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Inside this issue:
October, 2011
Volume 31, Issue 3
Serving Norwegian-Americans of Sigdal, Eggedal & Krødsherad ancestry
Sigdalslag Saga
Since 1911
Stevne and CentennialCelebration
1
Sigdal Diplomats 5
Wooden Chest 7
Sju Lag Stevne and Sigdalslag Centennial 2011
“Strength in Unity” proved to be an apropos theme forThe Sju Lag Stevne and Sigdal Centennial which playedout July 14-17, 2011 at the Doublewood Inn in Fargo.This year’s attendance was the best ever for Sigdalslagwith 134 registrations, due in large part to our CentennialCelebration. The appearance of two tour groups fromNorway, numbering 137, sweetened the pot and made theevents even more extra special!
The Stevne
Total registration for the seven Lags was the largest inmany years. Other than an unfortunate problem with theair-conditioning system the night of the banquet whenmany attendees were wearing heavy woolen bunads, theentire event was deemed a success.
Registration and activities began Thursday night with aGenealogy Open House, a First-Time Attendee class, apresentation by Dr. John Haugo entitled “Norman Bor-laug, Nobel Laureate Agricultural Scientist,” opening ofthe Hospitality Room which provided a resting place andrefreshments throughout the Stevne, and the unveiling ofa history/memorabilia room by Sigdalslag for displayingartifacts accumulated during its 100 years of existence.
The history room proved to be a popular “meet and greet”spot during the Stevne and many thanks are due to those whokept the room open, especially Ed and Char Espe, who spenta lot of time helping with setup and take-down and keepingelectronics running. Others who provided assistance includedDon and Lynn Skadeland, Scott Brunner, Irene Navarre,Shirley Augustine, Corinne Lesteberg and Gary and MattieEnger. Marilyn Moen provided family history charts for theAnders B. Pedersen, our Founder, which we now have in ourarchives. (Apologies to those I have omitted due to my fail-ing memory!)
A power point presentation of notable Sigdalslag events andpeople ran continuously on the wide screen TV in the historyroom. On display were many of the gifts and artifacts col-lected by Sigdalslag over the years and all of the historybooks and materials kept by the Historian.
The first evening of the Stevne ended with a showing of themovie “Sweet Land” from the book by Will Weaver withcopies available for sale.
Friday’s offerings featured two bus tours:
1. Hjemkomst Museum, across the river in Moorhead, MN,which includes replicas of a Viking ship and of the Hopper-stad Stave Church in Norway.
2. Tour of historic Fergus Falls, MN, where Sigdalslagwas founded on St. Hans Day, June 1911, by Sigdal immi-grant Anders B. Petersen of Rothsay, Minnesota.
Friday classes dealt with a variety of topics ranging fromChurch Split in Norwegian Grove and Genealogy 101, to“Alt for Norge,” A Reality Show Experience, and a presenta-tion by the Red River Valley Genealogical Society. In the lateafternoon a movie, “Max Manus” was shown. Children’sclasses were held both Friday and Saturday including ses-sions on dance and drama.
(Continued on page 3)
by Dianne Enger Snell, Historian
I am pleasedto begin a term as Sigdalsl
ag President. I have benefitt
ed
from the work of Sigdalslag leadersh
ip over the years, and it is a
privilege to become part of this hardwork
ing and committed group.
Sin-
cere thanks to the dedicated officers
who are continuing on the board
and to those who have completed their terms of office.
Judy Sosted,
Donna Kulenkamp, and Amy Michelse
n have given countless hours to the
Sigdalslag Board and deserve
our sincerethanks.
The Stevne in Fargo was very successful with large attendan
ce, over 130
Norwegians who joined our group, and a great Norwegia
n get-together for
everyone. The Sigdalsl
ag leadership and voluntee
rs are to be thanked
for this success.This was an all voluntee
r operation and all of you
who so graciously assisted
are to be applauded. Special
thanks goes to
the chair, Donna Kulenkamp, treasure
r, Janice Johnson,and past-
president, Judy Sosted.
Sigrid Kvisle and Birger Moen coordinated the
group of 100 attendees from the Sigdal area, and Jens Kopland
coordi-
nated the other group of 35 Norwegian attendee
s. They were a great ad-
dition to the Stevne and we thank them for their hard work.
Few writtenevaluati
on forms were turned in following the Stevne.
A
Survey Monkey questionnaire was prepared
and the link was sent to all of
the other six lags and to our membership. The survey monkey response
s
were very favorable with 80-90 percent
rated as very good to excellent
with the majorityat 90 percent.
Two thirds of the respondents pre-
ferred a time frame from Thursdayevening
throughSaturday
, with the
other choice being Wednesday evening
throughFriday banquet.
For the
preferred venue almost 75% preferre
d a hotel over a collegecampus.
Future Stevne plannerswill hopefull
y be considering this data as well
as availability of faciliti
es.
This is the year to completethe much anticipa
ted new Sigdalslag book.
There will be additional promotio
n in this issue of the Saga. If your
family’sstory has not been included
, please considerpreparin
g it.
A trip to Norway is also anticipated in the late summer of 2012. Infor-
mation will be posted on the websiteand there will be an e-mail sent to
everyonewho has a valid email address
listed on our membership rolls.
If you did not receivean email from me in August,
likely there is an
error with your email address.Please make the correcti
on with Earl
Knutson.In the spirit of moving forward,
membersshould consider
re-
ceivingthe issues of the Saga by email, since they look great in color!
We should also increaseour use of the website,
which continually be-
comes more useableand full of informat
ion.
Like many of you my introduction to Sigdalsl
ag came when I became inter-
ested in genealogy. I was eventual
ly referredto Lee Rokke for assis-
tance and became a member.We can be proud of the strength
of our ge-
nealogical resource
s. For the past two years some family membershave
attendedthe stevne with me. The elementa
ry age grandchildren are
really interested in this exposure
to Norwegian culture.
