By Bill Anderson

The evening of Wednesday, June 7, was the time, and Rutland, North Dakota, was the place for a thunderstorm to deliver another timely .6 of an inch of rain. Crops are growing fast, and some cornfields are already past the knee high stage. Wheat fields are green and growing fast, but some local experts are concerned that the excessive heat of the last week in May and the first week in June may have caused some damage to the plants’ ability to produce seeds. Well, we have to worry about something. Might as well be wheat!

Kelly Hawkinson of Dillon MT arrived in Rutland on the evening of Sunday, June 11, for a visit with her uncles, Bill Anderson and Paul Anderson. Kelly drove in from Deadwood SD, where she had served as secretary/statistician for a Professional Bull Riders (PBR) event on Saturday evening. Rodeo, like everything else in the world these days, is changing its ways to cope with the demands of the modern world. It used to be that rodeo participants were all on their own, paying their own way and having no obligation to share a winner’s cash prize with anyone. Those old boys also had the opportunity to pay all of their own medical bills and buy all of their own gear. The new breed are now organized into teams, with owners and sponsors on hand to pick up the expenses and share in any winnings. The new arrangement affords rodeo participants more security, but, if rodeo participants were interested in security, would they have chosen to be cowboys and rodeo performers in the first place? Kelly plans to be heading back to her home base at Dillon MT on Saturday, June 17, with a stop at Bismarck for another PBR event. Kelly is a granddaughter of the late Earl & Irene Anderson of this community, and the daughter of Rutland native, the late Harvey O. “Andy” Anderson.

Mark & Kathy Wyum departed Rutland on Monday, June 12, bound for Rochester MN, a checkup and a crop tour of southern Minnesota. Southern Minnesota is classified as a “drought” zone right now, while Sargent County is classified as having sufficient moisture to support the growth of a grain crop. Even so, what is a drought in southern Minnesota would normally be classified as ample moisture in southeastern North Dakota. Well, we’ll have Mark explain it to us when he gets back.

The management of The Lariat Bar in Rutland reminds all that the Rutland Rib Fest is once again on the calendar, scheduled for Saturday, August 5, 2023. For information about entering the competition for the title of “Best Ribs In Rutland!” take a look at the Lariat’s Facebook page, or give the Lariat a call at 724.6239. Community wide rummage and yard sales are also scheduled to be held all over Rutland on Saturday, August 5. .

Sargent County Public Health is planning to distribute another round of Covid-19 Vaccine Booster Shots this Summer and early Fall. According to Shay Lynn, the shots will be available to anyone who is over the age of 65 and had their last booster shot more than 4 months previously. The County Public Health Footcare crew that is scheduled to be in Rutland on Thursday, June 15, will also have some of the new vaccine available at that time. The Covid-19 pandemic is officially over, but no one told the covid-19 virus that it had to pack up and go home. The virus is still with us, and anyone interested in avoiding it should call Sargent County Public Health at 701.724.3725. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, the old-timers used to say.

Apologies to the readers of The Sargent County Teller for submitting the wrong version of Kathleen Brakke’s bio for publication last week. Following is the corrected, final, version of the article: 

“Rutland, ND: The Rutland community was saddened on the morning of Saturday, June 3, 2023, when lifelong Rutland resident Kathleen “Kathy” Brakke departed this life at Lilac Homes Memory Care in Moorhead MN. Kathy had attained the age of 81 years 11 months and 6 days at the time of her death. 

Kathleen Ann Bauman was born to Robert and Harriet Ingeborg “Imbur” (Hoffman) Bauman on a farm near Cayuga in Kingston Township, Sargent County, North Dakota, on June 28, 1941. According to family lore, she was born on the kitchen table in the kitchen of the Mary & Pete Banish farmhouse. Mary Banish was Bob Bauman’s sister, Kathy’s aunt. A month later Kathy’s cousin, Tom Banish, was born in the same kitchen, on the same table. During Kathy’s early childhood the family lived in the main farmhouse on the Hoffman farm, situated on the SW¼ of Section 15 in Ransom Township. Bob Bauman was a farmer and a handyman carpenter, and Imbur was employed as a schoolteacher in local 1-room country schools. Kathy’s maternal grandparents Harry & Lydia (Ahrlin) Hoffman, her great-uncle Oscar Ahrlin and her uncle, Ahrlin Hoffman, lived on the same farmstead. Members of the Ahrlin family were all musically talented, and Kathy inherited that talent. Great-Uncle Oscar Ahrlin taught her how to play the piano, Grandma Lydia Hoffman taught her the guitar and Uncle Ahrlin Hoffman taught her how to yodel. As a young adult, she taught herself how to play the accordion. Kathy did not have any professional music lessons until her children were taking lessons from Sister Salutaris of Hankinson, and Kathy concluded that as long as she had to supervise the Children’s’ practice sessions she might as well take lessons herself. 

