A Condensed History of Valhall Lodge 6-025
Highlights of the History of Sons of Norway Valhall Lodge 6-025
1912: Conrad Thueland, Charter President. Valhall Lodge #25, District 2 in San Diego, California, was established. Valhall Lodge was sponsored by Peer Gynt Lodge 2-022 of Culver City, CA.
1914: Tony H. Iversen, President. Valhall Lodge became inactive due to shortage of Norwegian-speaking men to hold offices.
1924: Hans Nansen, President. The lodge began meeting at the Plumbers Hall, at 11th and Broadway, San Diego when the Lodge was reactivated.
1925–1926: Egelund M. Mathisen, President
1927: Alfred Nilsen, President
1928–1929: John Wick, President
1930: Hilda Dypvik, President. Hilda Dypvik became the first woman Lodge president.
1931: John Solwick, President
1932: Henry Olsen, President
1933–1934: John M. Johnson, President
1935: Ole Thorpe, President
1936–1937: Ed Pedersen, President
1938–1939: Engelund M. Mathisen, President. The Lodge began meeting in Hawthorne Hall.
1941–1942: John Slotten, President
1943–1944: John M. Johnson, President
1945–1946: Paul Knudsen, President
1947–1948: Louis Larsen, President
1949: Rav Waldmar, President
1950–1951: Henry Slotten, President
1952: Evelyn Wurzell, President
1953: John S. Johnson, President
1954–1955: Carl Clive, President
1956: Paul Knudsen, President
1957: Martin Seversen, President
1958: Ralph Bergstad, President
1959: Allen Shogren and Ingvar Belbo, Presidents
1960–1961: William Thorpe, President
1962: Evelyn Wurzell, President
1963–1964: Nels Norem, President
1965–1967: Chris Lindebrekke, President. In 1967 Lodge sold the property on El Cajon Blvd with a net profit of $250.
1968–1969: Hagbart Larsen, President
1970: Donald Skordahl, President
1971–1972: A.K. Andersen, President
1973–1974: Chris Lindebrekke, President
1975–1976: Ola Brevig, President
1977–1978: Carl Hanken, President
1979: Sverre Jangaard, President
1980–1981: Adeline Good, President
1982–1984: George Line, President
1985–1987: Karin Brevig, President
1988–1989: Robert Kurz, President
1990–1991: Erling Nyhammer, President
1992–1993: Glenn Jerpseth, President
1994–1995: Reginald Becker, President
1996–1997: James Adams, President
1998–1999: Sven Olsen, President
2000–2001: Sigurd Stautland, President
2002–2003: Don Lesney, President
2004–2005: Helga Moore, President.
2005–2006: Helga Moore and Glen Hagen, Presidents
2007–2008: Jurolf (Jerry) Oen, President
2009–2012: Rick Hausvik, President
2013-2014, 2015–2016, and 2017–2018: Susan Cody, President
2019–2022: Maury Lee, President
2023-present: Myla Coleman, President
In 2022, we observed our history through a slide show that honored our current and living past presidents or their family members. Open the slide show here.
NOTE: The following sections through 2005 were gathered by a previous historian for inclusion in past issues of The Valhall Viking. Where the first person (i.e., “I”) is used, it refers to that previous historian, Lorraine Tucker. Much of the information contained below has been included in the condensed history above.
Chapter 1: The Early Years – 1912-1935
On March 24, 1912, twenty-seven men of Norwegian birth formed an organization which was designated as Valhall Lodge #25, District 2 in San Diego, California, preceded by its sponsor, Peer Gynt Lodge #2-022, Culver City, California. Conrad Thueland became the first president, and at that time no women were part of the organization anywhere in the United States. The Supreme Lodge in Minneapolis, as it was known then, admitted women around the time that women were extended the right to vote in the United States.
One requirement for membership was the ability to speak Norwegian, so that limited the number of members who could be induced to join. This requirement prevented the lodge from growing and, and in 1914, the lodge became inactive due to the difficulty of finding men who felt qualified to serve as officers. The lodge did not disband, however, but for the next ten years no formal organization met for other than social occasions.
In 1924, the lodge was reactivated with Hans Nansen as president. For most of the years between 1924 and 1934, lodge members met at the Plumbers Hall, located at 11th and Broadway, in San Diego. Hans Nansen was a relative of Fritjof Nansen, the well-known Norwegian humanitarian.
By 1930, we had our first female president, Hilda Dypvik.
1924-1934: During these years Valhall Lodge met at the Plumbers Hall.
During his term from 1933 to 1934, Lodge president John H. Johnson’s petitioned the Supreme Lodge (as International was known then) to conduct meetings in English instead of Norwegian. Permission was granted. This became the turning point in recruitment of members.