They have had
a great time in classes,learning
dances,dressing
up for grown-up
events,and making new friends
by the pool.
All of my great-grandparen
ts emigrated from Norway with my Sigdal ances-
tors Tosten Myra and his wife IngeborgJonsdatt
er leavingSigdal in
1861; going to Canada;then Decorah,
Iowa; and settlingin Milan, Minne-
sota. Their twelve childrenchanged
their name to Thompsonat the sug-
gestionof a schoolte
acher.They were followed
by Ingeborg’s parents
and Tosten’sparents
and six siblingswho settled
in Milan and Windom.
I join you in being very proud of my Norwegian heritage
!
Hilsen,Jean
Fra Presidenten:
Page 2 Sigda ls lag Saga Volume 31, Issue 3
2011 SigdalslagOfficers
JEAN T. KNAAK President2456 Arkwright StreetSt. Paul, MN 55117(651) [email protected]
EARL O. KNUTSONVP 1/Membership
722 Second Street SWWillmar, MN 56201(320) 222-1613
MARLYS HONRUD LARSEN VP 2P. O. Box 217Spicer, Minnesota 56288
KAREN OLSON VP 3P.O. Box 225Northome, MN 56661
JANICE JOHNSON Treasurer
8451 Nicollet Avenue SouthBloomington, MN [email protected]
DALE BUISMAN Secretary38265 Great Oaks CourtNorth Branch, MN 55056(651) [email protected]
GARTH ULRICH Genealogist3099 Dunn DrivePrince Albert, SKS6V 6Y6 [email protected]
DIANNE SNELL Historian31326 122nd Court SEAuburn, WA 98092(253) 351-0926
SCOTT BRUNNER Saga Editor555 Hilltop DriveGreen Bay, WI [email protected]
ED ESPE [email protected]
Page 3Sigda ls lag Saga Volume 31, Issue 3
The general meeting for the seven lags was at 7:30 Friday night withgreetings by Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker and Norwegian HonoraryConsul General Gary Ganderud. Bygdelagenes Fellesraad. PresidentMarilyn Somdahl addressed the Lags and presented a Centennial giftto Sigdalslag President Judy Sosted. Norwegian tour leaders BirgerMoen, Sigrid Kvisle and Jens Kristian Kopland were introduced andbrought greetings from Sigdal, Eggedal and Krodsherad.
Friday night’s program featured Dr. Steven R. Hoffbeck, Professor ofHistory at Moorhead State University about his book “Hayloft Memo-ries: A Chronicle of Five Farm Families” followed by a book sale andsigning by the author.
Bonanzaville, a pioneer town located in West Fargo, was open for self-guided tours Friday and Saturday. Featured there are historic homesand businesses and a church moved in from surrounding communitiesand restored.
Classes on Saturday included Jeff Sauve of the Norwegian American Historical Association (NAHA) on Keeping FamilyHistories and the NAHA archives; Sigdal members Erik Meade with knife making and Rebecca Hanna with Ale BowlCarving; Concordia Norwegian Language Camp, and a history of bunads from Sigdal, Eggedal and Krodsherad presentedby Sigrid Kvisle, director of the Sigdal-Eggedal Museum and Music Center in Prestfoss; The Kensington Runestone by
Melvin Conrad, and Randi Bjorkvik Arkiv on DVD.
The Saturday banquet began with the traditional bunad parade led bychampion fiddlers Andy and Dan Emert of Oregon. The parade featuredan impressive array of Sigdal bunads worn by the visiting Norwegiansas well as bunads from other areas. “Three Billy Goats Gruff, a produc-tion by the children of the drama class, was well received by the audi-ence. The children’s classes and the culminating production were underthe tutelage of Children’s Activity Director Birgitta Meade and her as-sistants. Banquet entertainment was provided by Dr. Art Lee, humoristand Professor Emeritus of History at Bemidji State University who re-galed the audience with stories ofNorwegian flavor.
The Sigdalslag Centennial:
The Stevne-at-large ended with theSaturday banquet, but that was not theend of the celebrating for Sigdalslagin 2011. We had one more day, Sun-
day July 17, to observe the 100th anniversary of the founding of Sigdalslag on St. HansDay, 1911. The Centennial celebration was also held at the Fargo Doublewood Inn.
Our Founding Father, Anders Braatelien Pedersen, an immigrant from Sigdal in 1870,made a trip back to Norway in 1895. When he returned he found that many of the peoplehe talked to about his trip were eager to know if he had met any of their relatives orfriends while in Sigdal. Peterson realized the need for an organization to maintain the tiesbetween the Old World and the New, and his dream became a reality with the founding ofSigdalslag in Fergus Falls, Minnesota on June 24, 1911.
During the ensuing 100 years Sigdalslag has had its ups and downs, and almost disbandedduring the 1970’s for lack of attendance, but managed to stay intact due to the persever-ance of its leaders and members, and today remains as strong as ever.
On that anniversary day, 199 members and guests, including our Norwegian visitors,
Many Americans and Norwegians worebunads for the Saturday night banquet
The Emert brothers played their fiddlesnumerous times to entertain stevne attendees
Sigrid Kvisle gave apopular lecture on
Sigdal bunads of today(Continued on page 4)
Page 4 Sigda ls lag Saga Volume 31, Issue 3
gathered at 8:30 am for the annual business meeting. Greetings were offered on behalfof the Norwegians by tour leaders Birger Moen of the BygdePosten newspaper in Busk-erud and Sigrid Kvisle, director and curator of the Sigdal-Eggedal Museum and MusicCenter in Prestfoss, Sigdal.
A marble sculpture, Madonna with Child, a replica of a larger statuary located in themountain area of Sigdal, was presented to President Judy Sosted by Sigrid Kvisle. Thisstatue will be passed to each President of Sigdalslag as they take office to be kept in theirhomes during their tenures.
