Nordic Landmarks in North America
Learning about your Nordic heritage doesn’t require a trip to Norway. There are plenty of opportunities for North Americans to have those cultural experiences closer to home. In the May 2016 issue of Viking, we highlight museums, monuments, historical sites and educational centers in the United States and Canada worthy of a family road trip. Looking for more ideas? Read on! Runestone Museum Alexandria, Minn. This museum is home to the [...]
Sons of Norway Announces New Racing Sponsorship
Sons of Norway Announces New Racing Sponsorship posted on Fri, Apr 15 2016 11:00 am by Erik Evans 1 Comment Sons of Norway is pleased to announce its new sponsorship of Norwegian racer, Caroline Olsen for the 2016 MotoAmerica series. Olsen, a native of Halden, Norway, has been tearing up race tracks throughout Scandinavia and Europe for a few years now. She won the Rookie 600 cup in 2008, [...]
Ready to Serve: Part Two
This Q&A is a continuation of the article that ran in the March issue of Viking magazine. In your Viking interview you had mentioned wanting to deepen members’ understanding of the Foundation. Where are some areas you think members would most benefit from this deeper understanding? Through philanthropy, lives are changed. The Sons of Norway Foundation able to sustain its programs only with gifts from our lodges and donors. This support [...]
Remembering Lyle Berge
It is with great sadness and shock that we have learned of the passing of Lyle Berge, a devoted member, cherished friend and International Director from District 6. Over the years Lyle made an impact on everyone with whom he came into contact. As a tribute to him, I’d like to share some reflections on his altruism and commitment from the International President and D6 President. Lyle Berge is gone, [...]
Ambassador Heins Sworn In
It’s official—the United States now has an Ambassador for Norway! As you probably heard, Samuel Heins was appointed by President Obama and recently confirmed for the position. Last Thursday he was officially sworn in, completing the process.This is excellent news for both Norway and the United States, as having someone in this important diplomatic position will help strengthen the bond that exists between both countries. A recent MinnPost article was [...]
The Very Model of a 21st Century Ambassador
For a number of years now Social Media has been a prime component of our culture. It’s how we get our news, it’s a source of entertainment and a conduit for sharing our joys and concerns. It’s pervaded almost every area of modern day life, from the cereal we eat for breakfast to the books we read before bedtime. One of the last and longest holdouts, though, has been [...]
Scandinavian Quartet Åkervinda
Vocal quartet Åkervinda adds modern flair to Scandinavia folk songs. The members of the group, Linda, Lise and Agnes, met while they were studying jazz music. They’ve performed throughout Scandinavian and North America and hope to have new music to share by the end of this year. Read more about them in the February 2016 issue of Viking and see more below. “We all had a mutual interest in [...]
More With Odd Nordstoga
Musician Odd Nordstoga grew up in Telemark, Norway, with a strong sense of folk-music culture that’s shaped the artist he is today. He debuted as a recording artist in 1997 with the band called Something Odd. In 2004, Nordstoga signed a major-label recording deal with Universal Music and released his solo album, “Luring,” which features a mix of folk-pop songs. The album topped the Norwegian album chart for 14 [...]
Happy Founder’s Day
Tomorrow is a big day! A momentous day where we all wear our membership pins with pride; a day where hearty congratulations and words of good will shall spring forth from the lips of Sons of Norway members everywhere because tomorrow is Sons of Norway’s Founders’ Day! That’s right, 121 years ago 18 Norwegian immigrants who had started a new life in Minneapolis MN came together to create a [...]
More with Ståle Sandbech
In the January 2016 issue of Viking magazine, we caught up with professional snowboarder Ståle Sandbech. The 22-year-old hails from Rykkin, just 30 minutes outside of Oslo. He’s been snowboarding since the age of eight and had the biggest moment of his career in 2014 when he won a silver medal at the Sochi Olympic Games. At the end of this month, Sandbech will be competing at the X Games [...]
Stein Eriksen: The Heart of Skiing
By now you’ve probably heard about the passing of one skiing’s greatest contributors, Stein Eriksen. However, rather than mourning this sad occasion we want to take a moment and celebrate his life and the contributions he made to the world of skiing.As one of the most recognized names in the ski world, Stein Eriksen was synonymous with skiing style and elegance for more than 60 years. The first alpine skier [...]
Sons of Norway Marks the Passing of Former Board Member
It is with and a heavy heart that we must report to our members on the passing of one of our own. Ernst Granly, a former International Director for Sons of Norway and good friend to the Headquarters staff passed away on December 15, surrounded by his loving family. Ernst, who turned 71 earlier this year, was a man of joy and many words. His laugh was unmistakable as [...]
2015 Marks 150 Years Since Cleng Peerson’s Death
Cleng Peerson Commemoration This year has been an important one for fans of Cleng Peerson, as 2015 marks the 150th Anniversary of his death on the Clifton, TX, farm where he spent the last 10 years of his life. To help mark the occasion, Thomas Mannes, a Sons of Norway member of the lodge in Haugesund, Norway has been restoring the farm. Also and he has retained the services [...]
Norway’s Coffee Culture
Did you know that Scandinavians are among the world’s top coffee drinkers? Their love of coffee is more than just about an energy boost. It’s a cultural custom that has been bringing people together for centuries. Viking magazine’s November cover feature explores coffee in Norway—from the Nordic approach to brewing and top coffee shops. Plus, it’s no surprise that Norway is home to some of the world’s best, most [...]