The 2004 Sju Lag StevneJuly 7-10 at the Holiday Inn & Confer-ence Center in Willmar, MN.

You are cordially invited to join yourfellow lag members, and members of theother six participating lags, at the 2004stevne. As always, this is not only formembers - the stevne is open to all whohave an interest in Norwegian immigrantsin America.

Willmar is in Kandiyohi County, inwest central Minnesota. Norwegiansettlement in this county started about1857. This is farming country and the firstsettlers were nearly all farmers, whichprompted us to select Amber Waves ofGrain as the slogan for the stevne.

This is also lake country, includingone that became known as Norway Lake.At one point, the historian Hjalmer Holanddescribed the Norway Lake settlement as“the largest Norwegian settlement inAmerica." The immigrants included alarge number from the areas of Norwayrepresented by our seven lags.

The Conference Center is wellmatched to the our needs. It is connectedto the main motel by a hallway so it ispossible to take in nearly all events with-out leaving the building. Contact informa-tion for the recommended motels is givenin the registration form in this newsletter.

The schedule for the stevne is printed

in this newsletter, and is similar to thosefor recent stevner. There is a heavyemphasis the year on classes, coveringgenealogy, culture and some history andbiography. A list of the 19 classes thathave been scheduled are listed on page 3can be seen at www.sigdalslag.org (clickon stevne in the left margin). In additionto these, an informal workshop on Har-danger embroidery is planned for Thurs-day. Space is limited to 16; if oversub-scribed, we will select from the applicantsby a lottery.

(C onti nue d on page 3 )

Amber Waves of Grain....By Earl O. Knutson, President of Sigdalslag, Coordinator for the 2004 Sju Lag Stevne

Fra Presidenten 2

Stevene Classesand Program

4

Stevne Registration(please mail by June 7!)

5

Sigdalslag Book 8

Slooper MonumentProject

9

Member Surveys andLibrary donations

11

Inside this issue:

Velkommen, nyelag medlemmer!

TOM LANMANWoodbury, MN

BERNADINE & ROZANJAMBOR St. P aul, MN

KAREN ANN & GEORGEC. OLSON, JR.Northome, MN

SHERI TWENGENewberg, OR

CONNOR JAMES MILLERWoodbury, MN

WILLIAM & JANEBOLSTAD Lubbock, TX

LORENE (TYSVER)DETERMAN Lynnville, TN

MARILYN POOLEFargo, ND

MARY BODNARCreston, BC

MONICA & SCOTTMCCONKEYDetroit Lakes , MN

JOAN & DOUG KRAMERBejou, MN

DOLLY ADELE BROWNBraham, MN

Serving Norwegian-Americans of Sigdal, Eggedal & Krødsherad ancestry

Sigdalslag Saga

May, 2004

Volume 24, Issue 2

Since 1911

HjerteDans

2002-2003SigdalslagOfficers

God dag til alle

Sigdalslag medl

emmer!

It has been a bu

sy few months fo

r your president

, and for

the board. Our m

ain job has been

plan and organi

ze this

year's Sju Lag S

tevne, which wil

l be held July 7

-10 at the

Holiday Inn and

Conference Cente

r in Willmar, MN

. There is

information and

a registration f

orm in this news

letter. I

especially call

your attention t

o the strong pro

gram of

classes this yea

r, arranged by o

ur genealogist L

ee Rokke.

We are also plea

sed to present a

Saturday aftern

oon

concert this yea

r, by a harmonic

a orchestra from

Norway.

We hope that man

y of our members

can come to the

stevne.

As always, there

are many opport

unities for gene

alogy

research and for

cultural enligh

tenment, but the

social

aspect is also v

ery important. I

t would be fun f

or me to

meet you in pers

on!

Our Nominating C

ommittee this ye

ar will be chair

ed by Ruth

Hoff Manning, a

longtime member

and former offic

er. If she

calls you and as

ks you to serve

as an officer, I

hope you

will give it ser

ious thought.

Once the stevne

is over, we then

need to get bus

y on

collecting mater

ials for the new

Sigdalslag book

. Already,

several of our m

embers have help

ed by reviewing

the

indexes of the c

urrent books, to

better inventor

y the

information we a

lready have.

I am also starti

ng to daydream a

bout another Sig

dalslag

Norway trip. The

last one was in

2000, so 2005 o

r 2006

might be a good

time for another

.

Ha det bra,

Earl O. Knutson

President, Sigda

lslag

MEMBERS! IMPORTANT NOTICE!If you did not receive the February 2004issue of SAGA, please notify me (CindyPeterson, info at left). The Post Officereturned ten issues to me with NO addresslabels! Apparently the postal machinesstripped the labels, and I have no way ofknowing who the intended recipients were.

The SAGA is our connection for all mem-bers, and your membership is important tothis organization. I want to be sure that noone misses an issue.

On that note, please notify us if you changeyour mailing or email address. Thanks!

Hope to see you in Willmar! Cindy P.

Fra Presidenten:

Editor’s Corner...

