VOL XVII NO 3 OCTOBER 1997Serving Norwegian-Americans of Sigdal - Eggedal & Kredsherad Ancestry

Sigdal Lag Registers 70 At Wahpeton

Sigdal Lag registered 70 persons for the annual stevne and 45 attended the banquet at Wahpeton,NO, July 10, 11, & 12 --close to 1993 at Wahpeton with 73 and 1986 with 77 registered inNorway. It was enjoyable for all but one of our number, our president. (See page 2). Luckily thevice presidents were on hand. Don Skadeland led the Saturday morning program and Addie Williamspresided at the business meeting after a delicious lunch served in our meeting room by NOSeS staff.

Sigdal Saturday Begins with AM ProgramParticipating were several members attendingtheir first stevne who told of their connections toour home districts, Lee Rokke distributed tags5'0 members could pinpoint ancestral farms on alarge map display, Larry and Linda Rolfstadshowed slides of their trip to Sigdal. On her tripthere Twila Halvorson learned Prestfoss wasinterested in a sister city in the US. AmyMichelsen gave a presentation about a teacher,Torsten Thorsen. Rosella Goettelman, AddieWilliams, Jean Shogren and Rosie Olson wereamong the other presentors.

More Coffee Precedes BusinessAnother big pot of el:lffee, courtesy of Rolfstads,arrived to last through the afternoon recess.

~r All incumbent officers were re-elected for one" year terms. Appointments for 1998 by PresidentI Johnson for historian and SA GA editorlNSI'\ representative also remain unchanged. CarolJ Meade will be a lag delegate (May 2, 1998) to

Bygdelagenes Fellesraad's annual meeting.J"- David Rokke and Ted Williams were appointed"auditors. Larry Rolfstad, 1107 Hillcrest Court,\. Chariton, lA, will chair the 1998 nominatingI committee, comprised of Colleen Cameron, Earl

Knutson, Ruth Manning, Carol Meade and~ Marilyn Somdahl."-{', Muriel Hoff, treasurer, reported that Don and

Lynn Skadeland had manned the registrationdesk Thursday and books were selling well.

Requests for supplies for a historical scrapbookand a subcription to Gjal/arhorn were approved.Life memberships in the lag were awarded totwo in Norway and three in the US.

Following discussion, the lag authorized thepresident to send current Sigdal Lag data for a

group application to be filed by NSI. Last yearthe lag submitted newsletters, a book, andother supportive data to accompany theapplication to Dean Sorum, Moorhead, MN,who chairs this NSI committee.

Archive Committe ReportsDeb Shortino reported for the archivescommittee with the recommendations that, inthe event of dissolution, genealogical material bedonated to the Norwegian American HistoricalAssociationnwith the exception of microfilmwhich would revert back to the NorwegianAmerican Genealogical Association by previousagreement. It was further recommended thatartifacts currently held be donated to a museum--here or in Norway. The report was acceptedand the board was authorized to decide thelocationls for a permanent disposition.

Asked to be a program presentor at another lag,Marilyn Somdahl narrated the re-showing of the1982 gift slides of SigdaI, Eggedal andKredsherad following adjournment of business.She spoke earlier about Norwegian industries,passing a catalog for Krederen pewter (wherethe tankard the lag received from the kommunelast year was made).

1998 & 1999 Stevner Planned

Announcement was made of the 1998 stevne tobe held JULY 9,10 & 11,1998 at Wahpeton.

Moreover, in lieu of holding its own separateevent, the 7 Lag has decided to participate inthe Norwegian-American Bygdelag Centennial,1899-1999 to be held at Luther College for allbygdelag JULY 29. 30 & 31, 1999. All sevengroups will have an opportunity for businessmeetings at this event in Decorah, IA.,I /I /J 1Jt7

How wonderful to hear the positive reports ofthe Sigdal program and business meeting heldSaturday at the 7 Lag Stevne! The negative partfor me was that I couldn't be there with all ofyou. I've learned 70 attended for our lag, so weranked second only to 90 from Toten.

Many thanks to our two vice presidents, DonSkadeland and Addie Williams, who took on theleadership in my absence. My appreciation goesto all of you who spoke, brought lag items,assisted with genealogy, or contributed to plansor discussions. TUSEN TAKK!

Members at a distance may not know whathappened during the opening ceremony of theFriday afternoon program. While descendingfrom the stage, I missed the bottom step andlanded on my right shoulder. The humerus bonein the upper arm fractured and the rotator cuffwas injured. After getting medical attention, Iwas bed-ridden in pain for the rest of the stevneand relieved to get home Sunday to recuperate.As of this month, I've completed two months ofphysical therapy to repair and strengthen therotationlmovement of the shoulder. Thankfully,since the fourth week, I've been able to driveand now have full movement of my shoulder, inmost cases withoute-.--pain.

It's still very exciting tothink about the numberof Sigdal members whocame to Wahpeton forlag activities andgenealogical research.It was a privilege tomeet many of you inthe genealogy sessionsThursday and Friday.

Our group has muchtalent, so I wouldencourage you tocontinue yourinvolvement: submitarticles for the SA GA,serve on committees,volunteer to be on theSaturday program, or tojust keep in touch byphone, e-mail, or letter.

