SKANDIA NO. 247. Pasadena

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Skandia Nytt

Skandia Lodge #247, Vasa Order of America

Chairman: Nel Solt Vice Chairman: Jane Hendricks Past Chairman Birgitta Roodsari Secretary: Betsy Cepielik Financial Sec: Lori Wennbo Treasurer: Bob Solt Cultural Leader: Members Trustees: Birgitta Roodsari Jackie Ahlen Auditors: Jackie Ahlen Mary Ethel Pierson Birgitta Roodsari District Deputy: Lori Wennbo

Vol. 99, No. 5

May, 2011

Chairman’s Message One day we have the air conditioning on and the next day the heater is running. It is a strange spring. But it is not the first and it will not be the last. Everything is constantly changing including our own thoughts, needs and wants.

I hope everybody had a nice Easter. It is not here yet as this is being written. Bob and I are hoping for some friends to come and help us with the Easter ham on Sunday.

Perhaps it was semlorna (the Swedish Easter buns) that brought so many members to Skandia’s last meeting.

Semlor and hot dogs, one should never be afraid to try something new! Thank you to our new member Kathleen McGinley who brought us some wonderful Deviled Eggs.

We learned that Dick Orcutt was back in the hospital with a lot of pain in his leg and back. According to Judy Dick’s knee is swollen to the size of a cantaloupe. Get well wishes goes out to all of our members who are feeling poorly.

Swedish American Central Association is having their Midsummer Court selection at Skandia Hall on May the 22nd. It is accompanied by a $15.00 lunch. You have a choice between salmon or chicken.

Please contact Chris Allen of Nordic Lodge for reservations. You do not have to be involved with “Central” to attend.

Come for the joy of spending time with friends.

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Our Lodge’s work for Midsummer in Vasa Park is the Hamburger stand. If members do not support their own Clubs or Associations which are involved our wonderful Festivities will soon go to history. Skandia needs help to do the shopping, take orders, barbecue, and serve. Please contact Betsy at (626) 7959122.

At May’s meeting we will finalize our own plans for Skandia’s Midsummer. We will have a nice little dinner and we are hoping that you will help us with an idea for a program. Last year the Ladies had a silent Auction and we had a little show and tell about Scandinavian Midsummer items. It was very nice but we need to try for something different this year..

RESERVATIONS is like a magic word!

(Continued on page 3)

Skandia Nytt is On-Line!!

See what’s going on in the District

Log on to: vasaDL15.com

Skandia Nytt May Happenings

Member’s Corner Ken Pearsonis a long time Skandia member, now 75 years old. A couple of months ago we received this wonderful bit of history from Ken and we have his permission to use bits and pieces in our little paper. Heartfelt thank you from Bob and myself. We absolutely love it when we get “a foot in the door” from any of our members.

My Father: Harry Carl Oscar Pearson KEN PEARSON’S STORY: (Carl Oskar Harry Persson -----Name listed on Dad's passport) Born: Göteborg, Sweden-- April 27, 1903 Pass away: June 10, 1959 -Pasadena, Calif.

Age: 56 Dad's family and how he came to America Dad had two brothers. One older brother (Gustav) and one younger brother (Richard). He also had a sister Lilly. I never saw a picture of his father nor do I know his name. I met his mother Joesphine (my farmor) in 1946 after World War II. I was 9 years old at the time.

Swede by the name of Charlie on the trip. That was his main friend.

I really don't know what happen to Charlie. Dad had several pictures of him and other friends.

The trip was a long one as it took them 4 months to sail that far with cargo stops along the way. Dad always recounted the thought that he had when he finally arrived in California. "l got off the boat and started digging ditches with the rest of the Mexicans".

Starting work and learning a trade Dad worked where ever he could find manual labor. He was a gardener, a varnish maker (Mattews Paint Company for 15 years) and then a paint salesman.

Finally, he started in the tile laying business. One man in particular that helped Dad in the tile business was Fred Hemple in Pasadena. He was a mentor for my Dad as he learned the trade from Fred.

