Danish Sisterhood News, January 2021

News

Danish Sisterhood

In this issue: Lodge Updates Submissions Guidelines Historian's Corner Butikken & more...

Serving the Danish Sisterhood of America since 1947

January 2021

President’s Corner

News

Danish Sisterhood

www.danishsisterhood.com

Volume 74, Number 1

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.

Christina Sallee, National President

Godt Nytår!

2020 was quite a year: our characters were tested, bent, strengthened, and fortified.

Now that it is in our rear-view mirror, we should reflect on things we are thankful for!

• Thanks to your support and suggestions the Danish Sisterhood has come through the year.

• We are thankful that our Tivoli Lodge installed their first Board which is a true testament to how much work the core group have done this year.

• We completed our Hiking Danish Viking fundraiser in which Bruce Bro hiked 500 miles across the Colorado Trail.

• We have all become quite proficient in using technology to reach out and connect with our Sisters and have found solutions to computer issues not previously encountered. My hope is that this ingenuity will continue in 2021.

• We have listened and comforted one another in the true spirit of the Sisterhood

As we move forward remember a new year signifies a new opportunity to start over and commit ourselves. There is much more to do and this demands hard work and dedication, but we are ready for it. Are we not?

I have tremendous hope for 2021, and I want to take this opportunity to thank you all and let you know that you are truly appreciated, and your hard work is not going unnoticed.

I look forward to working, collaborating, and hopefully seeing you this year.

Christina Sallee, DSS National President

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: Lauren C. Nielsen (507) 206-9099

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: Christina Sallee, Lodge #81 16116 SW Deline Ct, Beaverton, OR 97007-3425 (503) 928 4494 president@danishsisterhood.com National Vice President & Website: Karin S. Wasler, Lodge #68 814 S Sherbourne Dr #7, Los Angeles, CA 90035 (310) 903-8837 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 & Butikken Chairman: Linda Holz #102 4400 EP True Pkwy Unit 47, West Des Moines, IA 50265-5615 (515) 225-0951 trustee1@danishsisterhood.com National Trustee & Scholarship Chairman: Nealna Gylling, Lodge #186 1474 Floan Point Rd, Brainerd, MN 56401 612-390-1374 trustee2@danishsisterhood.com National Trustee, Membership Chairman: Karen Vig-Keathley, Lodge #4 109 South First Street, Itasca, IL 60143 708-715-0071 trustee3@danishsisterhood.com National Past President: Sindy Mikkelsen, Lodge #126 2938 Sweet Grass Lane, Santa Rosa, CA 95407 (707) 755-0260 National Historian: Donna Christensen Thomas, historian@danishsisterhood.com Copyright 1946-2020 by the Supreme Lodge of the Danish Sisterhood of America, All Rights Reserved.

Danish Sisterhood News, January 2021

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Velkommen

Lauren C. Nielsen, Editor

Dear Sisters, Happy New Year! I think we can all say that we're glad 2020 is behind us. It was a challenging year, and I'm sure 2021 will be as well, but there's a hopeful feeling around starting a brand new year.

Here in Minnesota, winter is in full swing.

We've had several inches of snow on the ground for more than a month now and we know more is coming! That hasn't stopped us, though. I have been enjoying taking walks around the neighborhoods of Saint Paul and our regional parks. I know how blessed I am to live in a city that is still filled with nature everywhere! I am also enjoying bundling up and sitting around a campfire in our backyard, sipping on a warm beverage. Needless to say, we are trying to make the best out of both winter AND a pandemic.

As for the Danish Sisterhood, I'm looking forward to what 2021 will bring us. I'm sure we'll hear some fun and inspiring stories from our sisters near and far. I hope that this year will also allow people to safely travel again. I know our National Board, as always, is hard at work keeping our organization running and coming up with new ideas for the future of our organization.

I must say that I am thankful for all of you, for our National Board, our organization, and our Danish connections. Here's to a new year! I hope each of you continue to be healthy, safe and happy.

Until next time...

Lauren C. Nielsen, Editor editor@danishsisterhood.com

In this Issue President’s Corner................................................................p 2 Editor’s Welcome..................................................................p 3 Lodge Updates..................................................................p 4-7 DSN Submissions Guidelines...........................................p 8 Historian’s Corner........................................................p 10-12 Butikken...........................................................................p 13-14

Youth Birthdays Happy January Birthday to: Names Ada Henderson-Lehto Layla Wren Fritz Athena Christiansson Charlotte Montee

Lodge 1 81 165 165

Age 14 10 10 14

On the Cover Title: Danish Salt Production Location: Læsø, Denmark 2018 Photo by: John Rudisill, Lodge 102 Salt production at the Læsø Salt historical workshop on the island of Læsø off the Northeast coast of Denmark.

