All Saints’ Day, also known as All Hallows’ Day, is celebrated in honor of all the saints of the church. I’m grateful our church celebrates this day, always on the Sunday before the official November 1st date.
An angel from my mother’s collection.
In our church, names of loved ones that have passed away are collected from members prior to the Sunday service. You add names of those people who have gone before you, those that have made a difference in your life, especially spiritually. The list scrolls through the ceremony in the church service, and the congregation can read the names to get a visual of the many people we consider important to us…Ruby, Herb, Agnes, Bob, Warren, Jean, Ed, Henry…
During a time set apart in the service, people from the congregation get up and walk to the front of the church. On the altar there is a table with many votive candles. You can light a candle(s) for your loved one(s).
A pilgrimage hike in Ireland.
Sunday’s sermon focused on the several long-time members our church who passed away in the last four months. It was somber, yet celebratory, as we were reminded of these wonderful folks who were a part of our congregation, whom we loved, and whom we will miss.
A little bit of heaven on earth.
We sang the old, traditional hymn, For All The Saints, written by William Walsham How, in 1864.
A few select verses (from 8 stanzas):
1 For all the saints who from their labors rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
2 Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might;
thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight;
thou, in the darkness dread, their one true light.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
4 Oh, blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
8 From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
We called her Auntie Ag. She was my dad’s older sister, Agnes. She was a special aunt…she never married so her nieces and nephews were very important to her, and she treated us well. She pass away in 2004.
I don’t know the date of this photo of Auntie Ag…perhaps she was in her 20’s or 30’s?
Last summer I inherited a couple of her photo albums from the 1930-40’s. I was amazed at what I could glean from perusing the old photos, where few photos had captions, and very few were dated!
I have many good memories of Auntie Ag. I knew her well, particularly in her older years…But when I looked through her photos, I felt I learned a lot more about her as a young woman. I found it interesting that I felt I could capture her essence from the photos. I decided we had a lot of similar traits.
When I found this photo of Auntie Ag, I remembered a dress I wore to a high school winter dance that was similar. I don’t know the date of Ag’s photo. The photo of me was taken in 1969.
I resonated with the photo of my aunt overlooking Lake Superior when she was a young woman. The photo immediately caught my attention when looking through several of her old photo albums.
Auntie Ag on the north shore. Date unknown.
One similarity is our love for Lake Superior and the north shore. It is my happy place. It was fun to see how often the north shore showed up in her photos, and to learn she went there often. I also know that my grandmother, my dad and Agnes’ mother, had a love for the north shore.
Me, on the north shore, 2022.
Another trait I share with Auntie Ag is she liked to travel. She liked to travel a lot; across the country, and to cozy cabins, and to Norway in later years. I like to travel too.
She was an adventurer…There were photos of her on hikes, on bikes, on horseback, on the water, on a toboggan, and fishing…what fun! I, too, am fond of adventure and new experiences.
You could see from the different photos she liked being with friends, and she had a lot of them. She loved hosting them for breakfasts and dinner parties, as do I.
Auntie Ag, all dressed up.
Agnes’ mother, my grandma, was always well-dressed. I think there are stories of grandma having more than one trunk of clothes when she traveled to Norway. I noticed Aggie was always well-dressed in the photos. I know when she was older, her outfits “matched” and she always wore “matching” jewelry. I am not a fashion bug by any means, but do like to dress nice.
Auntie Ag’s nieces and nephews, photo taken in 1971. I am in the front row, in the red dress.
There were hundreds of photos of our families. I know Aggie loved her extended family. She was a believer and prayed for me (and for her nieces and nephews) all her life…and for that, I am grateful. I too, am a believer, and deeply love and pray for my family.
My Grandfather Torkel and Grandmother Elizabeth in the front row. Again, I’m not sure of the year this photo was taken. Elizabeth died in 1962. The siblings in the back row L to R: Herbert (my father), Agnes, Earl, Bob.
This wraps up my series on our trip to Norway. However, other stories may pop up in the future.
In Norway, being close to the sea every day, surrounded by amazing beauty, was an incredible gift.
A scene off the western coast of Norway.
I felt so at home. I felt I belonged.
By the sea, and lovin’ it!
In Minnesota, my happy place is on the shores of Lake Superior. I felt the same feelings in Norway, as I do when I’m up on the north shore.
The shores of Lake Superior.
I’ve been told my Grandmother Elizabeth loved being up on the north shore too. It reminded her of the homeland she left behind in Norway, when she was a young woman. I like to think about our connection. She died when I was ten years old.
I love my rich Norwegian heritage, and am proud of it!
