Bjugstad

Vennekretsen member Jim Winsness' great grandfather, Kristian Bjugstad of Gjovik Norway emigrated in 1880 and his departure from Christiana (now Oslo) was timed to match that of Augusta Eriksdatter from Rolfsbyn, Svanskog Sweden. They met either in NY where Kristian jumped ship, or in Red Wing MN where they were married. Their daughter Emma married Jim's grandfather, Jens Winsness who left Singsaas Norway in 1905. Singsaas and the home of Jens Winsness can be seen on the Vennekretsen map of the "Middle" of Norway.


Kristian and Augusta Bjugstad, Sheldon, ND shortly before their deaths. Kristian preceded Augusta to homestead in Sheldon ND and she followed, driving a wagon drawn by two Oxen, while she was pregnant with their first child.
She drove that wagon from Red Wing MN to Sheldon ND a trip of about 350 miles!

One of the cherished destinations during Jim and Beverly Winsness' trip to Norway was hosted by Gerd and Hans Ivar Bjugstad and their parents and children who took them to the home of Kristian. Follow them through this historic and so memorable visit.


The home of Hans Ivar and Gerd - incredible log building!


Beautiful fireplace!


This dining area is very special and opened in our honor. Note the wood table! Looking now at the photo, I see it was built with wedges holding the parts together in typical Norwegian fashion!


Ingunn and Hanne were so gracious, and beautiful, as they proudly displayed their bunads!


Even the backs of the bunads were so detailed!


We are driving to Bjugstad and see this sign - almost time for tears!


Gerd had me walk up an old road so I could see the farm from a distance and from the road that my great grandfather traveled as he left 125 years before


Bjugstad!


Irv and Lorenchia Scott from MN, Hans Hansen Bjugstad, Jim Winsness, Bev Winsness, Hans' granddaughter Mari Wiken and her mother Inger Bjugstad Wiken


From the side that Kristian would have departed.


This old road was the one Kristian would have left on and I walked down it a way alone trying to imagine how he felt - tears in my eyes!


This was inside the church where he attended!


It was only open as there was a wedding that afternoon - our luck to get inside!


We were hosted and stayed in Gjovik in the beautiful home of Hans Hansen and his wonderful wife Ingeborg.


While there, a relative came with a framed photograph of the family of Hans Johannessen and Guri Bjugstad - parents of Kristian! Kristian is second from left in the back row and it is the ONLY photo we ever have seen of him in Norway. I took this photo of that photo as it was way too treasured to have been able to remove from that frame.


Hans Hansen, Jim, and the relative that brought the photo - name to be 'recovered'!

In 2007, Gerd and Hans Ivar, Hanne and Ingunn came to the US and stayed with Jim and Bev!