In the early years of the lodge, before the Sons of Norway developed an insurance program, members were assessed $1.00 per month in addition to their dues, which was placed in a Death/Sick Benefit Fund. This was true of all lodges in the order. This money built up in the fund until a member dies, when an allotted amount was given to the widow. This was later also used for an extended illness of a member should he/she not be able to return to work for some time. At one time, our lodge kept a ledger of the amount in the fund and how much was paid out each month to ill members. One had to be ill for at least 2-3 weeks to be eligible to draw from this fund. When the Sons of Norway began their Insurance Program, this fund was discontinued and any leftover money went into the lodge treasury.
Valhall Lodge had a small book in which records kept by the Financial Secretary indicated when and how much was paid out to sick members and the spouse of deceased members. This book was passed on to the Historian, I believe, and should either be in the library or with some previous historian of the lodge. I have seen the book but do not know where it is at present. I remember that Carl Hanken received a small stipend, a couple of dollars, when he was ill for several weeks, and there was mention of some death benefits paid to widows. (If anyone knows the whereabouts of this small book, please return it to library or the current historian. It should be placed in the locked display case.)
In 1934, President John H. Johnson petitioned the Supreme Lodge to conduct meetings in English instead of Norwegian. Permission was granted and this became a turning point in helping the lodge grow in membership. John H. Johnson was president of Valhall in 1933 and 1934, and became the first president of the House of Norway in 1935. He was president of the lodge again in 1943 and 1944.
Voting in our lodge has changed over the years. When an individual wished to become a member, a system whereby black and white marble-size balls were passed out to members, and after the motion had been made to accept or reject the applicant, each members cast his vote in a container. If there was even one black ball in the container, the applicant was turned down for membership. This system was voted out of favor some years later, but the individual still had to be of Norwegian birth, descent, or in the case after women were admitted, affiliated by marriage. All applications subsequently had to be approved first by the District Board and then by the Supreme Lodge. A few non-Norwegians wished to become to become members and these had to receive prior approval from the District and the Supreme Lodge in Minneapolis before being voted in by the lodge.
When the insurance program began, rules had to be changed to comply with state and federal regulations so the lodges no longer had to have pre-approval before voting on prospective members. Valhall began to expand its membership by accepting all applicants on the assumption that they were really interested in our organization and would become enthusiastic members.
In 1935, when the city of San Diego revived the Pan-California Exposition (which originally the city had hosted in 1915) many ethnic groups were contacted and asked if they would be interested in presenting their culture and heritage in Balboa Park under the blanket of the larger organization, the House of Pacific Relations. Valhall was one of the ethnic groups contacted and accepted the challenge of opening the House of Norway, with John H. Johnson as the first president of House of Norway, and it has been in existence since that date. Open every Sunday (and in 2016 Saturdays were added) during the year in the afternoon, and also open for cultural field trips and other events during the week by appointment, the House of Norway has been a focal point of the Norwegian community since its inception. Valhall has been part of this endeavor every year by assisting in supporting the 17th of May celebration and many other events with a public display of our culture and heritage. A good percentage of the members of the House of Norway are also members of Valhall and enthusiastically support both organizations.
1938-1943: During these years Valhall Lodge met at Hawthorne Hall. When the hall burned down, many of the Lodge’s records were lost.
A number of people have raised the question as to why the Sons of Norway does not also include Sons and Daughters of Norway in their title. The answer is that there is another organization composed of women of Norwegian birth or descent whose title is “Daughters of Norway.” The Daughters of Norway in the Midwest area decided to merge with the Sons of NOrway after women were accepted into membership. The West Coast branches of the Daughters of Norway, however, did not affiliate and presently there are a dozen or more chapters on the west coast from north of Seattle to the San Francisco/Oakland Bay area.
Although, undoubtedly, there were a number of obstacles that had to be overcome in the development of our lodge, it continued to grow in numbers and influence in the community over the years.
Chapter 2: Lodge Growth During 1936 to 1969
Although still meeting at the Plumbers Hall in 1936-37, from 1938 until 1943 the lodge met at Hawthorne Hall, which unfortunately burned down, destroying nearly all of our records. We have been able to reconstruct, through pictures and records kept at the House of Norway and remembrances of our members, some of the earlier presidents of the lodge, and other activities in which Valhall Lodge participated, for which we are very appreciative.
In 1946, an active group of women formed an auxiliary to the lodge. This lodge was named The Norge Womens Club. They were extremely instrumental in increasing the lodge treasury by holding rummage sales, raffles, craft projects and baked goods sales many times during these years, always with the goal of owning our own hall. Marie Johnson was its first president and later secretary of the club; Frances Johnson (no relation to Marie) became the Ways and Means Chairperson and was responsible for holding fund-raising events – anything to raise money for their club – which later would result in substantial donations to the lodge.
