Lögberg-Heimskringla - 18.01.2002, Blaðsíða 6

6 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • Friday 18 January 2002
“Any man’s 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 of lcelandic North Americans.
Thorunn ‘Tota’ Vigfusson
15 September 1900 - 10 November 2001
Nelson Gerrard
Hnausa, MB
At the age of 101, Thorunn Tota' Vigfusson at
Betel in Gimli, formerly of Arborg and Geysir,
departed this life in the early hours of November 19,
2001. A true pioneer daughter, Thorunn was bom at
Icelandic River (Riverton), MB, on September,
1900, the only child of Trausti Vigfússon, a well-
known craftsman and builder in 'New Iceland,' and
Rósa Aldís Oddsdóttir.
In 1902 the family moved to Vatnsdalur, a home-
stead in the Geysir district, and there 'Tota' grew up
amidst pioneer hardship and nature's beauty, both of
which shaped her view of the world and the values
that characterized her - independence, frugality, hos-
pitality, quiet contentment, and a love of people, ani-
mals and flowers. Tota's foster sister and cousin,
Lilja 'Lil' Stevenson, and her patemal grandmother,
Auðbjörg Thorsteinsdóttir, shared the family's tiny
log home, moved from Riverton by ox and wagon.
This quaint house, the first historic building to be
moved to the Arborg and District Heritage Village,
was the scene of Tota's father's now-legendary dream
about John Ramsey in 1908.
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As a girl, Tota attended the Geysir School some
two miles away, travelling by dogsled in the winter,
and for a brief time she lived in Winnipeg. Her par-
ent's sole support, she then returned home to
Vatnsdalur, farming there with them until they
moved to Arborg in 1950. She was predeceased by
her father in 1953, her mother in 1961, and her fos-
ter sister some years ago. Surviving are numerous
cousins across Canada, the United States, and in
Iceland, as well as friends of all ages, including
cousins across Canada, the United States, and in
Iceland, including Greg and Laureen Palsson of
Arborg who for many years watched over her.
Tota's matemal grandparents were Reverend
Oddur Gíslason, who came to New Iceland as a min-
ister in 1894, and Anna Vilhjálmsdóttir, of a wealthy
and distinguished family in Iceland. Heritage and
extended famliy were very important to Tota, who
was named for her great-grandmother Thórunn
Sivertsen of Kirkjuvojur, and so steeped was she in
the lore of by-gone times that she was conversant on
the subject of 19th century people and events as if
from first-hand contact. Though very modest and
retiring, she shared her wealth of stories and knowl-
edge freely with many visitors from far and wide
who sought her out over the years, and many are the
richer for having known
'Tota' Vigfusson.
A memorial service
was held at the Ardal-
Geysir Lutheran
Church, Arborg, on
November 24th. Private
interment followed. In lieu of flowers, donations
may be made to the Ardal-Geysir Lutheran Church.
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Notice:
In the Yule Section of the last news-
paper, there was an article entitled
"The Fir Tree." We apologize to
author Norma Guttormsson. The title
should have read "The Fur Tree."
INL
HERITAQE SIQHS
ÁSGARÐUR
ÁSGARÐUR - located along highway
68 one mile west of Hnausa, is a name
dating back to early settlement times
when this land was claimed by Job
Sigurðsson from Flatnesfsstaðir on
Vatnses in Northern Iceland. Currently
owned by Joan Johnson of Hnausa,
whose late husband had the sign erected
near a lone oak tree marking the original
building site, this land was likely given
this name as both descriptive (Ridge
Yard) and reminiscent of the mythologi-
cal home of the Norse gods.
For more information, contact the INL at
(204) 642-5897
<m n mih* fiin* im fcwr whki&i m n wrmr Nfirmrm w rini i rin whmhmi