Sigdalslag Saga. Report from the 2008 Sju Lag Stevne. Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Since 1911

Transcription

1 October, 2008 Volume 28, Issue Since 9 Sigdalslag Saga Inside this issue: Kopseng DNA Genome Project Corrine Johnson Lag President Eggedal s former Stave Church Minnesota Norwegian Pioneer Project Civil War Soldier Oscar Thompson Velkommen, nye lag medlemmer! LINDA B. SCHLAAK Menasha, WI JOHN B. HALVORSON Dalton, MN HAROLD KOSBAU Grand Rapids, MN EARL MOLLERUD Minneapolis, MN EVONNE M. DEVOLD Sarasota, FL PAMELA ANDERSON Saint Michael, MN EVEN GRIMLEY Walker, MN BEVERLY NAGEL Northfield, MN CHERYL A. MASSIE Kansas City, MO DICK RIERSON Albert Lea, MN Serving Norwegian-Americans of Sigdal, Eggedal & Krødsherad ancestry Report from the 2008 Sju Lag Stevne Stevens Point, Wisconsin by Dianne Snell The 2008 Sju Lag Stevne which met from July 5-9 at the Ramada Inn in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, is now history but the memories linger on. The seven lags of Sigdalslag, Landingslag, Ringerike-Drammen District Lag, Hadeland Lag, Toten Lag and Telelag joined together once again for their annual gathering of members. Landingslag, led by President Sandy Hendrickson, did a wonderful job of organizing the Stevne. Wednesday and Thursday tours by air-conditioned motor coach included some Norwegian settlements and churches in Portage and nearby Waupaca counties. Thursday morning opening session entertainment featured comedians Aslak og Engebret and a program on logging in Wisconsin presented by Sterling Strathe of the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education. He showed slides of early day logging operations and demonstrated some of the jobs and practices in the logging camps using real live audience members. Extensive materials were available from the seven areas in the genealogy room for those interested in family research, and a variety of classes were offered ranging from Norwegian folk dancing and Hardanger embroidery to a study of Knute Rockne, how to use Norwegian records and the Scottish invasion of Norway. Vendors plied their wares such as books, crafts, jewelry and clothing of Norwegian persuasion. Following the Wednesday and Thursday tours, movies were shown including the award winning 2005 film Sweet Land and the 945 classic, Our Vines Have Tender Grapes. The banquet on Friday evening began with the annual Bunad Parade by those members who wore their Norwegian costumes. Entertainment was from the children s dance group Landingsleiken from Land, Norway, and the Twin Cities Hardingfelelag, a fiddle group from Minneapolis. Numedalslag was celebrating its 00th anniversary and was given special Centennial Recognition. The Sigdalslag annual business meeting was held Saturday morning at the hotel and following the meeting some Sigdalslag members attended a picnic in nearby Plover with two other lags. Next year s Sju Lag Stevne has been scheduled for the University of Wisconsin campus in River Falls, Wisconsin from June

2 Page 2 Sigdalslag Saga Volume 28, Issue 2008 Sigdalslag Officers Fra Presidenten: JUDY SOSTED President 8 Lia Court Northfield, MN jsosted@hotmail.com EARL O. KNUTSON VP /Membership 722 Second Street SW Willmar, MN 5620 (20) eoknutsn@en-tel.net RUTH MANNING VP 2/Culture 486 Ruggles Street Omaha, NE (402) cranecoffeechick@gmail.com RODNEY PLETAN VP /Technology 744 W Broadway Forest Lake, MN (65) rodaud@mywdo.com DR. DEAN SKADELAND Treasurer 75 NW Barry Road Kansas City, MO dskad@sbcglobal.net AMY MICHELSEN Secretary 870 Roanoke St. NW Anoka, MN (76) amichelsen@usfamily.net LEE ROKKE Genealogist 465 Garden View Drive Apple Valley, MN 5524 (952) leerokke@aol.com DIANNE SNELL Historian 646 0th Pl. SE Auburn, WA dalesnell@comcast.net SCOTT BRUNNER Saga Editor 555 Hilltop Drive Green Bay, WI 540 scottbru@execpc.com ED ESPE Webmaster webmaster@sigdalslag.org Dear Fellow Sigdøler, It was great to see those of you who attended Stevne and I think all there had a good time. Good lectures, good tours, interesting meetings, great connecting, fun entertainment, and except for the rømmegrøt, good food. For those of you not in attendance, the Chair of the Stevne had been to Stevens Point twice before the Stevne and each time had been served rømmegrøt, and it was delicious. The night of the banquet they served this white liquid with melted butter and cinnamon in a small glass like a wine glass. It didn't taste too bad, but we are not used to drinking this special dessert! They then served ice cream to make up for it! Anyway, it was good for some laughs. At the Stevne Scott Brunner accepted the appointment as editor of the Saga and we are excited to see what he will be doing. He brings a lot of energy and ideas to the position and while Cindy and Marilyn will be a hard act to follow, we think he is up to it. Welcome, Scott. If