The Rooster Crows – Oct. 28, 2022

On October 28, 2022October 27, 2022 By rutlandramblingsIn Rooster CrowsLeave a comment

By Bill Anderson

The weather roller coaster continues. From downright cold at the middle of last week to pleasant, with the temperature in the high 60’s on Friday & Saturday of last week to windy with a high of 77 on Sunday, culminating in a thunderstorm on Sunday evening that plunged the mercury into the 30’s and made up for its lack of rain with an abundance of violent wind, sharp bolts of lightning and ominous claps of thunder. Up to ¼ inch of rain from Sunday’s storm was reported from Weber Township, Forman and Cayuga, but Rutland and surrounding area received less than .1 of an inch amid all of the sound and fury. Well, as is written in Scripture, it does rain on all, the just as well as the unjust, alike, just not in equal amounts.

Pam Maloney reports that her high school graduating class, the Sargent Central Class of 1977, held a 45^th Class Reunion at the Coteau des Prairies Lodge earlier this month. About one-third of the graduates attended and all had a good time reminiscing about the good old days. Pam stated that they enjoyed looking through the old Sargent Central annuals that have now been digitized and posted on Sargent Central’s internet web site at www.sargentcentral.org/digital-yearbooks. Even the handwritten notes and quotes are visible in the on-line versions of the annuals. Sargent Central’s first year, and first annual, began with the 1959-1960 school year. At that time, the District was made up of the Brampton, Cayuga, Cogswell and Forman School Districts. The Rutland and Rutland Consolidated School Districts joined Sargent Central in the fall of 1963, and the Havana School District became part of Sargent Central in the fall of 1969. According to Pam, most of her classmates have now figured out what they want to be when they grow up. Discussions are underway for the 50^th Reunion in 2027.

Dan Carlyle of Wadena MN and Dan Kuffler of Scottsdale AZ were in Rutland from Thursday, October 20 to Sunday, October 23, hunting ducks and pheasants in the company of their sons. The group stayed at Ione Pherson’s short term rental property, “The Bird’s Nest,” during their Rutland visit. The 2 men have been frequent hunting season visitors in the Rutland area since the late 1980’s. Mr. Kuffler states that he recently acquired a summer home at Battle Lake MN, where he finds relief from Arizona’s oppressive summer heat. Mr. Carlyle was a classmate of Bill Anderson’s in the University of North Dakota Law School Class of 1988. After several decades practicing law in the courts of Minnesota, he recently changed careers and is now General Manager of the Todd-Wadena Rural Electric Cooperative, a co-op that provides electrical service to farms and rural communities in Todd and Wadena Counties. During many previous visits to this community, the Carlyle-Kuffler duo has been accompanied by Mr. John Nelson and Mr. Bill Spears of Wadena, but those 2 gentlemen stayed home to tend to other business this year. Dan & Dan report that both Mr. Nelson and Mr. Spears are in good health, as full of good stories and as ornery as ever. If any of those stories aren’t true, they should have been. Their many friends in the Rutland community extend best wishes to all 4 of them.

Jesse Brakke of Rutland; Claire Brakke of Madison WI; Janelle Brakke of Fargo; Robert & Darby (Brakke) Sebree of Cincinnati OH; Kaia Mahrer and children: Brody, Julia, Adalyn & Kaitlyn of Rutland; Steve Thorfinnson of Fort Ransom ND; and, Dana & Wanda (Brakke) Rasmussen of Moorhead MN; enjoyed lunch with Kathy Brakke of this community on Thursday, October 20, at the “Porter Creek” restaurant in Fargo. Kathy is the mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, mother-in-law and aunt of various members of the group. She currently resides at Mapleview Memory Care Center in Fargo. All those who attended the gathering report a very enjoyable time.

Rutland native Bonnie Anderson, now a resident of Brookings SD, was a visitor in her old home town from Friday, October 21 to Sunday, October 23. Bonnie was a guest of her sister-in-law, Dianna Anderson, and helped Dianna celebrate her birthday at the Rutland Seniors’ Center on Saturday, October 22. Bonnie’s primary reason for making the drive up to Rutland was to give her younger brother, Jerry Nelson, a training session in how to make apple pies the way their Mother, the late Betty (Colby) Nelson, used to make them. Many here remember that Betty was an outstanding cook, baker & pastry chef, and if anyone went away from her table hungry, it was their own fault. Betty also often contributed her considerable culinary talents to her sister and brother-in-law, Lois & Ralph Nelson, when they owned and operated the Rutland Café from 1962 to 1998. Those were the days!