In 1947 her dad managed the Marcus Johnson farm in Weber Township, the farmstead now owned by Shannon & Toni Hajek, and Kathy started first grade at the school in Havana. The next year they were back on the Hoffman farm, and Kathy went to school at Ransom #2, on the north side of ND Highway #11, 2½ miles west of the Cayuga corner. Kathy enjoyed school, and even on the coldest, windiest days of winter, insisted on going to school if she could see the flag flying above the schoolhouse a mile to the north. Most of the time, Kathy and her brothers walked to school, but on the coldest days their dad, or one of the other men on the farm, would harness a team, hitch it to a bobsleigh and take them to school, bundled in quilts and snuggled in the straw. During one of her years at Ransom #2, Kathy completed 2 years of schoolwork in 1 year, jumping ahead a grade. As a young girl growing up on the farm, Kathy had her own transportation, a paint horse named “Patches.” She loved to race Patches across the north pasture and leap the stone fence that some pioneer had built years before in a gravity defying display of horsemanship. Her dad died in 1953, when she was 12 years old, and she moved to a small house in Rutland with her mother and her 3 brothers. Their house was situated on Bagley Street, where the Rutland-Cayuga Fire Hall now stands. Kathy donated the property to the Rutland-Cayuga Fire District. 

From the 7th grade on Kathy went to school in Rutland, and her mother taught elementary classes in the Rutland school. She enjoyed school and had many friends. She often reminisced about going to dances with some of her school friends, including Beverly (Sundlie) Kulzer; Shirley (Lee) Prindiville; Yvonne (Christianson) Johnson; Corrine (Narum) Romereim; Janet (McNeil) Malstrom; and Sonja (Anderson) Christensen. The girls would wear their “can-can” skirts & petticoats to the dance. The petticoats were stiffly starched to keep the can-can skirts poofed out. As starch was more expensive than sugar, they used sugar water to starch their petticoats and, as they danced, sugar would shake out of their petticoats onto the dance floor. There was no air conditioning in the local dance halls of the 1950’s. Think about it. When they wanted to go to a dance, the girls would stand on the street corner by Hermanson’s Grocery and wait for someone reliable like Grant Gulleson, an excellent dancer, or Roy Pearson who would give them a ride to the dance. Occasionally they might even get a ride with one or more of their parents. The rule was that you went home with the person who brought you to the dance. 

On October 28, 1957, Kathy married Darwin Brakke at a ceremony at the Lutheran Parsonage in Forman, Rev. J. T. Rotto officiating. Kathy would have been a member of the RHS Class of ’58, but with the assistance of Rutland School Superintendent Walter Richter and the faculty at Rutland High School, she obtained her GED diploma in 1958 instead. Kathy & Darwin lived in Moorton ND for a while, where Darwin was employed by a local farmer before moving back to Rutland where Darwin worked for the local plumber, Ronald Donaldson, and Kathleen supplemented their income with many jobs, including using her sewing skills to make and alter clothing for herself, her family and for others; taking in laundry; and, mowing lawns, among others. In 1968 they bought the Lariat Bar from Ronald Donaldson and operated it successfully with many promotions including: bullhead frys; hog roasts; and live music. On the first day that they ran The Lariat, they had to borrow $20 from Darwin’s dad so they could make change. During this time an impromptu music group made up of Kathleen with the accordion; Larry Anderson with a guitar; Pastor Andy Boe with a guitar; and Ed Skluzak with a fiddle; entertained themselves and the customers during the Noon hour. In 1974, Kathy & Darwin sold the Bar. Kathy and her sister-in-law, Janice Christensen then purchased Hermanson’s Grocery in Rutland, renaming it “The J & K Market.” Kathleen and Darwin were divorced in 1983. She continued to work in the grocery business, and also started her own arts & crafts business, creating and selling Norse Rosemaling, Swedish folk art and other items. Kathleen held annual open houses at her home in Rutland where she displayed and sold her arts & crafts items. Her home was decorated with her art, historic photos, maps & documents, and an eclectic mix of antique and just plain comfortable & interesting furniture. Her porch and front yard were noted for the beautiful flower gardens and floral displays that Kathy designed and created on her own with flowers of all kinds.

