Pillars of area leave legacy

Forum staff reports, The Forum
Published Saturday, January 01, 2005

Each year, our community grieves the loss of many who helped define this time in history. Among our community losses were people who were well enough known that their deaths were local news stories:

Carl White, along with five partners, started the Moorhead State Bank. White served two terms as a Republican in the North Dakota House of Representatives.

A priest and activist, the Rev. Richard Sinner served many congregations in North Dakota and Minnesota. In 1986, he received the Prairie Peacemakers Award from the North Dakota Peace Coalition for working for peace and social justice.

Bill Weaver was Fargo’s first television sportscaster. He co-hosted the live afternoon variety show “Party Line.” During his years on WDAY, Weaver ended each sports show with a wink and his favorite saying, “Win or lose, be a good sport.”

The Rev. Dan Rothwell, an evangelical leader, came to Fargo more than 30 years ago when First Assembly of God Church had 130 members. It now is one of the area’s largest congregations. In the early days of his ministry, Rothwell purchased a van and picked up children for the services.

American Indian artist Rose Cree will be remembered on North Dakota’s Turtle Mountain Reservation as a woman who gave selflessly. Cree and her husband, Francis, taught Ojibwe culture and offered spiritual guidance to students. Cree’s work is displayed in the Smithsonian Institution and museums worldwide.

Frazee, Minn.’s Delores Smith was a pioneer in girl’s athletics.

She earned the Minnesota State Legislator’s Breaking Barriers Award and was inducted into the Minnesota Women’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

D. D. Wightman was the administrator who shepherded Fargo’s Dakota Hospital from final construction to its role as a regional medical center.

Fargo’s Oscar Stenerson will be remembered by children of the 1980s for his frozen sculptures along Broadway and in front of the Main Avenue Depot.

Vernon Finn Grinaker was inducted into the Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame and received the Ole and Lucy Flatt Distinguished Service Award. He was revered as a teacher and a coach.

Jeannette “Mike” Stanton was a 12-year veteran of the Cass County Commission, a feisty fixture of the local Republican Party and an ardent supporter of community causes.

Businessman John L. McCormick, Jr. started working for Northern Improvement, the highway and heavy construction company founded by his father, in 1935. When he retired, he was chairman of the board. Under his leadership, Fargo’s Northern Improvement became one of the 60 largest highway construction companies in the U.S.

Former North Dakota Rep. Bill Pietsch of Casselton, N.D., was once director of the NDSU Extension Service and executive vice president of the North Dakota Farm Bureau. He came out of retirement to take over interim management the Fargo-Cass County Economic Development Corp. His wife, Vonnie Pietsch, R-Casselton, succeeded him in office after Bill suffered a series of strokes.

Fargo businessman Jim Lauerman was a man who spoke his mind and a supporter of Fargo’s downtown. Conversations at Lauerman’s were often controversial. That’s how Jim liked it. When Jim died, the doors to his downtown saloon were open to his friends, just as he wanted. They had an Irish wake and told stories.

Moorhead activist and volunteer Cindy Palmer taught and advocated the principles of simple living. She served at the Unitarian Universalist Church and was a board member of River Keepers. Palmer served on the Moorhead City Council from 1994-98.

Judge Paul Benson, former federal judge and longtime Fargo resident, was noted for presiding over several significant trials, including those of Leonard Peltier and Yori Kahl.

Charles Turner delivered the Easter Bunny and Santa, by helicopter, to the new West Acres Mall in 1973. He also began a new era of flying twin-engine airplane charters at Fargo’s Hector Airport in 1976.

Many leaders in our community worked behind the scenes. They weren’t newsmakers, but they made our community a better place:

Ruth M. Hoverson of Manvel, N.D., enlisted in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps in 1943. After the World War II ended, she worked for several hospitals in North Dakota. She was the primary caregiver in Manvel from 1946 until about 1991, when the Manvel Fire Department started a First Response Unit.

Chauncy A. Boyer of Detroit Lakes, Minn., owned and operated Boyer Seed and Feed. He was on the Detroit Lakes City Council for 12 years before serving for 24 years on the Becker County Board of Commissioners.