any of you have anything you would like to see included in the Saga, please contact Scott. Although 20 seems a long way away, the Board is starting to think about the 20 Stevne. That is the year Sigdalslag celebrates its 00 th Anniversary and it is also the year we are in charge of planning the Stevne. Again, if any of you have suggestions or ideas relating to these events, please let me know. We have the time to be creative. If you have the capability of receiving the Saga online, it would be a real financial benefit to the Lag to send it to you that way. You can advise Scott of your willingness to receive the Saga in that format. A real benefit is that all the pictures are in color. I am just back from taking a grandson to England-Cornwall to look at ancestral sites. In another year I hope to take a granddaughter to Norway to do the same. The Rokkes took some of their family to Norway this summer, also. It is a great way to build memories and share family history and lore with the next generation. Have a good Fall and take care until we are in touch again. Judy Editor s Corner... For over 25 years I have taken an active interest in my family history. I am excited to be appointed to this new role as Editor of the Sigdalslag Saga! I hope everyone will share their ideas and suggestions, and submit articles and family news. Our former co-editors, Cindy Peterson and Marilyn Moen, have done a fantastic job the past six years. They reformatted the Saga into the modern and professional-looking newsletter we have today. A special thanks to them both for answering many s and phone calls, helping me transition into this new position.

3 Sigdalslag Saga Volume 28, Issue Page Over 80 colorful photos of the 2008 stevne are displayed on the Sigdalslag website! Children s dance group Landingsleiken perform at the Friday night dinner banquet Twenty-six members attended the 2008 Sigdalslag annual business meeting: Earl Knutson, Betty Knutson, Dianne Snell, Karen Olson, Lee Rokke, David Rokke, Shirley Augustine, Don Skadeland, Lynn Skadeland, Judy Sosted, Rosella Goettelman, Paul Larson, Donna Kulenkamp, Rod Pletan, Audrey Pletan, Dale Hovland, Carol Meade, Birgitta Meade, Scott Brunner, Ruth Manning, Howard Berg, Ruth Berg, Linda Schlaak, William Schlaak, Ed Espe, and Charlotte Espe. Business reports listed total membership at 277, and a 2007 year-end balance of $,470. Sigdalslag is now a non-profit organization and can accept tax deductible donations. Elections were held with all current officers reelected to another year s term. Discussion focused on possibilities for the future 20 Centennial celebration. Complete minutes of the Sigdalslag board meeting and annual business meeting can be found on the Sigdalslag website, or can be obtained by contacting the Sigdalslag secretary. DNA, the ultimate genealogical search by Judy Sosted A few years ago I saw the program on the National Geographic Channel describing the work of Dr. Spencer Wells and his discovery of the human genome. Since that discovery he has been testing his theory, and that of others, in following the trail of the beginnings and distribution of the genomes. The National Geographic society and IBM have funded a Genome project and for $07.50, including tax, one can obtain a kit, take a cheek swab and have ones genomes tested. For males, one can pay and get both the matrilineal line or the patrilineal line. Females, having only X chromosomes, can only get the matrilineal line. I decided to do mine, my mother's lineage going back to Vik in Sognefjord. The results were that I am a descendent of a rather common Northern European lineage, nothing exotic. Since then I have convinced a cousin to do hers, her matrilineal lineage is German (my paternal grandmother) and that was interesting as the line is predominately that of the Samis! An uncle did his and that is Cornish (English) (my maternal grandfather) and goes back to a common Northern European line. Then I asked Art Kopseng, who lives here in Northfield, and who is an acquaintance of mine and whose father and brother and I have shared information and know that in the late 500s we shared the same ancestors (going back to the Kopseng farm in Eggedal). Art is a direct descendent to that male lineage and was willing to donate a cheek swab to the cause. We finally got the results in May. The results were Rb. This is a Northern European lineage, many in the British Isles have it, but then we know that many of them are descended from Vikings! If anyone is interested in seeing the information you need to go the Internet website: genographic. There it will say Enter Your Genographic Project Kit ID and you need to enter the following code, FWKMXMMH78. Then check Show me my results. This will give you the write up about the lineage and if you like you can copy it off for your own records.

