The Icelandic connection - 01.12.2020, Síða 41

Vol. 71 #4
ICELANDIC CONNECTION
183
A Horner accordion
in those days, so this was a special time.
He was always ready to play and it was
much appreciated, usually. Once his wife
was having a meeting with some women
and Siggi thought he would come in and
give them some entertainment and took
over the show. Apparently she wasn’t too
impressed.
He always played at the old folks
homes and Betel. He was anxious to
provide some entertainment for them.
Money was no issue. He didn’t need
to get paid, he would just play for you.
Many hearts filled with joy when people
listened to Siggi Ben play his harmonika.
After the Minerva Ladies Aid was
founded in 1920, he would always go to
their annual events and bring along his
harmonika. He would play for as long as
they would listen. In later years, I tried to
keep up the tradition and Dennis Carlson
and I were there to lead a sing along. I
would take the old harmonika along and
play a little tune. If my hand got sore or
I faltered I would just look up and say a
little prayer and ask Siggi to help me and
it never failed, he always helped me. Soon
as I asked him I could run through the
tunes like anything. It was a great feeling
to know that Siggi was there in spirit. I
think to this day and forever on his spirit
will linger on attached to the harmonika.
As it lives on in the museum I think Siggi
will be with it, I hope it will remain well
taken care of for decades to come, if not a
century or two.
Siggi would play for the dances if any
organization or a few people wanted to
put one on. He was willing to play for
he was a one-man band. He would play