The Rutland Senior Center hosted the Annual Sargent County Senior Citizens December meeting and Christmas Party on Thursday, December 14, 2023. Kathy Wyum and her elves decorated the Senior Center and turned it into a very festive Christmas setting. The clubs from all four Sargent County senior centers were well represented – Cogswell, Forman, Milnor, and Rutland. A total of 26 seniors enjoyed the afternoon. Chuck Anderson called multitude rounds of Bingo and all guests won at least one prize and even more! Four beautiful door prizes were also given away. A wonderful lunch of sandwiches, salads and a variety of desserts followed Bingo to end a fun-filled afternoon.
Many Rutland residents made it out of town for Christmas celebrations before the ice storm hit on Christmas Day. The rain began early, turning to snow and then more rain and sleet to make the roads impossible for travel. The State plows were out on Tuesday to try to clear roads as much as possible.
Since this will be the last column for 2023, here is a summary of some of the year’s highs and lows:
The weather outside was frightful as below-zero temperatures continued into January, and most of the winter season. The cold never stopped the snowmobilers who made a poker run through the County with the last stop at The Lariat Bar. Several inches of snow fell again in February with days of blowing snow and high winds and no travel advised. March was no warmer and three-foot mountains of ice and snow cancelled many Rutland activities, but it didn’t keep residents from the Saint Patrick’s Day feast at The Lariat or Rutland Fun Night with nearly 170 people attending. There were 50 door prizes and at least that many cakes for the cakewalk. There were 9 carnival games as well as a Photo Booth and coloring table and a popcorn/cotton candy stand. The Rutland Volunteer Fireman served pizza and cookies for supper. By mid-April, the temperature finally registered 51 degrees followed by a wild thunderstorm that knocked out power to Rutland homes and businesses. Another cold front and rain hit the community in late May making it a challenging planting season. By late June, temperatures were nearing 100 degrees, by September they were back in the teens, but managed to hit the 90s for Uffda Day in October!
Rutland’s population grew by two with the births of Bridger Wyum, son of Rob and Dana Wyum, on January 11, 2023, and William Price Gulleson, son of Cam & Jenny Gulleson, born March 22, 2023.
The Rutland Sportsmen’s Club held its second annual coyote hunt in February. First place winners were the team of Mitch Maley and Tallon Harris of Oakes & Lisbon with 5 coyotes weighing in at 140 pounds; the Second Place team of Brent Tabor and Greg Morrison of Fargo had 5 coyotes weighing a total of 127 pounds; the team of Steve Dudahs and an unnamed teammate won the 3rd place prize and also won the biggest coyote contest for a coyote weighing in at 40 pounds; Brent Tabor won the smallest coyote contest for a 21 pounder.
Randy Kiefer continued to update Rutland on his world travels in Spain, Portugal, French Pyrenees, Morocco, Egypt, Tanzania, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa. He even made a stop in Rutland in July as part of his travels.
In April, the USPS informed Rodney Erickson that the site of his building on Main Street, across the Street from Stock Growers Bank’s Rutland Station, was approved as the new location of the Rutland Post Office. Next step is for the USPS to design and approve a floor plan for the facility and get a contractor in to do the necessary construction work. The old Post Office, located in the Franzen Building just north of the old Rutland Café building, was closed “for a few days” by the USPS for health & safety reasons back on September 30, 2021, and, as of this writing, the USPS is still working on getting the building ready for opening in 2024.
Sixteen Sargent Central students graduated in May, and five of them had significant ties to the Rutland community: Gaven Christianson, son of Barry & Jennifer Christianson; Abigail “Abby” Erickson, daughter of Rodney & Andrea Erickson; Joslyn “Josie” Hamilton, daughter of Kenny & Tanya Hamilton; Tyson Siemieniewski, son of Brad & Heidi Siemieniewski; and, Fletcher Willprecht, son of Wendy Willprecht and Kevin Willprecht.
Nine of the 12 surviving second generation descendants of Rutland area pioneers, the late Ole C. & Julia C. (Peterson) Anderson, enjoyed a reunion of first cousins on May 25. The group included Bill and Paul Anderson of Rutland, Joanne (Anderson) Harris and Andrew Harris of Rutland, Sonja (Anderson) Christensen of Wahpeton, Judie (Anderson-Seavert) Grohs of Rosholt SD, Jodie (Anderson) Bogenreif of Gilbert AZ, Beverly (Bartunek) Schons of Fargo, and Vicki (Bartunek) Renner of Des Moines. The cousins are descendants of the late Melvin & Ila Anderson; the late Rudolph & Edna Anderson; the late William & Norma (Anderson) Bartunek; and the late Earl & Irene Anderson.
Kathleen “Kathy” Brakke died on June 3, 2023, 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. A celebration of her life was held in October.
Carolyn (Jacobson) Christensen; Boyd Jacobson Jr.; Calvin Jacobson; Diane (Jacobson) Smith; and Pam (Jacobson) Maloney hosted a reunion of the VanVlaenderen clan in Rutland on Saturday, June 24. Their mother, the late Catherine Jacobson, was a member of the VanVlaenderen family and grew up in the Geneseo area and eventually met and married Boyd Jacobson Sr. of Rutland after he returned from service in the Army during WWII.
The Rutland General Store building, the Cramton property on West Cooper Street, the Maloney property on north First Street (Main Street) and the Aderman property on Anthony Street were all sold in July, bringing new residents to town.