It’s likely that the table salt in Copenhagen's finest restaurants came from the beautiful island of Læsø.

Submit Your Cover Photo!

Do you have a photo that you’d like to see on the cover of the Danish Sisterhood News? Send in your submissions and yours could be featured next!

Photographs must be high resolution and should be accompanied by a short description of the photo’s content. Photos from Danish events, Sisterhood meetings, travels around Denmark, Danish culture and more are all great topics. Send photos to: editor@danishsisterhood.com 3

Danish Sisterhood News, January 2021

Update from Des Moines, IA Lodge Our Sisterhood group met in September outdoors behind Grand View University Old Main. There were about 12 of us present wearing our masks and keeping social distance. It started to rain, so we went indoors to a classroom in the Student Center. Here the room was taped off for social distance complete with hand sanitizer.

We had a short meeting but most of the time was spent catching up with our members. Carol Rudisill told us about bringing her husband’s 92 year old mother home from a nursing home to live with them. They all came down with the virus, but after a rough time all recovered. Carol had just recovered from back surgery. Christina and Claudia Holcomb had also just gotten over their surgeries. Claudia had moved to a new home and Erna Jensen told us about living at Luther Park during this time. Sue Fisher and Amanda Lary had volunteered as SH members for Meals for Heartland. Marilyn Kramme shared her time at her grandson’s wedding held in the elegant turret of Danes Hall in Waupaca, Wisconsin. Its architecture and art told the story of young Danish immigrants.

Christina brought an example of a tumbler that we will be selling at our meetings.

A small group of us met in October in the same GVU classroom. When we left, we sanitized the tables for classes to be held the next day. This will be a year to remember as our usual activities have been canceled, but we still need to keep in contact with our Sisters. It was reported that Joanne Rasmussen had a heart attack but is doing well with the help of medicine. We were sad that Jan Broers’ dear friend Tom passed away. Donna Archer offered to create a Christmas ad for the DS News.

Volunteers were asked for to help with the

virtual Chriskindle Market. We also continue to contribute to the DSS archive project at the museum with our monthly offerings.

In November, 16 members were present for our first Zoom meeting. We were able to be with members that we had not seen for quite awhile. Linda Holz, National DSS Trustee informed us that the Nat. board convention would be held in Seattle or Minneapolis 2023.

We decided we would give some assistance if it is held in Minneapolis. In the first time in many years we will not be having our Christmas Frokost (luncheon). This has always been our favorite big gathering. We voted to send $100 to the Kenosha, Wisconsin Brotherhood Lodge to help with their efforts to rebuild after riots completely destroyed their building. A motion was made to help a member during a financial crisis. Our DSS tumblers are here and several have already been sold. A $50 donation was made to the Danish Brotherhood Lodge GVU scholarship fund since their fundraiser Kolde Bord could not be held this year. Some of us watched a movie on the Lifetime channel featuring Solvang, CA. In the show, many Danish traditions and customs were practiced. Quite a few of us have been to this charming city founded by Danish immigrants. Christina told us that a Coop she knows is ordering feed for hogs from a company in Denmark. Iowa is well known for their hog production and now it should even get better!

We will meet again in December via Zoom, hoping to get even more members involved. Until then, keep well and safe. We are looking forward to a good year ahead of us.

Carol Christiansen

Archive Project Thank Yous Thank you to the following lodges/people who have donated to the Archival Project: Lodge #65 Maureen Neilson in memory of Ebba Kadish Christina Sallee Karin Wasler Danish Sisterhood News, January 2021

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Update from Tivoli Virtual Lodge #300 December 10, 2020 Lodge Gathering Theme: Julefest We came to the meeting in our holiday outfits, had holiday decor in our backgrounds, and our cups were full of GLØGG to toast the evening.

John Rasmussen lead us in song to the tunes of “Det kimer nu til julefest” (The Happy Christmas Comes Once More) a beautiful Danish Christmas Carol. Followed by “Højt Fra Træets Grønne Top” (High From The Green Tree Top).

