Condolences to Wilfred Nerpel’s family
From Allen Richard ‘(65):  Grand Rapids, MI

I met him when we were in grade school — like 65 years ago.  Please pass on my condolences.

Allen Richard

Memories of Wilfred Nerpel (’64)
From Lee Stickland (’64): Dickinson, ND

Wilfred and I were in the same grade at Dunseith. The evening of JFK’s death I went home with Wilfred. We went out to the electric fence charger to determine who could hold on to it for the longer time; “somehow, I convinced Wilfred he should be first. Interimingly, a cat went close by and had the tail catch the charger and the cat made a dreadful sound. I told Wilfred that I would concede did not touch the hot wires. I and Wilfred always got along well as I feel was a good man. If he yet lived on the place, the Willow Lake Road will miss him.

Gary: I am wearing the dark blue shirt YOU gave me from 2010 ALL-class Reunion. LEE (Stick)

Wilfred Nerpel’s (’64) Obituary
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:  Minot, ND

Wilfred Nerpel
October 31, 1945 – June 16, 2020

Wilfred Nerpel

Funeral services for Wilfred Nerpel, age 74 of Dunseith, were held on Friday, June 19, 2020 at 2:00 pm at the Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau.  Officiating at the service was Pastor Casper.  Casket bearers were Jennifer Poitra, Samantha Poitra, Heather Gonzalez, Preston Nerpel, Brady Nerpel and Brendon Nerpel.  Military Honors were presented by the Bottineau County Veterans and the North Dakota National Guard.  Burial was at the Seventh Day Adventist Cemetery north of Bottineau.

Wilfred Nerpel, a son of Raymond and Bette (Eurich) Nerpel, was born on October 31, 1945 at Bottineau.  He grew up near Dunseith and later graduated from Dunseith High School.  He entered the US Army on January 13, 1966 and served in Germany before receiving his Honorable Discharge on December 8, 1967.  He returned to Dunseith.  Wilfred moved to Plymouth, MN where he worked in manufacturing.  He later returned to Dunseith where began farming and working road Construction. 

He was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and the American Legion.  He enjoyed woodworking, gardening, cooking and riding his atv.

Wilfred passed away on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 at his home near Dunseith.

He is survived by his daughter, Jennifer (Dean) Poitra of Dunseith; son, Preston (Lisa) Nerpel of Dunseith; grandchildren, Samantha Poitra of Grafton, Heather (Christian) Gonzalez of Edwards, CA, Brady Nerpel, Brandon Nerpel  and Nick (Bailey) Pfeifer all of Fargo;  great granddaughter, Olivia Mae Gonzalez; brothers, Michael (Marian) Nerpel, Harvey Nerpel, Gordon (Trese) Nerpel and Forest Nerpel; sister, Carol Nerpel; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were with Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau.  Friends may sign the online register book at www.nerofuneralhome.net.

Otto Corbin: Former owner of Bottineau’s “Corby’s Trading Post” I asked Pat Corbin Miller for her permission to post her Facebook Father’s Day memory of her father, Otto Corbin. I think most all of us from the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and into the 70’s generations remember Otto Corbin and his store “Corby’s Trading Post” in Bottineau. I used to see Otto at Lake Metigoshe very often too. With his involvement with so many activities, he was all over the place. Otto got around well with his wooden leg too.    Otto’s son, Don Corbin, was a teacher and Principle at Dunseith High during my school days too. Gary Stokes

Pat Corbin Miller
June 18 at 10:05 AM ·

Happy Father’s Day in Heaven to my wonderful Dad. He left us 30 years ago and I miss him every day. He was always there when I needed him too.

Love you Dad.

Karen Larson (Bottineau Spectrum) Appreciation
From Ivy Eller Robert (’74):  Everett, WA.

Gary,

Karen Larson at Spectrum is such unappreciated hero. She does so much for so many, works long hours and is always so pleasant when you go into to her store. I for one want to Thank her for everything! My words can’t begin to repay her for her dedication to her store and work. One summer, a couple of years ago, when I was back there in Bottineau, I volunteered my time to help her. She thanked me and said she just didn’t have the time it would take to teach me. That it would only make much more work for her until I knew what I was doing.

