President’s report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2From the office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3IN MEMORIAM:• Gary Holum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4• Reuben Forsberg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5‘Yule Goat’ old Nordic custom. . . . . . . 6Memorial gifts from members . . . . . . 7

SHA Gift Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Heritage House visit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9‘Snowshoe’ Thompson. . . . . . . . . . 10-11Gift annuity: A gift that gives back. . . 12Membership form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Scandinavian Society reports . . . . 13-15Tracing Your Scandinavian Roots . . . 16

Scandinavian Heritage Park becomes a sparkling won-derland with the advent of winter and the warm glowof Christmas lights. The lighting is a labor of love bythe SHA “crew,” consisting of Ernie Selland, John Sinn,Arne Braaten, Carroll Erickson and many other volun-teers. (Photos by SHA board member Al Larson, Minot)

WHAT

’SINSIDE...

May

your

Chris

tmas

bem

erry

and

brig

ht!

by Mark Anderson, presidentScandinavian Heritage Association

With Christmas right around thecorner, my kids have been busy

reviewing the weekend shoppinginserts and planting seeds as to whatthey would like to receive forChristmas. That got me thinking aboutwhat I would like for the future ofScandinavian Heritage Association.Over the past two years as presi-

dent, I have been blessed to receivemany gifts; gifts of time, talents, expe-rience, giving and friendship. It hastruly been a rewarding experience andone that I will forever cherish. Thededication and devotion that I haveseen from so many volunteers, direc-tors and the membership have beennothing short of extraordinary.But, as with any administration,

there are still things yet unfinished;there is always more work to be donein any vital, flourishing organization.And so it is with Scandinavian Heri-tage Association. Yes, I, too, have a listof things I would like to see come topass for this special organization.

Wish No. 1—Earlier this year, we opened a

meaningful dialogue with Dr. DavidFuller, president of Minot StateUniversity. In June, Dr. Fuller and adelegation of Minot State Universityadministrators accompanied Minot’smayor and other city officials as partof a Minot-Skien sister-city delegationthat visited Norway and otherScandinavian countries. In addition toparticipating in the sister-city delega-tion, Dr. Fuller had visits and discus-sions with Telemark University inNorway; American College of Norwayin Moss; Ostfold University College inHalden, Norway; KristianstadUniversity in Sweden; and AalborgUniversity in Denmark. Discussionswith the universities focused on stu-dent and faculty exchanges, studytours, study abroad and Scandinavianstudies curricula.Scandinavian Heritage Association

met with Dr. Fuller and expressed aninterest in establishing an ongoingrelationship focused on developing

All I want for Christmas...student exchangesand other cross-cultural partner-ships. So first, aspart of this newworking relation-ship, I would liketo see SHA develop a programs-basedmission focused on the sponsoring ofprograms like youth language campsand student and faculty exchange pro-grams, in partnership with Minot StateUniversity, Norsk Høstfest, and thevarious heritage societies.

Wish No. 2—Next, I’d like to see even more

ways to showcase ScandinavianHeritage Park, the “Crown Jewel ofMinot.” One way to do this is to makeit available for visitors around theworld. Discussions are currentlyunder way to produce a 30-minuteDVD, showcasing the beauty of thepark and capturing the history of ourScandinavian ancestors. Along withthis DVD, we are discussing the pro-duction of an audio tour of the park,where visitors could enjoy a self-guid-ed tour that would present the historyand splendor of the park.

Wish No. 3—Lastly, I’d ask for a maintenance

trust to be established for the park toensure that the beauty of this livingcultural museum be maintained foryears to come. I would propose thecreation of the John Sinn HeritageTrust, named in honor of our chiefengineer and construction superinten-dent, John Sinn, without whose exper-tise and tireless effort many of thestructures and splendor of the parkwould not have been possible. Thiswould be a fitting and lasting tributeto John for all of his years of selflessdedication to Scandinavian HeritagePark.And so it is—my Christmas wish

list for 2007 and beyond. Oh, and thatreminds me, I’ve got to get over toWal-Mart to finish up my shopping;my kids just added more to their lists.May you enjoy all of the blessings

of this holiday season!God Jul! •

President’s MESSAGEPage 2 • December 2007 • SCANDINAVIAN HERITAGE NEWS

Mark Anderson

Scandinavian Heritage NewsVol. 20, Issue 42 • December 2007

Published quarterly byThe Scandinavian Heritage Assn.

1020 South Broadway701/852-9161 • P.O. Box 862

Minot, ND 58702e-mail: scandha@srt.com

Website: scandinavianheritage.orgNewsletter CommitteeLois Matson, Chair

Al Larson, Carroll EricksonMarian Bergen

Jo Ann WinistorferJo Ann Winistorfer, Editor

701/487-3312genesis@westriv.com

Al Larson, Publisher – 701/852-5552

SCANDINAVIAN HERITAGEASSOCIATION

1020 South Broadway • P.O. Box 862Minot, North Dakota 58702Phone 701/852-9161

2007 OFFICERSMark Anderson . . . . . . . . . . . . . PresidentLuther Hanson . . . . . . . . . . Vice PresidentMarion Anderson. . . . . . . . . . . . SecretaryJerome Jorgenson . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasurer

BOARD OF DIRECTORSThree-year terms ending January 2010Marion Anderson Virgil RudeHelen Haaland Luther HansonRon Bieri Jerry JorgensenGail PetersonThree-year terms ending January 2009Duane Aase Doralyn BrownRobert Whetter Eva GoodmanDoris Slaaten John SinnJo Ann WinistorferThree-year terms ending January 2008Mark Anderson Marian BerganErnie Selland Joan VartyLorna Van de Streek James MaragosLois MatsonOne-year appointees to January 2008Peder Rice Bruce NelsonVerla Rostad Erv JohnsonBob Sando

Ex-Officio MembersCarroll Erickson, Past PresidentBruce Christenson, Past PresidentArnie Braaten, Past PresidentAllen O. Larson, Past PresidentRoald Mattson, Past PresidentGeorge Officer, Past PresidentJeanne McNea, Office Manager

SCANDINAVIAN HERITAGE NEWS • December 2007 • Page 3

More history behind SHAParkby Jeanne McNeaSHA office manager

Christmas is near and the lights onthe trees in the park are making

it look like a winter wonderland.Thanks go to several volunteers whospent a few days getting the lightschecked and on the trees and build-ings.This project was one of James B.

