By Bill Anderson

Pleasant weather has been the rule of the week. The temperature on the evening of October 31, Halloween, was so mild that homeowners could sit out on their front porches to greet the little princesses, pirates, werewolves, and witches who hit the candy Mother Lode on their “tricks or treats” route. This was one of the nicest Halloweens in recent memory, although the keepers of weather records have told us that Halloween 2016 was even warmer. Last year, the temperature on Halloween was 42. Take your pick!

No tricks, but possibly some treats, are in store for past and future patrons of The Lariat Bar in Rutland. At a meeting of shareholders called by the directors of Rutland Improvement d/b/a The Lariat Bar LLC, held in the Bar on the evening of Thursday, October 27, the directors disclosed that a manager for the business has been hired, and intends to be on the job by mid-November. The Lariat is expected to be fully stocked, staffed and open for business, both at the bar and in the kitchen, by December 1, 2022. The name of the new manager has not yet been revealed, but it is not expected to be: Ink; Bud; Toddles; Ronald; Martin; Darwin; Kathy; Calvin; Wendy; Junior; Art; Deadeye; Bruce; Paula; Norman; Rita; Janice; Bradley; Rebecca; Jeremy; Mike; Pete; or, Michelle. There are no clues suggesting that Jack Prindiville will be taking over again, either. Just be patient. All will be revealed in due time. Just plan to be in Rutland at the beginning of December, when there will be hot times in the old town, again.

Renee Cramton of this community has been under Hospice care at Sanford Hospital on North Broadway in Fargo for the past several weeks. Renee has been fighting cancer for more than 25 years. She had moved to Bemidji to stay with her son, Jim Cramton, in early October, shortly after Uff-Da Day, but declining health required the move to Sanford in Fargo. Renee’s many friends in Rutland extend their best wishes to her and her family.

CORRECTION: In last week’s column that appeared in the Sargent County Teller it was reported that Joy Harris had accompanied Mike Harris and Andy Harris from San Diego CA to Rutland, arriving in Rutland on Tuesday, October 25. That was incorrect. Joy did not accompany Mike and Andy to Rutland. In fact, she was visiting family in the Philippine Islands at the time. Apologies are extended to Mike Harris, Joy Harris, Andy Harris and the readers of The Sargent County Teller for the error.

Mike Harris and Andy Harris departed Rutland on the morning of Tuesday, November 1, bound for Billings MT and points west. They took their residence, Mike’s 5^th wheel travel trailer, pulled by his Ford 1 ton, 4 wheel drive, dually pickup truck, with them. After spending a few days in Billings they intend to travel on to Dillon MT to do some elk and deer hunting with a cousin, Mike Anderson, a grandson of the late Earl & Irene Anderson of this community. Also, while in Dillon, they intend to visit with 2 more cousins, Tim Anderson, brother of Mike, and Glenn Kulzer, son of Rutland natives Dave & Pat (Anderson) Kulzer of Condon MT.

