Ryder News Oct. 6, 2016

Ryder News for Oct. 6, 2016

Don’t forget...Bingo at the Ryder Community Club/Gym at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 7th, and now on to the very important news!!

There sure were a lot of things going on in Ryder, Makoti and the surrounding areas this week and weekend with the Makoti Threshing Show and of course the Hostfest. I have pictures from both events so enjoy.

Makoti Threshing Show Tractor Trek in Ryder for coffee and rolls before heading back to Makoti.

Participants in the Makoti Threshing Show Tractor Trek.

I didn’t get a chance to take pictures of the annual Makoti Thresher’s Tractor Trek from Makoti to Ryder and back again on Friday. I had a chemo treatment that day, but Faye Karna did take some and has allowed me to share with you. There were 15 tractors the Trek this year. When they arrived at Ryder, they were treated to coffee and rolls at the Ryder Museums before heading back to Makoti.

David Janz at the Norsk Hostfest in Minot with his new troll friend.

David Janz, the brother of Ruth Wurtz, had an enjoyable time at the Hostfest sampling the food and checking out the displays! He even made a new friend (see photo).

Evelyth Wohlk with Daniel O’Donnell at the Norsk Hostfest in Minot.

Evelyth Wohlk was another one who enjoyed herself at the Hostfest and she even got to meet Daniel O’Donnell and have her picture taken with him.

Gerald (Jack) Erb passed away Sept. 25th at the U of MA hospital in Worcester, MA after a brief illness. He leaves behind his wife, Betty, of 63 years as well as two sons and five grandchildren. Cards may be sent to Betty Erb at P. O.  Box 239 in Dalton, MA 01226. Jack grew up in Ryder, born in 1932, son of Clayton and Laura Erb. He has three remaining siblings: Olive Boots, Shirley Schieve and Sheryl Tolson. Our sympathy goes out to his family and friends.

Myron Lahti’s older son Doug passed away and his services were on Sept. 15th. He is buried in Ryder’s Rosehill Cemetery. Our sympathy goes out to his family and friends.

Marjorie Berdell Lewis passed away on Sept. 26, 2016. She was born on November 28, 1933 on a farm near Ryder, ND to Benjamin and Elsie (Mueller) Lewis. She had been a resident of Minot Health and Rehab since October 1, 2001. Marjorie is survived by several cousins and her friend Jean Krumwiede. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister: Dorothy Higgins. Her funeral service was at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Minot with burial at Rosehill Memorial Park in Minot, ND. Our sympathy goes out to her family and friends.

I have a little more info on the above article (courtesy of Gus Mueller) which is rather interesting: Marjorie Lewis's mother was Elsie Mueller, sister of Herman Mueller, who married Bernice Brandt, who was a sister of Albert Brandt, who married Minnie Lewis, who was a sister of Bennie Lewis, who was Marjorie's dad (and you thought it was difficult to keep track of the Kardashions!)

The Makoti Senior Center will serve a catered roast pork supper on Wednesday, October 12th at 6 p.m.  No potluck is needed and all area seniors are welcome.

Next is an article that Gus Mueller has posted on his Facebook page, “Gus’s Things and Stuff”. It was so entertaining that I had to “borrow” it.