4 Page 4 Sigdalslag Saga Volume 28, Issue New Member Spotlight! I am Harold Kosbau, born to Frank and Elizabeth (Thompson) Kosbau at Waskish, MN. My mother was the oldest of children and was born in Brookings, S. D. I am the president of Lodge Nordstjernen (Sons of Norway), -56, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. My wife Betty and I have lived here for 40 years. I was a teacher, and dept. head, of business education at the Itasca Junior College until 970. I left teaching to join my brother in the attempt to raise wild rice as a farm crop. I continued in that occupation, which included farming, agri-business and marketing, until I retired in 997. As a new member of Sigdalslag I am searching for relatives who may have information about our ancestors. After joining this lag Scott Brunner and Lee Rokke provided me with genealogy records from Norway dating back to the 600s. This started with my telling them that my grandfather was Olaus Thompson, born 0/05/87 in the U. S., and he married Bertha Nerdahl on //897 in Madison, South Dakota. Scott and Lee provided me with the following: My great grandfather was Ole Torstensen, born 2/22/842 in Eiker, Buskerud, Norway; baptized in Eiker Parish /2/84. He married Helge Jonsdatter, born /0/84 in Eggedal, Buskerud, Norway; baptized /5/84 in Eggedal Parish. They came to the U. S. in 870 with children: Torsten Thompson, born /29/86 in Eggedal; John Thompson, born 7/27/866 in Eggedal; and Karine Thompson, born 9/6/869 in Eggedal. Child 4 was born in the U. S. was my grandfather, Olaus Thompson. It seems like the name Torstensen was changed to Thompson in the U. S. I would like to know where this family lived in the U. S., where my great grandparents are buried, where the brothers and sisters of my grandfather lived, and who are their descendants and where are they living now. Ancestors all seemed to live in the Sigdal area, and those predating my great grandfather and great grandmother were as follows: Torsten Olsen Krogstad, married to Randi Carine Andersdatter; Jon Knudsen Engar married to Aase Christiansdatter; Ole Torstensen married to Margit Gudbrandsdatter; Knud Johnson Frøvoll married to Kari Olsdatter Aasland; and Christian Clausen Grasvik married to Helge Ellevsdatter Kopseng. We have not had very good luck in searching the records of South Dakota because it was a territory and kept no records. The same may be true of Minnesota and North Dakota. Towns mentioned in some of the records are Norway Lake and Spring Grove, Minnesota; Portland, North Dakota; and Brookings and Madison, South Dakota. My grandfather, Olaus Thompson, is buried at Nebish, MN. Our address is 498 SW Forest Hills Avenue, Grand Rapids, MN 55744, phone , hknbk@paulbunyan.net. Thanks for the help in finding my ancestors, Scott and Lee. My wife and I do plan to attend the stevne at River Falls, WI, in 2009, and hope to meet a lot of my relatives. Levon John Bjertness was born, grew up and lives in Hatton, N.D. He heard about Sigdalslag while cruising Norway Net. I have direct ancestors to Sigdal. My Mor-Mor, Sigrid Lokken, nee Sigrid Olsen Vatnaas lived in the Vatnaas house in Sigdal. This is the house that is now in Minot, N.D. We will not be able to attend the Lag meeting this summer but do want to stay informed as to the activities of the Lag. Sincerely, John B. Halvorson Mel C. Haugan I was born in Minot, North Dakota. My grandparents had farmed in Bottineau County since 9. They would live out their lives there as farmers, raising their six children. My family continues to operate a farm in rural Renville Township. My paternal grandparents were Carl Haugan and Inga Uggen. Both were born in Minnesota, Carl in Otter Tail County and Inga in Rice County. Both were also born to immigrant parents from Sigdal, Norway. I am related to several members of the Sigdalslag including Jan Uggen Johnson and Verna Haines. Both Jan and Verna have written extensively regarding family history. I have benefited greatly from their research.

