By Bill Anderson

Congratulations to the Rutland Roosters Men’s Slowpitch Softball Team, 2023 North Dakota State Class Rec 3 Champions. The Roosters clinched the title by winning 5 consecutive games against tough opponents at the State Tournament in Grand Forks on Saturday & Sunday, August 12 & 13. The Roosters defeated the Tharaldson Team of Fargo in the Championship game on Sunday afternoon. Members of the Roosters’ 2023 State Championship Team are: Adam Bell, Outfield; Jon Christianson, Outfield; Kirk Fliehs, 3^rd Base; Rylan Gutzmer, Outfield; Todd Hosford, 2^nd Base; Travis Hosford, Outfield; Kris Kann, Pitcher; Nolen Peterson, 1^st Base; Luke Patzlaff, Catcher; Rob Roney, Outfield/Team Captain/Manager; Josh Stenvold, Catcher; Brandon Wyum, Shortstop; and, Jason Phillips, Outfield. According to Rob Roney, a member of The Rutland team, the Roosters finished the regular season with a record of 20 wins and 5 losses. The Rutland community extends its thanks and congratulations to the 2023 Rutland Roosters, the heirs and standard bearers of a winning tradition on the ball diamond that extends back to the end of the 19^th Century. Fans in the community are looking forward to a continuation of that tradition in 2024. Come on out to the ball game at Lou Sanderson Field to watch an outstanding team, and to enjoy some fine ballpark dining at the concessions stand.

The Rutland Roosters Men’s Slowpitch Softball team concluded its 2023 regular season play with two wins on the evening of Tuesday, August 15. After capturing the State Championship in the Rec 3 Class on Sunday, August 13, the Roosters took on the team from Milnor at Lou Sanderson Field on the 15th, taking game #1 in 5 innings by a score of 13 to 3, and putting an early end to game #2 in 3 innings with a 23 to 3 victory. The Milnor matchup was one that had been delayed back at the beginning of the season, and was rescheduled to Tuesday after the Roosters’ scheduled opponent, Gwinner, cancelled out late in the afternoon.  Well, regardless of what happened, the Roosters are still the State Champs who ended the regular season with 2 wins at home, and nothing is going to change that.

The following summary of the Roosters’ State Tournament games, and the photo of the State Tournament Championship team, was supplied by Rob Roney.

Saturday Games

Defeated Optimal Chiropractic (based out of Fargo) 10-9

Defeated Driftwood Lounge (based out of Wahpeton) 7-4

Defeated Lafrenier Construction (based out of Grafton) 12-8

Sunday Games

Defeated TC Custom Paint (based out of Grand Forks) 14-4

In the Championship game we defeated Tharaldsons (based out of Fargo) 22-17

Players from Left to Right:

Rylan Gutzmer, Jason Phillips, Todd Hosford, Josh Stenvold, Adam Bell, Rob Roney, Luke Patzlaff, Brandon Wyum, Jon Christianson, Chris Kann, Kirk Fliehs, Nolen Peterson, and Travis Hosford

Thunder, lightning, wind and rain roused light sleepers early on the morning of Thursday, August 10. Jim Lunneborg reported that the dawn’s early light revealed .98” in the rain gauge at his Shuman Township farm; Roger Pearson reported that his gauge at 409 Gay Street showed .8”, and Norbert Kulzer, Roger’s next door neighbor stated that his gauge showed .9” when the Sun came up on Thursday morning; Jim Huckell reported 1.1” at his farm in the hills south of Rutland; and the gauge at Mike Wyum’s Ransom Township farm showed 1.0”, even, with no bugs to distort the reading. Mother Nature gave a repeat performance on Thursday evening, with estimates of .5” to 1.0” being advanced, but no precise measurements available. More rain was received on Sunday, August 13: Jim Lunneborg reported 1.45”; Harvey Bergstrom said that the gauge on his farm south of Cayuga showed 1.52”; Roger Pearson reported 1.8”; and, Norbert Kulzer’s gauge showed 2.2” a few feet to the east. It appears that the drought that has afflicted the area for most of the summer has finally been broken, until the next one, that is.