P age 2 S ig da lsl ag Sa ga V ol ume 2 4 , I ss ue 2

EARL O. KNUTSON President722 Second Street SWWillmar, MN 56201320-222-1613eoknutsn@en-tel.net

CAROL MEADE VP 16929 Park Ave.Richfield, MN 55423612-243-3924cmeade@bitstream.net

GARTH ULRICH VP 2Box 28, Spalding SKSOK 4CO, CANADA306-633-2274gulrich@sasktel.net

JUDY SOSTED VP 31118 Lia CourtNorthfield, MN 55057jsosted@hotmail.com

DON SKADELAND Treasurer10642 “O” StreetOmaha, NE 68127402-331-5906DLSkad@msn.com

AMY MICHELSEN Secretary18730 Roanoke St. NWAnoka, MN 55303-8971763-753-5484amymikemichelsen@earthlink.net

LEE ROKKE Genealogist13465 Garden View DriveApple Valley, MN 55124952-432-9767leerokke@aol.com

MARILYN MOEN Co-Editor32557 Clay Bank RoadErhard, MN 56534mmoen@prtel.com

CINDY PETERSON Co-Editor/Publisher3520 Banyan StreetSanta Rosa, CA 95403707-573-1504vikingsby7@msn.com

For submissions or questions,please contact Marilyn Moenor Cindy Peterson

Some events are planned for outsidethe Conference Center, namely a dinner atchurch and a history tour. The host for thechurch dinner will be Calvary Lutheran,about 2 miles from the Conference Center.This church is quite active in honoring thememory of Norwegian immigrants; for thepast several years they have held a ‘lillejulaften” service, in Norwegian, onDecember 23rd. They also showcase adramatic artwork, a woodcarving calledPeter denying Christ by renowned Will-mar woodcarver Fred Cogelow. Thedinner will include a tour of the building.

For those who would like an outdoormeal on Thursday evening, we can recom-mend a dinner-cruise on Green Lake,aboard the pontoon boat Spicer Belle.Green Lake is some 10 miles NE ofWillmar and the cost is about $30. Makeyour own reservations at 320-796-5870,800-821-6675, or www.spicercastle.com.

The history tour has been arranged incooperation with the Kandiyohi CountyHistorical Society We will use air-conditioned motor coaches that will leavethe Conference Center at 8:30 AM Fridayand return about 1 PM. The stops will be:the Guri Endreasen cabin, the VikorChurch, the Old Log Church, the Knudsoncabin, and the East Norway Lake Lutheranchurch. The log church is a full-sizereplica of the first church built in Arc-tander Township. The East Church,where we will have a free-will-offeringlunch, dates from 1875 and is a successorto the log church.

The banquet at 5 PM - 6:30 PM onSaturday will have a fixed menu, a combi-nation plate of salmon and beef, whichwill be served at the tables. There will beold-time dinner music by a local groupcalled the Norsemen. You can expect alittle lefse and a little rømmegrøt as well.

Turning to the convocations, four acts

with a strong cultural flavor have beenscheduled for the edification and enter-tainment of stevne participants. On Fridayevening a duo called HjerteDans , willpe r f or m f olkdances from south-central Norway.(They will alsoteach one of theclasses earlier inthe day.) Also onFriday evening, wewill be entertainedby Eric Bergeson,a singer/storyteller/author from northwest Minnesota.

A late addition to the program, toappear 2:30 PM to 4 PM on Saturday, isan orchestra from Malm, Trøndelag,Norway. They are billed as an harmonicaorchestra, but play a variety of instrumentsand types of music. This group is part ofan entourage that happens to be touringMinnesota, arranged by impresario CarrolT. Juven of Fargo.

The final act will be Ole and Sven,two gentlemen from Wisconsin whospecialize in “Norwegian songs, jokes andother foolishness.” With a guitar asaccompaniment, they sing and poke some

fun at themselves and others of Norwe-gian ancestry. Many of the songs are onesthey have written themselves, and in somecases they have put new words to oldtunes. (More on the entertainment on page 7)

(C ont i nu ed f r om p ag e 1)

Ole and Sven

Stevne...

P age 3S ig da lsl ag Sa ga V ol ume 2 4 , I ss ue 2

Eric Bergesen

StevneTransportation:

Willmar is located 100miles west of the Minnea-polis/St. Paul, and theConference Center is atthe eastern edge ofWillmar, near the intersec-tion of US highways 12and 71. The best nearbyairport is Minneapolis/St.Paul International, MSP.There is daily limousineservice between MSP andWillmar, leaving MSP at4:30 PM on weekdays.The return limousineleaves the ConferenceCenter at 8:30 AM onSunday and 9:30 AM otherdays. The cost is $80 oneway and $155 round trip.Reservations are required;call 320-253-2226 withcredit card and airlineinformation.

