Bersvend Ole Draxten (1900-1903)

Born: 1866 - Selbu, Sør-Trøndelag, Norway
Lodge: 1-001 Nidaros
Served: 1900-1903 - Supreme President
Died: 1946 - Minneapolis, MN

Surname was originally spelled Dragsten; Immigrated to Minneapolis at 2 years of age. Worked at a lumber mill; One of eighteen founding members of Sons of Norway onJanuary 16, 1895. Draxten was a natural leader and connecter, devoted to upholding heritage and protecting fellow members. He installed officers at International Convention at the 50th anniversary of Sons of Norway in 1944.

Iver Larsen Ødegaard (1903-1904)

Born: 1858 Nesset, Møre og Romsdal, Norway 
Lodge: 1-003 Dovre 
Served: 1903-1904 - Supreme President 
Died: 1936 Minneapolis, MN 
 
Many new Norwegian immigrants found jobs as laborers in mills and factories. Iver Larsen Ødegaard worked 48 years in a knitting factory as a textile dyer.

Anthony Thomas Grotte (1904-1906)

Born: 1869 Minneapolis, MN 
Served: 1904-1906 
Died: 1942 Minneapolis, MN 

Grotte was Sons of Norway’s first president who was born in America. His father was from Selbu, where many of the founders were from. Grotte became a lawyer and politician. 

John Christian [Kristian] Huseby (1906-1908)

Born: 1860 Stjørdalen, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway  
Served: 1906-1908 
Died: 1938 Minneapolis, MN 
 
Like many immigrants, Huseby did not have the chance to pursue higher education, but worked hard to establish a footing in the U.S. He was employed at a hardware company for over 50 years.

John [Johannes] Bachke (1908-1909)

Born: 1863 Trondheim, Sør-Trøndelag, Norway  
Lodge: 1-008 Nordkap
Served: 1908-1909 
Died: 1923 St. Paul, MN 
 
Bachke was a charter member of St. Paul’s Nordkap Lodge 1-008 and served as the lodge’s first president in 1902. In 1909, after his tenure as president, Bachke founded Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson Lodge 5-097 in Chicago with 72 founding members.

Sever (Sivert) Sivertsen Serumgard (1909-1910)

Born: 1859 Lesja, Oppland, Norway 
Lodge: 4-024 Heimdal 
Served: 1909-1910 
Died: 1924 St. Paul, MN 
 
Sever (born Sivert) Sivertsen Serumgard was a charter member of Heimdal Lodge. He immigrated to America with his parents and 7 siblings in 1868. Despite being blind, he was a high achiever. He graduated from the University of Minnesota and went on to become a teacher, attorney and politician in North Dakota.

Olaf Julius Herman Rove (1910-1914)

Born: 1864 Halden, Østfold, Norway  
Lodge: 3-082 Fossegrimen 
Served: 1910-1914  
Died: 1940 Brooklyn, NY 
 
Charter member and first president of Fossegrimen Lodge. Was legal counsel of another fraternal organization, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee. Great-grandfather of political consultant Karl Rove. Donated to post-WWI orphans in France.

Michael Rosness (1914-1918)

Born: 1872 Rygge, Østfold, Norway 
Served: 1914-1918 
Died: 1945 Roseville, MN, USA 
 
Norwegian name spelling: Mikal Rosnæs. Immigrated to St. Paul, Minnesota at age 12. Helped establish Sons of Norway 5-100 Skjold lodge in Chicago.

Trygve O. Gilbert (1918-1926)

Born:  1878 Vestre Aker, Østfold, Norway 
Lodge:  1-059 Fedraheimen 
Served:  1918-1926 
Died: 1962 Kandiyohi County, MN, USA 
 
Only president to serve two non-consecutive terms. Immigrated at age 6 and went by Henry. Changed surname from Gulbrandsen to Gilbert. Went to Augsburg College, studied law at the University of Minnesota. Charter member of 1-059 Fedraheimen lodge in Willmar, Minnesota. Received a knighthood of the St. Olav’s order in 1926.