The Rutland School Alumni Association held an organizational meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 13, at Nordland Fellowship Hall. Present were: Larry Christensen, RHS Class of ’62; Carolyn (Jacobson) Christensen, RHS/SCHS Class of ’65; Bill Anderson, RHS Class of ’63; Roger Pearson, RHS Class of ’58; Janice (Brakke) Christensen, RHS Class of ’60; Karen (Thomas) Anderson, RHS Class of ’60;and, Beverly (Sundlie) Kulzer, RHS Class of ’58. The committee set the 2024 Reunion dates for Friday, Saturday & Sunday, July 5, 6 & 7, 2024, in Rutland. A letter will be sent out to alums this fall, and a registration letter will be sent out next spring containing reunion details. Also, information will be posted on the Rutland web site at www.rutlandnd.com and on the Rutland Facebook page.

Old friends were saddened recently when word was received here that Rutland native, and longtime resident, Orrine Riddle had passed away on Saturday, July 29, 2023, at Four Seasons Healthcare Center in Forman at the age of 85 years, 7 months & 8 days. Orinne Joanne Sundlie was born to Clarence and Matilda (Saunders) Sundlie on December 21, 1937, on the Saunders farm in Tewaukon Township. She grew up and attended school in Rutland, graduating from Rutland High School in the RHS Class of 1955. After graduation she attended The North Dakota State Normal & Industrial College at Ellendale for her teaching certificate. She then taught at rural country schools for a few years, until 1959 when she married Larry Wanous. They had two children during their marriage, Sherri and Shane. They lived in various towns throughout their marriage, including on the Wanous farm in Kidder SD, Ellendale ND, St. Paul MN and White Bear Lake MN. However, they spent the most time in Osceola WI, and while there Orinne worked at the grade school as a teacher’s aide. She moved back to South Dakota in 1972 and owned and operated the Clear Lake Resort for a number of years before moving to a farmstead just south of Havana, ND. In 1975 she was briefly married to Mr. Efton Riddle. Orinne then lived in Britton, SD and worked various jobs while there. She bartended at Hunters Supper Club and the VFW Post 3507 before becoming the manager of the VFW Club for a decade. She enjoyed her time bartending, getting to know all the customers and creating unique, fun activities for the club’s patrons over the years. After retiring from the VFW she moved her mobile home to Rutland, and relocated there to help care for her mother. Following her mother’s passing she remained in Rutland until her health started to decline in 2022. She then went to live with her son in Brainerd MN until shortly before the time of her passing, when she moved to Four Seasons Healthcare Center in Forman. Orinne was a loving and giving person. She was known for opening her home to those in need of a place to stay during a storm or just to visit. Her family was important to her, and she cherished all the time spent with her grandchildren. She also loved to talk with the children in town and hand out little memento’s to them. She was a hard worker but would look forward to the evenings when she could sit back and relax with a good book. In her spare time she also enjoyed gardening and doing carpentry work around the house. She is survived by her two children: Sherri (Brett Johanneson) Hilleson and Shane (Annette) Wanous; her grandchildren: Justin Hilleson, Matthew Hilleson and Audrey Wanous; and, by 2 siblings: Clarence “Stub” Sundlie, JR. of Fargo; and, Darlene McLaen of Britton SD; by many cousins, nephews & nieces and by numerous friends. Preceding her in death were her parents and her sister, Jenene Sundlie.  Price Funeral Chapel of Britton and Forman has assisted the family with arrangements. The family is planning a private inurnment at a later date. The Rutland community extends its condolences to the family and friends of Orrine Riddle, a friend who faced hardships with fierce determination and the joys of life with a smile and a hearty laugh.

Greg Donaldson, Hal Nelson, James Donaldson and Rodney Nelson were in the Twin Cities on the weekend of August 12 & 13, taking in a couple of baseball games featuring the Minnesota Twins and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Hal reports that the Twins won both games and increased their lead in the chase for a playoff spot at the end of the season.