Hilsen, slCorrinflLflstflbflrg Johnson

NSI Board Meets September 20To Evaluate 7 Lag Stevne

Representatives from the seven lag met atCalvary Lutheran ehurch, Alexandria, MN, from9 am until noon to evaluate the stevne heldJuly 10-12 at Wahpeton, NO. Attendance atthe stevne was 370 and an overwhelming 72%took part in genealogy.

In lieu of a single genealogy coordinator for1998, a committee will be responsible forsharing these duties. Les Rogne and MarilynSorensen will be two of the three to fivemembers of this coordinating committee.Officers elected were Norma Gilbertson,chairperson; Marilyn Somdahl, vice chairperson;Janet Frye, secretary; and AI Stevens,treasurer.

A budget and preliminary plans were made forJuly 9-11 stevne at Wahpeton next year.

A BAZAAR AND LUTEFISK DINNERSET FOR MINDEKIRKE IN NOVEMBER

Two events are announced by DEN NORSKELUTHERSKE MINDEKIRKE, East Franklin at 10thAvenue South, Minnneapolis, MN.

__ j1.S,CANDlfJIAJIJANJ8EA5.UBE. CIfEST .SALE.. •Novflmbflr 1, 1997 from 10 AM - 3 PM

Hardanger Embroidery Lefse Demo & SalesHand-knit items Norwegian ChocolateImport Food & Gifts Homebaked Cakes

with RAFFLEAND SILENTAUCTIONOpen-faced sandwiches Bletkake

LUNCHAVAILABLE AT 11:00 AM

LUTEFISK DINNERSATURDAY, NOVEMBER15, 1997

4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Continuous serving.TICKETS - $11.00 each

Lutefisk, boiled potatoes, cole slaw, lefseCoffee and dessert. Served family style.East Franklin & 10th Ave S, Minneapolis

Information: 612-874-0716or FAX 612-874-1971For ticket reservations: send check payable toMindekirken and a self-addressedstamped envelope

by Monday, NOV 10.MAIL to: NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH,

PO BOX 7320, Minneapolis, MN 55407

PLEASE CHECK YOUR LABELto see that 1998 to 2000 follows

your name. IS IT TIME TO SEND $ $?

2

Genealogy News & Viewsby LeeRokke

OUR eOLLECTIVE THANKS goes to thepeople, named below, who have rememberedSigdalslag with a variety of gifts since May:

Gunhild Lundquist, Rose Prairie, BC, sent aribbon souvenir of the S.S. Bergensfjord.Gunhild and her brother Ole emigrated fromSigdal in 1929 with their parents, HalvorOlsen Gronseth and Mari Tronsdtr Asland.They boarded the Bergensfjord, departingfrom Oslo May 31, 1929, for a destination ineanada. It is a great souvenir. Many Sigdalpeople sailed on the same ship so the laghistorian will receive it for safekeeping.

Debbie Shortino, Bellevue, NE, and HenryBerg, Palm Springs, eA, got together to buyand donate to the lag a copy of Sevre-Slektog andre greiner fra nedre Hallingdal bySigmund Sevre. Published in Oslo in 1991,the book traces the descendants of EllefKnudsen Sefre and Astri 0stensdtr Heie.Don't be put off by the title. Even thoughthe family is in Hallingdal, many, many Sigdalfamilies tie into the lines that Sigmund traces.Some obvious ones are Rugland, Skaala,Asen, Hovland, Rustand, and those with tiesto Gulsvik, Kolsrud, Vi and, of course, Sevre.This book is unusual because it is written inboth Norwegian and English. The author hasincluded an English translation of eachNorwegian language story. It is 350 pagesplus a section of pictures. It is indexed byhead of household and it is a valuableaddition to our lag library.

Doris Galstad, Sioux Falls, SO, sent a $5 giftwhich has been added to the postage fund.

Chet Habberstad, Numedal Lag president,Underwood, MN, prevailed at auction with thehigh bid on a box of Sigdal and Numedalbooks. Besides one to a member, hepresented the Sigdalslag with a copy of theoriginal Norwegian publication, Sigdal ogEggedal, by Thormod Skatvedt. In addition hedonated several 'yearbooks' published bySigdalslag: two copies from 1914, one 1920,one 1932, one 1941 and two 1949.

Hek10aFamily Info SoughtAn ad in the latest edition of Sakeren, afamily newsletter published by Earl Knutsonand Colleen Cameron, seeks informationabout the Hektoa family: Evelyn Narvesen,daughter of Andrew and Una Nareveson, wasborn in Minnesota around 1908 and was inMarshall County in 1920. She married aBergman and had son named Kenneth. What

was her husband's first name? Where isKenneth? Any other children?

Wendy Bergerud, Victoria, BC, sent aphotocopy of From Norway to America withthe Bergeruds, originally published in 1966.We have had just pieces of this in the past,and we were happy to receive a full copy.