Six first cousins, descendants of Rutland pioneers Ole & Julia (Peterson) Anderson, held a reunion at Prante’s Restaurant in Wahpeton on Friday, October 21. The following brief report was received from presiding Family Matriarch Sonja Christensen: “…Seven of us gathered at Prante’s – Beverly (Bartunek) Schons of Fargo; Steve & Vickie (Bartunek) Renner of Des Moines IA;, Joanne (Anderson) Harris of Rutland; Paul Anderson of Rutland; Judie (Anderson-Seavert) Grohs of Rosholt SD; and, me, Sonja (Anderson) Christensen of Wahpeton. Beverly & Vickie are daughters of the late Bill & Norma (Anderson) Bartunek; Joanne is the daughter of the late Melvin & Ila (Kronk) Anderson; Paul is a son of the late Earl & Irene (Henjum/Brown) Anderson; and, Judie & Sonja are daughters of the late Rudolph & Edna (Bernt) Anderson. A lot of stories and laughter proceeded around the table. Paul had to leave early to attend to some lake responsibilities, like leaves, dogs, etc. We then went over to my apartment where we had apple crisp and ice cream. The party ended too soon, but a special time was had by all. …” Thanks to Sonja for the report.

Kathy Wyum drove to Minneapolis on Friday, October 21, for a visit with one of her sons, Jesse Wyum, who resides in the area near Lake Bde Makaska, formerly known as Lake Calhoun. Kathy reported that they rented rooms in the Radisson Hotel that is attached to The Mall of America, and took advantage of the very pleasant weather to explore the area around Lake Bde Makaska that includes many classic homes from the Victorian era. Kathy returned home on Sunday, October 23.

John Hoflen of Bismarck ND visited family and friends in the Rutland area from Friday, October 21 through Monday, October 24. John, a 1962 graduate of RHS, was a longtime member of the North Dakota Army National Guard’s pistol and rifle marksmanship teams, and reported that he and his brother, Rob, used up a good part of last Saturday sharpening their shooting skills at the Rutland Sportsmen’s Club’s John Narum Trap & Rifle Range near Silver Lake. He headed back to Bismarck on Monday, October 24, after one more round of coffee and conversation with the Assembled Wise Men at the Rutland Seniors’ Center.

Stephen Kulzer of Hartford SD and his son, Will Kulzer of Brookings SD, along with their hunting dog, Indy, were visitors at the home of Stephen’s parents, Norbert & Beverly Kulzer, from Friday, October 21, through Sunday, October 23. Stephen & Will were hunting for wild ducks and ring neck pheasants, and had some luck on both counts. One of the ducks bagged by Will had a band on its leg, and he intended to check with the US Fish & Wildlife Service to find out when & where the duck had been banded. During the previous week, from Wednesday, October 12, to Saturday, October 15, Brooke Kulzer, one of Stephen & Ann Kulzer’s daughters, had been a guest of her grandparents in Rutland. Brooke is a graduate of SDSU in Brookings, working on her Master’s Degree, and had just completed a project studying shorebirds and other wildlife on the “Outer Banks” islands on the coast of North Carolina. One of the species they worked with was the sea turtle, which has become an endangered species in recent years, in part because of human encroachment on the turtles’ nesting habitat. Earlier this year Brooke had worked on a waterfowl banding project in southern Arkansas, and she is interested in finding out if the banded duck bagged by Will this past weekend was one that she banded last Spring. Brooke’s & Will’s sister, Lauren, is also a graduate of SDSU at Brookings, and is currently an RN working at a large hospital in Kansas City MO.

Members of Rutland Improvement d/b/a The Lariat Bar LLC Board of Managers met on the afternoons of Sunday, October 23 and Monday, October 24, in The Lariat Bar building on Rutland’s Main Street to interview applicants for the Bar’s management position. A meeting of shareholders has been called for 7:00 p.m. on the evening of Thursday, October 27, at the Lariat Bar.