Then we sang “Bjaeldeklang” (Jungle Bells) and lastly we lit candles together to the tune of “Glade Jul” (Silent Night).

We each got to share our Christmas traditions (either Danish or not) that we remember or that means the most to us. We shared yummy food traditions that included giving the marzipan pig to the person who got the risalemand almond. And we also shared our beautiful Danish Christmas decorations that have been passed on through the generations.

Lastly, we held a Nisse Venner (Secret Santa) gift exchange. YES, a Virtual Gift

Exchange! It was so fun! Many gifts shared the hygge theme, so fitting for a Danish Julefest.

Join us for a monthly virtual komsammen (get together)! Our time together includes a program on Danish traditions or culture, time to get to know each other, and a brief business meeting.

This Danish Sisterhood Lodge differs from other lodges because we are a 100% virtual lodge! Our members join us from around the country and enjoy each other through the use of Zoom technology. Contact us by email at tivolilodge300@gmail.com for Zoom call information.

Thank you, Christie Johnson Trustee/Historian & Public Relations for Tivoli Lodge #300

Lodge #100 November Meeting & Christmas Dinner Seven members gathered November 18, 2020, for our regular meeting at Hope Lutheran Church at 1pm. A lunch of pizza, salad, and dessert was enjoyed by those present.

Meeting called to order by president, Ann Raven, followed by saying the Opening Song and saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

Minutes of Oct. meeting and treasurer's reports accepted as given.

A motion was passed to donate $50 to Eva's Place (a shelter for women and children and $50 to the Men's Shelter in Sandusky. The hats, mittens, and gloves we brought will be divided between Eva's Place and the Dept. of Human Services.

A motion was passed to have our Christmas dinner at Hope Lutheran Church on Saturday, Dec. 5th, with purchased chicken, potatoes, etc., along with desserts and other

things brought in by members.

Seven members and two husbands gathered on December 5, 2020, at Hope Lutheran Church to enjoy a Christmas dinner together.

We had a short business meeting following dinner. Our treasurer reported we had 30 hat and glove sets, 3 scarves, 11 homemade hats, 3 gloves and 11 mitten sets, 7 hats and one headband brought to our last meeting to be donated to a Woman & children's shelter and the Dept. of Human Services in the area. The annual heart DSS calendars were passed out along with dues notices so those in attendance could pay their dues for the year.

We do not meet until April, so we won't see each other for a time.

Loris Coltson, secretary 5

Danish Sisterhood News, January 2021

Lodge #3 Shares Some History We would like to share some history from Lodge #3, Davenport, Iowa with all of you. Because of Covid-19 we have been doing our meetings via Zoom and have re-connected with Ruth Sorensen Krishnan, Lodge #3 member since 1986. Jerry and Judy Johansen get us connected via Zoom and we thank them for their expertise with the internet that allows us to meet monthly, some members in Iowa, some in Illinois and now Ruth, who lives in Colorado. Here is the interesting history from our Sister Ruth.

In 2013, Sonya Krishnan was sponsored for and won the Betty Hansen Scholarship award through Danish Sisterhood Lodge #3. Sonya traces her Danish heritage through her mother, Ruth Sorensen Krishnan, Lodge #3 member since 1986. Lodge #3 met Sonya before she was born, through a baby shower they threw for Ruth.

Sonya appreciated her Danish roots, learning about Denmark through stories of her maternal 8 great grandparents, who emigrated to U.S. from Denmark. She grew up celebrating Danish traditions including making kranskage with her mother, singing Danish songs and dancing around the Christmas tree, searching for the almond in the rice pudding on Christmas eve, etc.

The Danish tradition of caring for others and valuing individual contributions to society resonated with Sonya. She entered pre-medical training at Carleton College, in Northfield MN from 2006-2010. She became interested in global health, completing HIV research during her study semester in Tanzania.

For two years Sonya worked at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda Maryland and in 2012 Sonya applied for medical school at George Washington University in

Washington D.C. earning the title of Dr. Sonya Krishnan in 2016. Next came residency, treating patients full time, and completing a degree in Internal Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 2019.

Currently, Dr. Sonya is pursuing a specialty degree in Infectious Medicine, through Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Starting July 2020, Dr. Sonya is pursuing additional training through the Bloomberg School of Public Health's Graduate Training Program in Clinical Investigation. She is on track to complete her Infectious Disease fellowship in 2022.

