Lögberg-Heimskringla - 09.04.1999, Blaðsíða 1

r
i
HeimsKringia
The lcelandic Weekly
Lögberg Stofnaö 14. januar 1888 Heimskringla Stofnaö 9. september 1886
Inside this week:
Viewpoint 2
Obituaries 4
The lcelanders of Kinmount 5
Calendar of Events 6
Memoirs of Guðmundur Jónsson
from Húsey 7
Maurer heimsækir ísland 8
Maurer visits lceland 8
113. Árgangur “The oldest ethnic periodical still publishing in Canada” Föstudagur 9. apríl 1999
113thyear Publications Mail registration no. 08000 Friday 9 April 1999
Númer 12
Number 12
The Saga of Guðríður Þorbjarnardóttir
From Geislar yfir kynkvislum (Auras
Over the Family Line) by Hallgrí-
mur Jónasson
Translated by David Gislason
Seldom do I drive through the
western region of Skaga-
fjörður without stopping at the
height of land between Páfastaðir and Holtsmúli.
From the highways in that area, this provides for me
one of the most beautiful views out into the heart of
the region. Since the valley, Stífla went under water,
there are not many narrow and prominent places in
Skagaíjörður which can be seen from the main thor-
oughfare, which offer such an undisputed magical
beauty on par with some of the most significant sights
in other areas of this land. On the other hand, it is my
opinion and that of others, that this region as a whole
is more beautiful than most others, and I know our
land well.
From this site the view is open to the south-east.
The island region and the mountains to the south-east
are of complementary size and shape; the outline of
the mountains, for their part, as even as the level
stretches of land beneath them. They are, to be sure,
carved up with manifold scars, just as the land is cut
up by many rivulets; the mountain belt above, the
green expanse below. The Hegranes ridge to the
north-east, with its river mouths and hillsides, set
rather lower over the flatlands nearer the point of
view, does not detract at all from one’s impression.
To the south, across the valley floor, the highland
takes over, running level all the way to Hofsjökull gla-
cier, which on a clear day can be seen from the outer
reaches of the íjord.
Much nearer, due south, rises the mountain peak,
Mælifell, high above the westem mountain range.
North towards the sea, one can see the islands and the
headland, Þórðarhöfði. But now it is best to get to the
heart of this story, and cease with the introductions.
For decades, I acted as a guide for travellers
through the north, as well as olher areas, and often
stopped to make camp with my travelling companions
near one of the most interesting locations in the
region. In the evening when we had pitched the tents
and prepared the evening meal—and I engaged in
describing in more detail the more interesting aspects
of the area which we would not be seeing on our jour-
ney—one of my companions spoke up in words along
these lines:
“You have taken us through the main parts of
Skagafjörður, and shown us the character of the region
and its most noteworthy locations. Will you now tell
us something of that individual, man or woman, who
Asgrimur Sveinsson’s The First white Mother in
America.
was bom here or settled here, of whom stories are told
Please see Guðríðlir on page 4
Well-respected
Betel matron passes away
Roger Newman
With permission
The longest-serving' matron
at the Gimli Betel Home died
recently at the age of ninety-
one.
Sigridur Hjartarson, affection-
ately known as “Sigga” to Betel res-
idents and staff, succumbed to poor
health on Febmary 5, at the home
where she worked for thirty-one
years and lived for the last eleven
years of her life.
Born March 31, 1907 in
Arnessýsla, Iceland, she emigrated to
Canada in 1913 with ,her parents,
Gudmundur and Sigrún Hjartarson.
The eldest of the family’s nine chil-
dren, she spent many hours caring
for her siblings in her early years, an
experience that helped to shape the
kind and considerate approach she
took during her long career at Betel.
“Sigga was very concerned
about the Betel residents and their
families,” says Clara Steffensen who
succeeded Hjartarson as matron.
“She was also extremely dedicated to
her position. She lived in a suite at
the home and worked much longer
than a forty-hour week.”
Sigga’s parents were farmers and
beef ranchers who worked at
Westboume, MB, for a year and then
farmed at Bay End (Asham Point)
and Peonan Point, both on Lake
Manitoba. Sigga helped on the fami-
ly farm while she took her schooling
at Bay End, Steep Rock, and Lundar.
She moved to Winnipeg in the 1930s
and became acquainted with Gimli
when she worked for a summer at the
Sunrise Lutheran Camp south of
town.
Her discovery of Gimli and her
pride in her Icelandic heritage led her
to Betel where she joined the staff as
a cook in 1944. She was promoted to
matron in 1953, holding the positon
for twenty-two years until she retired
in 1975. Although not a nurse, the
usual background of a matron, her
humility, thoughtfulness, and hard
work made her well-respected by
everybody who came in daily contact
with her.
“Sigga was such a compassion-
ate person,” remembers her niece
Linda Hammersley of Bimie, MB.
“She treated people well and was
always willing to lend a helping hand
to anybody in need. A lot of us have
memories of the kind things she did.”
Fond memories are also held by
Anna Stevens who worked at Betel
as a nurse’s aid when Hjaitarson was
the matron. “Sigga was a very car-
ing, beautiful person,” says Stevens.
“She would do anything to make
things pleasant and easier for the res-
idents and staff. It was a pleasure to
work under her.”
Sigga did not go far after Betel
honoured her with a gift and a plaque
for her many years of service. In
Please see Sigga on page 7