We have just returned from the Denmark trip and what a great trip it was! Sune had planned many wonderful opportunities to see East Jutland and modern Denmark. We did such a variety of things from the old castles and a Viking Village to the newer Jysk stores and everything in between. Of course, nothing beats the wonderful Danish food and the great ambience with which it is served: I have so many food pictures!
We saw the countryside and I kept hearing people comment, “I didn’t know Denmark was this hilly and there was this much farming.” I didn’t know they grew that many Christmas trees! We went through a national park that I doubt any bus has ever been through before and it was absolutely beautiful. On top of that, the weather was great EVERY day, no rain and almost no coats!
Sune was a great tour guide. He was incredibly flexible with our abilities to walk and get around. We did some interesting things that showed us modern Denmark, not just history. I really appreciated that. I wasn’t part of the Copenhagen extension, but his flexibility to add those 4 days so people who had never been to Denmark could spend a few days in the capital demonstrates what a good tour guide he was. He also invited Benedikte to join us a couple of times which was special for those who had been on previous trips. I had never met her before and meeting her was special to me, too.
The other highlight of the trip for me, was getting to know sisters from all over the country. We mixed and sat with different people at meals and activities so we found out more about each individual. I will treasure those friendships that were formed.
But now, it is back to work here in the states. The Fall Board meeting is just around the corner. It will be over by the time you read this. We are meeting in Des Moines. A few of us are going early and will meet with Tova at the Museum of Danish America, also. We have a busy agenda. Look for more information about our meeting in the next Newsletter. As always, we are YOUR board. Reach out to any of us to let us know what we can do for you. ~~Nealna
National Historian: Donna Christensen Thomas, historian@danishsisterhood.com Copyright 1946-2024 by the Supreme Lodge of the Danish Sisterhood of America, All Rights Reserved. President’s Corner
Danish Sisterhood News
www.danishsisterhood.com Volume 77, Number 11
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
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
Dear Sisters and Mister Sisters:
Christmas is just around the corner! Remember that we have 2 pages of Danish Sisterhood Butikken: This can make your Christmas shopping quite easy!
Over the next couple of months there will be many events taking place at all the lodges. Please make sure to submit articles and/or pictures of any of your lodge activities.
Members would enjoy seeing any crafts your lodge creates for Christmas. Submitting pictures and recipes of delicious Christmas cookies and candy would also be something that lodge members would enjoy.
Submission of articles about your family history/genealogy would be something that people would love to see. Also, it would be wonderful if people could think back through their childhood and write stories of memories that revolve around their Danish family traditions and culture.
When submitting pictures, please remember to provide a thorough caption for each photo. Please include your lodge number with each submission of article/photo. If you read Danish books or watch Danish television and/or movies, please submit a book report or movie review for members to read; this would be very exciting and enjoyable to members.
Enjoy this wonderful autumn season!
~~Charlene Jensen, Editor
Send articles/stories/photos to: editor@danishsisterhood.com
Trip 2024. Photos by trip participants.
ON THE COVER: A fabulous lunch in Denmark during the Denmark Trip 2024. Photos by trip participants.
BELOW: Denmark Trip 2024. Photos by trip participants.
Charlene M. Jensen, Editor
NOTEWORTHY
IN MEMORIAM November 2024
MEMBERSHIP EXPANSION for November 2024
YOUTH BIRTHDAYS November 2024
Did you attend the Denmark trip in October 2024? If so, please share your pictures of Denmark with Vice President Anna; she would use your photos to update our website. Send your photos to: vicepresident@danishsisterhood.com.
I just returned from the Sisterhood trip to Denmark. This is a picture of troll #65 "Strong Storm" which I found with my Danish cousin when we were wandering around the forested area at Silkeborg Bad before the tour started.
Kind Regards,
Carol Sorensen Lingner
Lodge #75 Enumclaw, Washington
GREAT ADVENTURES IN THE PAST AND IN THE FUTURE
Archives 101: How to Save Your Stuff!
