Lögberg-Heimskringla - 25.01.1980, Blaðsíða 5

5
Lögberg-Heimskringla, föstudagur 25. janúar, 1980
I wonder what our children
of today would think of such
gifts.
At 11:00 p.m. Bishop S.
Einarsson broadcast his
Christmas message to the
nation and the Hamrahlidar
church choir supplied the
music. The organist and
choir master Hordur
Askellsson was a cousin.
The following days were
spent visiting and enjoying
the Christmas celebrations
at the homes of relatives and
friends. The weather during
theatres and tickets had
been obtained for us for the
performance. We all en-
joyed the play but I missed
the old fashioned scenery of
olden days, the mountains,
the heath and the cavern
home of Skugga-Sveinn and
his outlaws. Now, one is
supposed to imagine all this.
I presume the younger
generation has such a vivid
imagination that they can
visualize the scene as it was
in the 19th century.
New Year’s Eve was a
Akureyri
these days was fine for us
Canadians -2 to -8C but
people in Reykjavik com-
plained about the cold.
We flew to Akureyri on
the 2gth of December and
were met by relatives. The
old play “Skugga-Sveinn”
was being presented that
evening at the Akureyri
memorable one. We at-
tended the evening service
at Akureyrar Church. The
old hymns “Nu arid er lidid”
and “Hvad bodar nyars
blessud sol?” brought back
all the nostalgic memories of
by-gone days.
Later that evening we
were driven around the city
\ low tare and
a stopmiT in Iceland?
Puffins think tlial ts
anughlygooddeaL
Now you can take advantage of our $20* a day stopover tours
of Iceland while you’re taking advantage of our low APEX fare
from New York, Chicago, or Baltimore/Washington to Great
Britain or Scandinavia. And $20* is a small price to pay to visit one
of the most interesting countries in the world.
Iceland is a land of volcanoes, Viking museums, glaciers,
geysers, cóncerts, art shows, duty-free shópping and hot-spring
pools. And it’s all yours for 1 to 3 days for just $20* a day.
That price includes room with bath/shower at the first class
Hotel Loftleidir, transfers between Hotel and airport, a sightseeing
trip and two meals daily.
So on your next trip to Norway, Sweden, Denmark or Great
Britain, why not stop over in Iceland for a few days? Puffins
highly recommend that you do so. And Puffins afe riever wrong.
For further information see your travel agent or contact
Icelandair, P. 0. Box 105, West Hempstead, NY11552. Phone
212-757-8585 (New York City only) or call 800-555-1212 for
the toll-free number in your area. -pnces in effect o«. i thru
April 30, 1980 and subject to change.
ICELANDIC
ICELANDAIR
TOEUROPE
to view the different fires lit
in various districts - “Nyars
brenna”. We also watched
the fireworks put on closer
to midnight. That was a
mignificent sight. The sky
was overcast and a light
snow had fallen during the
day so the multi-types of
fireworks showed up
beautifully. We were at
Raudumyri 7 and had a very
good view of the high hill
where just before midnight
we watched for 1978 to
appear in golden letters and
minuteslater 1979 appeared
heralding the New Year.
The rest of the night was
spent in drinking “Sukkuladi
og kaffi” singing, and eating
all the fancy food prepared
and then of course drinking
a toast to the health and
prosperity of all in 1979.
New Year’s morning was
for relaxing but at 3 in the
afternoon I went to a service
at “Logmannshlidar”
church. The weather was
mild and a light snow was
falling when we were ap-
proaching that beautiful
little church, situated on a
high in a fairyland setting,
giving the illusion that it
' could well have been a little
“Elf” church from ancient
folklore.
The service was per-
formed by Rev. Petur
Sigurgeirsson and the music
presented by the
Logmannshlidar choir,
Askell Jonsson being the
organist and choir master.
On January 2nd, there
was a snow storm but the
weather was still mild. No
planes could land that day.
The Mclnnes family in-
tended to leave that day as
they were flying to
Luxemburg on January 4.
The following day was clear
and cold, - 10C, but the
planes were on schedule so
they could leave. I stayed
behind to enjoy wintpr in
Northern Iceland.
My stay in Akureyri was
an enjoyable one. Besides
being royally feted by
relatives and friends I was
taken to a concert and a
play. The tenor, Kristjan
Johannsson, a native of
Akureyri studying in Italy,
gave a concert which I was
invited to. He performed
several arias from different
operas and then he and his
father, Johann Konradsson,
sang three duets, two old
familiar songs and then a
delightful melody, unknown
to me, composed by Askell
Jonsson. After the concert I
was invited home to my
cousin and spent a
memorable evening there
with his family. This evening
is now a treasured memory,
as he died about a month
after I came back to
Canada.
