Norsota

Lori Lahlum

A native of North Dakota, Lori Lahlum received her Ph.D. from the University of Idaho in 2003. She is currently associate professor of history at Minnesota State University, Mankato where she teaches courses on the American West. Lahlum edited Norwegian American Women: Migration, Communities, and Identities (Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2011) with Betty Bergland, and she has a chapter on women in rural Norwegian American communities in the volume. She also has published an article on Norwegian immigrant women in South Dakota (2005), a book chapter on growing up in Norwegian American communities (2008), and an article on a Norwegian woman homesteader and photographer (2010). Lahlum is now working on final revisions for a book on Norwegian immigrant women, landscape, and agriculture on the northern plains, as well as doing research for a book-length dual biography of two Norwegian immigrant women in South Dakota.

Hans Sandom will present a slide show created especially for Norsota. It depicts removal of the old bridge to the family farm in Norway, followed by the construction of the new bridge. The old bridge to their home was built by their father in 1949, to cross the North Atna River in North Atnadal. Hans and his brother, Einar, replaced the bridge in the summer of 2011.

In December we celebrated the season with our annual Julebord.

Long before the introduction of Christianity, a festival was always held in Norway during the midwinter season. From it Norwegian Christmas got its name, “Jul.” It is the biggest holiday of the year in Norway.

Special recipes for this time of year have passed down for centuries from generation to generation. The special foods definitely showed up at our annual Norosta Julebord celebration. The main dishes were tasty with plenty to go around, and the pastry table was incredible. Kransekake, the famous Christmas tree-shaped dessert, also made its appearance. All who put on the event should get a Saint Olaf medal.

A special thank you to all lodge members that made this year’s Julebord so outstanding. Tusen takk for maten!