Submitted Photo Perhaps you have inherited your great-grandmother’s old smør form (butter mold), at left, carved from birch that she brought over from Norway. Historic objects like this will be discussed at the next meeting of the Mina Aasen Daughters of Norway Lodge #55 in Minot.

If you were lucky enough to inherit a family heirloom and know the origins of how it came into your family, you have a wonderful treasure to share.

Some of the best places to learn the answers to these questions about old family objects is at a museum. Objects and their stories provide a link between our family history and ourselves. Even if the item was purchased at a second-hand store, one can learn about its purpose in history.

Nordic ladies from the soon to be Mina Aasen Daughters of Norway Lodge #55 in Minot, welcome guest speaker Bryan Goetsch, museum site director for the Ward County Historical Society and Pioneer Museum in Minot, to their next meeting. The meeting will be on Wednesday, July 11, at 5:30 p.m. in the South Room of the Minot Public Library. A light dinner to be served and a fun prize given to someone for attending.

Goetsch will present information about the Historical Society/Museum and bring a few Nordic objects for “show and tell,” Others with a love for history, and curiosity about family heirlooms are welcome to attend and bring an object to share with the group. Museums are very important in preserving our heritage for future generations. They can be the heart of a community educating us about the local lore and family heirlooms.

The Daughters of Norway’s mission is also centered on preserving the Norwegian heritage and culture for generations to come. All Nordic women are encouraged to attend in preparation for becoming a charter member of the new Minot Daughters of Norway. The Institution of the Mina Aasen Lodge #55 will be on Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church.

The Minot Library is located at 516 2nd Avene SW in Minot. Potential members interested in attending this event should call Sue at 838-5710 or send an email to norskjill@gmail.com.

Daughters of Norway are a nonprofit organization open to women of Norwegian/ Nordic heritage. To be eligible for standard membership in a subordinate lodge of the Daughters of Norway, a woman shall: a) Be at least 13 years of age. b) Be of Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Icelandic or Swedish birth or descent; or c) Have, or had, a spouse of Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Icelandic or Swedish birth or descent; or d) Have a “slektning” (relative) married to a person of Norwegian birth or descent.

Lodges are located throughout the central and western United States. Visit the website at daughtersofnorway.org for more information about lodges and the Daughters of Norway organization or its Facebook page.