Speaking of baseball, two young men from this community, Brody Mahrer, age 13, son of Kyle & Kaia Mahrer, and Braxton Erickson, age 14, son of Theresa Erickson and Mark Wyckoff, have been selected to participate in “DAK-MIN Prospects” extended baseball training program for teen ballplayers who have exhibited enough talent to be of interest to college and professional teams. Brody and Braxton competed with 258 teens from the Midwest region for placement in the DAK-MINN program. They will be involved in baseball training programs throughout the fall and winter, and will be playing games against other teams from throughout the Midwest region. Congratulations to Brody and Braxton on their achievement.

Jim & Ione Lunneborg have made a couple of road trips in the past month pursuing one of their favorite activities, checking out antique, classic and modern Allis-Chalmers tractors & equipment, and visiting with like-minded folks in the process. First, they travelled down to Hutchinson MN for the annual Allis-Chalmers show there on the weekend of July 23 & 24; and, second, they went to Albert City IA over the weekend of August 12 & 13 for the annual threshing bee that featured Allis-Chalmers and Baldwin-Gleaner tractors and equipment this year. Jim & Ione agree with that old Allis-Chalmers advertising slogan that, “Going orange is going great!”

Harper and Pressley Steiner of Lake City SD were Rutland visitors on Monday & Tuesday, August 14 & 15. The two girls, age 8, were enjoying a pre-school day visit with their grandfather, Roger Johnson of this community, and also enjoyed spending some time with their great-grandmother, Yvonne Johnson, at her home here. The girls are the daughters of Roger’s daughter, Cassandra, who also enjoyed days in Rutland back when she was a youngster.

The shareholders of Rutland Improvement LLC d/b/a The Lariat Bar, held the company’s first annual meeting on the evening of Tuesday, August 15, in the back room of The Lariat Bar. They began the evening with a dinner of roast beef, new potatoes and garden fresh green beans. The business meeting commenced at 7:00 p.m. with reports from the LLC’s Board of Managers covering the period from the first meeting called to determine interest in the possibility of acquiring The Lariat from its previous owner, Stock Growers Bank, formerly The Sargent County Bank, of Forman, back in August of 2022. At that meeting 30 interested parties pledged over $200,000 to the project, and a steering committee composed of Mike Wyum, Katie McLaen & Paul Anderson was appointed to negotiate the purchase of the Bar from the Bank. On August 22, the purchase was agreed to. Ultimately, additional subscribers brought the total amount pledged up to $244,000.00. After necessary repairs and upgrades had been completed, The Lariat Bar opened for business in December of 2023, and, along with its patrons, endured one of the longest, hardest winters in recent memory. As of August 15, 2023, the LLC had approximately $700,000 in assets, including almost $10 cash on hand. The company has no debt at this time. The Board is anticipating some red ink in the Bar’s operating account during the next month, or so, but expects that the 3 H’s: Harvest season; Hunting season; and, Holiday season will help restore operations to the black by the end of the year. Most of the shareholders original investment was used to acquire the building, furniture, equipment and inventory, the Board reported. The Board has requested that the existing LLC members subscribe for an additional $25,000 in shares to provide enough operating capital to get over the bumps. The members unanimously approved the Board’s proposal; unanimously approved a motion to continue offering mid-day food service to customers through the end of the year, and beyond, if the business warrants; and, unanimously elected Pam Gulleson to a 3 year term on the Board of Managers. Pam’s predecessor on the Board, Katie McLaen, will continue to direct the LLC’s publicity and advertising efforts, but she wished to be relieved of management responsibilities that go with membership on the Board. Current members of the Board of Managers are: Paul Anderson; Mike Wyum; Patty Woytassek; Rob Wyum; and, Pam Gulleson. The business meeting concluded at about 8:00 p.m., and most of the members stuck around for a while to enjoy the hospitality of their Bar as well as conversation and the company of old friends. The next annual meeting of Rutland Improvement LLC d/b/a The Lariat Bar, will be held in August of 2024.

Coming up in the next week: Rutland Sportsmen’s Club’s Annual Youth Day on Sunday, August 20, at The John Narum Memorial Trap & Rifle Range 3 miles west and 1½ mile south of Rutland; and, Sargent Central School District’s first day of classes for the 2023-2024 school year, check the District’s web site for bus routes and class schedules.

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.