Mike Harris, accompanied by Mike’s brother, Andy Harris of this community, arrived in Rutland at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 25. Andy had flown from Fargo to Mesa AZ on Thursday, October 20, and met Mike there. Mike had started heading this way with his pickup and 5^th wheel travel trailer from San Diego CA a few days earlier. On Monday, October 24, Mike & Andy were in Amarillo TX at 6:30 in the morning, and decided to drive as far north as they could make it that day. They kept driving, stopping only for fuel, and made it all the way to Rutland in one, long, day of driving. Mike is now fully retired from the U. S. Navy, and plans to get in some pheasant hunting around the old home town before moving on.

Meanwhile, Halloween, with ghouls, ghosts, goblins and prowling politicians is just around the corner. Monday, October 31, is the big day for the ghouls, ghosts and goblins, but the politicians have to wait until Tuesday, November 8, for their ship to come in, or sink, whichever it might be. President Biden and former President Trump are not on the ballot this year, but they are hovering over it like a couple of Charles Dicken’s ghosts. Many voters are not enamored of President Biden, but they sure don’t want to return to the mean spirited incivility, chaos, corruption and calumny of another Trump Presidency, either. In the U.S. House of Representatives, Americans will choose whether America’s toughest Grandma, Nancy Pelosi, will be wielding the gavel, or if the whimpering wavering, quivering & quavering Kevin McCarthy will take her spot at the Speaker’s Rostrum. In the Senate, the choice is whether the fast talking New Yorker, Sen. Chuck Schumer, or wily Kentuckian, Sen. Mitch McConnell, will be setting the agenda. Big choices for a big country. In North Dakota, another 2 years of control of the State by big oil and big money appear to be on the horizon. Well, as one pro-Union South Carolina politician said of his State just prior to the Civil War, more than 162 years ago, “It’s too small to be a republic, and too large to be an insane asylum.” Some things in the body politic, like a bad dinner, just have to work their way through the system.

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. Remember to patronize your local Post Office, and don’t forget to keep the pressure on the U.S. Postal Service and the North Dakota Congressional delegation to SAVE OUR POST OFFICE! Later.

The Rooster Crows – Oct. 14, 2022

On October 14, 2022October 13, 2022 By rutlandramblingsIn Rooster Crows1 Comment

By Bill Anderson

Step, pause, step, pause, step, pause, the inexorable march on the down staircase from Summer into Winter is under way. A fast-moving front brought a change in the weather on Thursday, October 6, bringing with it a hard freeze on Friday, October 7. Afternoon highs got back up into the 60’s & low 70’s by Saturday afternoon, but the morning lows hovered near the 32-degree mark through Monday, October 10. Another fast-moving front warmed things up to near 80 on Tuesday the 11^th, but the temperature was predicted to plummet by Wednesday morning, with highs sliding into the 40’s & 50’s and lows below freezing for the rest of the week. No rain has accompanied these changes in the weather, and none is being predicted for the foreseeable future. Well, that just means that every day we are getting one day closer to a day that will bring rain to the area. Local farmers are now transitioning from harvesting 40 bushel $14.00 soybeans to 175-bushel $7.00 corn, with yields varying from field to field and prices varying from day to day. They would just as soon have the rain hold off until the crop is harvested and either the grain is in the bin or the check is in the bank. As the late Lou Sanderson once wrote in his Sanderson Sez column many years ago, “The frost is on the pumpkin, and the corn is in the shock; the wheat has all been threshed, and the cash is in the sock.”