5 Sigdalslag Saga Volume 28, Issue Page 5 Corrine Lesteberg Johnson Sigdalslag President compiled by Dianne Snell, Historian Following the successful tenure (982 to 995) of Marilyn Somdahl as Sigdalslag s first woman president, Corrine Lesteberg Johnson was elected as Lag President in 995 and served through July of 998. Many good things happened during Corrine s time in office, including the Lag s 85 th anniversary celebration in 996; the publication of English translations of the Sigdalslag yearbooks for 94, 920, 929, 92 and 94; and one bad thing - she suffered a serious fall during opening ceremonies at the 997 Stevne in Wahpeton which resulted in a broken arm and two months of physical therapy. Not one to be hindered by adversity, Corrine was back in 998 and was instrumental in the initial planning stages for the Sigdalslag heritage trip to Norway in During the Stevne in Decorah, Iowa that year she resigned as President to concentrate on her genealogy pursuits and publication of family history book. Corrine is the granddaughter of Krødsherad immigrants Narve Olson Lesteberg and Ingeborg Kvarneplassen (Pladsen) who were married at Olberg Church in Noresund in 872 and emigrated from Norway to the USA shortly thereafter. The Lestebergs settled first in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota to work for a cousin, Even Reuilson, to pay off the cost of passage to America. In 874 Narve and Ingeborg homesteaded on land in Hayes Township, Swift County, Minnesota. They built a sod home there while clearing and farming the 40 acre plot, and about 20 years later a large five-bedroom house was completed. Corrine was born May 7, 925 in that house on the Lesteberg farm near the Scandinavian communities of Kerkhoven and Sunburg in west central Minnesota. She was born to Nestor and Mabel (Norman) Lesteberg, and grew up with two sisters, Hazel (Wennerberg) and Elaine (Edman/ Peterson) and two brothers, Roy and Dennis. Corrine s first language was Norwegian. Her sister Hazel began school not knowing English, so from then on her parents spoke English in the home and Corrine learned the language at age three. She attended grades -8 in School District 40 East which was located a mile across the pastures and fields. High fences and angry cattle, snowdrifts and northwest winds were the greatest challenges of those carefree school days. Corrine graduated from Kerkhoven High School in 942 and attended one year of further education at the Litchfield Normal Teacher Training School before she taught in rural schools of Swift and Kandiyohi counties. In 946 Corrine married Harvey Johnson, of Swedish descent and of the same Kerkhoven community. After four years of apartment-living they built their first home in Kerkhoven where Harvey owned and operated his own trucking business. Four children were born to them: Sharyl, Galen, MariJane and Barbara. After selling the trucking business, the family moved to Richfield, Minnesota where Corrine still resides. Harvey continued working in trucking until he suffered several heart attacks and was physically disabled Corrine Johnson in her Krødsherad bunad which she sewed and embroidered herself by taking classes at Oden's Husflid in Barronette, WI to learn the stitches and assemble the outfit. (Photo by Dianne Snell at 200 Stevne in Rapid City, SD) at age 50. By then Corrine had begun her summer trek to St. Cloud State College in order to be recertified as an elementary school teacher. Harvey s illness increased Corrine s educational goals, which meant night classes, Saturdays and car-pooling to St. Cloud for three summers and two quarters as a fulltime student. She graduated in June of 96 and received a BS degree in Elementary Education and Remedial Reading. She was hired to teach second grade in the Burnsville- Eagan-Savage School District #9. The following year she was employed as a Remedial Reading teacher in the five elementary schools of that district. Corrine continued her education at the University of Minnesota during summer school and evening classes and a sabbatical year of full-time classroom studies. She received her Master s degree in Special Education, focusing (Continued on page 6)

6 Page 6 Sigdalslag Saga Volume 28, Issue (continued from page 5) on the areas of teaching children who were emotionally disturbed or with special needs. After several years of a Remedial Reading assignment she became the lead teacher in Special Learning Disabilities and continued in that capacity until her retirement in 987. Her husband of 7 years passed away in November of 98. All of their four children earned college degrees, married and raised families. Corrine - as most of us did - became interested in researching her ancestral roots after her parents and aunts and uncles were no longer living, but to date she has found and met about 00 second and third cousins in Norway and Sweden and two of her father s first cousins. None of them knew they had relatives in America but vaguely knew some of their grandparent s siblings had emigrated. Corrine was the first American to come looking for the descendants of her ancestors. Corrine quotes: Meeting the Lestebergs and walking on the farm where Grandfather Narve had once lived was a mixture of joy and excitement which I just cannot explain. I needed to rely on my limited Norwegian to communicate with the families but after the third and fourth visits I was called the American who drives so fast and talks such good Norwegian! In 998 Corrine published a 450-page book with 650 pictures of her maternal grandparents ancestors and descendants. The Hardanger line from western Norway goes back 25 generations while other lines go back only eight or ten generations. During the 2000 Sigdal trip to Sigdal, Eggedal and Krødsherad, Corrine presented each kommune mayor with an enlarged chart of her