November 12, 2024, at 5 p.m. CST
Denmark Trip 2024.
Photos by trip participants.
This is a reminder to join Cheyenne Jansdatter Nordquist, Development Associate and Archivist at the Museum of Danish America, for a Zoom presentation about how to care for your lodge archive. In this presentation you will learn the basics of archival best practices for ongoing storage and care. There will be examples specific to the preservation of Sisterhood documents and suggestions about how to preserve new materials that your lodge creates. These tips and tricks will also be applicable to the care of your personal archive, so come with any questions you might have about preservation.
Please visit the calendar on the Museum of Danish America’s website for the Zoom link. Not able to join us live? This Zoom will be available on the Museum’s YouTube Channel later so you can share with your whole lodge.
This virtual program is sponsored by Margrethe Lodge #15 of Milwaukee, WI.
NEWS FROM SISTERHOOD LODGE #102 DES MOINES, IOWA
The past summer was busy with activities! Our June meeting was a picnic potluck at Luther Memorial Church on Grand View University campus in Des Moines, Iowa. The group was unable to meet outside because of the heat so we moved from the patio to inside. We are encouraged to bring a friend or two and about twenty were in attendance. A great variety of food was shared and enjoyed by everyone.
There was no regular meeting of Lodge #102 in July, however, we took a group outing to the Amana Colonies. The Amana Colonies are seven villages located near Iowa City, IA. It was created by German immigrants seeking religious freedom. We enjoyed the German foods and shopping handcrafted products, and art in a variety of quaint shops that line the streets.
In August, the Sisterhood made over two hundred beautiful traditional Danish sandwiches to help member Joanne Rasmussen’s husband Clark celebrate his 90th birthday. They appreciated our efforts with a generous donation.
At our August meeting we decided to change winter meetings to Saturday mornings and plans for the upcoming Heartland Convention in Brainard, MN in October were discussed.
We had a guest speaker, Kathy Goetz, at our September meeting. She was from “Sleep in Heavenly Peace. ” She spoke to our membership about the need to provide beds and bedding to families in need. She said many great charities provide clothing, meals, and toys to families. But few organizations offer suitable beds and bedding to the kids in these families.
The organization fully believes that a bed is a basic need for the proper physical, emotional, and mental support that a child needs. When it was brought to our attention that the need for beds went far beyond our own neighborhoods, they stepped up and took initiative. They are now a national organization answering the call to a national problem.
Kathy gave a very inspiring presentation. Bedding items were brought by members to donate to “Sleep in Heavenly Peace” and enough money for a bed was donated to the organization.
Reported by Donna Archer
PHOTO ABOVE: Donna Archer with Danish sandwiches.
PHOTO LEFT: Group eating lunch in the Amana’s. PHOTO ABOVE: Group making sandwiches.
MEET YOUR NATIONAL BOARD — NEALNA BOLLESEN GYLLING
Hej Sisters, my name is Nealna Bollesen Gylling. As most of you know, I am your current National President. I was elected to presidency at Minneapolis Convention in 2023. Prior to that I was elected to a trustee position during the 2019 convention in Omaha and then due to a board resignation I was chosen by the board to serve as your Vice President in 2022. Throughout these years I have been the scholarship chairperson and remain in this position so we can have two trustees working together on membership. I joined Amber Lodge #186 one month after the lodge was formed 20 years ago. At the present time I am president of Amber Lodge and treasurer of the Heartland District.
I grew up in Tyler, a small (population 1,200) Danish community in southwestern Minnesota. Although by genealogy, I am only half Danish (from my paternal side), I grew up with the Danish traditions very strong in my family, church and community. The festival in my small town is still called “Æbleskiver Days” and the church still holds the Danebod folk meeting each year. I try to participate in both.
My husband Don and I have been married 52 years and he has also become an active member of the Sisterhood. We chose to not have children but have had 5 exchange students throughout the years. One of these kids was a Swedish relative of mine and fell in love while here, returned later to marry her love and had 2 girls who all live in Minnesota. So I always say, “We have no children but we are Bedstemor and Bedstefar.”