Rutland native Judith “Judy” Olson passed away July 30, 2023, in Fargo. Judith Katherine Kulzer was born August 7, 1943, to Joseph and Mary (Murray) Kulzer in Breckenridge, MN. She grew up on the family’s farm one mile east and 2 miles north of Rutland and attended school in Ransom Township and in Rutland. Judy graduated from Rutland High School in 1961. Judy was the community’s first “Miss Rutland,” and was the First Runner-up in the Miss Sargent County Pageant later that year. On June 30, 1962, she married Darrell Olson at Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Cayuga ND.
Rutland Ribfest returned in August and included a community-wide junk fest, a pie and ice cream social at the Rutland Senior Center and a freewill rummage sale at the Hall. The rummage sale at the Hall & dinner, in-person & online donations, raised just over $4,300 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The ribs prepared by the team of Steve Hartze of Fargo and Bill Hoflen of Rutland were selected as this year’s “Best Ribs in Rutland” by the 3 judges (Bill Anderson, Debbie Banish, and Mark Wyum), and were also picked as “The People’s Choice,” in a ballot by diners.
The Rutland Roosters Men’s Slowpitch Softball Team were the 2023 North Dakota State Class Rec 3 Champions, clinching the title by winning 5 consecutive games against tough opponents at the State Tournament in Grand Forks, August 12 & 13. Members of the Roosters’ 2023 State Championship Team are: Adam Bell, Outfield; Jon Christianson, Outfield; Kirk Fliehs, 3rd Base; Rylan Gutzmer, Outfield; Todd Hosford, 2nd Base; Travis Hosford, Outfield; Kris Kann, Pitcher; Nolen Peterson, 1st 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.
Orrine Riddle passed away, July 29, 2023, in Forman. 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 Class of 1955. She married Larry Wanous in 1959. They had two children, Sherri, and Shane. In 1975 she married Efton Riddle. She moved back to Rutland after her mother’s death until 2022 when she went to live with her son.
The shareholders of Rutland Improvement LLC d/b/a The Lariat Bar, held the company’s first annual meeting on August 15, in the back room of The Lariat Bar. Reports from the LLC’s Board of Managers covered the period from the first meeting in August of 2022 to July 2023. The Lariat Bar opened for business in December of 2022.
Rutland native Susan (Kulzer) Brummond of Monument CO passed away August 22. Susan Jane Kulzer was born on March 6, 1946, in rural North Dakota. She was the sixth (fourth surviving) child of Alphonse and Luella (Goff) Kulzer. She grew up in Rutland and on the family farm one mile east of town.
Lorraine (Larson) Haaland passed away, August 24, 2023, in Rutland. Lorraine was born September 29, 1927, near Rutland, to Jack and Ragnhild “Rose” (Sperstad) Larson. Lorraine was the 8th of 9 children. Lorraine, her parents, and her siblings were noted for their musical abilities. She attended school in Veblen SD, and at Wood Lake School, a one room country school in southeastern Sargent County, where she met her future husband, Milford Haaland.
Robert “Bob” and Paulette (Anderson) Gulsvig moved in September to the Ransom Township farm home formerly occupied by Paulette’s parents, Dianna Anderson, and the late Larry Anderson. The farmstead is situated in the SW¼ of Section 9 in Ransom Township, 3 miles east of the Rutland corner and on the north side of ND Highway #11.
Rutland native Deloris Hoflen passed away on September 24, 2023. 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. While living in Montana she met and married Dean Frolander. They had three children, Dora, Darlene, and Dale.
Sunday, October 1, 2023, Uffda Day XXXVIII, was a hot time in the old town. The streets were full of people, approximately 3,000, by some estimates. The 2023 event included 112 antique, classic, restored & modified automobiles from throughout North Dakota, South Dakota & Minnesota, and musical performances by local talent at the Seniors’ Center and Town Hall throughout the day. The American Legion Color guard led the Uffda Day Parade through town and the Lariat Bar supplied refreshments to patrons throughout the afternoon and evening hours. Arts & craft vendors, more than 30 of them, reported a great day. Videos of the event can be found on the Rutland Facebook page and on the Rutland YouTube channel.
Jacob Mehrer and Courtney Stevens were married in an outdoor ceremony on October 7 at the Coteau des Prairies Lodge. The reception and dance were held at Rutland City Hall.
The Rutland City Council voted to construct sidewalk improvements on Main Street in accordance with the specifications described in the Local Transportation Alternatives Program grant application. The city had been approved for a grant covering 80% of the construction costs of the project. The Council also approved getting the process started to levy a special assessment to pay for the taxpayer’s share of the project’s estimated total cost.
Thirty-three people attended dinner at the Rutland Senior Center on November 30. It was the last day that Janet Kiefer would be cooking. Janet retired as the Chief cook and bottle washer at the Rutland Senior Center after more than twenty-five years of serving delicious homemade meals for the seniors. The new cook, Elizabeth “Liz” Ernst, has taken over the meal service at the Rutland Senior Center.
The Lariat Bar and Grill held its first trivia game night in December. Twenty teams from Rutland, Havana, Forman, and beyond packed the bar for the event. At the end of four rounds, one team won the challenge with three teams right behind tied for second place. The ages of participants ranged from twenty to over eighty. Future trivia nights will be held the first Friday of the month through March.
Rutland launched its own app for community events and to keep up on the city activities. The app was funded by the State Department of Health and provided through the Living Local program.
Happy New Year! Let’s see what fun activities will be happening in Rutland throughout 2024. First up will be Dueling Pianos at the Hall on Friday, January 19. Some seats are still available so be sure to get your reservation in to Katie McLaen. Additional information on the event can be found on the Rutland Facebook page.
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