Lögberg-Heimskringla - 30.10.1992, Blaðsíða 13

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 30. október 1992 »13
4 family that can use your heip
Lögberg-Heimskringla has re-
ceived a letter to the editor that
tells of the desperate plight of an
Icelandic family in Colorado Springs,
Colorado. The letter came from Sigrún
Simons of Mequon, Wisconsin, and it
is a sad and moving story.
Sigurður and Þórdis Baldursson left
Iceland for the United States 14 years
ago. They were looking, perhaps, for
the American dream, and for a while it
seemed like they found it. Today, how-
ever, they are living in more of a night-
mare. He is a house painter and im-
porter, she works in a school. They
have three children, two of whom are
still in grade school. In February,
Sigurður was diagnosed as having can-
cer; doctors believe it is terminal and
that he has only a few months to live.
Treatments were unsuccessful and
have prevented him from working.
Þórdis and their oldest son continue to
work, and they have some medical
insurance, but as the bills mount — it
is difficult for Canadians and
Icelanders, fully covered by medicare
programs, to understand how expen-
sive illness can be for a family in the
U.S. — their situation has become
quite desperate.
Medical bills have now reached
$250,000, although the insurance will
eventually cover most of this. In the
meantime, however, the expenses con-
tinue. The phone company, after origi-
nally disconnecting their telephone —
Sigurður is home alone during the day,
despite being almost incapacitated —
now permits them a phone but only
for incoming calls; they cannot call
out, even in emergencies.
More seriously, the bank has fore-
closed on their home and is attempt-
ing to evict them because they fell
behind in their payments; years of
honest repayment appear to matter lit-
tle to banks when a couple falls on
ICELANDIC NATIONAL LEAGUE LOCATOR LIST
Icelandic Natíonal League Executive 1992 - 93
699 Carter Avenue, Wpg„ MB R3M 2C3 • Phone & Fax #: (204) 284-5686
President Oli Narfason 'Vidivellir', Box 208 Gimli ROC 0A0 (204) 642-7684
Vice-President Helgi Austman Box1999 Gimli R0C1B0 (204) 642-8705
Past President Evelyn Thorvaldson 110 Woodington Bay Winnipeg R3P1M9 (204) 488-2160
Treasurer Bill Perlmutter 207 Montrose St. Winnipeg R3M 3L9 (204) 488-0418
Financial Sec. Elva Simundsson 334 Winchester St. Winnipeg R3J 2E6 (204) 832-1097
Membership Gerry Jonsson 775 Renfrew St. Winnipeg R3N1K3 (204) 489-1871
Corresp. Sec. Helga Sigurdson Box 99 Lundar R0C 1Y0 (204) 762-5312
Cultural Hulda K. Daníelsdóttir 699 Carter Ave. Winnipeg R3M 2C3 (204) 284-5686
Archivist Jack Bjomson 311 NetleyAve. Selkirk R1A1H2 (204) 482-3574
Historian Nelson Gerrard 'Eyrarbakki' Box925 Arborg ROC 0A0 (204) 378-2758
Youth Melanie Bjamason Box 511 Arborg R0C0A0 (204) 376-2242
Central Dir. Jón Ari Sigurjónsson 2-819 Lodi Ave. Victoria V8Z 6T3 (604) 479-0110
Conv. Gunnvor Ásmundsson 361 Nova Vista Winnipeg R2N1E9 (204) 256-2143
Dir. Peter Bjornson Box1197 Gimli R0C1B0 (204) 642-5968
Dir. O. A. Olson Box2073 Gimli R0C1B0 (204) 642-7650
Ex. Sec. Icelandic National League c/o 699 Carter Ave. Winnipeg R3M 2C3 (204) 284-3402
Central Directory (c/o Jon Ari Sigurjonsson, above) FAX 604-479-9920
Locatian Chaptar
Arborg Esjan
Brandon Fálkinn
Calgary Leifur Eiríksson
Edmonton Norðurljós
Elfros Vatnabyggð
Gimli Gimli Chapter
Markerville Stephan G. St.
Lundar Lundar Chapter
Seattle lcelandic Assoc.
Selkirk Brúin
Toronto I.C.C. oíTor.
