib

Geuealogy Computer Lab ou Black Hills Tour: Black Hills __ x$40.00 ea-Thursday_a.m. _p.m._ indicate # and day Tour:Friday - 3.m. _p.m._ ($40.00 ea Thur or Fri lunch incl) TOTAL $

Lag Affiliation(s):J (we) plan on lodgiug at:

School uf NIincs & TechnologyAlex Johnson Hotel, Rapid City, SD _Othcr _

11'le<lst'Iisl name <lndphone # in case of Chi1ngC~ :m(1/oremergenCies I

Make Checks Payable to SJGDAL LAG. Detach this form, enclose cbeck, and mail toDON SKADELAND, TREASURER, 10642 0 STREET, OMAHA, NE 68127

=:..B~=----------=-------------~~------ .,-, ,..-_,. ~--~ 7.... .., Youmit";PYlhis ... e~ 5II ' '-.SD School of Mines/Technology CAMPUS ACCOMMODATIONS FORM - July 11-15

Name (Please Print) _--,---,---,---,- --,- _

Address _

City, St, Zip

Phone: Dayl,(_..1) _EveL...lTotal number in group: _Name of Group and/or Lag:

If ordering forrmon: Ihan one person. plesc li,t additioll3l names on a s~a"'te shcct

Indicate the number of persons requesting lodging and/or specified meals on each date in the appropriate box. If ordering for more thanone person, please list additional names on a sepamte sheet. Meal cards will be distributed upon arrival.

• Iwectne1>UltyThursday Friday Saturday Slli\dayt- TotalRooms/Meals 11July 12 July 13 July 14 July 15July Rates (includes tax)

inole Room/I Derson (limited availability) $25.62/oerson/niobtDouble Room/2 persons per room limit $21.47/oersouiniohtBreakfast (indicate number reauired) $4.12.il>ersouidavLunch (Indicate number reauired and BL for box lunch) $5.88.'ill:rson/dayDinner (Indicate number reauired) Banquet $7.64/person/day

Total Amount Enclosed:nclose check or money order made payable to SDSM&T for the total amount or include the follov"'ing credit card infonnation:

Check or Money Order 0 Visa 0 Mastercard 0 Discover 0

t::ard Number Expiration Date: __ /__ Signature:

lMail To: SO School of MineR & Technology, Univenity Scheduling Center, SOl Eo ~:_~~pbSt., Rapid City, SD S770J-3995

6

Resenre Lodging NOW;July is "Peak Season"If you prefer air conditioning andhotel accommodations, please beadvised that the long establishedHotel Alex Johnson in the heartof downtown Rapid City mayappeal to you. It is withinwalking distance to variousmuseums and quaint shops andthe" old fashioned" Elks Theatre.

The toll free number for theHotel Alex Johnson is 1-800-888-2539, or you can e-mail toinfo@a/exjohnson.com. Pleasecall BEFOREJUNE 1 and refer toGroup # 1841 to receive thespecial rate of $95.00 (plus tax)for single or double occupancy.Eachadditional person adds $10,but children under 18 stayingwith an adult are free. Theyoffer smoking and non-smokingrooms.

Amenities include LandmarkRestaurant and Lounge withcomplimentary morning coffee,complimentary guest passes toa nearby health club and pool,and a pub and casino. Child-care and tour arrangements viathe front desk, and valet orpermit parking are offered.

Hotel AlexJohnsonThere is an airport shuttleservice, (but notify the frontdesk of departure times INADVANCE). Check-in is 4 PMand checkout is 11 AM. Guestsmust notify the hotel 72 hours

in advance of arrival date toavoid first night room and taxcharges.

Northwest Airlines, Skywest,Delta Connection or UnitedExpress all serve air passengersat the Rapid City RegionalAirport.

For other hotel, camping and RVfacilities, contact Wendy Krankof the Rapid City Convention andVisitors Bureau, 444 Mt.Rushmore Road, Rapid City, SO57709. Indicate that you arewith the 7 Lag Stevne. Call605-343-1744. Her email iskrank@rapidcitycvb.com Ask herhelp with other questions as well.

