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Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame inductees announced

A Minot restaurateur, a Nordic marketplace and an international entertainer will be added to the honor roll of the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame at its annual awards banquet Tuesday, Sept. 25, at Minot’s Grand Hotel.

Held in conjunction with Norsk Hostfest, the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame honors persons of Scandinavian descent who have achieved greatness in their field and bestows other special awards when warranted.

Upham native Myron Thompson, who is of Norwegian heritage, has been in the restaurant business almost nonstop since 1970 and has built or purchased 23 Applebee’s restaurants in California, Arizona, Minnesota and North Dakota. He also co-owns two Noodles & Company restaurants in Montana and, with his son Chad, four Qdoba restaurants in North Dakota. Thompson has also been active in the temporary help industry. The company he started in 1989, Labor Force, has evolved into a publicly traded entity on the Nasdaq stock exchange. The younger Thompson will serve as presenter for the award.

Ingebretsen’s Nordic Marketplace is the Twin Cities’ oldest retail business dedicated completely to Scandinavian foods and products. Family-owned and operated since 1921, it began as a meat market and deli catering to the area’s Scandinavian immigrant population. The Ingebretsen’s of today offers not only extensive food items, a kaffe bar, gifts and special sections devoted to needlework and children’s interests, but classes in cooking, crafts, culture and stitchery. Julie Steller, of Steller Handcrafted Goods will present the award and Julie Ingebretsen, granddaughter of the Norwegian immigrant founder, will accept on behalf of the family.

Irish singer Daniel O’Donnell will receive the Hostfest Humanitarian Award for his great compassion for his fellow human beings and his philanthropic work, most notably with the Romanian Challenge Appeal, an effort aimed at helping assimilate into society thousands of young people famously left to languish in that country’s orphanages in the 1980s and 1990s. O’Donnell has used his fame to raise the profile of the Appeal and is also well known for his close relationship with his fan base. John E. Harris III, president and CEO of Prairie Public Broadcasting will present that award.

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