Sigdalslag Surveys ReceivedFrom Members & Prospective Members

* Lillian Borseth, Decorah, lA, on the familyof Olaug Pedersdtr Tveiten;* Olav Myhre, Alberta, Canada, on the familyof Olaf Larsen Myhre;* Mary Lindbo, earson eity, NV, on thefamily of Helge Eriksen Undbo;* Belva Presler, Pearland, TX, on the familyof Lorine Nilsdtr Aby Johnson;* Delphin Johnson, Superior, WI, on thefamily of Elling (Ellef) Jonsen 0rgenvika.Since Delphin volunteered to help anyonewith roots in Orgenvika, I would be happy toforward any requests.* Colleen Rustad, Nevis, MN, on the family ofGunhild Olsdtr Hiasflaget;* Leland ~ckson, Windom, MN, on thefamilies of Ase Pedersdtr Enger Erikson, andMari Pedersdtr Enger Foss;* Glenice Hanneman, Sparks, NV, on thefamily of Engebret Engebretsen Sund andGunhild Pedersdtr Bye;* Wendy Be~gerud, Victoria, Be, on thefamily of Kristoffer H. Bergerud;* Gunhild Lundquist, Rose Prairie, BC, on thefamily of Halvor Olsen Gronseth.

TRIP TO AUGUST FESTIVALYIELDS PROSPECTS FOR 32 LAG

BygdelagenesFellesraadwas invited to the 5thScandinavian Festival at the Exhibition Hall ofthe Dane County Coliseum, Madison, WI,August 16, 1997. Two lag also had booths,and festival hours were from lOam to 6 pm.

Marilyn and Narv Somdahl manned the booth,assisting about 125 people interested in one ormore of the 32 bygdelag groups which arecurrently active. Besides the Fellesraad'sbrochure, they also handed out lag brochuresfor about 12 individual lag. Four householdswill receive this issue of the Saga and aninvitation to join the lag.

Festival features included ethnic foods, crafts,history, and even Norwegian fjord horses.

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70 REGISTER WITH SIGDAL

·June &. Donald Barrett. COLorain Bergan, MNHenry A. Berg, CA·Colleen Cameron, TXLes &. Dorothy Dale, MN·Elsie &. lyle Elverud. MNClarence J 8r. Vivian Erbes, MNEvelyn Evenson. MNRosella Goenelman. IA·Adeline Halvorson. WATwila &. Arvin Halverson. MNEunice Helgeson. MNMuriel Hoff, MNClaryce &. Darwin Johnson. NOConine L Johnson. MNKen Jones. MNIt Atle &. Britt Kalaster. NorgeIt Earl Knutson,NJIrene Larson, MNPaulO Larson. IA·Tracy LindbergIt Betteann Marne!. MN·Ruth H &. Dan Manning, NEPhylHs Merquerdt, MNMarion Matson, MNCarole J Meade. MNAlice &. Fred Mensing, MNIt Amy Mickelsen. MN·Marilyn & Cliff Moen, MNIt Geraldine Mohn. NOIrene &. Harry Navarre, NMGladys Neels, NO·Cora Nordstrom, MNMary Nystrom, MNIvonna &. Marlan Olson. NORosalie Olson, CADeb Reed, MNLee &. David Rokke. MNLarry & Linda Rolfstad, IAColleen Rustad. MNShirley &. RN Sampson, MNJean Shogren. CADebbie Shortino. NEDon &. Lynn Skadeland. NEMarilyn Somdahl, MNRussell &. Gladys SURd. MN·Francis Turmo, NY·Godfrey E &. Anne Void, ONT.Gene G Watnaas. MNAddie & Tad WiUiams, MN

*attended for 1st time(Members registering withother lag are not in this list)

Gifts & MemorialsSince May for the PubN.hlng Fund

$03.00 from Jack Johnson$20.00 from Irene Navarre in

memory of Earl Will

For stevne refreshments$20.00 - Larry & Linda Rolfstad

From Sigdalln Norway to Canada(Saga shares Lee Rokke's letter, requested when a completed"Sigdalslag Survey" revealed Gunhild as our second memberactually born in "our" places in Norwayl See Medalen's letter (May1995 Sagal. Le1us hear of othersl Pictures are welcome. - Edl

Box 9, RosePrairie, B.C.VOC 2HOAugust 30,1997

Dear lagmembers:

I wasborn inS i g d a I ,Norway, inJanurary1926. In1929 myparents Mariand Halvor Gunhild LundquistGronseth leftNorway and came to Canada. My brother Ole was five and Iwas three, so I don't have any recollection of the trip aboardBergensfjord or the train trip to Nokomis, Saskatchewan.

We stayed in Nokomis during the summer and dad workedas a farm laborer, but in the fall we traveled on to the PeaceRiver country in British Columbia--where dad's brother Torgerhad filed on some land and built a house. We stayed with himuntil dad got some land and a house built. It was in theMontney district I grew up and went tp school.

In December 1949 after World War II, Dad, Mom and mybrother (and I) returned to Norway to visit relatives. Wetraveled by train to New York and then aboard Stavangerfiordto Norway. On our return trip to Canada in March it wasaboard Oslofjord, which at that time had only been in servicefor four months.