Don and I were both high school teachers in Princeton, Minnesota. We retired 14 years ago and moved to our lake cabin in Brainerd Minnesota. I spend my free time sewing/quilting, cross stitching, reading and hanging out with friends. I love retreating with various friends throughout the year.
I am enjoying the National Board and am honored to have been chosen by you as your president. I truly hope I can meet your expectations, and we can help the Sisterhood to grow.
You can always reach out to me at: president@danishsisterhood.com or call or text at 612-390-1374.
LEFT: My Aunt and I at an Amber Lodge event shortly after I joined the Sisterhood.
PHOTO
PHOTO ABOVE: Don and I on the Denmark trip at Himmelbjerget.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING AN ANGEL MEMBER
DSS Angel Status Members
This status belongs to those members that wish to gift their funeral benefit back to the Sisterhood. We believe this is a generous and significant gift and wish to honor them. If you are interested in becoming an Angel Member, please request a beneficiary change form from your lodge secretary or the National Secretary.
MEMBER and LODGE #
Viola Wilson, 166
Joann Scott , 168
Karin Plagens, 188
Sandra Nelson, 188
Carole Hodges, 22
Andrea Welling Leih, 15
Elizabeth Haar, 12
Dorothy Petersen, 126
Glenda Madrid, 177
Nancy Mayland,125
Johanne Gade, 171
Diann Weinman,102
Carolyn Sias, 166
Kristine Huss, 15
Seena Drapala, 142
Janelle Willis, 102
Janice Schneider, 15
Vicki Bousquet, 90
Bente Bob, 185
Martha Nielsen, 149
Ulla Pereira, 300
Margaret Omodt, 21
Anlaug Nielsen, 177
MEMBER and LODGE #
Carol Smith, 149
Meredith Sorensen, 187
Marie Jaeger, 177
Christina Sallee, 81
Melissa Sallee, 81
Marie Fairbanks, 165
Constance Schneider, 90
Susan Fisher, 102
Lou Ann Jensen, 15
Hanne Skaarup, 125
Else Lassiter, 177
Pamela Ruben, 15
Ruth Brigden, 126
Margaret Wetzel, 165
Verina Farrell, 177
Lorraine Buchanan, 86
Debra Spotz, 15
Marianne Larsen, 177
Linda Holz, 102
Margaret Schoewe, 15
Jacque Wagstaffe, 177
Marilyn Kramme, 102
Vibeke Petersen-Jensen, 24
Denmark Trip 2024. Photos by trip participants.
EMMA TOFT—A DANISH-AMERICAN CONSERVATIONIST
The program, “Scandinavians in Door County,” presented at the September 18th meeting of Dronning Margrethe Lodge #15 was presented by our past president Susan Jensen. Susan is very knowledgeable about this beautiful county in Wisconsin. She spent time there as a visitor and as a student at The Clearing, a folk school founded in 1935 by landscape architect Jens Jensen (1860-1951); located in Door County,.
Located between Green Bay and Lake Michigan, Door County is one of the great vacation areas in Wisconsin. Susan’s program was designed to give members some historical background in the Scandinavian presence in Door County prior to the lodge road trip to the area held September 25 - 28. She told us the story of the European settlement of this area, especially by Scandinavians, from Jean Nicolet in the 1600’s through the founding of the various towns that now populate Door County.
One of the many interesting parts of her program was the story of the daughter of a Danish immigrant, Emma Toft, who became known as “Wisconsin’s First Lady of Conservation”.
Thomas Kresten Jensen and two of his brothers came to Racine, Wisconsin from Denmark in 1863. Jensen being such a common name in the area, Thomas changed his name to Toft, a name common in the area in Denmark from which he emigrated to the United States. He was 19 years old. The brothers eventually bought a farm in Minnesota and in 1871 Thomas sold his share of the farm and moved to Door County Wisconsin where he worked as a foreman for a local stone company. In 1874 he married a 16 year old girl name Julia Anne Panter. They moved into the company lodge at Mud Bay (now known as Toft Point). Within the next 4 years they had 4 children, only 3 of which survived.