Lesteberg and Runn family trees. She has also researched and compiled information about her husband s family lines. Not only has Corrine made ten trips to Norway and Sweden, she has cruised the Mediterranean, the Caribbean several times and the St. Lawrence River seaway. She has also traveled in Israel, Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, England, Scotland and Wales. She has visited her son and his family in Zaire and Burkina Faso, Africa. She especially enjoyed the children of Africa when they came running to see and wave as they heard a truck approach. On one sightseeing trip in Zaire she was greeted and shook hands with President Mubutu. Most of the fifty states, including Hawaii, have been on her travel itinerary and she hopes to visit Alaska soon. At present she enjoys traveling to visit her seven grandchildren who live in Montana, North Carolina, California, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Corrine is very active in her local church in Richfield and has been involved in teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, served on the Church Council, led Bible studies and served as a member and chair of Women s Ministries. She arranges the serving of Loaves and Fishes meals to the hungry and in sewing fleece mittens and hats for needy children in the community. For four years Corrine was Queen Mum for her chapter of thirty local Red Hatters. She was privileged to attend the International Red Hat Society Convention in Las Vegas last January. She holds memberships in Sigdalslag, Hardanger Lag, Sons of Norway, Norwegian Genealogy, Vesterheim, and Scandinavian Friends of the American-Swedish Institute, Swedish Genealogy and the Vestergotland Society. Now in her 8 rd year and still going strong, Corrine makes her home in an apartment in central Richfield, Minnesota where she recently moved from upstairs to the first floor. Along with her church and community activities she participates in water aerobics three times weekly, 500 club, Scrabble, Tripoli and monthly coffees. Sources: Sigdalslag History 2005 and correspondence from Corrine Johnson. Thank you, Corrine! From the Saga Mail Bag: Verna Christine Haines will celebrate her 90 th birthday next week on June 20 th. She has recently coauthored a biography of her Norwegian immigrant great-grandfather, Engebret K. Haugan. In honor of her birthday, a copy of her book will be donated to the library of the Sigdalslag. Her work on the book started with a request for information which appeared in the November 98 issue of the Sigdalslag (vol. III, No. ). The story of her patient research leading up to the completion of this handsome publication might make good reading for fellow members of the Sigdalslag. Mel and Sharon Haugan

7 Sigdalslag Saga Volume 28, Issue Page 7 To A New Land Poem written and submitted by Mel Haugan, The travelers made ready their departure, To a new life in which they could thrive. The trip before them most dangerous, Who knew when they might all arrive? Heartbreak was strong from the offset, They hated this part one could tell. Saying fair well to friends and to family, Those dear faces they all knew so well. They each took a package of keepsakes, Just something familiar from home. It might help remind them of old times, And not the feeling of being alone. A sea voyage was so prone to peril, So full of great danger most sure. Away from the land of their fathers, To a new world with much more allure. They waved goodbye to the mountains, And the highlands and valley below. To the houses, the church and the village, To a home they would no longer know. They had lived on a farm in the highlands, Over looked by the mountains so high. They lived here and worked here together, Raising wheat, corn, barley and rye. They left their home in the highland, Traveling down to the valley below. Their first stop was in their own village, From here they had much farther to go. Across their homeland they journeyed, To a port on the edge of the sea. Knowing where the next steps would take them, To the land of the brave and the free. From a land with the flag of the cross, This group of travelers would stride. To the land of the stripes and the stars, Moving across an ocean quite wide. They would travel the ocean in steerage, The first time they had been on a ship. Wondering about their new homeland, Which awaited the end of their trip. The family set out on their sea voyage, Consigned to their quarters below, The trip for once in a lifetime, Traveling as fast as the wind would blow. They came to the top from their quarters, On the deck they admired the view. Far from their hearth and their home, Upon an ocean of green and of blue. They viewed the sailors with wonder, As on the deck they all stood. Watching for things more familiar, Listening for words understood. This ship would soon take them, From one world into the next. From a life in many ways simpler, To a world for them more complex. They all had mixed thoughts about this, And wondered about how they would fair. Placing their fate in the Lord s hands, Moving forward on a wing and a prayer. They had charted their trip with care, For here they had chosen to be. From a land with few options at most, To a new land offering prosperity. They watched the horizon to be, The first to view this great sight. Watching for the sign of first land fall, Through the day and into the night. Their view on this voyage had changed, From the stern to the bow of the ship. As their focus moved from the past, To the end of their very long trip. Together they stood by the starboard, Making the most of this great new sport. The old, the young and the wee, All watching for signs of the port. At last it came into view, And all would remember this day. Now to build a new life and a new home, In this land in which they would stay.