Lodging:

Please make your ownarrangements. Therecommended hotels are(rates firm until June 17,2004; mention the SevenLag Stevne):

Holiday Inn(hallway-connected tothe Conference Center$69.99 + tax, single ordouble occupancy,320-235-6060 or800-465-4329,

Comfort Inn(a few steps away fromthe Conference Center)$69.99 + tax, single ordouble occupancy,320-231-2601

Days Inn(½ mile from Confer-ence Center).$49.99 + tax, single ordouble occupancy,320-231-1275

P age 4 S ig da lsl ag Sa ga V ol ume 2 4 , I ss ue 2

Program for the 2004 Sju-lag Stevne in Willmar

Wednesday, July 07, 2004

6:00-9:00PM Genealogy opens in Galleries 5-6-7

Thursday, July 08, 2004

8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Registration, Gallery 1

8:00 AM to 5:30 PM &7:00 PM to 10:00 PM Genealogy, Galleries 5-6-7

8:00 AM to 10:00 PM Vendor tables open, Galleries 2 and 4

8:00 AM to 9:00 PM Classes in Gallery 3 (See separate poster for times)

8:00 AM to 9:00 PM Classes in the Roosevelt Room (See separate posterfor times)

9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Hardanger embroidery class in Atrium

5:30 PM to 9:15 PM Pontoon boat dinner-cruise on Green Lake, 6:15 PM-8:45PM. Participants make their own arrangements.

5:30 PM to 7:30 PM Dinner at Calvary Church - $10.00/person. Partici-pants arrange own transportation.

8:30 PM to 10:00 PM NSI Board Mtg, Executive Board Room

Friday, July 09, 2004

8:00 AM to noon Registration, Gallery 1

8:00 AM to 12:00 PM Genealogy, Galleries 5-6-7

8:00 AM to 10:00 PM Vendors in Galleries 2 and 4.

8:30 AM to 1:00 PM History tour of NW Kandiyohi County

9:00 AM to 2:30 PM Classes in the Roosevelt Room (See separate posterfor times)

3:00 PM to 4:30 PM Convocation I in Galleries 5-6-7. National anthems,led by SofN choir director; Welcome speeches andintroductions; An American doctor's experience inNorway by Dr. Morris; The Norway Lake Lutheran.Hist. Assoc. by Rev. Joel Njus; Sing along, led bySofN choir director.

7:00 PM to 8:30 PM Convocation II in Galleries 5-6-7. Norwegian Dancingby Mikkel Thompson and Ruth Sylte; Songs and Sto-ries by Erik Bergeson.

Saturday, July 10, 2004

8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Lag meetings. Consult your own lag for time andplace.

2:30 PM to 4:00 PM Malm Basselurskan Harmonica Orchestra from Tron-delag.

5:00 PM to 6:30 PM Banquet in Galleries 1-4. Fixed menu of steak andsalmon. Dinner music (old time) by the Norsemen

7:00 PM to 8:30 PM Closing entertainment in Galleries 5-6-7. Bunad pa-rade; Ole and Sven by Dave Nelson and Phil Dybdal

THURSDAY:

8am Reading Norwegianchurch recordsby Dick Holter

8am Norwegian Language forGenealogy by Gary Erickson

9am Norwegian censusrecords on the internetby John Hougo

9am Vesterheim Gen. Center -Find YOUR Ole Olsonby Jerry Paulson

10am Writing a family historyby Sandy Hendrickson

10am Norway’s Viking AgeKingdom by David Rokke

11am Researching on theinternet by Garth Ulrich

11am Norwegians in KandiyohiCountyby Mona Nelson

1pm Locating Ancestors' shipsby Jerry Paulson

1pm The Life of KnutMauvestal TelemarkRosemaler 1785-1862by Lorna A nderson

2pm Reading Bygdebøkerby Judy Sos ted

2pm Kingston Upon Hull:Emigrants’ way stationBy Dale Hoveland

3pm Beginning Genealogyby Barb Horn

3pm Lag Web Masters Mtg.led by Ed Espe

3pm Kolrosing, Reviving aLost Art a video

8pm Rowberg Filesby Lee Rokke

8pm When the Home Firesdied a video

FRIDAY:

10am Irene Navarre, Her Lifea video

11am The Life of KnutMauvestal TelemarkRosemaler 1785-1862by Lorna Anderson

1pm Folk Dance Instructionby Mikkel Thompson and Ruth

Stevne Classes

P age 5S ig da lsl ag Sa ga V ol ume 2 4 , I ss ue 2

SEVEN LAG STEVNE REGISTRATION FORMJuly 7-10, 2004, Holiday Inn Conference Center, Willmar, MN

________________________________________ Phone____________Email_____________________PRINT FULL NAME/s for badges

Street_______________________________ City_______________________ State___ ZIP__________

I/we are members of: __Hadeland, __Land, __Numedal, __RDD, __Sigdal, __Telemark, __Toten(Please check all that apply.)

Stevne Registration Fee: $20 per person (for one or all three days) X ___persons = $______Admission to genealogy room and classes, and all four convocations

Saturday Evening Banquet: $21 per person X ___ persons = $______at the Conference center, Fixed menu of fish and pork; dinner music by Norsemen.

Lodging: Please make your own arrangements. The recommended hotels are (rates firm until June 17, 2004;mention the Seven Lag Stevne):

Holiday Inn (hallway-connected to the Conference Center)$69.99 + tax, single or double occupancy, 320-235-6060 or 800-465-4329,

Comfort Inn (a few steps away from the Conference Center)$69.99 + tax, single or double occupancy, 320-231-2601

Days Inn (½ mile from Conference Center).$49.99 + tax, single or double occupancy, 320-231-1275

Meals: The above motels provide complimentary cold breakfasts. The in-house (Green Mill) restaurant andother Willmar restaurants are available for hot breakfasts or other meals.