Dad was hard working. Usually 6 days a week. All of his work was pretty much by referral. He met many Swedish friends that were Dad was the only one in his family to all craftsmen. Some were leave Sweden and travel to the United carpenters, hardwood floor layers, electricians, plasters, brick States. He served the mandatory Swedish military service obligation at masons and almost all trades.

Most of them learned these trades age 18 like that required of all after their arrival in America. All Swedish young men. He completed of these tradesmen would make minimum 8th grade equivalent education. His real desire was to go to referrals to each other. All of these Swedes were either Skandia America. So at the age of 23 in 1926 lodge members or knew each he boarded a working ship from other from that connection. Dad Sweden to the Panama Canal and finally to the port of Los Angeles (San wanted to become a contractor (Continued on page 4) Pedro). He met up with another 2

Birthdays: 1 Mary Ethel Pierson 14 Robert Yankowsky 17 Candyce Farrell 24 Bill Varnela 25 Mary Mancil 31 Nel Solt

Business Meeting: (2 nd Thursday) May 12 7 pm Dinner 8 pm Meeting

Host / Hostess: Jackie Ahlen

The May committee will plan dinner before the meeting. Please call Jackie Ahlen with your reservation (626.794.0729) by Monday, May 9, 2011. Members with reservations will have Priority Seating for dinner and will be given dinner tickets when they arrive. They will be served dinner first.

If a member with a reservation plans to arrive late, a dinner will be prepared and put aside for their arrival. Your assistance will be so very much appreciated.

Skandia Nytt

2011-12 District Officers and Friends

Front Row Left to Right: Maidie Karling, Cultural Leader; Gudrun (Nel) Solt, Assistant Secretary; Ann Heinstedt, Auditor; Gunlog Spaberg, Vice District Master; Ulf Brynjestadt, PGM; Susan Premo, District Master; Isabella Muscarella, Trustee; Bob Solt, Treasurer; Mary Ethel Pierson, Trustee; Jennifer Larson, Inner Guard.

Back Row Left to Right: Arlene Lundquist, Secretary; Nathan Codding, EBM; Gunilla Wotkyns, Chaplain; Valerie Larson, Master of Ceremonies; Ila Engstrom: Auditor; Lon Kirkgaard, Inner Guard; William Lundquist, Grand Master; Robert Salk, Past District Master; Jerry Reylek, EBM; Kevin Luft, EBM; Mary Wright, EBM; Thomas Jahn, GLD District 15; Russell Almquist, Asst Master of Ceremonies Photo: Jon Vikander Chairman’s Message (con’t) (Continued from page 1)

Why is it so difficult for people to pick up the phone two days in advance to let the cooks know that they would like to take part in the dinner?

Every issue has “Happenings” column on page 2 which tells you if the hostesses are planning a real meal and who the hostesses are.

PLEASE GET WITH IT AND GIVE THE HOSTESS

Go Paperless - Save a Tree!!

A CALL!!

This problem is common all over. We attended one Club recently where six persons had called in the reservations and seventeen showed up!

Guess what happens then?

Love ya’, Nel SUPPORT! SUPPORT! SUPPORT!

You can now request that your Skandia Nytt be sent, in color, to you via e-mail rather than regular mail. On request, we will e-mail you a . pdf version of our newsletter which you can either read as an attachment to you e-mail or print using Adobe Reader. Adobe Reader is available for download at http://get.adobe.com/ reader/ To enroll, please send your e-mail address to bobsolt@juno.com and request Paperless Newsletter. Not only will you be saving paper, you will also save Skandia Lodge the cost of printing and mailing.

The Editors

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Skandia Nytt Members Corner (con’t) (Continued from page 2)

but was unable to pass the long test that was given at that time. I remember him telling me how the test was so analytical. For example, it may ask, “How many cubit feet of sand is needed to float a shower wall 6' x3'?" Dad would say to me, "Son, I just throw enough sand in the back of my truck and use what I need." He tried a couple of times to pass the test but he never passed it. He found plenty of repair and new work up until he died. Another saying Dad used to use a lot was, "When the old man upstairs is ready to take me he can have me in my boots". That was exactly what happened to Dad as he was Working on a shower job when he had a stroke and died June 10, 1959.