To check driving conditions, call605-394-2243 or use the webpage: http://www.state.sd.us/dot/

Interested in charter bus service?The possibility of departing fromLaCrosse,Rochester, Minneapolisand points west exists. It dependson how many are interested andon space available. Indicate yourinterest in bus service on theregistration forml and expect to becontacted by a member of theplanning committee or the buscompany.

FOOD & LODGINGAT SDSM&T CAMPUS

The South Dakota School ofMines and Technology welcomesall 2001 attendees of the 7 LagStevne to its campus at 501 E.St. Joseph Street in Rapid City.

Cafeteria style meals (all you caneat) and campus housing areavailable, along with facilities tomake genealogy research,registration space and meetingrooms convenient for all. Notethat full payment is mailed withthe accommodations formdirectly to the university. Noother meal plans are available,so you are encouraged to eaton campus, even if you stayelsewhere.

Full refunds for meals andlodging are possible before June

7

1, 2001, if you notify them inwriting. (No refunds later, butSDSM& T does use credit cards).

Lodging on campus: Residencehall lounges are equipped withlarge screen TVs and are airconditioned, though rooms arenot. You may wish to bring anelectric fan or radiolTV, hangersand personal items. Laundry andvending machines are coin-operated.

If you have special (handicap)needs, please call the school605-394-6774 or e-mailsdsmtuniversitysch edul ing@taz.sdsmt.edu to determine whatmay be available. Write-in yourspecial needs in a margin of theaccommodations form.

Campus Residence

Rooms have two twin beds,dressers, desks and chairs.Community bathrooms on eachfloor will be designated bygender.

Bath linens and bedding arefurnished with towel, washcloth,pillow, blanket, pillow cases andsheets and pad.

Residence halls are staffed 24hours a day, so check inanytime. The campus- is "dry"(no alcohol allowed) which isstrictly enforced.

Ove~ 285 paid househ~ld~ .receive the SigdalslagSAGA.Another 50 need· to renew

membership for 2001 !You are special to this lag;

we need both new & old members. to grow.

• - Villa Friedheim, Soria MoriaAs I dream myself back (into

time) to see for myself, I hearthe ringing of Bj0rnstjerneBj0rnson's resounding, "Ja, vielsker dette landet", from thelarge balcony at Villa Friedheim,while encountering the' echo

\ from another poet, AndersHovden. He stood firm as arock on the veranda at thepriest's farm, a demandingstonesthrow across the fjord,practicing "Fagen er landet",which he wrote here just then.

They loved the same country,of course, using, in each case,his own dialect.

Translated by MDS from UNDERNOREFJELL, No.2, 2000.Illustrated byHAvardStevern, andwritten by Ingeborg Serum of theeditorial board. The magazinepresents local histories forKredsherad and Sigdal.

Below: Dale and Dianna Snell, WA

NORWAY PICTURES TAKEN ON 2000 SIGDALSLAG TOUR

Knutson relatives visit at Haugen, Sigdal: {L-RI Earl Knutson, NJ; Stein Wichmann.Erik Lien. Addie Williams, MN; Betty Knutson, NJ; and Mary Carnes, CA. (EOKphoto)

Posing above in Hsnefoss (l-R) are Shirley Skadeland. IA; ShirteySkadeland and Joyce Jernberg, NH; Lynn and Don Skadeland. NE.

In front of the flower shop in Arnot. (Ieftl are Kendra Glaser. AZ;Marlene Klabo, VA; and Michael and Linda Block, CA (LR photos)

8

2001 Spring CalendarApril 14 Vesterheim's Nordic Brunch, 9-3 PM

Radisson South, Bloomington, MNContact Linda Mona or Karen Owento be on mailing list. 952-944-3110God p~skeLag Genealogists Annual MeetingMinnesota Genealogy Society5768 Olson Memorial Hwy, Minneapolis12:30-8 PM; Call 651-633-1329Bygdelagenes Fellesraad Annual MtgWyndham Garden Hotel, Bloomington8-noon; FEE $14 pp ($12 til April 20).Send to Lee Brown, Sec, 2210 SpruceTrail, Golden Valley, MN 55422Norway's Constitution Day

April 15May 4

,May 5

May 17

Executive Board Meets in IowaAs 90th Anniversary Year Begins

Board members met January 15 at Story City, Iowa,to make future plans for the lag. Driving in were Earland Betty Knutson, New Jersey, Dan and RuthManning, Don and Lynn Skadeland, Omaha, NE; andTwila Halvorson, Carol Meade, Lee Rokke, andMarilyn Somdahl, Minneapolis area.

