Danish Sisterhood News November 2020

News

Danish

Serving the Danish Sisterhood of America since 1947

Sisterhood

In this issue:

Lodge Updates Historian’s Corner Where in Denmark?

Butikken And more!

November 2020

President’s Corner

News

Danish Sisterhood

www.danishsisterhood.com

Volume 73, 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.

Christina Sallee, National President I cannot believe it is already November and a year has gone by since the 2019 National Convention. Your Board traditionally meets face to face twice a year to conduct Sisterhood business, however while we were able to meet in February in person, we could not do so this fall. Even before the pandemic I decided that having online meetings every other month would be a good idea to catch up, keep on task and see if anyone was having issues. These 2-hour meetings were good preparation for our fall Board meeting which we held online despite being in 3 different time zones, and challenges conducting a formal meeting online.

I am happy to report that overall, your Danish Sisterhood is doing well. We have a few more members than last year despite many lodges having to suspend or move their meetings online. We have many lodge Presidents and local boards to thank for this additional effort, along with our online Tivoli lodge which saw increased interest. Some of our accomplishments for this last fiscal year:

1. Our financials are healthy thanks to less expenditure and our Treasurer Linda’s vigilance in keeping up with our accounts and minimizing any fees.

2. We have heard you and are working on programs/presentations online for all Sisters to have access to.

Please bear with us while we get the lineup set! We have tentative start date for a January kick off but will make announcements when things are in place.

3. VP Karin has been working hard on updating our website and how you can view the newsletter easier online.

She has put many, many hours into this so check it out and let us know how you like it.

We are fast approaching the holiday season, and I would like to hear from all of you which traditions you took with you from Denmark, or traditions which has been passed on to you that you celebrate each year. Things like specific cookie you bake, songs you sing, maybe you attend the midnight service or dance around the tree on the 24th of December. Maybe you have modified some of the traditions to fit your American or Canadian life, if so write us an article, or send a note to us. It is always fun to hear how others are celebrating and keeping the traditions alive!

We love to hear from you, so keep your eyes open and your suggestions coming. Let us know what you would like to see on the website, online and in the newsletter.

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

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

Christina Sallee, DSS National President Danish Sisterhood News, November 2020

Email: editor@danishsisterhood.com

Copyright 1946-2020 by the Supreme Lodge of the Danish Sisterhood of America, All Rights Reserved.

2

Velkommen

Lauren C. Nielsen, Editor

In this Issue President’s Corner................................................................p 2 Editor’s Welcome..................................................................p 3 Lodge Updates..................................................................p 4-9 Historian’s Corner.........................................................p 10-11 Where in Denmark are YOU from?................................p 12 Butikken...........................................................................p 13-14

Dear Sisters, Wow! November is already here. And that means it's time to embrace the colder months and holidays once again!

Recently, I was able to make it to my Lodge's latest Zoom meeting. I was inducted into the Kenosha Lodge #20 back in 2012 and have been a member ever since, even though I live in Minnesota now. I do miss my Sisters there and it was a joy to be able to attend one of their meetings again! I guess there are some benefits to everything being virtual right now!

My favorite part of the meeting was the programming they had scheduled. The lodge had five members all who grew up in Denmark and all during different time periods. They talked about what it was like to live in Denmark during World War II, what school was like, how it felt coming to America, the differences they've come to discover between growing up in Denmark and growing up in America—such wonderful stories!

I encourage all of you to share stories like these within your lodges and hey, maybe even write them down and send them in! I'd love to include a column about "Growing Up in Denmark"...so send me some stories or tidbits about what it was like living in Denmark, if you ever lived there!

In other news, we're getting a lot of submissions for "Where in Denmark Are You From?". I love seeing all of the places and connections being made! Keep on sending them in!

Next issue will be our annual Christmas issue, and we're getting already getting it ready! I'm personally looking forward to the cheer of the holiday season, even if things end up being a little different this year.

I hope you are all well and have a lovely holiday season!

Until next time...

