Chronicle_Feb07

Vol. 12, No. 1 • February 2007 • Published three times annually by the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame

$3.75newsstand price

Annual meeting details

- Page 2 & 5

Horse Raffle- Page 5

Miss Rodeo AmericaAshley Andrews

- Page 6-8

Galleries- Pages 10-15

Book reviews- Pages 16-17

Contributions & Memorials

- Pages 22-24

Obituaries- Pages 26-27

Ashley AndrewsMiss Rodeo America

Ashley Andrews is crowned Miss Rodeo AmericaPhoto courtesy of MRA photo

Page 2 • The Cowboy Chronicle • February 2007

2007 Annual Meeting

Friday & SaturdayFeb. 23 & 24

Seven Seas Inn & Conference Center

Mandan, N. Dak.

FRIDAYFEBRUARY 23, 2007

Board Meeting - 10:00 a.m. CT

No-host Social - 7:00 p.m. CTSpecial Guest: Brenda Lee

(Bonogofsky) Pickett

SATURDAYFEBRUARY 24, 2007

Annual Membership Meeting1:00 p.m. CT

Trustees Meeting - 2:30 p.m. CT

No-host Social - 5:00 p.m. CTCash Bar

Silent & Live Auctions

Banquet - 7:00 p.m. CTSeven Seas Buffet

Speakers - Brenda Lee Pickett& Ashley Andrews

Silent & Live Auctions

NDCHF WELCOMES AUCTION ITEMS

Anyone with auction donations can call the NDCHF at 701-250-1833 (Bismarck) or 701-623-2000

(Medora) or bring the items on Friday evening or from 11:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Proceeds from the auctions help support NDCHF’s many projects.

Reserve your $30 banquet ticket now for the fabulous Seven Seas buffet. Call the Seven Seas at 701-663-7401 or 1-800-597-7327.

Ticket sales are limited to 300.

The Seven Seas offers special room rates for NDCHF members.

Call 701-663-7401 or 1-800-597-7327.

February 2007 • The Cowboy Chronicle • Page 3

Bit From The BoardDear Members & Friends:

At the Las Vegas airport in December, I broke into an NFL-like end-zone dance on the rental car shuttle. There was definitely some-thing to celebrate.

I was barely off the plane when someone in the crowd mentioned something about Miss Rodeo North Dakota. Calling the Medora office during the Cowboy Christmas, I con-firmed with Darrell what the rest of the world was just beginning to know.

A half hour earlier, Ashley Andrews, 21, of Bowman became the second North Dakotan to earn the Miss Rodeo America title.

Swelled with pride, I told the folks on the rental car shuttle what had happened. I believe I gave them enough information about Ashley’s story so they could appreciate her very significant accomplishment.

And maybe they could appreci-ate my fancy dancing moves on the shuttle. Or not.

Anyway, from the airport I cruised directly over to the Orleans, site of the MRA competition, and spent some time with Ashley and her fam-ily. The way she carried herself, you couldn’t tell she’d just won “the crown.” She said it hadn’t sunk in yet.

Being a rodeo history student, I knew exactly what she had just done. The University of Mary senior

spent a tough year on the road, taking care of her rodeo ambas-sador duties in outstanding Roughrider State fashion. She did this while facing the battle for her life head on.

At one of the largest sporting events in Vegas, the National Finals Rodeo, Ashley raced down to the wire competing with 27 other con-testants. She won three competition categories.

And, when the points were all tal-lied, she was selected to join an elite group of young rodeo leaders, becoming the 52nd Miss Rodeo America.

Folks, we definitely have some-thing to celebrate. Miss Rodeo America Ashley Andrews will be with us at the 2007 NDCHF Annual Membership Meeting. We’ll continue making great history. That’s what the Hall is all about.

Ashley, congratulations again!! We are so proud of you. Make every effort to enjoy the ride in 2007. You earned it.

Phil Baird, PresidentMandan, N.Dak.

