The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.1961, Page 41

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
39
Bjorn Frederick Hrutfiord
by Albertina (Mrs. Halldor W.) Johnson, correspondent for the Blaine Journal, Blaine, Wash.
Bjorn Frederick Hrutfiord, was born
at Blaine, Washington, U.S.A., on
June 21, 1932. His parents are Snorri
Bjorn Hrutfiord, brought up in Dul-
uth, Minnesota, and Astbjorg John-
son Hrutfiord, born in Selkirk, Mani-
toba, and brought up in Blaine, Wash-
ington. Bjorn’s grandparents, on his
father’s side, were Solveig Bjarnadbttir
from Hunavatnssysla, in Iceland, and
l.eifur Hrutfiord from Dalasysla. His
mother’s parents were, Kristin J6ns-
ddttir, from Berjanesi, in Ramavala-
sysla, and Thorkell Johnson, from
Eyjafjoll, later living in the Westman
Islands.
Bjorn’s childhood, and his teenage
years were spent on his parents dairy
and poultry farm just outside of
Blaine, where he grew up in the com-
pany of his older brother Don. Many
happy hours were spent by the boys,
helping with the chores on the farm
and constructing dams, waterwheels,
and tree ladders, beside the natural
spring in the woods of the farm.
Early in grade school, his parents
were told by his teachers of his excel-
lent scholastic ability, and when he
entered High School, one honor after
the other was his. He was chosen, by
the American Legion of Blaine, to go
to Boy’s State, which is an annual
event, and is held at some college in the
State of Washington each year. In his
senior year he was presented with the
Banker’s Award by the Local Blaine
Bank, and at graduation, was chosen
as the Salutorian, receiving also the
Inspirational Trophy for being the
class of 1950, most outstanding scholar
and athlete. He was also awarded a
room scholarship at Washington State
College.
Among his achievements were
trophies won at track meets, and many
blue ribbons were awarded him for his
entries in the poultry and cattle div-
isions at the County Fairs.
Bjorn entered Washington State
College at Pullman, with full inten-
tions of studying agriculture, but he
became so interested in chemistry, that
he decided to make that his major.
Along with his studies he took a
very active part in athletics, and was
president of his Fraternity, Delta Upsi-
lon, serving on many committees, in-
cluding the commencement committee.
In his third and senior years at College
he was given assistance in teaching, and
during the summers worked at the
Pulp Mills in Bellingham, Wash., and
in Alaska, and also in the laboratories
at the General Petroleum, in Ferndale,
Wash.