DSS News May 2024

Danish Sisterhood

Greetings to all of you:

President’s Corner

I have just returned home from 4 glorious days in Solvang, California. It was wonderful weather (especially for someone who came home to 18” of new snow) and even more importantly, it was amazing to spend the time with the other board members and other Sisters that were in Solvang and Santa Barbara. There is NOTHING quite like meeting face to face and being able to hug and touch and read body language as you get to know each other and work for the Sisterhood. Our next virtual meeting will have an entirely different feel because we have been together in person.

The incredible awesomeness of the board you elected in 2023 showed through clearly as we worked through a long agenda and accomplished so much. We worked through the budget and learned to understand the P & L statement better. Glenda has the constitutions about ready to go out to the lodges. The minutes of the convention are posted on the website under “members only”. Anna has the website updated and if you are on Facebook, you know she is busy posting pictures of what is happening with the Sisterhood. Carol and Susan have done a great job contacting and surveying lodges. They will put a report together for our next in-person board meeting. Karen has new items going into butikken. Look for dish towels with the Danish table prayer, garden flags, new Tshirts and more. The scholarship applications have been sent to the judges and scholarship winners will be announced soon.

Other things we did were: Extensive evaluation of the last convention so the Chicago convention will be even better as we keep the good parts and make improvements. Reviewed the Denmark trip: There are still a few openings, but it is definitely a “go.” Sune, our tour guide, is putting together a tour of Copenhagen after the main tour. Contact Karen VigKeathley for more information. continued on page 4

Danish Sisterhood News

www.danishsisterhood.com Volume 77, Number 5

Honorary Member Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

Published by the Supreme Lodge of the Danish Sisterhood of America (Dansk Søster Samfund) as its Official Publication.

DANISH SISTERHOOD NEWS (USPS 148-200) is published monthly by the Supreme Lodge of the Danish Sisterhood of America. Office of publication at 1557 Oak St. Solvang, CA 93463. Periodicals Postage Paid at Rochester, MN.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to DANISH SISTERHOOD NEWS, 1557 Oak St. Solvang, CA 93463

EDITOR: Charlene Jensen, (503) 956-4353 Email: editor@danishsisterhood.com

Articles for publication in the Danish Sisterhood News must arrive to the Editor no later than the 1st day of each month previous to publication.

Subscription: Members $12 (US) Non-Members $20 (US)

Officers of the Supreme Lodge

National President: Nealna Gylling, Lodge #186 1474 Floan Point Rd, Brainerd, MN 56401 612-390-1374 | president@danishsisterhood.com

National Vice President & Technology Chair: Anna Nielsen #20 (262) 412-4482 | vicepresident@danishsisterhood.com

National Secretary: Glenda Madrid, Lodge #177 1557 Oak St. Solvang, CA 93463 (805) 448-7631 | secretary@danishsisterhood.com glenda_madrid@hotmail.com

National Treasurer: Linda Brooks, Lodge #21 8402 Winter Berry Dr., Castle Rock, CO 80108 303-905-9934 | treasurer@danishsisterhood.com

National Trustee: Carol Rudisill, Lodge #102 4131 E 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50313 515-971-5997 | trustee1@danishsisterhood.com

National Trustee: Susan Hoppough, Lodge #65 834 E. Baldwin Lake Dr., Greenville, MI 48838 616-302-1330 | trustee2@danishsisterhood.com

National Trustee & Butikken Chair: Karen Vig-Keathley, Lodge #4 109 South First Street, Itasca, IL 60143 708-715-0071 | trustee3@danishsisterhood.com

National Past President: Christina Sallee, Lodge #81 16116 SW Deline Ct, Beaverton, OR 97007-3425 (503) 928 4494

National Historian: Donna Christensen Thomas, historian@danishsisterhood.com

Copyright 1946-2024 by the Supreme Lodge of the Danish Sisterhood of America, All Rights Reserved.

Dear Sisters:

I definitely look forward to seeing your articles, stories, photographs! It is wonderful to hear about what events are going on in each of the Danish Sisterhood lodges. Always feel free to reach out to me with questions you have about submitting something to be printed in this monthly newsletter.