I am wearing my American cousin’s Norwegian bunad. It represents the Hardangerfjord, the area where my relatives live in Norway. I borrowed this costume to wear to work in 2011, when Norway’s King Harald V visited St. Olaf College.
I was grateful that Gary made so many travel arrangements to make this trip happen. And that he embraced my relatives, and they embraced him.
Gary and me.
And, of course, I’m grateful to all my many relatives in Norway for the marvelous and abundant hospitality shown to us.
My heart is full, yet part of it was left behind Norway.
After saying good-bye to Brita’s house in Kaldestad, we took the ferry to the island of Stord, where my second cousin Heine and his wife Kari live, and work, and have a “cabin”. Heine works for a company that makes oil platforms for the north sea.
An off-shore oil rig in the making.
Kari manages a delightful home decor/gift shop, The Five Hens.
“Three hens” outside The Five Hens.
We stopped by their home in the southeast area of Stord, on the way to their cottage on the sea, located in the northwest part of the island. That day we went from my grandfather’s house, built 1882, to Heine & Kari’s house on the sea, built 2012.
The Cottage.
The cottage was a gorgeous home, with floor to ceiling windows and it sat right on the water’s edge, offering a great view. The six of us, Jomar and Bente, Gary and me, Heine and Kari, spent three nights there and had an enchanting time.
So many windows, so much light.
Besides being at the “cottage looking out over the water”, our mealtimes were memorable. Gathering around the dining table each morning, and every night, was fabulous. Not only was the food delicious, but the camaraderie was sweet.
Happy together.
Breakfast buffets in the hotels in Norway are amazing with breads, jams, soft-boiled eggs, egg dishes, meats, cheeses, fish, yogurts, oatmeal, trimmings, waffles, salads, cucumbers (and more)…they’re bountiful!
Daily breakfast at the cottage.
We had a lot of these same foods for breakfast at the cottage, except they were all set on the table in front of us. We passed the array of food back and forth, and enjoyed our leisurely breakfasts.
Breaking bread together.
Dinners were fantastic too. Scrumptious food including elk, beef ribs and a pork roll, and chicken. Yum. We would eat a late, leisurely dinner, with good conversation.
Heine grilling elk from his hunt last fall.
Another happy meal.
Lunches were eaten outside; on the deck, or on the boat.
Soup on the deck.
Our enchanting mealtimes made for some wonderful memories at the cottage.
I haven’t mentioned much about my grandmother’s family.
She grew up in Prestnes, an area next to Kaldestad. And therefore, I have relatives in the area on her side of the family too. Jarle Prestnes is another second cousin – on my grandmother’s side. His grandfather and my grandmother were siblings. We had lunch with Jarle and his wife and one daughter, at their home in Bergen. They also traveled to Kaldestad, to Jarle’s father’s home, and Gary and I went there for an enjoyable dinner with his wife, daughter, and Jarle’s sister (and therefore, my second cousin) and her husband. 😉
Redden Jane, front left and Jarle, head of table, are siblings and my second cousins.
Jarle, my second cousin on my grandmother’s side.
We did not see my grandmother’s home this time however, in 2007 we were able to see Grandma Elizabeth’s house. It is not owned by anyone in the family. In fact, I’m not sure if it is still standing.
My grandmother’s family outside their house, early 1900’s. My grandmother is Elisabet (Elizabeth), the one in the white dress.
The front of my grandmother’s house. Photo taken in 2007.
Before leaving Kaldestad, I want to highlight a new boathouse. Some of the grandchildren built a boathouse across the inlet from the old boathouse. It is twin-peaked, modern, and painted white. The boathouse fits right in on the shoreline and is very attractive.
The new boathouse is the white one between the red and the gold one.
On the cement dock by the boathouse.
It has space for several boats and currently there is a kayak, a canoe, and a very special treasure…the old wooden row boat that my grandfather’s brother, Johnannes, used for his livelihood, fishing, back in the early 1900’s.
The wooden boat underneath the kayak is the fishing boat my grandfather’s brother used in the early 1900’s.
Our times in this very special place, Kaldestad, was enjoyable, exciting, amazing and memorable! I am grateful.
While staying at Brita’s house, we were able to connect with more relatives. There was a large gathering at the house, and we were also able to visit many homes in the Kaldestad area for a more personal touch.
Gathering around the table…
Our first day in Kaldestad additional second cousins, and their families, gathered around the large, dining room table in Brita’s house.
Sodd, a Norwegian dish.