“Jim” Johnson’s dreams, which cametrue in December 1993. People lookforward to seeing the lights everyyear from Thanksgiving until theNew Year.That first year, Dale Bakken from

Northwest Music donated all thelights; Laurence and Opal Thompsondonated the electric outlet pedestals.The trees were smaller and fewer,and all the board members plus someof the spouses came out to help.Jim was our second president and

served from November 1990 untilDecember 1994. He was involved inall of the first projects in the park, butthis time of each year we rememberhim for all the lights.The Eternal Flame was erected and

dedicated at that time in honor ofSondre Norheim, the famous skierfrom Norway, who settled here inNorth Dakota. The timing was justright, as the Winter Olympics werebeing held in Norway in 1994. Jim,with Dr. George Christianson and Dr.Myron Peterson, made the arrange-ments for the governor to bring aflame back from Norway to lightours.When the date for the dedication

and our annual banquet was set,

there was “noroom at theinns” for us, soit was arrangedto have acatered banquetin the CityAuditorium. Itwas the largestand most festivebanquet SHAhas ever had.The whole audi-torium and the

tables were decorated with greens,white lights and silver bows. NorskHøstfest and the Sons of NorwayLodge joined us, and we had digni-taries from Norway, including twogreat-granddaughters of SondreNorheim and other special guests.Lars Berge Haugen, a skier fromMorgedal, Norway, lit the flame.Jim said his first project was the

hardest and most challenging: gettingthe Sigdal House over here fromNorway and getting it financed. Toget a loan, each of the board mem-bers took the risk of signing thepapers. It took a long time to get itpaid for, but a lot of lessons werelearned along the way. MyronAnderson was appointed chairmanfor the reconstruction of the house.Jay Anderson, professor of Utah

State University, was the main speak-er at the annual banquet Feb. 8, 1991,and Jim feels that the concept of theoutdoor museum with the fiveNordic countries represented camefrom that visit. It is the only museumof that type in the world.Other projects under Jim’s direc-

From the OFFICE

Jeanne McNea

CALENDAR

THE HEART of acommunity isreflectedin thequalityof itsparks.

M I N O T P A R K D I S T R I C T420 Third Avenue SW • 857-4136

WINTER 2007-08Dec. 25, 2007• Merry ChristmasJan. 1, 2008 • Happy New YearSat., Jan. 26, 10 a.m. • ScandinavianHeritage Assciation Annual Meet-ing, SHA headquarters building,MinotFri., April 4, 6:30 p.m. • Scandina-vian Heritage Association Banquet,Grand International Inn, Minot

NEXT NEWSLETTER DEADLINE:Copy and pictures—Feb. 15, 2008Printing date—March 1, 2008

tion were the Flag Display, chairedby the late Cliff Bergan, and theDanish Mill, chaired by LaurenceThompson. The Icelandic Societyadded the statue of Lief Eiriksson, anewsletter was started, and an officewas opened for the organization.Jim felt that an office could be a

communication center for the boardmembers, a place to inform peopleabout the organization and a meet-ing place for the board. At that timethe board met every week. He hadsome space in a building that he letus use for several years, and I wasasked to manage the office.According to Jim, the highlight of

his presidency was the trip to Nor-way with Høstfest when he startedlaying the groundwork for gettingour Eternal Flame. Jim left his markon this park through his leadershipand hard work. Thank you, Jim. •

SHA Annual MeetingSATURDAY, JAN. 26, 2008 • 10 A.M.Scandinavian Heritage Association Headquarters • Minot

SHA members are invited to attend!

Page 4 • December 2007 • SCANDINAVIAN HERITAGE NEWS

by Allen O. Larson

The Scandinavian Heritage Associa-tion mourns the passing of its firstpresident, Gary A. Holum, andextends its condolences to his wife,Joan, and his family. He will bemissed.Gary was chosen to be the first

president of the ScandinavianHeritage Association because of hischarisma, energy and the great staturehe had in the Minot community. Theassociation needed to “hit the groundrunning” when it started, and Garyaccepted the challenge to help it doso. When all we had was a “dream” tosell to people, credibility was veryimportant. So with Judge Gary Holumas president and Mayor GeorgeChristenson as vice president, we feltconfident that our dream couldbecome a reality.The Scandinavian Heritage

Association was incorporated onApril 18, 1988, with the following offi-cers: Gary Holum, president; GeorgeM. Christenson, vice president; AllenO. Larson, secretary; and RussellAnderson, treasurer.Gary Holum served as president

until Nov. 2, 1990, and remained agood friend and supporter of theassociation until his death.

Reprinted from thememorial program

District Judge Gary A. Holum1937 - 2007

District Judge Gary A. Holum(retired), who lived his entire life

in North Dakota, virtually all of it inMinot, died Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, in aMinot hospital. His life has beendescribed as one of service to his com-munity and its residents through themany organizations in which he heldmembership and office. He was 70years old.He was born in Minot on March 19,

1937, a son of Bottolf and Mabel(Olson) Holum. He grew up in a one-

bedroom, downtown apartment onMinot's Main Street, where family lifewas crowded. He worked as a deliv-ery boy for The Minot Daily News, andhis home address earned him theMain Street route. Older residentsrecall the tall, skinny kid with a big,happy grin on his face, running upand down Main Street.He attended Minot schools, held

office as head of his class and playedbasketball at Minot High School. Hewas on the team that won the statechampionship in 1955, the year hegraduated. He recently was inductedinto the MHS Athletic Hall of Fame.Joan Riebe came into his life early.

They started dating in the ninthgrade, and on Aug. 16, 1958, theywere married in Minot. Before that, hestarted college, spending the 1955-56school year at Harvard University inCambridge, Mass. Then he returnedto North Dakota and attended theUniversity of North Dakota at GrandForks, earning a B.S./B.A. degreethere in marketing in 1960. He cameback to Minot where he worked in thecity assessor’s office. He was assistantcity assessor from 1960 to 1963 andcity assessor for the next five years.He was a member of the North

Dakota National Guard from 1960 to1967, and was on active duty in 1961-62.One day in 1968, a friend walked

into his office and said, “Let’s go tolaw school.” He thought about thatfor awhile. By then he and Joan hadtwo children, and he had passed his30th birthday. He decided to go for it,took and passed the UND law schooladmission test, and with his family,moved into one of the so-called tinhuts that were part of the university'scampus housing.His friend decided against law

school, and Holum found going backto the study grind wasn’t easy. In1971, he was awarded the juris doctordegree. After that, the family returnedto Minot where Gary became a part-ner in the law firm of Bosard,

