June 22, 1903 the Varden Lodge of Sønner av Norge was founded. "Varden" means "beacon" or "lookout," and is also a masculine name."Gyda" is the ninth century princess who first had a vision of a united kingdom of Norway. The Gyda Døtre av Norge was established two years later in 1905. The Gyda Lodge merged with the Varden Lodge in 1951, to be known as The Gyda Varden Lodge #21.

2008 DISTRICT IV BIENNIAL CONVENTION:

The lodge is preparing for the Sons of Norway District IV biennial convention, to be held in Grand Forks on June 18-21, 2008. The woodcarvers and rosemalers are making intriguing souvenir table favors for all conventioneers. Lodge artisans are also making decorative items to be raffled or auctioned.

In addition to business meetings, there will be rosemaling and woodcarving workshops, cultural skills classes, a craft competition, a buffalo barbecue, entertainment by a band from Norway, and a dance following the Saturday night banquet. A walk-a-thon will raise money for the Foundation. The general schedule is:

Through fund-raising projects, lefse baking, and the fantastic support of members and the community, Gyda Varden has engaged in unlimited cultural, social, and charitable activities. Within our lodge a sunshine committee seeks to cheer the sick and bereaved with flowers or a sympathy card, and each June an impressive service is conducted to honor the memory of departed members.

Gyda Varden contributes through fundraisers sponsored by the Sons of Norway Foundation, and has benefited from the Humanitarian Fund, which began in 1997 in response to the Red River Flood.
---1. Disaster relief.
---2. Outreach grants for the lodge.
------------ (see Officers page)
---3. Scholarships for
Norwegran-American education exchange.
------------(see Jr. Lodge page)

Gyda Varden is looking forward to providing aid for the handicapped by supporting the TUBFRIM PROJECT. E-mail John Schaffer to receive credit. --Klikk på mus or or for information.

With your used phonecards & stamps the lodge provides medical aid for children in Norway because we give them a "new" value. "Several hundred handicapped children benefit from the fund raised by TUBFRIM -- every year!"

TUBFRIM was established in Nesbyen in 1928. Postmaster Ditlef Frantzen took the initiative to collect and sell used stamps to fund a better quality of life for handicapped children and youth and to support tuberculosis research.

The Gyda Varden Lodge supports many other commitments, including Skogfjorden Language Camp, a scrapbook, and the Nordic Initiative, among others.

--------------------- LODGE MEETINGS:-
- (see calendar) We invite you to come to a lodge meeting. Through the years, lodge members have discovered intangible friendships fostered when enjoying traditional Norwegian activities together, including: literature and history -- Norsk Lese Lag (book club), Norwegian language classes, rosemaling, wood carving, genealogy research, ethnic programs, pancake breakfasts, chili suppers, corn feeds, lefse baking, bløtkake demonstrations, pot-luck meals, tours, and celebrations. The meetings contain some business content, but also some youth-oriented cultural and social events. In recent years the lodge has developed a friendship with a sister-lodge in Norway, the BIRKEBEINER group from Lillehammer. The senior officers are listed on the Sister Lodge page.

- With a bit of joy & vanity, Gyda Varden hopes you will join with us and celebrate the heritage and culture of Norway and other Nordic countries around the North Sea. We think of each member, as when one thinks of a brother who has been lost and forgotten but found again in discovering a beautiful source of identity.

With a bit of joy & vanity, Gyda Varden hopes you will join with us and celebrate the heritage and culture of Norway and other Nordic countries around the North Sea. We think of each member, as when one thinks of a brother who has been lost and forgotten but found again in discovering a beautiful source of identity.

Click to hear the Norwegian National Anthem.

Ha en god dag!