Rutland, ND

The late Clayton McLaen of this community used to say that, “North Dakota has 2 seasons: winter; and, getting ready for winter.”  At this point in 2013, winter is cutting into our getting ready time, and is showing few signs of giving North Dakotans any reprieve.  Eight inches of new snow on Thursday, April 11, blocked roads, closed schools early and left local snowbirds wondering why they had been in such a hurry to get back home.  Thursday’s snow was followed by freezing sleet and drizzle on Friday, April 12, and a full-fledged blizzard bringing in another 10 inches of snow on the wings of a 40 mph wind on Sunday, April 14.  The blizzard had subsided to a mere winter storm by Monday morning, but hung in there long enough to close schools, delay the mail and send a small army of snow shovelers to the chiropractor after clearing their driveways and sidewalks of snow possessing the weight and consistency of wet cement.  On the bright side, though, there have been no complaints about flies and mosquitoes so far this spring, and Sargent County’s weed control officer, Dick Anderson, reports that weed control efforts have been 100% effective during the first 3½ months of the year.

Jack Brummond, the Sage of Weber Township, drove up for coffee and conversation with the Assembled Wise Men at The Rutland General Store’s Round Table on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 10, and he was in particularly good spirits, for two very good reasons.  First, he was pleased with the fact that The Farmers’ Inn at Havana was in its second full week of operation under the management of Paula Ennis, and appears to be doing well, with Jack stopping in at least twice a day for coffee, cards and conversation; and, second, the Dow-Jones Industrial Average on the New York Stock Exchange was hitting new highs, up another 129 points on Wednesday, on the heels of a 43 point rise the day before.  For Jack, it was like hitting the daily double, and, with the additional benefit of the accumulated wisdom of The Round Table tossed in for good measure, it was almost as good as going to the track and winning the trifecta.  Jack was back in town on Tuesday, April 16, and reported that he was having memory problems.  He complained that he could not remember what he had not said, and stated that he had to read The Sargent County Teller to find out what he has been talking about.  Well, that’s part of the price, and one of the benefits, of celebrity, Jack.

This community was saddened on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 10, when word was received here that life-long Rutland resident Ella Lou (Baumer) Nelson had passed away at Four Seasons Healthcare Center in Forman.  Read More »

Ella Lou Nelson
(May 9, 1934 – April 10, 2013)

Rutland, ND:  The funeral for Ella Lou (Mrs. Richard) Nelson, 78, will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 13, 2013, at the Nordland Lutheran Church of Rutland. Ella passed away Wednesday, April 10, 2013, at Four Seasons Healthcare Center in Forman, ND.

Visitation will be 5-7:00 p.m. Friday at the church, with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service.

The Price Funeral Chapel of Forman has been entrusted with her arrangements.

Ella Lou Baumer was born May 9, 1934, at Breckenridge, MN to William Antone and Frances Irene (Thomas) Baumer. She attended Rutland Consolidated School and later the Havana School. She graduated from Rutland High School in 1952.

On October 22, 1954, she married Richard Nelson in Webster, SD. They lived south of Rutland for a short time before moving into town. Ella Lou shared a passion for horses and softball with Richard. She also enjoyed baking and sharing her “goodies” with everyone. She took great pleasure in spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She was a devoted mother and wife.

Ella Lou was a member of Nordland Lutheran Church of Rutland where she was a Sunday School and Bible School Superintendent. She had also served as a member of the church council. She belonged to the Happy Havens Homemakers Club and was a 4-H leader. Along with Doris Ann Narum, Ella Lou co-chaired “Fun Night” in Rutland for many years.

As a teenager, she worked at the Lidgerwood Café and was an usher at the Rutland Theatre. It was there she met her future husband, Richard, the love of her life. She worked at the local grocery stores and ran the Rutland Recreation Center. Ella Lou also served as a cook at Sargent Central High School for a number of years.

Ella Lou is survived by her husband of 58 years, Richard Nelson of Rutland; her four children: Hal Nelson of Rutland; Rebecca (Allan) Wilke of White Bear Lake, MN; Lori (Larry) Hruby of Beulah, ND; Tami (Glen) Tipton of North Branch, MN; one sister-in-law: Verna Nelson; ten grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her parents and her sister, Irene (Elsworth “Bob”) Likness.

Condolences may be directed to the family in care of Richard Nelson – P. O. Box 34 – Rutland, ND 58067.