McCutcheon, Karien, Schmidt, Holumand Rau, a practice that included athree-year stretch, from 1973 to 1976,as Minot city attorney.He left the law firm in 1981 to

accept an appointment as WardCounty Judge. He left that post to runfor District Judge, a state court, in1992. He won a second six-year termin 1998 and served until his retire-ment in 2004.When he returned to Minot in 1971,

he plunged into a wide range of activ-ities in a number of organizations,including the Ward County, NorthDakota and American Bar associa-tions, retaining membership in thosegroups throughout his legal career. Healso was a member of the NorthDakota Judicial Conference, the NorthDakota County Judges Association,Judicial Conduct Commission and theJudicial Performance EvaluationCommission. He was a member of theexecutive committee of the NationalConference of Special Court Judgesfrom 1982 until 1988.At Minot State University, he was

an adjunct instructor in the criminaljustice division in 1989 and 1990, andserved terms on the MSU Board ofRegents and the DevelopmentFoundation Board.Long active at First Lutheran

Church of Minot, he served on thechurch council, the church call andnominating committees, and chairedthe church centennial celebration.When his children were in school,

he was a member and past presidentof the Perkett and Jim Hill Parent

Gary A. HolumInmemory of SHA’s first president—

Gary Holum – 1937-2007

SCANDINAVIAN HERITAGE NEWS • December 2007 • Page 5

Teacher associations. He also was amember of the Edison PTA. Hemoved on to involvement with theMinot Music, Hockey and Swim clubboosters, served a term on and waspresident of the Minot School Board.He was a member of various Minot

Area Chamber of Commerce commit-tees, including its board of directors.He also served on the boards ofSecond Story, a social club for thementally and physically challenged,and the Minot YMCA. He joined theY’s Men’s Club in 1976, was on itsexecutive committee and served aspresident in 1983-84. He was a mem-ber of the Minot Recreation Commis-sion.A longtime member of the Minot

Kiwanis Club, he served on its board,was president in 1989-90 and a lieu-tenant governor of the Minnesota-Dakotas District of the club in 1989.He served on the board of Trinity

Medical Center from 1986 to 1990. Hewas a member of the Minot Elks andMoose lodges and of the InquisitorsClub of Minot.His pride in his Norwegian her-

itage was reflected in the high profilehe maintained through his work withNorsk Høstfest, as a member of itsboard and longtime manager of theevent’s general store. He also was amember of Thor Lodge of the Sons ofNorway and was on the board and aformer president of the ScandinavianHeritage Association.He had traveled through all of

Scandinavia. His journeys thereincluded six trips to Norway alone.He took his family to visit his father’sfarmstead in Flam, Norway, and heand his wife represented Minot’sNorsk Høstfest in that country, whichincluded visits to Skein, Minot’s sistercity in Norway.There were other trips through

Western and Eastern Europe, Eng-land, Japan, Mexico and Canada. Hetreasured his family and the time hespent with them. He liked to hunt,fish, and garden. He liked people andliked working with them.As a judge, he had to pass sentence

on convicted criminals, many of themtrapped in alcoholism or other drugs.Someone once told him, “You must be

under a lot of stress.”“No,” he said, “I give stress.”Many of those he put in jail who

were later released returned to tellhim, “You saved my life.”“You couldn’t have had anybody

better,” his wife said. “That’s a prettybig blessing. He was so proud of hischildren, and they were proud of theirdad.”Survivors include his wife, Joan;

sons Thomas Glenn Holum, Bloom-ington, Minn., and John Gary Holumand his wife Alicia, Gig Harbor,Wash.; daughter, Jane Ann Furer andand her husband Ferdinand, San Jose,Calif.; and two grandchildren, Ashleyand Justin Holum, Gig Harbor.An infant son, Robert, Gary’s par-

ents, a brother, Glenn Holum, and asister, Carol Holum, preceded him indeath.A memorial service was held on

Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007, at 11 a.m.in First Lutheran Church, Minot.Interment of ashes was at a private

ceremony in Gethsemane Cemetery inBurt Township, Ward County, southof Minot. •

Reuben Ellsworth Forsberg, 81,Minot, a former director and

active member of the ScandinavianHeritage Association, died on Nov. 30,2007, in his home from cancer.Reub was born on March 18, 1926,

on a farm north of Alamo, N.D., toArt and Margot (Manning) Forsberg.He was raised on the farm and gradu-ated from Alamo High School. Heserved in the U.S. Navy from 1944until 1946. Following his honorabledischarge, he attended Minot StateUniversity for four years.Reub married Ina Ruth Howe on

March 25, 1951, in Minot. They madetheir home in Minot, where he ownedand operated Reub’s Minot Cameraand Reub’s Jet Photo for many yearsprior to his retirement in 1992. Inaddition, he had served on a regionalcommittee of the Federal TradeCommission as an appointee of N.D.Gov. William Guy during the 1960sand was an Arthur Murray dance

instructor. Ina Ruth died on Sept. 25,1982. Reub married Hazel AndersonArcher on Oct. 12, 1984, in Minot.Reub was a member of First Luth-

eran Church, where he served as trea-surer on the church council. Heserved on the board of directors ofSHA and was a major force in secur-ing funding for the construction of thestabbur, the first major SHA Parkstructure. Major donors of the projectwere Mr. and Mrs. Larry Anderson ofMinot. Over the years Reub also tooknumerous photos of SHA events,which he donated to the organization.He was a life member of the Elks

Lodge, charter member of the MinotCamera Club and 50-year member ofthe Sons of Norway. He was a mem-ber of the Minot Gun Club, Minot SkiClub, Minot American Legion, V.F.W.and the Moose Lodge.Reub’s hobbies included photogra-

phy, dancing, playing the accordionand piano, and listening to polka

music. Heenjoyed skiing,snowmobiling,boating, auc-tion sales,hunting andcooking.Reub leaves

his wife of 23 years, Hazel; childrenHolly (Larry) Eidsness of Minot,Randi (Michael) Rice of Cedar Rapids,Iowa, and Ronald (Ann) Forsberg ofMontrose, Colo.; six grandchildren;one great-grandchild; one brother,Fred; three brothers-in-law; severalnieces, nephews, and cousins; and aspecial friend, Nels Rennerfeldt ofLongmont, Colo.Reub was preceded in death by his

parents, his first wife, Ina Ruth, and abrother, Mervin.Funeral services were held Dec. 7,

2007, at First Lutheran Church, Minot.He is interred at Rosehill MemorialPark, Minot. •