At her wedding in April 2016, Sonya and Jeff started what might be a new Danish tradition. When they served the kranskage that her Mom had made,(see photo) they walked around the room and individually hand delivered pieces of kranskage to the thankful crowd. They understood that was how wedding kranskage was to be served. Perhaps it will be a new tradition that will catch on.

Some of our current Lodge #3 members attended the baby shower given for Ruth years ago and many members remember learning of the Betty Hansen Scholarship in 2013,being awarded to Sonya, a Scholarship that was well used by Dr. Sonya in her work in research in addition to treating patients.

We hope you enjoyed these details on the recipient of the Betty Hansen Scholarship back in 2013.

Resolution I am so sorry to report the passing of our friend and sister Penny Dapello. She loved the Danish Sisterhood and we of Flora Danica in Solvang were honored that she choose to join our group as she lived three hours away and drove with her husband Butch every month. Butch was welcomed as an honorary of our brotherhood. I taught with Penny forty years ago and she brought me in when I retired and moved home to Solvang. She joined in 2011, serving as our president before moving on to the national level. We will miss her, her enthusiasm, and her friendship.

—Janet Townsend Danish Sisterhood News, January 2021

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Lodge #15 Celebrates the Holidays On December 16, 2020 Dronning Margrethe Lodge #15 of Milwaukee Wisconsin finished up what can best be described as an “interesting” year. After one in-person meeting we began Zoom meetings in July and met every month virtually, including our Lodge Christmas Party.

The Christmas party is always a highlight of any year in our lodge, and despite the circumstances, our party this year was a winner.

The evening started with members catching up with each other while our member, Lou Nielsen, played Christmas songs on his autoharp. With 22 of us online, the party began with a warm welcome from our President, Susan Jensen, followed by Lou Nielsen who played a Danish Christmas classic Hojt fra træets grønne top. He sang it for us with the English words.

Next came the announcement of the winner of a Silent Auction. There were 8 items, most made by the talented members of our Lodge. The bidding went right up to the last minute ending the night before the party. Proceeds of the silent auction will go toward our yearly donations to organizations with a Danish connection.

Our program for the Christmas party was a variation on one of our favorite programs, Show and Tell. Each attendee was asked to show their favorite ornament and tell why it was their favorite.

Many of the ornaments were family heirlooms and came with great stories. Some were ornaments received by members when they were children.

Some ornaments had memories of trips made back in the days when we could all travel. One favorite ornament was a crossstitched cone made by our member Lou Ann Jensen.

Every year Lou Ann makes several of these lovely ornaments for our Christmas party raffle. They are always hotly contested. With a show and tell, not only do we get to see a lot of interesting items, but we learn a lot about the members of the lodge.

Following the program we shared a hearty Skål—some with wine, some with beer, some with water and some with—what else—akvavit.

The highlight of the Christmas Party each year is a bag raffle. Attendees each bring an item and tickets are sold and placed into the bags. The winners are drawn the same evening. Thanks to our loyal members, this year we had 26 items donated for this raffle. Tickets were sold over the internet,

available to all lodge members whether or not they were going to be able to attend the Zoom. A lot were sold. The items and the bags were set up and during the Zoom, our lodge member and nisse named Paul pulled the winning tickets. It just goes to show what you do not have to miss just because of a pandemic. Among the items were Virginia Rasmussen’s book Cloudberries and Æbelskiver, some lovely handmade ornaments—including Lou Ann’s cross-stitched cones, a delivery of freshly made rosettes, several nisse, a box of homemade Christmas cookies, Lodge seasonal cards and name tags, a gnome teapot and several other items.

Proceeds of these ticket sales also go toward our donations.

For the past three years we have had a special Christmas Raffle. One of our members, Gladys Harvey, donated 4 Georg Jensen goldplated Christmas mobile ornaments to our lodge.

The last one was raffled off this year. The winner was Marcia Jante. Two extra items were donated for this raffle. Names were drawn from the remaining raffle tickets. Ann-Marie Bergman won a 1988 B&G Christmas plate and matching ornament and Jane Blackman won a B&G Madonna and Child plate. And once again, the proceeds from the sale of these raffle tickets will go toward our donations.

The raffle and silent auction sales in past years have each raised a total of $1,000, a nice amount for our donations. It looks like again this year thanks to our generous members we will have a similar amount to give.

We all had another Skål, this time singing the snaps drinking song, “I like the snaps and the snaps like me. Thrilling as only a snaps can be….”