One of the other early members of Norge Womens Club was Anabel Knudsen who also served as Financial Secretary of the lodge. She was the wife of Paul Knudsen and he chaired the first biennial District 2 convention in 1948 held in San Diego. Frances Johnson served as co-Chair and I believe this was the first time that Valhall had hosted a District 2 convention. (This information was provided by Ola and Karin Brevig.)
In 1948 Valhall Lodge, within District 2 at the time, hosted the Sons of Norway Supreme Lodge biennial convention in San Diego for the first time. Paul Knudsen and Francis Johnson were co-Chairs.
In 1950, Paul Knudsen, President of Valhall in 1945-46 and again in 1956, became Vice President of District 2. In 1952 he became President of District 2 and assisted in instituting a new district in California, designated as District 6, which later encompassed Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Hawaii. He then was elected the first president of the new District 6.
Again in 1950, Valhall Lodge sponsored its first lodge outside the city of San Diego, which became NORGE LODGE 2-60, in Vista – later becoming one of the lodges in District 6. In 1954, Paul Knudsen was elected a Supreme Lodge Director. Sometime after this the Supreme Lodge changed its title to International Lodge, which it remains to this day.
In 1952 Paul Knudsen became President of District 2 when the district began the project of breaking the District into two with District 6 being formed as a result. Paul Knudsen became the first President of District 6. Valhall Lodge officially became part of District 6 as 6-025.
In 1953, Valhall Lodge purchased its first property at 46th and El Cajon Blvd, next to present-day Hoover High School. Our membership was about 100 at that time and, through the fund-raising efforts of these members and the Norge Womens Club, we were able to buy this small piece of property. By 1957, since we had property now, we were required by the state to incorporate as Valhall Sons of Norway, Inc., and Paul Knudsen became the first president of the Corporation.
In 1954 Paul Knudsen was elected a Supreme Lodge Director.
Valhall Lodge was incorporated on October 21, 1957, and became Valhall Sons of Norway, Inc, because the Lodge now owned property. Paul Knudsen became the first Corporation president.
Our 50th Anniversary was celebrated in 1962 at the former Stardust Hotel in Mission Valley, with Frances Johnson as Chairperson.
Five years later in 1967 we sold our property on El Cajon Blvd., making the enormous profit of $250.00!!! Not to be discouraged, however, we bought property on Euclid Avenue not too far from El Cajon Blvd for $8500. that had several rental units. A year later (1968-69) we bought adjoining parcels for $12,500. The members of the lodge renovated the units and maintained the property, which brought in some extra revenue for the lodge. Olav Jangaard took on the responsibility of managing our property, and spent many hours renovating and maintaining it with the help of his brothers, Chris and Sverre, other members such as A.K. Andersen, Karl Larsen, Carl Hanken, Chris Lindebrekke and many others with expertise in carpentry, electricity and painting. (If any readers of this history know of others who assisted in maintaining this property please let me know and I will add their names.)
In 1968 the Lodge purchased property on Euclid Avenue for $8,750. In 1969, the Lodge purchased property adjoining the Euclid Avenue property which had several units.
During these years, we met in many different meeting halls, among which were the Oneira Women’s Club, the La Mesa Women’s Club, and the Danish Brotherhood Hall on 6th and Ivy St., which was our last meeting place before we purchased Norway Hall on 43rd and University.
Chapter 3: Fun times in 1970-1999
1970-1971: During these years the Lodge met at the Oneira Women’s Club, the La Mesa Women’s Club, and the Danish Brotherhood Hall on 6th and Ivy St., which was the last meeting place before the Lodge purchased Norway Hall on 43rd and University.
In 1970 Chris Lindebrekke was elected District 6 General Director.
We had so many fun, wonderful, exciting times in our new hall, which we worked so hard to buy, renovate and maintain, that it’s hard to remember everything that we did to get members to participate and enjoy, but here are a few of them.
We held big dinners for up to 200 or more every month, Hawaiian parties, New Year’s parties, Gay 90’s parties, bazaars, rummage sales, raffles, Vegas nights (that resulted in the S.D. Vice Squadcoming in to check out if we were gambling but we persuaded them that there were only small prizes given with tickets which members got when they purchased their dinner tickets), dancing almost every month with Marvin Wills’ band with Mai and Erling Dahl pitching in from time to time, and our own Viking Band and Singing Group. The members of this group were Ellen Enlund, our lodge musician of many years, Art Olsen, Ted Fields, Robert (Bob) Orvick , Newman Nelson, Fred Froshaug, Birgit Otto, Emma Reinholdtsen, Gladys Hallock, Irene Smith, Doris Andersen and A.K. Andersen (no relation to Doris). Carrie Nordby, another talented lady who lived until her 102nd birthday, participated as well, and we celebrated her 100th birthday and A.K.’s 95th with a wonderful dinner and dance, hosted by the corporation. In one of our picture albums we have pictures of the two of them waltzing around the room, while an amused Borghild Andersen observed them.