8 Page 8 Sigdalslag Saga Volume 28, Issue The Legend of the Old Church in Eggedal Article from Under Norefjell, by Bjarne Nerdalen, submitted and translated by Rosella Goettelman The old church was built about There must have been some dissent about where it should be built. The designated place was a hill far south on Frøvoll land, by the fording place Strengevad. To this day the place is called the church site. The place lay central in the community along the road that was in use at the time. The winter and riding roads from Nordbygda, Vestbygda, Midtbygda and the lower part of Eggedal came through there. There was an old pagan temple at Hovland, and possibly some powerful men who wanted the church built there. [Note: Hov = pagan, temple, place of worship in ancient Scandinavia]. The legend tells that the material was collected at the church site, but the night before the building was to start, the material moved to Hovland. (It was obvious that the inhabitants of the Netherworld were to blame). Maybe it was for religious reasons. The church was only about 5 x 4 meters [approximately 6½ x feet], so there certainly weren t many wagon loads. This legend seems to have been historically documented. But the year it was built is somewhat unclear. The Antiquities Collection at the university contains a carved animal head from the Hovland Church dated to the 00s. Maybe it could have stood at the old sacrificial place. A carved figure called Sjøl-Jacob, dated about 00, also came from the church. In 6 a Sigurd Prest was mentioned at Hovland. Maybe he lived at Prestgarden, so the name may have its origin at that time. The church was Catholic until the Reformation in 56, when the king took over the church, and a king tithe had to be paid, which the church must collect from the common people. In 72 Iver Olsen Kolsrud ( ) got a deed transferred from King Fredrik IV, but the common people certainly had a big stake in the upkeep. In 72 Iver Olsen gave a new altarpiece (this is now installed in the new church). He probably felt that it was good for the salvation of his soul. Three years before he died, along with his third wife, he established a mutual bequest for half of the king tithe. But it was the people of the area who had to take care of it. Eggedal Stave Church. Interior from the chancel towards the west. Painting by Ernst Josephson 872. After the reformation in 56 the church was enlarged in the shape of a cross with a steeple. The graveyard was small and poor, with gravel for the graves. A stone wall was built and 400 wagonloads of sand and clay were hauled up from lower Eggedal. This cemetery was in use until 89. The church was torn down in 88 and sold in pieces around the area. Much of it was collected back and was used in the remodeling of the new church. The new church was built in 878 at Teigenhaugen. The church was quite a decisive factor for the roads in the area. The old road went past the church site.

9 Sigdalslag Saga Volume 28, Issue Page 9 Minnesota Norwegian Pioneer Project This year Minnesota celebrates its 50th anniversary of statehood. If you have Norwegian ancestors who lived in Minnesota at the time of statehood in 858, they were true pioneers. A Norwegian Statehood Pioneer Project was formed to recognize those Norwegian pioneers who were here when the state was born and contributed to the development of its institutions and culture. Recognition of our early Norwegian settlers will be four-fold: Pioneer plaques, Pioneer Certificates, a Heritage Book, and Banquet Celebration. Sigdalslag member Anne Sladky has been instrumental in putting the entire Norwegian Statehood Pioneer Project together. Her ancestors from Eggedal, Bjørn Gunderson and wife Helge Christophersdatter, came to Fillmore County in 857. The Project has designed a 5 x 7 inch cherry-wood plaque which will become a true keepsake and proud reminder of your ancestor s place in Minnesota history. If your ancestor arrived before 858, you are eligible to apply for the Norwegian Statehood Pioneer Plaque. The nameplate on the bottom will identify your pioneer or pioneer couple being honored. Along with the plaque, approved applicants will receive a small certificate that lists both the names of the pioneer and the applicant. Cost of the plaque is $25. At the time of statehood many areas of Minnesota were not open to settlement. Those early settlers, who arrived after statehood, will also be honored. For those whose ancestors arrived from 858 to 908, the Project will award a Century Pioneer Certificate. Cost of the certificate is $0. Applicants must supply a photocopy of documentation that supports early Minnesota residence and line of descent. Examples of possible records are: birth and marriage records, excerpts from a county history written before 950, U.S. or Minnesota census records, certified church records, historic news articles or obituaries, land patents/deeds, and naturalization records. The website, contains applications and specific details on how to obtain a Statehood Pioneer Plaque or Century Certificate. Applications will be accepted through December, Next February the Project will be publishing a soft covered Heritage Book, detailing the history of our Minnesota Norwegian pioneers. This book will contain the names of all settlers honored with the Pioneer Plaque or Certificate, and will also contain early pioneer biographies and stories. The book includes a short article on Sigdalslag, and lists some early Sigdal immigrants to Minnesota. Estimated cost of the book will be about $20. On October 8 th the Project will gather at the Marriott Hotel in Rochester for a day long celebration of Norwegian-Minnesotan roots. You don't have to have a Pioneer Ancestor - or even have Norwegian ethnic heritage - to enjoy this day of good entertainment, good food, education and fun. An afternoon program will feature vendors, booths, displays and speakers. A banquet dinner is planned, although reservations must be made by October 5 th. See the website listed above for ticket information.