The party ended with Lou Nielsen playing and singing Splendid are the Heavens High (Dejlig er den himmel blaa), also sometimes called the Danish Christmas hymn.

Following the party was a brief meeting to vote on the slate of 2021 officers and to go over some lodge business. Everyone agreed it was a great party. We still do not know when we will be able to meet together in person again, but being able to spend virtual time together helps us to share our friendship and our heritage, and after all, isn’t that what the Sisterhood Lodge is all about?

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Danish Sisterhood News, January 2021

DSN Submissions Best Practices & Tips Submitting an article to the DSS Newsletter but don’t know the best way to submit it? To make the process smooth and easy, here are some best practices to follow when you send in a submission.

Write Your Article If you’re having trouble getting started, just start writing—whatever comes to your mind first! Then, go back and edit and your work.

Remember to include your name as well as your lodge’s name, number and location!

After you’ve made your last edits, go back and double check for spelling and grammar mistakes. Or have another person give it a look—two sets of eyes are better than one!

Document Format Make sure your article or submission is written in a Word Doc, a Google Doc, a TextEdit Doc or a similar word processing file. Don't put photos in the document!

Photos Photos should be high quality and not blurry. They should be sent in the same email as the document containing your text, but as separate attachments. If images are too large, send them in separate emails as attachments or in a Google folder.

Where to Submit You can send your submissions to our Editor, Lauren, at editor@danishsisterhood.com Topics to Write About Trying to come up with some new ideas? The first piece of advice we have to share is: write what you know! Did you grow up in Denmark? Do you have a Danish tradition in your family? Do you have a story that has been passed down to you by your grandparents? Just write it down and share it!

If you're not in the personal sharing mood, no worries! Do some research on a historical item, event, place or person. Talk to the other sisters in your lodge and ask if you can interview them! There is a wealth of knowledge that our sisters have and there's nothing stopping us from sharing that knowledge!

Address Changes, Missing Issues, Deadlines, etc.

Address changes should be sent to our National Secretary, Glenda Madrid. You can email her or use the form at the back of the DSN. Youth birthday additions also go to Glenda!

Missing an issue? Contact our Membership Trustee, Karen Vig-Keathley for a replacement.

Wondering about our deadlines for each issue? We have them listed on page 15 for your convenience!

Danish Sisterhood News, January 2021

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Membership Expansion Welcome New Members!

LODGE

NEW MEMBER

SPONSOR

186 15 21 300 300

Linda Buck Gert Morgensen Annette Straus Lillian Jensen Louisa Funk

Barb Wenschlag Annemarie Sawkins Christina Hix Kim Brixey Hannah Funk

In Memoriam NAME Cert # Ruth V. Jensen-Larsen 25122

Lodge # Location 40 Seattle, Wa

Birth Date Birth Place 6.7.30 Seattle, WA

Initiated 2.7.97

Died Benefit 10.23.20 1,000.

Annual USPS Statement of Ownership 2020

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Danish Sisterhood News, January 2021

Historian’s Corner

Danish Sisterhood Lodge Member Profile for Anna Marie (Mathisen) Olsen and Family

by Donna Christensen Thomas, National DSS Historian

In looking over the list of charter members of my hometown's Danish Sisterhood lodge #97 at Audubon, Iowa, I decided to spotlight one of the charter members and her family. Twenty-nine members became an official Danish Sisterhood Lodge on February 22, 1907. I am having fun figuring out who these women were. Several of the members were family members of one another. I am working on a story about one of these families inspired by a newspaper article I stumbled upon about a Danish Sisterhood event.

One of the charter members, Anna Marie (Mathisen) Olsen was the daughter of at least six children born near Harlan, Shelby county, Iowa, to Danish immigrants, Peter Mathisen (18451928) and Ane Sophie (Sorensdatter) 18361920. Peter was a farmer and later a merchant.

He had come from a very meager upbringing in Als, Sonderborg, Denmark. His father had died when he was very young. He helped to support the famly from age seven by tending the cattle of neighbors and has been unable to attend much formal schooling. He immigrated about 1867 soon after the 1864 Dano-Prussian War when some of the area went to Prussian rule. His was very much against serving in the German Army and could not do so in good conscience. He first came to Davenport, Iowa, then moved to southwest Iowa after a few years. Probably because Peter Mathisen had come from such a financially difficult situation in his childhood, he instilled in his family the values of helping the poor and down-trodden that they carried throughout their lives and likely lived frugally as many immigrant families did. They also were very frugal and owned several farms throughout the years.