Lauren C. Nielsen, Editor editor@danishsisterhood.com

Youth Birthdays Happy November Birthday to: Names Elaina Felker Frances Kinsley

Lodge 100 188

Age 3 12

On the Cover Title: Christiania‘s Gate Location: Copenhagen Photo by: Karen I. Hansen in October 2019 Went around Copenhagen and found a section called Christiania, which has a unique tale of its own and started in the 1970s. There are 1,000 residents however, more than 500,000 visitors to date. No photos allowed beyond the gate.

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, November 2020

Flora Danica Lodge #177, Solvang, California 2020 started out with some great events for Flora Danica Lodge #177. We celebrated our Officer Installation in January together with the local Brotherhood Lodge as well as the Santa Barbara, CA Lodge. We enjoyed open-faced sandwiches, complete with herring and Aquavit, prepared by Mogens and IngeLise Mortensen.

Bent Olsen provided delicious pastries for dessert.

In February nearly 25 members gathered at the home of Tone Anderson. After our meeting, Tone and Lori McConnell gave a presentation regarding the history of candles in the windows of homes in Denmark every May 5th in honor of Denmark’s Liberation Day after World War II. They included printed handouts as well as film footage taken on the day of liberation. It was an educational and inspiring presentation.

On March 11, we gathered for our Lodge’s 55th Anniversary dinner. There were 18 Sisters and four guests in attendance. President Karen Pedersen Voorhis and Vice President Mindi Jaeger Christian prepared a delicious spiral ham dinner, including salad and au gratin potatoes.

Others brought either an appetizer or dessert.

We were all stuffed by the end of the evening, because, afterall, it would be rude not to try a little of EVERYTHING, right? After dinner, we played a robust game of Danish Jeopardy. Marie Jaeger won, but all of us are looking forward to a re-match. It was such a fun evening and we were especially grateful for it when the entire State of

California shut down due to COVID-19 just two days later.

We have not been able to officially meet since March and have missed seeing each other and being able to do our usual outreach to the community and fundraising. However, President Karen did invite members to her beautiful patio in August for a socially distant get together. There were only nine in attendance, but it was nice to see those that could attend. We have also stayed connected with email, and through our Facebook page expertly run by Marion Hallum, giving us history, photos, sharing other Lodge information, etc.

In July we received the sad news that one of our Past Presidents, Penny Dapello, had passed away. Penny was our President in 20162017. While she was not able to join us often after her term ended due to the long commute, she and her husband came to Solvang as much as possible.

We were able to award a scholarship to two of our local high school students this year.

While there was no formal “awards presentation” due to COVID-19, it was wonderful to be able to support these two deserving seniors as they navigate their way into college.

We look forward to the day when we can all gather together again and hope all of Sister lodges are doing well.

Lisa Larsen Pedersen, Secretary

Grant Recipients Announced Congratulations to our 2 recipients of the Betty Hansen Continuing Education/Cultural Heritage Grant for the August 31, 2020 deadline. The two recipients are Marilene Martin and Heidi Haase.

Marilene is a member of Princess Marie Lodge #86. She is a part time student striving to become a Radiography Technologist with a future degree in Sonography.

Heidi is a member of Amber Lodge #186. She is also a part time student studying to earn her Danish Sisterhood News, November 2020

Early Childhood Education Degree. We wish both of these Sisters the best of luck as they continue to work toward their career goals. As Sisters, we are happy to help you achieve these goals. GOOD LUCK to both of you!!

The next applications for the Betty Hansen Continuing Education/Cultural Heritage Grants must be postmarked by January 31, 2021.

See the Danish Sisterhood of America website for more information or contact Nealna Gylling, National Trustee.

4

Updates from Lodge #90, Lincoln, NE In recent weeks, I received a small bubble-wrap envelope in the mail. Much to my surprise, the package contained a handmade red and white face mask. As I looked a little closer the whole surface appeared to be the design of a Danish flag. President Vicki Bousquet and her seamstress came up with the design. They toiled over making enough masks so that all of our members would have one. I’m sure a lot of time and effort went into each one. What a nice gift!

