Mary Jones Ritchie from Red Deer March 23 1917 …Evers, Alberta located about.20 miles West of Red Deer

Grandparents Mary and Marten Logan.. were early pioneers from Norway in 1900's era…My father Josh …also Norwegian… came to work for Mr. Logan who later married their daughter clara, who later became my mother

They never went back to Norway, but I did in 1975 to visit relatives..I could not speak Norwegian and they did not understand English, so it was kind of a disaster but…from visiting their homes I learned to appreciate their way of life

After coming to Red Deer to teach school in 1962, I needed a social outlet. I met Betty Wulff who invited me to the Norwegian Club…They had a dream project of building a replica of a log house with a sod roof farm home…My husband, Paul Ritchie and I…joined in mid 1970's with a half of our …work….materialize in early 80's. I was a needleworker and added the Norwegian passions

I was ….passion for teaching traditional Norwegian crafts Rosemaling, Hardanger and others and …. Cooking skills like lutefisk, lefse, rosettes and other favorites. It ws through these … through these workshops, I learned a great deal about the Norwegian way of life…We had good times. It is now a museum and I am proud to say a showplace of our this is a showcase of our Norwegian heritage.

Of…. Norwegian Heritage…

Regularly…new interest groups …people come from.far away to join these classes….work is on display… very popular craft and bake sales for sale every fall….Members and guests are invited to special dinners to celebrate in the traditional Norwegian …popular meeting place Laft Hus…I have met so many interesting people there …and it has enriched.my life a great deal.