Tag: Nordland Lutheran Church

The Rooster Crows – Dec. 17, 2021

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By Bill Anderson

Last Saturday’s Santa Claus Day activities opened on a musical note as members of Nordland Lutheran Church serenaded members of the community with Christmas Carols following the Congregation’s afternoon service on Saturday, December 11. At 5:00 p.m. the Carolers adjourned to the Rutland Town Hall to participate in Rutland’s Santa Claus Day activities that included BINGO and other games, and to enjoy a spaghetti supper prepared by members of the Rutland Community Club. Suddenly, with a jingle of sleigh bells and a “Ho, Ho, Ho!” Santa Claus appeared in the Town Hall and went right to work, consulting with youngsters about their Christmas wish lists. No one is quite sure how many children were present, as they did not slow down long enough to be counted. His consulting and counseling sessions complete, Santa then went to work presenting Christmas ham gifts to those whose names were drawn from the sign-up box. The hams had been donated for the event by local businesses and individuals. The donors were: R2 Inc. & Wild Rice Air (Rodney Erickson); Rutland Elevator – Wheaton-Dumont Co-op; Rutland-Cayuga Volunteer Fire Department; Rutland Oil Company (Greg Donaldson); Rutland Senior Citizens; Stock Growers Bank-Rutland Station, Shawn Klein, Manager; Paul Anderson Consulting; Joe’s Fertilizer; Bill Anderson; Mayor Michael Mahrer; Bernard Mahrer Construction; Oleo Acres LLC (Bill & Paul Anderson); Lariat Bar (Pete & Michelle Denault); Jacobson Plumbing, Heating & Excavating; Woytassek Farms; Andrew Hoflen; Dave & Pat Bladow; Jim & Ione Lunneborg; Joe’s Ag Supply (Kenny & Tanya Hamilton); Farmers Union Insurance Agent David Bergeman; Walock-Johnson Insurance Agency, Kristine Radke, Agent; The Bunkhous (Lori McLaen); The Morning Coffee Crew; and, Jake’s Feed & Seed (Jake Erickson). Recipients of the Christmas hams were: Renee Cramton; Pam Maloney; Sarah Pavek; Paislee Pherson; Julia Mahrer; Pat Bladow; Audrey Anderson; Carol Fridgen; Delores Lysne; Kinsley & McKenzie; Carolyn Christensen; Rodney Erickson; Rodger Pearson; Delores Breker; Aunika Wyum; Mason Breker; Cher Spieker; Ione Pherson; Launa Peterson; Beverly Kulzer; Joanne Harris; Katie Johnson; Bill Anderson; Cohen Jensen; Diane Smith; Kayla Mahrer; Corbin Carlson; Janice Christensen; Dylan Anderson; Jesse Maly; Lori McLaen; Joanne Hawkinson; Ruth McLaen; Jim Huckell; Brady Anderson; Hadley Bladow; Briella Bosworth; Jetter Berg; Karla Breker; Julie Johnson; Yvonne Johnson; Joel Susag; Jameson Corry; Lyle Erickson; and, Dianna Anderson. His work for the evening completed, Santa made his departure at about 7:00 p.m., vowing to return on Christmas Eve with gifts for those who have been nice, and to make his 77th pre-Christmas visit to Rutland in December of 2022. So, “…You better be good, you better not cry, you better not pout and I’m tellin’ you why…cause Santa Claus is coming to town!” 

Mother Nature provided some mild weather for Santa Claus Day last week, boosting the temperature into the 30’s by Friday, December 10, and into the 40’s for the next 5 days. The weather gurus are predicting a turnaround beginning on the evening of Wednesday, December 15, however, with plummeting temperatures, high winds and snow forecast for Wednesday night and through Thursday, December 16. After that, cold for as far ahead as can be foreseen. As Boyd Jacobson Jr. put it, “The knowledge that it will most likely warm up by April is what keeps me going.” Well, it’s Winter in North Dakota. Enjoy it or suffer. It’s as simple as that.

The real reason for the Christmas celebration will be observed next weekend, on December 24th, 25th & 26th. According to Pastor Julie Johnson, the Christmas Eve service at Nordland Lutheran Church will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, December 24th, and Sunday worship will be at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 26th. Everyone is welcome.

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The Rooster Crows – Dec. 10, 2021

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By Bill Anderson

Santa Claus is comin’ to town! He’s making a list and checking it twice. He’s gonna find out who’s naughty and nice. Jolly Old St. Nick will be making his 76th annual pre-Christmas visit to Rutland on Santa Claus Day, Saturday, December 11, at 5:00 p.m., at the Rutland Town Hall. He will be handing out bags of candy, consulting with kids of all ages about their Christmas wish lists and awarding Christmas hams donated by local businesses to the lucky winners of the annual drawing. Other Santa Claus Day activities will include: crafts & games for the kids; BINGO for all; and, a spaghetti supper. This is your chance to see Santa Claus in the flesh and to have a personal, face-to-face visit with him before he swings through town to make deliveries on Christmas Eve. Don’t forget: Santa Claus Day in Rutland from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 11, in the Rutland Town Hall.