I wish her the very best!

THANKS, KAREN, for being you………..

Ivy Eller Robert (74)

 
Wilfred Nerpel (DHS ’64) Obituary
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:  Minot, ND.

Wilfred Nerpel, age 74 of Dunseith, died Tuesday, June 16, 2020 at his home north of Dunseith.  His funeral will be held on Friday, June 19, 2020 at 2:00 pm at the Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau.  Visitation will be one hour prior to service time in the funeral home.  Burial will be at the Seventh Day Adventist Cemetery North of Bottineau.

(Nero Funeral Home – Bottineau)

Dorothy Pritchard Memoir
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot, ND.

Gary’s Note:
This is a posting by the Bottineau St Andrews Hospital in about November 2008.

Dorothy Pasted away at the age of 98 on 6/25/2011.

This has been posted before, but since Neola sent it to me again and because I knew Dorothy extremely well, I am reposting.

The Pritchard’s were our good close family neighbors ¾ of mile south of our farmstead. We interacted a lot.

Darald (Mississippi), Dale (’63 Louisiana) and Carol (’67 Texas) are Robert and Dorothy’s surviving children.

Dr Nelson’s Obituary – June 1974
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:  Minot, ND.

I think I sent this old clipping of Dr. Nelson’s obituary in 2009.  I’m deleting old emails from my “sent” box/saw this clipping/decided to send it again before I delete it.

Dr. Nelson delivered me, as I’m sure he did many/most of you who were born in Bottineau, ND.  He was our family doctor at that time.  I remember him as being a very nice fellow.

Neola

Gary’s Comments
Being a prominent Bottineau Dr from 1928 to 1961, I am sure that Dr Nelson delivered many of you folks too. He delivered me and I am sure my two brothers too. When I was 8 years old, he performed surgery on my right broken thumb in the Bottineau hospital. He had to fuse the lower joint. To this day I still have the long scare the length of my thumb.

Vickie Metcalfe’s Comments
Gary,

Dr. Nelson for many years was our family Doctor until he left.

As a child, I was never connected to BottIneau County with exception of birth at Bottineau Hospital.

My parents did their most essential business in Dunseith.

Mom didn’t go to town or purchase anything on a whim,
she planned according to need.
Whenever, Mom out of necessity went to Bottineau for a doctor appointment,
she’d bring along her green or gold bond stamps.
That was a big deal for me, a country kid from the hills!
It was fortunate for Main Street Dunseith when a clinic was built with the
Rolette doctors providing medical care, especially after Dr. Nelson’s retirement,

Thanks Gary,

Vickie

Thank Goodness, Here’s Good News for A Change

FWD from Vickie Metcalfe (’70):  Bottineau, ND

Vickie’s FWD. Double Click.
Sorry this FWD will not upload into our Website

Hello Gary and Friends of Dunseith Alumni,

 This fwd. is so very neat!

Especially the ending credit.  A Canadian from S. Ontario, Chris Hadfield was a resource!

For the last number of years, I read his book the “The Darkest Dark” with various classrooms.

With a Grade Six focus year long,

on building resilience, we discussed how Chris overcame his fear of the dark, became a pilot,  astronaut, author and singer.

I’m delighted, he is one of those people choosing a positive attitude and continuing to better the world!

Thanks,

Vickie L. Metcalfe

June 16, 2020

Sympathies to the Murl Hill Children
From Ardys Bakken Honer:  Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

My sympathies to all of children of Murl Hill,  Jon and I enjoyed a visit from her in Valley City on one of her road trips.

She was a great person, loved the Lord and raised wonderful children.  She will be greatly missed.

Ardys Bakken Horner

 
Posted by Vickie Metcalfe (70):  Bottineau, ND

Larry Dean Haugen

Dec 04, 1945 – June 04, 2020

LARRY’S OBITUARY

Larry Dean Haugen, age74 of Bottineau, died Thursday, June 4, 2020 at his home in Bottineau.  A private funeral will be held.  His funeral can be lived streamed on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 at 2:00 pm at https://youtu.be/BSSyOkxqHHk.  Visitation will be Monday, from 1:00 pm until 9:00 pm at the Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau.