Longtime SHA director and friendReuben Forsberg passes away

ReubenForsberg –1926-2007

Page 6 • December 2007 • SCANDINAVIAN HERITAGE NEWS

‘Yule Goat’ (Christmas goat) an old Nordic customBack in Old Scandinavia, they say, Father Christmas rode agoat when he delivered goodies to eager children. Or was

it the goat who got the goodies? Or was the goat the gift???In Nordic countries, tradition has it that Santa came astride

a Yule Goat (Julbock in Swedish, Julebukk inNorwegian, Julebuk in Danish and Joulupukki inFinnish).The Yule Goat is one of the oldest Scandina-

vian and Northern European Christmas sym-bols. Its origins may date back to pre-Christiantimes, when two goats—named Tanngnjóstr andTanngrisnir—were said to pull the wagon of theNorse God Thor (god of thunder) across the sky.In Finland, the Yule Goat was originally an

ugly creature who frightened children anddemanded gifts at Christmas. Sometime in the1800s, its role became that of a giver of Christ-mas gifts. The rest of Scandinavian also adoptedthis more gentle version.Up until the 20th century, the Yule Goat was said to be

invisible, appearing shortly before Christmas to make sureYule preparations were in order.In Sweden, a custom known as Juleoffer (Yule Sacrifice)

involved young men with grimy faces, singing and dancing.

One would dress up as the Yule Goat while the others pre-tended to slaughter it. (Thankfully, after it was thus ceremoni-ously killed, the Yule Goat always woke up again!)Sometimes it was the Yule Goat who was the gift! In olden

times, our Nordic ancestors played pranks ontheir neighbors by sneaking a Yule Goat intotheir home without their knowledge. The“tricked” family had to get rid of the goat in thesame fashion.In the Old Country as well as in Norwegian

settlement areas of the U.S., young folks woulddress in costume as Julebukker (“Christmasfools”), paying surprise visits to neighboringhomes between Christmas and New Year. Theirneighbors were then expected to provide themwith treats of food and drink. The tradition ofjulebukking continues in some communities.In modern times, a decorative goat made out

of straw is often found under ScandinavianChristmas trees. Large versions of this ornament are frequent-ly erected in towns and cities around the holidays, then setafire before Christmas. A tinier version—a miniature strawgoat—is still a popular Christmas decoration (see the pictureat lower right on page 8 of this issue). •

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Lina JohnsonBraaten, Arnie and Fran

Joe StairGoodman, Eva

Fred GoodmanMcNea, Milton

Erickson, Carroll & NoreenSinn, JohnGoodman, EvaMatson, Lois A.Hodgson, VerlaJorgenson, Jerome & PatriciaSolie, IreneBraaten, Arnie and FranDarling, Patricia

Eric ReeveErickson, Carroll & Noreen

Dave GermainSinn, JohnErickson, Carroll & NoreenBraaten, Arnie and FranSolie, IreneGermain, Mrs. David

Eleanor JohnsonErickson, Carroll & Noreen

Shirley LinkErickson, Carroll & Noreen

Morris LawrenceBraaten, Arnie and Fran

Bill HummelErickson, Carroll & Noreen

Irene TvengeAnderson, Marion and Myron

Helen & Willie BodieAnderson, Marion and Myron

Dale CockrellGoodman, EvaAnderson, Marion and MyronHanson, Viona

Lawrence LamoureuxBrown, Doralyn

Connie HaugenBerg, Glen & Norma

Mickey ClarkBerg, Glen & Norma

Astrid Norby SchnabelHuesers, Anna Marie

R. OlsonBraaten, Arnie and Fran

Herb ParkerLarson, Allen O. and Shirley

Gary HolumAnderson, Marion and MyronArnold, Sue EBackes, Orlin & MillieBacon, Bruce & CathyBatchelor, DebbieBerg, Glen & NormaBergan, Marian B.Bjordahl, Roy E & Wanda LBliven, William & MaryBodell, Carolyn & JamesBraaten, Arnie and FranBrekke, Severin & BonnieBuettner, RamonaBurns, A. F. & P. A.Butz, DianeCarlson, Arvid L & LavonneCarlson, J.M.Chelgren, GladysChristenson, Bruce & JanCrankshaw, Charles & CheriDahlien, LorraineDehlin, GlennDill, Janice FEidsness, Larry & HollyElliott, Craig & MarthaFrost, Virgil R & HelenGrubb, Byron & NancyHaaland, HelenHady, Mike & NancyHafner, Ralph & CherylHansen, Denee VHaugeberg, ArnoldHegreberg, GeraldHeinemeyer, Margaret CHendrickson, MarkHodge, Robert & IreneHodgson, VerlaHugelen, Hillis J. & JeanHuizenga, BonnieHummel, Don & SherryJohnson, James B & Florence

Johnson, Kirk & MarthaJohnson, Leonard & BettyJorgenson, Jerome & PatriciaKnudson, Robert & ConnieKrause, AnnLarson, Allen & ShirleyLarson, Rich & MardiLarson, RuthLien, Fred A & Sheri CLoken, Iona HystadLokken, Gloria & RichardLouser & Zent PC ,Mahle, Cory & KariManson, Gene & MerryMarshall, C R & JoAnnMarshall, F. John & SharonMatonich, MarcoMedalen, Ernest & HelenMedalen, LorraineMinot Duplicate Bridge Club,Mongeon, Robert & LavoneNelson, ElaineNutz, Gary & JaneOfficer, George and JeaniceOlson, Clarence & CarolynOlson, EverettOlson, Gordon & CarleyOlson, Larry D.Olson, R Nick & Mar VonnePardon, Danny & MariePeterson, TwillaRedlin, Rolland & ChristineRolle, Milton & BonnieSabol, Richard & JanetSamuelson, John and BarbaraSchmidt, Priscilla & RonaldSchreiner, Ralph & YvonneSchriock, PearlSchulz, Georgia JSelland, Ernest B.Sinn, JohnSkreen, Carole & EmmettSolie, IreneStalions, Larry & SonjaStenvold, DelorisStewart, John and JodiStuck, John & DonnaSwenson, Bruce & JanTaube, Stanley ,Thompson, Isabelle E & Dean RTimm, MikeTollefson, Duane & SharleneTorno, Delton & VioletValor, Lynwood & TrudyVangsness, Steven & DebraVial, Dennis & YvonneWahlund, Larry & EdwinaWald, Donald & BerthaWalker, Bruce & DianeWankel, CharlesWheeler, Robert & BettyWhite, Keith & Patricia

M E M O R I A L SMemorials gifts in honor of the following persons

and the names of the donors are listed for theperiod from Jan. 1 through Oct. 31, 2007.

