Lögberg-Heimskringla - 13.02.2004, Blaðsíða 13

Lögberg-Heimskringla • 13 febrúar 2004 • page 13
“Any marís death diminishes me, for I am involved in mankind ... No man is an island, entire ofhimself. ”—John Donne • “Maður er manns gaman. ”—Hávamál
Spotlighting lives lived and milestones in the lives oflcelandic North Americans.
Continued from page 12
Grimolfur Brynjolfson
His sisters had a very spe-
cial place in his heart. They
were always there for him, and
he for them. Another of the
many visits he made to
Vancouver over the years, first
to be with Solveig and
Norman, and now also Stefan
and Sylvia after their retire-
ment to White Rock from
Riverton in 1992, had been
planned at the time of his pass-
ing. Often these visits had been
a stepping stone for many
wonderful winter holidays he
and Collie had taken with
Solveig and Norman. Each
summer the cottage at Leaside
Beach, north of Pine Dock
along the very road he had
been part of constructing in the
early 1950s provided a chance
for him to maintain the special
connection he had with Glenn,
Elaine, and Eric, and their
families throughout his life.
The untimely death of his
wife Collie, in 1997 was a
great blow to him. He valued
deeply his special relationship
with his life long friends and
later brothers-in-law, Norman,
recently deceased Baldi and
Neil.
He leaves behind many
friends. He always had specif-
ic words of gratitude for Josie
and Jack Monkman and, his
next-door neighbours in recent
years, who had opened their
hearts and their home to
Grimsi, all the more so in this
past year when he had been
struggling through a prolonged
period of ill health. Dr. Kevin
Coates also earned a special
place in his life as he guided
him through these health chal-
lenges.
The memorial service was
held at the Riverton Lutheran
Church on Thursday, January
22. Pastor Trudy Sluth presid-
ing. Interment was at the
Riverton Cemetery. The
Pallbearers are his nephews,
Glenn and Eric, Binnie
Sigurgeirson, Charles
Ostertag, Neil Baldwinson and
Jack Monkman. Any donations
may be made to the Memorial
Fund of the Riverton-Hnausa
Lutheran Church. Gilbart
Funeral Home in Selkirk in
charge of all aixangements.
FRÉTTIR • NEWS
Þorrablót
Elves are Serious
Business for Icelanders
4,000 Enroll in Elf School in Reykjavík
As the Will Ferrell comedy
fiím, Elf, attracted many
moviegoers this past holiday
season, for the country of
Iceland, elves are no laughing
matter. Over ten percent of the
population of 283,000
believes in them, including
Icelandic rocker Björk. Roads
are designed around the
homes of elves, and in some
instances, building plans have
been redesigned or abandoned
to avoid disturbing rocks
where elves are said to live.
There’s even a Reykjavík
school that teaches Elf stud-
ies.
When bulldozers kept
breaking down during work
on a new road a few years ago
at Ljárskógar, about three
hours drive north of
Reykjavík, road crews solved
the problem in an unorthodox
way but one which is fairly
common in Iceland. They
accepted an offer from a
medium to find out if the land
was populated by elves and, if
so, were they causing the dis-
ruptions.
Viktor A. Ingólfsson, a
spokesman for the road
agency, says, “When Native
Americans protest roads being
built over ancient burial
grounds, the U.S. listens. It’s
the same here. There are peo-
ple who believe in elves and
we dón’t make fun of them.
We try to deal with them.
“Jón Jónsson, a folklorist
who used to teach at the
University of Iceland in
Reykjavík, admits he’s never
seen elves himself, but has a
grandmother who saw them
personally and reported they
actually look like normal peo-
ple who live in hills and cliffs.
“They are well dressed in
the styles of the early 1900s
and don’t take kindly to being
disturbed,” said Jónsson, now
a resident of the West Fjords,
about 160 miles northwest of
Reykjavík. “They’ll often
take revenge if you destroy
their homes or otherwise
bother them.”