Anna Sophie SORENSDATTER was born at Virring, Randers, Denmark in 1836. She had married Ole Jensen and had a son Jens Peter Jensen in 1866 just before emigrating. They had signed up to work for the Rock Island Railroad near Atlantic. Unfortunately, her husband got

very ill and died at sea at age 26. She ended up cooking for the men working on the railroad. She and Peter Mathisen were married in 1870. Their story is compelling but too lengthy to detail in this article. I am placing the story in their immigrant file at the Musuem of Danish America Genealogy Center.

Peter's mother also immigrated Kirstine Jorgensen STEFFENSEN (1826-1902) MATHISEN MØLLER. She had remarried Nis Johansen MØLLER in 1853 and had several children. The family emigrated in 1877. Many of the Mathisen and Møller (now Miller) descendents still live in the area. One of their grandsons married my grandfather Nels C Christensen's first cousin. His brother married a cousin in my grandmother's family. Many of this family attended Bethany Lutheran Church two miles northeast of Kimballton, Iowa. Bethany and my home church, Ebenezer Lutheran Church, four miles west of Audubon shared a pastor for many years.

In July of 1902 in Audubon, Anna Marie Mathisen married Danish immigrant Christen Jensen Olsen (1872-1922) who was from Æroskøbing, Æro, Denmark. His parents were Peter Petersen Olsen and Anne Marie (Christensen) Olsen, farmers in Denmark. He immigrated about 1888 and initially came to Harlan at the age of sixteen. According to the Wall of Honor application prepared by their daughter Olivene, Christ's sponsor for his immigration was Christoffer Clausen Kock (1854-1927), who was the grandfather of my mother's late boyfriend and the family was part of the Ebenezer congregation. I was very surprised when I saw someone's name I knew so well and couldn't wait to tell his family! They were from the same city in Denmark.

I haven't been able to determine any familial connection between the men.

He had been a grocery clerk at an early age in Denmark according to his obituary. Initially he worked as a farmhand, first in Shelby, then in

Danish Sisterhood News, January 2021

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Historian’s Corner (cont.)

Cameron Township, Audubon. He started clerking in a general mercantile store in Audubon, for few years. In about 1895, Chris Olsen started in business for himself and established a competing store which ran until June 1972, involving five generations. I remember going with my mother to the store as a child.

Chris and Anna Marie had seven children between 1902 and 1919: Peter, Anna Marie "Teddy" Hjuler, George, Carl, Olllivene and two children that died as infants. He also had an older brother Rasmus Olsen (1860-before 1910 according to the 1910 U.S. cenus) who immigrated in and lived in the Kansas City, Kansas. Rasmus and Laurine Petrine Larsen were married on October 31, in Audubon. There was a nineteen year age difference, so maybe he had a previous marriage.

"Anna Marie Olsen" was the name given to both daughters of the brothers born on March 6 and September 10, 1906 in Audubon. That was "Teddy"'s given name, also Chris Olsen's mother, as well as his wife, the subject of this story. So many Anna Maries! Could that be why Teddy got a nickname!?!

By the 1910 census, Laurine was widowed and living with a daughter and a couple of boarders on Pacific Avenue in Kansas City. That is the same street name that Chris's family lived on in Audubon! A curious coincidence!!? I have not been able to find what happened to Laurine and Anna Marie. Did she remarry? Did they go back to Denmark? More interesting and compelling things to research, I'd say!! Rasmus and Chris Olsen had at least six siblings who remained in Denmark.Â

Exerpts from Chris Olsen's obituary read as follows "Mr. Olsen was one of Audubon's most substantial business men. Shortly after coming to the town he entered the employ of Bilharz & Son, where he was one of the most efficient clerks the store ever employed. In 1895 he began his own business career and since then had successfully conducted one of the best business establishments in the city. He was kind, courteous, obliging and progressive and

had a vast number of close personal friends, all of whom will learn with regret of his untimely death. Mr. Olsen was very much devoted to his home, his wife and children, who therefore naturally feel their loss very keenly. As a tribute of respect to the deceased all of the business houses of the city will be closed during the hour of the funeral."Â

Unfortunately, Chris Olsen died intestate which resulted in financial difficulties for his wife and family. She had taken care of the finances so she was knowledgeable. But the family lived a relatively austere lifestyle that Anna Marie had experienced as a child, according to the family history written by daughter Olivene mentioned below.

