Old friends were saddened last week when word was received that Wayne Maloney passed away on Tuesday, June 15, at his home in Rutland surrounded by his family. Wayne Robert Maloney was born in Morris, Minnesota, on December 26, 1953, to William & Darlene (Faatz) Maloney. He was raised on a farm southwest of Morris and graduated from Chokio-Alberta High School in 1972. After graduation, he moved to North Dakota and worked for Dennis Pherson’s custom combining crew. Since then he worked for Bernard Mahrer Construction, Crandall Construction, Arrowhead Transport, Breker Trucking, Kulzer Farm Supply, and then Central Specialties until his retirement in 2017.  He was a hard worker & could fix just about anything. Wayne was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in February 2017 and battled diligently since then with treatments every two weeks. He entered Hospice care on May 28. Wayne married Pamela Jacobson on August 13, 1977. They lived in the Rutland area where they raised two daughters, Taryn Christine & Brianne Cathlene. Wayne loved to hunt deer & pheasant & also enjoyed ice fishing. He loved his snowmobiling trips out west with family & friends & ATV rides with kids & grandkids. He enjoyed the simple things like Sunday afternoon drives, watching NASCAR races, tinkering in his garage, relaxing at the lake, and nurturing his new trees. But, above all else, time spent with his grandkids was his most treasured. He is survived by his wife, Pam; daughter Taryn (Shane) Jensen and their children Cohen Robert, Beckette Cathlene & Landrie Rose of Wyndmere, ND; daughter Brianne (Joshua) Nelson & their children Piper Lynn & Royce Curtis of Rutland; parents, Bill & Darlene Maloney of Morris, MN; six brothers & sisters Ed (Connie) of Ramsey, MN;  Cindy Schmidt (Rollie Retzlaff) of Hoffman, MN; Gary (Terry) Maloney and Alan Maloney, all of Morris, MN; Pam (Steve) Reed of Sioux Falls, SD; & Craig (Julie) Maloney of Freeman, SD; brothers & sisters-in-law Carolyn (Larry) Christensen, Calvin (Wendy) Jacobson and Diane Smith all of Rutland; and Boyd Jacobson, Jr. of Starbuck, MN; & numerous nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Sarah Lynn; maternal grandparents, Richard & Anna Faatz & paternal grandparents, James & Mary Ellen Maloney; and father & mother-in-law, Boyd & Catherine Jacobson. A family funeral service was held on Friday, June 19 at Nordland Lutheran Church in Rutland and burial was held at Nordland Cemetery which many Rutland and area friends attended respecting social distancing guidelines.

Doug Spieker had been hospitalized at Sanford in Fargo on Monday, June 15, after suffering what was at first thought to have been a stroke. Doug reports that his doctors are of the opinion that the sudden onset of symptoms may have been a reaction to one of the prescription medications he has been taking. He was back at home on Saturday, June 20, in time to enjoy the first day of summer and the Summer Solstice at home on the farm. Doug says that he will be taking it easy at home for a while, but expects to be out and about in short order.

The Rutland Senior Center was bustling with conversation on Saturday, June 20, when about twenty individuals gathered to welcome Bonnie Anderson who was visiting this past weekend.  Bonnie now resides in Brookings, South Dakota, and managed to find time to visit with old friends over coffee before heading back south. Bonnie is keeping busy in Brookings and was glad to share time with everyone who made it to town on Saturday.

Rutland native Dick Meyers (RHS Class of ’50) arrived in his old home town from his winter quarters at Sun City AZ on Sunday, June 21, and is self-quarantining at his residence in “the bunkhous” on Main Street for two weeks. Dick reports that his arrival was a month later than usual because his family, “The Committee” as he designates them, had first thought that he should stay in AZ to avoid the coronavirus, but, with Sargent County being low risk and the case count going up in some parts of AZ, the Committee’s original decision was reversed. His intention is to remain in Rutland through September, or until it gets cold, whichever occurs first. Dick’s many friends here extend him a hearty “Welcome Home!”

The Rutland Senior Citizens Club held a meeting last week and elected new officers: Kathy Wyum was elected President and MaryBeth Anderson was elected Vice-President. Joanne Harris continues as Secretary-Treasurer of the Club. Membership meetings are expected to resume every other month once the social distancing guidelines are lifted and when meals resume at the Senior Center.

Vern Leist was expected to be sent home on Tuesday, June 23.  The accident, a collision with a wild turkey in flight while Vern was driving his motorcycle, occurred on May 27, so he has had about four weeks in the Sanford Hospital and at the Cobalt Rehabilitation Hospital.  He said that the therapists told him that they think that he can do okay at home. Welcome home Vern!

The Rutland City Council held its organization meeting on Tuesday, June 23, at the Rutland Hall with Mayor Michael Mahrer presiding. Council Member Rodney Erickson was joined by Council Members Bert Siemieniewski and Delores Lysne who were reelected to the Council for four-year terms ending June 2024. Rodney Erickson was elected City Council President and Bert Siemieniewski was elected Council Vice-President for two years. The City Engineer, Interstate Engineering, was appointed and City Attorney LeeAnn Even was reappointed as well as City Auditor Deborah Banish. The Council approved the designation of the Sargent County Teller as the City’s official newspaper as approved by the voters at the June 9 election. The Council will seek to fill the vacant two-year City Council term that ends June 2022 at the July meeting when the Council will also begin discussion on the 2021 City budget.

That is it for the news from Rutland for this week. If you still have not completed your 2020 Census- DO IT TODAY!! For each person counted, the City, County and School receives funds to help pay for vital programs that will have an impact until the next census count in 2030. The City receives funding based on population for state aid, state highway funds and other pass through fund sources. Federal funding helps the City keep the tax levy lower. The County also receives similar funds and funds for social service programs and the Schools receive funds for the school lunch program, Title programs and more. It is important to be counted. Take time and log in to complete your census survey at https://my2020census.gov/.  If you need help, please do not hesitate to contact the City Auditor at 701-724-3081 to get your census completed.