Val Björnson Photo: INL
Kristján Valdimar Gunnarsson was born in Minneota, Minnesota on August 29, 1906. He died in Minnesota on March 10, 1987. He was known as Valdimar (Val) Björnson in the west.
Spouse: February 20, 1946 Guðrún Jónsdóttir b. in Ísafjörður on October 18, 1915.
Children: 1. Helga Bjarney b. June 16, 1946 2. Kristín Rannveig b. April 10, 1948 in Minneapolis 3. Jón Gunnar b. June 16, 1949, d. October 27, 2022 4. Valdimar Halldór b. August 11, 1952 in Minneapolis 5. María (Maja) Ingibjörg b. September 12, 1955 in Minneapolis.
Guðrún Jónsdóttir Photo: VÍÆ I
Valdimar’s parents were Gunnar Björnsson and Ingibjörg Ágústína Jónsdóttir Hördal in Minnesota. Guðrún was the daughter of Jón Hróbjartsson, a teacher in Ísafjörður and Rannveig Samúelsdóttir from Skutulsfjörður. Valdimar graduated from Minneota High School in 1924 and graduated with a B.A. degree summa cum laude in 1930 from the University of Minnesota. He always did a lot of work to strengthen the relationship between Iceland and the Icelandic community in North America. More about Valdimar in Icelandic heritage (Íslensk arfleifð) below.