We had quite a number of working (out of the home) women as well as men who spent lots of extra hours helping out at the hall, bringing their children, who danced with the grown-ups and put on programs. These workers included Ola & Karin Brevig with Sigurd, Sidsel, & Kennet, Ella and Russ Backous and Brit, Ray and Gloria Johnsen with Ray, Jr., Patricia, Monica, & Sylvia, the Horn boys (3 sons of Sharon Horn Adams), the Hankens with (granddaughter) Kim Hanken Bardin, A.K. and Borghild Andersen with (granddaughter) Aprell Waymire, Mary & John Rem and sometimes their two sons, Addie Svendsen and son, Carlos, Erling and Lydia Nyhammer with daughters, Kari and Katy, Jim & Jackie Adams with Elka and her sisters and brother, Helga & Jim Moore with Natalie and Siri, Ed and Lorraine Tucker with daughters (Karol, Gale, Susan occasionally and regularly, Laurel), and many others brought their children and, later, grandchildren on many occasions.
We had so many young people, it’s hard to remember them all. (Please let me know of others and I’ll list them in an addendum.) George and Alice Line, Patricia and Reg Becker, all the Lindebrekke’s, the Julian Eidsmoe’s, the McKinneys, the Monsons, Mary and John Rem, brought their children and grandchildren from time to time. All these people participated together with the retired members who worked long hours to keep the hall in good condition. (Much of this information was remembered and supplied by Ella Backous.)
Other good times were had when Lou Amundson was the keyboard and his wife, Virginia worked on many committees as well, when needed. Erling(accordianist) and Mai (popular Scandinavian pianist) Dahl, friends of the Norwegian/Swedish community, donated a piano to our dining hall and entertained us many times and now we have Kjell Holmes on the accordian when we need Norwegian music for our souls. Our baby grand piano in the meeting hall was purchased when Janice Huckins was our musician, and when we sold the hall, Ethelyn Sorenson bought it for her granddaughter.
In 1970, Chris Lindebrekke, who had been President in 1965-67, was elected a General Director of District 6. He also held office as our President in 1973-74. In 1971, the lodge had been meeting at the Oneira Women’s Club, but then moved to the La Mesa Women’s Club in 1972, and later to the Danish Brotherhood Hall on 6th and Ivy. We were meeting at the Danish Brotherhood Hall when we began to look in earnest for a lodge home of our own. A.K. Andersen was our President during the years 1971-72.
Chris saw an ad in the paper about a Masonic Hall on 43rd & University that was up-for-sale, and he contacted the Board of the Corporation, Frances Johnson, Ways and Means Chairperson of the lodge and several others, which resulted in offering the Masonic Lodge a bid on the property. Our honorary Norwegian Consul, S. Falck Nielsen was very instrumental in helping to acquire this property, and we are very much indebted to him and his wife, Charlotte, for their support over many years. We were able to purchase the Masonic Hall for $48,000 and renamed it NORWAY HALL. All financing was made by the members with loans to the corporation, and the total amount was $63,000 (I believe) that the members loaned to Valhall.
Renovations again were done by the members. We put in new tile flooring throughout, painted the entire lower hall (2 rooms), re-did the lower floor toilets and the powder room, re-paneled some of the walls, replaced the stair and upper floor carpeting, put up blinds in the recreation/pool table room, made and/or purchased drapes for the same room and the windows in the stairwell and the dining hall, painted the outside of the building and repaired the roof and air conditioning as needed. We also refurbished the kitchen with a large stainless steel refrigerator, restaurant-sized dishwasher, a freezer, and the Norge Women’s Club completely furnished the kitchen with china, flatware, glassware, coffee pots and cooking utensils.
The members donated many extra items, such as the pool table (Gene Hanken), serving bowls, etc. for the kitchen and furniture in the ladies lounge. Dennis Andersen (son of A.K.) laid the new carpeting at cost, we purchased some table and chairs from the Masonic Order, and bought others to fill in as needed.
One of the members (I believe it was Olav Jangaard) built a bar in the reception hall and a stage in the dining hall. The women’s club again came to the forefront with the purchase and gift of 24 card tables for the bar lounge area, which they bought by saving green stamps and redeeming them at the redemption center. To the best of my remembrance, I was given the information that the total cost of the hall with renovations amounted to around $100.000. Our dedication of NORWAY HALL was held on October 6th, 1972 with approximately 600 members and guests participating in a continuous-serving dinner and program, featuring Karol Hansen (Lorraine Tucker’s daughter), Lou Amundson, Erling Nyhammer, Janice Huckins and other talented individuals.
