Over the weekend of August 7 and 8, 2021, a total of 80 relatives gathered in Argyle, Wisconsin to attend the Sogn-Gilbertson Bi-Annual Family Reunion which has taken place since 1921.

In 1852, the family’s Sogn-Gilbertson ancestors emigrated from Hadeland, Norway to America and began farming in the rolling hills of Argyle in Lafayette County, Wisconsin, which reminded them of their native homeland. The eight children of this family and their descendants have formed the nucleus of family reunions which have taken place almost every two years for the past 100 years.

Of the related descendant families attending this year’s Reunion, the Andersons were the largest group represented with 29 attendees. Anderson cousins from Wisconsin who attended were: Kim and John Nelson, Cheri Witt, Larry Witt and Patty Malloy, Dennis and Chris Anderson, Arlene Hoeting, Donna Baldwin, Kathy Wahl, Barry Anderson, Randall Anderson, Donald Anderson, Jeff and Dana Anderson and daughter, Steve and Amanda Bragg and children, and Larry and Sharon Anderson. Anderson cousins attending from out of state were: Lynne Stouff, Owen and Reassa Wagner, Ethan Wagner, Jan Wagner, and Jennifer Sallis. Other Sogn-Gilbertson families attending the Reunion were the Nelson family with 19 attendees, as well as the Halverson, Alm, Watrud, Monson, Skattum, Vinger, and Ingwell families.

Saturday was a special day for 30 reunion attendees, starting with lunch at the Viking Café in Blanchardville, followed by tours of the Yellowstone, Apple Grove, and East Wiota Lutheran churches and cemeteries in Argyle and Wiota, and an enlightening visit at the local stone farm house built by immigrant ancestor Ole Gilbertson in 1864. Saturday ended with a welcome stop at a cousin’s country store. On Sunday a full Reunion Program took place at the Argyle Legion Community Park with 70 reunion attendees. Informative family history was presented by Rev. Fred Thoni from Minnesota, Dale Thompson from Illinois, Jan Wagner from Ohio, and Ron Martin from Wisconsin. Bill Hendrickson and Russell Nelson from Wisconsin ended the reunion with a strong rendition of Norway’s national anthem “Ja, Vi Elsker Dette Landet”.

The next Sogn-Gilbertson Family Reunion will take place in the Argyle area in August 2023.

Sogn-Gilbertson families gathered in Argyle, Wisconsin to celebrated 100 years of family reunions. Submitted photo.