Articles, pictures, stories, events, etc., can be submitted to me through email at: editor@danishsisterhood.com . With each story/article submitted, make sure to include a byline on the document. Ideally, include some kind of photograph to go along with the story (original photographs taken from a camera or telephone are usually fine), if possible.

Many lodges have wonderful cooks! If that sounds like your lodge, feel free to share a recipe that one of your members is famous for making! Of course, including a photograph of the fine cuisine, and a photograph of the cook, would be wonderful!

When submitting photographs, always include a caption. It is important to list the name of the photographer of the picture.

Don’t forget that some of your lodge members have amazing stories from their homeland. Interviewing your lodge members can result in a wonderful written story that can be printed in this newsletter, but can also be subsequently passed onto that lodge member’s family as important family history.

~~Charlene

ON THE COVER: My husband and I traveled to Denmark with my parents, Ron and Hanne Nelson, to visit places both sides of my Danish family are from. Of course, we had to work in some of the famous landmarks. This picture is of Hans C. Andersen.

MEMBERSHIP EXPANSION FOR MARCH 2024

President’s Corner (continued…)

We updated the Lifetime Achievement Award application and revised the selection process. Look for an ad in the newsletter if you’d like to help with this process.

Because of the cost of air travel right now, National Board members will represent the national board at their own district convention. This is a change from the past, and hopefully won’t be necessary in the future. This means we will have a Board member traveling to only two conventions: Nebraska, and Pacific Northwest.

We worked on writing an article about the Sisterhood, its history and its importance, for the fall MoDA magazine. We are putting the finishing touches on this article before submitting it to MoDA. This is just a brief synopsis of some of the accomplishments of the meeting. The full minutes will be posted to the website when they are done and approved. It was a busy time, and your Board was working hard.

Even though this President’s Corner is a long column, I would like to take the time to say thank you to the Solvang Lodge for welcoming us and including us in your song fest. It was great. I also want to publicly thank the entire National Board for their hard work these first 6 months and all they have accomplished. You are the best!!

As always, your National Board is here for you. Please reach out to us with ideas and concerns.

Nealna Gylling National President

Dear Sisters:

Thank you so very much for your generous check to help me in my disaster expenses of our severe storms in Santa Barbara, California on January 9, and March 1, 2023. It is hugely helpful and hugely appreciated. Hopefully, the world can restore the climate to normal.

I have really enjoyed the Danish Sisterhood events and social get-togethers over the years.

Sincerely and Affectionally Yours, Nancy Bertelsen, Crown Princess Ingrid Lodge #165

Greetings:

You helped me and my family so much! Had a loss January, 2023 from burst pipes which caused a flood and February 1, 2024 my son-in-law’s house fire, where I was staying while trying to fix my house. I was on vacation when my pipes burst for 3 weeks in Florida. I came home with 2 feet of water in my basement and water coming down from the second floor bathroom through the kitchen and down to the basement. I lost so much. The hot water heater and boiler heating system needs replacement throughout my home, besides much more.

I can’t thank you enough. Much appreciation for your support. God Bless you all

Mange Tak, Karen Hansen, Freja Lodge #36

ELLEN’S

STORY

By her Great-Granddaughter, Andrea Thomsen, of Ellen Lodge 21 – Denver

This story was presented by Andrea Thomsen of Ellen Lodge 21 at our February meeting. I asked Andrea if I could submit this story to Danish Sisterhood News and she said she would be honored to share it. It shows the courage and resilience of Danes. I was truly inspired and in awe of Ellen's courage.

--Linda Brooks, National Treasurer

This story is about my Great-Grandmother, Ellen Wilhelmine Nielsen. She is my Mom’s Dad’s Mom. The family lived in Dragør, which is a small town south of Copenhagen. Dragør was primarily a fishing village, so most of her family were in that business in some way or another. Ellen was 55 when her husband became ill and died in 1941. Even though her 6 children were growing into adults, some of them still lived with her including my grandfather, grandmother and my mom and her siblings. Ellen worked as a fish monger (fish seller) on the Gammel Strand (the old beach) as many of the other women did at that time.