NORTH DAKOTA COWBOY HALL OF FAME

Executive Director . . . . . . . . . Darrell DorganMedora Site Manager . . . . . . . . Pam Reinarts

Board of DirectorsPresident. . . . . . . . . . . . . Phil Baird, Mandan Vice-president . . . . . . . . Robert Tibor, Hebron Secretary/Treasurer . . Russ Danielson, Harwood

Board MembersVirginia Eck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BismarckLaura Griffin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MedoraShirley Meyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DickinsonRay Morrell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MandanRobyn Nelson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PembinaEvelyn Neuens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BismarckWalter Piehl, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MinotRoss Rolshoven . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grand ForksWillard Schnell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DickinsonArlen Sommers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Valley City

Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cathy A. Langemo

WritePlus Inc., Bismarck

Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . United Printing Inc.

Bismarck

Advisory CommitteePhil Baird

Ray MorrellWillard SchnellRobert Tibor

Send Letters, Address Changes,

Memberships and Contributions to:

North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame1110 College Drive, Suite 216

Bismarck, North Dakota 58501Phone: 701-250-1833

Website: www.northdakotacowboy.comE-mail: [email protected]

Vision

“People of all Nations and cul-tures will come to understand and appreciate North Dakota’s ranch-ing, rodeo and Native American cultures through the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame.”

Mission Statement

The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame will strive to preserve and educate about the western history and cultural heritages of North Dakota’s Native American, ranching and rodeo communi-ties.

We are now taking orders for this

limited edition commemorative

pistol. For more information call or

visit us online at:

NDCHF Commemorative Pistol

1-800-619-5729 or www.sspromotionalgroup.com


A Few Words From DarrellWe lost a

former Board member over the holidays. Lydia Sage-Chase died Christmas Day. She was a remarkable woman who sat on our

Board for two years. Lydia was a wonderful lady who

fought hard to preserve the heritage and culture of her people. She was one of the few left who spoke Mandan and knew the tribal traditions and history.

In 2002, the Hall of Fame Board met in Medora to decide whether to go ahead with construction. We were still short a lot of money, and it was a tough meeting.

As we finished, Lydia told us she wanted to offer a prayer at the site where we planned to build.

She said to us, “When I pray, things happen. You will get your money.”

We adjourned to the site, and Lydia burned sage in a smudge pot. She had her husband, Bob, walk around the building several times while she recit-ed centuries old Mandan prayers.

It was bitterly cold, but no one moved; it was a special moment. We were witnesses to a very solemn event.

On the following Monday, an enve-lope arrived telling us we had just received a large grant—large enough to move forward with the bid letting.

When Lydia prayed, someone lis-tened. I will miss her greatly, and I will never forget her.

Even though Lydia won’t be with us, we hope you plan on joining us for the Hall of Fame’s Annual Meeting in Mandan on Feb. 23-24.

There’s a lot to celebrate, and it truly is a great time for friends to gather, trade stories and talk about nominations and the times that were and are yet to be.

This will also be a great chance to celebrate Ashley Andrews’ coronation

as Miss Rodeo America. What a fan-tastic young woman! Yes, nice things do happen to good people.

Also joining us will be Brenda Lee (Bonogofsky) Pickett, Miss Rodeo America 1983. Originally from Carson, she now lives in Idaho and is excited about coming back to N. Dak. to see old friends.

In addition to the Wild West series planned for Medora this summer, we’re busy lining up the best N. Dak. artists for a summer art show in the changing exhibit gallery.

We are inviting 12 artists to exhibit for the entire summer.

Some who have agreed to par-ticipate include Kaye Burian, Burt Caulkins, Andy Knudson, Walter Piehl Jr. and Sheila Rieman. An original Gary P. Miller will also be included in the show.

The pieces on exhibit will be for sale. Prints of the selected works will also be available for purchase. Find a piece you like, and you can buy either the original or a print.

We are planning to add new video equipment to at least one of the Hall of Fame galleries this summer.

A Las Vegas casino recently donated a video system that would sell for about $75,000. It will allow us to project images in a near 3-D mode on small screens hung from the gallery ceilings.

We’ve had a lot of calls from people

wanting to put their name on a patio table. Can’t do it; they’re all sold.

Board member Arlen Sommers of Valley City sold six to friends last fall. Mandan’s Lenard Ressler also stepped forward to buy the last one.