Page 8 • December 2007 • SCANDINAVIAN HERITAGE NEWS

Last-minute shopping?Stop by the...SHA Gift ShopFor any of those Scandinavians on your“Santa” list, may we recommend a giftfrom the Scandinavian Heritage AssociationGift Shop. Jeanne McNea (right), who runs theSHA office and orders items for the Gift Shop,invites you to stop in to browse around. You’llfind books, calendars, ceramic items, plates,tiles, aprons, jewelry, figurines and more—allwith a touch of Scandinavia.Another ideal gift for folks with Scandina-

vian roots: Give them a membership to theScandinavian Heritage Association. It’s a giftthat keeps giving all year—to the recipient,and to preserving the heritage of the early pio-neers. Members receive a 10-percent discounton SHA items purchased in the Gift Shop, fourissues of the Scandinavian Heritage News, and agift packet containing a membership pin and awindow sticker. For details, see page 12.Don’t forget—as a member, you, too, get

that 10 percent SHAGift Shop discount! •

PHOTO

SBYJO

ANNWINISTO

RFER

SCANDINAVIAN HERITAGE NEWS • December 2007 • Page 9

Thank youto our

Advertisers!�

REMEMBER TO SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS!They help make this newsletter possible!Next time you need the services offered by anyof our advertisers, check with them first. It’s agreat way to show your appreciation for theirsupport of this newsletter as well as ourScandinavian Heritage Association.

The ScandinavianHeritage Assn.

Heritage House...ready for 2008Thanks to gifts of time, money and Scandi-navian-related items, the SHAHeritage

House, located on the southwest corner ofSHA Park, is turning into a sanctuary fortreasured relics, displayed museum-styleAbove, left, two sisters from Kansas visit

the Saani costume display. At right, one cor-ner of the living room contains an antiquepump organ along with a lamp, Norwegian“bunad” folk costume and old-fashionedrocking chair.Each section of the house-turned-museum

contains something to interest Scandinavia-philes, including a Viking ship replica,hardanger fiddles, and several immigranttrunks. At right, what was once a bedroomnow holds bunad-clad figurines, including achild, standing guard over a spinning wheel.The Heritage House is used as a meeting

place, and come spring 2008, it will again beopen for visits. Donations are welcome! •

PHOTO

SBYJO

ANNWINISTO

RFER

Page 10 • December 2007 • SCANDINAVIAN HERITAGE NEWS

by Arland Fiske

Before the Pony Express carried mail overthe Sierra Nevadas, a young Norwegian

from Telemark sailed on skis across 90 milesof stormy heights from Placerville,California (scene of the Gold Rush) toCarson Valley, Nevada. For 20 years, JohnA. Thompson, known as “Snowshoe”Thompson, carried the mail over themountains to isolated camps, rescued lostpeople and helped those in need. He wasa legend in his own time.Born April 30, 1827, he emigrated to

America with his mother when he was 10.After living in Illinois, Missouri and Iowa,he joined the gold-seekers in Californiawhen he was 21. He was lonesome for themountains. Anyone who has been to Telemarkknows how much mountains are a part of thepeople’s lives.Having moved to California, Thompson bought a

ranch in the Sacramento Valley. He didn’t care for aminer’s life. His is believed to be the first farm owned by aNorwegian in California.

Snowshoe read about the difficulty of gettingmail across the Sierras and volunteered for thejob. His skis, made from oak trees on his farm,were over 10 feet long and weighed 25pounds. People laughed at them and saidthey wouldn’t work. Today they are in aSacramento museum.

Hardships along the trailSnowshoe skied up to 45 miles a day

over snowdrifts 50 feet deep with a loadof 60 to 100 pounds on his back. Travelinglight, he carried only some crackers anddried meats to eat. He did not use liquor,but scooped up snow to drink if no moun-tain stream was nearby. Wearing just aMackinaw, he had no blanket to keep warm.More than once Thompson jigged untilmorning to keep from freezing to death. Nordid he carry a weapon for protection against

wolves or grizzlies. Once eight wolves blocked hispath. When he didn’t flinch, they let him pass. The

stars and his wits were his compass.Snow in the Sierras was deep, sometimes higher than the

trees. Many mornings Snowshoe had to dig himself out of a

The Scandinavian Heritage • 9‘Snowshoe’ Thompson carried the mail—on skis!

‘Snowshoe’ Thompson:Norwegian-American heroThe story of John A. “Snowshoe” Thompson is the stuffof legends. In the fall of 1855, the Sacramento Union

newspaper carried this ad: “People lost to the world. UncleSam needs a mail carrier.” Norwegian emigrant JohnThompson, a new California resident, answered the ad,and from 1856 to 1876 he carried the mail across the SierraNevada Mountains between the Gold Fields of Californiaand Carson Valley, Nevada—a 90-mile trip one way.The book “Astri My Astri: Norwegian Heritage Stories”

by author/publisher Deb Nelson Gourley contains detailson Snowshoe Thompson as well as 15 other fascinating,true tales, in both English and Norsk. Nelson writes thatThompson’s actual name was Jon Torsteinsson Rue,youngest son of Torstein Olsson Gollo and Gro JonsdatterEinungbrekke (Håkaland/Rue), from Tinn, Telemark. In1837, the widow Gro and her children, including 10-year-old Jon, immigrated to America. In 1843, the sons in thefamily changed their surname to “Thompson.”For more on “Astri My Astri” and other heritage-histo-

ry books, including “History of the Norwegian Settle-ments” and “Kings of Norway” (a bilingual book-CD set),visit the following website: www.astrimyastri.com. •

With his mailbag on his back, Snowshoe Thompson skiedacross the Sierra Nevada Mountains separating CaliforniaGold Country and Carson Valley, Nevada. Although heused skis, his fellow miners called them “snowshoes.”(Illustration and photo from “Astri My Astri: NorwegianHeritage Stories,” courtesy of Deb Nelson Gourley)

SCANDINAVIAN HERITAGE NEWS • December 2007 • Page 11

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snowbank to continue his journey.When traveling to Washington, D.C., in1874, Snowshoe’s train became stuck insnow so that four locomotives could notpull it through. He took to his skies andin two days had traveled the 56 miles toCheyenne Wyoming. He beat the train.What was his pay for 20 years of

work? Many promises, but the govern-ment’s response was, “We’re sorry,but...” A later investigation into thePostmaster General’s records indicatethey had not even noted his name—only his route and the dates.

