Sondre Norheim
Norheim left Norway with a dream of finding a better living in America. Sondre was a modest man, so even his neighbors in North Dakota did not know that his name was legend in Norway.
Norheim, recognized as the Father of Modern Skiing, invented a new ski binding and introduced the Telemark and Christiania turns. In order to take full advantage of his skis, Norheim decided they had to be firmly attached to his feet, so he took thin shoots from birch roots, soaked them in hot water, and twisted them together so they would fit around his heel. Now he could twist and turn on his skis and fly through the air like a bird. Thus was the humble beginning of ski bindings.
Norheim died in 1897. He went to his grave a virtual unknown. Although his place of burial is recorded in Norway Lutheran Cemetery records, his grave went unmarked for many years. A granite boulder and a plaque were dedicated and placed on his grave in a memorial ceremony June 12, 1966. Norway Lutheran Cemetery is only five miles west of where he homesteaded in North Dakota.
During the week of Norsk Høstfest, an annual wreath-laying ceremony takes place usually on Tuesday morning. Individuals can catch a bus which departs from the Scandinavian Park in Minot, ND, which takes passengers to the burial site and commemorative service.