Photo from the 2004 Stevne meeting of the Sigdalslag. Click on photo for larger version.
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Report from the
7 Lag Stevne (2004)
Willmar, Minnesota
Holiday Inn & Conference Center
July 7-10, 2004
Marilyn Moen, Reporter
Ninety Sigdalslag members were gathered in Willmar, MN for the 7 Lag Stevne July 7-10, 2004.
This was highest number of Sigdalslag members attending the 7 Lag Stevne in recent years. The theme
of the Stevne was Amber Waves of Grain. Sigdal was responsible for the planning and publicity for
this year’s stevne. Congratulations to President Earl and all from the lag who helped make this a
very successful event.
The 7 Lag Stevne includes the Land, Hadeland, Numedal, Ringerike-Drammen, Sigdal, Telemark, &
Toten lags celebrating our Norwegian heritage from these areas in Norway. Some 355 persons attended
the Stevne in Willmar.
The genealogy room was set up in Galleries 5-6-7 of the Conference Center giving lots of space
for the many who were there to search information on their ancestors. For the second year the
genealogy room was available on Wednesday from 6:00 to 9:00 as well as Thursday and ending at noon
on Friday. Each lag was well represented with excellent persons to help search the multitude of
information available. Lee Rokke, Sigdal genealogist, provided assistance and many resources to
those searching the Sigdal area.
Some of the special events and tours included a pontoon boat dinner cruise on Green Lake, a
beginner’s Hardanger embroidery class, a church dinner at Calvary Lutheran Church and a tour of
the church showcasing the professional works on display by local Willmar sculptor/artist Fred
Cogelow, and a history tour of NW Kandiyohi County.
On Thursday and Friday twenty-one classes and video’s were available for those attending 2004
Stevne on important genealogy topics, crafts and dance.
On Friday the opening ceremony was held with greetings from each of the lag presidents, with
Earl Knutson, the president of Sigdalslag presiding. Norma Snelling led the national anthems of
the United States, Canada and Norway. Norma Snelling also led a sing along at the end of the
program. Dr. Mike Morris of Willmar presented An American doctor’s experience in Norway and Rev.
Joel Njus talked about The Norway Lake Lutheran Historical Association. Friday evening’s program
included Norwegian Dancing by Mikkel
Thompson and Ruth Sylte and Songs and Stories
by Erik Bergeson.
Saturday the various lags held their annual meetings. The Sigdalslag meeting was held at the
Old Log Church near Norway Lake in Arctander Township, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. This was a
beautiful site for the meeting. The business meeting was held which included election of officers,
introductions, a tribute to Alice Mensing written by her niece Addie Williams and read by Earl
Knutson, thanks to Carol Meade for her service on the board, a certificate of appreciation to be
included in the Saga for Håvard Støvern for his assistance to the lag, a discussion of new book
to be published and help needed by current members. (See web page and Saga insert for further
information). The program included a review of the list of Sigdal-Eggedal-Krødsherad immigrant
settlers in the Norway Lake area of Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. Doug Glesne, descendant of
Krødsherad settlers in this area, spoke about the Glesne family and the Railsons in Norway Lake
Township. Earl Knutson, descendant of Sigdal settlers in this area, spoke about the Ole and
Aase Knudson family in Arctander Township. Guri Enger, a guest from the Enger farm in Nedre
Eggedal, spoke about her family and her job as a missionary in Mali.
Saturday afternoon the Malm
Basselurskan Harmonica Orchestra from Trondelag entertained the
Seven Lag Stevne from 2:30 to 4:00. The Stevne was culminated by the Banquet at 5:00 with dinner
music by the Norsemen. This was followed at 7:00 by the Bunad parade and
Ole and Sven by Dave
Nelson and Phil Dybdal.
The next 7 Lag Stevne will be held in Whitewater, Wisconsin. An enjoyable time was had by
those attending the 7 Lag Stevne in Willmar. We look forward to the next Stevne! Mark your
calendars and plan to attend.
2004 Stevne Photos are available for your viewing by CLICKING HERE.
Return to Stevne page.
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