Larry Dean Haugen was born on December 4, 1945, in Fordville, ND, to Palmer Haugen and Louise O’Neil-Haugen. He grew up in Michigan, ND, and on the farm in Fordville, ND. His father, Palmer, ran a dray, and mother, Louise, worked as a waitress at the Kite Café. Larry had one sister, Nancy, who passed away in 2018.

Larry learned hard work at a young age, starting a paper route and helping out on his grandfather’s farm. His happiest childhood memories were at the farm.

Larry met his wife, Mary Hagness, in Fordville, ND, at a dance. They married in 1967. Larry and Mary lived in Mayville while Larry finished his teaching degree at Mayville State College. They lived in Grand Forks for part of a year while Larry student taught, then moved to Dunseith for his first teaching position. Larry was an elementary teacher and coach in Dunseith, ND, for the first 5 years of his career.

They moved to Bottineau in 1973, where Larry spent the rest of his 40 year career. He taught elementary social studies and was known for his creative, hands-on projects. He coached basketball on and off throughout his career at both the junior high and high school level. He also refereed high school basketball for several years.

Larry and Mary have three children, Natalie Olson, of Bottineau; Kristin Petersen (Chad) of Valley City; and John Haugen (Monica) of Blaine, MN. They have 11 grandchildren: Austin, Ethan, Katelynn, Bauer, Kayse (Natalie); Abby, Elisabeth, Olivia, Corbin (Kristin), Dylan, Grant (John); and one great-grandchild: Layla (Katelynn).

Larry’s family was his passion. Besides his family, Larry was most known for being a favorite teacher and coach, house painter, hunter and fisherman, gardener, and for his hunting dogs. He will be greatly missed!

Posted by Vickie Metcalfe (70):  Bottineau, ND

Gary,

Attached is a fwd. from the Bottineau Veterans.

Please note, owner of the Spectrum , Karen Larson.

Unbeknownst to many, Karen often quietly steps up to a need.

She has always been a willing participant in sending information on to you AKA. Dunseith Blog.

Gary’s Remarks
Vickie, you are so right about Karen Larson. She has electronically sent a lot of stuff to me for the blog that so many of you have taken to her.

Thank you, Karen.

==============================================
POSTING FROM THE PAST
Blog (92) posted on Jun 20, 2010

Happy Father’s Day to all of you fathers out there.

When I got up this morning, I had three homemade Father’s Day cards on my desk from our helper’s children. Tata has a boy, Jr. 9 and a girl, Angie 12 and one in the oven. Gaga has a little 5-year-old boy, Kurt. Tata’s husband, Aldrin, also works for us. We are good to them and they in turn are very good to us. I’m not sure how Bernadette managed to survive without their services for a whole month back in the states, but she did. They live next door in an apartment that we have provided for them. We have a door bell with a remote button in their apartment that Bernadette rings when she needs their services.

We have been invited to join several of our friends at a membership club they belong to for Father’s Day lunch at noon today. There were about 20 of us together at the same club last night for our monthly potluck dinner (this month it was not potluck). They invited us all back today for the Father’s Day buffet. My diet has gone to, you know where. I cannot resist all this good food. Gary

Sisters, Gaga & Tata.

Update for Art Rude Sr.
From Art Rude (71): Bismarck, ND

Thanks again for your concern. I was in Minot yesterday until he came out of surgery, about 5:30 pm. He was resting comfortably when I left, so will look forward to seeing him today. I will be glad to bring greetings to him, thank you to those on the list who already responded, and I will share with you any new knowledge I have as to his condition.

Peace and Power,

Art

Thanks for checking out Art Rude Productions,
webpage address: www.artrude.com
and Art Rude TV at: artrudetv on Utube!

Art, Thank you so much for keeping us informed about your dad. Please give him our regards and let him know we are thinking of him. Gary

From Sharon Peterson Harmsen (63): Bismarck, ND.

Good Morning Gary,

I’m enjoying the comments and pictures from the recent DHS reunion. We were in the middle of moving out of our house (one we lived in for 26 yrs) into a condo. Just imagine how much “stuff” one can accumulate in those many years…………….Yikes. Anyway, we do have a new mailing address of: 555 Brandon Place, # A, Bismarck, 58503. Email address remains the same.