Additional responsibilities will be shared by the vicepresidents (see last page). Garth Ulrich, vicepresident of membership, will encourage anyone withSigdal ties to join us and will work with specialprojects. Ruth Manning, vice president of finance,will receive all membership applications except fromCanada, and Garth will expedite those using Canadiandollars--by seeking to defray the bank charges onevery transaction, when possible. Carol Meade, vicepresident of heritage, will continue as the NSIrepresentative in planning the 7 Lag Stevne, help planthe cultural programs and continue to store thebanner and artifacts.

Reports were sent by Debbie Shortino, historian, andGarth who were not able to be present. Debbie isediting and indexing the Sigdalslagel - 1949 yearbook, translated by Rosella Goettelman.

Great fellowship, good coffee breaks and a relaxedevening meal were very enjoyable.

Lee Rokke has the Sigdalslag (genealogy) surveyforms and sends them to any member who requestsone or has not completed one.

Marilyn Somdahl continues to ask for news articlesand for clear, head & shoulders pictures (wallet ofsnapshot) for an approaching book project. Spousesand minor children are also included in our lagmembership. Identify who's who on a post-it and putan address label on the back for its eventual return.Both genealogies and current history are solicited.

NORWAY ANNOUNCES NEWAMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.

Knut Vollebrek, who previously was a keynegotiator during the war in Kosovo, has beennamed to be Norway's Ambassador to the UnitedStates.

Having held a variety of diplomatic pOSitIOns,including that of Norway's Foreign Minister,Vollebrek gained much of his internationalreputation in his post as head of the Organizationfor Security and Cooperation in Europe. As thewar raged in the Balkans, he had almost dailycontact with former US Secretary of StateMadeline Albright, according to Aftenposten.

Vollebrek begins his new position March 1 at theNorwegian Embassy in Washington, D.C. Hesucceeds Tom Vraalsen who will be based inHelsinki as Ambassador to Finland.

Among the initiatives during the Vraalsen yearswas the establishment of the US-Norway Forumwhich has met annually for four years. Aspresident of Bygdelagenes Fellesraad (one of theinitial groups included!. Marilyn Somdahl hasattended all the meetings --in Chicago,Washington, D.C. and Minneapolis. Once againthe meeting was December 10-11 in Washington,D.C. at Union Station. Norway hosts manyevents there the entire month.

Present were the Norwegian Ambassador toCanada, Ingvard Havnen, the Consuls Generalfrom Minneapolis (Ulf Christiansen!. New York,Miami, Houston, and San Francisco, and thepresidents of organizations, colleges, andindustries closely related to Norway.

HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT PROGRAMSOF COJ\lCORDlA LANGUAGE VILLAGES?

Learning a foreign language isn't difficult forchildren, but finding a great learning situationmay be. Besides Norwegian, the summerprograms offer Chinese, Danish, English~ Finnish,French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian,Spanish and Swedish. Adult programs andElderhostels are offered as well.

Payments for summer are due April 1, with thefinal payment due May 1. Sons of Norwayparents or grandparents may apply forscholarships, but deadlines are SOON.Write Concordia Language Villages, 901 8thStreet South, Moorhead, MN 56562 or e-mailc1v@cord.edu

9

The "New" Norway Lake Log Church and Old Tombstones - Part II

Now you see the "new" or replica church that was dedicated in 1999, as promised in the Octoberissue of the SAGA. The pictures were taken by Alice Mensing whose paternal grandparents, the OleKnudson family, gave the site for the original log church, built in 1868.

The old tombstones that originally stood in the church yard of the former Norway Lake log churchturned up again when a road was re-built. Notice that over the course of time they broke into piecesof memorial stone until recent years.

Two stones are for Alice's uncles: Knut O. Knudson, born April 6, 1858 and died 1875 and AndersO. Knudson, born September 17, 1859 and died December 3, 1860. They once again have a placeof honor, mounted on granite and set in a concrete base in the cemetery.

Among other finds in recent years was the oil altarpainting of the crucifixion which had hung in theoriginal log church; it also found its way back andnow hangs in the present church building.