Thursday evening church dinner $10 per person X ___ persons = $______5:30-7:30 PM at nearby Calvary Lutheran Church; includes building tour

History Tour: 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM, Friday. $10 per person X ___ persons = $______See historic sites in NW Kandiyohi County via air-conditioned motor coach,includes free-will offering lunch at a historic Arctander Township church.

Beginners Hardanger class. Limited to 16. Check here ___ to enter June 10th lottery.$4 at door for cloth, floss and instructor. Bring needles and embroidery scissors or buy on site.

Total = $______

Mail this form with check (payable to Sigdalslag) to: DON SKADELAND10642 “O” Street Omaha, NE 68127-1937

Please mail before June 7, 2004No refunds after June 30, 2004

P age 6 S ig da lsl ag Sa ga V ol ume 2 4 , I ss ue 2

Amber Waves of Grain…

Have fun at the 2004 Stevne!

P age 7S ig da lsl ag Sa ga V ol ume 2 4 , I ss ue 2

Just For Fun…

Lena was teaching Sunday School when, toLena’s dismay, seven year old I nga beganprattling some very ugly words. “Uff Da”,said Lena, “You shouldn’t say tings like dat.You don’t even know vhat they mean.”

“Sure I do,” said Inga, “Theymean the car won’tstart.”

~ 2004 STEVNER ~Bygdelagenes Felles raad Announces 2004 events for Bygdelag. Descendants of

immigrants from specific places-of-origin in Norway hold STEVNER (annual meetings).A BYGDELAG helps members explore their Norsk roots .

HALLINGLAG meets June 17-20, 2004, at St. John’s University,Collegeville, MN. www.fellesraad.com/hallinglag-home.htm or callMarian M. Pladsen, 320-796-5220VALDRES SAMBAND meets June 17-20, 2004, at Holiday Inn, Fargo, ND

www.valdressamband.org, or call June Adele Dolva, 218-233-7134

VESTLANDSLAG (Hardangerlag, Møre og Romsdalslag, Nordhordland &Sunnhordlandslag, Rogalandslag, Sognalag, and Vosselag) meets June17-19, 2004, at Bigwood Convention Center, Fergus Falls, MN,E-mail: rogerhannah2@aol.com, or call Warren Eidsness 952-890-5466

SUNNFJORDLAGET meets June 25-26, 2004, at Best Western HudsonHouse Inn, Hudson, WI. Register before May 25th. E-mail:dandvrun@usfamily.net, or call Lorraine Grimsbo 641-568-3314

LAPPMARK AND NORDLANDSLAG meets June 25 - 26, 2004, atHoward Johnson's, Fargo, ND. Call Christian Skjervold, 763-766-2427

7-LAG STEVNE (Hadeland Lag, Landingslag, Numedalslågen Lag, Telelag,Ringerike Drammen Districts Lag, Sigdalslag, and Toten Lag) meets July7-10, 2004, at Holiday Inn Convention Center, Willmar, MNE-mail: eoknutsn@en-tel.net, or call Earl O. Knutson, 320-222-1613

TRE-LAG STEVNE (Gudbrandsdal National, bkstrand@att.net or call BettyStrand 763-571-1831; Nord Hedmark og Hedemarken Lag,golson6638@aol.com or call Gary Olson, 507-282-1090; and Trønderlag,skarvold@mindspring.com or call Linda Schwartz, 734-769-2877) meetsAugust 4-7, 2004, Best Western Apache Hotel, Rochester, MN

SOLØRLAG meets September 14-18, 2004, at Holiday Inn City Centre,Sioux Falls, SD. E-mail: hsaetre@prtel.com, or call Homer Saetre,218-864-5287

NORDFJORD-WISCONSIN meets September 18, 2004, at Sugar CreekBible Camp, Ferryville, WI. Call Arvalene Vedvik, 608-734-3192

NORDFJORD LAG meets September 19, 2004, at Green Lake Bible Camp,Spicer, MN. Call Betty Rodi, 320-796-6400

ROMERIKSLAG meets Sept 23 - 25, 2004, Comfort Inn, Rochester,MN. Call Marcia Hamilton, 763-535-2642

Visit the National Council’s official web site: www.fellesraad.com

Eric Bergeson (www.countryscribe.com)Eric Bergeson is the third generation owner ofBergeson Nursery in Fertile, MN, a businessstarted by his grandfather in 1937. He also writes aweekly column for several newspapers in north-western Minnesota. He has published three books.

Eric is a frequent speaker and performer innorthwestern Minnesota. Last year, he spoke orperformed before over 30 clubs, groups, or com-munity gatherings, usually, but not always, aboutgardening. He does radio shows on gardening overfour area stations each spring. He and his brotherJoe often sing and play piano for customers at thenursery. Last winter, Eric performed on the piano,sang, and gave a monologue before two fullhouses at the Cliffo rd Dinner Theater.