Very, very windy here past few days with lots of tornado, high wind warnings. Some areas of ND rec’d much rain and had flooding issues to deal with. Bismarck just saw 1/2 inch of rain and lots of downed trees and wind damage.

Thanks for all you do. Like many others on the email routings, this becomes my “morning fix”.

Sharon

Esther Tangen:
Reply from Connie Zorn Landsverk: Bottineau, ND.

Yes, I worked with Esther Tangen @ St. Andrews hosp. Esther was a patient of mine when I worked as a nurse for home health. She was a good friend of mine. I visited her a lot when she lived @ Oak Manor. I think John is about my age. I was born in 51. Connie

Connie, how are you doing? We know it’s tough loosing Roger. He is no longer suffering. He was a good guy and you’ve got all the memories. We visited him at the funeral home, however we were unable to make it to his funeral. He looked so nice. We are thinking about you. Keep in touch. Gary

Jim Olson (Teacher):
Reply from Bob Lykins (Teacher): Hutto, TX

I believe you are correct, Gary. About Mr. Olson replacing me. I still intend to meet this fall with the Hutto HS Student Council to see what we can can do to help the people of your barrio to survive. In addition, I have just completed a course through the Hutto Academy on local government in which Hutto was used as the case study. Very interesting. As a result, I have volunteered for a couple of commissions and I will be working with the group that handles Hutto’s sponsorship of a helicopter detachment at Fort Hood. Between working, volunteer work, and traveling, I manage to keep myself pretty busy. My hat is off to you and all of the great work you are doing to help your community.. So much to do with such limited resources. Thanks for the photos. It is nice to see so many familer smiling faces. I wish I could have been there. Best to all.

Bob Lykins

From Shirley LaRocque Wendt (59): Tukwila, WA

Sounds like you had good time in good old Dunseith. I will be going back there, leaving here on Monday the 21st on the train , will be going to Sioux Falls the 23rd to pick up Lana, will be coming back on Saturday and leaving back for Seattle until the 5th of July.

Shirley, it’s too bad the reunion and your trip didn’t coincide. We would have loved to have seen you. We saw Ginger though and enjoyed our time with her. Ginger keeps hiding Toni or should I say Toni is a bit shy, however, I did have the opportunity to meet him when we had dinner with the group in Rolette. He’s a really nice guy and for you gals, pretty handsome too. Gary

Posted on our Dunseith Alumni Website

From: K. Jacqueline (Flynn) Richard Phone: (H) E-mail: Message: Hi Gary, I received your phone message. Yes, I changed my email. It is now as listed above. Thanks for contacting me.

1. Richard

K., Thank you so much for this reply. We saw your mother, Minnie, at the reunion and numerous times other places with our trip back. The last place we saw her was at the drive-in at the lake when we stopped there for a bite to eat. She drove up in her big SUV for a snack too. She looked great! I think she is ready for the next cruise too. I have updated my records with your most current info listed above. Gary

Wedding of Doris Peterson Williams (53):
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.

Congratulations Doris and Harvey.

Folks, being a sister to Vida Hiatt & Jack, Bill & Duane Peterson, Doris is related to a lot of you folks.

Ah-Gwan-Ching, Minn TB sanatorium:
Letters attached from Brenda Hoffman (68): Greenville, SC

I received this email from Fay today. I sent her Mom and Dad’s anniversary pictures only to discover that her grandfather also had TB. Both Fay and her husband Bob are from Minnesota. Thought the letters (see attached. Note can not be attached to Website. I can send as email attachement. Gary) were so poignant – obviously her grandfather could barely write and yet so much of what he talked about brought back memories of the San – the tunnels, the overcrowding, the boredom, the fear.

———- Forwarded message ———- From: fay

Date: Fri, Jun 18, 2010 at 3:46 PM Subject: A bit of TB History To: Brenda Hoffman

Since you like history and we share another interest in TB, I thought you might like to read the letters my grandfather Carl wrote to my grandmother Rosetta and some other people, like my father Harold, while he was at Ah-Gwan-Ching, Minn TB sanatorium in the late 1923 and 1924. He died Feb. 6, 1924 leaving behind a wife and 8 children, the oldest of which, my dad Harold, was 13. He was 51. Get your box of Kleenex out.