Along the same beach there were two brothers who sold flowers. One day in October 1943 they approached Ellen and asked if they could pay her to help them get to Sweden via one of the fishing boats. They told her they were Jewish and were being persecuted by the Germans. She took the brothers home with her and gave them a place to stay until she could arrange their escape. From that day forward she became heavily involved in the opposition. She was an information courier, transported weapons and hid jews in her home and helped smuggle them out on fishing boats.

One evening in July 1944, Ellen and her family went out to a birthday party. My grandmother’s younger sister came to babysit my Mom and her siblings. Ellen got tired, so she left the party early and went home to bed. Shortly afterwards there was shouting and loud knocking at the door. The Gestapo were standing there demanding she come with them. She was allowed to change out of her nightgown while a soldier stood watch. She was taken to a local house called Villa Pax that had been taken over by the Nazis and used as a holding jail.

The following morning she her brother and 6 other locals were taken to a holding jail in Copenhagen. They were stripped of their belongings, put into prison clothes, and interrogated nonstop. About a week later they were sent to Vestre Prison Camp where the men and women were separated. Every morning they stood in line for roll call and were given one small cup of a nasty tasting soup. It didn’t take long before they were as sick as the prisoners who were already there. During the day they endured endless hours of beatings and interrogations. And every day the camp grew overcrowded with more prisoners and so the food rations became smaller and smaller.

Three months later in late October, an officer told them that some of the prisoners had been chosen to go to another location in Germany. They were told they were going to help build a bigger and better Germany and they should consider it an honor to be chosen. And Ellen was one of the chosen. They traveled by train for a day and a half until they arrived at a clearing where they had to get out and walk the rest of the way. They headed towards a forest where they heard shouting and barking dogs. They came upon several soldiers standing over two dead bodies who were prisoners who had tried to escape. The officers told them to stop and look at the bodies and remember what would happen to them if they tried to escape.

They finally reached The Frøslev Concentration Camp. The bunks were made of lumber with dried grass for a mattress and the grass was crawling with bugs. They were told to stand in line for roll call and their daily meal ration. As it turned out, the soup (stale water with a few pieces of cabbage) along with moldy bread was even worse than the last place.

Ellen had a hard life growing up but was very strong and stubborn. Every night before sleeping she would pray. When she was cold, she would think of her cozy little house and when she was hungry, she would visualize the nice meals she shared with her family. It was the only thing that kept her going.

In December 1944 she was sent on to another place called Ravensbruck Women’s Concentration Camp. At the far side of the encampment was a large enclosure containing brick buildings. Ellen and several of the healthier prisoners were taken over to those buildings to work. The buildings were walk in gas chambers. The prisoners were there to load the corpses on wagons and remove clothing and gold filings before taking them to a mass grave in the forest.

(story continued on the next page)

.

By her Great-Granddaughter, Andrea Thomsen, of Ellen Lodge 21 – Denver

In February 1945 she was sent on to Jugendlejeren Concentration Camp that she called the inferno of hell. The prisoners were told they were going on a recreation outing but in fact it was to the gas chamber. But shortly after arriving she was suddenly moved yet again to another prison. There she continued to observe weak adults and children being sent into the gas chamber. She was twice selected for the gas chamber but pulled back because she was deemed healthy enough to work.

On Good Friday1945 it was determined that approximately 1,000 women would be sent to the gas chamber that weekend. Her date was scheduled for Easter Sunday, April 1st. When the day arrived, she stood in line with the other women while the Nazi guards watched over them. As she was waiting her turn, one of the guards heard her speaking and asked if she was Danish. She replied, “Yes.” The guard told her that when he was a boy he vacationed in Denmark many times with his family and that the Danish people always treated them very kindly. He pulled her out of the line and sent her back to the barracks.