When the company for which Thomas worked closed, Toft acquired land in lieu of wages. In the next few years three more children were born including Emma. Thomas continued to acquire land in the area. Eventually all the children were married and left home except Emma. She had been engaged to a man she met at Rowley’s Bay in Door County, but sadly he was killed in WWI. The story of Emma is the story of a woman who fought her entire life to keep her part of Door County free of the developers and to leave it as her father found it.
Emma was born in 1891. She spent her youth on the 300 acres owned by her father. On the land along Lake Michigan was an untouched forest. She learned from her father and mother the love for this land and the moral responsibility she had to preserve it in its natural state. She attended Oshkosh Normal and became an English teacher in a one-room school house. Later she went to Chicago to attend nursing school but the death of her father in 1919 brought her back to Door County.
Emma learned from her parents that preserving what we have of nature might entail a struggle necessary to protect the land and the flora and fauna that lived there. The pine forest at Toft Point is an old growth forest established around 300400 years ago after a fire burned off the area. If not the only place, one of the few places not logged off during the timber boom in the state.
Article continued in next month’s edition of Danish Sisterhood News.
PHOTO ABOVE: Toft Point . Photography by Susan Jensen.
ANNUAL STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATION
PHOTOS TO MAKE YOU SMILE
PHOTO LEFT: Two trees once stood here. They were called Emma and Jens for Emma Toft and Jens Jensen. This is Emma’s tree, positioned at the end of Toft Point. The small gray stump on right side was Jen’s’ tree. Unfortunately his tree was taken down in a storm.
Photography by Susan Jensen, Past President of Dronning Margrethe Lodge #15.
In Norbert Blei’s tribute to Emma Toft in his 1981 book, Door Way, he noted that she was “a legend, bordering on myth.” A piece by Roy Lukes, written after Emma’s death on Valentine’s Day 1982, at age 91, described her as “Wisconsin’s first lady of conservation…who influenced people throughout the state, as well as visitors from other states and foreign countries.”
To learn more about Emma Toft, go to: The Treasures in Miss Emma’s Attic - Door County Pulse
Denmark Trip 2024.
Photos by trip participants.
Soon to be released…
The Danish Sisterhood Cookbook!
In the early 1990s under the leadership of Sisterhood Vice President Else Lassiter, we compiled a cookbook, Sisterhood Treasurers. It contains hundreds of recipes from our members across the country. It also includes a special section of recipes from the members of our national board. Else submitted a beautiful story and a recipe from her Grandmother for Karbonder.
In addition, we sent letters to Danish Individuals and Organizations in the US asking them to send a story and recipe. We did receive 21 submissions. Sadly some of those organizations are no longer in existence today. One that is alive and a long time supporter of the Sisterhood and almost every Danish Organization in the US and Denmark is Den Danske Pioneer (The Danish Pioneer) Newspaper. Their recipe for Kærnemælks Koldskaal (Buttermilk Drink) is located on page 45.
Buttermilk Drink
1 gallon buttermilk
3 lemons
1 C sugar
6 eggs
1 tsp. grated lemon rind
Combine the buttermilk and juice from the lemons. Beat the eggs, add the sugar gradually and continue beating. Add the lemon rind. Fold the egg mixture into the buttermilk mixture. Serve very cold. Leftovers can be served as a soup with sugared croutons or rusks.
The Danish Pioneer is the oldest and only Danish Community Newspaper in North America. It is a 152 year old and a bilingual publication, published 26 times per year and filled with history, activities, events and stories of countless generations.