Brenda, I know you didn’t expect this to be posted, but I think this may be of interest to a few of our folks. Gary

Condolences to Carman Richard and Family
From Carol Robert Braun (’69): Osceola, WI

My Condolences to Carman and Family I remember Floyd when I was growing up in the area.

Carol

Condolences to the Hill family
From Allen Richard (’65):   Grand Rapids, MI

Please pass my deepest condolences to the Hill Family. Murl was a sweet person.  Dad and Johnnie were more than neighbors.  This brings back wonderful memories of how things used to be.

Allen

Larry Haugen’s OBITUARY
Posted by Vickie Metcalfe (’70):  Bottineau, ND

Larry Dean Haugen, age74 of Bottineau, died Thursday, June 4, 2020 at his home in Bottineau.  A private funeral will be held.  His funeral can be lived streamed on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 at 2:00 pm at https://youtu.be/BSSyOkxqHHk.  Visitation will be Monday, from 1:00 pm until 9:00 pm at the Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau.

(Nero Funeral Home – Bottineau)

Friday,  June 5, 2020

Hello Gary and Dunseith Alumni Friends,

             Larry D. Haugen passed away at his home yesterday in Bottineau. Sympathy to Mary and her entire Haugen family on their loss.

I remember.

            Larry’s first year as a 6th grade teacher was at Dunseith Public Elementary.
While in Dunseith, he was also HS basketball coach.
Larry and Mary Haugen lived across the street from Dunseith High School

            My brother, while in grade 6 at Dunseith School was fortunate to have ‘Mr. Haugen’  as 6th grade homeroom teacher.
Larry Haugen fondly remembered many former students.
Mr. Haugen also taught my brother’s children, several of my nieces and nephews here in Bottineau.
Larry Haugen had a great relationship with parents and past students.

            I was fortunate to work in the same building with Mr. Haugen, for several  years before he retired from Bottineau Public School.
As a 6th grade teacher, he carried an innumerable amount of patience.

            A humble man who gave RESPECT, in turn he received RESPECT,
Larry was held with high esteem and regard by all who came in contact with him.
Mr. Haugen Professional Educator, was also well known as a Professional Painter.