Old Ryder Immanuel (German) Lutheran Church building

OUT OF THE ASHES
If you’ve been following Sue’s Ryder News, and frankly, who doesn’t, you’ve seen mention of the old Ryder Immanuel (German) Lutheran Church building, which recently was purposely burned to the ground. From Sue’s report, it sounds like the building had quite the history, dating way back to “Old Ryder.” I’m not a religious kind of guy, but I do have a special interest in this church (the people, not the building), starting with the fact that in 1917, two of the seven founders of the church were my grandparents—Herman Mueller and Carl Brandt. I suspect that it was at one of those first church services where my dad, Herman Jr., first spied the cute little Bernice Brandt, who he later married. While I don’t see precise documentation, it seems that the building was acquired from the Ryder school about the time that the church was founded—it was in 1917 when the north addition was added to the school, so it makes sense that the little building was no longer needed as an extra classroom. The Immanuel Lutheran parish continued until 1966, so we have roughly a 50 year history.
The picture I posted is from 1937. I would guess the reason it was taken was to catch my brother Don Mueller “in-the-act.” There was not a bathroom in the church!
The building is gone, but the stories remain. In no particular order, here are my top ten:
1. The church didn’t have pews, just wooden chairs nailed together to make a row. Total seating was about 40 people (not that overcrowding was ever an issue). The floor was wood, pine I think, painted a brownish-orange color like the chairs. Attendance was a loyal 15-20 people. I recall one cold winter Sunday when it was only 8—7 Muellers and Konnie Kronback.
2. The heat for the church came from a small oil stove in the back corner. We lived in town for a few months each winter, so it was my dad’s job to go to the church an hour before service each Sunday and get the stove started. I do remember one especially cold windy Sunday, that for some reason the fire didn’t keep going, and we all sat through service wearing our coats, stocking caps and mittens.
3. There was an interesting protocol for seating in the church. The men sat on the right of the center aisle, and the woman and children on the left. It was a big day (as a male child) when you moved from the left to the right side. I vividly recall the day when Phyllis Mueller (always a maverick) and all four kids decided to sit with my brother Don on the right side. Whew! That caused a stir for months! In case you’re wondering why the men were on the right, that’s where the blower from the oil stove was focused. Paul Bluhm had the best seat, directly in front of the blower. Oh yes, you always sat in the same spot.
4. Regarding the hymns for the service, the church attendees were creatures of habit, and became very disturbed when a new preacher selected a hymn that they didn’t know. The preacher got some words from the elders after church, and learned quickly. Rather than 400, the hymnal really only needed about 20 songs, with a few extra for Christmas thrown in.
5. Communion was the last Sunday of each month. The communion ware was silver (as in real silver), and my mom was the caretaker. The pitcher, tray and goblet got polished at our kitchen table every Saturday evening before communion.
6. My dad was the caretaker of the communion wine, which was Mogen David’s finest—interesting that a group of North Dakota Lutherans drank Jewish wine, but there probably weren’t many choices in those days. So anyway, there always were a few bottles sitting around our house. Now like most teenagers, I was known to sneak booze from most any bottle I could find, but I never dared take any of the communion Mogen David. I just had this sense that a lightning bolt might come down from the sky if I did.
7. There were several baptisms at the church over the years, and I was involved in a couple (besides my own), but I don’t remember anyone ever getting married there. Or, a funeral for that matter. Could be it was too small for such events.
8. Our routine on the way home from church was the same every Sunday. Stopping at Butch’s drug store and buying the Sunday Minot Daily (which of course contained the “funny papers”) and a pint of Bridgeman vanilla ice cream (my dad would not eat any flavor other than vanilla) for Sunday dinner, which was at noon in those days.
9. My mom and dad always had the same after-church conversation in the car on the drive back to our farm. They would first identify who had not attended, and then go family-by-family speculating why they weren’t there? Sick? On vacation? Out of town guests? While the Don Mueller family attended pretty regularly, they did miss now and then. No speculation there. The very late Saturday night parties at the Mueller residence were legendary.
10. My parents were very religious, and we never, never missed church. It didn’t even occur to me to suggest that I stay home. Did those 18 years of regular church services make me a better person? Hard to say, but I’m quite sure it didn’t do any harm. And yes, I eventually did get to sit on the right side of the center aisle!

Upcoming Events:

Ward County Bookmobile Schedule:
2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month near the City Park from 12:00 - 12:30

Oct. 7: Bingo at 7 p.m. at Ryder Community Center/Gym. If you purchase a Community Club membership that night, you will receive a free $5 bingo card to use that evening.

Oct. 9:  Worship services at St. John’s Lutheran Church of Ryder at 9 a.m.; Worship services at Ryder’s Calvary Church at 10:30 a.m.

Oct. 10: Kenny Bradley’s birthday!!

Oct. 11: Community Club meeting at 7 p.m. at Ryder Community Center/Gym

Oct. 15: Senior Citizen’s Annual Pig Roast at Ryder Community Center/Gym starting at 6 p.m. Everyone welcome.

Oct. 16: Worship services at Ryder’s Calvary Church at 10:30 a.m.

Oct. 23: Worship services at Ryder’s Calvary Church at 10:30 a.m.


Nov. 6: Worship services at St. John’s Lutheran Church of Ryder at 9 a.m.

Nov. 6: Worship services at Ryder’s Calvary Church at 10:30 a.m.

Nov. 12: Fall Bazaar 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Also the annual turkey drawing, all to take place at the Ryder Community Center/Gym.

Nov. 13: Worship services at St. John’s Lutheran Church of Ryder at 10:30 a.m.


Dec. 10: Santa Day and Turkey Drawing. More info later.

That’s it for this week. Send me your news items so we can keep this column going. Remember...no news...no column!