By Bill Anderson

Nature seems to have exhausted its ability to super heat when it topped the 95 degree mark on Sunday, October 1, Uff-Da Day. Since then, the mercury has plummeted more than 65 degrees, bottoming out at a freezing temperature of 30 degrees for more than 2 hours on Saturday morning, October 7. The 2023 growing season was definitely put to rest on the morning of Tuesday, October 10, when the low for the night hit 28 degrees, and stayed there for 5 hours. The final nail in the coffin of summer ’23 was driven home by a low temperature of 26 degrees on the morning of Wednesday, October 11. Goodbye to green leaves, and hello to the lawn rake. The snow shovel is still on standby, confidently and patiently waiting for its turn on the front line.

Combines are grinding away on corn and soybeans, and some local growers are getting close to being done with the 2023 bean harvest. Joe Breker estimated that about 1½ days of soybean harvest remained on his farming operation as of Tuesday, October 10. Joe reported that the yield had generally been better than average, running from 45 bu. per acre to much better than that. No corn has been harvested on the Breker farm, yet, but Joe estimates that the 2023 corn crop will come in well above average, too.

Noah Breker, grandson of Joe & Patty Breker of this community, established an outstanding record in track while a high school student in Minnesota, but he is now a freshman at the University of North Carolina, and is getting ready to make his mark in big college, national track meets. Noah will be competing at the U of Wisconsin in the Honeycombe Classic this coming Friday, October 13. Joe & Patty are planning to be there to see their grandson compete. On their way back home they plan to stop to observe another grandson’s sports debut. Their grandson, Gideon Breker, will be playing football for Armstrong High School of Plymouth MN.

Wedding Bells were ringing from the hilltops on Saturday, October 7, when Jacob Mehrer and Courtney Stevens were married in an outdoor ceremony up at the Coteau des Prairies Lodge. The reception and dance were held at the Rutland City Hall. Courtney is the daughter of the late Lisa Stevens and Rian Stevens of Luck, Wisconsin. Jacob is the son of Hilary and Shannon Mehrer of Rutland. The bride and groom are currently making their home in Grand Forks ND where Jacob works for a property management company while finishing his college degree at UND, and Courtney works as a legal secretary for a law firm in Grand Forks. The Rutland community congratulates Jacob & Courtney on their marriage, and extends best wishes to them for a long and happy life together.

Old friends here were saddened when word was received that Rutland native Deloris Hoflen, had passed away after a battle with cancer on September 24, 2023, at the age of 84 years, 10 months and 29 days. Her cremains were returned to her home town on Saturday, October 7, and were interred at the Rutland Cemetery, next to her parents. Deloris Marjorie Hoflen was born October 26, 1937, to Oscar and Alma (Anderson) Hoflen in Britton, South Dakota, and joined her sisters Mavis and Gladys at the family home in Rutland, North Dakota. Deloris spent many hours as a child with her father doing chores and earned the name “Little Oscar”. She always had fond memories of those times and shared many stories of growing up in Rutland. She attended Elementary and High School in Rutland, graduating from RHS as a member of the Class of ’55. After graduation, Deloris went on to earn her LPN license, moved to Montana and became a nurse. While living in Montana she met and married Dean Frolander. They had three children, Dora, Darlene, and Dale. For a brief time in the mid-1960’s they made their home at Delores’ old home town of Rutland ND, before relocating the family to Minnesota, where Deloris continued her nursing practice.

In 1978 the family moved back to Montana and bought a farm in Round Butte, outside of Ronan. Later Dean and Deloris divorced, and Deloris bought a home in Ronan where she worked at St Lukes Hospital, until she retired.

Deloris is survived by a sister: Mavis (Hoflen) Wold, of Forman ND; by 2 daughters: Dora (Allen) Frolander of Ronan MT; and, Darlene Frolander of Ronan MT; by one son, Dale (Vera) Frolander of Ronan MT; her 9 grandchildren; and numerous great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar & Alma Hoflen; by her former husband, Dean Frolander; and, by 1 sister, Gladys (Hoflen) Silseth.

Deloris was strong in her faith in God, was a member of the Sew and So club, had many friends and was a very generous person with a huge sense of humor. She will be missed by many. Schrider-Thompson Funeral & Cremation Center in Ronan MT assisted the family with arrangements. The Rutland community extends condolences to the family and friends of Delores Hoflen, a person of determination, strength and good humor.

Brady Seavert of Fargo, Kip Christensen of Wahpeton and Jack Sirek of Wahpeton were Rutland visitors on Friday & Saturday, October 6 & 7, joining a friend, Greg Donaldson of Rutland, for the opening of the 2023 Pheasant Season on Saturday. No report of hunter success has been received, but, as all involved are also fishermen, it is assumed that they limited out and just don’t want to give away any secrets. Both Brady and Kip are grandsons of the late Rudy & Edna Anderson of this community. Brady’s paternal grandparents were the late Lee & Angie Seavert of Forman, and Kip’s paternal grandparents were the late Fred & Laura Christensen of Rutland. Jack is not fortunate enough to have Rutland ancestry, but he is becoming a local by osmosis.

Silvia Brooks returned to her home here on Saturday, October 7, at the conclusion of a two-week visit with family at Bakersfield CA. She hit the ground running on her return home, taking care of her residential and commercial cleaning clients. Silvia reports that she and Aaron are planning a driving vacation trip to southern Arizona and northern Mexico over the Thanksgiving holiday at the end of November.

The family and friends of the late Kathleen Ann Brakke of this community will be honoring her memory with a Celebration Of Life from 12:00 Noon to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 14, at the Rutland Town Hall. Kathy often contributed her artistic, musical and culinary talents to events in the Rutland Community, and her family invites the community to join them in celebrating the events and accomplishments of her life among us. Kathy’s son-in-law, professional photographer Robert Sebree, has produced an audio/visual presentation about her life that will be shown during the October 14 gathering in Rutland.

Meanwhile, this writer will be taking a break from The Rooster Crows as of the submission of this column for publication on October 13 until after the Thanksgiving holiday at the end of November. During that time there will be at least one week of vacation in Arizona, and a series of treatments for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, a low grade low risk form of cancer contracted as a result of exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam back in 1970. The Vietnam War, even 53 years later it’s still the War that keeps on giving. Rutland City Auditor Deb Banish has agreed to take a shot at reporting the news from Rutland during that time, and she will appreciate reports of family and community happenings from members of the public. Deb’s City e-mail address is:­ rutlandnd@drtel.net and her phone # is 701.724-3081

Well that’s some of 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.