Winter has definitely arrived, making its presence known with a thermometer reading of 2 degrees below Zero on the morning of Monday, December 6 and a 60-mph wind that battered the area the night before. Less than a week earlier, on Wednesday, December 1, the mercury had topped out at 58 degrees above Zero. Preceding the wind on Sunday, Mother Nature, or maybe it was Old Man Winter, had deposited about 2 inches of snow on Rutland and vicinity in a series of snow flurries that began on the afternoon of Saturday, December 4 and ended on Sunday, December 5. After sidewalks and driveways had been cleared of snow on Monday, another half an inch of the white, powdery stuff was delivered to the community on Tuesday morning, just to show us who’s the boss.

CORRECTION: Last week’s column contained a few errors that need to be corrected. It was reported that, as of Tuesday, November 30, there had been no activity at the Rutland Post Office building. In fact, workers were observed doing some cleanup work around the exterior of the building, and removing materials from the interior on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, November 29, 30 & December 1. No explanation of what is planned for the building has been received, however. Apologies for the error. We’ll try harder in the future.

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The Rooster Crows – Dec. 3, 2021

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By Bill Anderson

Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25, opened with a thermometer reading of +4 degrees F., and has turned out to be the coldest day of Autumn 2021, so far. The remainder of November, and the first few days of December have reached highs ranging from the upper 30’s to the mid-50’s. Not too bad for the month before Christmas. A return to more seasonal temperatures is forecast for this weekend, though, with even some snow included in the prediction. What a surprise! Snow in North Dakota in December. Will wonders never end?

Ted Lee reports that some consistent cold would be welcomed down on “the flat” south of Rutland, near the Lee farm in Tewaukon Township, where wet field conditions have prevented the harvest of several cornfields. Despite last summer’s drought, the rains of September & October turned the fields to mud, making them impassable for combines and impossible to harvest. Once the ground freezes, if it does, the task can be completed with relative ease. A covering of snow, which would insulate the ground and prevent its freezing, is not a possibility which the affected farmers prefer to contemplate.

Some local folks have been on the move this week. Chuck & Mary Beth Anderson; Mike & Debbie Banish; Mark & Kathy Wyum; and Roger & Caryn McLaen boarded the Farmers Union bus for a trip to Branson MO on Monday morning, November 29; and Joe & Patty Breker were seeing the sights in New York City during the weekend after Thanksgiving. The Brekers took in an NFL football game on Sunday, November 28, the Philadelphia Eagles v. the New York Giants, but, as they are Eagles fans and don’t like to see their team lose, the final score of Sunday’s game will not be reported here. Joe noted that it is ironic that the 2 NFL football teams claiming New York City as their home, the Giants and the Jets, both play their home games at a stadium located in New Jersey. Something to think about.

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The Rooster Crows – Nov. 5, 2021

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By Bill Anderson

The rain that moved through the Rutland area on Wednesday, October 27, left more than an inch of precipitation in its wake.  Roger Pearson’s rain gauge at 409 Gay Street held 1.2” when the rain stopped on Wednesday evening, and Camron Gulleson reports That his gauge recorded 1.3” at the Gulleson Farm 1½ mile east of town.  Last Wednesday’s reading was the last one from Roger’s gauge for the 2021 season, as he has now removed the gauge from its post in the back yard and taken it inside for the winter. Cameron said that the cumulative amount of rainfall at the Gulleson Farm since August 20 is 13.86”. Prior to August 20, the rainfall amount during the entire 2021 growing season was 3.49”, according to Cameron’s records. Well, there won’t be much growing going on for the next several months. From now til then we are likely to be measuring precipitation amounts with a yard stick, rather than with a rain gauge.

Cameron Gulleson also reports that he and Jenny have been making some improvements to their Ransom Township farm home. A new entryway/mud room has been added to the east side of the house, and the entire house is being re-sided with “Smart Siding” a laminated wood product. Cameron says that he, Jenny and his Dad, Bill, have been doing the work. The house will also be receiving new roofing in the near future. The house was originally built on the NE¼ of Section 13 in Rutland Township by Dale McLaen, and was moved to the Gulleson farm in the NE¼ of Section 29 in Ransom Township by Cameron & Jenny several years ago. Congratulations to the Gullesons on the improvements to their home.

John Lloyd, Mark Charnowski (He says that he’s Irish) and Moose Rose of Fond du Lac WI were Rutland residents from Monday, October 25, to Monday, November 1, headquartering at Lori McLaen’s rental, The Bunkhous, on Rutland’s Main Street. The trio were hunting ducks and pheasants during their stay here. They also spent a few evenings at The Lariat, getting acquainted and making new friends. They enjoyed success on all fronts.