Old friends here were saddened on Saturday, October 29, when it was learned that former Rutland resident and longtime community member Susanne E. (Fust) Malstrom had passed away that day at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 75 years 2 months and 12 days.  Susanne Elizabeth Fust was born August 17, 1947, to Gilbert and Mary (Manikowski) Fust in Breckenridge, MN. She grew up in the Cayuga-Rutland area, attended elementary school in Rutland and Cayuga, and graduated from Sargent Central High School in 1965. She furthered her education at NDSSS in Wahpeton ND. Following college she moved to Fargo and worked for Nodak Insurance. On August 2, 1968, she married Leo Claire Malstrom in Webster SD. In 1970 they moved to Rutland ND for a year, before making their home on a farm on the North Dakota side of the State Line, south southeast of Rutland and east southeast of Havana. On that farm they raised their four children. In 2010 Susanne and Leo retired to Forman ND and resided there until Leo’s passing in March of 2015. Susanne remained in Forman until she moved back to Rutland in 2021. Susanne enjoyed woodworking, gardening, and canning. While on the farm she would bottle feed all types of animals and was a natural care giver. She loved playing cards, bowling and spending time with family and friends, but, most of all, she loved her grandkids and great grandkids. She made many fond memories for them, with ice cream after school, homemade bread and homemade greeting cards. Over the years Susanne was a member of the Rutland American Legion Auxiliary and was part of a homemakers club. She is survived by her four children: Monica (Shane); Nanette (Stuart); Brian (Jamie); and Teresa (Corey); her nine grandchildren: Emily; Elizabeth (Thomas); Brandon (Andrea); Alex; Pearson; Bryson; Carter; Karley; and, Aaliyah; four great-grandchildren: Bethany; Robert; Addilyn; and, Baby Christianson; her siblings: David (Alyce); Walter (JoAnn); Janet; Richard (Sandra); Roger (Nancy); and, Judy; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, Leo; her parents, Gilbert and Mary; her in-laws, Carl and Eleanor; son-in-law, Joseph Briske; brothers: Joseph; and Donald Fust; brothers-in-law: Donald Cudmore, Robert Swanson, and Victor (Janet) Malstrom. Condolences may be directed to the family in care of Nanette McQuarie, 811 S Wells St., Aberdeen SD 57401. The memorial mass for Susanne E. Malstrom will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 5, 2022, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church of Cayuga ND, with Rev. Fr. Peter Andrel celebrating the mass. Inurnment will be next to the gravesite of her late husband, Leo Malstrom, at the Trondheim Cemetery of rural Veblen SD under the direction of the Price Funeral Chapel of Forman and Britton. The Rutland community extends condolences and sympathy to the family and friends of Susanne Malstrom, a loyal friend and a valued member of the community.

The Reformation Sunday service at Nordland Lutheran Church in Rutland on October 30, was led by lay members of the Trinity-Nordland-Trinity (TNT) Parish. The following report was received from TNT Parish Pastor Julie Johnson: “Youth and adult members of the 3 congregations that comprise the TNT Parish shared memories of their 2022 youth trip to Sioux Falls SD that occurred from July 25through July27, at Nordland Lutheran Church in Rutland and Trinity Lutheran Church in Forman on Sunday, October 30. PowerPoint pictures were part of the message about the youth trip. Seminary student Rachael Hoistad, other adult leaders, and youth led the services at both congregations. The young men & women who were on the trip were: Payton Bergh; Gaven Christianson; Michael Hoistad; Whitney Mahrer; Mikyla Nelson; Abby Erickson; Gabi Christianson; Charlize Willprecht; Anna Hoistad; Baylie Zirnhelt; Adalee Hill; Kaycee Hamilton; Greta Bladow; and Autumn Zirnhelt. The adult leaders were Kayla Mahrer; Jess Zirnhelt; Rachael Hoistad; Andrea Erickson; and, Pastor Julie Johnson. The group stayed at First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, where Rutland native Val Pherson serves as a minister for children’s programs. The hospitality experienced at First Lutheran Church was outstanding, with a full basketball court, an activities room with table tennis, air hockey, etc., shower facilities, spacious sleeping areas, a large kitchen to use to make breakfasts and snacks, and a large youth room for all to gather together for devotions, communion, and fellowship. As a service project and a “thank you” to First Lutheran Church, the youth cleaned four Sunday School rooms to ready the rooms for the fall programming. Another service project was completed at the Butterfly House & Aquarium by pulling weeds and grass in the flower gardens and patio. The mission of The Butterfly House & Aquarium is to inspire conservation of the vital building blocks of sea, sky, and land. This service project was a way for the group to help take care of God’s creation. Then after lunch, we got to return to tour the interior of The Butterfly House and Aquarium. An unplanned service project was donating all the unused groceries from our breakfasts and snacks to the food pantry at First Lutheran Church. The group was so glad to be able to do this. The group spent a couple of hours at “The Falls Park,” where the actual waterfalls are in Sioux Falls. Such a beautiful place! The weather changed some of the plans. It was raining, and too wet to go explore Devil’s Gulch on the way to Sioux Falls. The rain on Tuesday afternoon changed our plans to visit the Wild West water park so we stayed a few extra hours on Wednesday to take in the attractions of this park. It was a fun time! Thank you to everyone who supported the fund raising efforts of the youth and who continue to support the youth and adults in all of our congregations’ youth activities throughout the year.” Thanks to Pastor Julie Johnson for the report.