My second cousin, Sigrun, made Sodd, a national dish mainly associated with the Trondheim region. It consists of sheep and beef meatballs, cooked carrots and boiled potatoes. It was delicious. And the conversations were sweet.
Sigrun’s (in green) husband and middle son were not able to attend this gathering. We enjoyed visiting with her oldest son, and her youngest son (first person on left in the photo) and his family.
I’m trying to say how much I appreciate being together with everyone in Norway.
My second cousin Solveig, and me.
Fortunately, it was a beautiful day and we were able to move outdoors, to a patio near the summer kitchen, for dessert. The dessert table was bountiful. There was a Norwegian cream cake, an almond cake, a fudge cake, ice cream, and… Valerie‘s apple cake.
Gunnvor (she made the delicious desserts) and her husband, my second cousin, Jostein.
In the 70’s when I was in Norway I made my mom’s apple crisp recipe for the relatives and everyone liked it. The recipe was then modified to the metric system and they’ve been making this recipe in Norway for the last 40+ years and they call it Valerie‘s Apple Cake. How fun is that?
The following day at Kaldestad we visited folks in their homes.
Sigrun’s House.
First we went to the home of my second cousin, Sigrun, who’s yard is meticulously manicured and beautiful. Her father, Sigurd, was a bloomster (gardener) and ran the nursery in the Kaldestad and surrounding area. I assume Sigrun acquired her love of gardening and her amazing gardening skills from her father, and by helping with the plants in the gardens and greenhouses while growing up.
Gary, Valerie and Sigrun.
A park-like yard at Sigrun’s.
Sigurd (the bloomster) was a first cousin to my father and his house and nursery were just up the hill from Brita’s house.
An old photo of Sigurd, the bloomster, in his garden with his greenhouses in the background.
Jostein and Gunnvor’s house. The greenhouses were to the left of the house before they were removed.
My second cousin Jostein (Sigrun’s brother) and his wife Gunnvor, have lived in this house (Sigurd’s) for many years. The greenhouses are long gone, but they have pretty flowers growing everywhere too. We enjoyed coffee and desert with them.
Jostein and Gunnvor in their kitchen.Gary and I at Jostein’s.Kari and Heine at Jostein’s.Bente and Jomar at Jostein’s.
And a little farther up Kaldestad Hill, Jostein and Gunnvor’s son, Steiner, built a home. It was built within the last ten years…what a view.
From Steiner’s house up on Kaldestad Hill: LtoR Jostein, Gary, Valerie, Steiner, Kari, Gunnvor, Heine, Jomar. Stiener’s wife (Aase), and daughter are not pictured.
We were able to visit each of these families, all within walking distance of each other, and all within walking distance of Brita’s house.
All had wonderful views. All were beautiful homes. All had magnificent gardens. All were very welcoming.
One of the many highlights in Norway included our trip to Kaldestad, the area where my grandfather came from, and the where my family name originated…Kallestad (spelled Kall rather than Kald).
The area called Kaldestad Hill.
In Kaldestad, we stayed in “Brita’s house” the old farmstead, where my grandfather lived, which is still in the family. It’s a special place.
The front of Brita’s house. Built in 1881/82.
My grandfather, Torkel, lived in this house built by his father, Haktor, in 1881/1882, with his parents and four siblings. Torkel’s older brother, Johannes, inherited the house and had four children, one of whom was his daughter Brita. She never married, and lived in the house all her life. Thus, the house became known as Brita’s house. Brita died in 1982. Johannes’ grandchildren keep up the house to this day.
The side of the house with two picture windows looking out to the sea.
The house is used for special family get aways, which would include our time in Kaldestad. Gary and I stayed in this deep-rooted house with Jomar and Heine and their wives, Bente and Kari. Jomar and Heine are brothers, and my second cousins. Our grandfathers were brothers who grew up in this house.
A third side to the house, with a new deck.
An old-fashioned rose bush, in bloom, greeted us by the front door. As we walked inside it felt so comfortable. We had been there before: I was there in the 70’s and Gary and I were there in 2007.
The front porch of Brita’s house.
We climbed the painted wooden stairs to the second floor and found our bedrooms with individual dynes on the beds.
The wooden stairs in Brita’s house.
A side story: In 1972 my cousin from America and I experienced our first “dyne” in Norway…a featherbed, or down comforter as they are called today.
The room Gary and I stayed in…with two, separate dynes.
They became popular in America many years later, but not so much in the 70’s. I bought one at the store in Kaldestad (managed by Brita) and had it sent to America. It was only a few years ago that I had to finally give it up because many feathers kept poking out.
I loved sitting in the living room looking down to the sea.