In 1971 Erling Nyhammer began teaching Norwegian language classes, held at Hoover High, Horace Mann Jr. High, Norway Hall, Reg Becker’s office, and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in North Park.
In 1972, meetings moved to La Mesa Women’s Club. That same year, the lodge purchased the Masonic Lodge on 43rd and University for $48,000 and renamed it Norway Hall. All additional financing was made by personal loans to the Corporation from members for closing costs, etc. Those costs, together with renovations to the building, amounted to about $63,000. Final costs were around $100,000 Our building was free of debt except to our own members.
Chris Lindebrekke became president for 1973-74 and was the first Social Director in the new hall, and remained so for 3 years (1972-74). Valhall hosted the District Convention and banquet at a hotel on the Embarcadero across from the Star of India, with the District Board holding some of their meetings and Presidents’ and members’ reception at our new hall the day and evening before the banquet. We were so proud to be able to sponsor this Convention and these events.
In 1973 the first membership meeting was held in the new building on June 3 with 80 members present. The hall was dedicated as Norway Hall on October 6 with about 600 members and guests participating in a continuous serving dinner and program. In
1973, Lorraine Tucker began serving as the first Social Director of the Hall. She served in that position until 1976. In 1974 Valhall hosted the District Convention and banquet at the Bahia, with the District Board holding some of their meetings and Presidents’ and members’ reception at our new hall the day and evening before the banquet.
Also in 1974, the Lodge sold the Euclid property and was able to pay off most of the members who had made loans for the purchase of Norway Hall, including 10% interest on these loans. Norge Women’s Club donated $1,000 toward needs for the kitchen, and in 1976 again donated $1,000 toward expenses for the kitchen.
An Unge Venner (Young Friends) group was formed in 1975, with Kevin DeNino as its first president. This group was composed of younger members of the lodge between the ages of 16-23. They began a folk dance group which they called “THE ROLLING TROLLS” with Karin Brevig as their teacher. The folk dancers stayed together for a number of years and danced at programs at Balboa Park, our lodge hall, the Seamen’s Church in San Pedro and at other lodges as well. As they got older, several continued their membership in Valhall and are still members: Kennet Brevig, Sidsel Brevig, Kevin DeNino and Mary Josoy Stedman.
In 1975-76, during Ola Brevig’s term of office as President of our lodge, we adopted and sponsored programs at Leif Ericson Elementary School in Mira Mesa, and gave a number of gifts to the school library. Hubert and Mary Embertson personally gifted the school with an historic Norwegian wall plaque (replica of a Viking gate) which was hung in the front office, and posters of trolls for the library. The lodge also gave the school a framed lithographed copy of Christian Krogh’s famous painting of Leif Ericson’s discovery of north America, in addition to several books on Vikings, trolls, and the history of Norway. Ola and Karin Brevig, Barbara Kvigne Rostad, Laurel and Lorraine Tucker and others also gave a presentation on Norway, its costumes and heritage, as well.
Nineteen seventy-six (1976) was the year Adeline (Addie) Svendsen was elected District Secretary in Concord, CA., and served for 4 years. She has been an enthusiastic member of our lodge, having joined Sons of Norway in 1935. She was one of the founding members of Knute Rockne Lodge in Seattle, had been a member of Henrik Ibsen Lodge in San Francisco, and transferred to Valhall in 1968. In February, 2004, she celebrated her 90th birthday with many Valhall friends in attendance.
Also in 1976, Sigurd Brevig became District 6 Treasurer of Unge Venner, and in 1978 Kennet Brevig was elected District 6 Director of Unge Venner. Other young people who attended the International Convention that year in Minnesota were Susan Hansen (Luburic) from Valhall, and Morton, Kristin and Nora Gjerde (Stark) from Vista’s NORGE Lodge.
Nineteen seventy-seven (1977) marked the year we made the last repayment to the members for their loans to purchase Norway Hall and we held a celebration that fall to “burn the mortgage!” Our membership really felt elated over our ability to have our hall free and clear in so short a time (5 years). Then it became our greatest endeavor to make enough money to maintain our lodge hall in good condition. The corporation held many “fish dinners” to raise funds to be sure we pay the necessary expenses.
Numerous pancake/waffle breakfasts were held with Chris Lindebrekke and Art and Rose Olsen among others rotating chef jobs at various times. Opal and Ted Fields, Fred Froshaug, Tippy Steele, Ted and Harried Kaplan, Torfin and Ingrid Lindgren and Ed Tucker either helped in the kitchen or manned the bar on many occasions (Let me know if you remember others and I’ll add them to the addendum).