Around this time, Germany was starting to lose the war. Less than a week later, on Saturday, April 7th, word came that all Scandinavian prisoners were to be evacuated. Swedish soldiers were sent in to tend to the prisoners as best they could. On April 8th, the Red Cross arrived in white vans carrying doctors, nurses and medical supplies and transported them to Sweden, France, and Holland.

Among the soldiers that arrived to help was a young Jewish captain from New York. As he walked among the rescued prisoners, he heard someone call out his name. Ellen had recognized him from a photo her daughter had sent her when she announced she was getting married. He was her son-in-law.

It was morning and my grandfather was still in his pajamas eating breakfast with his family. An Army private knocked on the door saying he had a message from his captain: I’ve located your mother, stop. Will be arriving in Sweden on Monday am stop, she is alive stop, signed your brother in law. Over the next few days the Red Cross issued lists of people that were arriving home, and each family was asked to appoint one person to be in attendance to greet their loved one. My grandfather was selected, and the local fisherman sailed him to Sweden. In the meantime, Ellen’s son-in-law was granted a week’s leave to personally care for his mother in law.

PHOTO ABOVE: The picture above is Ellen with a plaque hanging around her neck. It states her full name, Ellen Wilhelmine Nielsen. The date 15/10/88 is her birthday (October 15, 1888). The photo was taken by a soldier when she arrived at the holding jail in Copenhagen when she was first arrested by the Nazis. No one is sure what the number at the top corner of the plaque means; perhaps it is a prisoner number.

While in the hospital she received notice that her brother had been found alive and would be joining her shortly. Ellen spent 1 ½ months in a Swedish hospital and was then transferred to a Danish hospital where she spent several more months recuperating. She finally came home to Dragør in the late summer of 1945. She managed to cope with the concentration camp syndrome, testified many times to the War Crimes Committee and gave many interviews. She lived another 22 years until the age of 79.

Two Footnotes:

The Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York has created a new exhibit called “Courage to Act: Rescue in Denmark”. It opened October 15, 2023 and Ellen is featured in the exhibit. It’s designed to teach young visitors ages 9-12 the rescue of Denmark’s Jewish Community. And if you go to the museum’s website, there is an 8½ minute video highlighting the exhibit.

There is a Danish producer named Niels Juul who has his own production company called NoFatEgo. His latest movie is “Killers of the Flower Moon” directed by Martin Scorsese. He has a strong passion for independent films and documentaries. His company is making a movie about Ellen’s story. The script is finished and was based on research done by a Danish historian and written by a man who is an expert on WW2 and Nazi Germany. They’ve hired a director and are currently casting. There is a link to the film on his website at: https://www.nofatego.com/indevelopment

PHOTO ABOVE: Jack Kraywinkle. Photography by LeAnn Plinske.

News from Amber Lodge #186 Brainerd MN

By Jane Matthies-Holtan, Correspondent

The Amber Lodge, #186, met on March16, 2024 at the Good Shepard Lutheran Church in Brainerd. We welcomed Jack Kraywinkle as our guest speaker. Jack is an author and expert woodcarver. His book, Blue Harvest, is a fictional story set during the Depression and was inspired by the stories of his parents, grandmother, and Scandinavian roots.

Also included in Jack’s presentation were many of his whimsical, decorative and practical carved items; see photos to the left and right. It was fantastic learning about the diverse types of wood used, tools required and both historical and personal details that inspired the pieces. Following the speaker, we shared a potluck lunch and then finished with a general business meeting.

Photo of the book Blue Harvest was taken by Jane Matthies-Holtan.

Photography by LeAnn Plinske.

Photography by LeAnn Plinske.

MUSEUM OF DANISH AMERICA HAS A RECIPE BOOK FOR YOU!

Searching for the perfect Danish Recipe?

There is nothing better in life than biting into a mouth watering, hot out of the fry pan, Frikadelle. Can’t you just taste it now? What is holding you back? Looking for a tried and true recipe? All 16 Frikadelle Recipes in the Danish Sisterhood Cookbook will soon be yours!