Snowshoe leaves a proud heritageFor all his fame, he was a modest

man, never boasting or sitting on hishaunches. He is regarded today as themost remarkable man to have everbuckled on ski straps in America. Onepostmaster claimed he saw Thompsonjump 180 feet without a break. When just 49, John A. Thompson

died of a liver ailment on his Californiaranch. He is buried in Diamond Valley,30 miles south of Carson City, besidehis only son, who died at age 11.Snowshoe Thompson is still remem-

bered by family in America. JanetErdman of Willow City, N.D., wrote methat her grandfather, John Sanderson,was Snowshoe’s nephew. Like so manychildren of immigrants, they’re proudof their Scandinavian heritage and gladto be Americans. •

— — —Editor’s note: This column is the ninth in aseries by former Minot pastor, Arland Fiske(now living in Moorhead, Minn.), retiredfrom ministry in the Evangelical LutheranChurch in America. Fiske has written ninebooks on Scandinavian heritage. The chap-ter reprinted here is from his book, “TheScandinavian World.”

Bradley Thomas • Bryan Thomas

We are proud of ourSwedish Heritage

via theQuist and Chelgren (Johnson)

lineages.

Page 12 • December 2007 • SCANDINAVIAN HERITAGE NEWS Page 12 • March, 2007 • SCANDINAVIAN HERITAGE NEWS

Coming soon: Audio tours of SHA Park!Plans to have an audio tour system in place in Scandina v -

ian Heritage Park by this summer are progressing nicely.The system will involve the use of around a half dozenMP3 players, each containing recorded descrip-tions of the park’s features.

“Each system will look like a smallWalkman, complete with headphones andneck band,” says Mark Anderson, SHA pres-ident. “There will be five or six available,and people can rent them for a nominalcharge to carry with them on a self-guidedtour.”

A joint project between the ScandinavianHeritage Association and the North DakotaCenter for Persons with Disabilities (NDCPD),the players are designed especially for visuallyimpaired park visitors.

But anyone can use them to enhance their tour experi-ence, according to President Mark, noting,”It’s a positivething on a number of different levels.”

Already, the text for the soundtrack has been written and isin the editing process.

Still to be decided is whether the audio player’srecording will be coordinated with a circle tour of

the park, or whether different stations along theroute would have numbers, enabling the user

to simply push a number to synchronize thetract to describe that particular park high-light—or both!

The next step is to raise funds to offsetthe cost of the pro j ect, which is expected torun between $2,000 and $2,500.

President Mark is busy these days send-ing letters to friends, fraternal organizations

and businesses to see whether they would liketo help sponsor the project. How about you? If you, your business, your orga-

nization or anyone you know would like to give a dona-tion, please call the SHA Office at (701) 852-9161.

Thank you!•

THE SCANDINAVIAN HERITAGE PARK, the only park in the world representing all five Nordic countries, hosts thousands ofvisitors each year from around the world; as well as providing a picturesque setting for weddings and family gatherings.As a member of the Scandinavian Heritage Association, You help support:

SUSTAINING MEMBER$35.00 per year

Will receive the SHA MembershipPackage, which includes:

• Membership Card good for 10% offScandinavian Gift Shop items

Join Us In Preserving the Traditions of Our Proud Heritage

• Interpretative Tours of the Park• The Heritage House Museum• Local School Field Trips• The Annual “Midsommar Natt”• “Arts in the Park”• Seminars on Heritage and Culture• The on-going preservation and pro-

motion of Scandinavian traditions,positive values and ethics

• And much, much more!

Name (please print)____________________________ Phone _______________

Address__________________________________ E-mail___________________

City_____________________________State_______ Zip___________________

I/We wish to support the Scandinavian Heritage Association at the level checked below:� Sustaining Member � Sponsor Member � Benefactor Member � Yes, I/We give permission to print our name in the SHA publications� Please contact us. � I/We would like to become Volunteer(s) at SHA.� Check enclosed $________ � Credit Card: � MasterCard � Visa � Discover � Am. Exp.

Card Number _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Exp. Date_______Name on Card(please print) __________________________ Signature____________________________

Please mail to Scandinavian Heritage Assn., P.O. Box 862, Minot, ND 58702. Thank You!

M E M B E R S H I P A P P L I C A T I O N

• Membership Pin (initial membership)

• The Scandinavian Heritage News, offi-cial newsletter of the Association

• Invitation to Annual Banquet and otherSHA events

• Annual SHA Gift Packet

• Logo window Sticker

SPONSOR MEMBER$100.00 - $499.00 per year

Receives the SHA Membership Package,plus:

• Recognition in Newsletter (one issue)

• One (1) Complimentary Ticket to theAnnual Banquet

BENEFACTOR MEMBER$500.00 and above per year

Receives the SHA Membership Package,plus:

• Recognition in Newsletter (one issue)

• Two (2) Complimentary Tickets to theAnnual Banquet

M E M B E R S H I P C A T E G O R I E S

by Bruce Christenson

This is the time of year we think ofgiving gifts. It’s also nearing the endof a tax year—the time to weigh incomeand expenses for tax purposes.Did you know that you can make a

substantial gift to the SHA and providefor yourself and your family at the sametime? What’s more, your gift can helpyou reduce your tax liability at incometax time.Our gift annuity program offers you

the gift that gives back. A gift annuityoffers you the satisfaction of supporting

the SHA, an organization you believein, and the chance to improve your cashflow at the same time.With a gift annuity, you simultane-

ously make a charitable gift and provideguaranteed payments for life to yourselfand/or another person. These paymentswill be made for the rest of your life. Or,you may choose an annuity that willcontinue as long as a spouse or otherbeneficiary lives.The size of the payments depends on

your age and the amount of your contri-bution. The older you are when theannuity starts, the larger the payments.

And those payments can never bereduced, no matter what happens to theeconomy or interest rates. You canchoose to have payments made in annu-al, semi-annual or quarterly install-ments. The payments can be deferred,and grow tax-free.At tax time, you receive an income

tax charitable deduction in the year ofyour gift. And for years after, a portionof your payments will be tax-free. Incertain circumstances, you may also beable to reduce gift taxes and the size ofyour taxable estate.

Questions? Contact SHASHA will be glad to give you infor -

mation about current annuity rates andexplain how a gift annuity can work foryou. For information, contact the SHAoffice at (701) 852-9161.Merry Christmas, everyone! •

Gift annuity:A gift that gives back

SCANDINAVIAN HERITAGE NEWS • December 2007 • Page 13

SCANDINAVIAN SOCIETY NEWS•••

by Ken Holand, presidentIcelandic Heritage Society Newsletter

We had a good year with theIcelandic food booth at

Norsk Høstfest. A big thankyou to everyone, includingthe daughters of VictoriaTorr, for all the hard workand great job they did for theIcelandic Society.