Gifts of hand-painted wooden plates depicting Sigdal scenes painted by local artists werepresented to each officer by Birger Moen,who also gave each officer a DVD entitledMidt-Buskerud, and a frosted mug inscribed 2011 BygdePosten.
Member Francis Turmo gave a brief history of the Sigdalslag Banner which was pre-sented by Sigdal and Eggedal in 1914 during a visit to Norway. The banner was ac-cepted at that time by Rev. Olaf Turmo who carried the treasured gift in its hand madewooden case back to America.
Rod Pletan of the Nominating Committee presented the slate of officers for the ensuingyear.
President – Jean Knaak of Little Canada, MN; Vice-President - Membership, EarlKnutson, Willmar MN; Vice-President - Culture – Karen Olson Northome MN; VicePresident, Marlys Honrud Larson, Spicer MN; Secretary – Dale Buisman, North Branch
MN; Treasurer – Janice L. Johnson. Bloomington MN. No other nominations were made the slate was elected. Outgoingofficers Judy Sosted, president for four years; and Amy Michelsen, Secretary since July of 2002; were commended fortheir service to Sigdalslag and board members Scott Brunner, Saga Editor since July of 2008, and Ed Espe, Webmaster for10 years were recognized for their years of service.
VP Karen Olson called forward for recognition former past presidents Marilyn Somdahl, Corinne Lesteberg Johnson, CarolRugland Meade and Earl Knutson; Genealogist Emeritus Lee Rokke, and current outgoing president, Judy Sosted.
Following the business meeting there was a coffee and cookie break and an opportunity for professional photos to be taken.Birger Moen spoke to the group about happenings in present day Sigdal. At noon a large Smorgasbord meal was served inthe dining room along with birthday cake for the 100th birthday. A total of 323 people attended the Centennial luncheon.
Afternoon festivities included a musical performance by champion fiddler broth-ers Dan and Andy Emert of Oregon, who entertained with a variety of folk mu-sic and offered CD’s for sale. The Emerts are also Sigdalslag members, sons ofBev Emert and grandsons of 90-year-old Lois Skadeland of Cherokee, Iowa.
The Centennial concluded with an entertaining narrative by author Will Weaverabout his Norwegian heritage, and he offered his book, Sweet Land, and DVD’sof the movie for sale.
We cannot conclude a story about the Stevne without expressing gratitude forthose in charge of making it happen. President Judy Sosted, along with vicepresidents, Stevne Coordinator Donna Kulenkamp and Entertainment Coordina-tor Karen Olson, worked tirelessly for two years to see that all of the compo-nents came together as successfully as possible, both for the entire Stevne andfor the Centennial. Marilyn Moen was in charge of the Fergus Falls tour andchurch supper, and also arranged for the professional photographer for the anni-versary celebration. Sadly, Marilyn was not able to attend the Stevne due to thedeath of her mother on July 16. Our sincere condolences go out to Marilyn andfamily.
The 2012 Stevne will be held at Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Watch the SigdalslagSaga and website for details!
As a Centennial Gift from the Felles-raad, Marilyn Somdahl presents Sig-dalslag president Judy Sosted a man-gletre painted by Elvera Bisbee from
Fellesraad. A Mangletre is a flatboard with a handle, usually elabo-rately carved, used to smooth and
press clean linen.
Madonna with child, pre-sented to Sigdalslag by Sigrid
Kvisle. The sculpture is asmall replica of the largestatue in Trillemarken.
Page 5Sigda ls lag Saga Volume 31, Issue 3
Sigdalslag members have reason to be proud of the factthat one of our own, Dr. Sidney Rand—grandson of Sig-dalslag founder Anders B. Pedersen—served as UnitedStates Ambassador to Norway in 1980-81, but only a fewmay know that he was not the first Sigdal descendant tohold an embassy post.
Nearly thirty-five years earlier, in 1946 after the end ofWorld War II, the American Embassy was re-established inOslo and two of the American attachés assigned there wereProfessor Oliver O. Grimley and Professor Ole S. Heskin.These two men, who didn’t know each other until they metin Oslo, had strangely similar backgrounds. Both weregraduates of Luther College in Decorah; both were bornand raised in the Red River Valley of North Dakota byNorwegian immigrant parents, and both had mothers whowere born in Eggedal, Norway.
In the spring of 1947 the diplomats were visited by O. O.Bakken, who wrote about his experience for the 1949 Sig-dalslag book. Bakken wrote, “The flag with the Stars andStripes waved in the fresh spring breeze high up on theOdd Fellows building. It told that this was where ourmighty friend on the other side of the ocean had its repre-sentatives. This was the American Embassy with its largestaff of employees.”
Oliver Grimley, born in November 1882 to Olaf and Inge-borg Grimley in Steele County, ND, became a speech andhistory teacher at Outlook College in Saskatchewan, Can-ada and after several years he was appointed as“Colonization Representative” for Canadian National Rail-ways. For five years he traveled through Canada and thenorthwestern United States, and in 1926 the company senthim to Norway as the manager of its office in Oslo. Aftersix years with CNR, Grimley went to work as a consultantfor the Norwegian America Line. In 1936 he went on atraveling lecture tour across the United States and Canadaas a representative of the Nordmands Forbundet and theSons of Norway. He wrote two large books, The New Nor-way in English and Amerikas Præsidenter during the war.When the American Embassy was established in Oslo hewas sent there as an attaché.
Ole Heskin grew up in Mayville, North Dakota. He be-
came a professor at the Business School of the Universityof Minnesota, where he also earned his doctorate. He waslater appointed to the University of Florida, and duringWWII he served at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs inWashington, DC. He was sent to the American Embassyin Oslo on a commission from the U. S. State Departmenton July 17, 1946.
Dr. Heskin was born in 1879 and was listed in the 1880United States Census for Traill, Dakota Territory, as 9months old. His parents were Svend and Ragnild Heskin,with a sister Julia, age 5 and brother Nils, age 3. Also liv-ing with them was Helge Reyerson, age 10. Ole Heskindied in 1967 and is buried in Traill County in the AurdahlLutheran Cemetery.
