Holtan Reunion 2026 Draft 9-11-25
Dates: July 5-7, 2026, Forest City, IA Two Overlapping Opportunities:
July 5 10;30 AM Sunday Historic Worship and Music at Winnebago Lutheran Church, 40029 210th Ave, Lake Mills, IA
Gathering and softball at 1:30 at Hadacek/Holtan farm and pizza picnic at 5:30. Free-will donation for pizza and beverage.
July 6-7 Monday and Tuesday, “Dig Deeper into the Holtan Journeys” at Waldorf University, with large group and mini-sessions, two family history tours, coffee, meals and banquet. And lots of time to visit with your cousins.
In our attempt to welcome many Holtan descendants, we have created 2 opportunities, which both include the Sunday events. We expect some of you will come just to the Sunday reunion events and more serious learners will come Sunday through Tuesday. Again, we hope everyone overlaps on the events on Sunday, because we want every Holtan to meet every other Holtan.
Schedule for the Holtan Reunion July 5-7, 2026
Sunday, July 5, Winnebago Church, 10:30 am, 40029 210th Ave, Lake Mills, IA Join the congregation there at the heart of Mt. Valley Township. Sing, worship, meet many Holtans, Tweetens, Kinglands, Loviks and Mt. Valley neighbors. Lunch on your own.
1:30 pm Gathering, softball and pizza picnic at 5:30 at Tom and Sue Anne Hadacek’s farm, 36400 165th Ave, Forest City, IA,
- We’ll play softball on Stan and Ruth Holtan’s Field of Dreams, an Iowa and Holtan tradition, meet old friends, and have a pizza picnic at 5:30. Gluten free options. Freewill offering for the meal.
- A few mixers and “get-to-know-you” activities so each person can introduce themselves and their families. Bring a lawn chair if you can.
- 8-9 pm Register and check in to Waldorf housing
- 9 pm Social in the Waldorf Salveson Hall Lobby. Beverages and snacks free-will donations.
Monday Schedule, July 6 At Waldorf University in Forest City, IA
- 7:30 am Breakfast (optional) at the Waldorf Dining Service
- 8:30 am Opening session and introductions, Waldorf Atrium and adjoining rooms
- 9 am Large group session 1 Way back in Norway– Upper Telemark and Mandt stories, why did Hans and Margit come? How were they treated for marrying across social class lines?
- 9:45 am Mini-session 1, rooms in Thorson Hall and off the Atrium- Norway Stories by Kevin Tvedt, Family History 101, Travel to Norway to visit Holtan sites, panel discussion, other sessions TBA
- 10:30 Coffee break in the Atrium- Hospitality Room available for a bit of quiet
- 11:15 am Mini-session 2 Life in Mt. Valley Township, with a panel, Tveits/Tvedts in Mt. Valley Township, Kevin Tvedt, other sessions TBA
- 12:00 noon Lunch in the Waldorf Atrium and Hospitality Room
- 1:00 pm Large group session 2: The Journey to America What was the trip like? Map of voyage, All 3 of their children died on the journey, Arrive at Eivend Holtan’s. Eivend and Marken as hosts in MN, where does the Holtan name come from?
- 1:45 pm Guided tour of Mt. Valley farms and Winnebago Church and cemetery. Jerry, Ron and Noel Holtan lead this field trip. Doubled with Forest City tour of the Winnebago County Historical Society Heritage Park and Genealogical Library. Audrey Olmstead leads with the cooperation of Tracy Gomez.
- 5:30 Social time before the banquet
- 6:30 pm Banquet at Salveson Ballroom at Waldorf, auction to benefit Winnebago Historical Society, fashion show?, Service of Remembrance
- Social afterward in Waldorf’s Salveson Lobby. Beverages and snacks free-will donations.
Tuesday Schedule, July 7
- 7:30 am Breakfast (optional) at Waldorf Dining Service
- 8:30 am Large group session 3- Early years in Mt Valley Twp. The move to Mt Valley Twp. and life there. Coffee and Hospitality Room
- 9:00 am Two guided tours that mirror the previous day’s tours, Mt. Valley Township/Winnebago Church or two Winnebago Historical Society sites
- 12:30 PM Lunch in Waldorf Atrium and Hospitality Room
- 1:30 pm Large group session 4, The move to North Dakota and the Diaspora into the World– Show map of the modern locations of our families
- 2:15 pm Mini-session 3- Family history 101, Writing your Family Story by Merrie Sue Holtan, and others TBA.
- 3:15 pm Closing session. Done by 4 pm.
- 8 pm Social in Waldorf’s Salveson Lobby. Beverages and snacks free-will donations.
After-reunion options
- Winnebago Genealogical Library open by appointment the next 2 days with staff. https://whsiowa.org/
- Visit to the North Dakota Holtan sites.
- Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum in Decorah- https://vesterheim.org/
- Visit to the church and cemeteries in East St. Olaf Lutheran near Byron, MN, where Eivend (brother to Hans and hosts to their coming) and Marken Holtan (source of the Holtan name) and Halvor, Hans’s father, are buried.