Wentz, of Fessenden, represented the Norway Lutheran Church Trust Board and Norsk Hostfest, at the 200th anniversary celebration of Norheim’s birthday.

Norheim was born June 10, 1825, on the Overbo farm at Morgedal in Norway and became famous in ski racing and jumping before immigrating to McHenry County, North Dakota, to homestead in 1888. Upon his death in 1897, he was buried in the Norway Lutheran Church cemetery near Denbigh.

Wentz, who made the trip to Norway with her daughter, Juna Wentz, had been to the Scandinavian country twice before and found, even in traveling to the very northern part of Norway in the past, Norwegians know who Sondre Norheim is.

“It was almost like, here, we know about Abraham Lincoln or Elvis Presley. Because skiing is that important there,” she said. She said it hasn’t just been recreational entertainment in the country’s history but a method of travel.

Attending the banquet Saturday, June 14, in Morgedal, Norway, to honor the 200th birthday of Sondre Norheim are, from left, Alvin, Ann Kristin, Dag, Ludvig and Kenneth Larsson. Dag Larsson is the great-great grandson of Norheim. Kenneth is the son of Dag and his wife, Ann Kristin. Alvin and Ludvig, sons of Liam Larsson, are grandsons of Dag and Ann Kristin.

The formal anniversary celebration on Saturday, June 14, in Morgedal, in southernmost Norway, included greetings from Morgedal Mayor Tarjei Draugedal, a goat meat dinner and a play in Norwegian about Norheim’s life.

“It was very, very well done,” said Wentz, who brought home a play manuscript. “Even though they were speaking Norwegian, I could understand a lot of it because of the acting.”

Other commemorative events included the release of a stamp series featuring Norheim and the skiing techniques he developed along with the official release of the new book about Sondre Norheim by Thor Gotaas.

Wentz said Gotaas’ book has been released in Norwegian. The English version is expected to be another year in production.

A highlight of her trip was meeting Anne Gry-Blikom and Eivand Molde, authors of an earlier book, “Sondre Norheim: The father of modern skiing.” Molde is a great-great nephew of Norheim. There also was an opportunity to try out a new ski simulator, which Wentz called a fun experience.

Actors dance in a scene from a play at a celebration of Sondre Norheim’s life on Saturday, June 14, in Morgedal, Norway. Sondre was known as a good dancer.

Wentz delivered remarks at the Morgedal banquet in English after offering a thank you in the only Norwegian she knows – mange tusen takk. She said she was treated as a special guest, with many people approaching her to find out more about Norheim’s time in North Dakota after hearing her talk about his relationship with her grandfather and the annual commemoration at the Denbigh church.

Wentz said Norheim had homesteaded on property first settled by her great-grandparents, who later traded the land for property a couple miles away that was closer to the Souris River. Her great-grandfather, Jakob Nelson, brought his family to McHenry County after spending a couple of years in Minnesota. They spent their first winter, in 1886, in a dugout with the ox cart tipped over the top.

Wentz said her grandfather, Olaf Nelson, was a small child when Norheim arrived.

“Sondre taught him how to ski, and they skied together. They were good friends,” she said. “They would ski across this prairie, back and forth.”

It was a change for the downhill champion, but Wentz explained Norheim may have been drawn to McHenry County by his children, who had immigrated previously to the area.

The Overbo farm where Sondre Norheim was born overlooks the town of Morgedal. The family’s house is on the far left.

Wentz also inherited her grandfather’s skis, believed to have been made by Norheim. The skis reflect the signature design and foot bindings that are unique to Norheim.

Norwegian immigrants officially established Norway Lutheran Church in 1884 in a rural area between Denbigh and Karlsruhe. Although no longer operating, the brick building constructed in 1907 is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, and Norheim is buried in the cemetery next to the church.

Wentz said conflicting records show Norheim’s death in 1897 or 1898. However, March 9, 1897, has been the accepted date. A monument was erected in 1966, and a wreath-laying ceremony is conducted annually as part of the Norsk Hostfest tradition.

This year’s annual wreath laying ceremony will be Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 10 a.m. at Norway Lutheran Church.

Wentz said her grandfather had helped locate the exact site of the grave for the monument placement. Time had eliminated grave markers, but by searching the known section of Norheim’s grave using a probe to locate metal caskets, Norheim’s grave eventually was identified by the lack of a casket. He had been buried in a wooden box that deteriorated.

Thor Gotaas holds the ski wall hanging presented to him by the people of Morgedal in honor of the Sondre Norheim book that he just published.

Although the Nelson farm, operated by Wentz’s brother and family, continues to remain in the family, Norheim’s descendents moved on or remain in Norway. Wentz said Norheim left a daughter in Norway, and one of her direct descendents, Norheim’s great-great-grandson Dag Larsson and his wife, Ann Kristin Larsson, are scheduled to attend Norsk Hostfest, which runs from Sept. 24-27. Joining them will be Tarjei Gjelstad, former Morgedal mayor and head of Norsk Skieventyr, the Norwegian ski museum.

Other dignitaries coming from the Telemark district in Norway include author Gotaas and representatives of Minot’s sister city, Skien.

Representing Skien will be Rolf Haugen, who will be returning for his 31st year, along with former mayor Jan Terje Olsen and spouse, Margrethe Olderup Olsen, and council member Anne Kydland, with spouse, Magnar Kydland, and son Olav Kydland, according to Norsk Hostfest.

Wentz said the Norway Lutheran Trust Board plans to be represented at a Hostfest booth featuring a new cookbook with histories of the church and Norheim. The cookbook was developed in observance of the church’s 140th year in 2024.

The Hostfest booth also will host Gjelstad, who will demonstrate ski making, and Wentz is developing a presentation that will be given on Norway Lutheran Church.