Donald D. Papke was Fargo’s Teacher of the Year in 1982-83. He served on the Fargo Public Schools Credit Union Board for 30 years, was the Cass County Retired Teachers Association treasurer for 10 years and was active in the District 45 DFL Party.

John L. Sullivan joined the Moorhead Police Department in 1951. He was involved in the school Safety Patrol and bike safety and became the first motorcycle patrolman in Moorhead. He retired after serving 29 years.

Stephanie Faith Schwarz, despite a lifelong disability with myotonic dystrophy, led during her 29 years a full and active life. She worked as a teacher’s aide and volunteered at the North Dakota Heritage Center in Bismarck, performing date entry. She inspired many, including those without disabilities, to live life fully.

Jim Hogland of Casselton was one of the founders of the North Dakota Draft Horse Association. He was active at Bonanzaville in West Fargo, providing thousands of kids’ hayrides, sleigh rides and stagecoach rides. He drove his Clydesdale teams in many parades and also played Santa.

Julie Elizabeth Poseley, a mental health therapist, lived the life she taught. After a rough start battling addictions, she worked as a ward clerk for Fargo MeritCare’s psychiatric unit. She finished a master’s degree in counseling from NDSU in 1988. Her life ended at the age of 52 because of cancer, but she left a legacy of hope to many plagued by addictions.

Edwin G. Vinje II practiced law in Jamestown, N.D. He established Fargo’s Vinje Law Office in 1982. He served on the Fargo Planning Commission and was active at Hope Lutheran Church.

Sister Celine Foy became social justice coordinator for the Presentation Sisters in 1986. She held that position until her death. In her work she served with the North Dakota Peace Coalition, the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition, North Dakota Wind Energy and the Fargo-Moorhead Area Social Justice Group. The Peace Coalition selected her as Prairie Peacemaker for 2003.

Thomas Robert Stallman served in the North Dakota Legislature for four terms, from 1958-1966. He served as post commander for the Barney VFW, and was the 10th district commander of the VFW. He was active in politics, and the Elks, Eagles and Kiwanis clubs.

Linda Lockwood moved to Fargo in 1991 when she became office manager for the Creative Arts Program for the Fargo Public Schools. She was program manager for Project Concern International, a world health education program. The North Dakota Jayceettes presented her with the Key Woman Award in 1980. The Outstanding Young Women of America program recognized her the same year.

John A. Skauge Jr. was mayor of Gardner, N.D., for eight years. He was a life member of the West Fargo VFW Post and the Gardner American Legion Post, where he served as adjutant for 25 years. He helped start American Legion baseball in Gardner, as well as hunter safety classes at Cass Valley North School.

Laura Maria Altobelli Costello, Dilworth, was known for her good food. She loved to prepare Italian food while entertaining on Costello Beach at Big Cormorant Lake. She was one of the original cooks for the spaghetti dinners at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Dilworth.

Grace Gragnes, Argusville, N.D., was a member of the Prosper Homemakers and a board member of the National Association for Family and Community Education. She served on the board of the International Peace Garden and served for 40 years on the Red River Valley Fair Board.

Rufus T. Bellamy taught English at what is now Minnesota State University Moorhead. He was interested in the relationship between literature and religion and taught about the King James Bible as a landmark in English literature.

Elmer Richman served on the board of directors of the North Dakota Winter Show for more than 30 years. He was instrumental in raising funds for building the present North Dakota show building.

Ruth H. Berge joined the Concordia music faculty in 1945. She studied organ at the Conservatory of Music in Oslo, Norway, from 1950-51. She felt her primary role was to prepare church organists for their mission.

Joseph “Joe” Paper was deeply involved in the Jewish community as a charter member and president of the Fargo Hebrew Congregation. He also served in the Masonic Oriental Band and was a member of Shiloh Lodge 1 in Fargo for more than 75 years.

Julie Nettum owned and operated Three Keys Floral since 1976. She was active in the community, particularly with the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center and Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Eva Felde taught in several overseas schools before joining the Moorhead Public Schools in 1961. After retirement, she returned to Japan where she taught English to Japanese women. From 1983-85, she taught at a Hopi Indian Mission school in Arizona.

These people, and others who died in 2004, left a mark on our lives and on our community. They won’t be forgotten.

Compiled by Carol Bradley Bursack, Forum news researcher/eklercare columnist.