Barbara Olsen Kvigne (later Rostad) organized many cultural programs for the lodge during the years she was Cultural Director, and the Swedish Vasa Club presented their Santa Lucia Parade at Christmas time one year for us. Barbara also organized, with the help of Ola and Karin Brevig, the sponsorship of “Solvguttene,” an internationally known Norwegian Boys Choir presentation at the UCSD campus in La Jolla.
We also, for a time during the 70’s, had a younger group of dancers call “THE LITTLE LAPLANDERS” comprised of younger girls and boys, children of members. Their teacher was Lorraine Tucker, who taught them simple dances and songs which they performed at programs in the lodge hall. Aprell Waymire, Laurel Tucker and Brit Backous Montalbano of this group are still active members of the lodge. Brit also was our first Little Miss Valhall, followed by Laurel and then Sylvia Johnsen, Raymond & Gloria’s daughter.
During the time we were at NORWAY HALL, we also had some young women under the age of 21, who were chosen to be our Queens and to represent our lodge at District Conventions and other occasions. These young women were: Tippy Steele’s daughter (Peggy), Susan Hansen Luburic, Laura Lindebrekke Sutton, Della Johanson Newman, Laurel Tucker, Kari Nyhammer Collins, and Sylvia Johnsen Williamson. Laura Sutton, Kari Collins, and Laurel Tucker have continued their membership in Valhall. We have had Norwegian language classes, taught by Erling Nyhammer since 1971, the year that he and his wife, Lydia, transferred to our lodge from Snowshoe Thompson Lodge in northern California. He had been president of that lodge, as well as teaching Norwegian there prior to moving to San Diego.
Our Norwegian classes have been taught continuously by Erling at Hoover High, Horace Mann Jr. High, Norway Hall, Reg Becker’s office near present day Kaiser Hospital and now at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in North Park. Many of our members have attended these classes over the years. Lydia also worked hard for our lodge during the years we were at Norway Hall, and some of us think that although she is a full-blooded Italian-American she makes a great Norwegian!
Before Erling began teaching, classes had been started by Alfhild Kunz which she taught for a number of years, and later, with the help of Hazel Hawkinson and Helen Johnson, she signed up as many as 40 participants for Erling’s class which resulted in two classes. (Information on the Norwegian classes provided by Erling and Lydia Nyhammer.)
Alfhild had also been serving as Social/Cultural Director and was instrumental in presenting a number of musical programs for the lodge in which Erling Nyhammer and others performed. Janice Huckins was another talented pianist/singer who performed many time in the years between 1975 and 1990, in addition to having been our lodge musician, assistant Secretary, and assistant Social Director over the years.
In 1980, Valhall Lodge was awarded “LODGE OF THE YEAR” for District 6 at the Convention held in Colorado Springs, CO and “INTERNATIONAL LODGE OF THE YEAR” Trophy at the International Convention held at Universal City, in L.A. County. CA.
In 1982 Ola Brevig was elected Social/Cultural Director for District 6. In 1984 Ola Brevig was elected Vice President of District 6, reelected in 1990.
In 1985 Valhall sponsored Solbyer Lodge 6-134 in Sun City, AZ. In 1987 Valhall Lodge celebrated its 75th Anniversary at the Portuguese Hall with over 300 people attending, including the International President.
This outreach program was before the more recent pairing of organizations and schools, in which the San Diego Unified School District and our lodge are involved in at Lewis Middle School at present.
In 1991 Norge Women’s Club was disbanded due to decline in membership and inability of many women to attend because of working schedules during the week. In 1991, the Lodge moved its meetings to Masonic Lodge on Tommy Drive and decided to sell Norway Hall due to the deterioration of the surrounding neighborhood. The same year Ladies of Valhall (LOV) was formed, with monthly meetings on Saturdays. Mary Hovland was the first president.
In 1992, the sale of Norway Hall was completed. Ola Brevig was elected President of District 6.
During Glenn Jerpseth’s term of office (1992-93) as President of the Lodge, we observed our 80th anniversary.
In 1994 Glenn Jerpseth was elected District 6 Treasurer, reelected in 1996.
In 1995 Valhall sponsored Vinland Lodge, 6-159, in Temecula, CA.
In 1996 Karin Brevig was elected Zone Director of District 6 with responsibility for 11 lodges.
In 1997 Valhall celebrated its 85th anniversary at Red Lion Inn, San Diego, with International President Dennis Sorheim and District Board members in attendance. Our membership was about 325 at this time. The Lodge participated for the first time in the International Friendship Festival in El Cajon, CA, by invitation of Sørlandet Lodge. When Sørlandet Lodge decided to close, we continued this tradition through 2002 when the Festival could no longer continue because of funding difficulties.