In June 1950 I married Herman Lundquist, a returnedsoldier, and we farmed at Rose Prairie, British Columbia, until hepassed away in 1992. We had one son who took over thefarm. I still reside in my own home and my son and family liveclose by.

This last summer I took a trip to Sigdal, Norway, and visitedall my cousins--14 of them. All my aunts and uncles havepassed away. Mother passed away in 1967 and Dad (who wasalso a SigdaIslag member) in 1996. The snapshot of me wastaken at the Fram Museum in Oslo aboard Roald Amundsen'spolar exploration vessel.

The Jens Odegaard family you inquired about also stoppedat Nokomis for a short time. They bought land at Brancepath,Saskatchewan, and lived there until 1934 when they returnedto Sigdal. Hope this information is of some help.

Sincerely, slGunhild Lundquist

4

Order Now or Miss out:ENGLISH LANGUAGE LAG BOOKS FOR 1914 & 1920 AVAILABLE

Sigdalslaget books, six of them, written in Norwegian, were published with biographies, poems, ascattering of pictures, and historical accounts. This summer the first two "yearbooks" for 1914 and1920, were published as Volume I of the current series in English, completing the publishing of fiveEnglish language books. Last year the next three books for the years 1929, 1932 and 1941 were

~ublished as Volume II. That Volume II has sold out and is available for use at research centers andcollege libraries.

Sigdal Lag and Rosella Goettelman, the principal translator, have undertaken this project with a desireto have coming generations understand the lives and times of people--our relatives--who left Sigdal,Eggedal, and Krlildsherad. Some stayed in North America. Others were restless to return to Norway.But, oh, the adventures between the pages of these books! (See the story of Ole O. Green)

With some assistance from an editorial committee, Lee Rokke has had all the word processing,indexing, and in this earliest volume, also included those pictures which reproduced fairly well. Thisrepresents untold hours as well. Volume I is also hardbound and has 231 pages.

Inventory is dwindling rapidly on the two earliest books just released this summer. If you want acopy for yourself, for a gift for another person or for a donation to a library where your descendants canfind it, NOW IS THE TIME TO ORDER VOLUME I in English translation!

The generosity of members has also insured that several resaarch centers receive this book whichrepresents so many hours of volunteer work. Most of these also have the second volume published in1996. Several books went to Norway by member-couriers.

Locations where the earliest books, publishedthis July, have already been placed are listedbelow. A donor's name precedes the library, ifapplicable.

Chester Fritz, UnivlNorth Dakota, Grand ForksUniversity of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

Gift of Walter S. Rugland toAugsburg College Library, Minneapolis, MNAugustana College Library, Sioux Falls, SDConcordia College Library, Moorhead, MNLuther College Library, Decorah, IASt. Olaf College Library, Northfield, MN

Gift of Rosella Goettelman to. Vesterheim Museum, Decorah, IA

Gift of June Green toVesterheim Genealogy Center& Naeseth Library, Madison, WI

Gift of Muriel Hoff toThe Norwegian Emigrant Museum,(N. Utvandremuseum), 2312 Ottestad, Norway

Gift of Don & Lynn SkadelandSigdal-Eggedal Museum, Prestfoss, Norway

Gift of Corrine Lesteberg JohnsonVilla Fridheim, Noresund, Norway

Delivery is pending toRiksarkivet, Kongsberg, Norwayand the library of your choice

The board recommends the following places wheremembers or friends may donate this book as a gift:Universities of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa;Pacific Lutheran University, Harvard University,NO, MN. WI. or IA Historical or GenealogicalSocieties; or local or county historical andgenealogical societies of your choice.(Shipping to Canada and Norway at higher rates)

Make checks payable to Sigdal Lag and send withthe form below to Muriel Hoff, Treasurer, 3512White Bear Avenue. White Bear Lake. Minnesota55110 (Write Books on the memo line, please,and send addresses for countv libraries)

5

SCENES FROM THE STEVNEMany of the lag members andguests who attended the 1997Sigdal Lag Stevne enjoyedsearching for relatives during thegenealogy sessions. AddieWilliams donated an album ofpictures that had belonged to hermother, Irene Holzinger, who hadmade several trips to Norway.At left viewing them (L-R) duringthe Saturday lag session wereRosella Ansten Goettelman lIA),Addie's cousin, Earl Knutson (NJl,and sisters, Jean NegaardShogrenand Rosalie Negaard Olson, SanDiego, CA. Barretts (CO) and PaulLarsonstand behind them.

One of the guests from Norwaymaking a repeat visit to the 7Lag Stevne was Buskerud fylke'scultural officer, Aase Klundelienof Hokksund. She led twoNorwegian language sessionsFriday morning. She spoke,brought greetings, and with

Laurel Dikken at the piano, she led the singing of several folksongs at the evening program. Aasealso had gifts for the three lag presidents representing Buskerud in America. Sigdal and Ringerike-Drammen District lag presidents, Corrine L. Johnson and Elva Steffenson, received scarves with thecounty-state logo while Numedal's president, Chet Habberstad, was presented a book. (Carol Meadeaccepted for Sigdal; see page 2.) Aase and her sister Trine, who accompanied her on this visit, notonly wore bunader, but also showed a bitof the pretty understakk underneath at thebunad parade Saturday evening.

