The Sons of Norway Fedraheimen Lodge No. 140 continues its 100th anniversary celebration March 3, hosting the Ringling 5 musical group from Eastern Montana.

It’s not a circus, but the five, sometimes seven, Ringling musicians and singers provide a lot of laughs and good music. For a sample, search “Hooters Hardware” on YouTube to hear the group’s trademark humor.

Ringling 5 performs at 2 p.m. March 3 at Northridge Lutheran Church, 323 Northridge Drive in Kalispell.

Donna Tice, a member of Sons of Norway, has seen the group and highly recommends that people attend.

“They call themselves the Norwegian Studs of Rhythm,” Tice said with a laugh. “That should give you a pretty good clue to the performance.” 

The group, made up of Eastern Montana ranchers, borrowed its name from the town of Ringling. Sue Sande, also a member of Sons of Norway, said none of them actually live in that town.

“They sang there once and no one threw them out, so they kind of liked the name,” Sande said.

Tice said the Ringling 5 always perform at Hostfest in Minot, N.D. For anyone of Scandinavian heritage, that means the group has to be top notch.

“Hostfest is the largest Scandinavian festival in North America,” Tice said.

For another preview on the Internet, check out the group’s website, www.ringling5.com. On the site, the members say they sing of today’s West with bank credit limits, “tennis shoe-clad men” and  “women who had potential before they got married.”

Ringling 5 members say they offer a slice of the real West rather than the glossed-over romanticized version of ranching life. Songs such as “Montana Ag Live Where Are You?” contrast the idealistic vision portrayed on the television show with ranchers’ reality of dust, animals with ticks and fields full of gophers.

These lyrics from their classic “Hoop-De Poop-De Polka” give a flavor of their music:

“In everything we do, there’s hoops to jump through

And a certain etiquette to get things done

There’s rules and regulations that cause some aggravation

But it doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun

And every day we work, there’s doo-doo and some dirt

Mix a little rain and you’ve got mud

But we don’t sing the blues and it won’t get to you

If you do a little polka with your butt

We’ll do the hoop-de poop-de polka

Don’t let yourself get down

You’re not allowed to frown

Just laugh, dance, pretend life’s a joke-a

We’ll do the hoop-de poop-de polka

Also on the website, you can click on “Who are these boys?” and learn members’ first names and interesting tidbits about the men. Obie, for example, gets the group a senior discount at all the restaurants and used to be a bush pilot in Alaska. Larry writes a lot of songs and functions as the main setup and gig-booking man.

One has a last name — Don Seifert. Along with guitar, he plays the accordion that he bought at a pawn shop for just $25 — more than the store was asking.

He says he puts the accordion on the dashboard so the group can park in the handicapped spot. One time he left the car unlocked and came back to find 12 more accordions inside.

For more of such humor, buy a ticket at Whitefish Credit Union or at the door March 3. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

Any proceeds after expenses go to help support the substantial scholarships Sons of Norway gives each year to local high school students.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.