Suburban Norwegian-Americans honored departed friends Sunday, May 4.
Members of Sons of Norway Polar Star Lodge 5-472 held a remembrance service during the group’s May meeting at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Montgomery.
After a potluck luncheon and business meeting, Yorkville resident and Polar Star president Ken Johnson opened the service with tribute remarks. Polar Star member Al Bergh of Aurora followed with a thanksgiving memorial address before a ceremony of remembrance. During the ceremony, friends placed flowers by photos of departed members arranged on a table.
Remembered members were Eleanor Bates, formerly of Aurora, who passed away January 29; Donald Danielson, Naperville, who passed away Nov. 10, 2024; Richard Hatteberg, Aurora, who passed away January 1, 2023; Inger Langsholt, Rockford, who passed away April 16, 2023; and Todd Skogen, Oswego, who passed away February 18, 2024.
After prayers, a group song and the Lord’s prayer, Bergh closed the service with a blessing.
Polar Star Lodge 5-472, meetings at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Montgomery, is a member of Sons of Norway, a Minneapolis, Minn.-based non-profit founded in 1895 to promote Norwegian culture and heritage and offer financial products and services to members. The organization offers activities including language classes, cooking classes and sports programs to celebrate members’ Norwegian heritage.
For more information, call 630-553-7389 or visit polarstarlodge.com/5.html.
—Al Benson