Telelaget Stevne - 2007

Wahpeton, North Dakota

Founders and early Leaders of Telelaget

These comments are from a speech by Gene Estensen at the 2007 stevne:

Looking back, we can see that Torkel found his destiny during the winter of 1906-07, exactly one hundred years ago. He would write of it in 1926 with these words:

"Just before Christmas in 1906 a cry was sent out for some Telers to start a Telelag. Those who signed up during this call were Pastor B. Bondal, Torkel Oftelie, A. A. Trovatten, Kjetil Knutson, Gunder Howard and Torjus Lundevall. We held a meeting in a hall in Fargo, January 16, 1907".

Years later, Torkel wrote that "the movement, which began like a rustling in the corn on a summer's day, turned into a 20-year commitment." Here we see the power of Torkel's words. Is there anyone here that is not familiar with the rustling of the corn?

During those winter meetings of 1906-07 Torkel was elected to a five-year term as soga-writer, story writer. He set about his work with a passion. From 1907 until 1924 he wrote 53 issues of TeleSoga. Then he stopped writing TeleSoga. It was not until 1950 that another TeleSoga was printed. In our 100 year history, half of all issues of TeleSoga were written by Torkel Oftelie.

Torjus Lundevall was at the founding meeting. He was from Milan, Minnesota and was there in 1900. He was apparently related to either the Anderson or Blom families of Kvitseid, Telemark. He is said to have been a doctor, but did not practice medicine while in Milan. Later, Torjus returned to Norway. Seems the girl he left behind refused to emigrate to America.

Below are four early pictures of Telelaget founders and leaders in the early, formative, years of our organization.

Torkel Oftelie

 

Pastor Bandik