Local Norwegian attends royal invite

Leonard Haugland, 95, was among 80 people who attended the sesquicentennial celebration of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, which featured King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway. - Matt Peterson/matt.peterson@austindailyherald.com

When the King and Queen of Norway come around, not just anyone gets to see them. However, a full-blooded Norwegian would be a likely candidate.

Leonard Haugland of Austin fits that bill. Haugland received a special invite to the king and queen’s visit in Decorah, Iowa, last week: A Tribute to Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway, A Celebration of the Luther College Sesquicentennial.

“It kind of surprised me that I was invited,” said Haugland, a 95-year-old Norwegian who grew up on a farm near Lyle.

Haugland — who is as Norwegian as they come in Minnesota — only added to his list of Scandinavian experiences on Oct. 13, when he attended the royal event at Luther College. He was one of just 80 people who received special invitations from the college’s president, as Luther has Norwegian roots, and one of Haugland’s sons served on the school’s board of directors.

Haugland, who has visited Norway three times, never saw the king and queen in person before. He said the event was very formal, and the staff handled arrangements very professionally. He was surprised that the program guide had so many rules of etiquette, such as women not wearing all black or all white, men being required to wear black suits, nobody being allowed to touch the food, talk or take photographs during the event. They even had requirements for the King and Queen’s entrance and exit.

Perhaps one of the few Norwegian things Haugland will never get to do is personally talk with the king and queen. Though guests couldn’t speak directly to the royalty, Haugland could have done so if allowed — in Norwegian tongue.

“Oh yeah, I can speak that pretty fluently if I have to,” he said.

Though Haugland was born in the U.S. — and his mother was, too — he still takes part in countless Norwegian traditions. Haugland’s father was born in Norway, and a stroll around Haugland’s living room showcases the 100-plus years old pictures of grandparents and great-grandparents, encased in original wooden framing. But one wouldn’t know Haugland is fully Norwegian just by looking at him or talking to him.

“I’m just a local boy,” Haugland said of himself.

However, people would likely catch on if they spent enough time around Haugland, saw him eating traditional Norwegian foods or attending a Sons of Norway meeting, of which he is an original member of the local chapter.

Like a true Norwegian, Haugland has a taste for raw fish. He’s not crazy about lutefisk, but he has eaten his fair share of kippered snacks. His dad used to order boxes of frozen herring from Duluth — 25 pounds at a time — which Haugland said were “really good.”

After getting married and moving to Austin, Haugland spent several years running businesses elsewhere. Ultimately, he has spent most of his life within the immediate area. Haugland recalls many of the Norwegian things he has done throughout his life, like making lefse with others, volunteering at Scandinavian church dinners and serving with plenty of other Scandinavians in local service organizations. Today, he doesn’t take part in as many things as he used to. He’s okay with that, though.

“When you get (to be) 95, you’ve got to quit something,” he joked.

News

Jackson leads Blue Devils to a win over Mesabi Range

Mower County

A home for women: Bright Life House will be a sober house filling a need in Austin

Mower County

In Your Community: Mower County Senior Center

News

Climate contradictions key at UN talks. Less future warming projected, yet there’s more current pain

Mower County

Caution paramount as ice season gets underway

Mower County

First United Methodist to host organ concerts

News

House expels New York Rep. George Santos. It’s just the sixth expulsion in the chamber’s history

News

Standoff with armed man outside Rochester shopping complex ends in self-inflicted gunshot

Mower County

Merry & Bright Night returns for holiday fun

News

A house explodes and bursts into flames in Minnesota, killing at least 1 person, fire chief says

Mower County

Riverland Shines a ‘Spotlight’ on theater students

News

DFL lawmakers eye big boost in child care spending

News

Henry Kissinger, secretary of state under Presidents Nixon and Ford, dies at 100

Mower County

Senate Capital Investment Committee gets a look at tomorrow in visit to the Hormel Institute

Mower County

Christmas in the County to be held Dec. 9

Mower County

Austin Living: Jane Taylor Academy of Dance brings 22nd annual ‘Nutcracker’ performance to Paramount Theatre

Mower County

Flower Basket Program kicks off 29th year

Mower County

Recycling Center addition progressing to spring completion

Business

10 Austin-area families to receive kits to support transitions into stable housing

Mower County

HI scientists publish paper on how immune systems react to canine parvovirus vaccination

Mower County

SEMAC announces Jan. 10 grant application deadline

Education

Give the Gift of Education this holiday season with MNSAVES

News

Woman’s decades-old mosaic of yard rocks and decorative art work may have to go

News

Rosalynn Carter honored by family, friends, first ladies and presidents, including husband Jimmy