After many months of cancelled Lodge meetings, due to the pandemic, plans were in the works to casually gather again. Vicki and Mike invited our members to their home on September 12, hosting a Saturday morning “coffee and donuts.” The intent was to congregate on their driveway, then have a chair or bring your own. But...due to inclement weather, cool, cloudy and a few rain drops, we quickly moved into the garage. After our hellos, we sat in a big circle. Each member was asked to share some of their thoughts and talk about their past months of stay-at-home activities. After all, we hadn’t seen each other for a very long time. Several members had ventured out of their homes only once or twice, up to that point. How do you summarize seven or eight months worth of living into a very short period of time? But we did, just that!

The virus has effected each one of us in various ways. Briefly, the majority spoke of their children, grandchildren, one family had experienced COVID-19, quarantining with good results and all are okay. Others discussed their individual health concerns, and some husbands currently under medical care. Two members are employed and work-outside of the home and shared how hard it is to “now,” work-from their homes. Others laboring over various projects, and for me checking off a very long “to do” list—almost completed. I’m certain, many have

Danish Sisterhood Lodge #90, Lincoln, NE—September 12, 2020. Front row (L-R): Vicki Bousquet, Joan Tomlinson White, Molly Boyd, Kathy McLaughlin, Mary Stanley, Mike Bousquet.

Back row (L-R): Mary Contreras, Mary Brass, Patricia Wissink, Jane Nyffeler, Donna Hansen, Donna (Christensen) Thomas, Fran Freeman.

worked in their vegetable and flower gardens.

And taking the time to enjoy nature at its best.

As we were wrapping up our visit, the noontime sun appeared. A group picture was then taken, all adorned with face masks. And yes, underneath those masks, you’ll find a smile. Our picture accompanies this article.

Regrettably, we were missing a few other members who were not able to be with us that morning. Added note: some members brought along one of their favorite recipes, written on a card. We look forward to seeing them printed in our Danish Sisterhood News.

Due to the virus or complications thereof, some of you have lost a Sisterhood or Brotherhood member, a family member or friend to this disease. We are thinking of you! You will always be in our hearts and prayers as we send our sincere sympathies your way. This is a tough time for all of us, stay positive. Be healthy, and be safe.

Joan Tomlinson White, Past President Lodge #90, Lincoln, NE

Membership Expansion Welcome New Members!

LODGE

NEW MEMBER

SPONSOR

68

Vivian Steindal

Kirsten Carr

5

Danish Sisterhood News, November 2020

Freja Lodge #36, Perth Amboy, New Jersey Freja Lodge 36 was founded on September 26, 1896 by 19 Danish women in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, we are now 124 years ago.

Freja Lodge was formed just a few weeks after Lodge #35 was instituted in Duluth, Minnesota on September 4, 1896. Many Lodges developed after Lodge #1 in Negaunee Michigan started in 1883. In the year 1892, there were 7 new Lodges formed in just one year. We were really growing fast then! The Danish Sisterhood has initiated a total of 188 Lodges, plus a #300 Virtual Lodge between the years 1883 through 2019. Today there are 44 active Lodges.

Perth Amboy New Jersey in the 1900”s was a thriving Danish community with over 7% population of Danish descent. The Danish Home was established in 1914 by the Danish Brotherhood Lodges and Sisterhood Lodges of the North East. It is now 106 years old.

It was a 72 acre farm located in what was then known as Metuchen, on New Durham Road. The farm was maintained and provided food for the home residents. The old farm house/ home burned down in 1952. In 1950 the new home was dedicated across the road in what is now Edison, New Jersey at 835 New Durham Road. Much of the property has been sold off with just a few acres remaining. The grounds are now used for picnics and cultural events. Located at the back rear of the property is a Viking style Masuoleum/Mindehøjen for interments of Danish Lodge members The Home is no longer a residence for the aged. It is being used as a cultural center and it is the location of DANE (Danish Archives North East).

The Danish Home in Edison is bright, warm and inviting, a perfect place for our Danish Sisterhood meetings. We realize how lucky we are to have The Danish Home to meet and enjoy the Danish décor and surroundings.