The dedication of the people planning and workingto preserve their pioneer heritage--one that hereincludes several families with Sigdal roots--is wellillustrated. But seeing is believing and a visit mightbe even more rewarding!

For more information write: Norway Lake LutheranHistorical Association, 6338 County Road 40 NW,New London, MN 56273.

The picture below was taken at the dedicationAugust 22, 1999. The larger picture was taken in Bergen,Norway at Troldhaugen,the home of Edvardand NinaGrieg. Visitors, from left, are Marguerite Meade, CarolMeade,June Green, Mary Carnes,AddieWilliams, and David Rokke. Leaving (inthe doorway) are Don SkadelandIII andDan Manning. (LR photo)

10

IN MEMORY

,

Art Petersen and Kredsherad genealogist Svein Knut Granum seem to havefound what they were looking for during the 2000 Norway tour. (LR photol

Correction: (Oct 2000): INGVALD GRANUMwas born September 28, 1914. He died July28, 2000. The former Krlldsherad mayor andlife member was the father of the author andgenealogist in the picture.

Word was received of the sudden death ofDARWIN JOHNSON, Garrison, ND, on June 6,2000. Among others he is survived by hiswife, Claryce, who helped him find his Sigdalgenealogy.

DOUGLAS J. AUGUSTINE, 72, died of cancerat the Bloomington (MN) home of his sonDecember 12, 2000. Services for PastorAugustine were December 16 at Gracelutheran Church, Sandstone, MN.

He is survived by Shirley, his wife of 48 years;son Scott (Sue) Augustine and daughter Cindy (Mike) Gilbertson; grandchildren Ryan, Brent, and GarrettAugustine and Jessica and Sarah Gilbertson; and stepmother, Frances Augustine. He was preceded in deathby his parents, Jesse and Helen, and his infant son Paul.

Born in Minneapolis in 1928, he attended RooseveltHigh School and Augsburg College in Minneapolisand Augustana Seminary in Rock Island, Il. Afterbeing ordained in 1955, he served parishes in St.Hi/are, Monticello, and Sandstone, MN. From 1959-1965 he was a missionary with the Lutheran Churchin Tanzania, East Africa. He retired from theministry in 1987 and with his son he beganAugustine Medical Inc., a medical productscompany, Eden Prairie, MN.

Many people in the US and Afria who needed helpbenefited from a foundation, SolarCooker International. He wasinvolved in numerous bands andan orchestra, and he shared hisknowledge and love for musicwith his grandchildren. AsSigdalslag members, heencouraged his wife Shirley totake part in the 2000 SigdalslagTour and Emigration Festival in

Norway. (See Oct 2000 issue).

, .. MELIAHAVIG NELSON (February 16, 1915-0ctober27, 20001 died at Gunderson Lutheran MedicalCenter, La Crosse, WI. Funeral services and burialtook place October 30 at Trintiy Lutheran Church,Spring Grove, MN, where she had been baptisedand confirmed.

Surviving are her husband of 66 years, Edward

11

Nelson, Caledonia, MN; a daughter, Nancy,Stillwater, MN; sisters Clara Myhre, Spring Grove,and Olga Trimbell, Bovina Center, NY; a sister-in-law, nephews and niece: Helen Asleson, JeffAsleson and James Asleson, International Fall, MN,and Marion Asleson Martonik, Bloomington.

Melia's father, lars Havig, was born in Havikbakkenand emigrated from Lunder parish near Sokna,Norway, in 1902, although Lars' father had lived onRishovd in Krlldsherad and his mother was fromHaugen in Eggedal. Lars was married in SpringGrove to Maria Karlsbraaten.

The father of Melia's maternal grandmot,heremigrated from Krlldsherad. and the maternalgrandmother was from Enderud/Huliet. One greatgrandmother had roots in Hallingdal.

Following their marriage at Roseau, MN, January 9,1934, Melia and her husband farmed at Badger andStrathcona, before moving to International Falls,MN. During her years there she was active in theSons of Norway, League of Women Voters, andFirst lutheran Church. In retirement they lived firstin Spring Grove and then Caledonia. Besidesmembership in Sigdalslag, she has belonged to theHallinglag and Ringerike-Drammen Districts Lag.

Slgdal Lag honors the IIvell of members and othen with ancelllry fromlag aFeu on thill page, but we Bo/lclt hearing from friends and relativesIn a timely way. Notices may be sent to the genealogist 01 editoF.

