For the first time in seven years the Bryn Family Reunion was held at the Sivert Thompson Center at Grahams Island State Park on Sunday, Aug. 9. The descendants of Amund and Berte Bryn and their 15 children have reunited near the family’s homestead every two years for decades. The last time they gathered was 2019, after the death of their organizer, Marilyn Pederson, in October 2016. Re-grouping this year, Sunday’s attendees totaled 43, most of whom are shown in the photo above (locals Brian Pederson, his son Matthew Pederson, Kim Pederson and his son Tanner Pederson and family, plus Josh Hagen (son of Boyd and Caroline Hagen) and family arrived after the photo was taken). Furthest traveled were from California, Oregon and Florida. On Saturday, they dedicated a monument at the Norway Lutheran Cemetery that lists Amund, Berte and their children for future generations to see. This was created at the behest of Marilyn Pederson’s late brother, Bruce Hagen who died last year (both were children of Mildred Bryn Hagen and Ernie Hagen of Devils Lake). Bryn Association President Ryan Taylor emphasized the importance of family staying connected, saying “It takes some effort to restart a gathering that’s been absent since Covid. But we believe heritage and building community is worth the effort. We owe it to our kids and grandkids to know and share the stories of who and where they come from.” The plan now is to meet every two years again with the next one planned for 2028!
Bryn Family Reunion held at Grahams Island
For the first time in seven years the Bryn Family Reunion was held at the Sivert Thompson Center at Grahams Island State Park on Sunday, Aug. 9. The descendants of Amund and Berte Bryn and their 15 children have reunited near the family’s homestead every two years for decades. The last time they gathered was 2019, after the death of their organizer, Marilyn Pederson, in October 2016. Re-grouping this year, Sunday’s attendees totaled 43, most of whom are shown in the photo above (locals Brian Pederson, his son Matthew Pederson, Kim Pederson and his son Tanner Pederson and family, plus Josh Hagen (son of Boyd and Caroline Hagen) and family arrived after the photo was taken). Furthest traveled were from California, Oregon and Florida. On Saturday, they dedicated a monument at the Norway Lutheran Cemetery that lists Amund, Berte and their children for future generations to see. This was created at the behest of Marilyn Pederson’s late brother, Bruce Hagen who died last year (both were children of Mildred Bryn Hagen and Ernie Hagen of Devils Lake). Bryn Association President Ryan Taylor emphasized the importance of family staying connected, saying “It takes some effort to restart a gathering that’s been absent since Covid. But we believe heritage and building community is worth the effort. We owe it to our kids and grandkids to know and share the stories of who and where they come from.” The plan now is to meet every two years again with the next one planned for 2028!