To be continued
in next issue.
SIGURDUR SIGMUNDSON
Marchl8,1908 -
November7,1979
Sigurour Sigmundsson,
the first general manager of
B.C. Hydro, was born in
Reykjavik, Iceland, and
came to Winnipeg in 1913
with his parents, Johann
Sigmundsson and bordis his
wife. Sig attended the
Winnipeg schools, and was
awarded the Governor
General’s medal from Daniel
Mclntyre Collegiate. He
received his B.A. at the
University of Manitoba in
1930, majoring in
Mathematics and Econo-
mics.
His business career began
in 1930 when he joined the
Statistical Department of
Winnipeg Electric Co. on a
scholarship appointment.
He transferred to the
Railway Manager’s office in
1931, and was appointed
transportation assistant in
1937. From 1942 to 1945, he
was Regional Director of
Transit Control for B.C.
Sig (as he was known to
family and friends) joined
B.C. Electric Co., as
transportation assistant in
1945. A year later he was
appointed Operations
Manager of Transportation.
Other positions he held were
General Manager Tran-
sportation in 1954; Division
Manager in 1962, and
General Manager B.C.
Hydro Co. in 1968.
Sig retired in 1971. That
same summer he and his
wife Rosa visited
Iceland. In July 1972, Sig
suffered a massive stroke
which left him physically
severely handicapped
during his remaining years.
During his atítive years he
served as chairman and
president with the Advisory
Committee, Canadian
Transit Association; was
director with American
Transit; Down Town
Parking Corp.; and Van-
couver Visitors’ Bureaus.
He was past president of the
Icelandic Old Folks Home
Society (Hofn) in Van-
couver. He was a member of
the Terminal City Club, and
the Rotary Society.
In August 1935 Sigurour
and Anna Rosa Petursson
were married by her
brother Rev. P. M. Petur-
sson in the Unitarian
Church, Winnipeg.
Sig’s loving family who
survive him, are, his wife
Rosa in North Vancouver,
four sons, Olafur Johann,
Los Gatos, California, Petur
Karl, Jon Paul, and Erik
Sigurour of Vancouver, one
daughter, Elin of San Jose,
California, twelve grand-
children, and one great-
grandson. Also surviving
are one brother, Thorvaldur
(Wally), Scottsdale, Ari-
zona, two sisters, Mrs.
George Bonnet (Gwen), and
Margret of Toronto, On-
tario, numerous nieces and
nephews and friends.
A family memorial service
was held on Saturday,
November 10, in the
Unitarian Church in Van-
couver. Dr. Phillip Hewitt
officiated. His wheelchair,
recently purchased, was
bequeathed to Hofn in
Vancouver, by his family.
BJARNI J. (BARNEY)
GOODMAN
On December 21, 1979, at
Grace Hospital, fijarni J.
Goodman, aged 84 years, late
of 1304 Downing Street.
Mr. Goodman was bom in
Iceland, coming to Canada in
1901. He had farmed in the
Shoal Lake district until 1922.
At that time he moved to
Winnipeg and became a
harber by trade, retiring in
1967.
Predeceased by his wife
Elizabeth in 1943, two sisters,
Mrs. Katrim Eiricksson in
1918, Mrs. Jda McFarlane in
1961 and a grandson Kenneth
in 1969, Mr. Goodman is sur-
vived by three sons, Robert
and his wife Beryl of Winni-
peg, Elmer and his wife Joyce
of Coquitlam, B.C. and Jon
and his wife Gail of Winnipeg;
two daughters, Lillian and her
husband AUan Whiteside of
Whytewold, Manitoba and.
Helen and her husband Philip
O. Petursson of Winnipeg; 13
grandchildren and two great-
grandchildren; also two sis-
ters, Mrs. Margaret Ruther-
ford of Winnipeg and Mrs.
Ann Kachel of Cleveland,
Ohio, and a foster brother
Baldur Sigurson of Winnipeg.
In lieu of flowers, if frienas
so desire, donations may be
made to the charity of their
choice.
HONOURED BY THE MANITOBA
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
On Saturday, January 12,
at the Fort Garry Hotel in
Winnipeg, the Manitoba
Historical Society honoured
several individuals and
groups for their con-
tributions of written works.
Amongst those receiving
the Margaret McWilliams
medals were Dr. S. O.
Thompson (posthumously)
for his book Riverton,
Icelandic Settlement.
Heather Mackintosh, his
granddaughter accepted the
award.
The Gimli Women’s In-
stitute received a medal for
their book, The Gimli Saga.
Also being honoured was
Dr. Michael Evanchuk for
his book on the Ukrainian
Settlemenbaround the Gimli
area, Spruce Swamp and
Stone.
L.