Harvey Bergstrom brought a new member of his family, Henry T, to the morning coffee & conversation session with the Assembled Wise Men at the Rutland Seniors’ Center on Saturday, October 29. Henry T is 98 years old, and has recently been hospitalized for serious restorative treatments, but he is now as frisky and full of pep as he was when he first rolled off the assembly line back in 1924. Henry T is the name that Harvey & Judy Bergstrom have given to the 1924 Ford Model “T” Touring Car that they acquired earlier this year from Hilary (Nelson) Mehrer and Kaycee (Nelson) Millette, daughters of the late Larry “Doc” Nelson of Forman and Diane Smith of Rutland. Henry T had originally come to Sargent County from Mobridge SD in the early 1970’s after being acquired by the late Keith Stalter of Forman. Keith reached out to Rudy Rathert of Forman for assistance in getting the vehicle, then in pretty sad shape, to Forman and in getting started on restoration work. Keith worked on the car, primarily on his own, for several years before it was ready to be seen by the public. The restored Model “T” was Keith’s pride & Joy, and he had it on display in many car shows and parades throughout the area. In 1982 Keith had his Model T in Rutland’s Pride Of The Prairie Centennial Celebration Parade, and in 1983 the late Rudy Anderson of this community rode with Keith in Forman’s Centennial Parade, with Henry T proudly bearing signs promoting Anderson Insurance Agency of Rutland. After Keith passed away, Larry “Doc” Nelson acquired the car from his estate. Doc, too, enjoyed displaying the car and giving rides to friends and family members. When Doc passed away a few years ago, his daughters, Hilary & Kaycee, acquired ownership of the Model T. Until last Saturday, the last time Henry T had been in Rutland was on October 6, 2019, when 2 cousins, Orvis Pearson of Rutland, a 1925 model, and Orville Nelson of Forman, a 1926 model, rode in the 1924 Model “T” in the Uff-Da Day XXXV Parade. Since acquiring the Model T, Harvey has been diligently at work repairing & restoring Henry T. Harvey has even spruced up the car with varnished wood spoke wheels and a walnut steering wheel, replacing the original bakelite wheel. He has also added a couple of rear view mirrors and is now working on getting the folding top and side curtains ready for winter driving. The Ford Motor Company manufactured Model T cars from 1908 with only minor changes during those years. According to Harvey, the purchase price of a Model “T” Touring Car back in 1924 was $295.00. The 1924 Model T could be purchased with a factory installed electric starter. A fuel pump to supplement the gravity fuel feed to the carburetor was also available, but Henry T does not have one. If a Model T driver wanted to drive up a steep hill, they had to drive up backwards, as gravity could not get fuel from the fuel tank mounted under the driver’s seat to the carburetor. Well, Henry T is now restored and very reliable, again, but, if you happen to spot Harvey & Judy with their Model T broke down along the highway, make sure to roll your window down and yell, “Get a horse!” as you go by.

Next weekend, on Thursday & Friday, November 10 & 11, there will be Veterans Day observances in Sargent County. All U.S. military veterans have been invited to attend a program presented by students, faculty & staff at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 10, in the Sargent Central Activities Center in Forman, at which veterans of all services: Army; Air Force; Navy; Coast Guard; and Marine Corps; will be honored. As November 10, 2022, is also the 247^th Birthday of the United States Marine Corps, a USMC Birthday Cake will be presented and served. In accordance with an old and honored tradition of the Corps, the cake will be sliced with a Marine Officer’s Sword, a replica of the “Mameluke Sword” presented to Lt. Presley O’Bannon after he led a small force of U. S. Marines and Greek & Turkish mercenaries on the assault that captured the fortress of Derne, Tripoli, during action against the Barbary Pirates in 1805. Also, according to tradition, the first slice of Birthday Cake is served to the oldest Marine present, and the second slice of Birthday Cake is served to the youngest Marine present, to symbolize the passing of the Marines’ traditions of courage, honor, strength and skill in service to their country from one generation to the next. On Friday, November 11, there will be a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial on the Sargent County Courthouse grounds honoring all of Sargent County’s veterans at 11:00 a.m., on the date and time of the 104^th Anniversary of the Armistice that ended the fighting in World War I on November 11, 1918. The ceremony will be followed by a program and lunch organized and served by American Legion Auxiliary Post #82 of Forman. This year, Sargent County Veterans Service Officer Joe Reinke will be the guest speaker, and he has promised to be brief but to the point. All in Sargent County are invited to attend the Veterans Day ceremony and program on Friday, November 11.

