Endre Johannes Cleven

Endre Johannes Cleven (May 8, 1874 – July 3, 1916) was a Norwegian-born American Canadian who was prominent in the settlement and culture of Norwegian immigrants in Manitoba, Canada, during the early 20th century.

Johannes Kleven was a music teacher in Skudeneshavn, one of the main towns of the Skudenes parish of the island of Karmøy, Rogaland.

Cleven attended public school and, at the age of fourteen, began working as a ship hand, where he cooked food for sailors and was frequently beaten for minor misdemeanors.

After the war had ended, Cleven returned to Norway to visit his family, travelling via Japan, India, China, the Suez Canal and other countries along the way.

Together they had six children: daughters Judith Camilla (who died in infancy) and Lillian and sons Endre, Harald, Alf and Odvar.

After the outbreak of the First World War, Cleven, ranked Captain, was appointed as the leader of three Norwegian-Canadians who were intent on organizing the 197th Battalion ("The Vikings of Canada") of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.