August Ingebrigt Myrland (1926-1928)

Born:  1861 Andøya, Vesterålen, Nordland, Norway
Lodge: 5-074 Idun
Served: 1926-1928
Died: 1931 Madison, WI, USA

Immigrated to Wisconsin at age 6 and his family settled in Primrose, Dane County. Went by John in the US. Educated at University of Wisconsin and became a high school teacher and later county attorney and secretary of the Wisconsin tax commission.

Trygve O. Gilbert (1928-1932)

Born:  1878 Vestre Aker, Østfold, Norway 
Lodge:  1-059 Fedraheimen 
Served:  1918-1926 
Died: 1962 Kandiyohi County, MN, USA 
 
Only president to serve two non-consecutive terms. Immigrated at age 6 and went by Henry. Changed surname from Gulbrandsen to Gilbert. Went to Augsburg College, studied law at the University of Minnesota. Charter member of 1-059 Fedraheimen lodge in Willmar, Minnesota. Received a knighthood of the St. Olav’s order in 1926.

Andrew Dahlen (1932-1934)

Born: 1891, Tysnes, Sunnhordland, Norway 
Lodge: 1-008 Nordkap 
Served: 1932-1934 
Died: 1934 Montevideo, MN, USA 
 
Born Anders Dahlen; completed schooling in Norway. Emigrated in 1910 at age 19 and settled in Lake Mills, Iowa. Moved to St. Paul, where he paid his way through law school as a streetcar operator. Served in WWI; was also member of Masons and Oddfellows.

Erick Bjarne Hauke (1934-1954)

Born: 1887 Vemundvik ved Namsos, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway 
Lodge: 2-016 Nidaros 
Served: 1934-1954 
Died: 1977 Portland, OR, USA 
 
Longest serving president by far, at 20 years. In the US, he went by his initials “E.B.” Immigrated 1905 at age 18 to Astoria, Oregon. Began working in a lumber mill and fisher on the Columbia River. Studied at Pacific Lutheran College and worked as a banker. During WWII served as vice chair of American Relief for Norway, Inc. For these efforts, he was awarded the Medal of St. Olav in 1939 and for his efforts during WWII he received the Knighthood of St. Olav – commander with star in 1947.

Gerhard Nitter Sonnesyn (1954-1956)

Born: 1902 Minneapolis, MN, USA 
Lodge: 1-217 Norumbega  
Served: 1954-1956 
Died: 1963 Minneapolis, MN, USA 
 
His parents emigrated from the village of Hafslo, Luster in former Sogn og Fjordane county. President of Edda [Nordic] Club at Minneapolis South High from 1918-19 after the Spanish flu epidemic. Received the St. Olav award – Knight of the 1st class in 1947.

J. Steen Jacobsen (1956-1958)

Born: 1912 Brooklyn, NY, USA 
Served: 1956-1958  
Died: 1995 Sun City, FL, USA 
 
His full first name was Jacob, but he went by his first initial. Jacobsen was an industrial real estate broker. Also served as president of New Jersey Congress of Fraternal Organizations and was awarded the Medal of St. Olav in 1972.

Irving Henry Highland (1958-1960)

Born: 1908 Chicago, IL, USA 
Lodge: Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson 5-097 
Served: 1958-1960  
Died: 1989 Rockford, IL, USA 
 
Owned a second-generation specialty woodworking company. Highland was awarded the Knight of St. Olaf, first class, for his efforts in preserving and furthering the Norwegian culture. He also served on boards at Lutheran General Hospital and Norwegian American Hospital of Chicago.

John Kaare Hagen (1960-1962)

Born: 1913 Mandal, Vest-Agder, Norway 
Served: 1960-1962  
Died: 2010 Ås i Akershus, Norway 
 
75 year member. At 17, Hagen emigrated to the US via Canada. He was the builder for the 1455 Lake Street Sons of Norway building project in the 1960s. Hagen helped found Land of the Vikings Sons of Norway camp in New York. Returned to Norway at 92 and lived to the age of 96. Received the Medal of St. Olaf in 1976.