Other highlights of the stevne might includethe Norwegian musical group, Jutullaget,which performed Friday evening and also

played for the dance at the Student Center. Coming fromVagamo in Gudbrandsdal, they had won a contest andprize in Norway. The players pictured above are (L-R):Inge Gjevre, Stig Ove Kveen, 0yvind Grindstuen, Svein OveBrunand Jon Amund Karusbakken. .

In the genealogy room Rosella Goettelman lIeft) takes abreak from translations with her relative, Godfrey Void.Edmonton,Alberta, who is attending for the first time.

6

...

, !fII"1

So)

Foss Supplies Photos For Krylling JournalistA March 28, 1991, letter

to the editor surfacedrecently from member OleFoss, Elbow Lake, MN. He'denclosed a copy of aDecember 24, 1990, articlewritten for DrammensTidende/Buskeruds Blad byjournalist Nils Drolsum aboutDrolsum's uncle, Ole O.Greene. Drolsum hadinterviewed Foss during thefive-day Sigdalslag stevne inNorway in 1986, taking thelate June picture thatshowed Foss entering hisgreat-grandmother's home atNedre Bergan. It ran on thefront page of the paper.When he heard Foss wasfrom Elbow Lake and hadknown Greene, Drolsum waseager for pictures of the masonry of his uncle Ole O. Greene's barn. It is close to Rock Prairie Churchwhere Foss was baptized and confirmed.

After Hazel and Ole Foss returned from their trip, they sent Drolsum sent a dozen pictures--mostly ofthe barn Greene built with rock and mortar walls on his Stony Brook farm. In his letter Foss wrote, "I canstill see us darting around the hills and curves in that little foreign car with the DrammensTidende/Buskeruds Blad logo written on its sides" with Drolsum at the wheel. Foss continues, "OleGreene went back to Norway for a visit right after World War II. He came back. sold his farm. and wentback'to Norway to stay. I furnished Nils information from this sida. He took up the rest from Vikersund.I'm sure readers who knew Ole will enjoy it."

Drolsum's article used the 1932 Norwegian lag biography (pp 26-28)and picture along with two of about a dozen farm pictures, all sent byore and Hazel Foss. The autobiography on the next page is re-printedfrom Volume II of Sigdalslaget - 1929 - 1932 - 1941 translated byRosella Goettelman, 1996.

It is timely again to re-tell the immigrant stories that the lagyearbooks contain. Remember. this one begins in America in 1897.

The courage and optimism. the hard work and set backs, and thedesire to succeed are played out against the considerable wit and skillsthese Norwegian immigrants brought to a new, wild land. Greene wastrained in Norway as a shoemaker, who supported himself as a masonand tried his luck in the goldfields of Alaska or the Yukon in the biggestand last gold rush in North America 100 years ago.

The Gold Rush of 1897·1898

Like Greene, at least 100,000 people sought fortunes and adventure in the Yukon and along theriver of the same name which runs a course of 1,800 miles. Many young men, ill suited for thelong journey. harsh winters, and high prices for goods and services. just didn't make it.

News of the rich strike made August 17, 1896, does not reach the outside world until June1897 when the 'steamship Portland arrives in Seattle, WA, with a load of gold.

Greene traveled by river from its mouth on the Bering Sea to Rampart City (above Fairbanks).He doesn't mention Dawson City, where the Yukon and Klondike Rivers meet. Mining probablywas set up along many parts of the river since its tributaries and creekbeds carried goldbearinggravels. By 1899 miners were rushing to the garnet-gravel beaches at Nome.

7

OLE O. GREENE'S 1932 AUTOBIOGRAHPYI was born in Elvebraaten, Greenseie,Kmdsherad, August 8, 1872. My parents were Ole O. Borgund

and Margit Eriksdatter Pladsen. I was confirmed October 16, 1887, in Olberg Church by PastorMagelsen. That fall I started learning shoemaking with my oldest brother, Ole Slevigmoen. Later I waswith Kolbjlilrn Bjertnes. After four years I worked for myself as a shoemaker until I went to America inthe spring of 1897. We left Oslo June 5 and arrived June 23 at Evansville, Douglas County, Minnesota.I went to my father's brother, who was also called Ole, "Little Ole." My father was called "Big Ole."

I worked on farms and in between I did masonry work, until the lipring of 1898 when the Alaska goldfever was at its worst. There was no limit to the fabulous riches one could find in a little while, so I

decided to go there.

There were 11 of us in thegroup when we left Elbow Lakebytrain May 12 for Portland, Oregon.We took a steamship to SanFrancisco, California. We boughtprovisions and went aboard asteamship which took us to St.Michaels. We continued 1,000miles up the Yukon River to

'j Rampart City, where we landedAugust 11. Now we were in themiddle of the land where "the goldlies by your feet; you have only tobend over and pick it up." Wesoon found out it wasn't thateasy. It took your back and armto dig it out of the ground. Thetransport companiescertainly werethe ones who got the gold theeasiest. Everything they had to

Its real worth was $20, so they earned $24

What I experienced in those three years I will not relate here. In the spring of 1901, with three otherpeople, I bought a boat 20 feet long and 6.5 feet wide. It was steel with an airtight chamber at bothends so it wouldn't sink if it turned over in bad weather. As a rule they left Yukon about May 25, butthis was a late spring, so we didn't leave until June 2. The ice took its time that spring, so we oftenstopped to let it become soft. We stayed at the mouth of the Yukon for 10 days before we could setout to St. Michaels. We lay there July 4 becausethere was ice in the way. The next day we got a windwhich pushed the ice out of the harbor.

