By Bill Anderson

Well, here we are, nearing the end of a long, hot Summer that followed a long, cold Winter. No Spring this Spring, and Autumn’s legacy is yet to be written. It’s Friday, September 1, only 30 days to go until the biggest holiday celebration of the year, Uff-Da Day XXXVIII on Sunday, October 1, 2023. You won’t want to miss the displays & demonstrations; you won’t want to miss the arts & crafts; you won’t want to miss the car show; You won’t want to miss the music; you won’t want to miss the great food; You won’t want to miss the parade; and, most of all, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to meet and greet old friends on the streets of the friendly little city that can. Everyone is invited to attend, and participate in, Uff-Da Day XXXVIII on Sunday, October 1, 2023, in Rutland, North Dakota.

A letter inviting participation in Rutland’s Uff-Da Day Parade on Sunday, October 1, has been posted on the community’s internet web site at www.rutlandnd.com and on the Rutland Facebook page, too. As it has in recent years, the parade will form up on Dakota Street, on the east side of town, and it is scheduled to step off, promptly, at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Rain, snow, wind, cold and heat, nor any other 4 letter words, have not delayed or hindered the Uff-Da Day Parade in the past, and this year will be no exception. As in previous years, members of the Lyle & Ann Erickson family will be on hand at Dakota Street to help parade participants find their place in the lineup. That’s Uff-Da Day in Rutland on Sunday, October 1.

Thirty-three regulars at the Monday, Wednesday and Saturday morning Coffee & conversation sessions at the Rutland Seniors’ Center enjoyed a baked ham and fried chicken supper in the back room of The Lariat Bar on the evening of Thursday, August 17. The coffee club participants make free will donations to pay for the coffee & lunch, and the amount donated has always exceeded the cost by a substantial amount, so the patrons use up the excess donations by paying for a supper banquet for themselves. According to Joanne Harris, one of the organizers of the event, even after paying the bill for the August 17 supper, there is still enough left in the kitty to do it again. At this point, the plan is to host another banquet during the Christmas/New Year holiday season. Three cash door prizes were awarded to 3 lucky diners: Debbie Banish won $10; Rick Bosse pocketed $25; and Andy Harris took home $50. Those who attended the August 17 banquet commended the staff and the management of The Lariat Bar for the quality of both the service and the food.

Rutland native John H. “Pat” Prindiville was visiting at his boyhood home on the Prindiville Farm on the south side of town on Friday & Saturday, August 18 & 19. Pat reports that it has taken more than 89 years, but he has now fully transitioned from a barefoot farm boy who only wore shoes to go to Church on Sunday to a big city dude who wears shoes every day of the week. His longtime home in Horace ND has been purchased by his son, Mark, and Pat is now an apartment dweller in North Dakota’s fastest growing city, West Fargo. He said that the Prindiville family is planning a reunion at the Prindiville Farm in early June of 2024. The reunion will also double as a birthday party to celebrate Pat’s 90^th. Pat also reports that his younger brother, Alan, also known as Mike, is recuperating from a broken leg and hip replacement surgery at his home in Washington State. Mike is hoping to be on hand for his big brother’s birthday party.

Fifteen cousins, members of the Huckell and Herman families, gathered in The Lariat Bar on the afternoon of Monday, August 21, to renew family ties and swap family stories. Those in attendance included: Jim Huckell; Alwood & Geri Huckell; Colin & Colleen Sundquist; Neil & Madeline Herman; Karel & Gary Titus; Kareen Koltes-Christianson; Iris Meyer; Diane & Mark Pierson; Steve Stabnow; and Nancy Ceroll. According to Jim Huckell, one of the family’s patriarchs, his cousin, Neil Herman, had a lot of other old friends in Rutland that he would have liked to look up but he was so busy telling stories, laughing and having an all-around good time that he just couldn’t find the time for even more fun this time around. Well, they will most likely be back for Uff-Da Day on Sunday, October 1.

Old friends here were saddened last week when it was reported that Lorraine (Larson) Haaland had passed away on Thursday, August 24, 2023, at the home in Rutland of her daughter and son-in-law, Penny and Randy Beckstrom, where Lorraine had been cared for during her last 9 ½ years. At the time of her death, Lorraine had attained the age of 95 years, 10 months, and 25 days. Lorraine was born September 29, 1927, near Rutland, N.D., to Jack and Ragnhild “Rose” (Sperstad) Larson. Lorraine was the 8th of 9 children. During Lorraine’s childhood the Larson family made their home on several farms in the Rutland and Havana communities. Lorraine, her parents, and her siblings were noted for their musical abilities. She attended school in Veblen SD, Hanska, Minn., and at Wood Lake School, a one room country school in southeastern Sargent County, where she met her future husband, Milford Haaland. Lorraine and Milford were married on November 9, 1946, on the 25th wedding anniversary of Milford’s parents, Tollef and Inga Haaland.