10 Page 0 Sigdalslag Saga Volume 28, Issue Member News... In Memory Please share with us your families news of marriages, graduations, long term anniversaries, significant milestones, and the passing of loved ones. Dr. Newell Braatelien MOLINE Dr. Newell T. Braat Braatelien, of Moline, Pathologist with the Quad City Pathology group for 4 years, died Thursday, May 22, at Arkansas Hospice. He was 84 years old. Dr. Braatelien was born May 6, 924, in Pomona, California. He grew up in Crosby, North Dakota, attended the University of North Dakota, and graduated from the University of Illinois Medical School, Chicago Circle Campus. He married Roberta Spiller in 947. She preceded him in death in 989. Dr. Braatelien enjoyed music, and for many years was a season ticket holder at the Civic Opera in Chicago, and the Quad City Symphony. He traveled widely, including China, India, Africa, and most countries in Europe. Survivors include Elizabeth (Kitzel) Braatelien and spouse Danny Wewers; Gail Braatelien and spouse Richard Castner and son Andrew Castner; Kristin Braatelien and spouse Rick Ketterling; Paul Braatelien and spouse Karrie, and children Roberta, Troy and Sean; Mary Sowers and spouse Scott, and children Matt and Rachel; and Bruce Braatelien. A private memorial service was held May 28. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Arrowhead Ranch, ( ). Submitted by son Paul Braatelien. Civil War Soldier with ties to Sigdal by Scott Brunner Oscar Thompson Image from Wisconsin State Hist. Society There are two outstanding websites dedicated to honoring Civil War veterans of Norwegian heritage. Vesterheim maintains a database with biographies of all Norwegians that served in the Civil War: Another site, specifically focuses on the Wisconsin 5 th Volunteer Infantry. It was called the Scandinavian Regiment because its soldiers were almost all immigrants from Norway. Both websites have biographical information with several pictures. Some soldiers have extensive profile details on their family history and military record; others have little known information available. Until recently, little was recorded on the origins of Oscar Thompson. reads: His profile WI 5th Inf Co G. Residence: Beloit, Rock County, Wisconsin. Civil War: Age 8. Unmarried. Enlisted for three years on 2 Dec 86 at Beloit and mustered at Madison, Wisconsin, Dec 86. Private. Was with the provision transport from Stevenson, Alabama, in October 86. Killed, shot through his head, at New Hope Church, Georgia, 27 May 864. This summer I connected with a distant relative, Jesse Paulson, on Rootsweb who shared details on his family line. He told me of Oscar Thompson serving in the Civil War. Oscar Thompson s Norwegian name was Asle Tovsen. He was born March 2, 844, in Modum, Buskerud, Norway, to parents Tov Aslesen and wife Karen Mikkelsdatter. Oscar s father, Tov Aslesen, was from Sigdal! His family genealogy can be found under the Dalen farm in Mørch s bygdebok Sigdal og Eggedal. Both websites have been notified of this new additional information.

