Norwegian Americans: Cemeteries

Things To Know
Keep in mind the following when looking for a burial site in a Norwegian cemetery or churchyard.
 * There are three alternatives for burial sites: single graves, family plots, or spreading of ashes
 * There is no law stating you have to have a tombstone on your grave
 * There is no obligation to plant flowers or plants on the graves, but the leaseholder of the plot has a responsibility to see that the grave is kept in order.
 * Markers and stones must be sucurely fastened with no danger of falling down
 * The timeperiod for a leasehold is determined by the individual cities/municipalities
 * The fee for use of the burial site is determined by the individual communities
 * After 20 years the remains can be removed and the plot can be reused. Some communities do not allow leases of more than 20 years
 * After a grave has been emptied the stone must be moved within 6 months. The stones can be taken home or the church can buy them and reuse them.
 * Graves over 100 years old are considered to be antiques and are regulated by special ordinances

Today the government is taking a stronger role in preserving older cemeteries and graves. The cemeteries in Ramnes and Tønsberg are two excamples.

Helpful Books
Helge Klingberg, Oddbjørn Sørmoen, and Aud Wefald. Kirkegaarden - et levende kulturminne 2005. ARFO, 2005

Helge Klingberg. Den nye kirkegårdsboka, Ars Longa, 2005

Online Resources
www.kirkegaardskultur.no/

www.lovdata.no

www.namesinstone.com/

www.findagrave.com/

www.interment.net/

www.usgenweb.org/

www.theevergreenscemetery.com/

Norwegian American Mortuary Art in Vernon County, WI