Dick Enstad, a recently retired industrial arts teacher, is presenting the monthly program at Leif Erikson, Sons of Norway, March 19 program. Enstad, along with his wife Nancy, have traveled to Norway 11 times where he spent time in the Lofoten Islands doing research. The program will be held at 2 p.m. at the Vining Community Center. Following the program refreshments will be served. The event is free and all interested are invited to attend.

Enstad will bring a “forsynsgogn” he has made—a replica of of a machine that was used to make cordage for a long line fishing which will be a part of the program. The word in Norwegian forsynsgogn translates to “winding apparatus.” 

For 17 years Enstad was a board trustee for the Norwegian Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa. Over the years he has taken numerous folk art classes and more recently has taught classes about stave and bentwood container construction. He earned a woodworking Gold Medal at Vesterheim’s Annual Folk Art Competition.

Being teachers and blaiming the “defective” teacher-gene, both are active story tellers and demonstrators. Venues where they tell their stories and display items include the Dalton and Albany Steam Shows, Nordic Fest, Norsk Hostfest, Hjemkomst Festival, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Science Museum of Minnesota, North House Folk School plus zoom and in-person programs for numerous Sons of Norway lodges.

Leif Erikson is one of 400 lodges and nearly 60,000 members. The purpose of the organization is to promote and preserve Nordic culture in Canada, Norway and the United States. 

For information about about the program, membership or anything else, please call the publicity chair, Barbara Olson, (218) 282-0332.