Hei Alle Sammen! Fra Presidenten
BONNIE MOHS
Vikingland Lodge President
Happy Spring! I have my window open this morning and the fresh air is drifting inside. I think I’m safe in saying winter (vinter) is finally over! I hate April snowstorms, but I always know the snow won’t stay long (lang) and it does give a fresh white cover to the dirty (skitten) snow!
Welcome to our newest member Mary Amundson! Mary is from Detroit Lakes and joined via our website. Please join me in welcoming her to Vikingland Lodge!
Harold V. Sanders, NOVEMBER 11, 1928 ~ APRIL 19, 2019
On a sad note, I share the passing of one of our charter members, Gudrun Harstad. Gudrun was a teaching colleague of mine from when I joined the family and consumer science faculty of Detroit Lakes in 1975 to Gudrun’s retirement in 1985. Gudrun was also a past president of our Lodge. I remember her faithfully riding on our float, wearing her bunad many years! Gudrun’s funeral will be May 4th. Harold Sanders also passed away on April 19, he was 90. Harold joined our lodge in 2016.
At our May (Mai) meeting we will have a special guest, Dennis Rusinko, our district president will join us. It will be fun to share our Lodge excitement (begeistring) with him. May also brings Norwegian Independence Day or Syettende Mai! I’m hoping my home church; Trinity Lutheran in Pelican Rapids has their Scandinavian dinner once again. Syettende Mai offers us a wonderful opportunity to share our Norwegian heritage!
Greeting from the Vikingland Foundation
CAROL TURNER
Lodge Foundation Director
We had a wonderful turnout for our Silent Auction, a great number of items were brought for the sale, we made over $1500 . We will be deciding how to distribute the money at the next board meeting, stay tuned and feel free to voice your opinion on any non-profit organizations you think we should give some of the funds to. Tusan tak to everyone who brought and bought items, and to all those who pitched in to help set up and add up!
Your foundation director, Carol Turner
Greeting from the Vikingland Social Director
DOROTHY HOOVER
Lodge Social Director
Well, we made it! I’m referring to making it through the long, cold, snowy winter! It is so much fun to be thinking of planting flowers and gardens. Oh, and I suppose we will complain about the heat before long.
Dennis Rusinko speaks to Tusenvann Lodge in Isle, Minnesota. Photo courtesy Jerry Jacoboson
Sons of Norway meetings come each month regardless of the weather. I can tell you, we have some great program lined up! Here goes. May brings Syttende Mai with our 1st District president, Dennis Rusinko as our guest speaker. Erlene DeCock will also have a couple of musical selections.
June will be Scott and Mary Hoaby with a musical program. July will be a picnic in the park. Starting out with Habitat supper on your own, then to our shelter for dessert and meeting, then to the bandshell for “Tuesday in the Park”
August will also be in the park similar to July. We will also have the campers from Skogfjorden giving their report. September we will have an informative program about transplant organs by Dean and Pat Johnson.
October will be a very special night as our lodge will celebrate our 50 year anniversary. Plans are underway for this special night.
So make sure you put the 2nd Tuesday of each month on your calendar so you won’t miss anything. Which reminds me we have also received invitations to the summer parades in our area, and if the board approves we will participate in those fun summer activities.
See you in May, enjoy the spring!
Dorothy Hoover, Social Director
Remembering Gudrun Harstad
Gudrun Harstad was a charter member of Vikingland Lodge and past president. She passed away at the age of 94 at Luther Memorial Home, Mayville, North Dakota.
Gudrun Harstad, June 6, 1924 – April 13, 2019
Ole answers the phone at 3 am and the person apologizes for calling the wrong number. “Dats OK,” says Ole, “I had to get up to answer the phone anyway.”
Friendly Reminders…
STAMPS: Remember to save the stamps (leaving a quarter inch around the edges). Please bring these to Dorothy Hoover.
SCHOLARSHIPS: Scholarship applications are due to Roger Josephson by May 1, 2019. You can apply online at sonsofnorwaydl.org/summer-camp/.
Please send warm thoughts (varme tanker) and prayers (bønner) this month to Roger Josephson on the death of his mother and to Karen Bimberg who also lost her mother. Please also send prayers of healing (helbredelse) to DeAnn Gottsman for shoulder surgery, to Rodger and Marilyn Tinjum for injuries from a fall and knee replacement surgery respectively, and Joe Merseth who had hand surgery.
If you know of someone who should be added to our Solskinn Hjørne (Sunshine Corner), please email Dorothy Poffenberger at dndpoff@arvig.net or call 218-847-8288.
Welcome New Members
We are happy to welcome a new member to Vikingland Lodge! Mary Amundson joined in April. Welcome to Vikingland!
LAST CHANCE: 2019 District 1 Language Camp Scholarships Due May 1st
Scholarships for Concordia Language Villages (CLV) at Bemidji or Masso Moro at Eau Claire, Wisconsin are available for youth whose parents, grandparents or guardians are members of a District 1 Sons of Norway Lodge.
Campers may attend any of the Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or Finnish camps at CLV in June or July or the Norwegian camp at Masso Moro, July 14-27. Vikingland Lodge is entitled to 4 scholarship weeks from District 1, at either of the camps. The local lodge provides an additional scholarship to those attending a camp.
Applications for scholarships must be made before May 1st. For additional information contact Roger Josephson.
Syttende Mai 2019: Let the Celebrations Begin
It’s time to strike up the band, wave the flag and display Norwegian pride as Syttende Mai festivities take place on May 17 in hundreds of cities in Norway, North America and the world. Parades will be organized and draw thousands of participants; copious amounts of ice cream will be consumed; and bunads will abound in a swirl of color and activity.
Children figure prominently in the events, especially in leading the parades. Initially, dating back to 1869, only boys were allowed to march. The girls’ participation was not far behind – within 20 years they, too, enjoyed waving their flags as the parades wove through the streets of Norway and beyond.
Grilled sausage, Wienerpølser (wiener sausage) and regular hot dogs are so popular on May 17 that retail grocers have reported a huge bump in sales on the holiday. “Eat what you like” is the mantra for the day, and indulging in that manner is a big part of the celebrations.
Enjoy the day, no matter how you choose to celebrate. Happy Syttende Mai to all!