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The Rooster Crows – Oct. 1, 2021

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By Bill Anderson

The Sun always shines on Rutland! And, that’s what the weather gurus are predicting for Uff-Da Day XXXVI, the community’s annual Fall Festival with a Scandinavian theme, on Sunday, October 3. According to Rutland Community Club President and Uff-da Day Chairperson Katie McLaen, activities are scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday morning with arts & crafts vendors, demonstrations & exhibits. The good times will just roll on from then throughout the day. There will be sandkaker & krumkake at the Legion Hall; abelskievers being prepared before your eyes in front of the Legion Hall; dinner at the Rutland Town Hall commencing at 11:00, featuring Rutland’s scalloped potatoes with ham, prepared with real potatoes, real ham and real cream; lefse and rommegrot will be available in the Seniors’ Center and the Rutland Park Bord will be serving Uff-Da Tacos and bratwursts at the Rutland Fire Hall. That’s not all, either. The Annual Uff-Da Day Parade is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m., with Lowell Wyum announcing the entries on Main Street; the “Nickel Scramble” sponsored by Kenny & Tanya Hamilton and Joe’s Ag Supply will follow the parade; and the Pedal Tractor competition will follow the Nickel Scramble. At 3:00 p.m. a dedication ceremony honoring the late Ronald Narum, Rutland’s Mayor from 1972 until his death in 2020, the community’s “Mr. Fix-It,” and the guy who knew where everything was and which keys were for which locks, will be held in front of The Stock Growers Bank building at the corner of Gay & First Streets. Meanwhile, the “Bounce Houses” across the street from the Town Hall will be entertaining some youngsters, while others take a ride on the Uff-Da Train. The Rutland Depot Museum, Pioneer House and Country School exhibits will be open throughout the day. The Uff-Da Day Committee promises a great day, and they have always delivered in the past. This Sunday, October 3, Rutland will be the place to be for a good time with good fun, good food and good friends. Plan to arrive early, and to stay late!

Readers may recall that Roger Pearson’s rain gauge measured .2 of an inch of precipitation from the drizzle back on Monday, September 20, while the gauge of his next door neighbor, Norbert Kulzer, registered .4 of an inch. A third report has now been received from Chuck Sundlie, whose gauge is set up in his backyard, 2 blocks south of Roger & Norbert. According to Chuck, his gauge agreed with Norbert’s, making the official total from the September 20 rain event .4 of an inch. It always has to be 2 against 1!

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The Rooster Crows – April 2, 2021

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By Bill Anderson

The only people who get hurt on a roller coaster are those who try to get off while the ride is still in motion. Well, there’s no getting off the 2021 weather roller coaster, and it’s still in motion. From an extremely windy high of 76 above on Monday, March 29, to an extremely windy low of 20 degrees on the morning of Tuesday, March 30, Mother Nature showed that she is quite capable of changing her mind without notice. Monday’s wind was from the south, moving soil from worked fields, and even from some no-till fields, to Canada, and Tuesday’s wind was from the north, bringing an equal amount of dirt back with it. The soil in motion never gets put back where it came from, though, and ends up clogging road ditches, culverts, and air filters. The extremely dry and windy conditions of Spring, 2021, are reminiscent of the Spring of 1988. Fortunately, history does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme. The weatherman is predicting a steady warm up beginning on Thursday, April 1, and we’re hoping that he’s not foolin’, cause he’s predicting sunny and mid-70’s for Easter Sunday. Bring it on!

Chuck & Mary Beth Anderson hitched their 5th wheel travel trailer to their pickup on Monday, March 22, and headed southwest, bound for Sedona, Arizona, and a sight-seeing tour of the Grand Canyon. On the morning of Wednesday, March 24, Chuck called a friend, Mark Wyum, to report that they were snowed in at a campground in the mountains of New Mexico. Chuck reported that at least 6 inches of snow had fallen, and it was still coming down.  A later call to friends here carried the information that the New Mexico Highway Department had opened the roads, enabling the Andersons to resume their journey. Last year, Chuck retired from the North Dakota Highway Department after 24 years, including many hours in a snowplow, and it is assumed that New Mexico’s promptness in getting the road opened for Chuck & Mary Beth was an example of professional courtesy between Knights of the Road.

Dale McLaen of this community has been hospitalized at Hennepin County Medical Center in the Twin Cities for the past week. Dale underwent surgery last Thursday, March 25, and reports are that he came through the procedure quite well. It is expected that he will be recuperating in St. Paul, under the supervision of his wife, Lisa, for the foreseeable future. Cards & letters may be sent to Dale at the following address: Mr. Dale McLaen, 720 Arlington Avenue West, St. Paul MN 55117. His many friends here wish him a speedy recovery and return to his usual good health.

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