In 1998 Valhall Lodge supported the Greater 17th of May Committee and the House of Norway in hosting Ambassador Tom Eric Vraalsen at his first 17th of May celebration in the USA since arriving in Washington, DC to assume his duties. Also in 1998 Valhall Lodge supported the San Diego State University’s sponsorship of Gunnar Sønsteby’s lecture and film presentation on his World War II activities during the Nazi occupation. This led to another presentation in 2000 with a fellow patriot, Jo Benkow, former president of the Norwegian parliament, on “The Norwegian Jews, the Holocaust, and the Resistance.” In 1999 Valhall Lodge supported the San Diego Multiple Sclerosis Foundation by recruiting walkers and pledges organized by the Sports Director Laurel Tucker. The Lodge repeated this support in 2000, raising several hundred dollars each year for this charity.
MORE RECENT YEARS – 2000-2005
By the year 2000, we were well established in our new home, the Corporation had conservatively invested our funds from the sale of our hall on 43rd and we were assured of always having enough money to cover our rental and other expenses in the future. Sven Olsen had completed his term of office and Sigurd Stautland became our president for the next two years.
We began 2000 by hosting a luncheon for a speaking engagement for Jo Benkow and Gunnar Søensteby, (Benkow, former president of the Norwegian Parliament and chairman of the Conservative Party from 1980-82, and Sønsteby, the most decorated Norwegian Resistance fighter from WWII who received the Norwegian War Medal and the British Distinguished Service Medal for his efforts during the war). These two men had extremely interesting stories to tell us about their experiences from their years in the war and parliament. We were privileged to have been a part of the presentation at San Diego State University (SDSU), which was co-hosted by our Valhall member Oddvar Høidal, Professor of History at SDSU, and the Lipinsky Institute for Judaic Studies. In 2001 the Lodge supported San Diego State University and Professor Høidal in presenting a joint lecture series by Magne Skodvin, Norwegian historian and recipient of the Order of St. Olav, and Gunnar Søensteby with whom we were very familiar from his previous lecture tour.
In 200l we again supported San Diego State University and Professor Høidal in presenting a joint lecture series by Magne Skodvin, Norwegian historian and recipient of the Order of St. Olav, and Gunnar Sønsteby with whom we were very familiar from his previous lecture tour.
January and February 2002 found us on bus trips to the L.A. Natural History Museum to view the Smithsonian’s exhibition of “Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga”, a truly worthwhile adventure. Over 300 objects were assembled to exemplify Viking weapons, religion, economy, daily life, seamanship, law and art. Two full bus loads of Vikings, as well as individual carloads from the S.D. area, enjoyed this exhibit.
In 2002 the Lodge observed its 90th anniversary at the Red Lion Hanalai in Mission Valley, chaired by Marlene Lesney, with S/N International President Penny Joseph attending. In the same year, the Lodge supported a joint concert of the San Diego Mannskor and the 45 Norwegian Chorus “Nordvesten” at the Veteran’s Memorial Museum in Balboa Park and a San Diego State University and Norse Federation presentation by Thorvald Stoltenberg, one of Norway’s leading experts in international relations, who has held many positions with the Norwegian government including Ambassador to the U.N. and Denmark, and Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Lodge sponsored two bus trips to the L.A. Natural History Museum to view the Smithsonian’s exhibition of “Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga.”
In 2002, we also supported a S.D. State University and Norse Federation presentation by Thorvald Stoltenberg, one of Norway’s leading experts in international relations, who has held many positions with the Norwegian government including Ambassador to the U.N. and Denmark, and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In 2003 the Lodge held picnic at Admiral Baker Golf Course picnic area, celebrated its 90th anniversary at the Red Lion Hanalei Hotel in Mission Valley with International President Penny Joseph in attendance. Chairperson Marlene Lesney, and sponsored a singing/instrumental group of five young ladies and one father (Terje Solheim) from Norway in a concert at the Veteran’s Memorial Museum.
As has been our practice for many years, February is our month for presenting “lutefisk” to the Greater San Diego community! We always have a terrific turnout for this event, and, believe it or not, some converts to the delights of eating “lutefisk”! We also have a hugely popular Salmon Dinner, a terrific 17th of May Norwegian buffet and program, a fall Heritage Dinner (special Norwegian cuisine), and an “ekte” (authentic) Christmas program for the children/grandchildren of Valhall members and friends. In this way, we present at least 5 Norwegian traditions each year.
With a few minor setbacks, we continue to have our rosemaling and cooking classes in the lower room at Masonic; rosemaling taught by Carmen Cleary, cooking classes coordinated by Dagmar Robinson and other ladies of the lodge, and woodcarving classes held at the House of Norway weekly, instructed by Lou Coover.
