[1] The Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame is "an enduring means of honoring the persons of Scandinavian descent in North America who have achieved greatness in their fields of endeavor and/or whose efforts have contributed significantly to the betterment of humankind.
[2] Each year a handful of noteworthy individuals of Danish, Icelandic, Finnish, Norwegian or Swedish descent are inducted into the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame, which is held in conjunction with Norsk Høstfest, the annual 5-day fall festival celebrating Scandinavian heritage located in Minot, North Dakota.
The result: the inaugural Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame Banquet, held Oct. 19, 1984, and highlighted by the inductions of Sondre Norheim, the father of modern skiing; Casper Oimoen, a champion skier who captained the U.S. Olympic Ski Team in 1932 and 1936; pilot/explorer Carl Ben Eielson, the first person to fly nonstop over the top of the world; North Dakotan Brynhild Haugland, who, at her retirement, was the longest-serving state legislator in the nation; and Myron Floren, the famed accordionist on TV's "The Lawrence Welk Show.
William Dean Wilson; Doug Burgum 2007 Wayne Stenehjem; Sister Thomas Welder; Johann Olav Koss; HH Princess Astrid 2006 Carroll Juven; Jerry Iverson; John M. Lund; Governor John Hoeven 2005 Norma Larsen Zimmer; John D. Johnson; Ragnhild Hagen; Crown Princess Märtha 2004 Clay Jenkinson; The Honorable Kent Conrad; Ray Rude 2003 Jim Henson;[22] Gary Tharaldson; Gen. Charles F. Wald; Lt. Gen. Jerry L. Sinn; Rear Admiral Michael H. Miller; Maj. Gen. Claude V. Christianson; Maj. Gen. Michael J. Haugen; Mark Lehner 2002 Alf Engen; Dr. Jon Wefald; Peggy Lee[23][24] 2001 Odd S. Lovoll,[25] Ph.D.; Winston R. Wallin; Ann Bancroft, Liv Arnesen 2000 Glenn Welstad; Phyllis Bryn-Julson;[26] Bjorn Erik Borgen; Sacagawea 1999 Leif Eriksson; Governor William L. Guy; Governor Arthur A.
Link; Allen I. Olson; George A. Sinner; Edward T. Schafer Explorer of the Millennium American Viking Leif Eriksson Trailblazer Award Sacagawea, 2000; Ann Bancroft & Liv Arnesen, 2001; Mark Lehner, 2004