By Bill Anderson
A very welcome rain fell on Rutland and vicinity on the morning of Friday, August 19. Even Kurt Breker’s perennially drought parched fields near Cayuga were blessed with 1.1 inch of cool, clear rainwater. Norbert Kulzer reported that his rain gauge registered 1 inch when the rain had stopped falling, while the gauge of his next door neighbor, Roger Pearson, showed only .65 of an inch. Mike Wyum reported that he has 3 rain gauges in the garden at his Ransom Township farm, and that one of them held .9, one held .95 and one held 1.1 inch. Mike says that he’s adding them all together, dividing by 3 to get the average, and then rounding up to arrive at a full inch of precipitation. Harvey Bergstrom reported 1½” at the Bergstrom farm 2 miles south of Cayuga, and Chuck Anderson reported that his rain gauge showed 1.02” after the rain had stopped and the clouds had cleared away at his farm in Weber Township. It is reported that cornstalks in local fields are “…smiling from ear to ear.” Some more rain wouldn’t hurt, but no one is complaining right now.
Chuck & Mary Beth Anderson; Mike & Phyllis Wyum; Alan & Doreen Olstad; and, Mark & Kathy Wyum; boarded a bus at Forman sponsored by the Sargent County Farmers Union on the afternoon of Wednesday, August 17, for a trip to Fargo to attend a F-M Red Hawks baseball game at Newman Outdoor Stadium. The Red Hawks took on the Sioux Falls Canaries, and whipped ‘em by a score of 7 to 0. Well, you wouldn’t expect a canary to do very well in a contest with a Hawk, anyway, would you? All who made the trip report that the afternoon at the ballpark was very enjoyable.
Rutland natives Mike & Diane Kulzer, now of Fargo, were visitors in their old home town from Friday, August 19 to Monday, August 22. They visited Diane’s mother, Phyllis Erickson, and helped her with some chores around the house during their stay. Mike also did some repair work on the deer stands on his hunting grounds near Rutland.
Family, friends and neighbors got together at the Coteau des Prairies Lodge on Saturday, August 20, to celebrate Curt & Judy (Lee) Silseth’s 50th Wedding Anniversary. The Party was organized by the Silseths’ 3 children: Jill; JJ; and, Christie; and Curt & Judy didn’t know that the party was for them until they got there. The Silseths’ many friends in the Rutland community congratulate them on the occasion of their Golden Wedding Anniversary, and extend best wishes to them for many good years to come.
Rutland Sportsmen’s Club member Mike Anderson reported that 234 youngsters ranging in age from 4 to 18participated in Youth Day activities at the John Narum Memorial Trap & Rifle Range near Silver Lake on the afternoon of Sunday, August 21. Participants had the opportunity to safely handle shotguns, rifles, BB guns, archery equipment, fishing equipment and even slingshots under the supervision of Club members who had volunteered their services for the occasion. Youngsters in attendance also had the opportunity to win one of the many door prizes donated by area individuals and businesses. Lunch, including burgers, bratwursts and sweet corn, was also available on the grounds. The next Rutland Sportsmen’s Club’s Youth Day is scheduled for August of 2023, on the Sunday before school starts. Congratulations to the members and officers of The Rutland Sportsmen’s Club on another successful event, and for a job well done.
Rutland native Dennis Lee, RHS Class of ’58, and his granddaughter, Kendall, visited old friends at the Rutland Seniors’ Center on the morning of Monday, August 22, prior to departing for their homes at Moore OK. Dennis was up in his old home territory to help his youngest sister and her husband, Judy & Curt Silseth, celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary on Saturday, August 20. Dennis is now retired, and granddaughter Kendall is preparing to start her third year in Pharmacy School in Oklahoma.
A Special Meeting of the Rutland City Council was held at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 22, in the Rutland Town Hall, with Mayor Mike Mahrer; Auditor Deb Banish; and, City Council members Bill Anderson; Rodney Erickson; and, Lori McLaen; present. Council member Delores Lysne was absent. The meeting had been called to consider the application for a liquor license that had been submitted by Rutland Improvement LLC d/b/a The Lariat Bar. After reviewing the application, Rodney Erickson made a motion, seconded by Lori McLaen, to approve the application and issue a liquor license that will be effective on September 1, 2022, and expire at Midnight on December 31, 2022. All Council members present voted “Yes,” and the license was approved. The license may be renewed for a year effective January 1, 2023. The next regular meeting of the Rutland City Council has been scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 12, 2022, at the Rutland Town Hall.
