2016 Stevne – Willmar, MN

June 16 – 17 at Best Western Plus/Willmar Conference Center

Article extract about Stevne from Dec 2016 issue of Budstikken.

The second Valdres Samband/Vestlandslag combined stevne was held June 16 – 18 at Willmar, Minnesota’s Best Western Plus and Conference Center.Thursday, June 16th On Thursday morning at 8 o’clock Tom Standal began duties with Valdres Samband Registration; Pat Strot, with Genealogy, and Russ Elmore, with Preservation. Also at that time, the vendors opened for business and the hospitality room opened for coffee, treats and socialization. Returning Jim Olson gave the first presentation at 9 a.m “Deaths, Funerals, & Cemeteries in Norway.“

After a coffee break, Dr. John Christianson put to rest a misconception about “Why the Immigrants Left Norway.” There was equal inheritance. The boys got twice as much as their sisters; however, the girls got a dowry when they married, so it was near equal. The first-born son’s inheriting the farm was not always a plus but a burden – not an opportunity. If he inherited a farm in debt, it was mandatory that he buy out his siblings and provide for his parents and maybe grandparents. America provided an escape.

After lunch, two buses filled with tour goers followed the route planned by Gary Erickson of Vestlandslag. At the Kandihohi Historical Society and with a Great Northern Engine in the background, Bob Larson got on board and gave a brief history of the railroad and of Willmar. The railroad came in 1869. A year later, Willmar was founded, and 90 percent of the inhabitants worked for the railroad.

At the Solomon Lake Lutheran Church Jill Wahnoutka told about Guri Endresen – her heroic actions during the Dakota War. Her good relationship with the Sioux before the uprising was evidenced by the fact the Sioux left her log cabin alone – others, they destroyed, but not Guri’s. On the National Historical Registry, Guri Endresen’s gravesite lies in the church cemetery. The third stop was the East Norway Lake Church. A rather new structure, the church was once named Norway Lake Church. Years ago, predestination became an issue, and the pastor was locked out. The issue caused the congregation to split into East and West Norway Lake Church.

The original Norway Lake congregation had been formed in 1861; the church, in 1868. Ed Husby spoke about every family contributing an oak log to build the church. Around 1877, with the congregation’s split, the church was dismantled and used in building a barn. In the summer of 1997, local oak lumber was again used to rebuild the church like the first church was. The replica was dedicated in 1999. The bus stopped a short time at the nearby historic Knutson log cabin to allow people to photograph the cabin. The Knutson family fled to Paynesville during the Dakota War. At the Green Lake Bible Camp, our last tour stop, we explored the Stave Kirke and were treated to a delicious dinner of roast beef, mashed potatoes, green beans, cloverleaf buns, and pudding.

We returned to the hotel around 7 o’clock and were greeted by Tom Standal and Earl Evenstad’s lively accordian music.

Friday, June 17th

Friday morning at 8 o’clock, registration, genealogy, preservation and the hospitality room again opened. Mary Hendrickson, who directed the Silent Auction, opened the auction at this time for bids.

“Genealogy on the Internet,” Jean Marthaler’s 9 o’clcok presentation, gave excellent information for searching one’s family tree. A few sites mentioned were Norwegian Historical Data Center for census records; US Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, for baptism, confirmation, marriage, and death records; Find A Grave; Norway Heritage; S-AGA; Facebook, and the
Arne Brekke Bygdebok Collection at NDSU.

After a coffee break, at 10:15 Tom Standal gave the “Call of the Lur” to begin the “Opening Ceremonies.” Willmar Mayor Marv Calvin welcomed the group. Our Fellesraad President Elaine Hasleton then spoke on the topic “Vision for the Future of Bygdelag Fellesraad.” To honor members who had departed this past year, a Memorial Service was held.

In “Huset Doctors from Holla,” Jeffrey Huset told about his ancestoral folk doctors; their reliance on the Svartebok, a sorcerers’ book of healing potion formulas; their run-ins with the law, quackery charges, convictions and sentences. More comfortable with folk doctors than with learned doctors at that time, the people would testify in favor of the folk doctors. When Jeff Huset’s greatgreat-great-grandfather, Ole Olsen Huset, left Holla for America in 1846, he listed himself on the passenger
list as a doctor.

After lunch, Bruce Weaver II again spoke about the Civil War; especially, the Valdris’ participation. “Wisconsin’s Norwegian Regiment in the Civil War” included his greatgreat-grandfather Arne Arneson. Arneson registered for the service at Mt. Horeb, went to Camp Randall (near Madison), became part of Company F, known as the Valdres Company. Company F was a company of the 15th Regiment, which ended “up in the thick of things.” Weaver discussed not only battles fought by the 15th Regiment, but also the 10-year research necessary to complete the story. Bruce Weaver II is the first descendant of the 15th Wisconsin to visit the Battle Field.

After an afternoon coffee break, Gary Erickson led a conversation with six area Norwegian speaking Americans. Participants included Colleen and Bruce Peterson, Maxine Madalen, Eunice Sanders, Ernest Anderson, and Marilyn Gerhardson. Although they spoke in different dialects, all understood the others. Said Erickson, the participants speak the old dialects brought by their immigrant ancestors. He pointed out there are over 500 dialects in Norway.

At 4 o’clock another successful Silent Auction ended.

Friday Evening
Vestlandslag’s Lucy Ghastin narrated the Bunad Style Show, which began at 5:30. Sixteen participants modeled the costumes from their own ancestral region. The Stevne Banquet began at 6 o’clock. Earl Evenstad led the table prayer in Norwegian and in English. He then announced the 65th Wedding Anniversary of Jerry and Bev Fisher, who were favored with the crowd’s singing “Happy Anniversary.” After a delicious roast beef dinner was enjoyed by all, Vestlandslag President Ann Romo introduced
Elaine Hasleton, the new Fellesraad President. Elaine spoke about charter members’ origins, immigration and migration patterns. Charter member descendants, who were present were acknowledged. They were Tamra Foster, descendant of a Sognalog charter member; Marilyn Somdahl, descendant of Valdres Henry S. Anderson and Pat Roddy, descendant of Valdres Berit Kvam Flattum.

Gary Erickson introduced the evening’s entertainment. The Kingery Family’s instrumental talent and vocal harmony in a mixture of Celtic, Bluegrass, Gospel, old favorites, and Kingery original compositions delighted their audience.

Saturday, June 18th
The hospitality room opened at 8 o’clock and remained open until 11:30 for coffee and socializing. Beginning at 8 o’clock, annual business meetings were held by the individual lags. Except for a coffee break at 9:15, meetings took place throughout the forenoon. After lunch, the final item on the 2016 Stevne was the joint meeting of the Valdres Samband officers and Vestlandslag officers, at which they agreed a to a joint stevne in 2017.

Notes

The article in Budstikken includes many black and white photos of this 2016 event. The original images are not currently available to publish. View this video on youtube.