Back to the house: It was a chilly evening when we pulled into the driveway at Brita’s house. Heine had arrived before us and started a fire in the wood-burning stove, so it was nice and cozy in the living room, with a view. Old family pictures of distant (and not so distant) relatives adorned the walls and it was so thrilling and delightful to be in this house where my grandfather had once lived.
The view from the living room and dining room window.
The view from the living room, and the dining room, was of the sea and sky, and we enjoyed looking out the large picture windows.
The inviting dining room table set for a family gathering.
We walked down the hill to the sea where there were two old, small, wooden buildings; an old store, and an old boathouse on the shore. They were a part of the original property. The store opened in 1903 and was prosperous when sea routes were common and roads were non existent in the area. The store moved to the roadside in 1947 when a road was built through Kaldestad. (This is the store where I bought my dyne).
Me, Bente, Kari.
The old boathouse. Heine explains something to Gary.
The store on the sea, called La-Berget (pronounced la-bar-ia) was always painted red.
Photos of the La-berget years ago, prior to it’s renovation.
But two great-grandchildren bought it from the family and did some renovations. Now it’s gray.
The La-Berget, still the same frame…but updated.
When old enough, Brita ran the store, both by the sea, and then on the roadside.
Brita at her store on the roadside…circa 1980. She rode her bicycle daily to and from the store. II bought my dyne from her.
The cash register from Brita’s store, now in Heine’s house.
The lower level is where Brita’s roadside store used to be. It has been remodeled into a single family home.
There have been many gatherings and guests in Brita’s house over the years. It is an extraordinary place.
Jomar, Bente, Kari, Heine, Me on the front porch of Brita’s house.
To be able to stay in this house and learn more of the history of my family was a precious gift that I cherish.
A fragrant rose from the rose garden next to the front porch.
In 1902 my grandfather, Torkel Kallestad (b.1885), was 17 years old when he sailed for America aboard the ship Umbria. He was sponsored by a Norwegian farmer in Iowa, and he later moved to Minneapolis. Torkel became a carpenter by trade. He had three brothers: William, who also moved to America, Haktor, who died at age 12, and Johannes, who stayed behind in Norway. Johannes was the oldest, and was to inherit the family farm. They had one sister, Kristiana, who never married.
This picture was taken in 1902 when Haktor (my great-grandfather) and his children followed Torkel to Bergen to say good-bye when Torkel left for America. Torkel is front right.
Torkel was an immigrant that left his beautiful home in Norway for better work opportunities. He was was fortunate to be able to return to his home country to visit. His first trip back to Norway was in 1910 when he met his future wife, my grandmother Elizabeth. She followed him to America in 1912, and they married in 1913.
Torkel and Elizabeth, 1913.
Elizabeth traveled back to Norway in 1925 with three of their four children (fourth one not born yet), and Torkel followed later for a short stay. Elizabeth went back to Norway in 1948 with her daughter Agnes, and again, for the last time, she and Torkel returned to Norway for a visit in 1958. She died in 1962. Torkel died in 1970.
Herbert, my father, as a young man.
One of their children was Herbert (b.1918), my father. During a health recuperation in the 60’s my father became interested in the family history and started doing research. In 1969 he and my mother took a trip to Norway to find out more information, and thus began a wonderful re-connection between our relatives in Norway and those of us here in Minnesota.
My father died in 1974, at the young age 55…little did he know what he started. We are all truly grateful for his initiation.
My father gathered the information and created this family tree. My Uncle Bob printed the posters in his print shop. Above is a poster for my grandfather’s side of the family.
This poster is for my grandmother’s side of the family.
The Norwegian and American flags flying at my cousin’s home in Norway, to welcome us.
My second cousin in Norway, Sigrun, has done, and continues to do, extensive research on the family genealogy. My Uncle Bob also helped Sigrun with research. He died in December 2021.
Sigrun, my second cousin, has done extensive research over the years.
Gary and I are in Sigrun’s dining room looking at ancestry findings.
Three second cousins (our three fathers were first cousins) together, discussing our family tree.
It’s difficult to explain how special our time was with our Norwegian relatives. It was very precious, fun and exciting!
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and is located on the Hardangerfjord on the southwestern coast. We had a grand welcoming to Bergen after a week of traveling in northern Norway. Three second cousins and their spouses met us at the airport.
Hogne and Britt Astrid met us at the airport. It would be the only time we could see them since they were leaving on vacation the next day. There were two other couples at the airport to greet us.
While in Bergen, we stayed with my second cousin Jomar and his wife, Bente, in their lovely home. We were able to unpack, do some laundry, relax, sightsee and visit other relatives.