You are in luck: Our Danish Sisterhood Cookbook, Danish Sisterhood Treasures, is being added to our online archival Library. All 323 pages, including the 16 Frikadelle recipes, will be one of many resources which will be at your fingertips. Thanks to Addison, the Museum Intern, who is scanning all of our Danish Sisterhood precious history!

The cookbook, Danish Sisterhood Treasures, which was assembled and printed in 1992, has every Danish recipe you would want including Gløgg, Brunsviger Cookies, Leverpostej, Curried Herring and hundreds more! These are historic recipes submitted by members of our own Danish Sisterhood Lodges. There is also a section of recipes submitted by famous Danes and Danish Organizations. Some of these include: Danebod Folk School, Ib Melchoir, Møllekroen Restaurant, Nelson’s Variety Store, Olsen’s Bakery, and Den Danske Pioneer.

Soon you will be able to go online and access these treasures! We are only $7,000.00 shy of our fundraising goal. Once we raise the final amount, all of materials will be online for your easy access. Any donation amount will be “icing on the cake” to help us to reach our goal!

Send your individual or lodge donation payable to: Museum of Danish America

Send to: Museum of Danish America 2212 Washington St. Elk Horn, IA. 51531

Attn: Cheyenne

MEMBERSHIP EXPANSION FOR MAY 2024

SISTERHOOD NEWS FROM LODGE 102

PHOTO ABOVE: Some of our youngest Lodge 102 Sisters (Phoebe and Zoe Volious and Brynlee Anderson) helping to decorate the Danish layer cake. Photography: Ken Gregersen.

By Carol Christiansen, Correspondent

We welcomed the year with a lot of events going on. Our January, February, March meetings were held on Saturday during the daytime. This made it easier for our out of town members to attend. These meetings were held in the Lykke Center at Luther Memorial Church. We have been having a great turnout with members, guests, and children. Sadly, in January two of our long time members passed away, Joanne Hendersen and Marilyn Kramme. Our Sisterhood group helped with the luncheon at Marilyn’s funeral. Member Kirsten Lundgren donated her many Danish Christmas plates to the church and the dessert was served on them. At our regular meeting, Carol Rudisill told us how she made rullepølse. The new officer slate was presented and accepted.

February’s program was presented by the Young Women’s Violence Resource Center followed by a luncheon of pizza. Words in our Danish book were reviewed and new ones added. Members attended the Brotherhood’s Fastelavn celebration. Cards were sent to Janelle Willis and Kirsten Lundgren.

Again, we had a good attendance at our March meeting where member Trudy Julesgaard demonstrated how to make a Danish layer cake. We each had a slice of the delicious cake with our lunch. New words were added to our Danish book. We were reminded of our May 5th Danish brunch with white elephant prizes and the Danish/ American lottery. Another date will be set up for a bake sale at Grand View University. Proceeds will go towards our youth camperships. A card was sent to Cheryl Brinkman (hip surgery). We will be going back to our evening meetings in April. Several of our members will be going on the Sisterhood tour in September.

Rullepølse, also spelled rullepoelse or rullepolse, is a traditional Danish cold cut. A piece of pork belly variants use veal or lamb is flattened out and is spread with herbs and seasoning, chopped onions, and parsley. The most common rullepølse is made of pork. Chopped onions is usually used on rullepølse made of lamb. Rullepølse made with pork or veal often has only spice; if some meat is cut off to make the rullepølse evenly flat, it is added evenly distributed over the entire flat piece of meat, before rolling it up tightly. Parsley is the preferred herb added to all kinds of rullepølse. “Sky” is beef bouillon thickened with gelatin and used as decorations on open-faced sandwiches (rugbrød). It is used in thin strips together with onion rings on rullepølse. It definitely does not cover the bread and is not referred to as a “fat” layer. Sky can be used as decorations on both liverpaste and roast beefsmørrebrød.

PHOTO ABOVE: Carol Rudisill working on the rullepølse. Photography: Tricia Anderson.