==============================================
POSTING FROM THE PAST

Blog (90) posted on Jun 18, 2010

Art Rude Sr. is in the Minot Hospital. Reply from Art Rude (71): Bismarck, ND. Glad to hear he had such a good time. Thank you for sharing, I had heard good things from a few others as well, so that is great. As I write this, he is in surgery. Since he had his last defibrillator (his third), the site of the incision never healed properly. That was one of the reasons for the nursing home, his dressings needed to be changed twice daily. It hasn’t healed. Last weekend, Dad and I were at the Hawk Museum Farm Show near Wolford, and he had a great time there too. That place is very important to Dad, he was on the board of directors for many years, and brought Dunseith kids out there on 8th grade field trips for many years, the first time about 50 years ago. Anyway, his incision had opened up, so the nurse told me she could see metal from either his pacemaker or defibrillator. That’s not good, and so they are going in to remove one or both, and replace one or both, I guess we won’t know until he gets a look under the hood so to speak. This is becoming quite routine for Dad on one level, in that this is the seventh time they have opened him up to install, reinstall, replace batteries, and I’m assuming, change the filter. He was in great spirits on the way in, and this point we assume the procedure is routine. However, at age 87, I don’t know many things that are routine in the same way they used to be. Thanks again for your concern. Peace and Power, Art Thanks for checking out Art Rude Productions, webpage address: www.artrude.com and Art Rude TV at: artrudetv on Utube!   Reply to Larry Hackman’s (66) Story: From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND Beautiful fun-loving couple. This picture was taken the last night of our visit at the Pizza Inn. Gary Gary and Friends, This same story was told to me by my dad, but not in the detail that Larry brought out. He also mentioned who it was but I am not sure anymore who he said. He was really laughing when he told me how the thing went down—it was funny! Good one, Larry! Dad also told about a guy, back in the late ’40s, who was driving an old single axle gravel truck and was really a wild man on wheels. He came tearing back into the old east gravel pit and slid the empty truck sideways and caught a ridge and tipped the truck on its side. As the workers were running toward the overturned truck, the guy threw out the grease gun and climbed out and said, “Looks like a hell of a good time to give it a grease job!” The boss grabbed the grease gun from him and said, “It probably is, but you won’t be greasing it—your fired!” I DO know who that was, but better leave it alone! Thanks Gary! Dick   Trish Larson Wild heads south, on horse back, on her 10,000 mile journey: From Trish Larson Wild (73): FORT COLLINS, CO Hi everyone, Click on the link below to the Loveland reporter/herald news story about my ride that came out on Tuesday. Also, I now have the beginnings of a website at www.equinenomad.com. My last day at work is June 27. I start living on horseback July 1. Should be a great summer! http://reporterherald.com/news_story.asp?ID=28448   Gary Fulsebakke (71): Posting from Larry Liere (55): Devils Lake, ND. Hi Gary Sounds like you had a good time being back in the states for a while. I saw this story in the Devils Lake Journal about Gary Fulsebakke and since he grew up in the Dunseith area, I thought your readers would like to see it. LARRY  Larry, Thank you so much for sharing.   Gary Fulsebakke, Congratulations. You have come a long way and have done very well from your childhood days being raised on your family farm adjacent to the Peace Garden. Gary Folks, These are several newspaper articles and John Tangen’s picture that were among the pictures we recently found in my Grandmother, Julia Stokes’, suit case. My Grandmother, like most of the Ackworth community, was Methodist. I remember well, in my really younger days, the Methodist church services that were held in the Ackworth school. Do any of you remember Rev. Samuelson?   Esther Thompson Tangen’s mother was a Stokes, sister to my Grandfather, Frank. Esther Owned the original Stokes Place where the Cemetery is. A few years back she sold it to her Nephew, Dan Pladson. Esther passed away several years ago. Esther and Edmar Were Married April 26, 1948 John Tangen, Son of Esther and Edmar. John lives in either Oregon or California. John, I’m sorry I forgot which. I don’t have your address. Please let us know. John attended school and graduated from Bottineau. He is a first cousin to the Eldon/Ella Pladson children. John is also on our distribution. John, this is a beautiful picture. I remember you being so faithful to your mother when she was in Good Sam. Your mother was such a kind hearted sweet lady. She had a sharp mind remembering our family history well. I picked her brain shortly before she passed on about some family stuff of which she remembered well. Gary   Reunion Pictures: Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND. Gary and Friends, Great response on the folks in the pictures! Picture #12 — Harvey and Eileen Sebelius, Marcie (Mrs. Henry) Hackman, Marion (Mrs. Larry) Hackman, Larry Hackman, and in front Armella and Lawrence Hetle. I didn’t know the Hackman boys married sisters until the reunion. They are Schneider’s from south of Rugby, Larry told me. I think he wanted to keep the German genetics going. Right Larry? Thanks Gary! Dick Thank you, Dick, this almost wraps up the identification of this batch. We still need to ID the gal on the right in Picture #14. I have a few more pictures that I will be posting in days to come. I will repost Myra Henning Halvorson’s pictures too, that I posted from ND with no identifications. Folks, again please send pictures. Gary Picture twelve: Back: Harvey and Eileen Sebelius, Marcie (Mrs. Henry) Hackman, Marion (Mrs. Larry) Hackman, Larry Hackman Front: Armella and Lawrence Hetle Picture Fourteen: Front Left: Eric & Sandra Poitra Sitting behind: Bernice Belgarde Front Right: ???? Belgarde

Condolences to the Murl Hill Family
From Larry and Halvorson (’72):  Bismarck, ND

Our deepest sympathies to the Murl Hill family! May Gods peace give you comfort at the loss of your dear mother!

Larry and Gail (Halvorson) Schuler

Condolences to the Murl Hill Family
From Larrett (’71) and Yola Peterson:  Crosby, ND

Our Condolences to the family ! Rest her in Peace

Sunday lunch at Dales.
Thank you from Don & Colleen Conroy (’58):  Rosemount, MN

I would like to thank George for making It possible for us to dine together, while practicing social distancing. The food and service were just great.

