Howard family enjoys volunteer work at Nordicfest

Longtime Libby residents Dan and Freda Howard have taken up the call to volunteer in their community because they both subscribe to the idea that someone has to do the job.

“If something needs to be done, then do it,” Freda simply said.

“You can’t wait for someone else to do it,” Dan adds. “You have to help the community, no matter what.”

Come this weekend with Nordicfest in full swing, the pair will spend many hours volunteering during the annual festival just as they’ve always done since the event began 30 years ago.  

Both are longtime members of the Sons of Norway lodge and will work alongside other volunteers to ensure that the well-known Vikings, a deep-fried meatball on a stick, are ready to be purchased by festival attendees. They both also spent many hours during the year helping others to prepare the lefse and rosettes desserts that will be sold.

Freda will also spend additional time during the weekend working as part of the Nordicfest board of directors. She serves as education coordinator, a role she has held since 2008.

Dan grew up in Libby and it was while he was in college that he joined on as a member of the then newly formed Libby Sons of Norway lodge. He became a member in 1974 and just four years later returned to Libby to begin what would become a 35-year career with the Kootenai National Forest. At just age 28, Dan was elected to serve as the lodge’s president.

“I was told I was one of the youngest presidents nationwide for Sons of Norway,” he said. “I’ve been a member for 40 years and I’ve been president of the lodge more years than I haven’t.”

Freda came to Libby to serve as a teacher at the St. John Lutheran Church school and before long mutual friends set the couple up on a date. Although of German decent, Freda joined her husband and became a member of the Sons of Norway in 1979. She has served in several officer roles as part of the lodge.

“I know more about the Scandinavian culture than German,” Freda said.

The couple is also active with St. John Lutheran Church, and has two grown daughters, Shannon and Kara.

The connection to the Scandinavian heritage is one of the many reasons the Howards enjoy their involvement with Sons of Norway and Nordicfest.

“I enjoy the people and the organization,” Dan said. “But I also think there’s value in having an interest in our heritage.”

Dan participates in the Norwegian classes held at the lodge and credits the schooling for helping him keep a grasp on the language.

Freda spends the school year working with students at the Sons of Norway lodge’s adopted school, Kootenai Valley Christian School, to learn about Scandinavia. She, along with a number of other volunteers, teaches students a number of lessons on food, music and culture. One of the first lessons she has students complete is to do a family tree, hoping to spark some interest in their own heritage.

As education director on the Nordicfest board, Freda also works on children’s activities for the festival including a coloring contest and the new troll ironman relay for children prior to Friday’s Runnerfell race at Libby Elementary School.

As an educator, Freda said, she continues to volunteer in ways that impact children because she feels an awareness of Scandinavian and students’ own heritage is important.

Dan will also volunteer his musical talents as he sings the American and Norwegian national anthems at the outdoor entertainment stage adjacent to the food booths.

Dan and Freda both welcome others to join in volunteering.

“Sons of Norway is always looking for people,” he said. “We welcome people to step up.”