Our community efforts have included participating in the Susan B. Koman Cancer walk, the MS walk, the Lewis Middle School reading-to-the-students program, and donations to the Home of the Guiding Hands, Salvation Army, and St. Vincent DePaul on a regular yearly basis. More recently, a group of Lodge members who like hiking in the area formed as Hiking Vikings. They sponsor a team annually for the San Diego Brain Injury Foundation Fun Walk.
Our new editor, Arlene LaBree, continues our tradition of publishing great monthly newsletters. Many thanks are due to Ada and Ken Soberg for their years of service as editor and circulation editor respectively. Our new circulation editors have been Lou and LaVonne Coover and Jerry and Joyce Oen. Thank you to them, too. It takes many people to make sure that our members receive a newsletter each month listing our activities.
One of the highlights of 2003 was our sponsorship of a singing/instrumental group of five young ladies and l father (Terje Solheim) from Norway who gave us a lovely concert at the Veteran’s Memorial Museum. They stayed with local Valhall members and also enjoyed a tour of San Diego while here.
For the first time, our annual lodge picnic was held at the Admiral Baker Golf Course picnic area to great success. We have held 2 subsequent picnics there since 2003.
2004 was the folk dancers from Stoughton, Wisconsin, who performed for Valhall and community members of San Diego three times. First at St. Andrews Lutheran Church, co-hosted by Valhall and the Swedish Vasa Clubs (who prepared a pea soup dinner and dessert prior to the program), again at Our Saviors Lutheran followed by a luncheon buffet provided by Valhall and church members, and then on-stage by the House of Norway with HON light refreshments afterward. Dancers and directors stayed with local Valhall and Swedish Vasa members, and a great time was had by all! These young people are phenomenal! It was a coordinated effort, spearheaded by Ola Brevig and others. It will be a long time before we experience such a performance again.
2005 completes the History of Valhall to date, and appropriately our lodge is involved with the “HUNDRED YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE FOR NORWAY” activities that are taking place in San Diego this year. Chaired by House of Norway, Valhall Lodge and Ladies of Valhall members Lizzie Riiber and Anne Høidal, the year has been filled with activities; ie, lectures, movies, concerts, ethnic presentations by the Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, and Finnish communities, Norsk Fest gala dinner, and culminated by the immense Norwegian artifacts display at the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park, which begins October 22 and continues well into 2006.
In the future, I will try to continue to chronicle the activities of our lodge. Hopefully, when I leave office, someone else will continue updating our contributions to the community, lodge and the Sons of Norway.
Since 2005
In 2005 and 2006, the Lodge sponsored a display of Norwegian artifacts at the Mingei Museum in Balboa Park. The display was featured from November 2005 to April 2006. Also sponsored were several Grieg concert events and the 100th anniversary of Norwegian independence.
In 2007 the Lodge celebrated its 95th anniversary at the Masonic Lodge Hall with more than 100 members and guests attending.
In 2008, six delegates attended the District 6 Convention in San Ramon in July. The Lodge hosted the biennial International Convention at the Marriott Hotel in Mission Valley in August.
The Lodge celebrated its 100th anniversary with a dinner in March of 2012.
In 2015 Ladies of Valhall established the LOV to Read group which took on the project of completing the Cultural Skills program in literature.
In February 2016 the lodge moved its meetings to Ascension Lutheran Church, Allied Gardens, San Diego, CA. In April 2016 Ladies of Valhall observed their 25th anniversary with a luncheon at the Mission Valley Resort.
The Stoughton Norwegian Dancers traveled to the San Diego area in the spring of 2017, and we were pleased to be able to arrange for a venue for one of their performances at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church.
In September 2018 the Lodge moved its meetings to the Masonic Lodge on Date St. in La Mesa, CA.
In 2019, Susan Cody offered Norwegian cooking/baking lessons on the mornings of the Lodge socials. From pie crusts to kransekake, a group of mostly ladies took the opportunity to learn and indulge once the foods were done.
In March of 2020, reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic caused the Lodge to cancel all regular and Board meetings at least through the summer. Sons of Norway Headquarters postponed the District and International conventions until 2022. Auditors were able to meet to complete the audit of the Lodge, Ladies of Valhall (LOV), and the Corporation before the shutdown. Eventually, groups of members began meeting using the Zoom online platform. The Ladies of Valhall Hardanger embroidery group began using Zoom to meet in March. We were able to observe Syttende Mai through the efforts of the House of Norway to prepare an hour-long video including raising the Norwegian flag in Balboa Park, Thelma Johannesen singing the Norwegian national anthem, and statements from the Norwegian Honorary Counsel, several current and former members of the House of Norway Queens program, and videos from past years. In April the Board of Directors held its meeting via Zoom. And in June, both LOV and the Lodge held their meetings via Zoom.