Lorraine and Milford were longtime residents of Lidgerwood ND, where Lorraine taught catechism and Bible School, was president of the Evening Guild and first president of LWML at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. She also held chair/president/secretary positions for the Lidgerwood Park Board, Civic Improvement, Study Club, Arts Council and Homemakers Club. She wrote a local weekly newspaper column called “Positively Thinking” and gave guitar lessons. She enjoyed gardening, tending large flower beds, painting, and performing at musical events.

In the tri-state area, Lorraine and Milford performed at many programs, plays, benefits and fiddler jamborees. They were pioneers on the live benefit March of Dimes radio broadcasts, driving to the KBMW station in Breckenridge, MN, for the first broadcasts in the late 1940’s. They continued for decades with Lorraine performing into the early 2000’s. They were also musical regulars at the annual Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion in Rollag, MN for more than 20 years. They were also musical headliners at the annual Uff-Da Day celebration in Rutland until Milford’s passing. For their 50th wedding anniversary, their children gifted them with studio time to record some of their music which was released on cassettes and later CD’s, having sold over 1000 copies. Lorraine sang, played guitar, piano and accordion while Milford also sang, played guitar, banjo, and mandolin. Lorraine is survived by her children: Tim Haaland (Ginger), Moorhead MN; Neal Haaland (Kelly), Fargo ND; Dr. Robin Haaland (Jennifer), Bismarck ND; Penny (Randy) Beckstrom, Rutland ND; and, Perry Haaland, Waite Park MN; by a sister, Irene Olson, New Ulm MN; by 19 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.  Lorraine was preceded in death by her husband, Milford; daughter, Deborah Rabel; infant son; brothers, Earl, Ralph, Oris and Joel; and, by sisters Martha Mickelson, Juliette Brudelie, and Ingeborg Olson. A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, September 3, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Lidgerwood, with visitation held one hour prior. Burial will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery near Lidgerwood. Lorraine’s service will be live streamed. The Rutland community extends condolences to the family and friends of Lorraine Haaland, a talented lady who blessed all who knew her with the gifts of cheerful good humor and beautiful music. 

Bradley “Agner” Wyum of this community returned home on Tuesday, August 22, after undergoing surgery at Sanford Hospital in Fargo on Thursday, August 17. Bradley spent the next week recuperating at home and was scheduled for a post-surgery checkup on Tuesday, August 29. Bradley’s many friends in the Rutland community are wishing him a speedy recovery and return to normal activities. Bradley says that he is not worried, as he estimates that it will be another 3 to 4 weeks before any soybean or corn fields are ready to harvest. In the meantime, his brother, Tom, and nephew, Kris, are taking care of things on the Wyum farm.

Greg Donaldson of Rutland, Hal Nelson of Rutland, Harvey Dawson of Brampton, Rick Bosse of Brampton and David Price a/k/a South Dakota Joe of Britton returned from their KFGO sponsored fishing trip at Ballard’s Resort on Lake of the Woods on the evening of Thursday, August 24. Hal reports that they caught plenty of walleyes, but no big ones. According to Rick, Hal was the top fish catcher of their group. Rick did have his picture taken with “The Catch Of The Week” on the way home, although the “catch & release” policy covering that particular species would not allow him to bring his catch home. A photo of Rick and his catch has been circulating on the internet. One week of fishing wasn’t enough for Hal. He took off on the afternoon of Monday, August 28, bound for the lake home of his sister & brother-in-law, Becky & Allan Wilke, on Ottertail Lake MN. Hal said that he expects to be back home by Friday, Sept. 1, unless he catches the one that Rick caught & released.

Joel Susag accompanied 2 of his brothers: David Susag of Fargo; and Ivan Susag of Hawley MN; on a three-day trip out to Billings MT and Park City MT last weekend, departing Rutland on Friday, August 25, and returning on Monday, August 28. In addition to visiting their sister, Caroline Story, and brother, Ron Susag, at Park City, they also took in a horse sale at Billings. None of them bought or sold any horses, Joel reports, so the trip was a complete success, all fun and no work.

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 US Postal Service and the North Dakota Congressional delegation to SAVE OUR POST OFFICE! Later.