Kaffee SamkomaThe Kaffee Samkoma was

a great success. We hadapproximately 60 people at theevent. George Freeman gave atalk on the Mouse River settle-ment. Plus, there were lots ofIcelandic goodies to go with our coffeeand conversation.

Three scholarships were awarded tostudents of Icelandic descent. Wereceived 12 applications for thescholarships. It was a great task todecide who would be the recipi-ents, as they were all verydeserving. Thank you toColleen Fitchner for handlingthe scholarship program.We had our annual meet-

ing on Dec. 9 at the home ofmy wife Evie and me inMinot. Our meeting involvedwhere we will go with theIcelandic Society. At presentthere are only seven memberswho are involved. We needmore people to participate so we

can do more things. If interested inbecoming involved, call me at (701)838-8538, and I will see to it that you

are included in future projects.We wish you a wonderful holiday

season. •

Icelandic Heritage Society NEWSIcelandic booth a hit at Høstfest

Icelandic members prepare Pönnukökur, apancake served with strawberries andwhipped cream or filled with jam, forNorsk Høstfest diners. (Photo by Jo AnnWinistorfer)

by Eunice Johnson Souris Valley Danish Society

During Høstfest thisyear, the Danish

Society had a small recep-tion for Stig Hansen andhis lovely wife, Sue; theDanes from Minnea poliswho run the Tivoli Cafe,and others. The Elk HornMuseum people could notmake it this year. Stig is a chef from

Denmark who lives in Utah.He spoke on how his“Cooking Danish” cookbook,

packed with full-color food picturesand delicious Danish-style recipes,

came about. He alsotalked about his life.Stig and Sue Hansensold the cookbook atthe Norsk HøstfestBookstore. It is alsoavailable at theScandinavianHeritage CenterGift Shop. We also manned

an informationbooth at Høstfestand met manywonderful people.

Ancestry.com available If you would like something looked

up on Ancestry.com and you do nothave it (the Minot Public Library hasit) ask Pam Orth, our Danish Societysecretary. While she cannot do yourfamily history, she can track your fami-ly on the U.S. census if you so wish. Our meeting on Dec. 10 was a

potluck Christ -mas party. Please come

to our futuremeetings if youare, or thinkyou might be,interested inDanish culture. The Souris

Valley DanishSociety wishesyou all happyholiday! •

Souris Valley Danish Society NEWS

Danish chef/cookbook authorStig Hansen speaks at reception

by Loren Anderson, presidentSwedish Heritage Society-NWND

The Swedish Society of NWNDmet Sept. 15 at the Swedish

Zion Lutheran Church (SZLC),rural Souris. We invited anyonefrom the area who had been amember or whose family had beena member of the country stonechurch, one of the few stonechurches remaining. Several boardmembers from the Bottineau-Sourisarea joined us. Following a meeting and tour of

the cemetery and church, we pro-ceeded to the Del and Vi Torno cabinat Lake Metigoshe. We met with thedescendents and members becauseone of our members, Gene Wunder -lich, had written a book, “StoneChurch: A Prairie Parable,” andagreed to donate the proceeds of thebook toward a new roof for thechurch.“Stone Church” is a nonfiction

account of constructing a house ofworship. Details of that constructionrange from shaping and setting thefoundation to selecting and applyingwallpaper. However, the story goesfar beyond building a church tobuilding a community, a new life in anew world. Transcending the factual account

is the allegorical content of wind andstone as guiding forces in the lives

and fortunes of theSwedish homestead-ers.The story of

Swedish Zion Lutheranopens with a description of its setting,the rolling prairies of North Dakotagenerally and the particular place ofthe church. Of the many unique quali-ties of this vast grassland, wind ishighlighted as a primal feature. Walter Prescott Webb claimed that

“nowhere in the world, perhaps, hasthe wind done more effective workthan in the Great Plains.” In “StoneChurch,” wind achieves almost mysti-cal status. Stone is the other pivotal element

of the story. Stone becomes counter-point to the Swedish emigrants. Likethe Swedes, the granite rocks weremigrants, having traveled from thenorth aboard the Ice Age glaci-ers. They settled in the soil to competewith the farmer’s plow but then even-tually partnered with the Swedishbuilders to become the stone church. In addition to profits from “Stone

Church” book sales, a lady from nearSeattle Washington, Clarise Titterud(who was Gene Wunderlich’s sixthgrade teacher), saw the book this pastsummer in the SHA Gift Shop anddonated another $5,000 toward theproject. Now it is up to the existing board

of directors of the SZLC to solicit bidsand complete the roofing project,hopefully before any further damageis sustained to the roof. The book is available in the SHA

Gift Shop. Or, you may contact any ofour officers for a copy. The booksmake excellent gifts, especially nowfor Christmas, and the proceeds go toan excellent cause.

News from the NetI have been perusing SWEDEN.SE

in an effort to come up with interest-ing articles for you this season, and Ireally recommend using this site forinformation about Sweden.

Society visits Carbury’shistoric Stone Church

Page 14 • December 2007 • SCANDINAVIAN HERITAGE NEWS

Swedish Heritage Society NEWS SWEDEN.SE is adminis-tered by the SwedishInstitute. It is a cooperativeeffort by the Swedish govern-ment offices, the SwedishTrade Council, the Invest inSweden Agency, and VisitSweden.Simply go to

www.sweden.se and you willfind several tabs to click on.This will give you informa-tion about current news in

business, government, education,research, and many other topics. Another interesting site is

www.sweden.gov.se. This site providesa great deal of information regardinggovernmental offices and the variousministry officials and offices.I have also located four websites to

help you trace your Swedish genealo-gy:• Swedish Church Records On -

line: www.genline.se• House of Genealogy:

www.genhouse-sweden.com• Swedish information Service

New York: www. web-com.com/sis/tracing.htm• Kinship Centre (Karlsd

Emigrantregistret): www.emigrant -registret.se• Swedish Emigrant Institute:

www.swemi.nu

Julbord celebration Dec. 21The annual Swedish American

Chamber is celebrating Julbord onDec. 21 at the American SwedishInstitute on 2600 Park Ave. in Minn -eapolis. If any of you are interested inattending, I can call in reservationsfor you. We have lowered the pricethis year to $69 per person. Of course, we present a full Sankta

Lucia Pageant at this event everyyear. This includes glög served from11 a.m. to 12 noon, and appetizers,snapps and dinner from noon until 3p.m. Please contact me early if youwish to participate in this spectacularevent, because I can get you reducedhotel rates. We may be able to carpool if enough people participate.Contact me, Loren Anderson, at (701)839-3773 or at loren.anderson@ minot-stateu.edu.We will meet again the third

Saturday in January.God Jul och Gott Nytt År•

Welcome

to Minot!