In the evening we started our 105 mile sail over Norton Sound to Nome, but at night we had a stormwhich lasted the whole next day. If it hadn't been for the two boys. Charles Linstmm and HugoNystrlilm, both seamen, we would certainly have had a wet grave. Jack Henny and I were land lubbers.Jack became seasick and was completely helpless.

In Nome we had to wait a week for the first boat. Here I said goodbye to the Swedish boys afterthey accompanied me on board. It would be fun to meet those two again some time. Many times I havelonged to be back in those mountains and valleys where I toiled and searched for gold. I came to Seattlein the first part of August and went to Evansville, Minnesota.

I bought a farm in 1904, but I worked mostly as a mason. I was in Benson and Wells County, NorthDakota, for a few summers. In 1911 I started a test on my farm. I wanted to see if I could growseveral varieties of wild oats (a weed!) where only one has grown before. It seems that I have had luckwith it. I am not married and am happy with that also. My farm is by Rock Prairie Church in StonyBrook, Grant County, 12 miles northwest of Elbow Lake.

(Rosella Goettelman translation)

8

U of Oslo Library's "Norway In America" Bibliography Goes On-lineShortly after SAGA went to press in May, a news release came to Corrine L. Johnson for our newsletter fromFaith Ann Sevila, the University of Oslo librarian who oversees the Norwegian-American Collection there.

Wednesday, March 12, 1997, was an important day for all those interested in Norwegians in America. TheUniversity Library in Oslo held a reception with kransekake and champagne to celebrate the completionof the on-line bibliography, Norway in America.

The completed bibliography contains nearly 55,000 references to books, brochures, newspaper and periodicalarticles published between 1825 and 1930 by or about Norwegian Americans together with biographicalinformation n most of the authors. No other ethnic group in the United States or Canada has such a uniqueresource. It is now available for use on the Internet!

Norway in America was originally prepared by librarian Thor M. Andersen (1897-1979), son of CaptainMagnus Andersen, who sailed the Viking to the (Chicago) world exhibition in 1893. Thor M. Andersen wasin the US in 1926 and visited colleges, universities, and people with private collectionsnsuch as Ole Rolvaag.He came home to Norway with 25,000 handwrittenreferences on index cards, scraps of paper andbacks of envelopes. The work continued for therest of ~ndersen' s life and he estimated that hehad found 60% of the total material that had onceexisted.

After Andersen's death, the 29 drawers of cardswere transferred to the Norwegian-Americancollection at the University Library in Oslo. After16 years of fund-raising and work, Norway inAmerica has now been made available world wideby the library in cooperation with the Institute forBritish and American Studies at the University ofOslo.

For genealogists, church-, local-, and bygdelaghistorians, the bibliography is a gold mine. Userscan now locate articles in bygdelag newslettersand Sons of Norway's publications. You can findobituaries in Norwegian-American newspapers suchas Decorah Posten, Skandinaven, letters to theeditor in church magazines such as Budbaeren orLutheraneren. Both Norwegian and Englishlanguage documents are included. The URLaddress is

http://www.nbo.uio.no/baser/tma/.html

Introductions and instructions appear in bothEnglish and Norwegian. You can search by author,title, personal name, place name of any word in thebiographical or bibliographical entry. You may alsocombine search terms.

Interest in Norwegian-America via the biblographyhas exploded. After radio interviews and an articlein Oslo's major paper, Aftenposten, use of thebibliography has increased from 1,062 calls on theInternet in February to 6,449 calls in April. Andwork has just begun to make Norway in Americaknown.

The library is now beginning a new fundraisingcampaign to continue work to include documentson Norwegian-America published from 1930 to thepresent in a similar bibliography. You will behearing from us again. - F.A.S.

Best Places to Live in Buskerud;Plus Rank vs. All 435 KommunerThe big examination of kommuner in 1997 showshow Krod.sherad and Sigdal placed among the 21municipalities in Buskerud fylke (county/state). Oila countrywide basis the ranking of all 435municipalities is given in parentheses.

According to Eiker Bladet (September 1997 issue),the examination is carried out in economic andquality-of-life terms. A summation of communityfees and licenses, prices of child care,unemployment, unoccupied building sites, price ofelectricity and how source data can be screened,sorted and verifiednall play a part in determiningth'e desirablility to live in a given community.

How Buskerud's communities compared with eachother is given first; then their rank in all of Norwayfollows the city.

1. AI (5)2. Nore og Uvdal (19)3. Fla (55)4. Kr"dsherad (67)5. Hoi (82)6. Nedre Eiker (133)7. Hemsedal (147)8. Lier (163)9. Nes (173)10. Gol (177)11. Sigdal (192)12. Flesburg (233)13. Modum (250114. 0vre Eiker (294)15. Rollag (301)16. Drammen (307)17. Hurum (345)18. Kongsberg (375)19. R0yken (387)20. Hole (412)21. Ringerike (4291

9

NEWSBITSLife memberships were awarded to threeAmericans and two Norwegians at the stevne.

Congratulations to lee Rokke, Marilyn Somdahl,Rosella Goettelman, (abovel and to HavardSt"vern, Prestfoss, and Svein Knut Granum,Noresund, Norway. The editorlpublishersacross the ocean help lag members stay intouch with their roots in many ways, and havebeen kind to many Americans. Vi vii gjerne habilder og et vita til juJ! More in coming issues.

Gudrun Bjorka, Noresund, wrote to thank forhelp in locating American relatives prior to hersummer trip here. Thanks are hereby passedon to BILL BEKKESTAD whose Fergus Fallsobituaries were forwarded along with HENRYBERG's pages of genealogy. Is it possible tohave Bj0rka members again?

LORAIN BERGAN's relative, Harald Gr0nhovd,Vikersund, Norway, visited the US in lateSeptember for orienteering, a sport well knownto Nordmenn. While in St. Paul, he called theeditor with greetings from Havard St0vern, thedirector of Sigdal-Eggedal Museum at Prestfoss.

RALPH JORGENSEN sent greetings to all. Hecould have invited us to a party in B.C. He'dlaid in a supply of smoked salmon forWahpeton, but it seems someone with theauthority to prescribe hinted he wanted to keepan eye on himnat home. So the gallivantingwas curtailed. Missed you! Hope all is well bynow so you can take in many activities at theScandinavian Center (shared by all the Nordicnationalities) in Burnaby, B.C. Midsummerevents were impressive in the programenclosed.

Hello, new members! Do we have your

spouse's name? Two persons (same address,same household) may share one Sigdalslagmembership. Gift subscriptions are a superintroduction to other family members. Duesexpire December 31, so members are urged torenew today. It saves a post card. Takk!

One of the real joys is seeing members whohave not attended the last stevne or more. Wehave a wonderful mix now of longtime- andjust-on-board members. Probably 6th cousinsor closer? Be thankful and keep themomentum.

North Dakotans ARLAND & THELMA PAULSONdefied the heat the last full weekend of July atDecorah's Nordic Fest. Even though Thelmacan't keep her eyes open when the cameraflashes, she has written a book about her lifeexperiences creating those charming "little folk"for which open adoption seems feasible. Wehear the weather is usually better at 7 Lag inWahpeton.

JEAN SHOGREN and ROSALIE OLSON foundtees of the right "stoff" in Norway, coming toWahpeton en route home to California. Theshirts displayed a heart-shaped Norsk flag. _

SeveraLmembers attended the op.era, Captive &Free, in Minneapolis September 19 (and atWillmar, MN, the previous Sundayl. EgilHovland, the composer, came from Norway tohear the first-ever performance in English,translated by Gracia Grindal. Based on the lifeand work of Hans Nielsen Hauge, the operaplayed to a sold out crowd. In the audiencewere such notables as OLGA BERGLUND,TWILA & ARVID HALVORSON and DAVID &LEE ROKKE land perhaps others who arrivedearlier). The Masterworks Orchestra andChorale of Augsburg alums were reinforcedwith national talent in key roles.

Immigrants were familiar with Hauge as aNorwegian lay preacher who stressed both thework ethic and personal responsibility as aChristian. He spent years in prison for hisconvictions rather than back down or seek thepolitically correct solution.

The laws of inertia still hold. MURIEL HOFFkept moving while her beloved Germanshepherd did a very un-LADY-like, abrupt stopat the front steps. Luckily the cast is on theleft wrist. She can still sign checks, but shethinks other officers should be extra careful.

10

IN MEMORYROY KERMIT KNUTSON (July 20, 1908-Sept17, 1997) was born near Pennock, MN, toMartha (Knutson) and Albert Knutson, both ofwhom emigrated from Sigdal and supported thelag most of their lives. He died at Long LakeHealth Care Center. Funeral services and burialwere September 22 at Calvary LutheranChurch, Willmar, MN.

He is survived by his wife, Miranda, Long Lake,MN; daughter Delores and husband JackGause, Plymouth, MN; three grandchildren andtheir spouses, Lauri (Bruce) Ordway, KarleenGause, Todd IDonna) Gause, and greatgranddaughter Athena Gause. Four sisters alsosurviving him are A!ice (Fred) Mensing, ElenoreIArvid) Paaverud, Minneapolis; Florence Reeseand Valborg Strand, Willmar; many nieces,including Colleen Cameron, Kay Mensing, andAddie Williams; nephews, including EarlKnutson, and other relatives. Roy waspreceded in death by his parents, two brothers,and one sister.

Roy grew up and was educated in KandiyohiCounty, MN. He married Miranda GafkjenOctober 15, 1929, in North Dakota and theyshared 68 years together. Until March thisyear when they moved to Long Lake, Roy hadlived in or around Willmar. He played baseballas hard as he worked as a farmer, truckdriver,and co-owner of C&K Construction.

ROBERT O. EVANS, age 69, New Hope, MN,died July 25, 1997. Services were held July29 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 3900Winnetka Avenue North, New Hope.

Evans, a Lutheran pastor and former lagmember, served the Southeastern MN Districtstaff, Plymouth Youth Center, Prince of Glory,and lion Lutheran Churches, all in Minneapolis.

He is survived by his wife Alice, children andtheir spouses: John (Joan) Evans, Minneapolis,Kristen (Randy) Olson, Elk River, Kari (Mark)Conroy, St.' Louis Park, MN; grandchildrenKristian and Anna Evans, Aren and MarionOlson, and Karl and Anders Conroy. His sisterDorothy Dewyze, also a lag member, Palatine,IL, also survives.

Memorials were requested to Augsburg CollegeMinority Scholarship Fund, Inter City YouthProgram, Wilderness Canoe Base or PlymouthYouth Center. '

IEvans and Kleven obituaries appeared in theSunday editions of the Minneapolis StarTribune, July 27 and June 22 respectively)

lORENTZ ASBJORN SOLUM 10ct 19, 1912-Sept 30, 1997) was born in San Diego, CA, toJohn and Helen (Lindelie) Solum. He wasbaptised there, but moved with his parents toWisconsin as a four year old. He has been amember since then of lion Lutheran Church,Woodville, WI, where his funeral service washeld October 4. The church bell tolledfollowing the prelude and included a Norwegiansermon title, "Takk for Alt'", and the Lord'sPrayer in Norwegian. Relatives ElaineAlbrightson was a soloist and Tim Navis playedthe bagpipe for the departing hymn.

Burial was at Sunset Memorial Cemetery inWoodville. His parents, sister Alvina Sjodahl,and brother Sigurd preceded him in death.

Survivors include a sister, Julia Solum, St Paul,MN; two nieces, Karin and husband Lon Navis,Houlton, WI, and Rita and husband JoeHockban, St Paul; as well as other relativesand friends.

Having grown up in Woodville, Lorentz wasconfirmed there, graduated from its high schoolin 1931, and farmed all his life in Eau GalleTownship on the Solum farm near town.

His interest in history and political sciencemade him an avid reader. In the communityLorentz was a charter member of the WoodvilleLions Club, served on the school boards forWoodville and for St. Croix County, and waselected a county supervisor. He was amember of lion Church Council many years,and, along with his brother and sister Julie, hewas a longtime member of Sigdalslag.

CAROL BJORNRUD KLEVEN, age 71,Robbinsdale, MN, was a former member ofSigdal Lag. Services were held June 24, 1997at Elim Lutheran Church, 40th and WestBroadway, Robbinsdale. Burial was at GlenHaven.

Preceded in death by her husband, S. LutherKleven, Carol was survived by two daughters,a son and their spouses: Janet and SiegfriedKujat, Kristi and Richard Patterson, Dean andLinda Kleven; grandchildren Kami, Kyle, Kaare,Karisa, Kristofor and Kent. Siblings survivingher are a brother, Orlund Bjornrud and his wife,Alberta, Canada, a sister, Beverly Swanson, anuncle, Elmer Burns and wife Hedy along withnieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Memorials went to the S. Luther Kleven familyscholarship at Augsburg College, Minneapolis.

11

1997-1998 OfficersCORRINE L. JOHNSON, President612-831-8637

4575 - 80th St Circle #202Bloomington, MN 55437

DON SKADELAND, 1,t VP4()2-331-5906

10642 "0" StreetOmaha, NE 68127

ADDIE WIlLIAMS, 2nd VP612·429-3808

2565 lAke AvenueWhite Beo, lAke, MN 55110

LEE ROKKE, VP/Geneologist612-432-9767; leerokke@aol.com

13465 Garden View DriveApple Valley, MN 55124

HENRY A. BERG, Secretary760-327-4648 .

993 E. Paroceta Pl. #1Palm Spring" CA 92264

MURIEL HOFF, Treasurer612-777-7395

3512 White Bear AvenueWhite Bear lAke. MN 55110

DEB SHORT/NO, Hi'torian4()2-293-5498 '

2804 Jack Pine St.Bellevue, NE 68123

MARILYN SOMDAiIL, EditarlNS1 Rep612-831-4409

10129 Goodrich CircleBloomington, MN 55437

Welcome, New MembersSince May 1997

Wendy Bergetud, Victoria, BC, Canada

Einar & luella Bjorndalen,Regina. SK, Canada

Colleen Cameron, Dallas, TX

Adeline Halvorson & Roselyn MeyerSeattle, WA

Glenice Hanneman, Sparks. NV

Delphin & lois Johnson, Superior, WI

Darlene Reed, Roseau, MN

Ruth & Arnold Roosa, w. Chicago, IL

Godfrey & Anne Void,Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

It's time to mark your calendars~t9==-=--

ATTEND THE 7 LAG STEVNENorth Dakota State College of Science, WAHPETON, ND

JULY 9 - 11. 1998

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