Arne [Hallstein] Tvete (1962-1966)

Born: 1905 Risør, Aust-Agder, Norway 
Served: 1962-1966  
Died: 1980 Seattle, WA, USA 
 
Had done farm work in Norway. Emigrated from the port of Bergen to New York in 1923. Settled in Seattle, Washington and applied for citizenship in 1936. 

In 1966 Tvete was awarded the Medal of St. Olaf for his contributions to preserving Norwegian culture.

Conrad Garmager (1966-1968)

Born: 1902 Røros, Sør-Trøndelag, Norway  
Lodge: 5-168 Valhall and 5-491 Norse Valley 
Served: 1966-1968  
Died: 1983 Oshkosh, WI, USA 
 
Original name: Gulbrand Konrad Kristoffersen Garmager. Immigrated in 1928 and moved to Rockford, Illinois. Became an American citizen in 1935. Helped found Norse Valley 5-491 in Appleton, Wisconsin, and taught conversational Norwegian at Fox Valley Technical Institute. In 1969, Garmager was awarded the Medal of St. Olaf for his contributions to preserving Norwegian culture.

Hilmen Kjorlie (1968-1972)

Born: 1899 Hatton, ND, USA 
Lodge: 6-128 Gulldalen, 6-048 Sacramento 
Served: 1968-1972 
Died: 1997 Grass Valley, NV, USA 
 
Surname was originally Kjørlie in Norway. Hilmen was a second-generation American who lived to 98. His grandparents emigrated from Nord-Aurdal, Oppland, Norway to Blue Mounds in Dane County, Wisconsin. At age 37 in 1937, he took a trip to Norway. Had a district 6 scholarship in his name, chartered several lodges, including 5-513 Vennelag.

Roy Christopher Eide (1972-1976)

Born: 1918 Minneapolis, MN, USA 
Lodge: 1-002 Oslo 
Served: 1972-1976 
Died: 2014 Bloomington, MN, USA 
 
Eide was a member for 68 years and helped found the Sons of Norway Foundation. His father had immigrated from Bergen and mother from Trondheim, meeting in the US. Eide was awarded the Medal of St. Olaf in 1984 for his contributions to preserving Norwegian culture.

Trygve Soyland, Jr. (1976-1980)

Born: 1926 Chicago, IL, USA 
Served: 1976-1980 
Lodge: Nortuna 6-055
Died: 2017 Ocala, FL, USA

Surname was spelled Søyland in Norway. Soyland helped establish Sons of Norway lodge 8-001 in Tønsberg, Norway. His parents emigrated from Rogaland in 1923. Soyland was also President of District 6 and held many officer positions in Nortuna Lodge. He loved to ski and was active in the Ski for Light program, as a guide for blind participants. In 1980, he was awarded the Medal of St. Olaf for his contributions to preserving Norwegian culture.

O. Marshall Moy (1980-1982)

Born: 1915 Missoula, MT 
Lodge: 4-424 Normanden 
Served: 1980-1982  
Died: 2000 Missoula, MT 
 
Served on the International Board of Directors for 10 years and was an avid folk dancer with his wife Vivian. His parents emigrated from the hamlet of Moy, near Grimstad in Aust-Agder, Norway. Was christened Oscar but was nicknamed Marshall for the mountain that he grew up near. Moy began grade school, having only spoken Norwegian at home. A dyed-in-the-wool outdoorsman, he worked as a big game biologist and ranger in Yellowstone National Park. He and Vivian supported WWII efforts by working for the organization that would become the FAA. Moy had dinner with the King Olav of Norway during his tenure as International President.

Egil Olsen (1982-1984)

Born: 1907 Larvik, Vestfold, Norway 
Lodge: 3-215 Nordkap 
Served: 1982-1984 
Died: 1999 Baltimore, MD, USA 
 
Olsen hailed from Larvik, Norway and might not have emigrated, had fate not intervened. As a sailor, he stepped into the Seaman's church in Baltimore and met his future wife Martha Anderson. In the US, he worked as butcher, painter and boat builder. He became a pipefitter and the chairman of the Baltimore pipefitter’s union. Olsen served at all levels of Sons of Norway and was instrumental in acquiring land for the Land of the Vikings camp. 

