More from the First Nordic Fest Board President

Harry Olson, president of the first Nordic Fest Board, pictured in the yellow vest

during the first parade in 1967

As mentioned in last week's post, local Decorah businessman Harry Olson served as the first Nordic Fest board president. He started a long line of particularly dedicated and passionate people to take on a huge volunteer role over five decades. 

During a 1997 interview, he shared particular recollections about those first Fest experiences in 1967, which are excerpted here, and likely are parallel to the thoughts and experiences of many of his board president colleagues:

A note about how communication has changed over five decades:
"We drove everywhere to manage communication among board members. One year, we drove 350 miles within the city limits in the three days of Nordic Fest. We usually started at 5 a.m. and went until 1 a.m. We made it work because it was only three days. We had a walkie talkie from the information tent to the car board members used." 

"The most personal satisfaction I had came at Opening Ceremonies the first year - until I found out I had to get up and welcome everybody. That didn't make me happy. I got up to the Courthouse Square and had tears in my eyes to see all the people who showed up because they thought the Nordic Fest was something worthwhile to be a part of."  

"I don't recall any stress. In Jaycees, there was no expectation of failure. We just gave things a shot. We did not have the word can't in our vocabulary." 

"If I had a chance to do it all over again, I would join the Nordic Fest team. It's nice to feel wanted and feel a part of something. I would still serve as president because it was easy to organize the work."

Have you served on the Nordic Fest board? If so, how can you relate to Harry's experiences? 

A Reserved Nordic Fest Founder

Some of the Nordic Fest founders on the float created for them by the skilled Decorah carpenter Willie Brown at the 25th Nordic Fest in 1991. 

Missing from this photo are Harry Olson and Dr. Marion Nelson.

Harry Olson served as president of the first Nordic Fest board, elected by his peers based on their deep respect for him. Harry is well known in Decorah for being a key part of Ruby's Restaurant and Catering, including the famous Ronnie's Rolls offered each morning there. Although Harry is very comfortable with close friends, he is hard working yet generally reserved in larger group settings and shuns any kind of public attention on his community leadership. 

Harry is not present in the photo at the start of the parade route during the 25th Nordic Fest. It's what happened after this photo was taken where this story picks up. Both of the following accounts are taken from a 1997 interview:

First, from the late Gary Svenson: 

"During the 25th Nordic Fest, all those neat old memories about how successful the first year was came flooding back. It was really overwhelming to see the wonderful float Willie Brown so beautifully made for us to ride on during the parade. The only problem was this little pain (points to Harry Olson, who he is interviewing with) decided he was going to be stuck up and not come get on the float. I couldn't believe that because after all, he was president that very first year. That's when Mike, Jerry, Darrell and I decided come hell or high water, when the parade went by Harry's restaurant, we were going to kidnap him no matter if he had 20 steaks on the grill."

And from Harry:

"During the 25th Nordic Fest, I thought it was really slick how the history was celebrated. I did not go to the founders' float because I was needed at the restaurant. I kind of thought they might do something when they came by. I had no idea they would kidnap me. They came too quick! I had no time to duck back in. I got back in time for the post-parade rush. It turned out to be really neat because I had the video camera going when they came by and kept it running the whole time I sat on the float during the remainder of the parade." 

Enjoy your video, Harry - and thanks to you and your fellow founders for what you created!   

Nordic Fest: A Tale of Safety and Joy

In a 1997 interview, Nordic Fest board president and longtime volunteer Clark Goltz shared a story that illustrates both safety and in the end, joy from 1996. This story may be less likely to be heard at larger events in larger communities. 

"We got a letter back from a young boy who had lost his billfold. Actually, he had found me in the crowd and said he was pretty upset about it. Low and behold we found it, and it had his Nordic Fest medallion and his library card in it. There was no money in it. So I sent him a personal note and told him to let me know if there had been any money in it, because I wanted to replace it. 

He wrote me back the nicest letter and said that no, he had spent all his money on food 'so you don't have send me anything back.' but he said, 'Gosh, thanks for taking the time to send my medallion back.' There are so many memorable moments. Those are the personal sides that I like to see."

What personal stories do you have to share from Nordic Fest as the 50th year approaches? Submit your stories to nordic fest 50 at gmail dot com. 

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/taylar/ 

A German Who Loved to See Young People Having a Good Time: Tribute to Betty Hacker

Betty Hacker in full Nordic Dancer attire, photo provided by her family

As plans for the first event in 1967 came together, Phyllis Leseth recruited Luther student Sebjorn Rogne to teach a group of Decorah Community Schools students authentic Scandinavian dances to add to the appeal and authenticity of Nordic Fest. With her daughter Karen part of this group, teacher Betty Hacker agreed to be a supervisor for the first group of Nordic Dancers.

Then came May 1967. Sebjorn needed to return home to Norway. What next?

Betty, a self-described "full blooded German" graciously took over the direction of the Nordic Dancers, famously using toothpicks to help determine new dance configurations, adding to the repertoire of this first group of students in time for their debut at the first Nordic Fest. 

Betty, who very much loved to see young people having a good time, continued in her first stint of Nordic Dancer service with only brief breaks from 1967 until 1979. During this time, she led the efforts to form the second, third and fourth groups of Nordic Dancers, which took place  in 1969, 1974 and 1979.

When Nordic Dancer directors Pastor Paul and Lois Christianson retired from their service in 1989, Betty returned to her role to work with the fifth and sixth group of dancers. Her commitment ensure the continuation of "one of the highlights of Nordic Fest" she helped create.

Betty continued in this role through her retirement from a legendary career as a junior high school science teacher with a fall bug collection project, as well as girls' basketball coach. Her Nordic Dancer founding and commitment only scratches the surface of a legacy of community service she leaves throughout Decorah.

Although her family and all of Decorah lost Betty to cancer in 1995, her spirit remains very much alive every time the Nordic Dancers inspire smiles and share joy at their Courthouse Square performances and everywhere they appear. 

Thank you, Betty for making Nordic Dancers happen!