Every two years, IOV’s Viking of the Year Committee receives nominations and selects one outstanding candidate to be recognized as Viking of the Year at the bi-annual convention.  The Viking of the Year is recognized for outstanding service, accomplishment, and dedication to the Subordinate Lodge and Viking Order, as well as their contributions to the community at large.

Nominations are open for the 2026 Viking of the Year award!
• Nominees must be members of the Independent Order of Vikings in good financial standing.
• One Viking of the Year will be elected at each Viking Lodge in 2025.
• The applications will be sent to the Chief of your Lodge by September 30, 2025.
• The Lodge will determine their Viking of the Year and submit that person’s application to the IOV Fraternal Administrator.
• The Viking of the Year Committee will then determine the Viking of the Year for the 2026 Convention from the Viking of the year from each Lodge.
• One award will be presented every two years at the convention.
• The Viking of the Year Committee appointed by the Grand Chief will administer the award.
• The award will be a plaque, medallion and expenses paid to the 2026 Convention.
• An individual may win the Viking of the Year only once.
• Previous nominees are eligible to be re-nominated in succeeding years.
• Grand Lodge Officers and Executive Council Members are not eligible to receive the award.
• Nominations must be sent to the IOV Fraternal Administrator, PO Box 8183 Haverhill, MA 01835 and must be postmarked prior to midnight June 15, 2026

HAVE SOMEONE IN MIND FOR VIKING OF THE YEAR 2026?
Please submit your nomination to the Chief of your Lodge postmarked before MIDNIGHT September 30, 2025. The Nomination Form is available on the IOV Website (www.iovikings.org). Nominations may be submitted any time before the deadline.

CONGRATULATIONS to the 2024 Vikings of the Year: Bill Hendry, Harald #13 and Faisel Abdelkader, Linne’ #57!

Viking of the Year Awardees

1987      Ray Knutson, Ellida #25

1988      C. Henry Widegren, Drake #3

1989      Agnes Trillcott, Stenkil #92

1990      Hjalmar T. Lindskoog, Brage #2

1991      Ruth Ann Matthews, Linne’ #57

1992      Carl A. Larson, Stenkil #92

1993      Rey l. Carlberg, Harald #13

1994      Raymond Carlson, Linne’ #57

1995      Henry W. Stenquist, Jr., Edmund #91

1996      Mauritz Erickson, Linne’ #57

1997      Norma Sundberg, Orvar Odd #24

1998      Alfred Majors, Linne’ #57

1999      Charles Niarhos Harald #13

2000      Allen E. Johnson, Ingjald #65

2001      Alex J. Arvia, Harald #13

2002      Juanita “Toots” Porter, Ingjald #65

2003      (no nominations received)           

2004      Esther Irene Sundberg, Clara #118

2005      Wayne H. Bailey, Linne’ #57

2007      Gordon Lindgren, Neptun #35

2009      Timothy Fagerstrom, Ingjald #65

2011      Joel Lunden, Linne’ #57

2013      Kathleen Heyvaert, Clara #118

2015      Helane Bergklint, Linne’ #57

2017      Elisabeth “Betsy” Lynch, Ingjald #65

2019      William Jandt, Linne’ #57

2021   Alf Majors, Linne’ #57

2024 Faisel Abdelkader, Linne #57 and Bill Hendry, Harald #13