Malm Harmonica Orchestra(Basselurskan) The harmonica orchestra fromTrøndelag consists of 11 young and enthusiasticmusicians. They are not only playing harmonicasbut a variety of instruments, enabling them to playall kinds of music. In their repertoire they haveclassic music, Norwegian and Scandinavian fo lkmusic, traditional Norwegian dance music whichranges up to modem dance music. The orchestrahas been playing in concerts and music Competi-tions in the local County and they are often usedas dancing band. In late June 2004 they will behosting the annually Norwegian Championship inharmonica playing.

Ole and Sven (o leandsven.com)Dave Nelson (Dr. Nelson) is a physician practic-ing in Stoughton, WI and Phil Dybdahl is a stockbroker in Madison, WI and co-founder of Button-wood Partners, Inc. When they appear as Ole andSven, they specialize in “Norwegian songs, jokesand other foolishness.” Ole and Sven have ap-peared, for example, at the Decorah Friends ofVesterheim in November, 2003.

More on the 2004 StevneEntertainment

Volunteers needed for Stevne!We need volunteers to work the genealogy roomat the stevne. Sigdalslag assigned work hours areWed. from 7 pm to 10 pm and Fri. morning from10:30 am to 12 noon. For those hours we will needpeople to work at genealogy registration, watchthe copy machines and to man a translation table.

Volunteers should contact LeeRokke at leerokke@aol.com or 13465 Garden ViewDrive, Apple Valley, MN 55124. PH: 952-432-9767

P age 8 S ig da lsl ag Sa ga V ol ume 2 4 , I ss ue 2

From theSaga Mail Bag:

From Norway…

“On behalf of the Norwegian Emigrant Museum Iwould like to thank you so much for the Sigdals lagMembership Directory, which we recently receivedfrom you.

It w ill be registered and included in the museum 'slibrary. Our collection includes today several copies ofthe Sigdals lag Saga (dated from 1991-2004) in addi-tion to Sigdals lagets 4de Bog (dated 1931) and 6teBog (dated 1949) and the Sigdals laget Album 1991-1992.

Thank you for your valuable contribution to ourcollection.

Sincerely,Kari FuglesangThe Norwegian Emigrant Museum

From West Bend, Wiscons in…

“Thank you so much for sending the copies of theSaga to my sis ters. They really enjoyed readingabout the Madison Township Church. We have beenthere many times and the cemetery is full of Hovdenswhich are our great-grandparents, uncles, aunts etc.”

Thanks again.Karen Kautz

From Rapid City, South Dakota…

“This summer, in July, the 150th anniversary ofthe Tangen farm near Fountain, MN w ill be com-memorated by a week-end reunion. Jacob Tangenand his son established it in 1854.The son is Ole Jacobson Tangen, father of 19 children,all born in the log cabin on this farm! Ole is my greatgrandfather who came from Sigdal in 1853 from theEidals-Tangen farm. My w ife's father was born atHonefoss.

LeRoy and Valborg Tranby Flagstad

From Anoka Minnesota…

“... it is extra special to see a personal vignetteabout my grandmother and her family [“Beatha”,Feb. 2004]. The pictures came out pretty well too(considering their age and technology then and now,etc.). If anybody should ask, the 1st pictures shownare Gilbert and Bertha Haugen (the Eggedal name isHaugen, and is also Beatha's maiden name). Hermother Bertha's maiden name was Flatmark (aValdres farm), so most of her life she was BerthaHaugen. Confusing, eh? Oh well... It will be fun tohear from any of my relatives about the little biogra-phy I w rote. And I hope that other members enjoyreading about those earlier years in North Dakota.

Amy Michelsen

Sigdalslag to Publish BookAnd that includes you!

The 1949 Sigdalslag was the lastbook published by our lag. Thenew book would continue wherethis book left off and add informa-tion not included in previousbooks. This will be an excitingendeavor for Sigdalslag and weneed the help of all members tomake it successful. The timelinefor the book is:

in 2004 - to collect informa-tion for the bookin 2005 - to edit and organizethe informationin 2006 - to print the bookin 2007 - to release the book

The book will contain in formationin the following broad areas:

*History of the Sigdalslagsince 1949*Immigrants / settlers inAmerica (those not written upin previous books)*Who’s Who among descen-dents of Sigdal/Eggedal/ Krødsherad*Family Histories of currentmembers

This is how each member canhelp during 2004.

Family Histories: Write aboutyour family’s Sigdal/Eggedal/Krødsherad descendents in Amer-ica. Include a photo. If you do notwish to write it yourself, you mayask a board member to set up aninterview time. Target length ap-proximately 1,000 words.

Immigrants: There were approxi-mately 5,000 people who immi-grated from Sigdal. Approxi-mately 3,000 are listed in the threeprevious books. Our goal is toinclude those not in previousbooks. You can check the Sigdal

website which has a list of namesfrom the three books already pub-lished. http://www.sigdalslag.org Some ofthese people only had their namepublished and no further informa-tion, if so, they should be includedin this book.

Who’s Who Among Descendents:Biographies of persons who haveexcelled in their profession. Someideas discussed included Busi-ness, College Administrators,Artists, Authors, Churches, Medi-cine, Military, Musicians, Pastors,Politicians, Scientists, Teachers.This section will also include bi-ographies of past presidents of thelag. You can perhaps think ofother professions that should beincluded. Biographies and photosof persons to be included in theWho’s Who section are neededfrom you.