Olsen received King Haakon VII's Medal of Freedom for his efforts during World War II, when he built machinery for the Liberty boats and worked actively for the Norwegian Relief Agency.

Paul Nycklemoe (1984-1986)

Born: 1927 Fergus Falls, MN 
Lodge: 4-012 Heimskringla 
Served: 1984-1986 
Died: 1997 Fergus Falls, MN 
 
Nycklemoe grew up in a family dedicated to Sons of Norway. His grandparents on both sides had come from Norway; his paternal grandparents emigrated from Selbu in Sør-Trøndelag—where the farm name had been spelled Nykkelmo—and maternal grandparents from Elverum and Åmot in Hedmark. Nyckelmoe was a sergeant in the US Army and served in the Korean War. While he spent the majority of his life in Fergus Falls, he also lived in Minneapolis, Indiana and Colorado while serving in the military.

Bjarne Eikevik (1986-1988)

Born: 1930 Masfjorden, Hordaland, Norway 
Served: 1986-1988  
Died: 2000 Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA 
 
Charter president of Lauderdale Lodge and served on Sons of Norway Foundation Board of Governors. Established the Heritage department at Sons of Norway due to members' waning direct ties to the Old Country. Focused on cooperation between Sons of Norway’s leadership. As Ski for Light's founder and second president, he got the organization to change its name and refocus from "Race for Light,” making it more accessible to non-racers. Relentlessly optimistic, Eikevik’s motto was "Let's take a good thing and make it better." Was decorated as Knight First Class of The Royal Order of Merit by His Majesty King Harald V.

Thorleif Bryn (1988-1992)

Born: 1921 Sandefjord, Norway 
Lodge: 1-217 Norumbega 
Served: 1988-1992 
Died: 1994 Minneapolis, MN, USA 
 
Active in resistance against German occupation of Norway during WWII; he was an accountant who fled to Sweden and trained there as a policeman. Emigrated to the US in 1961 and became a businessman.

Cyril K. Wittrock (1992-1994)

Born: 1918 Chicago, IL, USA 
Lodge: 5-100 Skjold 
Served: 1992-1994 
Died: 1994 Arlington Heights, IL, USA 
 
Elected as International President at the 1992 Lillehammer convention in Norway. Has a District 5 scholarship in his name. Controller of the Viking Ship Restoration Committee board of directors, governor of the Sons of Norway Foundation and a member of the executive committee of the Chicago Norwegian National League.

Dennis Sorheim (1994-1998)

Born: 1938 Argonne, SD 
Lodge: 1-108 Vonheim 
Served: 1994-1998 
Died: 2021 Edina, MN, USA 
 
Graduate of St. Olaf College. Avid pianist, singer, teacher, band director and Norwegian speaker; 40-year career at Peoples Electric; he was a very social member of Norske Torske Klubben, Nordfjordlaget, Glee Club, Kontakt and more. Promoted heritage camps.

Penny Joseph Knudsen (1998-2002)

Born: 1929 Turtle Lake, ND, USA 
Lodge: 6-014 Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson  
Served: 1998-2002 
Died: 2022 El Dorado Hills, CA, USA 

Penny Joseph Knudsen was the first woman to be elected International President. Her father immigrated from Fauske, Nordland, Norway to North Dakota. Penny grew up on a farm and tested out of high school at age 15. In 1944, many of the Norwegian farm families in North Dakota moved to the Bay Area of California to look for work. This enclave of Norwegian families became charter members of Andrew Furuseth Lodge 6-049 and helped build an expansion of the local Lutheran church. Knudsen got her associate’s degree and became a legal secretary, eventually working her way up to Clerk to the County Board of Supervisors. Knudsen was an accomplished rosemaler, promoted the Cultural Skills Program and served for decades as District Six’s Secretary. She recruited heavily for Camp Norge, which she called “our jewel in the Sierras.”

James K. Olson (2002-2006)

Born: 1927 Odin, MN, USA 
Lodge: 1-002 Oslo 
Served: 2002-2006 
Died: 2020 Edina, MN, USA 
 
Electrical engineer - 41 years, helped to develop the guidance and navigation systems on several space missions - including the Apollo 11 mission; Created “Adopt a School” program for lodges to get in involved in volunteering at a school in their community.