Vancouver Ströndin
Winnipeg I.C. Frón
Minneapolis Hekla
Chapters and Member Organizations 1992 - 93
Prasdant / Saavtaiy Addran
A-Svava Simundsson Box 396, Arborg, MB R0C0A0
S- Gudrun Gislason Box 578, Arborg, MB ROC 0A0
P - Bob Isleifson Box 1195, Brandon, MB R7A6A4
S - Margaret Goodman 124-150 Regent Cr., Brandon R7B 314
P - Gail Sigvaldason 402-35 Glengrove Cl. SW, Calg. T3E 6T2
S - Susan Anderson 352 Canniff Pl. SW, Calgary T2W 2L9
P - Dr. Solli Sigurdson 5107-154 St, Edm., AB T6H 5P1
S - Mr. Herb Vigfusson 87 Greenwood Village, Sherwood Pk T8A OZA
P - Eric B. Stephanson Box 5, Bfros, SK S0A 0V0
S - Stella Stephanson Box 5, Bfros, SK S0A 0V0
P-Dilla Narfason Box 1643, 91 - 3rd Ave.,Gimli, MB R0C 1B0
S-Connie Magnusson Box 1073, Gimli, MB R0C1B0
P - Evelynn Johannson Box 13, Spruce View, AB TOM 1V0
S - Mrs. Sandee Birse Box 813, Markerville, AB TOM 1MO
P-Helga Sigurdson Box88, Lundar, MB R0C1Y0
S - Irene Guttormscn lundar, MB R0C1Y0
P - Eiic H. Sigmar 10627 SE 293rd., SeattleWA98002
S - Sophie Wallace 101B-6535 Seaview NW, Seattle WA 98117
P - Jack Bjornson 311 Netley Ave., Selk., M B R1A1H2
S - Gudrun Dryden 410 Sutherland Ave., Selkirk, MB
P - Bill Hurst 29 Farmcote Rd., Toronto M3B 2Z6
VP - Merrill Albert 88 Garthdale Cr., Downsview M3H5P9
P - Irene Finnson 1441 Howard Ave., Bumaby, BC V5B 3S2
Gerri McDonald (604) 274-9903 Naomi Dyer (604) 942-9594
P - Hallthor Bjornson 216Mapleglen Dr..,Wpg. R2P0H5
PR - Shirley McCreedy 31 Camarvan Rd., Wpg. R3J 0X4
P - Cathy flood 5656 Blaisdell Ave. S., Minneapolis 55419
S- Mary-Ann Cope 401-11th Ave. SE, Minneapolis55414
Affilíates of the Icelandic National League 1992 - 93
Heda Island Hecla Island
Heritage
Vancouver Sólskin
Minot, ND lce. Assoc.
P - Binnie Sigurgeirsson
S - Sylvia Sigurdson
P - Kristiana Magnusson
S - Sylvia Isfeld
P: Ken Holand
S: Hilda Almquist
lcelandic Cultural Camp Gunnvor Asmundsson
Gimli Elva Simundsson
Gen'l Del., Riverton, MB R0C 2R0
Box 299, Riverton, MB R0C 2R0
14253 Vine Ave., White Rock V4B 2S9
7819 - 11th Ave., N. Westminster V3N 2N4
Rt. 6, Box 257, Minot, N.D. 58701
2431 SW8th, Minot, N.D. 58701
361 Nova Vista, Wpg., R2N 1E9
334 Winchester St, Wpg., R3J 2E6
(204) 376-5662
(204) 376-5523
(204) 727-6441
(204) 727-1885
(403) 249-5513
(403) 281-4695
(403) 437-2923
(403) 467-7556
(306) 328-2077
(306) 328-2077
(204) 642-5812
(204) 642-5963
(403) 728-3400
(403) 728-3450
(204) 762-5312
(204) 762-5991
(206) 8334245
(206) 789-6279
(204) 482-3574
(204) 482-5804
(416) 449-8268
(416) 398-5741
(604) 294-0799
(204) 832-0444
(204) 832-3091
(612) 7984147
(612) 331-3382
(204) 279-2085
(204) 378-2340
(604) 531-7955
(604) 522-2001
(701) 838-8538
(701) 839-0493
(2(A) 256-2143
(204) 832-1097
hard times.
The family hopes that Sigurður will
live long enough that they can spend
Christmas together. There is a small
chance that they may still be able to
spend it in their own home. The
Baldursssons contested the foreclosure
in court and received a favorable rul-
ing, but the bank is appealing. They
urgently need money to fight that
appeal. Friends in Colorado Springs
are helping a bit, and their family in
Iceland is doing what it can; they have
no family in North America.
L-H has investigated the facts of the
story after being contacted by Mrs.
Simons. We do not usually take up
causes or issue appeals for money for
anyone but ourselves. But there is a
line from an old Woody Guthrie song
that comes to mind here:
“As through this world I’ve raml-
bled I’ve seen lots of funny men,
“Some will rob you with a six gun,
some with a fountain pen.
“As through this world I ramble, as
through this world I roam,
“I’ve never seen an outlaw drive a
family from their home.”
We would like to help Þórdis and
Sigurður keep their home. We would
like you to help them by donating any
amount that you can, however small
or large. Because American banks
charge exorbitant fees for cashing and
converting Canadian cheques, we sug-
gest that you make the cheque payable
to Lögberg-Heimskringla, clearly
marked for the Baldursson Fund. We
will convert them to American funds
and send the money to the family.
Donations will be acknowledged in L-
H. and the names of the donors and
the amounts of the contributions sent
on to Þórdis and Sigurður, along with
any personal notes you might care to
include, unless you prefer to remain
anonymous.
Life, as we all know, can be cruel.
There is a large Icelandic community
scattered across North America. Most
of us do not know each other very
well, but we are all flesh of one flesh
and bone of one bone. If you can help
this family, please do.

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Send to:
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IS-128 Reykjavík
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