The St. Louis Park-Hopkins branch of the Sons of Norway was formed on February 12, 1953 with 50 charter members. The group was named after Thorlief Haug, who was a champion skier and whose daughter lived in Hopkins. The organization was open to men and women of Norwegian birth or marriage. Its first president was Lawrence E. Hauge, and the group met at the Masonic Temple (Hamilton Building) on Walker Street.