The Home is laid out like a Danish farmhouse, decorated with Danish plates on the walls, a Grandfather clock, lovely curtains on the windows and comfortable chairs in the cozy living room, a fireplace, a sunny porch, a large meeting room with dining tables. There is also a Danish Sisterhood News, November 2020

very large kitchen which we use to prepare and heat our food for our meetings and dinners. On the second floor is another meeting room with a pool table and bar, the Danish Brotherhood Thor Lodge holds their meetings there.

My Great Grandmother Botilde Marie Schmidt Santer became a member of DSS Olga Lodge #11, she was the person whom I became most interested in when I started doing genealogy research in 1976, and of course the reason I joined the DSS.

Freja Lodge has a Scholarship Fund which was instituted in 2002. We try to give out two $500.00 scholarships every year. The Scholarship requirements are that the applicant must be a member in good standing of Lodge #36 or the child of a member or a grandchild of a member. The applicant must be a high school graduate or attained a GED and must be accepted to a college, university, trade school of continuing education facility. The applicant must submit a high school or college transcript, a letter from their college that they are currently enrolled, submit a 250 word essay on how your Danish heritage has influenced their life, and something about their goals and interests. They must submit 2 letters of recommendations, one personal, and one academic.

We had two winners this year. Justin Billich, and Haley Krubert. Both of these students had outstanding resumes.

Justin Billich is a freshman student at Muhlenberg College, studying Psychology and Economics. He is musician, playing the Viola, and an accomplished athlete, working full time. He is a member the Model Nations Club where he and fellow students travel within the State and abroad to debate on the world’s most pressing topics. He is the Grandson of Joy Billich Lodge #36.

Haley Krubert is currently a rising sophomore at The University of Southern California, majoring in Business and Pre-Med. Before USC, Haley graduated from Marymount High School for Girls in Los Angeles where she was a scholar athlete and qualified for State in 6

two sports, Platform Diving, and Pole Vaulting.

She is an avid surfer and spear fisher and loves to read. She supports local environmentalism causes. Haley hopes to become a physician one day and to use her business background to create high quality , yet affordable medical practices to care for as many as she can. In high school she started the Ronald Mc Donald House Leadership Board which helped raise almost $30,000 for the house which helps families in need that are dealing with chronic medical conditions for kids.

This past summer she completed an internship in the Department of Surgery at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.

She is the proud Grandaughter of Danish Sister Carole Pierorazio Lodge #36.

Freja Lodge is very happy to be able to support these young students through our Scholarship fund and the generous donations and support of our members.

shop our design store online WWW.DANISHMUSEUM.ORG/SHOP Museum members receive a 10% discount!

SPECIAL OFFER This November, purchase a gift membership for a friend or family member and receive the SkĂĽl! booklet of recipes for cocktails, infusing your own aquavit, and perfect food pairings for your favorite Scandinavian beverages.

Gift it, or keep it for yourself! (We won’t tell.) Go online or call before December 1 to setup your gift membership and claim this bonus item. Spread the love of preserving Danish heritage.

DANISHMUSEUM.ORG | 712.764.7001 2212 WASHINGTON ST, ELK HORN, IOWA

Carole E. Pierorazio, Past President Lodge #36

Thank you to the following for recent donations to the Danish Sisterhood Funds Disaster Relief Fund John Rasmussen Archival Project Lodge #19 Lodge #153 Bente Rasmussen Lodge #24 Kristie Hansen-Mendez Lodge #102-DesMoines Shirley Iversen Patricia Olsen

Lodge #21 Denver Lodge #12 Freden in memory of Ebba Kadish Glenda Madrid Sara Johnson Sindy Mikkelsen John Rasmussen Heather Valdez in memory of Ebba Kadish Thank you, too, to any lodges or person who have donated directly to the Museum of Danish America for the Archival Project.

In Memoriam NAME Mary Ann Sorenson Ruth Sabinsky

Cert # Lodge # Location 24152 6 Omaha, NE 21732 181 Holiday, FL

Birth Date Birth Place 12.30.29 Chester, SD 4.19.29 Tenslev, DK 7

Initiated 1.24.84 7.14.60

Died Benefit 8.7.20 1,000.

9.16.20 250.