My second cousin, Jomar, outside their home in Bergen.
Gary and Jomar chatting in Jomar and Bente’s living room.
The day we toured downtown Bergen it was raining…it’s always raining in Bergen, they say. Not always.
Jomar and Gary visiting while Bente and I shopped.
We parked the car and walked around the harbor area…the area you see in iconic Bergen photos. We walked through old fish market which has turned into a tourist attraction,
The old fish market.
and the new fish market which is very nice, and used by locals.
Inside the new fish market.
Dried fish hanging in the new fish market.
We shopped on Bryggen street, in old, colorful wooden houses, now shops, along the wharf.
Bryggen Street.
A bright spot in the rain. This hydrangea was outside a shop in Bergen. I had not seen this color of hydrangea before. I love it.
As we were eating lunch, the sky seemed to lighten up so we decided to take the cable car, Fløibanen Funicular, to the top of one of seven mountains that surround Bergen.
Jomar and Bente in the cable car.
However, it started to rain again so the panoramic view wasn’t great…but it was still fun. We had been to the top in 2007.
The misty, panoramic view from the top of Mt. Fløyen.
Jomar and me.
The best part of Bergen was times spent in the homes of my different cousins…Jomar and Bente, Jarle and Oddlaugh, and Siv. We shared meals together, laughed a lot, learned more about our families, and created memories. They treated us like royalty.
LtoR: Magrethe (Jarle’s daughter), Jarle (my second cousin), Reidun Jane (another second cousin and Jarle’s sister), her husband Rolf, and Jarle’s wife, Oddlaug.
Me, Bente, Siv, Anne Lise, on Siv’s deck overlooking the Bergen harbor.
Dinner at my cousin Siv’s…a beautiful table setting, and a beautiful view.
Prior to our trip into downtown Bergen, we had packed Jomar and Bente’s electric/hybrid car for our roadtrip to Kaldestad.
Bente and Jomar packing the car in the rain…everything fit!
We continued on our journey to the ferry, en route to our destination…Brita’s house in Kaldestad. A blog on Brita’s house is forthcoming.
It’s been two weeks since celebrating America’s Independence Day, the 4th of July. Although we didn’t get to see any fireworks in the night sky, Gary and I were welcomed to Bergen, Norway on the 4th of July with an American flag waving for us, in the reception area of the Bergen airport. A few of my second cousins met us at the airport to welcome us to Norway. What a great way to be greeted on the 4th of July. It was better than fireworks.
Warm greetings from the Norwegians, for Gary and I.
So happy to be here!
When we first arrived in Norway, a week prior to meeting up with the relatives, we flew directly up to Tromsø, a city 200 miles above the Arctic Circle…the land of the midnight sun. And we were witnesses to that sun that did not set…I saw the sun at 2 am one morning when I woke up.
The midnight sun, from our hotel room window, 2:16 am.
After two days in Tromsø, we boarded the Hurtigruten, a Norwegian coastal ferry and postal service boat that travels along the Western Coast of Norway, making many stops along the way. We had reserved a cabin on it for three nights…and it was amazing. We were delighted and surprised to realize it was more than a working ship, but very much a comfortable, not extravagant, ship with wonderful buffets at mealtime, and relaxing chairs next to large windows overlooking the magnificent beauty of the Norwegian coast. We liked the size…not too big…and the only entertainment was the breathtaking sea and scenery, and that was enough.
We were on the Hurtigruten, Nordkapp.
We disembarked the ship in Trondheim, where we spent the next two nights at a hotel. We walked around the city for two days, plus had a needed, relaxing rain afternoon.
Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim.
Trondheim is the city where St. Olaf College performs choir concerts in the majestic Nidaros Cathedral. I’ve heard about this cathedral for years while working at St. Olaf. It was fun to finally see it….and when we purchased tickets…we learned the young woman behind the counter had been to St. Olaf College singing with her Norwegian women’s choir.
I don’t understand the question mark on Bergen’s airport identification sign.
Then… we flew to Bergen, where we began the second half of our trip with my wonderful, amazing Norwegian relatives, who treated us like royalty. We spent the next nine days with them and it was over-the-top wonderful!
From the airplane, along the mountainous coast of Norway.
From the airplane…along the western coast of Norway.
Norway, a country of 5 million people, is a stunningly, beautiful country with mountains, fjords, pristine shorelines, and breathtaking natural beauty. It is clean with friendly, warm and welcoming people.
In the coming days I will be posting blogs about this amazing odyssey. I will struggle with what photos to share…I took many!