For information: Danish Pioneer, 1582 Glen Lake Road, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169 USA
TROLLS BY DANISH ARTIST THOMAS DAMBO
Story from October 2024 issue of Danish Sisterhood News— Part II of Trolls By
Danish Artist Thomas Dambo by Nealna Gylling
As I mentioned in the President’s Column of the October 2024 Danish Sisterhood News, in a relatively small town (Detroit Lakes) in the resort area of northwestern Minnesota, Thomas Dambo (with the help of over 400 community members) wrote a fairytale and then built five trolls, 3 portals and a “Golden Rabbit”. Each troll and portal hold a clue to the location of the “Golden Rabbit,” the villain of the fairytale, who has a challenge for all who solve the mystery and find him. News articles say these are his largest trolls yet. The trolls are all located within 20 miles of each other with two of the portals a little farther away. You can find directions to all the trolls and the portals on the internet as well as read the fairytale, but the location of the Golden Rabbit can only be found by solving the clues. My husband, Don, and I spent one day finding the trolls and portals and solved the clues and saw the location of the rabbit on the map and still didn’t find him, probably because we were tired as we already had 12,000 steps in just looking for the trolls. The next time, we had family with us and this time we found the rabbit! And accepted his challenge. Each troll has his/her own story and challenge. I have shared a picture of each troll and his/her challenge.
Our last troll was Ronny Funny Face. He wants to make you laugh and then laugh again. The kids around him were doing incredibly funny faces. I liked how he was leaning on a tree so he could stand at the top of a small hill. He challenged us to make someone laugh. What a wonderful challenge.
The portals looked like they were floating in midair. All three were basically the same located high on a building to reflect the sky. They also had a clue on them it is that little number and symbol at the bottom. Now we could find the elusive “Golden Rabbit”.
At the beginning of the trail was a sign that it was a one mile hike with long steep inclines and declines. They were correct. It was well worth the hike. He is made of leftover plastic from a local factory. He has windshield wiper whiskers, bowling ball eyes and boat bumper teeth. His goal is to persuade you to buy, use and consume more. Alex’s Elixir wants you to work against the Golden Rabbit and “go the whole day without buying something new.” For more information about these trolls and to read the story printed in the wooden book, go to www.project412mn.org
So thanks Thomas Dambo for all the enjoyment and encouraging us to be better caretakers of our environment and enjoy being in nature. I am proud to be a Dane!
DANISH SISTERHOOD BUTIKKEN
Onesies 6mo 12 mo 18 mo.
Danish Flag Heart Hat
Daisy Necklace
Daisy Post Earrings
$15.00
$20.00
$7.00
$12.00
Danish Flag Heart Post Earrings $12.00
Danish Flag Round Post Earrings $12.00
DSS Messenger Bag $15.00 Vests $50.00
DSS Gold Emblem Necklace with chain $45.00
DSS Gold Emblem pendant only
$25.00 Apron
DSS Notebook
Red Scarf
$20.00
$7.00
$10.00
DSS Swedish Dishcloths, each $7.00
Aebleskiver Ornament
$20.00
Wine Bottle Opener $5.00
Makeup Heart compact $5.00
Glass nail file $3.00
DSS oval vinyl car sticker $2.00
Coral heart pendant $45.00
Prayer Tea Towel $15.00
Danish Flag Heart Pin w/standard butterfly clutch back $8.00
Gildan Soft style 60% cotton 40% polyester
Sizes medium to 2 XL
$24.00
Danish Sisterhood
Published by the Supreme Lodge of the Danish Sisterhood of America
POSTMASTER, PLEASE RUSH TIME DATED MATERIAL!
Published by: Supreme Lodge of the Danish Sisterhood of American National Secretary: Glenda Madrid 1557 Oak St., Solvang, CA 93463
The Danish Sisterhood News including, but not limited to, design, text, & graphics, are Copyright 2022 by the Supreme Lodge of the Danish Sisterhood of America. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Any use of materials in this publication, including reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication without the prior written consent of DSS, is strictly prohibited by law. Copyright infringement will be punished to the maximum extent the law allows.