He also made sure the hookups, in the RV park were turned on, so Colleen and I could stay there.

We had a great time and look forward to next year.

Don

Floyd Richard Obituary
Allen Richard (’65):  Grand Rapids, MI

Floyd Richard

Floyd Peter Richard of Rolette, N.D., died peacefully in his home on Friday, May 29, 2020, at the glorious age of 91.  A private family funeral will be held on Monday, June 1, 2020 at 3:00 pm at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rolette.  His funeral will be live streamed at https://youtu.be/kJt_0aqsYSw.

Floyd was born January 4, 1929, in the Rolette Hospital to George and Anna (Boucher) Richard. Growing up through the Great Depression and Dust Bowl, Floyd was always enthralled with his parent’s farming operation, recounting numerous stories about bringing lunch to the field as a young boy, then threshing and hauling bundles as a teenager.

Floyd’s formal education ceased at 8^th grade as he struck out on his own at age 14, yet his thirst for knowledge – particularly about agriculture – never stopped. As a young man, he farmed with his brother Art and made ends meet by installing heating systems for a local contractor. A 1952 scholarship to a “Short Course in Agriculture” at North Dakota State University (NDSU) in Fargo, N.D., solidified his decision to farm. He went on to farm for 66 years in Rolette, Pierce and Bottineau Counties, retiring from the profession at age 85. He saw the evolution of agriculture from literal horse-power, to today’s precision ag, survived droughts, floods, depressed farm markets and the farming crisis of the 1980’s. Floyd epitomized Paul Harvey’s writing “So God Made a Farmer.” He rejoiced in seeing a field of ripe wheat or a newborn Polled Hereford calf.

 On June 10, 1954, Floyd married Carmen Leonard of Fonda, N.D., at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Thorne, N.D. The couple made their home 10 miles southwest of Rolette, where they raised six children, each of whom share their dad’s love of agriculture.

 Throughout his farming career, Floyd was recognized by numerous groups and organizations, being named a North Dakota Seedstock Producer of the Year by the ND Beef Cattle Improvement Association (NDBCIA), an Honorary State and Chapter Farmer from the FFA, an Outstanding Conservationist by the Rolette County Soil Conservation District and Rolette County Agriculturist of the Year by the Rolette County NDSU Extension Service. He was a charter member of the National Cattlemen’s Association, president of the North Dakota Polled Hereford Association, a 26-year member of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, and a member of the NDBCIA. He was proud to have exported Polled Hereford cattle to Chile in the late 1960’s.  

His opinions were as strong as his Catholic faith, which he lived out in quiet action, as a member of the Knights of Columbus and active participant in the men’s Cursillo. He served 18 years on the Rolette Hospital Board of Directors. 

Floyd could strike up a conversation with anyone and had the uncanny ability to make others laugh. He enjoyed a good joke, a strong handshake, playing cards, and dancing to the music of a live band. When he wasn’t farming, he absolutely relished a heated political debate among family or friends – particularly if the subject was. . . farming. He had more common sense than many with advanced education and could calculate numbers in his head faster than they could be punched into a calculator – routinely pricing the cost of the girls’ shopping trips in bushels of wheat.

Floyd is survived by his loving family, wife of 65 years Carmen, his children: daughter Cheryl (Keith) Anderson of Walcott, N.D.; sons Daniel (Mary) Richard, Curt (Cindy) Richard, Craig Richard and Mark (Lanette) Richard all of Rolette, N.D.; and daughter Sheyna (Aaron) Strommen of Fort Rice, N.D.; 10 grandchildren Brady Anderson, David (Kari) Anderson and Ryan Anderson, Chelsey (Eric) Rongen, Kacie (Lacey) Richard, Riley Richard, Megan Richard, and Cassidy, Cooper and Clint Strommen; and 4 great grandchildren Ridley and Ryker Rongen, Sadie Richard and Hayden Richard. He is also survived by a sister Stella Schimetz of Dunseith and brother Donald (Marlys) Richard of Bottineau.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Irene Lagasse and brothers Ernest, Arthur and Gene Richard.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests