The People of the Rootshús
The Icelandic Rootshús is a home we can walk into — and these are the people who made it possible. For more than a decade, Icelandic Roots has been a place of connection, discovery, and shared heritage across generations and across the ocean. Now that mostly online work also will have a physical home: a modern interpretive and educational center where the Icelandic story is told, remembered, and carried forward. None of it would be here without the generosity of those listed below. Their names are part of the building, the same way our ancestors' names are part of us.
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Founding Benefactors
Lead gifts that anchor the project
Sunna (Olafson) and Jeff Furstenau
Founders who love this land and our shared story
Barbie (Olafson) and Keith Aasen
Drawn home by the stories that made us
Betty (McDonald) and Robert "Bob" Olafson
With deep gratitude for the nine Icelandic ancestors who left Skagafjörður, Eyjafjörður, and Langanesi in 1882, 1883, 1886, 1903, and 1905
Steven Hallgrimson
For believing in this project before it was a reality
Rebekka and Charles "Chuck" Arnason
Honoring the six emigrating ancestors of Chuck who braved the move to western North Dakota.
Emigration years: Grandfather, Þorlákur/Walter Árnason, his mother Guðný and siblings emigrated in 1894.
His grandmother's parents and Benediktsson / Benson family emigrated in 1883
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Founding Patrons
David Earl Johnson
Ancestors emigrated: 1857, 1878, and 1881 to Utah
Andrea Strand Rud
In honor of her grandparents
Gudny Margaret Fridrikson and Bjorn Stigur “Barney” Thorwaldson
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Founding Members
Brenda (Olafson) and Rock Messerschmidt
Nine ancestors emigrated: 1882, 1883, 1887, 1903, and 1905
Jones-Hughes Heritage Foundation
In honor of the Icelanders of Spanish Fork, Utah
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Founding Contributors
Joann (Hall) Swenson
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Friends of the Rootshús
Larry Christianson
Beth Finnson
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Land Donations
The ground beneath the Rootshús was gifted by these families
Lori (Byron) Cameron
In honor of her parents
Lauraine Emily (Christianson) and Louis Duane “Duke” Byron
Margaret (Gudmundson) and Roger Bjornson
In honor of their parents
Briet (Gunnarson) and Conrad Gudmundson
Gudrun “Gunna” (Johnson) and Kristjan “Chris” Bjornson
Meredith (Naastad) and Eugene Byron
In honor of Eugene's parents
Matthildur (Johannesson) and Louis Byron
Phyllis (Byron) and Roger Aarseth
In honor of Phyllis's parents
Matthildur (Johannesson) and Louis Byron
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Grants Awarded
North Dakota Destination Development Grant
North Dakota Department of Commerce
Mountain / Thingvalla Fire Department
Community Grant Support
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Board of Directors and Team Leaders
In service to preserving our shared heritage
Susan Atwood Dave Jonasson
Becky Byerly-Adams Cathy Josephson
Jason Doctor Rus Magnusson
Jeff Furstenau Greg McNeil
Sunna Furstenau Helga Margrét Reinhardsdóttir
Kayce Halley Juliana Roberts
Doug Hanson Butch Thompson
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Rootshús Advisory Council
and Volunteers
Creating our home we can walk into
Barbie Aasen Kathy Thorlakson
Butch Thompson Kierstin Myrdal Hurtt
Carissa Thorlakson Kristin Thorfinnson Stabo
Chad Gudmundson Loretta Thorfinnson Bernhoft
Curtis Olafson Michelle Hardy Murray
Dave Jonasson Nicole Olafson
Dennis Biliske Sandy Matthiasson Wright
Dori Steinolfson Heck Shirley Olgeirson
And all of the Icelandic Roots volunteers across three countries.
Learn more about our volunteers HERE
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With Gratitude
Every name represents a story.
Every gift helps carry it forward.