Volunteers Are Needed: LeeRokke will be coordinating thiseffort but other volunteers areneeded to help with the collectionand review of materials for thisbook. Contact Lee Rokke if youcan be one of these needed volun-teers.

Where do I send this informa-tion?

Submit your information to beincluded in the book during 2004to Lee Rokke. Her email addressis leerokke@aol.com Mailingaddress is: Lee Rokke, 13465Garden View Dr., Apple Valley,MN 55124 (651) 432-9767.

Thank you for helping us with thisbook. It will definitely be a keep-sake for our families. – MarilynGronseth Moen

P age 9S ig da lsl ag Sa ga V ol ume 2 4 , I ss ue 2

What do you do with a ton and ahalf stone sent to you by a well-meaning friend from his farm in Nor-way? This is a happy problem facedthese days by Keith Wheeler of theFram #13 lodge in Eureka, Californiawhose ancestors once owned this farm.The stone is too big for stone soup, butjust right for a bautastein, and this isthe reason Einar Slogvik crated up andshipped the huge, nine-foot stone fromNorway to California.

Long interested in Norwegian-American immigration history, theWheelers developed a close friendshipwith Einar and Rotraud Slogvik, thefamily currently living on the ancestralfarm in Tysvær kommune, north ofStavanger, Rogaland, in Norway. On aChristmas visit to Norway in 2001, thetopic first came up of how to properlyhonor the memory and achievementsof Jacob Slogvik who had been bornand raised on the Slogvik farm.

Jacob’s story is part of America’sstory. In 1825 at age 18, he and a fewothers wished to practice Quakerismbut were not allowed to do so in Lu-theran Norway. Consequently, theyparticipated in the first organized emi-gration group to leave Norway forAmerica since Viking times. On July

4, 1825, 52 persons sailed aboard a 54-foot sloop called the Restauration andarrived after 96 long, difficult days inNew York. This small ship is often

called “The Norwegian May-flower,” although one quarter thesize, it was 2.5 times as crowded.

Their life in the new country isalso the stuff of legend. Despitestruggle, disease, poverty and hard-ship, the pioneer spirit of Jacob andthe other slooperfolk and their de-scendents is what has made Amer-ica great. The story of the Sloopersand their progeny is interesting andwell documented, thanks to severaldedicated historians.

It goes a little like this:Jacob, taking the Americanizedname of Jacob Anderson, marriedSerena Tormodsdatter Madland (also apassenger on the Sloop Restauration)in upstate New York. Jacob moved thefamily west in the 1830’s to be one ofthe first families to settle in the histori-cally significant Fox River Settlementof Illinois. In 1848 they moved fartherwest to southwestern Iowa where theyhad a large fertile farm. In 1854 thefamily moved west again, settling justsouth of the town of Napa in northernCalifornia. Here Jacob developed anew farm and lived with his familyuntil his death in 1864. He was buriedin the Tulocay Cemetery in the town ofNapa. Serine was also buried there in1898.

In his 1961 book, The Sloopers, J.Hart Rosdail noted “Jacob died fartherfrom his native Norway than any otherwho came over on the sloop.”

The Slogvik bautastein (or monu-ment stone) is currently at the TurlockMarble and Granite Works, owned bya Norwegian-American family. Thereit will be engraved, sculpted with animage of the sloop and readied forplacement at the large and attractive

Napa Tulocay Cemetery. It will be ondisplay at San Francisco’s NorwayDay Festival May 8th and 9th.

The dedication ceremony will beheld on Saturday, May 15, 2004, atthe cemetery, following pageantry,folk dancing and a procession from anearby park. A banquet with morepageantry and entertainment will beheld that evening at the Napa ElksLodge. This will include a concert bya very special guest from Norway,singing star Hanne Krogh!

Over 20 Norwegians are planninga trip from Norway to California forthe event. In anticipation, Keith andhis wife, Peg, are scheduling presenta-tions to various Sons of Norway lodgesand historical societies to educate andinform people of this opportunity topay tribute to these pioneers. Keithhas prepared a rather extensive websitewhich can be accessed via their familyweb site at: www.wheelerfolk.org

In addition to the Turlock monu-(C onti nue d on page 1 1 )

The Slooper Monument ProjectMonument to mark the most westward settlement of 1825 Restauration passengers

Einar Slogvik stands by the stone found on the Slogvik farm,Tysvær kommune, Rogaland fylke, in southwest Norway

P age 1 0 S ig da lsl ag Sa ga V ol ume 2 4 , I ss ue 2

LOTTIE VIALL

Turi LOTTIE Irene Voldeng wasborn on Dec. 23, 1909 near Spal-ding, SK, Canada. She was thefirst child born to Nels and Jor-gina (Green) Voldeng after mov-ing to Saskatchewan from Mar-shall County, MN, USA.

She was baptized and confirmedin the Lutheran faith and main-tained a strong trust and dedica-tion to the Lord throughout herlife. She grew up on the familyfarm in the Littlestone school dis-trict, east of what is now Naicam.