The snow geese are back!  And, when the snow geese arrive, can spring be far behind?  Apparently the answer to that question is, “Yes,” as daytime high temperatures are still struggling to break through the mid-30s and nighttime lows have no problem at all sliding down into the low 20s and teens.  The only bright spot, it sure can’t be called a warm spot, is that it was colder 20 years ago.  On April 9, 1993, the mercury bottomed out at 3 degrees.  Doesn’t that make you feel good?  The snow geese, and their blue cousins, had been sitting down in South Dakota until Thursday & Friday of last week, but exercised their 6^th sense that seems to give them the power to foresee changes in the weather, and flew up to North Dakota just in time to get out of the path of the huge winter storm that has dumped not just inches, but in some areas feet, of new snow on our southern neighbors.  As of Wednesday, April 10, the storm was just below the State Line, a good place for it, in the opinion of most around here.  Janet Bradbury, at the Warren Ranch near Rapid City SD, has informed her husband, Richard, at their home in Rutland that more than 15 inches of snow had fallen in the Rapid City area by Tuesday afternoon, with 2 more days of storm being predicted by the Weather Bureau.  Richard, who arrived back in Rutland on the evening of Sunday, April 7, after a week in the 70 degree temperatures then prevailing near Rapid City, states that the snowfall in western South Dakota is very welcome, as it is the first significant precipitation in that area since 2011.  He also reports that he observed many South Dakota farmers out seeding wheat in dry fields as he drove home last weekend, and this week their gamble has paid off, at least in the short run, as a good layer of snow on newly seeded wheat is almost a sure guarantee of a good stand and a decent crop.

The huge flocks of snow and blue geese that arrived here last weekend appear to be stuck here, at least for a while, with new snow behind them and old snow ahead of them.  The 2013 Spring Conservation Season on snow and blue geese, a season instituted in an attempt to reduce the population of these birds to a number that can be sustained on their northern nesting grounds, has been open since February 15, but that was a moot point here until the geese arrived.  They are here now, though, and with them have come a number of goose hunters, for the most part from out of state, who have been doing business in the local community, their cash being the only green seen thus far this spring.  During the spring season, the hunter can remove the plug from the magazine of his or her shotgun, and there is no limit on the number of birds that may be harvested, other than the ability of the successful hunter to pick them up and pack them out of the field.  Despite their huge numbers, the hunter has to do more than just get up in the morning to obtain success in the field, though.  These birds have already been hunted from the Gulf Coast all the way to North Dakota and, although they are bird-brained, they have seen all of the hunters’ tricks and still manage to outsmart quite a few goose hunters.  Well, they are here now, the music of their calling filling the sky, and both hunters and bird-watchers are enjoying the spectacle.

Rutland natives Leif & Phyllis (Donaldson) Sundlie, now residents at the North Dakota Veterans Home in Lisbon,  visited in Rutland on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 3, accompanied by their daughter, Deborah Fust, son-in-law Jim Fust, son, Charles Sundlie of Rutland, Kim Kohler of Big Lake MN, and Aden.  The Fusts reside in Park City MT, near Billings.  They had also stopped at the Four Seasons Healthcare Center in Forman for a visit with Leif’s sister, Hazel Preble, and old friends Irene Anderson and Borghild Lee, on their way to Rutland.  The Sundlies enjoyed an afternoon of coffee and conversation with old friends and acquaintances at The Rutland General Store’s Round Table. Read More »

RCC Regular Meeting     Monday, April 8^th, 2013    7:00 PM   Rutland City Hall

Members present: Bill Anderson, Paul Anderson, Lori McLaen, Delores Lysne, Diane Smith, Carolyn Christensen, Ione Pherson,  Rebecca Christensen.

President Rebecca Christensen called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm.   The minutes from the last meeting were read by Secretary Ione Pherson and approved as read.  Motion was made by Bill and Carolyn gave the second.

Paul Anderson, treasurer, handed out a very concise and detailed treasurer’s report.  A discussion followed.  The RCC has $17,265.22 in its account as of the end of March, with a few small outstanding bills not accounted for yet.   The RCC play showed a net profit of $832.10.  Delores made a motion to approve the treasurer’s report.  Bill seconded.  Motion carried.

Committee reports were asked for by President Rebecca.   Lori said she talked to Dave Bladow about the car show and that’s all taken care of for Uffda Day.  Bill was put in charge of contacting the Norswedanes Dancers from Fargo to perform and maybe be in the parade. Read More »

Rutland City Council -March 4, 2013 Regular Meeting       5:00 p.m.

Council Members Christensen, Christianson, Mahrer and Siemieniewski  present; Mayor Narum presiding.  Also present – City Attorney Bill Anderson; Auditor Deborah Banish.

Agenda.  Siemieniewski/Mahrer moved approval of the agenda.  Motion carried unanimously.

Minutes.   Christensen/Siemieniewski moved approval of the February minutes as submitted.  Motion carried unanimously.

Board of Equalization: The Board of Equalization meeting was set for Monday, April 1, 2013, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Hall.  The County Assessor will attend the meeting to address any concerns.

Public Comment:  No one was present for public comment.

Gaming Site Authorization:  The Rutland Sportsman Club is requesting gaming site approval for pull tabs at The Lariat Bar. The Council discussed a possible City gaming site fee. The Club pays monthly rent to The Lariat and donates $300.00/quarter for the Bar to distribute to another entity such as the Seniors, the Community Club or other group. Mahrer/Siemieniewski moved approval of The Rutland Sportsman Club gaming site for pull tabs at the Lariat Bar.  Motion carried unanimously. Read More »