On March 13 of 1987, Kathleen and Earl W. “Bill” Anderson were married in a ceremony at the Grand Forks County Courthouse presided over by Cogswell native Kirk Smith, a Judge of the District Court. They went on a 2 month honeymoon in Norway and Sweden where they visited many cousins and made many new friends. In 1989 Kathy stopped working at the grocery store and accepted a job as office manager and legal assistant in Bill’s law office in Rutland. She also got interested in quilting at this time and created many beautiful quilt designs, including the Buffalo and Horse quilts that celebrated her native American heritage. The “Quilting Cousins” group gathered annually, each Spring, first at Kathy’s home and later at the Coteau des Prairies Lodge, to pursue their passion for quilting.

Kathleen enjoyed entertaining at her home; organizing family reunions and putting together family histories for her diverse ethnic ancestry (Swedish, Dutch, German, Metis and Wahpeton-Sisseton Dakota Oyate; as well as organizing and promoting many community events. She was a major participant in the “90 Years On The Prairie” celebration in 1972; Rutland’s observance of the national Bicentennial in 1976; Rutland’s “Pride Of The Prairie” Centennial Celebration in 1982; and Rutland’s observance of the North Dakota Centennial in 1988 & 1989. Along with Bill Anderson, Milton McLaen & Danene McLaen, Kathy was one of the 4 Rutland community members who proposed the community’s annual observance of Uff-Da Day to the Rutland Community Club back in 1985, and she was an active worker in ensuring the success of the event, chairing the arts & crafts committee and serving as Editor In Chief of The Rutland Leader promotional newspaper until dementia took away her ability to do so. 

Kathy contributed her considerable musical talents to many community plays, ceremonies and events. She was the organist for Nordland Lutheran Church in Rutland from 1966 to 1991, and she also played for many funerals, weddings and other events. She also was the pianist for the combined Baptist-Congregational churches of Rutland, Forman & Havana from the early 2000’s until 2017. She donated her piano to the new chapel at Four Seasons Healthcare in Forman. She was a community leader who blazed new paths for women, becoming the first woman to be elected to the Nordland Lutheran Church Council in Rutland, and the first woman elected to the Rutland City Council. In 1999 Kathleen and Bill purchased the Sargent County Abstract & Title Guarantee Co., and Kathleen did all of the researching and assembling of real property abstracts for land in Sargent County during the time they owned the company. In 2011, Kathy and her sister-in-law, Susan Anderson, started “The Old Parsonage,” an antiques & collectibles shop situated in the former Baptist Parsonage on Rutland’s Main Street. When Susan passed away in 2012, their friend, Mary Ann Thornberg, stepped in to help out. Their husbands said that they had as much fun as young girls arranging furniture and dishes in a playhouse. In 2014 she began to exhibit the first symptoms of the dementia that eventually ended her life. In October of 2019, Kathleen became a resident of Mapleview Memory Care in Fargo. On February 24, 2023, her residence was transferred to Lilac Homes Memory Care in Moorhead. She was under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley (HRRV)during the last 2 weeks of May and the first 3 days of June.

Kathleen is survived by: her husband, Bill Anderson of Rutland; 2 daughters: Darby (Robert Sebree) Brakke of Cincinnati OH; and, Janelle Brakke of Fargo; 1 son, Jesse Brakke of Rutland; 1 son-in-law, Steve Thorfinnson of Fort Ransom ND; 2 granddaughters: Kaia (Kyle) Mahrer of Rutland; and, Claire Brakke of Madison WI; 1 grandson, James (Sydny) Brakke of Somerset WI; 4 great-grandchildren: Brody, Julia, Adalyn & Kaitlyn Mahrer of Rutland; 2 brothers: Robert (Elsie) Bauman of Portland OR; and, Ronald “Red” (Bonnie) Bauman of Fergus Falls MN; by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and, by a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; 1 daughter, Julie Thorfinnson, in 2003; one great-granddaughter, Aunika Mahrer; one daughter-in-law, Michelle Brakke; one brother, Earl Mark Bauman; and by all of her uncles and aunts. 