Final Call for:

“Beautiful East Jutland”

This trip includes exciting visits to Aarhus –“City of Smiles”, Silkeborg and the Lake Highlands, Randers Rain Forest, Hobro and the Viking Settlement, Sostrup Castle and Convent, Hvidsten Inn and Museum, and the irresistible Ebeltoft and Mols Bjerge.

For more information visit www.danishsisterhood.org or contact Karen Vig-Keathley at trustee3@danishsisterhood.com or 708-715-0071.

Bonus: Copenhagen Extension with tour guide Sune Fredericksen. Four days and three nights in Copenhagen. Stay in downtown Copenhagen and see the Changing of the Guard at Amalienborg, the Little Mermaid, Tivoli, Strøget and more. Ride a double decker hop-on hop-off bus and take a canal tour. This is a separate bonus provided by our tour guide at no profit to him.

Cost is $750 per person for doubles and $1,050 per person for singles. Minimum of 10 people for this add-on tour to happen. You must commit by June 1st or this part of the tour will be cancelled.

The history of the Marguerite Daisy traces back to the early 19th century. At that time it was officially designated as the national flower. The national flower was chosen for its simplicity and purity. Danish people usually love nature; this national flower is loved by the people of Denmark. Marguerite Daisies can be found growing in Denmark’s meadows, gardens, and coastal areas. These flowers are hardy and are known for their adaptability to different soil types. They are a common sight across the country.

MEMBERSHIP CORNER—

By Susan Hoppough

Hej, All Sisters! Where has the first quarter of this year gone? It seems like time passes by so quickly and I want to give you an update on what we have done since the new year began. Many of the lodge presidents have received calls from Carol or I regarding the survey the Board is conducting to ascertain the status of membership in the Sisterhood lodges across the US and Canada. We thought each of the interviews would take 30 minutes to complete but we found some of the conversations lasted for an hour or more. You are sharing such good information, insights and suggestions and we are grateful. While the data collection continues, here are some highlights and preliminary findings.

· The good news is that very few lodges are considering closing even though they may have fewer members or meet infrequently. The lodges with the most activity utilized ZOOM meetings to get through the pandemic and some continue to use ZOOM to allow more members to attend meetings. Along with the business meeting, some of the busier lodges offer programs and gather to make craft items for sale to raise money. We are thrilled to hear the good news but along with the good, we are hearing about the opportunities for the Board to improve their support of local lodges. What are some of those suggestions?

· All lodges express interest in access to programs, program materials and tools. Everyone wanted more information regarding the Board’s use of membership dues and how the national dues support the local lodges. We learned that the Board could improve communication, especially in responsiveness to questions posed by members or lodge leaders. We have learned that the Board could organize resources gathered from local lodges and share the tools via the Website. The Board knows there is work to be done in supporting lodges with increased membership in the Danish Sisterhood, and with regard to improving communication. We look forward to completing the surveys, organizing, and analyzing the data we are collecting. Once completed, we will share a full report and present the membership plan with everyone.

We appreciate everyone who helps us in this endeavor. We still have work to do so stay tuned!

~~Mange Tak!

Susan Hoppough

Help Wanted:

We need Sisters to help select the Lifetime Achievement Award Winner.

This will involve reading and evaluating the submitted applications. We need volunteers from the east, central and west. Would you be willing to help?

For more information, or to volunteer, contact Nealna Gylling at 612.390.1374 or at president@danishsisterhood.com .

Nealna Gylling, National President

Danish Sisterhood News, May 2024 Page 11

REST IN PEACE BONNIE LOU KELLER LARSEN

Submitted by Christine Rindone Lodge #113, Grand Island, NE

Resolution: Bonnie Lou Keller Larsen

Bonnie Lou Keller Larsen, 90, passed away after a short illness on March 3, 2024 at Good Samaritan Society Grand Island Village in Grand Island, Nebraska.

Bonnie graduated in 1951 from Grand Island High School where she was a varsity cheerleader and an excellent student. She grew up playing sports and loved the outdoors.