On February 5 of this year, Paul J. Gibbs Jr. passed away at the Mississippi State Veterans Home in Oxford MS at the age of 75. Back in 1964-1968 Paul had been an All-American football player for Mississippi State University and had been a 6^th round draft pick in the 1968 NFL-AFL Football Draft. But Paul decided that he had an obligation to serve his country before embarking on a pro-football career, so he volunteered for Marine Corps Officer Candidate School (OCS) and went to Quantico VA for training. After OCS, Paul was assigned to Kilo Co. 10/69 at The Basic School (TBS), where the basic skills needed to perform as a Marine Infantry Officer are taught. One of Paul’s classmates at TBS was Bill Anderson of this community. The Marine Corps sends its personnel where it wants them to go, and the Corps wanted to send Paul to Engineer’s School at Fort Belvoir NJ after TBS. Paul thought that he could better serve as an infantry officer. He was a natural leader, a fact recognized at Mississippi State when he was assigned to be Quarterback of the football team, and after several months at TBS, he was also a trained tactical leader of Marines. Paul took his argument to Headquarters Marine Corps and got his Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) changed to infantry. After completing TBS and a short leave at his home in Fulton MS, Paul went to Vietnam and was assigned as a Platoon Leader in Company D, 1^st Battalion, 7^th Marine Regiment. The 7^th Marines’ Regimental Combat Base was near the Laotian border, in western South Vietnam. A little over a month after he arrived in country, Paul’s platoon was ordered to go to the aid of another platoon that was in a tough fight with North Vietnamese Army (NVA) regulars in the rugged and heavily forested Que Son Mountains. Paul was assigned to assault the NVA position, dislodge the enemy force from their fortified positions, and allow the other platoon to maneuver and regain the offensive. The NVA were tough. The fighting was fierce. Several of Paul’s Marines were killed in the assault, and more were wounded, including Paul and his radioman, PFC Diaz. PFC Diaz refused to be evacuated as long as his Lieutenant remained in the field, and Paul refused to be evacuated as long as he was needed to direct his Marines, call in air support and direct artillery fire on the enemy positions. PFC Diaz was killed in action while fighting at Paul’s side. He was later posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic courage “above and beyond the call of duty,” and Paul was awarded the Navy Cross, the Marines’ 2^nd highest medal, for his heroism during the battle of November 12 & 13, 1969. When Paul was finally evacuated from the battlefield, the Marines he was carried past stood at attention, touched his hands as he passed and wished him well. He spent the next 18 months in military hospitals. He didn’t lose his leg, but he could just as well have. His dreams of a pro football career were over. Paul struggled after that. He went to work and became a Sales Manager for Car Quest Auto Parts. When he retired, he became a resident at the Mississippi State Veterans Home. He remained close to his family, and to many old friends from Marine Corps days. Last November, he consented to be interviewed by a radio talk show, and, for the first time, spoke publicly of the actions of November 12 & 13, 1969. As he said, “I was not a hero. I was a leader of heroes.” The following link is to the YouTube recording of Paul’s interview: Paul Gibbs – Vietnam Veteran – YouTube. Paul Gibbs was an outstanding Marine Officer; a loyal friend; and a true leader of heroes. Semper Fidelis Lieutenant Paul J. Gibbs USMC. Rest In Peace.

Meanwhile, on the subject of doing your duty to your community, State and Nation, Election Day 2022 is coming up on Tuesday, November 8. Every 2 years, the American people have the chance to put their hand on the steering wheel and influence the direction that we will be taking for the next 2 years. Sargent County has Vote By Mail, so County voters have had the chance to cast their ballots at any time since September 23. To be counted, though, Vote By Mail ballots must be postmarked, or delivered to the Courthouse, by Monday, November 7. Anyone who plans to vote in Sargent County on Election Day may do so at the Forman City Hall on Main Street, just north of the County Courthouse, in Forman by showing up with appropriate identification and voting between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Do your duty as a citizen. VOTE! Paul J. Gibbs Jr., PFC Diaz, and many others, before and since, have shed their blood to secure that right for you.

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 website 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.