In 1937 she moved to Flin Flon,Manitoba and was married thereto Sverre Olson in 1942. Sverrepassed away in 1962.

Lottie was married to Earl Viallin 1964 in Crookston, Minnesota.They lived in Erskine, MN fortwo years and then moved toBreckenridge, MN. After Earl’spassing in 1990, Lottie moved toPark Manor in Breckenridge andbecame a resident of St. FrancisNursing Home in 1998, where shepassed away on February 18,2004.

Funeral services were held onFebruary 21 in Breckenridge,MN, with burial to follow at alater date at Rose Hill Cemeteryin Mentor, MN.

She was predeceased by her par-ents: Nels and Jorgina (Lottie'smother was born Jorgina Jensdat-

ter Green who came from Sigdalin 1876 at the age of 6 with herparents and siblings) Voldeng;her first husband, Sverre Olson;her second husband, Earl Viall;her brothers: Ole, Jens and Nels(Helga) Voldeng; her sisters:Cora (Peter) Mortenson, LottieVoldeng, and Bernice (Bert)Wielenga; nephews: Obert, Kenand Lloyd Mortenson; and MerlinVoldeng; nieces: Ruby Ulrich andYvonne Hearn; step-daughter,Lola Lerfald; and step daughter-in-law, Beverly Viall.

She is survived by her brother,Richard (Alice) Voldeng, PrinceGeorge, BC; her sister-in-law,Edna Voldeng, Spalding, SK; herstepson, Ralph (Shirley) Viall,Breckenridge, MN; her stepgrandchildren: Cindy (Ken) Hejl,David (Sherry) Viall, Collette(Donald) McMillan, and Steve(Linda ) Ramberg; her step great-granddaughters: Christia, Arica,Joran, Britt, Wendy and Holly;her step son-in-law, Bob Lerfald;and several nieces and nephewsand their families in Canada towhom “Aunt Lottie” was a veryspecial person.

Blessed be her Memory!(source: Garth Ulrich...Lottie was the sister of hisgreat-grandmother)

If you have information on a departedmember, please contact the editor.

In Pleasant PlacesIn our last newsletter we shared the unfortunate news of the passing of Mr. Sidney AndersRand. If interested members would like to read the book he authored, “In Pleasant Places”, itcan be purchased from the following stores:

Dedicated to My Most

Dear Lottie

I’d love to live in a forest home.With ferns beneath my feet,

And a roof made of leafy greenAmong those pines so sweet.

For light, just the moon and stars,With a little sunlight trickling thru,

Then here and there between the leavesA patch of Heaven’s blue.

Yes, I’d long within that Beauty RoomFor years of endless time,To have you ever near meWould be a life sublime.

Oh, Lottie my dear! This home I vision,As pure as the crystal dew;

Perfectly shaped by the hand of the Master,Created for me and you.

I’d not wish to see the outer world,But live a life serene,

With all the treasures I’d ever need,Just God and you, My Queen.

-the late Earl Viall

St. Olaf College Bookstore1520 St. Olaf A venueNorthfield, MN 55057

Telepho ne: 5 07-646-30 48 or 888-232-6523 Fax: 5 07-646-3779Email: stolafinfo@collegebookstore.orgwww.collegebookstore.org

Victor Lundeen Company126 West Lincoln AvenueP.O. Box 486Fergus Falls, MN 56538-0486

Telepho nes: 800-346-4870 or 218-736-5 433Email: lundeens@prtel.comwww. victorlundeens.com

In Memory

ment company, this project has received support fromthe Norwegian Consulate General as well as a grantfrom the Sons of Norway Foundation. The Wheelerswould like to express their thanks to those northern

CaliforniaSons ofNorwayLodges thathave of-fered their support. A sincere invitation isextended to other lodges and interested indi-viduals to join this festive and historical occa-sion in Napa on the May 15th. This can be acombined day of commemorating this inter-esting part of Norwegian-American immigra-tion history and an early celebration ofSyttende Mai!

(C ont i nu ed f r om p ag e 9)

P age 1 1S ig da lsl ag Sa ga V ol ume 2 4 , I ss ue 2

Schedule of Events

May 8, 2004NORWAY DAY, Crissy Field, SanFrancisco, CA www.norwayday.org

May 15, 2004SLOOPER MONUMENT

DEDICATION Fairview Park;Tucolay Cemetery, Napa CA (707)574-6595 okwheeler@saber.net

May 18 to July 31, 2004PERSPECTIVES FROM THE

FAR NORTH: SAMI LIFE A ND

CULTURE exhibition,Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave-nue, NYC (212) 879-9779

June 10–12 , 2004THE 55TH BIENNA L SA NGER-

FEST OF THE NORWEGIA N

SINGERS ASSOCIATION OF

AMERICA (NSAA) the GreatHall of the Washington Pavilion ofFine Arts, Sioux Falls, SD.(605) 367 6000www.washingtonpavilion.org

June 11-12, 2004NISSWA-STAMMA N SCANDINA -

VIA N FOLKMUSIC FESTIVAL,Nisswa Pioneer village, Nisswa, MN218-764-2994www.nisswastamman.org