She married Richard Rasmussen and together they raised five children. She was married 26 years to Richard. In l982, Bonnie moved to Lexington, Kentucky for theological studies and married Leslie Larsen. Les was an ordained Lutheran pastor and Bonnie a deacon. Together they served four rural ECLA Lutheran churches. Upon their retirement, they moved to Curtis, Nebraska.

Bonnie moved to the Riverside Lodge Retirement Community in Grand Island, Nebraska in 2018. She attended Lodge #113 when she was able. She was a very delightful person and always looked very charming in her rather unique apparel. She was a fun-loving Dane and will be missed by her family, friends and Sisters of Western Star Lodge.

A memorial service for Bonnie was held at Riverside Lodge.

PHOTO LEFT: Egeskov Castle (Danish: Egeskov Slot) is located near Kværndrup, in the south of the island of Funen, Denmark. The castle is Europe's best preserved Renaissance water castle.

Hej:

MEET YOUR NATIONAL BOARD—Karen Vig-Keathley

My name is Karen Vig-Keathley, and I am new as Butikken Chair for the Danish Sisterhood of America. I hope you have had the opportunity to go to our website and view the items we have for sale in Danish Sisterhood Butikken. We try to have a wide variety of items. If there is something you would like to see us offer at Butikken, please do not hesitate to let me know. I will be shipping a sample of what we offer at Butikken to your District Conventions this year,

I will also be working closely with my Chicago lodge, planning your National Convention in 2027. We are excited to bring the convention to Chicago, and plan to make 2027 an exciting year for you to travel to the Windy City.

I decided to join the Danish Sisterhood of America because I wanted to learn more about my Danish heritage. My Farmor sold her home soon after my Farfar died so I have no memories of her preparing Danish meals.

My memories of my Farmor Vig is walking down the street of my parents’ house after getting off a Chicago bus with a shopping bag full of bakery goods from the local Danish bakery. The last couple of years of my Farmor Vig’s life was living at the Danish Home of Chicago which is an incredibly special place for me. Due to her health issues, she was unable to leave the Danish Home to go my wedding. Between the church and the reception, my bridal party came to the Danish Home so I could see my Farmor on my wedding day. I can still see her looking out the window of the Danish Home as we left that April 4th day.

On a personal note, I have been a member of DSS Lodge #4 in Chicago for over 10 years. I was elected to the national board as trustee in 2019. For my lodge I have served as their secretary, trustee and social secretary. For the Midwest District I am currently their secretary-treasurer.

I currently work part-time for a large podiatry office and watch my grandsons, Connor 9, and Nolan 6, in the mornings before they go to school. I am also the Executive Director of the American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants, a national organization for podiatric medical assistants. I am the great-granddaughter of P.S. Vig; he was a Danish American pastor, educator and historian in the Lutheran church. He was integral to the formation of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in North America and the United Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church. I am extremely proud of my Danish heritage.

PHOTO ABOVE: Karen Vig-Keathley and her family pose for a picture. This was their family vacation to Disneyland and Universal Studios in January 2024. From left to right: Beth, Connor, Karen VigKeathley, Nolan, James and Jim.

PHOTO RIGHT: The Danes are proud of their Country and proud of their Danish Flag.

DANISH SISTERHOOD BUTIKKEN

DanishSisterhood.com

Hand-painted Danish Heart Flag Earrings $15.00

DSS Oval Vinyl Decal 4 inches $2.00

DSS Notebook with pen $7.00

Storm Creek Quilted Performance vest ladies with DSS logo. This ultrabreathable vest is made with a polyester shell and insulation. A chin guard, drawcord hem and full storm flap braces you against the wind. Royal blue and navy, sizes medium to 2XL while supplies last. Cost $50.00

DSS 14 KT Gold Plated Emblem Necklace with Italian 18 inch chain $45.00

DSS 14 KT Gold Plated Emblem Pendant $25.00

Black Crew Neck Cardigan sizes small to 3XL $45.00. This extra soft Port Authority cardigan features a shallow scoop neck and an eight-button cardigan placket with dyed to match buttons for a look that’s sure to go great with your wardrobe. Cotton/modal/spandex for a comfortable sturdy wear.