According to Audubon's community history book compiled for their centennial in 1978, after their father's death on March 13, 1922, sons Pete, age 18, and George, age 14, eventually bought the store from the estate and decided to go strictly into the grocery business. They offered delivery as well as credit to their customers.

In the summer of 1930 their store and another burned and were a total loss. They rebuilt and in 1933, Olsen's expanded and opened a store in Atlantic which George managed. They eventually had six stores in area including neighboring communities by the 1930's and 1940's.

My maternal grandparents moved from the farm which surrounds Ebenezer Lutheran church into west Audubon in August 1967, just after Anna Marie (Mathisen) Olsen had died at the house just north of them on July 30, 1967.

Three of Chris and Anna's surviving children were neighbors next door and across the street.

A a child, I remember becoming acquainted with them through my grandparents. My mother lives in the same house since 1992. Pete and Peggy's house was the same floor plan as ours, but fell into disrepair and was torn down this summer.

They were built in the early 1900's as rental properties, but eventually the family moved into them. I always wondered why the siblings had lived so close to one another.... Now I know!! I remember when Audubon had four family-owned 11

Danish Sisterhood News, January 2021

Historian’s Corner (cont.) grocery stores and main street was a bustling (okay, comparativley) place. Sadly, not so much anymore. In further research, I found in my mother's house deed that Chris Olsen bought the property from his brother-in-law in 1912 so the house was likely built shortly after that time. Various people who have done maintenance work on the house for my mother have commented that this house was one of the most sturdy and well-built in town of its age. So my grandparents and mother owned one of those rental properties! I learned something new!

Their son Pete was father of one of our own, the late Carol Ann (Olsen) Jorgensen (1935-2018) from Dike, Iowa, was a very active and dedicated member of her Danish Sisterhood lodge. She was also a founding board member of the Museum of Danish America (formerly known as the Danish Immigrant Museum). She owned a Scandinavian gift shop. I became well-acquainted with her mother, Lois "Peggy" (Mead) Olsen as we were members of the Audubon County Genealogical Society together. Carol's husband, Dr. Harris Jorgensen, is from the area as well, being born near Jacksonville, between Kimballton and Harlan.

Ollivene Olsen (1919-2007), a teacher, was a member of the Danish Sisterhood and lived at Newell, Iowa after her mother's death. I was able to locate a family history that Olivene Olsen had written. She begins the family history entitled "The Mathisens" with "Mama's side of the family is the nucleus for a truly remarkable novel. Perhaps there is someone who could weave it into a 'Best Seller'???"

I looked up Anna Marie's newpaper obituary which gave only the basic information of death notice, service information and survivors.

The family history, however, indicated that she was a rather shy person and regretted in her old age not taking more of a leadership role in the community. She was a very busy mother of five surviving children with the youngest being only 2 1/2 years old when her husband Chris Olsen died at age forty-nine. She no doubt "had her hands full" during this time and hopefully had an abundance of support of her family, church and community. Her father, widowed a couple of years earlier, stepped in to help. This family would easily be considered pillars in the Audubon community. Their legacy lives on!

Apply for a DSS Scholarship!

It's scholarship application time! The Danish Sisterhood of America is proud of its scholarship program. We have 10 scholarships available to members and their children (regardless of age) who are attending a post secondary school in 2021-2022.

To learn more about these scholarships, visit www.danishsisterhood.org and click "What we do" under the pull down menu. Or contact Nealna Gylling at trustee2@danishsisterhood. com. Applications must be postmarked by March 1, 2021, so get yours in soon!

Assessment Notice Members: Assessment #1382, for the month of January, is due and payable to your local treasurers before January 31, 2021.

Lodge Treasurers: Assessment #1382, for the month of January, 2021 is due and payable to the Supreme Lodge of the Danish Sisterhood immediately following your January meeting.

Assessments for the year 2021 will follow in order, with the December, 2021 assessment being #1393.

