Endre Johannes Cleven Endre Johannes Cleven ( May 8 , 1874 - July 3 , 1916 ) was a Norwegian - born Canadian who was prominent in the settlement and culture of Norwegian immigrants in Manitoba , Canada , during the early 20th century . Cleven was the youngest of seven siblings , was born in Skudenes , Norway to Ingebjorg and Johannes Kleven . Johannes Kleven was a music teacher in Skudeneshavn , one of the main towns of the Skudenes parish of the island of Karmøy , Rogaland . Cleven studied music under his father during his childhood , but was not able to pursue a musical education when his father ' s death , when Cleven was nine , left the family in poverty . Cleven attended public school and , at the age of fourteen , began working as a ship hand , where he cooked food for sailors and was frequently beaten for minor misdemeanors . To escape the hardships of the fishing life he moved to the United States at the age of seventeen and settled in Inwood , Iowa , where he lived for several years before moving to New York City in 1893 to pursue further opportunities . Cleven worked at the Columbia Hospital in New York City between 1893 and 1899 , during this time , he studied music with Professor Brunker , who was also a personal friend of Cleven and also noted within the Norwegian community . Cleven became a maestro at violin and was active at boxing and wrestling and also became a personal acquaintance of the boxer Bob Fitzsimmons . In 1899 , Cleven enlisted in the US Army during the Spanish - American War and was stationed in the Philippines as part of the 203rd New York Volunteer Infantry , eventually being promoted to Sergeant in the US Army Musical Corps . After the war had ended , Cleven returned to Norway to visit his family , travelling via Japan , India , China , the Suez Canal and other countries along the way . Cleven returned to Canada and re - settled in Winnipeg , Manitoba in April 1903 and began work as a photographer and musician . He married Margit Hoines , daughter of Lars Aadnesen Hoines and Maria Vaula of Skudenes , in a Lutheran ceremony on September 7 , 1904 . The couple had met during Cleven ' s return to Norway . Together they had six children : daughters Judith Camilla ( who died in infancy ) and Lillian and sons Endre , Harald , Alf and Odvar . Cleven began working with the Norwegian - Canadian community shortly after his return to Canada , participating in inviting Norwegians to immigrate and helping to start the " Nord Mannslaget " ( " Normannalaget " ) in modern Norwegian , a Norwegian - Canadian society . He started a mixed choir and was its conductor . For many years he was the president of the Musicians Union , and one of the organizers of the city Musicians ' Club . He played the violin and bass violin at the Walker Theatre Orchestra and later at the Orpheum Theatre in Winnipeg . In January 1912 , the Canadian government commissioned Cleven to be in charge of Canada ' s Scandinavian settlement program . During this time , he had an office in Winnipeg and travelled throughout the United States and Canada to further the settlement of Manitoba by Norwegians . After the outbreak of the First World War , Cleven , ranked Captain , was appointed as the leader of three Norwegian - Canadians who were intent on organizing the 197th Battalion ( " The Vikings of Canada " ) of the Canadian Expeditionary Force . Endre ' s motive and the impetus for the battalion ' s formation was that he was concerned about the possibility of Norwegians not being seen as loyal Canadians in wartime . While travelling to Camp Hughes ( a temporary camp in Manitoba ) in order to arrange for a summer camp that was to be the battalion ' s first muster , Cleven died after the car he was travelling in ran into a ditch near Portage La Prairie , Manitoba . He was the only one of the three on board to die , and ironically the most important to the future of the battalion . Cleven was buried with full military honours . His funeral was the first military funeral held in Winnipeg after the outbreak of the First World War . His death was described as a " hard blow " to the Norwegian - Canadian community .