Danish Sisterhood News, November 2020

Dagmar Lodge #4 Reflecting on 2020 This 2020 has been a very different year for all of us. I will reflect on this year in our Dagmar Lodge #4 in Chicago. We started out the year with our AFTER-CHRISTMAS party January 4, 2020 at the Rasmussen Home. There was a feast with a variety of delicious food brought by the Sisters.

We were a nice group including spouses. We had the initiation of the first two men in our lodge.

Jim Keathley and Lars Rasmussen (we like to call them Mr. Sisters).

In February we joined the DAAC (Danish American Athlete Club) for the Danish Fastelavn Party. This special tradition arose in Denmark during Medieval times called "beating the cat out of the barrel", which resembles a piñata. Folks believed that the spirit of winter was a black cat that had to be driven away before Spring could come. Historically, a black cat was placed in a barrel. The villagers were dressed in costumes, so that the evil spirit could not recognize them.

Then they beat the barrel until it splintered. The frantic cat would then fall to the floor and run off, and so winter was banished.

In Denmark today, children dress in costume (much like Halloween). They beat a barrel that is full of candy and Danish Sisterhood News, November 2020

trinkets. When the barrel breaks there's a mad scramble to collect as much as one can! The one who bashes the barrel open is crowned the "Cat Queen" and whoever knocks down the last piece of the barrel is named "Cat King". Children also go from door to door in their costumes, singing a special song called "fastelavn er mit navn". For this, they receive candy and money. And if they don't, they play tricks!

In Denmark a popular baked good associated with the day is Fastelavnsbolle (lit. "Fastelavns bun", also known in English as "shrovetide bun" or "lenten bun"), a round sweet roll usually

8

covered with icing and sometimes filled with custard cream or different flavors of jam filling.

Our Sisters are baking and providing the fastelavnsboller for the party.

In March we had our Annual Winter Luncheon and Fundraising. We rent the Svidhoid Hall and prepare traditional Danish food, like Herring with egg salad, Gravlaks, Frikadeller with red cabbage, pies, potatoes and gravy and this year Danish Layer Cake to celebrate our 135 years anniversary. Our entertainment was installation of 2020 officers and the big raffle with wonderful prizes.

Shortly after, everything changed with COVID-19 hitting the country. We switched gears to have our first virtual meeting in May where we had an open forum for all to connect.

Harry Nyholm made beautiful bouquets of flowers to all the residents of the Danish Home in

honor of his mother Nancy Nyholm, who also served as Secretary on the National Board for years.

Since we did not have a Summerfest at the Danish Home in June, we arranged a virtual Bingo for the fun of playing. In July we just got our business done and shared a short presentation of Bruce Bro’s Hiking Trip for the benefit of Danish organizations. In August we had Show and Tell program where Sisters could find thing from their home to share.

In September Karen Vig-Keathley made a wonderful presentation of 88 years of Legos, that told the Lego story. In October the program was Denmark adopting American Traditions like Halloween and Pumpin that have spread to be very popular in Denmark in the last decades. We will end the year with our November meeting with Danish Christmas Ornament Paper Cutting prepared for an interactive Zoom meeting.

We wish the 2021 will be a year where we can all be together again in person, but we need to take the best of all challenges we meet.

Submitted by, Bente Rasmussen, Event Coordinator

9

Danish Sisterhood News, November 2020

Historian’s Corner

The Danish Sisterhood Records Saved the Day!

by Donna Christensen Thomas, National DSS Historian

A few months ago I received an email from a gentleman trying to find out more about his great grandparents, Peter (1864-1943) and Magrethe (nee Nielsen) (1865-1923) Petersen, who had immigrated independently in the mid-1880's, likely met and married in Tacoma and were active members as well as officers in Thyra Lodge #19. Peter had his own custom frame shop and later was a custodian in the Tacoma school system at the time of his death. The descendant researcher had done quite a lot of work trying to find out about his ancestors and their roles in the community as well as their Danish Lodges. She had been Vice President and he secretary of the lodge in about 1896.

He had contacted someone in the present Thyra Lodge who directed him to a Danish Sisterhood board member and the email was forwarded to me because he was "stuck".

