ARGYLE — About 70 relatives gathered in Argyle for the Gilbertson-Sogn Family Reunion over the weekend of Aug. 7-8. This reunion has taken place since 1921. On Sunday, Aug. 8, a full reunion program and potluck lunch was enjoyed at the Argyle Legion Community Park. Informative family history was presented by Rev. Fred Thoni, Minnesota, Dale Thompson, Illinois and Jan Wagner, Ohio, with Ron Martin serving as emcee. Bill Hendrickson and Russell Nelson, Wisconsin ended the event with a strong rendition of Norway’s national anthem “Ja, Vi Elsker Dette Landet.” The reunion planning committee also included Argyle natives Louise Engel and Marilyn Wendelburg.
In 1852, the family’s ancestors emigrated from Norway to America and began farming in the rolling hills of Argyle in Lafayette County, which reminded them of Norway. The eight children of this family and their descendants have formed the basis of reunions held almost every two years for the past 100 years.
Of the eight descendant families attending this year’s reunion, the Andersons were the largest group represented with 29 attendees. Other family branches attending were the Nelson family with 19 attendees, as well as members of the Halverson, Alm, Watrud, Monson, Skattum, and Vinger families.
Attendees from Wisconsin included:
Louise Engel, Greenbush; Marilyn Wendelburg, Sussex; Susan, Bob, Rob and Tess Hurst, Milwaukee; Phillip Nelson, Monroe/Argyle; Jacob, Robin, Ben and Elise Engel, Dodgeville; Emily Jacobsen, Verona; Rebecca Engel and Tylor Jimenez, Waukesha; Bill and Jan Hendrickson, Janesville; Marjorie and Stan Bigelow, Argyle; Ron Martin, Fort Atkinson; Orville & Anna (Watrud) Olson, Dodgeville; Jodi Granberg and Zane Bergemann, Argyle; Garry Rossing, Argyle; Joanne Gouge, Argyle; Karla Rule, Monroe; Kris O’Connor, South Wayne/Argyle; Russell and Bruce Nelson, Madison; Joyce (Monson) Bevan, Platteville; Tom and Lorie (Nelson) Wagner, Middleton; Brian Skattum, Blair; Annie Swenson, Mineral Point; Kennlyn and Steve Vernier, Blanchardville.
Relatives from other states as far away as New York also attended. They include: Dale and Thomasine Thompson, Frankfort, IL; Fred and Kai Thoni, St. Paul, MN; David Martin, Oswego, IL; Elizabeth and Dana Bigelow, New York, NY; and Teri Johnson, Lawson, MO.
Saturday Aug. 7 was a special day with lunch at the Viking Café in Blanchardville, followed by tours of three family church cemeteries: Yellowstone and Apple Grove Lutheran Churches near Argyle and East Wiota Lutheran Church. About 20 relatives also visited the stone farmhouse, built by immigrant ancestor Ole Gilbertson in 1864, on East Lamont Road four miles west of Argyle. Saturday ended with a welcome stop at Dan and Mary Monson’s country store near Wiota.
The next Gilbertson-Sogn Family Reunion will take place in the Argyle area in Aug. 2023.