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1. Hygge T-Shirt • Red with white print • Sizes: M, L, XL, XXL • Price: $20 2. Black Baseball Cap with Logo in Satin Stitch Embroidery • Price: $20 3. Black Baseball Cap with Logo in Sequins • Price: $20 4. Red Laser Cut Boxes • Unassembled • For table favors • Price: $0.75 5. Get Your FRIK On! T-shirt • Red with white print • Sizes: M, L, XL, XXL • Price: $20 6. Wine Bottle Opener • Black & red • Price: $5 7. Red Plastic Heart-Shaped Paper Clip • Price: $1 8. Greeting Cards • Blank inside • Price: $1 each 9. Puffy Vest • Blue with Sisterhood Logo in Color • Price: $50

To order contact: Linda Holz Email: trustee1@danishsisterhood.com Phone: 515.225.0951 4400 EP True Pkwy, Unit 47 West Des Moines , IA 50265-5615 Note: Prices do not include shipping and handling.

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10. Sisterhood Heart Makeup Compact • Magnifying & regular mirros • Price: $5 11. Car Decal • Magnetic • White with a red Danish flag heart • Price: $3 or 2 for $5 12. Coral Pendant with Silver Filigree • Red and silver necklace pendant • Price: $45 13. DSS Fleece Jacket • Available in red & black • Price: $37.50 14. Denmark Flag Enamel Earrings • Pierced • Price: $10/pair 15. Red Ball Point Pen • With Sisterhood web address • Price: $5 16. Onesie • Red with white print • Sizes: 6 mo, 12 mo, 18 mo • Price: $15 17. Set of 5 Notecards • Includes envelopes • $12/set 18. Heart Scarf • Available in red & white • Price: $15

To order contact: Linda Holz Email: trustee1@danishsisterhood.com Phone: 515.225.0951 4400 EP True Pkwy, Unit 47 West Des Moines , IA 50265-5615 Note: Prices do not include shipping and handling.

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DSS Angel Member Status The Danish Sisterhood has a new and very special member status, the DSS Angels. This status belongs to those members that wish to gift their funeral benefit back to the Sisterhood. We have had some members in the past make the Sisterhood their beneficiary. We believe this is a generous and significant gift, and wish to honor them while we can, keeping a list of our current “Angels” posted. A couple of options are available: • A change of beneficiary to: Danish Sisterhood of America or, • A change of beneficiary to one of the national scholarship funds. Be specific, ie: Betty Hansen Scholarship, Past National Officers, Camp Grant, etc.

If you wish to change your status, please contact your lodge or the National Secretary for a Beneficiary Change Form. Your benefit does not need to be fully paid yet, and you would be expected to maintain your payments, as the Sisterhood will not receive the benefit until your passing. Those that do not have a funeral benefit as part of your membership category are welcome to participate by donating $1,000 to the Danish Sisterhood of America.

On behalf of our entire membership, we wish to thank and honor as our first Angels: Lodge # 166 168 126 188 75 22 15 12 177 125 171 102 149 187 177 81 81 165 90 102 15 125 177

Name Viola Wilson Joann Scott Dorothy Petersen Karin Plagens Sandra Nelson Carole Hodges Andrea Sue Welling Leih Elizabeth Haar Glenda Madrid Nancy J. Mayland Johanne Gade Diann Weinman Carol Smith Meredith Sorensen Marie Jaeger Christina Sallee Melissa Sallee Marie Fairbanks Constance Schneider Susan R. Fisher Lou Ann Jensen Hanne Skaarup Else Lassiter

Address Changes If you have moved please use this form to notify the Danish Sisterhood of America.

Clip and mail to: Danish Sisterhood News National Secretary: Glenda Madrid 1557 Oak St. Solvang, CA 93463 I belong to Lodge #: Name: New Address: City: State: Zip Code:

Submissions Guidelines Submissions should be received by the Editor by the 1st of the month previous to the month published (Deadlines can be found on page 2).

Please submit captions for pictures, including names of people in the picture.

Text for submissions should be less than 600 words (one typed page).

Mail or electronic submissions are welcomed The Editor will proofread for spelling and grammatical errors and will edit for clarity.

Upcoming Newsletter Deadlines March 2021 issue...................Submit by February 1 April 2021 issue...........................Submit by March 1 May 2021 issue...............................Submit by April 1 June 2021 issue...............................Submit by May 1 July 2021 issue................................Submit by June 1 August 2021 issue...........................Submit by July 1 September 2021 issue.............Submit by August 1 October 2021 issue...........Submit by September 1 15

Danish Sisterhood News, January 2021

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Supreme Lodge of the Danish Sisterhood of America National Secretary: Glenda Madrid 1557 Oak St Solvang, CA 93463

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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.