He did not have the place of birth for either of them or their parents' names. However, he did have their dates of births. Fortunately, in looking in the Danish Sisterhood membership cards now stored at the Museum of Danish America (MoDA) Genealogy Center I was able to find information to answer one of those key questions directly and in searching the Danish church records further found her baptismal record, her complete name and her parents' names along with the mother's age and witnesses to the baptism. Given that information, he was able to search further back for his great grandparents' names and ages, marriage, other siblings, etc.

In working with these records for over three years in creating a searchable database, I have noticed that by far most people answered the birth place question with the parish (i.e. sogn, in Danish) along with the county(amt) and Denmark. That is the level at which you search in the Danish church records for the information you usually want. Only in rare cases did the application include only the county (amt). Even this you could work with and would eventually find the record as you search each parish within the county for the name in the appropriate time period. Keep in mind if only the parish is listed without the county attached, several of the cities and parishes share the same names. So you may have to search in more than one county if you didn't already know the birthplace.

The Danish Sisterhood records once again pre-

vailed as being an excellent primary (i.e. given by the person about themselves). Although technically, their mother or other person present at the time would the best primary source because the infant born was there but not a source that would remember the event.

The Sisterhood records are so valuable as a source of information because especially as women of earlier times were quite unlikely to be recorded with such detail elsewhere except perhaps for naturalization paperwork. Most other place of birth questions would just be "Denmark." Their obituaries were usually not very informative I've found. Some didn't even include their name! (Only as Mrs. (their husband's name).

One of the things we also found was that Margrethe was actually named Birthe Margrethe Nielsen and her sister known by the present family members as Caroline, was actually Nielsine Caroline Nielsen.

They were from Gloslunde parish, Maribo county, Denmark. This information was new to him to learn and use in his research. Even with knowing the correct parish as place of birth/baptism, if one were looking in the church records for only the names they were familiar with, they might have been overlooked. Nielsine would be the feminine form of their father's name Niels Peter Hansen. He will likely find another family member for whom Birthe Margrethe was named. Given this additional information, the gentleman was able to do research all weekend and to gleen much more information for his family tree!

The Danish Brotherhood records required much the same information as did the Danish Sisterhood forms, so our researcher is likely to find the same success for his great grandfather Peter Petersen. The Danish American Archive and Library in Blair, Nebraska has those original membership records, but the MoDA Genealogy Center has microfilmed copies of the Danish Brotherhood membership rolls and have created a database as a finding aid. In my research, I have found that most couples belonged to the Danish Brotherhood and Danish Sisterhood lodges if both were available in their area.

I think most of us are familiar with the patronymic naming convention whereby a child was given their father's first name with -sen or -datter attached behind it. Until then they didn't have fixed surnames as we know them today. A law was first passed in

Danish Sisterhood News, November 2020

10

Historian’s Corner 1828, but failed mostly because the authorities didn't understand the intent of the law. In 1857 the Danish government decreed that the patronymic system should end and that famlies should settle into the surname they had at that time. At first, the -datter ending was dropped and both sons and daughters were given the -sen surname. However, the new system was largely ignored, but adopted gradually and unevenly throughout the country, sooner in the cities than in the rural areas. By 1900, most people had adopted the family surname and it didn't change with each successive generation. Some added the fixed surname to the patronymic and used both.

Sometimes you can tell when the family had adopted the new naming system as the older child of Lars and Mette Nielsen would be LARSEN and the next and successive children would be named NIELSEN. Up until the 19th century 80% of the surnames were derived from the same 15-20 male names. The females had about the same number of common names used. One must be very careful in researching as the given names and surnames are so similar to one another that it's easy to confuse identities. You don't want to spend a lot of time mistakenly researching someone's else's family thinking that it's your own!

Some other surnames were derived from occupations (e.g. MĂ˜LLER was a miller), locations, perhaps where they might have moved from, and occasionally farm names (but more often used in Norway and Sweden). Soldiers were sometimes assigned a different name, usually a descriptive characteristic, by the Danish military if there were more than one person with the same name in the unit. They may have continued using that assigned name past their military service time.