Grimley’s mother, Ingeborg, was born in 1861 at Pletanha-gen in Eggedal to Peder Eriksen Nyhus and Kari Elleves-datter Rundseie and immigrated with her parents in 1866 atfive years old. Her sister Gjertrud married Fingal Enger ofTraill County, ND who became the largest landholder inNorth Dakota. Heskin’s mother, Ragnild*, born May 31,1850, came from farther north in the Eggedal valley atMedalen and came to America at the age of 19.
In the 1947 interview with Bakken Dr. Heskin stated, “Iunderstood the Norwegian people quite well because thereare almost only Norwegians in the Red River Valley. In myyouth there was, so to say, only Norwegian spoken there.The landscape in Norway has appealed to me very much. Itcontrasts sharply with the flat landscape where I grew up.At the time of the interview Dr. Heskin had plans to returnto the University of Florida for the school year starting inSeptember. Grimley, who by that time had lived in Nor-way 20 years, planned to be there for good.
(*Note: In the 1865 Norway census for Sigdal, RagnildOlsdtr., age 14, lived in the Enger og Kopseng school dis-trict, daughter of Ole Gundersen and Live Torstensdatr. Ido not have absolute proof that this girl was the mother inquestion, but the closest match I have found. If anyone hasmore information or photos of these two men please con-tact the historian.)
Diplomacy Has Roots in Sigdalby Dianne Snell, Lag Historian
Sigdalslag needs your help. Both the Saga newsletter editor
and Lag webmaster are looking to step down from their
positions. If you have any interest in contributing your talents
in these areas, please contact our Lag president - Jean Knaak.
Page 6 Sigda ls lag Saga Volume 31, Issue 3
Whose Going Over My Bridge?
That was the question asked by the wicked troll,Natalie Brunner, who was under the big wig andwith the scary voice. This year Sigdalslag offeredchildren’s classes taught by Birgitta Meade, with thehelp of her mother, Past President Carol Meade. Astheir final project, the children presented the play,“The Three Billy Goats Gruff” for the Saturday eve-ning banquet to enthusiastic acclaim. Linda Mohnalso included a Norwegian dance class for the chil-dren. We, as a Lag, are committed to include chil-
dren and young people in the planning for Stevne. Ifwe want to grow and keep our younger membersinvolved, we feel it is important to include some-thing for the children. We hope that the other Lagsunder the Seven Lag Stevne will also see the wis-dom of this policy. Other members of the play castincluded: Kai Larsen, big goat; Liv Larsen, me-dium goat; Lexi Roe, little goat; Maren Michelsen,narrator; Amanda Michelsen, flower; Julia Hanson,microphone holder.
Preserving the Sigdalslag Banner
By Jean T. Knaak
Sigdal has a beautiful banner that wasmade in 1914 in Norway, so it is 97 yearsold. It is made of silk and hand-paintedwith oil points used for the design on bothsides. Recently the Executive Board deter-mined that the banner should be saved digi-tally. Sigdalslag can continue to use andenjoy the banner as long as it is viable.When the banner can no longer be used, itcan be copied with imperfections photos-shopped out on silk-like fabric. The origi-nal fringe and trim can be reused at thattime as well as the posts and stand. Shownare the digital pictures of the front andback of the banner.
by Judy Sosted
Page 7Sigda ls lag Saga Volume 31, Issue 3
A miniature rosemaled emigrant chest with the inscription:ALICE GRONVOLD Hilsen fra Eggedal 1948... so whowas Alice?
Alice was the wife of Fingar Gronvold who emigratedfrom Eggedal, Norway, and pioneered in Rugby, NorthDakota. There Mr. Gronvold became a state senator, andwith his civic minded Norwegian personality, he becameinterested in contributing something worthwhile to thecountry of his anscestors. Senator Gronvold spearheaded aUSA fund-raising drive which ultimately brought electric-ity to Eggedal, and also the construction of a home for theaged.
When Alice Gronvold passed away, the small treasure boxbecame a prized possession of her daughter, Eunice Gron-vold, Mrs. Parker Kalloch in Albuquerque, New Mexico.The Kallochs were retired military and lived the rest oftheir lives in New Mexico. Like her father, Eunice wascivic minded and in 1968 was awarded the Mrs. LyndonJohnson Award for founding KEEP NEW MEXICO BEAU-TIFUL - a foundation which exists and is active today.Flowering and other trees were her special interest. In
1978 a park in Albuquerque was established in her name“New Mexico’s First Lady of Beautification”. If you cometo Albuquerque when all is in bloom (especially the flow-ering trees), you will enjoy the results of her endeavors.
Eunice visited Sigdal in 1986 with the Sigdalslag Tour forthe 75th Anniversary Stevne. She was a member of theScandinavian Club of Albuquerque.
Eunice Gronvold Kallach passed away in 1988 at the ageof 80. Before her death she gifted her Eggedal miniatureimmigrant chest to her friend, a long-time Sigdalsdagmember, Irene Navarre, the past president of the Scandina-vian Club of Albuquerque. Their mutual interest in Egge-dal brought them together for a long friendship.
With the planning of the Sigdalslag 100th AnniversaryStevne in Fargo,North Dakota, it seemed fitting to returnthe little emigrant chest to the Midwest, and further to apermanent home in the memorabilia of Sigdalslag. Thelittle chest has traveled, undoubtedly, as many miles as thelarge chests transporting the possessions of our Sigdal an-cestors! Hilsen fra Albuquerque, Goodbye, little one!
A new item for Sigdalslag Memorabilia Collection!By Irene Navarre
THE SIGDALSLAG
Centennial Book
1911-2011
Help needed for our future Centennial Book! If your Norwegian ancestors have not
been chronicled in the previous Sigdalslag works, please take time and write up their
biographies and submit their story with pictures.