5 Convenient Locationsfor all of your Petroleumand Convenience Items

CENEX OF MINOTPhone 701-852-2501

SCANDINAVIAN HERITAGE NEWS • December 2007 • Page 15

by Martha Elliott, presidentThor Lodge 4-067 Sons of Norway

Greetings to SHA members! ThorLodge celebrated its annual

Yulefest on the 17th of December.Many members came out on a win-ter evening and enjoyed a deliciousdinner and a very good program. We now work toward programs

and cultural activities for 2008. Wewill offer programs in hardangersom,

Thor Lodge Sons of Norway NEWS

knitting, the S/N reading program,the S/N music program, folk dancing,rosemaling and others. If interested intaking any of our classes, please con-tact me.Thor Lodge now has a membership

of about 640, and we are excited aboutour membership. We see many of themembers at our meetings and socials. We invite you to join us! We meet

for a business session the firstMonday of each month, and we have

Thor Lodge making 2008 plans

by Marion Anderson, presidentDakota Finnish Society

The Finnish Society had another suc-cessful year at the Norsk Høstfest.

Thank you to all of the workers whohelped make it a success. We were pre-sented with a plaque and $100 fromthe Norsk Høstfest—thank you,Høstfest!

Pikkujoulu well attendedWe had our seventh annual

Pikkujoulu (Little Christmas) celebra-tion on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007, at theScandinavian Heritage Center. Approx -imately 65 people attended the affair.The participants came from Velva,Ruso, Wing, Washburn, Bismarck,Tioga, Coleharbor, Stanley, Rolla, RockLake and Minot. Entertainment was provided by

John Halone and Alfred Juntunen ofRolla, and Carl Kanniainen of Stan ley.They also accompanied George andVelma Raasakka of Rolla, who led thegroup in singing Christmas carols inFinnish. Maila Zitelli, an instructor atMinot State University, recited aFinnish poem. She is from Estonia andattended school in Finland for threeyears. A silent auction was held and a total

of $267 was received for the auction.The auction proceeds were all donatedto the Salvation Army. Thank you to all who attended and

participated to make this another suc-cessful event. Finland’s Independence Day is Dec.

6. This year Finland celebrated 90years of independence.

FinnFest, anyone?Plans are also under way to attend

the FinnFest in Duluth in July of 2008.Anyone interested in attending thisevent, please contact Bruce Carlson at(701) 338-2152 or Marion Anderson at838-8677. Housing and event registra-tion should be in by the beginning of2008. One of the highlights of the Finn -

Fest in Duluth will be a performanceby the Minnesota Orchestra; the direc-tor is from Finland. Many other enter-tainers from Finland will also be per-forming.

Scholarship awardedA scholarship of $500 was present-

ed to Tasha Swanson. She is the grand-daughter of Finnish Society membersDon and Sylvia Swanson. Tashaattends Minot State University and ismajoring in addiction counseling. Shewants to remain in North Dakota aftershe completes her studies.Merry Christmas and Happy New

Year, everyone! •

Dakota Finnish Society NEWS

Finns celebrate ‘Little Christmas’

our socialon thethirdMonday ofeachmonth. TheotherMondayswe havechoir andfolk danc-ing. On

behalf ofmyself and all members of ThorLodge, we wish you a MerryChristmas and a Happy 2008.•

Tasha Swanson, Minot, winner of a $500Icelandic Scholarship.

by Jo Ann Winistorfer

There’s just something about mapsthat fascinates me. And that’s a good

thing, for someone who’s into genealogy.Indeed, maps can be a valuable aid for fam-ily history seekers.In genealogy, three keys can help you

unlock your family’s history: names, datesand places. The places your ancestorscame from are some of the most valuableclues to researching them. You need toknow where to look for records! The following information on maps

may aid you in your search:First, you need to be aware of the many

varieties of maps out there! You’ll findantique maps, old railroad maps, topogra-phy maps, plat maps, closeup maps—andeven satellite maps offering images of theentire planet via the Internet.Antique maps are not only fun to look

at, they can give you a glimpse of the areawhere your ancestors once lived! Look fora map printed around the time of yourfamily’s residence in that area.Keep in mind that place names and

borders often changed over time. That’sanother reason you should check a map ofthe appropriate time period. An old mapcan often help you find locations of whatare now ghost towns, which may nolonger be listed on modern-day maps. Regional history books (city, county or

township books) often contain plat mapsof townships, containing names of land -

owners in each section. If you need thelegal description of the land of your ances-tors settled on so you can retrieve your“homestead packet” papers from theNational Archives, this is one way to getthat information—especially if your fami-ly was living in the area at the time themap was created.The North Dakota State Archives and

Historical Research Library, located in theHeritage Center in Bismarck has collec-tions of early atlases and county platbooks, with maps showing land owner-ship by township. Some have been micro-filmed. Also check area libraries, statehistorical societies, county histories andold atlases for historical maps.Closeup maps are especially valuable

and can give you an in-depth prespectiveof your family’s community. When mybrother and I traveled by car in Norwaysome years ago, we took our maps alongand were able to locate the farms of ourancestors, since farm names are listed!For details, visit Travel Genie Maps on

the Web at www.travgenie.com. Click onNorway, Sweden and/or Denmark foravailable closeup maps. The most detailedmaps are at 1:50 000 scale. You’ll find a mapgrid showing section numbers of areasdepicted on each map. (The Norway mapsare called Statens Kartverk Series M711maps.) These maps are $14.95 each. Toorder, list the appropriate section number. Good luck in your quest for maps, and

have a wonderful holiday season! •

Page 16 • December 2007 • SCANDINAVIAN HERITAGE NEWS

P.O. Box 862Minot, ND 58702

Mapping your genealogyTracing your Scandinavian ROOTS • 20

At left: A plat map ofBalfour Town ship from an area history book.Above: Close up map of the area around Gol,Hallingdal, Nor way, former home of the originalGol Stave Church (relocated in Bygdøy Park nearOslo). A replica of this church serves as the crownjewel of Scandinavian Heritage Park, Minot.