Lögberg-Heimskringla - 14.07.2006, Qupperneq 5

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Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 14. júlí 2006 • 5
David Ashby
The Iceland Days Family Festival in Spanish Fork, Utah was held 24 June
2006. The day was full of ac-
tivities for all ages.
The fun-filled day consist-
ed of an Icelandic sing-along,
display booths, an Icelandic
smoked lamb lunch, children’s
activities, Iceland sheep and
Icelandic horses, Icelandic
storytelling, a historic Icelan-
dic bus tour of Spanish Fork,
a quilt auction that brought
nearly $1000 USD, Icelandic
souvenirs and gifts, a genealogy
booth and drawings for Icelan-
dic prizes.
The Iceland Association
of Utah traditionally honours
members of their association
that has made a significant con-
tribution to their Iceland heri-
tage and to the local community.
This year’s honorees are;
Thora Leifson Shaw, Chair
of the Sesquicentennial Celebra-
tion in 2005. Thora
has also served sev-
eral years on Span-
ish Fork City Council
and as member of the
Spanish Fork City
zoning board.
Kristy Robert-
son, President of the
Icelandic Associa-
tion of Utah in 2005.
Kristy has also served as secre-
tary and Vice President of the
Icelandic Association of Utah.
Devon Koyle, Chair of the
Iceland Days Family Festival
for the past two years. Devon
has also served as the cook for
þorrablót and Iceland Days
Family Festival. Devon was
also elected to be Vice Presi-
dent of the Association for the
next two years.
New officers for the Icelan-
dic Association of Utah were
elected. Jack Tobiasson was
elected as President, Devon
Koyle as Vice President. Other
elected board members are
Blaine Ashby, Bliss Anderson,
Brent Haymond, Cory Stone,
David Ashby, Donna Horn,
John K. Johnson, Kathleen
Reilly, Krege Christensen, Lil
Shepherd, Marilyn Ashby, Mont
Tobiasson, Rhea Jean Hancock,
Richard Johnson, Richard Wil-
liams, Rick Mathews, Tyler
Shepherd and Vina Foster.
These elected officers will lead
the Icelandic Association in
Utah for the next two years.
On Sunday evening 25 June
a religious devotional was held.
The speakers were Kathy Black,
daughter of Byron and Melva
Geslison. Kathy, her mother
and siblings toured Iceland re-
cently. Her father
and mother served
three missions for
The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day
Saints in Iceland.
Kathy spoke of
her grandparents
Sigmundur Gísla-
son born 30 October
1883 at Vestmanaey-
jar, the son of Gísli Gíslason
born 23 October 1847 and
Steinunn Þorsteinsdóttir born
22 September 1862 at Vestman-
naeyjar. In 1885 Sigmundur
immigrated to Spanish Fork,
Utah with his father. His mother
came the following year, and
Sveinsína Aðalbjörg Árnadót-
tir, born 25 December 1877 at
Londum, Vestmannaeyjar. Her
parents are Árni Árnason born
21 February 1855 and Sólveig
Þórdís Jórunn Sveinsdóttir born
24 April 1858 in Vestmannaey-
jar, died 6 April 1920. In 1880
Sveinsína immigrated to Utah
with her parents.
The featured speaker was
Elder, Gary L. Pocock, Area
Authority Seventy, The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints and of Icelandic descent
himself. Elder Pocock spoke of
his great grandfather Halldór
B. Jónsson born 11 June 1852
in Solvhol in Reykjavík. His
parents are Jón Jónsson born
22 August 1820 in Langholt in
Meðalland, died 30 April 1855
and Ása Mikaelsdóttir born 13
November 1819, died 28 May
1891. Halldór emigrated to
Utah in 1881 and returned to
Iceland as a missionary in 1885
and severed there until 1888.
Elder, Gary L. Pocock also
told of his Iceland grandmoth-
er Johanna Johnson. He never
knew Halldór but he did know
Johanna. He told how kind she
was to her family. He also ex-
plained the amount of faith it
must have taken for the Ice-
landic emigrants to leave their
beloved homeland and travel to
Utah where life was completely
different from what they knew
of in Iceland.
The 2006 Icelandic celebra-
tion was a great success — de-
spite following the momentous
event that took place in Utah
last year, celebrating 150 years
since the first Icelanders arrived
in Utah.
Iceland Days in Spanish Fork, Utah
Good turnout following
sesquicentennial year
Devon Koyle (left) is honoured by new IAU President Jack To-
biasson for his work on events in the Icelandic community.
Taft Harris takes a ride on an Icelandic horse, brought in from a local ranch, at Iceland Days.
Taft is the son of Chad and Jolene Harris, grandson of Jack and Marilyn Leifson.
Krege and Judy Christensen enjoy the celebration.
Kristy Robertson (left), outgoing President of the IAU, is hon-
oured for her work for the association by Karen Anderson.
The genealogy booth was a popular stop at Iceland Days.
P
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The fun-filled
day consisted of
an Icelandic
sing-along, display
booths, Icelandic
smoked lamb,
children’s activities
and more