immdanes.html

The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., July 2, 1970, page 9

IMMIGRANT DANES (3) LEAD TO 300 U.S. CITIZENS

(Editor's note: the Matsen family, originally of Bickleton, held its 12th reunion recently. Noting that it had never been recorded in the newspaper, Ted Brown's aunts, Iva L. Matsen of Seattle, wrote the following interesting account.)
In a day of many broken homes, in the day of oft-mentioned weakened family ties, it is refreshing to hear of a family reunion attended by more than a hundred relatives. This happened near Bickleton on June 14, at the pine tree-shaded lodge (almost in the shadow of Mount Adams) owned by Soren and George Matsen.
It's not the first time. This has happened biannually for 24 years. Not always at the Matsen lodge, but always where interested members of the clan live - in Wilbur or Seattle, for example - anywhere that a long smorgasbord table can be laden with hot roast of Black Angus beef or home-fried chicken, 14 varieties of salad and as many sorts of dessert, not to mention the steaming coffee and iced lemonade. And not to mention a second meal four hours later. Danes must have evening coffee and coffeecake with a few extra tid bits.
How did all this happen? Well, three young Danes, brothers, left the old country in the late 1800s to try their fortune in America, and eventually all homestead near Bickleton. They were John, Peter and Stephen Madsen (who later changed their name to Matsen). All reared families, John being the most prolific, and the sons and daughters too have families until now the living members number over 300. The old homesteads still are owned and operated by descendants of the original three owners.
Now one must explain that this number 300 includes the descendants of Grete, a sister of John, Peter and Stephen, who remained in Denmark. Only 31 of her 90-odd descendants now live in the United States.
When the Matsen clan gathers, there is bound to be fun as well as food. The children may be playing ball, throwing rocks in the pond or exploring the woods. There is a business meeting at which officers are selected, after Robert's Rules of Order have been shamelessly tossed into the big brick fireplace at the lodge. The location of the next meeting is determined, not by invitation but by presidential proclamation or suggestions from the floor.
Anyone who has been abroad or on vacation or in the armed forces or is working at some unusual occupation such as a researcher at the Battelle Northwest Laboratories in Richland (Dr. Robert Matsen, Jr.), or as a supervisor of the installation and operation of an airfield for the United Nations in Saudi Arabia (Don H. Church), if present, is apt to be called on for an impromptu speech, interrupted by questions, cheers or additions from the listeners.
There is apt to be a musical number or two, a skit, a demonstration of the use of an Eskimo yo-yo by a resident of Alaska (Ron Wilbur), or an explanation of how houses are heated and cooled by sunlight (Gordon Roberts).
If anyone comes from Denmark or an American student from Sweden (John Church) or Germany (Nancy Wilbur), or if the Ashendens arrive from Massachusetts, Suzanne Matsen from New York, or if the Walt or Norman Browns, the Jack Johnson family, the Oscar Steffenses, Norman Martinsens, Bob Christensens or Ralph Matsens, from California, or the Herbert Matsens from South Carolina, they may be asked to tell about their trip across the country or to report on how the family is multiplying and proliferating (or becoming extinct) in their part of the world. Members who come from Bickleton or anywhere as near as the Portland vicinity, Seattle, of Bellevue, Puyallup, Wilbur, Sunnyside, Wapato, Pullman, the Tri-Cities, Spokane, Vancouver (BC) or Weiser (ID) are considered local.
Interest sometimes centers on the four sets of twins who were usually present: George and Nels Matsen of Sunnyside, Chris and Craig Hansen of Wilbur; Neal and Karen Brown of Bickleton, and Marta and Christi Lauritsen of Whitefish, MT, each pair of representing a different branch of the family.
Annual attendance this year was 105. The person coming from the greatest distance was Mary Ann Hosman from Singapore. The oldest one present was Meta Johnson of Sunnyside and the youngest Margaret Lyren Matsen of Wapato. President for the past two years has been Don Matsen of Wapato, and the president-elect is Walter Johnson of Bickleton.
In 1972 there will be another great gay gathering of the clan in Bickleton.