Lynn Bartness, a Sons of Norway financial benefits counselor in Albert Lea, has been honored for his professional excellence in insurance sales by being an honorable mention for the Sons of Norway $2 Million Club.

In serving the cities of Albert Lea and Austin, as well as Forest City, Iowa, Bartness received the honorable mention as a top-performing financial benefits counselor who sold more than $2 million (face value) in life insurance throughout 2007.

Bartness is an independent agent working for Carfourek & Associates Inc. in Albert Lea that is part of the Independent Agency system. Bartness has been an agent for 23 years serving southern Minnesota and northern Iowa.

Sons of Norway was organized as a fraternal benefit society by 18 Norwegian immigrants in Minneapolis on Jan. 16, 1995. The purpose and goals of the founding fathers were to protect members of Sons of Norway and their families from the financial hardships experienced during times of sickness or death in the family. Over time, the mission of Sons of Norway was expanded to include the preservation of Norwegian heritage and culture in our society. In the last century Sons of Norway has grown to become the largest Norwegian-American organization in the world.