A private family service for the interment of Kathy’s cremains in the Rutland Cemetery is planned for Saturday, July 8. A Celebration of Life, celebrating the memory of Kathleen Brakke’s life in, and contributions to, this community will be held at the Rutland Town Hall on Saturday, October 14, 2023. Autumn Olson of Price Funeral Chapel of Britton SD & Forman ND is assisting the family with arrangements. 

Condolences may be sent to The Family of Kathleen Brakke c/o Bill Anderson, PO Box 100, Rutland ND 58067. 

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to: The Sargent Central Music Program; the Rutland Community Club; and Hospice of the Red River Valley.

The Rutland community extends its condolences to the family and friends of Kathy Brakke, a leader of uncommon talent and ability. 

An online guestbook and obituary is available at www.pricefuneralchapel.net.” This writer extends thanks and appreciation to those who pointed out that the write-up on Kathleen Brakke in last week’s edition of The Rooster Crows was not the up to date, corrected version of the article. Apologies are extended to all concerned. 

Paul Anderson departed Rutland on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 13, bound for Sun City West AZ and a 95th birthday celebration in honor of his Mother-In-Law, Etha Quinlan, the mother of Paul’s late wife, Susan. Also Joining Paul at Etha’s party will be his children and grandchildren: Betsy Anderson of Las Vegas NV; and, Katy & Josh Elfering & children, Rhys and Arlo. Etha’s many friends in Rutland extend best wishes to her for a Happy Birthday, and many more to come. Etha’s birthday is on Sunday, June 18, which is also Fathers’ Day this year, so Paul will get a double dose of celebrating.

Dan & Cindy (Pearson) Tobkin stopped in at the Rutland Seniors’ Center on the morning of Wednesday, June 14, for coffee and conversation with family and old friends. Cindy is the daughter of the late Orvis & Alphie (Johnson) Pearson of this community. Dan is originally from Veblen SD. They now make their home at Gold Canyon AZ, near Mesa, but come up to the Dakotas and Minnesota each summer to avoid the worst of the desert heat. Dan says that there are still folks who come out to Gold Canyon looking for “The Lost Dutchman” gold mine, but, to the best of his knowledge, no one has found it, yet. Dan & Cindy plan to play the role of tourists in their old hometowns through June, July & August, before heading back to AZ for the Winter of 23-24.

Rural Leadership North Dakota, Class IX, a seminar sponsored by the North Dakota Extension Service, will be holding a session at the Nordland Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall in Rutland at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 22. A panel of 5 Rutland community members, past, present & future: Sonja (Anderson) Christensen; Katie (Rust) McLaen; Bill Anderson; Hal Nelson; and Abby Erickson; will be meeting with a group of leaders from across North Dakota to discuss Civic Engagement and Working With Different Generations. Pastor Julie Johnson of the TNT Parish is one of the leaders who will be meeting in Rutland. Following the meeting here, the group is scheduled to have lunch at The Lariat Bar before visiting with Luke & Amy Anderson at Anderson Seed Farm west of Forman. Katie Tyler, Extension Specialist and Program Director, is the coordinator of the Rural Leadership North Dakota seminars.

On Tuesday, June 13, 2023, for the first time in the history of the Republic, a former President of the United States was arraigned in a Federal District Court in south Florida, and charged with crimes related to his: taking of classified documents from the national archives; lying about possessing the classified documents; refusing to return the classified documents to the national archives; and, revealing the contents of classified documents to persons who were not authorized to receive such information. The former President, Donald J. Trump, may also become the first person to wage a Presidential campaign from a Federal prison cell. He could also become the first Presidential candidate to move from “the big house” to the White House, or vice-versa. Well, Good Luck to the people of the United States of America! With folks like Trump on the loose, we’ll need it!

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.