Although progress continues to be made on getting the Lariat Bar back in business, Rodney Erickson reports that the U.S. Postal Service has once again become incommunicado concerning the restoration of a Post Office in Rutland. The former Rutland Post Office building was closed by the USPS back on September 30, 2021, for “a few days.” We’re not sure when “a few days” becomes “an extended period,” but it must be soon.
The Wild Rice Antique Tractor & Plowing Association held a plowing bee on land just west of Cayuga on Tuesday, August 23. According to Mark Wyum, a member of the Association, 13 tractors, ranging in size from 35 horsepower to 110 horsepower were on hand for the event. The land which was plowed is part of the Krueger farm, and is currently farmed by Kurt Breker. A week ago the ground was too hard and dry to plow, but Friday’s rain loosened it up and made it mellow enough to work well. Kurt raised wheat on the field this year. Next year it will be planted to soybeans or corn. According to Mark, those who participated in this year’s plowing bee enjoyed giving their antique tractors a workout, scouring their plows and reminiscing about how things were done in “the good old days.” There were no reports of tractor operators becoming targets for dive-bombing seagulls. The gulls are probably out of practice.
Wedding bells will be ringing for Mr. Chris Pearson of Rutland and Miss Hailey DuBord of Forman at The Coteau des Prairies Lodge on Saturday, August 27, 2022. The wedding reception following the ceremony will be at the Milnor Area Community Center (MACC) in Milnor ND. The Groom is the son of Randy & Cheri Pearson of rural Milnor. The Bride is the daughter of Scott & Gwen DuBord of Jamestown. Chris farms with his parents, primarily in Ransom & Shuman Townships. Hailey is employed as the Director of the USDA’s Sargent County Farm Services Agency office in Forman. The couple will make their home on the Pearson family farm southeast of Rutland. The farm was previously occupied by Chris’ grandparents, Orvis Pearson & the late Alphie (Johnson) Pearson, and by his great-grandparents, the late Gottfried & Martha (Anderson) Pearson. The Rutland community extends congratulations to Chris & Hailey on the occasion of their marriage, and best wishes to them for a long and happy life together.
A birthday party for Rutland native Mavis (Hoflen) Wold is scheduled to be held in the Courtyard on the west side of Four Seasons Healthcare Center in Forman, at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 30. Mavis became the first-born daughter of the late Oscar & Alma (Anderson) Hoflen of this community back in 1929, and she has been an enthusiastic Rutlander, Rutlandite or Rutlandian ever since. She is a member of the RHS Class of ’47. Mavis’ many friends in Rutland extend a heartfelt “Happy Birthday!” to her on the occasion of her 93rd. They don’t make ‘em like Mavis any more. Cards & letters may be sent to Mavis Wold c/o Four Seasons Healthcare Center, 483 4th Street Southwest, Forman ND 58032.
Uff-Da Day XXXVII, on Sunday, October 2, 2022, is only 5 weeks away as of this coming Sunday. Chairperson Katie McLaen wants everyone who wants to make lefse, or who wants to learn how to make lefse, to sign up for one, or more, of the upcoming lefse making sessions at the Rutland Town Hall. There will be a morning session and an evening session on Tuesday, August 30; Tuesday, September 6; Tuesday, September 13; and, Tuesday, September 20. Give Katie a call at 701-680-9354 for additional information. If you like laughter, fellowship and a good time, you’ll like making lefse with Lefse Lena and the Rutland Community Club’s lefse crew.
Speaking of Uff-Da Day, once again the Uff-Da Day Parade will be lining up on Dakota Street, on the east side of town, and will step off, led by The American Legion’s Color Guard, at precisely 1:00 p.m., on Sunday, October 2, 2022. Everyone is invited to participate and have a good time. Don’t be bashful. This is Uff-Da day, after all.
Well, that’s the news from Rutland for this week. For additional information about what’s going on in the little city that can, check out the community’s internet web site at www.rutlandnd.com, and take a look at the Rutland Facebook page while you’re at it, too. Don’t forget to patronize your local Post Office, and remember to keep the pressure on the U. S. Postal Service and the North Dakota Congressional delegation to SAVE OUR POST OFFICE! Later.
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