Ted Fosberg (2006-2008)

Lodge: 2-087 Cascade 
Served: 2002-2006 
Resides in Burien, WA 

Fosberg attended grade school in a two-room schoolhouse in Central Valley near Poulsbo, Washington. Despite leaving school at age 15 to do a sheet metal apprenticeship, he went on to earn a PhD in chemical engineering and work for Boeing. Fosberg’s father and six of his father’s eight siblings had migrated from Lom, Oppland, Norway between 1892 and 1900. Eventually the last four family members emigrated in 1904, traveling across Canada to reach Washington State. 
 
Fosberg initially got involved with Sons of Norway through his wife Helen’s family and they joined Cascade Lodge in 1973. In 1978, Fosberg went to the District 2 convention as a tagalong delegate and was elected District Sports Director, which spurred his involvement in district and international leadership. During his tenure as International President, Fosberg felt it important for the international officers to be cheerleaders for the organization, to do outreach and encourage district and lodge programming and activities.

Dan Rude (2008-2012)

Lodge: 4-424 Normanden 
Served: 2008-2012 
Resides in: Missoula, MT 
 
Co-created Barnas Norsk Klubb youth program and manual with Foundation director Cindy Olson. During Rude’s tenure, the governance of the Foundation was changed from the International Board being the Board of Governors to the model we have today. Hosted the Presidential Stave Church Tour to Norway.  
 
With his wife Betty, had an audience with King Harald at the Palace in Oslo. Escorted and visited with King Harald and Queen Sonja at the lodge gathering in Duluth, MN. Held Innovative Conferences a day before the International Conventions, focusing on lodge leadership skills and volunteerism. 
 
Rude is an avid folk dancer who wrote the first Cultural Skills unit on Folk Dancing. Funds a Sons of Norway Foundation scholarship for aspiring teachers along with his wife Betty.

Marit Kristiansen (2012-2014)

Lodge: 2-046 Bernt Balchen 
Served: 2012-2014 
Resides in Anchorage, AK 
 
Most recent president who was born in Norway. Appointed a working Governance Committee to evaluate the current and possible future changes in the governance of Sons of Norway, which resulted in the formation of Nominating Committees for both International and District Officers and Directors. Despite challenges and issues that arose, emphasized working together for the good of the Order. Received St. Olavsmedaljen from King Harald in 2017. Has played accordion at many Sons of Norway conventions.

Jon Tehven (2014-2018)

Lodge: 1-547 Solglimt 
Served: 2014-2018  
Resides in Waverly, IA 
 
Taught high school English for over a decade and then became an insurance sales agent in the Chicago/Rockford area, and Director of Field Training. Administered training for sales agents and agency managers for 15 years. 

As International President, Tehven incorporated nominating committees as part of governance on all levels, including within the Sons of Norway Foundation. In 1999 with the urging of the Foundation Director Cindy Olson, Tehven wrote a business plan for the lodge and member fundraising campaign, “Together We Are the Future,” raising $150,000. The campaign enjoys continued success in support of the Foundation.

During his tenure, the International Board approved the sale of Sons of Norway’s offices in Minneapolis as an alternative to a costly remodel.

Ron Stubbings (2018-2025)

Lodge: 7-019 Varden 
Served: 2018-2024 
Resides in Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada 

First Canadian to serve as International President and the sole member to serve as both International President and Chair. While leading an incredible Board, changed the Sons of Norway governance model and served two extra years due to global pandemic.

As a member for 49 years and counting, Stubbings served on the District 7 Board from 1982 to 2010 and within various roles on the International Board from 2010 to 2024. Was named an officer of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, Knight 1st Class in 1999. 

Enjoys Nordic folk dance and met his wife Riitta at the 2009 Nordlek folk dance and music event in Finland.

Has also served as president of several organizations, including Normanna (Norwegian care home) Prostate Cancer Support Group, Scandinavian Dancers of Vancouver, Finland House Society and Scandinavian Centre in Burnaby. Longstanding Volunteer for Ski for Light.