Member Profiles

"Summer Birds" Go North
By Meagan Seele

Traditional "snow birds" go south to warmer places like Florida, Texas and Arizona for the winter. Francis and Ardelle Myran have put a little twist on this common lifestyle. They stay here for the winter but then go north for the summer. Way north. As in all the way north to Norway! Francis farmed north of Ridgeway and Ardelle taught school for many years. After retiring they started spending several months each summer in Norway. While there, they live in a house Ardelle inherited from Norwegian relatives located on the shortest fjord in Norway. Imagine looking out your window and seeing a 2000 foot waterfall! This is the view the Myran's enjoy each day.

Unlike the winter "snow birds" the Myran's have no worries about pipes freezing while they are away. There are, however, several things that must be done before they leave for the summer. One important item that they must take care of is paying their electric bill through Hawkeye REC. Other things include having someone watch over their house and farm and having their mail forwarded.

Francis and Ardelle live on a farm northeast of Ridgeway. Francis' great grandparents emigrated from Norway to America and settled in Northeast Iowa in 1851. They built their home north of the Madison Lutheran Church in Winneshiek County. Amazingly a "stabbur" or seed house that was built on this farm in 1861 still stands!

But the Myran's connections to the past go even further back when they visit a church near their home in Norway that was built in 1180!

The Myran's have been making the 34-hour trip to Norway for three years. One of their favorite reasons for living there in the summer is the fact that it is light almost 24 hours a day. Which means that the Norwegians remain outdoors almost all of the time. The downside, for those who must remain there all year, is that it is dark and cold during the winter months, with only four hours of daylight.

Ardelle describes Norway as a land of tunnels, cute children, friendly people, bright painted houses, fish, waterfalls, potatoes and beautiful flowers.

Hydroelectric stations generate 99% of Norway's power and electricity is plentiful and cheap in spite of the challenges of distribution line construction in the mountains. But since it is 220 volts AC the Myran's need to use adapters for any appliances they take with them. Something else to remember before they leave home!

While Hawkeye's history with the Myran's is much shorter than their Norwegian ancestry, we certainly hope our "connections" are as enduring.