Roots

[ole]

I gave a talk at our Sons of Norway meeting last night on the fylke of Hedmark.  I've done talks on 8 other fylkes in the past as Cultural Director for our lodge.  I think it is important to do this as people in our lodge enjoy it and discover where some of their ancestors come from.  I draw maps of the fylke that will be talked about on styrofoam boards and then display them at furture meetings.  Hedmark was a personal talk in a way because my gr grandfather was born in Ringsaker just north of Moelv along the Åsmark veien at a place called Lundfossen.  The area now is known as Kvennstuggubra (dialect) and his brother Johannes Olsen had a sawmill Kvisla Brug a little up the road from there.  Oh how I would love to reconnect with relatives there.  I was there in 2001 and found the birthplace of my gr grandfather Ole Olsen Lund, but didn't know of any relatives except those buried at Ringsaker Church and Åsmark Kappel.  It was a very emotional moment as I have been the first to return there in my family thanks to the help of some very helpful Norwegians to whom Iæll be forever grateful, plus I found the place on my birthday, so what better gift could I receive_

[Erik (admin)]

You are truly doing a great job for the Sons of Norway. This is very important to keep the bond to the past. Keep ut the good work, Ole. I am sure it was an emotional moment when you found the birthplace of your gr grandfather and also were the first in your family to be there.

Erik

[Taryn]

Hi Ole,
Maybe we could work on finding some relatives for you!  Is there a bygdebok for that area?  Often the bygdebok has the descendancy of a farm or family, and you can easily find them first in the book, and then in the Norwegian online phone book.  It would be good to get you connected with those relatives, and helps with your knowledge of Norwegian.  We could post at the ancestry website for Hedemark, or even get in contact for the Hedmark Lag genealogist.  I belonged to that Lag for a while, and they have a summer meeting where they bring the Bygdeboker.
Taryn

[ole]

Hi Taryn.   I used to belong to the Hedmark Lag also and know the genealogist John Rendl.  I have also been to Moelv where there is a history lag for the area and met some people who knew where my gr grandfather was born and another fellow who gave me a family tree of one of my gr grandfather's brothers and also had us come on a tour of the area the lag was putting on.  He went off the planned route to show me where Kvisla Brug was that Johannes Olson owned.  A few years ago, our SON lodge hosted a group from there, Mjøsensemblet and their pianist is the organist at the Ringsaker Church.  We talked after the concert and he knew at least one of Johannes Olsen'gr rgs grandsons and said he would tell him of me, but I have never heard anything since.  Both my gr grandparents came from somewhat the same area of Norway, just on opposite sides of Mjøsa, Ringsaker and Østre Toten.  Someday I may get to speak with living relatives, I have found quite a few of them in cemeteries over there on our last trip in 2001.

[ole]

Thanks Eric.  I really enjoy being the cultural director of our Bemidji 500 lodge.  In January I was interviewed by our local public TV station in Bemidji while they filmed our Christmas pot luck.  The interview was a lot about the Sons of Norway and it turned out fine.  A lot of people saw the program when it aired and thought I did a good job.  I have a link to the video on my Facebook page.  I have been trying to do a different fylke in Norway each month and the members seem to enjoy the talks.  I like promoting my Norwegian heritage anytime I can.  Ha en fin dag!

[Erik (admin)]

Thanks Eric.  I really enjoy being the cultural director of our Bemidji 500 lodge.  In January I was interviewed by our local public TV station in Bemidji while they filmed our Christmas pot luck.  The interview was a lot about the Sons of Norway and it turned out fine.  A lot of people saw the program when it aired and thought I did a good job.  I have a link to the video on my Facebook page.  I have been trying to do a different fylke in Norway each month and the members seem to enjoy the talks.  I like promoting my Norwegian heritage anytime I can.  Ha en fin dag!

That was really a great interview!! Well done, Ole.

[ole]

Tuusen takk Eric.  It was fun to do and the producer said she'd be in contact on more topics in the future.  Exciting.  Thanks for watching.