Also in the records the person's occupation further identifies them so that you are more sure of having the correct person and not mixing up another Peter PETERSEN in the same locale. The occupation or description of what land they owned might help you imagine what place or socio-economic standing they had in their community at the time. I can recommend a book called "What Did They Do? In Danish..."

By John E Herl, published by Heritage Productions.

It is used possibly more than any other research aid at the MoDA Genealogy Center and has a very good explanation of what the occupation or land owning descriptor might have meant in Denmark at the time.

As with the other Scandinavian countries,

women kept their maiden surname and used it throughout their lives and didn't adopt their husband's surname until about 1850. But to be sure, search by both maiden and married names in the records, including records as they emigrated. Usually they adopted the husband's surname as was the custom in their new country even if they had not done so in the Old Country.

As far as given names, many families followed a naming pattern which is similar to other countries.

The first son was named after the father's father (farfar). The second son after the mother's father. (morfar). Subsequent sons were named after the father then other uncles on either side or the family. The first daughter was named after the mother's mother (mormor); second after the father's mother (farmor). The third after the mother, then other aunts on either side.

If a previous spouse or a child had died they very often would name the next child after them to honor and remember them. If the next child were the opposite gender of the deceased they might choose to give the variation of the name (e.g. Frederik for Frederikke).

Sometimes the children were given multiple given names. The first usually was to honor someone as stated above. You should try to find out, list and research all the names a person might have had. Also, keep in mind that correct spelling should not disqualify a record that otherwise looks like the correct family.

Because something may be spelled differently than what you expect, don't rule it out if all else seems to fit. Consider that, for example, the census taker and the general population were not as educated as today and the many different languages and foreign accents would be challenging to interpret and spell correctly.

They may have used and preferred different forms of their names at different times in their lives.

Sometimes they only used initials. It is helpful to keep a list of all the known name variations when you are researching an individual.

Of course, one always needs to start with the most recent known people and names and work backwards in time. Although the patronymic naming system seems a little tricky to use at first, it can also be seen as clue as you likely already know what the father's given name is likely to be. Also, the naming patterns can add a level of assurance that you are researching the correct family.

11

Danish Sisterhood News, November 2020

Denmark

WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE YOU FROM? Share what cities or towns you or your ancestors came from in Denmark. Email to editor@danishsisterhood.com Bornholm one submission 2-10 submissions 10+ submissions

Danish Sisterhood News, November 2020

12

Danish Sisterhood Butikken DanishSisterhood.com

1.

2.

3.

4.

6.

7.

5.

8.

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

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.

13

Danish Sisterhood News, November 2020

Danish Sisterhood Butikken DanishSisterhood.com

1.

5.

2.

3.

6.

4.

7.

8. 9.

1. Sisterhood Heart Makeup Compact • Magnifying & regular mirros • Price: $5 2. Car Decal • Magnetic • White with a red Danish flag heart • Price: $3 or 2 for $5 3. Coral Pendant with Silver Filigree • Red and silver necklace pendant • Price: $45 4. DSS Fleece Jacket • Available in red & black • Price: $37.50 5. Denmark Flag Enamel Earrings • Pierced • Price: $10/pair 6. Red Ball Point Pen • With Sisterhood web address • Price: $5 7. Onesie • Red with white print • Sizes: 6 mo, 12 mo, 18 mo • Price: $15 8. Set of 5 Notecards • Includes envelopes • $12/set 9. 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.

Danish Sisterhood News, November 2020

14

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 #

Name

166 168 126 188 75 22 15 12 177 125 171 102 149 187 177 81 81 165 90 102 15

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

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: Zip Code:

State:

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 January 2021 issue.............Submit by December 1 February 2021 issue...Submit by January 1, 2021 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

15

Danish Sisterhood News, November 2020

News

Danish

Periodical Postage Paid

Sisterhood

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

POSTMASTER PLEASE RUSH TIME DATED MATERIAL!

Published by:

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

The Danish Sisterhood News including, but not limited to, design, text, & graphics, are Copyright 2020 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.