The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.2009, Page 17

Vol. 6Z #3
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
159
couple for almost five years. With their
assistance the sight in her imperfect eye was
fairly well restored and she was able to
attend school in England for a few years.
She then returned to Iceland and taught
English for several years.
Fru (Madame or Lady) Valgerdur
moved to Canada in 1886 and settled at
Mikley (Hecla) where her brother Jon
resided. A year later she married Stefan
Sigurdsson Erlendsson, one of the greatest
entrepreneurs of his time in New Iceland.
They moved to the mainland in 1890 and
took up residence in Hnausa, Manitoba,
where Stefan, in partnership with his
brother Johannes, who was also an enter-
prising young man, established a trading
center. They later expanded into more ven-
tures that helped to give impetus to the
development of the settlement. Stefan had
built a large freight and passenger vessel for
use on Lake Winnipeg and conducted his
business with unusual energy and results.
Seven children were born to Stefan and
Valgerdur. L to R. Sigurdur Victor (S.V.) Jan.
23, 1S95 to Jan 6, 1970, Erikur Solberg 1893 to
1935, Baby Stefan 1898 to 1901, Johannes 1888
to 1905, Jorunn Eliza 1891 to 1914, Gudrun
Anna 1896 to 1904. S. V. was the only one to
reach old age.
Fru Valgerdur lost her husband on
May 16,1917 (b. 1864), a heroic man whom
she admired and whose advice she often
sought. Their home was known far and
wide for their generous and bountiful hos-
pitality.
Fru Valgerdur’s life was longer than is
usually common. She was practical and a
woman of good taste. It was difficult for
her to tolerate a task not well done. She was
demanding of herself and expected from
others that they should have done an hon-
est day’s work by the end of each day. Her
dedication to her daily life and to her fel-
low man was unlimited. She was a woman
who worked hard to measure up to her
high ideals and aspirations.
Fru Valgerdur died at the home of her
son and daughter-in-law in Riverton on
September 8, 1952 and her funeral took
place four days later. It began with farewell
prayers at the home of her son, where two
ministers Dr. Runolfur Marteinsson and
Rev Bjarni A. Bjarnasson officiated, and
then moved on to Braedrasafnadar Church
where beautiful sermons were given by the
same clerics. A large crowd was present in
spite of almost impassable roads caused by
several days of heavy rain.
This great mother, whose fellowship
and dignity lent a grand air to her commu-
nity, was laid to rest in the cemetery beside
the Breduvikursafnadar Church, in these
pleasant surrounding, where she had
known her greatest joys but where she had
not escaped from heavy sorrows.
The following was written by Einar P
Jonsson, entitled, Stefan the Man.
The following is a direct quote from
Dr. Thompson’s book. It is included to put
a human face on a man who accomplished
so much in 53 years and in times of great
adversity. The good doctor writes...
“Above all Stefan was a sociable,
friendly individual who liked to have visi-
tors to his home and to these he was the
perfect and generous host. Fie liked also to
host and arrange large parties where every-
one in the community was invited, and, at
these gatherings conviviality, exuberance
and unrestrained jollity was ever the
supreme order of the day.”
The ‘Gimli Saga’ describes Premier Roblin
coming to Hnausa....
On July 3rd 1901 ‘the most elaborate