Friends here were saddened on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, when it was learned that Terry Price, owner & operator of Price Funeral Chapel of Britton & Forman, successor to Franzen Funeral Home, had passed away in Milbank SD at the home of his daughter and under the care of hospice, at the age of 67 years, 9 months, and 9 days. He had been battling cancer for several years. Terrance J. Price was born December 18, 1954, in Milbank SD to John Francis and Marjorie Twilight (Anderson) Price. He attended his K-12 schooling in Milbank, graduating from Milbank High School in 1973. He soon found his passion for music, and expanded his talents by participating in chorus, playing the trombone in the Milbank School band, and performing roles in school plays. Terry had a natural gift for playing by ear, and later honed his skills with years of lessons. Following graduation, he took a year off before college and worked for Jim Emanuel at the Emanuel Funeral Home in Milbank. Working for the Emanuel family helped him realize his calling to the funeral business. He began the process of becoming a funeral director by first attending Northern State College in Aberdeen from 1973-1976 studying pre-mortuary science. From there he went to San Francisco College of Mortuary Science and earned his mortuary degree in June of 1977. He became a licensed funeral director/embalmer in August of that year. Terry always said that he acquired his greatest treasure when he met Pamella Puetz, the love of his life. They were married on September 19, 1981, at St Joseph’s Cathedral in Sioux Falls SD. Their first child, Katie, was born in September 1986. Katie passed away from SIDS at the age of 6 weeks. Two years later their twins, Robb and Betsy, were born. Their fourth child, Scott, arrived 18 months later. In 1993 Terry was offered a job with Franzen Funeral Chapel at Britton by the owner, John Scott. Terry’s lifelong dream of owning his own funeral home became a reality in January 1999. He operated Price Funeral Chapel for over 23 years, and will be remembered for his kind, compassionate services, and his generous nature by all the families who entrusted him with their loved one’s final services. Terry shared his musical talents by singing in choirs, playing organ for many churches, singing at funerals, and was always willing to share his musical gift with others in any way he was able. He was a member and director of a 42-man barbershop group for many years! Along with his musical talents, he was an overall creative person. He found comfort in working on Tunisian crochet afghans (taught to him by Grandma Emanuel), needlework, baking pies, word games, and handmade projects for loved ones. Terry loved to make others laugh and always had a funny story or a good joke ready to go. His willingness to serve others was evident in his community involvement and his service on many charitable & community boards. He had a naturally generous spirit and caring heart that will be missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Pamella, of Britton; their children and their spouses: Robb (Gabbie) of Harrisburg SD, Betsy (Andrew) VanLith of Milbank SD, and Scott (Ashley) of Castlewood SD; his grandchildren: Lincoln and Myah Price and Wyatt and Claire VanLith; his sister, Jamey Price of Columbus NE; and his brothers: Tom (Pat) Price of Sioux Falls SD and Todd Price of Minneapolis MN. He was preceded in death by his parents; his infant daughter, Katie; his brothers: John “Jackie” (Mary) Price and Tim Price; his in-laws George and Mavis Puetz; and, by his brother-in-law, Scott Puetz. The Mass of Christian Burial for Terry Price was at 10:30 am on Friday, October 7, 2022, at the Abbey of the Hills, 46561 147th St., Marvin SD. Rev.Fr. Mike Kelly officiated, and interment was in the Milbank City Cemetery in Milbank SD. Visitation was from 4-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 6, 2022, at the Price Funeral Chapel in Britton, and continued for one hour before the service at the Abbey of the Hills on Friday. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be given to one of the following charities: Special Olympics South Dakota, 800 E I, 90 Ln, Sioux Falls SD 57104, www.sosd.org; Marshall County Ambulance, PO Box 130, Britton SD 57430; Marching Medics Cancer Walk Team, 301 Flynn Dr., Milbank SD 57252; and, Marshall County Pantry Shelf, PO Box 734, Britton SD 57430. Condolences may be directed to the family in care of Pam Price, PO Box 216, Britton SD 57430. The Rutland community extends condolences to the family and friends of Terry Price, a loyal friend who served the community with kindness, compassion and grace. He always enjoyed Uff-Da Day in Rutland, and those Rutland scalloped potatoes were among his favorites.

Workers employed by Western Area Power were replacing power line poles along the Wild Rice River south of Rutland on Wednesday, October 5. The double pole setting adjacent to the River two miles south of town was in danger of being washed out and falling into the Wild Rice. The men made arrangements to join diners at the Rutland Seniors’ Center for Wednesday’s Noon meal: barbecued chicken breast, green beans, au gratin potatoes and a baked apple. A good time was had by all.

