Community

Area musician, antique organ brought together

Music filled the air when Jim Langager pumped the pedals and played the keys of the antique portable organ in the Gol Stave Church at the Scandinavian Heritage Park in Minot.

The portable pump organ is among many items donated or loaned over the years to the Scandinavian Heritage Association. The association continues to accept donations for its collection.

Langager of Kenmare was invited to play the portable organ for the annual Syttende Mai Celebration and opening of the park building for the season in mid-May. Those taking part in the celebration's annual walking parade gathered in the church to sing songs, accompanied by Langager on the antique organ.

Langager, with the Minot Sons of Norway-Thor Lodge, said he plays for functions for the organization when the regular pianist is not available.

"They asked me last year (to play at the Syttende Mai Celebration) but I was in Norway for Syttende Mai," he said.

Langager said the portable organ was quite easy to play.

"It takes a little coordination pumping and playing at the same time, but I've played other organs," he said.

The organ has been on loan to the Scandinavian Heritage Association by Bob and Betty Wheeler of Minot. Pam Burkardt of Minot now is donating the portable organ, on behalf of her late parents, to the association.

According to a history prepared by the Wheelers about the portable organ, it was patented in 1904 by Albert L. White and manufactured by his company, the A.L. White Manufacturing Co. of Chicago. (The company was one of the original pioneers of the folding portable organ.) These organs were used by military chaplains during World War I.

The portable organ was acquired by Martha Aalund in about 1925. She used it for parochial school classes she taught in her rural home community south of Ambrose in Divide County, where her parents, Rasmus and Mathilde (Peterson) Aalund, Norwegian emigrants, farmed. The organ was passed on to Martha Aalund's younger sister, Olga, who also used it while teaching school.

Martha and Olga, now deceased, had close ties to Minot.

Martha married Walter Wheeler, who for many years was manager of Western Auto Parts Co. in Minot. They had two sons, Robert and Ralph "Bud," both of whom attended Minot schools and graduated from Minot High School. Olga had a daughter, Sandra, who also received her education in the Minot school system. In the late 1940s, Martha and Olga purchased Hillside Grocery at the corner of Minot's Main Street and Fourth Avenue South, which they operated for several years. The portable organ remained with family members throughout the years.

Blythe, the oldest daughter of Pam Burkardt and her late husband, Ed Burkardt, was married in the Gol Stave Church nine years ago on Aug. 2, 2017, according to Pam Burkardt.

Langager, a retired music teacher, enjoys playing piano and organ. He said he occasionally plays at Crossroads Baptist Church in Minot.

"I've played at other churches too through the years," he said. "I started playing for church when I was in high school. My piano teacher taught me the organ.” He said his teacher told him he needed to learn to play organ because some day she may be too old to play.