Daisy Necklace/Pin chain length 20 inches $12.00

Daisy post earrings $12.00

Daisy dangle earrings $12.00

To order, contact: Karen Vig-Keathley Email: trustee3@danishsisterhood.com Phone: 708.715.0071 109 South First St. Itasca, IL 60143

Note: Prices do not include shipping and handling. All prices subject to change.

NIELS HENRIK DAVID BOHR

Niels Henrik David Bohr was born in Copenhagen on October 7, 1885, as the son of Christian Bohr, Professor of Physiology at Copenhagen University, and his wife Ellen, née Adler. Niels and his younger brother, Harald, grew up in an atmosphere best for his development of his mind. His father was an eminent physiologist. Niels’ mother came from a family distinguished in the field of education.

After matriculation at the Gammelholm Grammar School in 1903, he entered Copenhagen University. Niels came under the guidance of Professor C. Christiansen who was a profoundly original and highly endowed physicist. Niels graduated with a Master’s degree in Physics in 1909 and a Doctor’s degree in 1911.

Niels was still a student when there was an announcement by the Academy of Sciences in Copenhagen of a prize to be awarded for the solution of a certain scientific problem. This caused Niels to experiment and investigate the surface tension by means of oscillating fluid jets. He carried out his work in his father’s laboratory. Niels received the prize offered (a gold medal), and he was published in the Transactions of the Royal Society, 1908.

Niels’ doctor’s disputation was a theoretical piece of work on the explanation of the properties of the metals with the aid of the electron theory. This remains to this day a classic on the subject. It was in this work that Niels Bohr was first confronted with the implications of Planck‘s quantum theory of radiation.

In 1913-1914 Bohr held a Lectureship in Physics at Copenhagen University and in 1914-1916 a similar appointment at the Victoria University in Manchester. In 1916 he was appointed Professor of Theoretical Physics at Copenhagen University, and from 1920 until his death in 1962, he was at the head of the Institute for Theoretical Physics, established for him at that university. Recognition of his work on the structure of atoms came with the award of the Nobel Prize for 1922.

During the Nazi occupation of Denmark in World War II, Bohr escaped to Sweden. He spent the last two years of the war in England and America, where he became associated with the Atomic Energy Project. In his later years, he devoted his work to the peaceful application of atomic physics and to political problems arising from the development of atomic weapons. He advocated a development towards full openness between nations. His views are especially set forth in his Open Letter to the United Nations, June 9, 1950.

Until the end, Niels Bohr’s mind remained alert as ever. In the last few years of his life, Niels had shown keen interest in the new developments of molecular biology. The latest formulation of his thoughts on the problem of Life appeared in his final (unfinished) article, published after his death: “Licht und Leben-noch einmal”, Naturwiss., 50 (1963) 72: (in English: “Light and Life revisited”, ICSU Rev., 5 ( 1963) 194).

PHOTO RIGHT: Niels Bohr sitting next to, and talking with, Albert Einstein. The occasion was most likely the 50th anniversary of Hendrik Lorentz' doctorate (December 11, 1925).

Niels Bohr was President of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences, of the Danish Cancer Committee, and Chairman of the Danish Atomic Energy Commission. Niels Bohr was married in 1912 to Margrethe Nørlund. They had six sons, four of which survived. Their four sons made distinguished careers in various professions: Hans Henrik (M.D.), Erik (chemical engineer), Aage (Ph.D., theoretical physicist, following his father as Director of the Institute for Theoretical Physics), Ernest (lawyer). Niels Bohr died in Copenhagen on November 18, 1962. Danish Sisterhood News, May 2024

PHOTO ABOVE: Niels Bohr in his adolescent years.

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Library of Congress, Catalog: https://lccn.loc.gov/2014715454

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Original url: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2014715454/ Bain News Service, publisher, Restored by: Bammesk

Foto by Paul Ehrenfest (1880-1933). Public Domain. The picture was taken at Ehrenfest's home in Leiden, the occasion was most likely the 50th anniversary of Hendrik Lorentz' doctorate (December 11, 1925)

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