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The Rooster Crows – October 19, 2018

On October 19, 2018May 5, 2019 By rutlandramblingsIn Rooster CrowsLeave a comment

By Bill Anderson

The first blast of the Winter of ’18-’19 roared in on the morning of Wednesday, October 10, with a nasty northwest wind and 6 to 8 inches of wet, heavy snow that piled up on streets, sidewalks and driveways, and made travel on all roads, city, county and State, hazardous. Shawn Klein, manager of the Sargent County Bank’s Rutland Station, reported that her vehicle would begin hydroplaning at any speed over 20 mph, and that, “my knuckles were white clear up to my elbows,” during her Wednesday morning commute from Havana to Rutland. Several vehicles did end up in the ditch as a result of the treacherous driving conditions, but no rollovers or injuries have been reported in this area. The snow let up late on Wednesday evening, and the City Council authorized Mayor Narum to put the City’s snow removal equipment into action on Thursday morning. The snow, on top of the rain that had fallen on Monday and Tuesday, put an end to any hopes of resuming, or starting, harvest activities for the rest of the week.

The Pherson Custom crew was reported to be harvesting corn near the Mark Breker farm southeast of Rutland on the afternoon of Sunday, October 14, and the combines of Jerry and Andrew Woytassek were at work in corn fields near the Gary Thornberg farm in Weber Township that afternoon, as well. According to Doug Spieker, yield monitors on the Pherson combines were indicating 225 bushels per acre from the headlands, and the moisture content of the corn was running at 18 to 19%, requiring some drying if the corn was to be stored. So, despite being beset by those 4 letter words: rain; snow; cold; and, wind; local farmers will not be deterred from getting after the 2018 harvest. Now, if there was just a market for it. Well, we can’t have everything. We did get a tax cut, after all.

Stephen Kulzer and son, Will, of Hartford SD drove up to Rutland on Friday, October 12, to get in some duck hunting action on Stephen’s old hunting grounds. The 2 were guests of Stephen’s parents, Will’s grandparents, Norbert & Beverly Kulzer, during their stay here. On Saturday morning, their trusty guide, Norbert, sensed that the ducks would be flying about 2 miles east of Rutland, and the hunters were ready, with all 3 bringing home a “Duke’s Mixture” limit of mallards, pintails and green-wing teal. On Sunday morning, Stephen & Will accompanied their cousin, Brandon Wyum, and several other hunters to a likely spot near Buffalo Lake where both Kulzers bagged their limit of mallards. “Nice greenheads,” Norbert described them, with the orange feet of northern ducks.

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The Rooster Crows – December 26, 2008

On December 26, 2008May 4, 2019 By rutlandramblingsIn Rooster Crows, Rutland HistoryLeave a comment

By Bill Anderson

Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow, nor dark of night may stay this faithful courier from the swift completion of his appointed rounds. Attaining age 63 and 30 years of service allows the courier to turn his rounds over to another and retire, however. Louis Siemieniewski pulled his Jeep off his U.S. Postal Service rural route on Wednesday, November 26, the day before Thanksgiving, and hung up the mail bag for good. Louis started delivering mail back in 1980, as temporary substitute for Ray Murray on the Cayuga and Rutland routes. When Ray retired a few years later, Louis moved up to the full-time position. He turned 63 in October, and his 2 years of service in the U. S. Army during the Vietnam era were added to his years with the Postal Service to give him the 30 years of Federal service needed for retirement. A 1963 graduate of RHS, Louis has also been an avid outdoorsman since youth, and has been a Hunter Safety Instructor for over 30 years. He said that, from now on, whenever the snow starts to fall and the wind starts to blow, he is just going to open his drapes, sit in his recliner, look out the window and smile. The Rutland community extends congratulations and best wishes to a native son on his well deserved retirement. Jim Lunneborg of rural Rutland has taken over Louis’s old route, which now includes addresses with the Forman, Rutland, Havana and Cayuga ZIP codes.

Attorney Trent Mahler has been practicing his profession in Rutland since Monday, December 8, co-officing with Bill Anderson at 316 First Street, here. Trent is a native of Milnor, having graduated from High School there in 1985. He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from Moorhead State University in 1989. Following several years as program director with WDAY TV News in Fargo, Trent enrolled in Law School at the University of North Dakota and obtained his Juris Doctorate Degree in 1999. One of his classmates was Rutland native Daniel Narum, now a District Court Judge. Prior to returning to his home territory, Attorney Mahler served as a prosecutor in the Cass County States Attorney’s Office, as a partner with Kessel, Splitt & Mahler in Lamoure, and as an Assistant Attorney General in the office of North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem. He and Attorney Anderson are not partners, but will be sharing office space as he establishes his practice here. Trent’s parents are Curt & Vi Mahler of rural Milnor. Welcome to Rutland, Trent.

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