Dad's love of family and friends of the Lodge Dad was not only hard working but a deeply emotional and loving person. As stated in “My Mother" story, he and Mom were married in the Swedish Lodge in Pasadena. He had always wanted to have his mother and sister meet his wife and son. Dad was not particularly close to his brothers. In order to finance the trip to Sweden Mom and Dad sold their home in Alhambra. The special occasion for the trip was to celebrate his mother's 80th birthday. Dad bought his Mom a special lapel watch. I have many pictures and wonderful memories of that trip that was done in 1946.

We had the opportunity to visit with relatives on both sides of my father and mother families. Some relatives we are still in contact with us today as we stay connected by letters or e-mail and Christmas cards. Dad used to try to get his sister Lilly to come to California. He was willing to pay for her trip to California.

Because Lilly's husband (Gustav) became sick she could not leave him and their son Arne.

Returning to the US and building a home in Pasadena Dad and Mom had purchased a vacant lot in

Pasadena. It was their desire to build a new home. Since we sold our home in Alhambra we rented a home in Pasadena from Myrtle and Ragnar Johnson. The home actually belonged to Myrtle's dad. It was there we lived until our new home was built. It took about one year as we moved in 1947 Earlier I had mentioned that many of the Swedes became crafts workers and indeed they were all used to build our new home. Here is a list of those wonderful friends and Skandia lodge members: General Contractor- Helge Pearson and Carroll Nordquist ElectricalEwald Eckfield PlasterOscar Frieberg Tile workHarry Pearson LandscapeRagnar Johnson Hardwood floors- Ingve Hansen During the course of building the new home almost each weekend one or more of the Swedes would drop by to bring something for lunch or to have afternoon coffee and cakes.

There was always a unity of closeness and helpfulness that was among all of the Swedes. Many of these friends took their role as becoming Chairman of Skandia lodge.

In 1947, Dad became chairman of the Skandia lodge.

[Part two of Ken’s remembrances of his Dad will appear in the June Skandia Nytt]

Submitted by Kenneth R. Pearson Member of Skandia Lodge #247 Vasa Order of America Pasadena, California

McQuillan walked into a bar and ordered martini after martini, each time removing the olives and placing them in a jar. When the jar was filled with olives and all the drinks consumed, the Irishman started to leave.

"S'cuse me", said a customer, who was puzzled over what McQuillan had done, "what was that all about?"

"Nothin', said the Irishman, "my wife just sent me out for a jar of olives!"

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Skandia Nytt

VASA Park Association

Viking Village In conjunction with Camp Keystone

Camp for children & grandchildren of VASA Order of America members

Children ages 8 to 14 years old Deadline for registration is May 15, 2011 Cost per child $150.00

June 26 – July 1, 2011 Arrive Sunday at noon for dancing around the Maypole at the Midsummer Celebration.

Depart on Friday by 5:00 p.m.

Priority will be given to children who haven’t attended previously Sponsored by the VASA Park Association Visit www.vasapark.org Visit www.campkeystone.com for detailed Information on day activities (Swimming, Water Slide, Horses Go-carts, soccer, and much more) Events activities include Scandinavian traditions interested VASA members e-mail ann@nordicheritage.com

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Skandia Nytt Skandia Lodge #247 Vasa Order of America 2245 E. Colorado Blvd, Box #104/256 Pasadena, CA 91107

Events

Skandia Nytt

VALBORGSMÄSSOAFTON (WALPURGIS NIGHT) May 15, 2011 at Vasa Park Watch for Informational Card in the mail Tickets must be purchased prior to event NORDIC LODGE #660 50th ANNIVERSARY DINNER May 21 at Mimi’s Café in Whittier Contact Sondra Shanahan for Reservations 562.944.7696 $20.00 per person

SACA’s Midsummer Court Selection Luncheon Skandia Hall - May 22nd.

Lunch $15.00 (salmon or chicken) Contact Chris Allen of Nordic Lodge for reservations 6

Published monthly by: Skandia Lodge #247, Vasa Order of America, 2031 E Villa St., Pasadena, CA. Send news and/or letters to: Bob or Nel Solt 505 N. Hermosa Sierra Madre, 91024 or: BobSolt@juno.com