Ryder News for April 16, 2015
Mathilda “Tillie” (Van D Bruggen) Stueflat passed away on April 2 at the age of 98. She and husband, Ed, had lived in Ryder where he was a blacksmith. They had 3 daughters. Their twins, Janice and Jean, were born in Ryder in 1937 with their sister, Joan, being born in Minot. They moved to Minot and later to Wisconsin in 1956.
Ed passed away in June on 1991 after 57 years of marriage. Tillie was such a spunky lady and supplied many fun stories from when they lived in Ryder. Those stories were shared in the Ryder News before Ryder’s 100th in 2006.
Mary Quillin sent the following to Sue’s News: “I just wanted to say that the memorial service for Rod Officer was beautiful. It was completely full upstairs at St. John's with an overflow room downstairs to watch via TV which was also full. The love the community has for the Officer family was overwhelming to see. Rod will be deeply, deeply missed. Let's continue to surround Kathy and their family with love during this difficult time.”
Dave and Kathy Kimball spent a great Easter weekend with 8 of their grandkids and their son Carl and his wife Crystal, Amanda and her fiancé Joe, 6 dogs and 3 cats. The kids had a ball looking for the Easter eggs outside (brrr).
Rod and Kathy Kallestad stayed home in Garrison for Easter as It was Kathy's weekend to work. Daughter Jenny, her fiancé Kyle Brossart, and granddaughter Kylie Johnson of Minot traveled to Rugby to Kyle's parents, Rich and Jane Brossart on Saturday for the weekend. Daughter Cindy Olson, fiancé Wil Oberdick, and grandson Henry Oberdick hosted Easter dinner at their house in Minot for Uncle Steven Olson and girlfriend Elizabeth Allen, Grandpa Mike Olson, Grandma Pam and Grandpa Shawn Brooks of Surrey, and Great Grandparents Karen and Edwin Olson of Douglas.
Kathy Kimball and Eden Brunsell no longer work at the Ryder Post Office. There have been some changes in rank that made it impossible for Eden to work and find a daycare for her son. Kathy because of her rank will only be working in Roseglen, unless more schooling is offered to her. They would both like to say how much they appreciated their customers for being there and they will miss you all.
Kristina Syversen sent me the following message: “I was wondering if someone could help me locate someone who moved to/lived in Ryder all the way back in 1915/1916. I'm looking for Berthe Knudsen Strand (she was my great grandmother) and Emil Evensen Strand. If you know anyone who knows anything about either of these two, please contact me! Either just message me through Facebook. Or email me at kristina.brodal.syversen@gmail.com”.
Betty Jean Berg sent me the following Easter news: “Paul and I were in the process of deciding what we should do for Easter this year. Then Paul's sister called and said she decided to bring dinner to the farm this year to her and Paul's mother's place. That sounded really great as it is hard for the guys here to leave right now as we are so busy having calves. I got busy and prepared a salad the night before to help her out. It wound up being a small group this year as Bryce's family went to his wife's side, and Brian ended up at his stepdaughter's place. Darla and Dave had just gotten back from Cancun so she figured she better catch up on her book work after she got home from church. So it was just Alvina, Duane and his two girls, LaShae and McKalya, me and Paul, his sister Judy and hubby Larry Rice. Judy is a great cook and always makes too much food. The four of us split what was left over and we all had a good meal the next day too. Everybody loves leftovers, especially the cooks.”
The following is another little writing from Gus Mueller’s website Gus’s Things and Stuff.
 |
The former home of Bernice Mueller.
|
I’m thinking that most of you reading this recognize the Ryder house in this photo. It sits on Lots 10, 11 and 12 of Block 16, or more simply stated, it’s just across the street from the Ryder Gym. I just learned that the house is for sale—you can maybe see the “For Sale” sign on the door. It’s changed hands quite a few times in the past 15 years, but for the first 50 years it sat in Ryder it was owned by a Mueller, so it has a lot of fond memories for me (and no, there were not garbage cans lying in the front yard when the Mueller’s owned it).
The house originated from outside of Makoti, and was moved to Ryder in 1948 when my brother Don married Phyllis Sorenson. Interestingly, according to the Ryder Centennial Book, there doesn’t seem to be any record of the lots being owned by anyone other than Don. The left (south) addition to the house was built by Don and Cousin Leo Brandt a few years later, using the lumber obtained from tearing down the old house on the Mahoney homestead southeast of Ryder—Don bought the Mahoney quarter to launch his independent farming career. We (Herman II, Bernice, and I) began living in the house in 1960 or so, when Don and family moved to the “Burtness house” down by the ball diamond—moving into a totally new neighborhood had lifelong scarring on both Keven and Kirby, but that’s a story for another day. For over 20 years, my mom lived in the house by herself, following the death of my father in 1974.
This “house” was indeed a “home.” Like all of you whose family have spent a lot of time in the same house, it’s hard to sort out all the memorable events, and categorize what you remember most, but here are my Top Ten:
1. At age 5, riding a bicycle for the first time on the sidewalk in front of the house. The bike belonged to my niece Khylene; she was a year younger than I—I didn’t get my own bike until I was ten (yes, I’m still bitter).
2. At about the age of 6, eating spaghetti for the first time, prepared by Phyllis for a Sunday night family dinner. Trip to bathroom followed shortly thereafter (Bernice didn’t make dishes that exotic).
3. Around age 12, having a Chef Boy-Ar-Dee pizza-making birthday party in the kitchen. We went a little crazy and added summer sausage in case you’re wondering.
4. In February of 1964, sitting on the living room floor (with niece Khylene) watching the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show.
5. Coming home from school during lunch hour and playing cribbage with my dad—the card table was a permanent fixture in the living room during the winter months.
6. Surviving winter nights in the unheated upstairs bedroom.
7. Getting caught in the upstairs bedroom with my high school girl friend by my mom (did I say it was cold up there?). Mom was not supposed to come home from her Minot shopping trip until much later!
8. Senior year of high school, sneaking into the house hours past curfew, smelling of beer (of course), with overnight guest Lee Sorenson, telling Lee he cannot use the bathroom because it’s next to my parent’s bedroom and he will wake them, and then dealing with the consequences.
9. When my mom moved out to go to assisted living, digging through a cabinet in the basement and finding all the school projects I had made for her, dating back to the 1st grade.
10. And I saved the best for last—the fantastic meals and the warm and loving atmosphere provided by my mom all those times I came home to visit (I’d like to think it was just for me, but I hear she was like that to everyone!)
You can sell a house, but the memories are invaluable!
That’s it for this week. Thanks for all the Easter happenings. I know there must have been more but I am grateful for what was sent to me. Have a wonderful week and enjoy the weather. Hope the nice days are here to stay!