Send family histories to our newsletter editor, Scott Brunner, e-mail address:
[email protected]. Send Sigdalslag historical items to our Lag historian, Dianne
Snell, e-mail address: [email protected]. All submissions should be in by
December 31, 2011.
Future Sigdalslag Book
Page 8 Sigda ls lag Saga Volume 31, Issue 3
Member Please share with us your families news of marriages, graduations, long
term anniversaries, significant milestones, and the passing of loved ones.
In Memory…
Inez Glynn
(Inez’s grandfather was Krød-
sherad immigrant Truls Svenson
Green, who came to America in
1870)
Inez Glynn, age 103, died Satur-day, Aug. 6, 2011, at the AicotaHealth Care Center in Aitkin,Minnesota.
Inez was born October 17, 1907,in Brownsdale, Minnesota. Shemarried Burton Glynn on June20, 1931, in Little BrownChurch in the Vale in Nashua,Iowa. Survivors include onedaughter and son-in-law, Sandraand Roger Wilson of Aitkin;grandchildren and spouses Brian(Linda) Glynn of Bemidji,Minn., Darren (Lisa) Glynn ofPerham, Minn., Krisanne(Edward) Ott of Brainerd,Minn., and Stephen (Julie) Wil-son of Aitkin. She was precededin death by her husband, BortonGlynn in 1975, and son, Patrick.
Alice Gronseth
(Alice & husband Eddie were
long time members of Sigdal-
slag. Eddie’s grandfather was
Sigdal immigrant Tollef Olsen
Grønseth, who came to America
in 1868)
Alice Gronseth, age 90, of Fer-gus Falls and formerly of Roth-say and Edinburg, Texas, diedSaturday, July 16, 2011, sur-rounded by her family atPioneerCare Center in Fergus
Falls, Minnesota.
Alice Evelyn Gronseth was bornSeptember 28, 1920, at her par-ents’ home in Akron Townshipin Wilkin County, Minnesota,the daughter of Anton and Anna(Ronningen) Amundson. Alicegrew up on the Amundson farmand attended District #5 in Ak-ron Township, and graduatedfrom West Central School ofAgriculture in Morris, Minne-sota.
On June 1, 1941, Alice marriedEddie Gronseth at the Hamarparsonage in Rothsay. Alice andEddie farmed and raised regis-tered Hereford cattle and wonnumerous awards throughoutMinnesota and other states.Alice and Eddie moved to Edin-burg, Texas in 1969 and began asecond business, the All Ameri-can Mobile Home Park. Alicewas active in their business en-terprises, doing all the book-keeping and registering theHereford cattle.
She was a member of Our Sav-ior’s Lutheran Church inMcAllen, Texas and a memberof the Hamar Lutheran Churchof Rothsay. She served on vari-ous committees of the HamarChurch. They were members ofthe American Hereford Associa-tion and the Edinburg, TexasChamber of Commerce. Formany years they provided lead-ership for the Trondjhem Go-phers 4-H Club. They were alsoactively involved with the Win-ter Shows of Crookston, Minne-sota. Alice and Eddie werenamed Master Farmer andHomemaker for Otter TailCounty in 1966.
Alice was an excellent seam-
stress and passed that skill andmany others including knittingand crocheting on to her daugh-ters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters. Alice enjoyedspending time with her family inTexas and summers at JewettLake, and visiting with peoplewho stayed at the All AmericanMobile Home Park. They cele-brated their Norwegian heritageand traveled to Norway andwere members of the Sigdalslag.
Preceding her in death were herparents, her husband, Eddie, andher brothers and sisters: Lillian(Amundson) Mead, Henry,Elias, George, and MauriceAmundson, and Alette(Amundson) Agnew.
Survivors include her threedaughters, Marilyn (Clifford)Moen of Erhard, MN, Kathy(Del) Zimmerman of FergusFalls, MN, and Virginia Veazieof Duluth, MN; six grandchil-dren: Scott (Jillene) Moen ofEden Prairie, MN, Crystal(John) Walkup of Ronan, MT,Kerry Kolle of Fergus Falls,MN, Kevin (Becky) Kolle ofChaska, MN, Kayla (Sean) Sul-livan of Fergus Falls, MN, andLary Veazie of Duluth, MN;and eleven great-grandchildren,Kristian and Megan Moen,Chase, Nathan and AutumnWalkup, Jared, Tanner andEaston Kolle, and Alexandra,Kellie and Patrick Sullivan. Sheis also survived by two brothers,James (Elaine) Amundson ofRothsay, and Robert (Lillian)Amundson of Mesa, AZ, and hersisters-in-law, Ramona Amund-son of Washougal, WA, andOlida Wigdahl of Fergus Falls,MN, as well as numerous niecesand nephews.
Funeral Services were held July22, 2011, at New Life LutheranChurch in Rothsay, Minnesota,with burial in Hamar Cemetery.
Elvera Bisbee
(Elvera’s paternal grandparents
were Krødsherad immigrants,
who came to America in 1869.
Elvera was commissioned by
Sigdalslag to rosemal three
plates presented to Holmen,
Oldberg and Eggedal churches
on our 2000 Norway Tour.)
Elvera B. Bisbee age 88 ofTracy, Minnesota, died Friday,August 12, 2011, at the Sanford-Tracy Area Medical Center.Services for Elvera B. Bisbee,age 88 of Tracy, were held to-day, Wednesday, August 17,2011, at Tracy Lutheran Church.Interment was in the HoilandCemetery, rural Tracy, follow-ing a luncheon in the churchsocial hall. The Almlie FuneralHome of Tracy handled the ar-rangements.
Elvera Bernice Bisbee was bornSeptember 3, 1922, to Oluf andIda (Ellefsdatter) Anderson inTracy, MN, Lyon County. Shewas baptized and confirmed inthe Lutheran faith and attendedTracy Public Schools, graduat-ing from Tracy High School in1940.
Page 9Sigda ls lag Saga Volume 31, Issue 3
As a young woman sheworked in Bill Johnson’s Gro-cery in Tracy. On February22, 1942, Elvera married Rus-sell Bisbee in Tracy. Over theyears Elvera worked for K&KClothing, Tracy BottlingCompany, Tracy Hospital andNorthwestern Bell TelephoneCompany in Tracy. She alsooperated her own business outof her home called, “BisbeeButikk”.
Elvera was a member ofTracy Lutheran Church and apast member of Hoiland Lu-theran Church. She was ac-tive through the years in thechurch ladies groups, Circleand served on various com-mittees. She was also a mem-ber of the Sons of Norway.Her heritage was very impor-tant to her and she studiedNorwegian heritage and folk-lore. She also was a giftedpainter and specialized inScandinavian Rosemaling.Many of her paintings weredisplayed in Tracy Lutheranchurch and others places inSouthwestern Minnesota overthe years.
On November 13, 2008Elvera became a resident ofPrairie View Healthcare Cen-ter in Tracy, where she died,surrounded by her loving fam-ily, Friday, August 12, 2011,at the age of 88.
Elvera is survived by her onedaughter Sindie (Lee) Holm-berg of Vesta, MN; two sons,Charles Bisbee of Worthing-ton, MN and John (Michele)Bisbee of Fairmont, MN;seven grandchildren; twelvegreat grandchildren; ninegreat great grandchildren;special niece, Doris Galstad ofSioux Falls, SD; nieces,nephews and many friends.Her parents, one sister, RuthGalstad, and two brothers,Oscar and Ted Anderson pre-ceded her in death.
Ruth Moore
(100% of Ruth’s ancestry was
from our district. Ruth’s father
was Krødsherad immigrant
Truls Gulbrandsen Bjøre, who
came in America in 1893. Her
maternal grandparents, Reier
Gundersen Baasen & Marthe
Eriksdatter Pletan were born in
Eggedal; they came to America
in 1869)
Ruth Evelyn (Bjore) Moore,age 98 passed away peacefullyat her home in Buffalo, Minne-sota surrounded by her familyon Friday, June 17, 2011.
Ruth was born on March 31,1913, on the family farm inWendell, Minnesota, to Truls &Gurine (Baasen) Bjore. Shewas the eighth of nine children.She grew up in Wendell andwent to school there throughthe 11th grade. They did notoffer 12th grade in Wendell soRuth rode a train to Minneapo-lis and lived with her older sis-ter Agnes and her family whereRuth attended 12th grade in St.Louis Park, Minnesota andgraduated in 1932.
Ruth had many memories ofgrowing up on a farm inWendell. They had to walk 1½miles to school. If it was reallycold in the wintertime, her dadwould take the kids to school inthe sleigh. Her mom wouldheat up bricks to use to keeptheir feet warm. In the sum-mertime, if it was really hot,the kids would sleep outside onthe ground as it was cooler thansleeping in the house. They did
not have electricity so theyused kerosene and gas lampsfor light. Ruth’s motherGurine would flatten tin cansand cut out various animalsfreehand from them thatcould stand up. Her brotherGeorge built Ruth and herbrother Jimmy each a minia-ture house and barn in thewoods that they would playwith. Ruth loved lookingthrough the Sears RoebuckCatalog and cutting out peo-ple and clothes to use forpaper dolls.
On May 11, 1955, Ruth metDe L. Moore on a Greyhoundbus on her way to Billings,Montana. It was love at firstsight and they were marriedon September 25, 1955 inAnchorage, Alaska as De wasstationed there in the U.S.Army. Being an Army wife,they moved to Fort Lewis,Washington in 1957 and toBamberg, Germany in 1959.While they were stationed inBamberg, they adopted theirdaughter, Debra Lynn, whenshe was only 32 hours old.They moved back to FortLewis, Washington in 1961and to Buffalo, Minnesota in1963.
Ruth worked at the BaldwinTruck Stop in Buffalo for hersister Gilma and brother-in-law Howard Baldwin. In1966, the family moved intothe Buffalo Hotel to becomethe caretakers and to run thecafé that was next to it. Ruthwould get up really early inthe mornings and bake cook-ies and pies from scratch,along with donuts. She was agreat cook and loved bakingthings. She started workingat Ben Franklin around 1968and retired from there in1975. Around 1984, Ruthbecame the caretaker of theGuardian Angels apartmentcomplex in Zimmerman. Shemoved back to Buffalo in
1987 and spent her winters inApache Junction, Arizona. InJanuary 1996, Ruth moved toPhoenix and came back to Buf-falo for six weeks every sum-mer. In November 2007, Ruthand her dog Nipper moved backto Buffalo permanently andlived in a beautiful apartmentoverlooking Buffalo Lake thatshe just loved.
Ruth was very active after sheretired. While living in Phoenix,she went to aerobics three timesa week, played on a shuffleboardleague two times a week, wasthe Treasurer for bingo, grilledall the sausages every Saturdayfor pancake breakfasts, pluswalked her dog Nipper everymorning and evening. She lovedbaking cookies and pies for herfriends in the park she lived in.She made her grand-daughtersvery detailed Barbie doll furni-ture out of plastic canvas. Vol-unteering was also a large partof her life. When she was in herearly 80’s, she went roller skat-ing with the Girl Scouts. In herlate 80’s and early 90’s, she vol-unteered at the local Girl ScoutDay Camp and at the FishingKlinic for Kids. Many familygatherings for the various holi-days were held at her apartment.She loved to cook and bake forher family, read, do word puzzlebooks, play solitaire, 7-Up andRummy, go camping with herdaughter Deb and son-in-lawClay, watch The Price is Right,Wheel of Fortune and the Min-nesota Twins baseball games,listen to her grand-daughtersJamie and Sara sing karaoke,play with her great grand-daughter Mackenzie, go out forcoffee with her son-in-law Clayand the guys at Brooks, and eattootsie rolls!
She was a wonderful person,daughter, sister, wife, mother,grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend.She is survived by her daughterDebbie (Clay) O’Flanagan of
Buffalo, grand-daughters Jamie(David) Parks of Waverly andSara (Troy) Winter of Moor-head, great grand-daughterMackenzie Parks of Waverly,sister-in-law Dorothy Bjore ofPhoenix, Arizona, her dog andfaithful companion Buster, andmany other relatives andfriends.
Ruth was preceded in death byher husband, De L. Moore in1976, all eight of her brothersand sisters, Gustine (Ole)Sandvick, Agnes (Everett)Tracy, Rudolph Bjore, Esther(Edward) Ellingson, Gilma(Howard) Baldwin, Myrtle(Arnold) Soliah, George Bjore,James (Mildred) Bjore, and herparents.
A celebration of life servicewas held at 2:00 PM on Friday,June 24, 2011 at the PetersonChapel, 119 Central Avenue inBuffalo, Minnesota. Intermentat the Zion Lutheran Cemeteryin Buffalo, Minnesota.
Vivian Erbes
(Vivian’s was a long-time Sig-dalslag member and aunt ofLag Historian Dianne Snell.
Her grandfather was Eggedalimmigrant Elling Pedersen
Enger, who came to America in1854)
Vivian Enger Erbes was bornon April 27, 1916, in Minnea-polis, Minnesota, the youngestof six children born to EdwardEllingson and Hannah LarsonEnger. After graduation fromWorthington (MN) HighSchool and attending Minnea-polis Business College she wasemployed in the Nobles County
Extension Office for 6 years.
She was married to Clarence J.Erbes of Round Lake, Minne-sota, on October 3, 1942, andwhen Clarence joined thearmy Vivian spent the waryears working in WashingtonD. C. and Camp McCoy, WI.
After the war Vivian and Cla-rence returned to Worthingtonand she began working as dep-uty clerk of court for NoblesCounty in 1945. She resignedin October of 1946 to givebirth to Steven, the couple’sonly child. She returned to theoffice again in March of 1949and worked as deputy clerkuntil 1966 when she waselected to the position of No-bles County Clerk of Court.After reelection in 1970 theposition became appointive,and Vivian served until herretirement in 1980.
Vivian was an active volunteerwith Emanuel United Method-ist Women, Red Cross, Wor-thington Hospital Auxiliary,and the Business and Profes-sional Women, which recog-nized her as Woman of theYear in 1977. Vivian wasvery proud of her 100 percentNorwegian Heritage, and theViking spirit certainly camethrough in her accomplish-ments after being crippled bypolio as a young child. Shealways wore a brace, and formany years she climbed uptwo flights of stairs in thecourt house by hanging on tothe banister, until elevatorswere eventually installed inthe building. Her family andfriends never thought of her asbeing “handicapped” by herdisability.
She was preceded in death byClarence, her loving husbandof 64 years, in 2005; her par-ents, Ed and Hannah Enger;brothers William, Arthur,Earle and Stanley Enger, andsister Hazel (Herman) Doeden.
Vivian is survived by son Ste-ven (JoAnn) of Apple Valley,MN; Grandchildren: Dion(Robyn) Erbes of New Market,MN; Brent (Casey) Erbes ofBozeman, MT and Jenica(Chris) Spoor of Eagan, MN;Great-grandchildren Blake andNatalie Boelter, Logan Erbes,Haley Krohn , Aidan Erbesand Ani Spoor, and manynieces, nephews and cousinsand family friends who mournher passing.
Vivian passed away at Wor-thington Hospital on August 3,2011, at the age of 95 years.Funeral services were heldAugust 8, 2011 at EmmanuelUnited Methodist Church inWorthington, MN with PastorKathleen Brandt officiating.Burial was at WorthingtonCemetery. Memorials forVivian may be sent to Giantsof the Earth Heritage Center inSpring Grove, MN or to thecharity of the donor’s choice.
Annelotte Svendsbye
(wife of Sigdalslag memberLloyd Svendsbye)
Annelotte “Anne” Svendsbye,age 84, of Eden Prairie, diedof cancer on May 24th. Shewas born in Germany andraised in Beausejour, Canada,she worked for CanadianWorld Relief and spent fouryears with the Lutheran WorldFederation in Geneva, Swit-zerland. She was preceded indeath by her parents, Hans andAnna Moertelmeyer, and in-fant sister, Ruth. She is sur-vived by her husband of 52years, Dr., Lloyd and numer-ous nieces and nephews. Bur-
ied at Lakewood Cemetery inMinneapolis. Funeral serviceswere Wednesday, June 1, 2011,at 11 a.m. at Normandale Lu-theran Church in Edina, Min-nesota.
Ruth Enger
(sister-in-law of Lag HistorianDianne Snell)
Ruth Naomi Enger, age 84 ofPrinceton, passed away peace-fully on July 21, 2011 at theElm Care and Rehab Center inPrinceton, Minnesota.
Ruth was born on December 6,1926, to Oscar and Laura(Waelde) Monson in Luverne,Minnesota. She graduated highschool from Danube and con-tinued her education in West-ern Union, Iowa, to become ateacher. She taught in a coun-try school in Renville Countyfrom 1946-1947.
Ruth married William “Bill”John Enger on August 22,1946, at the North RedwoodChurch in Renville County.The couple lived in variousplaces before making Princetontheir home in 1960.
Ruth worked as a nurse’s aidein Braham and Mora prior toobtaining her LPN license. Sheworked at the Princeton Hospi-tal from the early 1960’s untilher retirement on July 20,1990.
Ruth is survived by her chil-dren: Tim (Connie) Enger,Tom (Mona) Enger, Mark(Mary) Enger, Sue Enger,Carol (Rich) Fillafer, Dawn(Tim) Doyle, and other lovingrelatives and friends.
Ruth was welcomed Home toHeaven by her husband Billand by her parents.
Memorial Service was heldWednesday, July 27, 2011, atthe Freshwaters United Meth-odist Church in Princeton,Minnesota. Buried at OakKnoll Cemetery.
Page 10 Volume 31, Issue 3Sigda ls lag Saga
Page 11Volume 31, Issue 3Sigda ls lag Saga
Velkommen, nye lagmedlemmer!
JEAN BROWN
Zimmerman, Minnesota
gift of Darlene Brown
MARY SVIEN-SCHILTZ
Rothschild, Wisconsin
KAREN PETERSON
Portland, North Dakota
CYNTHIA LIEN
Rugby, North Dakota
LYLE MILLER
Gig Harbor, Washington
TED & WANDA OLSON
Lewiston, Minnesota
LOWELL MILLER
Ashland, Wisconsin
CAROLINE STEELE
Calgary, Alberta
MARWOOD HUNSTAD
Pillager, Minnesota
DEANNA NOVOTNY
Big Timber, Montana
DWAYNE BONDY
Billings, Montana
TERRY BONDY
Baker, Montana
MICKELYNN HAMLIN
Spokane Valley, Washington
DOUGLAS/KAREN NUTE
St. Michael, Minnesota
LISA HAUGEN
Mill Valley, California
LESLIE DEMMER
Rochester, Minnesota
ANN JOHNSON
Excelsior, Minnesota
JARL/GLENICE KNUTSON
Elk River, Minnesota
JERRY ALLERY
Sheyenne, North Dakota
DARRELL/VICKIE STORLIE
Clarks Grove, Minnesota
RON HOFF
League City, Texas
GABRA LOKKEN
Hutchinson, Minnesota
JUDITH GIERKE
Fargo, North Dakota
We had a large donation of $685 from Linda Turmo. To be used for scanning the flag tosave for the future.
Howard Berg: $56 for Stevne costs.
Irene Navarre: she paid for many & had $35 left over to be applied as a donation.
Effective July 17, 2011. A Scholarship Fund is established with an initial funding of
$6,000 drawn from the undesignated part of the Sigdalslag treasury. Additional funding
will be by so-designated donations and by interest earned from the fund itself. Awards of
up to 5% of the fund balance (at the end of the previous year)
may be made annually to and individual or individuals for a pro-
ject or projects, such as study of the Norwegian language, that
support the Sigdalslag mission as stated in Article II of the By-
laws. The balance in this fund shall be reported each year in the
annual financial report. The Executive Board is charged with
implementing this Standing Rule.
New Standing Rule Passed at the 2011 Stevne
Surveys & library Contributions
Sigdalslag Surveys have been received from:
Judith Lynn (Olson) Gierke on the descendants of ELLING KNUDSEN JUVSEIE &
INGEBORG TRULSDATTER HOVSEIE.
Donations
Sigdal News:
Over a hundred people of all ages gathered to
celebrate the 100th anniversary of the school at
Eidalsroa. The school has been refurbished
with new restrooms, hall, kitchen, and class-
room. Photo/article by Eivind Kopland, Bygde-
posten July 2011.
When working with a chandelier in the church,
the usher, Emil Skare, had to go into the attic.
While removing some insulation material, he
discovered by accident an old carved hand.
After some detective work, it was discovered
that the hand belongs to the Apostle Luke Altar-
piece from the Holmen Church. It is from the
year 1653! Photo/article by Mona Lindseth,
Bygdeposten July 2011.
Serving Norwegian-Americans of Sigdal,Eggedal & Krødsherad ancestry
Sigdalslag SagaFIRST CLASS MAIL
We’re on the Web!www.sigdalslag.org
SIGDALSLAG SAGA IS PUBLISHED IN FEBRUARY,
MAY AND OCTOBER
SIGDALSLAG EDITOR555 HILLTOP DRIVEGREEN BAY, WI 54301
Comments? Suggestions? SAGA solicits featurearticles, news, pictures & obituaries from members.E-mail [email protected], or contact theeditor (see Pg. 2).
Next deadline: January 15, 2012
Changed your mailing or e-mail address?Don’t miss an issue! Please contact Earl Knutson [email protected]
NOTE: the YEAR shown on the mailing label nextto your name indicates that your membership ispaid thru DECEMBER of that year.
JOIN SIGDALSLAG NOW! Date______________ Check if Renewal: or Gift:
Full name/s__________________________________________________________________
Street ______________________________________________________________________
City_____________________________________ State______________ ZIP_____________
E-Mail _________________________________________ Phone ______________________
BUSKERUD Family Origin in (circle one) - SIGDAL EGGEDAL KRØDSHERAD
Emigrant Ancestor’s name ______________________________________________________
Farm name ______________________________ ________ Year Emigrated ____________
2011 Dues: USA and CANADA $10/YR or $25/3 YR, in US dollarsELSEWHERE $12/YR or $30/3 YR, in US dollars
Make check payable to Sigdalslag and mail to:EARL KNUTSON722 Second Street SWWillmar, MN 56201
Residents of CANADA should make check payable toGarth Ulrich and mail application to:
GARTH ULRICH3099 Dunn DrivePrince Albert, SKS6V 6Y6 CANADA
Write “Sigdalslag dues (3 yr or 1 yr)” on the memoline of the check. Dues in Canadian dollars shouldbe made in the amount equivalent to $10 US (1year) or $25 US (3 years) on the date written.
Two portrait photos were taken by a professional photogra-
pher the day of our Centennial Celebration. One group
photo is of our Sigdalslag members, and the second photo is
of the Norwegian stevne attendees. These photos are now
available to order. Prices are $15 for each 8x10 inch portrait,
then add $4 mailing cost for the order. Other photo sizes are
available. Contact information is as follows:
Searle Swedlund, P.O. Box 786, Moorhead, MN 56561.
Phone number (701) 306-6255.
A less expensive option lies in the near future. We anticipate
having the two photos available for download on our website
with a release form, so you can make your own prints.