11 Sigdalslag Saga Volume 28, Issue Page Surveys & library Contributions Sigdalslag Surveys have been received from: Bob Morton, a document on the life of HELGE NILSEN HEFTA. Levon John Bjertness, on the descendants of ANNE SYVERSDATTER HØGELI. Jean Marthaler, on the descendants of ENGEGRET JONSON TJERNÅS. Evonne DeVold, on the descendants of SOFIE TORSDATTER SKARSHAGEN, GJERTRUDE TORSDATTER SKARSHAGEN and LARS TORSEN SKARSHAGEN. Earl Mollerud, on the descendants of ANDERS OLSEN PIKOP and ANDERS TORGERSEN MOLLERUD. Jan Zastrocky, the CD Blekeberg Reunion 2008, The Journey fra Gamlelandet. Contains much information about the ancestors and descendants of the BLEKEBERG family. These have been added to the Sigdalslag library: Engebret Kristiansen Haugan and family, Pioneers from Sigdal, Norway, gift from Mel Haugan. Krødsherad I Bilder, gift from Corrine Johnson. Sigdal og Eggedal, volume II and III, gift from Al Larson. Buskerud, Den Norske Touristforenning Årbok 957, gift from Dianne Snell. Wanted farm pictures! The Sigdalslag website will soon be featuring photos of farms in Sigdal, Eggedal and Krødsherad. Links by farm will be set up as photos are collected and submitted by members. Send digital photos only to our Webmaster, Ed Espe, at eespe@paulbunyan.net. We encourage everyone to send in photos to create this exciting new collection. Submissions are not only limited to photos; videos and other web-links can also be added to our website. Schedule of Events Now through January NORWEGIAN ARTISTS AT THE AMERICAN TAPESTRY BIENNIA Museum of Art and Craft 75 West Main Street Louisville, Kentucky October SCANDINAVIAN FESTIVAL Oglethorpe University 4484 Peachtree Rd. NE Atlanta, Georgia October 8 MINNESOTA S NORWEGIAN SESQUICENTENIAL CELEBRA- TION Marriot Hotel Rochester, Minnesota October 29 6 to 9 p.m. NORDIC CULTURAL FAIR 2600 Park Avenue South Minneapolis, MN November 5 0 a.m. SCANDINAVIAN JUL BAZAAR Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church 500 W. Maryland Avenue Phoenix, Arizona November 5 0 a.m. SCANDINAVIAN FAIR Hampton Inn Fox Hall 985 Bennet Drive Bellingham, Washington January 9- GRIEG FESTIVAL Rollings College Holt Avenue Winter Park, Florida Sigdalslag in America Coffee Mug We now are selling this pictured coffee mug displaying the Sigdalslag logo. Order now, it would make a wonderful Christmas gift! Mugs are shipped priority mail in a box. Cost is $5, plus $5.60 for shipping. Make checks payable to Sigdalslag and mail to: Dean Skadeland Sigdalslag Treasurer 75 NW Barry Road Kansas City, MO 645

12 Sigdalslag Saga FIRST CLASS MAIL Serving Norwegian-Americans of Sigdal, Eggedal & Krødsherad ancestry SIGDALSLAG EDITOR 555 HILLTOP DRIVE GREEN BAY, WI 540 SIGDALSLAG SAGA IS PUBLISHED IN FEBRUARY, MAY AND OCTOBER We re on the Web! Comments? Suggestions? SAGA solicits feature articles, news, pictures & obituaries from members. or contact the editor (see Pg. 2). Next deadline: January 5, 2009 Changed your mailing or address? Don t miss an issue! Please contact Amy Michelsen at: amichelsen@usfamily.net NOTE: the YEAR shown on the mailing label next to your name indicates that your membership is paid thru DECEMBER of that year Membership Across the Globe U.S.A Canada Norway JOIN SIGDALSLAG NOW! Date Check if Renewal: or Gift: Full name/s Street City State ZIP Phone BUSKERUD Family Origin in (circle one) - SIGDAL EGGEDAL KRØDSHERAD Ancestor s name Farm name 2008 Dues: USA and CANADA $0/YR or $25/ YR, in US dollars ELSEWHERE $2/YR or $0/ YR, in US dollars Year Emigrated Mail application and check payable to Sigdalslag to: AMY MICHELSEN 870 Roanoke Street NW Anoka, MN Residents of CANADA may mail application and check payable to Garth Ulrich to: GARTH ULRICH 099 Dunn Drive Prince Albert, SK S6V 6Y6, CANADA Write Sigdalslag dues ( yr or yr) on the memo line of the check. Dues in Canadian dollars should be made in the amount equivalent to $0 US ( year) or $25 US ( years) on the date written.