June 25-27, 2004SCANDINAVIA N HJEMKOMST

FESTIVAL 202 First Ave. North,Moorhead, MN (218)299-5452

July 7 - 10, 20047 LAG STEVNE, Holiday Inn &Conference Center, Willmar, MN

July 17-24, 2004NATIONAL EXHIBITIONS ofRosemaling, Woodworking,Weaving, and Knifemaking,Vesterheim Norwegian-AmericanMuseum, Decorah, IA (563) 382-9681 www.vesterheim.org

Thru June 13, 2004NORWAY'S ACCEPTA NCE OF

DISPLACED JEWS AFTER 1945Nordic Heritage Museum, Seattle,WA (206) 789-5707 andwww.nordicmuseum.com

Sigdalslag Members Send in Surveys

Ilene Forde, Plymouth, MN on the descen-dants of ELI ELLEVSDTR BØLESHAGEN.

Karen Olson, Northome, MN, on the descen-dants of RAGNA ERIKSDATTER PLADSEN(Pletan), MRS. OLAF BREKKESTRAND.

Judy Louise Leegard, Juneau, Alaska, on thedescendants of PEDER KNUDSEN(ÅSENEIE) LEEGARD

Carole Stempfley, Shorwood MN, onELLING KNUDSEN JUVETEIE

Keith Tronson, Sacramento, Ca, on the de-scendants of KNUD TRONSEN FOSS.

Lowell Torkelson, Willmar, MN, on ELIELLEVSDR BØLESHAGEN, KRISTIANEDWARD MEDALSPLASSEN andANDERS HELGESEN SKARE

Judy Jacobson, Fargo, ND, on TORKILDJAKOBSEN ENGEREIE and JØRANSVENDSDTR

Mary McCullagh, Scottsdale, AZ, sent anarticle from the LaMoure County (ND)Project that was written in 1936 aboutENGEBRECT GUNDERSEN KOPSENGEIE(ENDERUD), who used the name EMBRIC-BRICK BENSON in this country.

Jean Sjogren, San Diego, CA, has donated a three ring binder containing copies of the NorwayLake Festskrift, written in 1916 by Mons Sotendahl and N. J. Njus, with a translation by EdnaRude that was commissioned by Peter Gandrud. It also contains an alphabetical listing of thefamily histories in the Festskrift and a copy of the 80th Anniversary Festival of the First Evan-gelical Lutheran Church of Norway Lake booklet, by N. J. Njus written 1942.

Jule Tukua, Santa, CA, has donated a copy of his family history, Historien Om Ole og GunhildTukua Slekten. It is very well documented and full of genealogical charts prepared by HåvardStøvern of Prestfoss, Norway. Many of the Sigdalslag members will find connections to peoplelisted in the charts. Jule also sent updates to the three ring binder that he previously donated tothe Sigdalslag library.

Sigdalslag Surveys have been received from:

These have been added to the Sigdalslag library:

Kieth Wheeler & Einar Slovak

“Artist’s Study” sample carving

Slooper project...

Mail application and check payable to Sigdal Lag to:AMY MICHELSEN18730 Roanoke Street NWAnoka, MN 55303-8971

Residents of CANADA may mail application and check payableto Garth Ulrich to:

GARTH ULRICHBox 28, Spalding SKSOK 4CO, CANADA

Write “Sigdalslag dues (3 yr or 1 yr)” on the memo line of the check.Dues in Canadian dollars should be made in the amount equivalent to$10 US (1 year) or $25 US (3 years) on the date written.

MembershipAcross the Globe(as of 4-24-04)

U.S.A. - 211Canada - 11Norway - 7

JOIN SIGDALSLAG NOW! Date______________ Check if Renewal:

Full name/s___________________________________________________________

Street _______________________________________________________________

City_______________________________ State______________ ZIP____________

E-Mail ______________________________________ Phone ___________________

BUSKERUD Family Origin in (circle one) - SIGDAL EGGEDAL KRØDSHERAD

Ancestor’s name _______________________________________________________

Farm name _________________________________ Year Emigrated____________

2004 Dues: US/CANADA $10/YR or $25/3 YR, in US dollars ELSEWHERE $12/YR or $30/3 YR, in US dollars

Comments? Suggestions? SAGA solicits featurearticles, news, pictures and obituaries from mem-bers. Please contact editors Cindy Peterson or MarilynMoen (contact info on Pg. 2).Next deadline: September 10, 2004

Changed your mailing or e-mail address?Garth Ulrich maintains members addresses. Toupdate yours, write him at: gulrich@sasktel.net

Also, please note that the year shown on the mailinglabel next to your name indicates that your member-ship is paid thru that year.

We’re on the Web!www.sigdalslag.org

SIGDALSLAG SAGA IS PUBLISHED IN FEBRUARY,MAY AND OCTOBER

PUBLISHER3520 Banyan StreetSanta Rosa, CA 95403

Serving Norwegian-Americans of Sigdal,Eggedal & Krødsherad ancestry

Sigdalslag Saga FIRST CLASS MAIL

1

16

96

8 4

3

8

4

10

8

8

3

8

4

25

7

3

1

4

11

3

2

2

7

1

11

2 1

13

2

1

1

1