We a/so Ttlquest members to 8end ckeT heed/8houideT pJctUTtlS 'vdthlight beckgrounds, If pOllslhlel to the editoT, Please Identify using e pHt-It and an sddTesll/abei on the beck 1I1de. nED.

NEW WITH THIS 2001 ISSUEBeginning in 2001, members will send theapplication for membership and payment ofdues to two vice presidents.

Ruth Manning, Vice President of Finance,Omaha, will receive most of the applicationblanks (left), with the exception of Canada.

Join Sigdal Lag for its 90th year - 2001Date _

FullNamel' ~---------

:$treet ~-~--~-----------_______________ ,ZIP __

E~l'mlJI Phone _

Residents in CANADA may send payment fordues to Garth Ulrich, Vice President ofMembership.

Dues in Canadian Dollars will be at applicablerates for US dollars when written. (DuringJanuary $8US~ $12CD or $20US = $30CD, forexample). Make check payable to, GARTHULRICH, who will write one check to DOn.-·Skadeland, treasurer, to cut down bank fees fo, ".Canadianchecks.

BU$KERU 0 .farTiJ1v::()t~ln iti:!l9P,j\L-·:_!2QGE.DAL _~:JSR0DSHERA 0:A"c •• t~r·s_neme ...... _

:~a"!':n._me _

Circle IS) IE)IK) y~~i'::enUgreted _

DUES fetr:thJ'Hlssu~$_JA~DE.C.:200-1-ttwo adiJltsJO silme.ddress).

USICANADA $8/YR or $20/3 VR in US$$

ELSEWHERE 41 OIYR or 425/3 VR, also in US dollars.

Checks payable to SigdaI Lag: mail to Vice PreslFinance

RUTH MANNING, 4816 Ruggles5t, Omaha, NE 68104

Write Sigdalslag (3 yr I 1 yr) dues on thememo line of the check. Mail by April 1 to Box28, Spalding, SASK SOK 4CO, CANADA

Welcome, New Members2000-2001 Sigdalslag OfficersPresidentEARL 0 KNUTSON, 973-993-1613;eoknutson@Compuserve.com

7 Woods End RoadMorris Plains, NJ 07950

RUTH MANNING, Vice President402·455· 7221:.- rmanning@novia.net

4816 Ruggles StreetOmaha. NE 68104

CAROL MEADE, Yrce Pres/NS1 Rep612-827-6139; 12253O@msn.com

4133 Lyndale Ave SouthMinneapolis, MN 55409

GARTH ULRICH, V Pres 306-664-0062, gu/rich@sk.sympaJico.ca

Box 28, Spalding,Sask SOK 4CO, CANADA

TW/LA HAL VORSON, Secretary218-847-5313

1005 North Shore DriveDetroit Lakes, MN 56501

Willi$ Beaver Bergan,Evergreen, CO

Albert BjornerudFosston, MN

David & Jane ChellLemon Grove, CA

Jeffrey D. JohnsonMinneapolis, MN

Marcia JohnsonApple Valley, MN

Donna & Darrel KulenkampEagan, MN

Jorun Nerdalen3518 Hanefoss, Norway

LeRoy NyhusEdina, MN

Lola Braaten RuffMounds View, MN

Violet WalkGrafton, fA

DON SKADELAND, Treasurer402-331-5906; d/skad@aol,com

10642 "0" StreetOmaha, NE 68127

MARILYN SOMDAHL, Editor952-831-4409; nmsomdahl@juno.com

10129 Goodrich CircleBloomington, MN 55437

LEE ROKKE, Genealogist952-432-9767; leerokke@aol.com

13465 Garden View DriveApple Valley, MN 55124

DEB SHORTINO, Historian402-293-5498; debrose536@aol.com

2804 Jack Pine StreetBellevue, NE 68123

CHANGE OF ADDRESS NOTICESto the editor are the responsibility ofeach member. Keep SAGA's returnaddress in your own address book.Pencil in the 'paid thru' year (onthe label after your name below). Consider a gift subscription for a

favorite relative!

SOMDAHL PUBLISHINGSigdslslsg SAGA10129 Goodrich Cire/eBloor1Jington,-MN 55437