Magnús H. Skarphéðins-
son, a historian and the head-
master of the Icelandic Elf
School in Reykjavík, has
devoted twenty three years
documenting eyewitness
reports of contact with the
hidden world. He has also
helped 4,000 students - main-
ly Germans, Scandinavians,
Americans and Canadians -
successfully complete their
diploma in Elf Studies.
Courtesy of the Icelandic
Association of Utah Newsletter
Saturday, 21 February
Minneapolis, MN: Icelandic
American Association of MN.
Radisson South (Hwy 100 &
494). 6:30 Social hour/cock-
tails, 7:30 pm dinner.
Entertainer is Sighvatur
Sveinsson, of the Icelandic
group Hrókur. We will be flying
food in from Iceland - hundreds
of pounds of rúllupylsa,
hangikjöt, lifrapylsa, harð-
fiskur, pottbrauð, sviðasulta,
hákarl, hrútspungar, haddock,
smoked saltnon, shrimp, and
hemng and accompanying veg-
etables and chicken. Admission
$40 for dues-paying members
and guests, non-dues-paying
$50. Send check, payable to
Icelandic-American Assoc.
along with a list of attendees to:
J. S. Magnusson, 13425 Gull
Court, Apple Valley, MN
55124. Questions? 952-431-
2778.
BC: ICC of BC Þorrablót will
be held at the Scandinavian
Centre, 6540 Thomas Street,
Bumaby. Main couse: rúllupyl-
sa, hangikjöt, lifrarpylsa, pick-
led herring, baron of beef,
teriyaki chicken, vegetable
dishes and vegetarian dishes.
Kleinur, vínarterta and pön-
nukökur for dessert. Singsong,
participative entertainment,
dancing. Encourage your young
adults to come. $30, students
$15. Tickets: from any execu-
tive member. Reserve by
February 17.
Winnipeg, MB: ÞoiTablót at
the Scandinavian Centre, 764
Erin St., cocktails at 6, dinner
6:30 pm. Entertainment to fol-
low. Contact the Scandinavian
Centre for tickets 774-8047.
Entertainment: Scandinavian
Youth Folk Dancers,
Scandinavian Canadian Choir.
Guest Speaker: Atli Ásmunds-
son Consul General of Iceland
in Wpg. Tickets: $30. Contact
the Scandinavian Centre (774-
8047) for tickets or any Frón
member. Hosted by I.C.Frón.
Saturday, 28 February
Edmonton, AB: Norðurljós
Icelandic Society of Edmonton
Þonablót. Tickets on sale now.
Gloria 458-5896, Gil 484-6264,
Connie 963-9869, Walter 481-
3502.
Lachine, QC: ICC of Quebec
Þorrablót 2004. 7 pm to
Midnight - Hlaupársdagur
(Leap Year Day), at The
Norwegian Church of
Montreal, 5065 Sherbrooke
Street, Lachine. Special Guests,
Photographic Exhibition,
Þorramatur, Singsong. Each
guest is asked to bring food
and/or drink to share. Susan
514-931-0771
e-mail: noricher@total.net.
Saturday, 6 March
San Francisco, CA: Icelandic
Assoc. of Northem Califomia
Þorrablót at the Municipal
Service Building in South San
Francisco. Advanced tickets
only.
Victoria, BC: Þorrablót at
Norway House, 1118 Hillside
Avenue. Doors open 5 pm, din-
ner 6 pm, dancing and live
entertainment. $20 members,
$25 guests. Under 12 $12.50.
Tickets: Linda Bjamason 250-
598-7422.
Saturday, 27 March 2004
Foam Lake, SK: Vatnabyggð
Icelandic Club of SK Þorrablót
at Foam Lake Community Hall.
Toronto, ON: Þorrablót, annu-
al dinner-dance featuring
Icelandic food and entertain-
ment. 6 pm. More info. Leah
905-277-5298.
Creating Community • Sköpum Samfélag