Since the tables are gone, we have come up with another way for you to put your name in the Hall of Fame.

There are 55 chairs in the Tom Leach Theatre. For $500, you or your family can buy one of the chairs.

We will put your name on a brass plate on the back of the chair and the front of the seat.

It’s a chance for you or your fam-ily to own a piece of the Center of Western Heritage and Cultures.

We also continue to push forward with our endowment fund. Initially proposed by former Governor Art Link, the fund now has assets of about $40,000.

Governor Link would like to get $100,000 in the fund that would be set aside for emergencies and insure the long-term viability of the Hall of Fame.

If anyone is interested in contribut-ing to the endowment, please give us a call at the Bismarck office (701-250-1833).

See you in Mandan on Feb. 23 and 24.

Darrell Dorgan


Hall of Fame Trustee Roxanne Solberg-Gillespie and her sons, Dakota and Colton, are donating an eight-month-old bay roan colt named Hall of Fame Hancock for the 2007 NDCHF Horse Raffle fundraiser. The colt is from Joe Sage Hancock, a blue roan stallion, and Sonita’s Holly Bar, a chestnut mare.

The Solberg-Gillespie ranch, located near York, was homesteaded by her grandparents when they arrived from Norway in 1898. The operation continued with her parents, Ole and

Shirley Solberg, who were active in horse breeding, training and showing. Solberg-Gillespie’s sons are the fourth generation on the ranch.

The ranch’s breeding programs focus on the importance of bloodlines. Solberg-Gillespie says, “Our belief is that bloodlines do matter. We are very pleased with the dispositions of our mares and stallions. Because of this, we are able to sell horses all over the U.S., and our customers tell us what a great value they have gotten from our humble North Dakota ranch.”

She says, “My sons and I hope to carry on the legacy of my dad. His trademarks were hospitality, charm and style, and his horsemanship skills earned him a spot in the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame. My late hus-band, Kurt, not only carried on that legacy, but escorted it into the 21st Century. Dakota, Colton and I are building on the past and making our

mark on the future.”The NDCHF Trustees have raised

more than $80,000 with raffles the past four years with other donated horses. NDCHF Executive Director Darrell Dorgan says, “Our Trustees have done an incredible job selling the $5 tickets.”

Distribution of the raffle tickets will begin at the Annual Meeting in February, with the drawing held at the annual HOTR Champions Ride on Sunday, August 5, 2007.

Solberg-Gillespie family donates bay roan colt

The highlight of the 2007 Annual meeting and banquet will be the roy-alty—not one, but two, Miss Rodeo Americas.

The 1983 Miss Rodeo America, Brenda Lee Bonogofsky (now Pickett) of Carson, will be on hand at the Seven Seas Inn and Conference Center in Mandan on Feb. 23 and 24 to visit and become reacquainted with her N. Dak. friends and supporters.

She is excited to be coming back to the state for a visit and for the opportu-nity to introduce the 2007 Miss Rodeo America Ashley Andrews, who will be the banquet speaker on Saturday, Feb. 24.See the articles on these two outstand-ing North Dakotans in this issue of the Cowboy Chronicle.

Weekend starts with Friday’s Board meeting and ice-cream social

The weekend kicks off with a Board

of Directors meeting on Friday, Feb. 23, at 10:00 a.m. and a free ice-cream social for all members and guests at 7:00 p.m., Friday evening.

The informal social offers plenty of time to visit and get reacquainted, as well as enjoy a little music and pre-view the auction items donated by the NDCHF supporters.

Brenda Lee Pickett and her daughter are very excited about seeing as many old friends as possible.

Annual meeting pro-vides updates, plans for future

The Annual Membership meeting at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, presents an opportunity to hear about the success of the Center’s second season, updates at the Center and plans for the future.

The Trustees will meet at 2:30 p.m. Saturday to discuss the 2007 horse raf-fle, the nominees for 2007 induction and other business.

Banquet and auction offer excitement

The banquet activities Saturday eve-ning begin at 5:00 p.m. with a no-host social and the live and silent auctions.

The fabulous Seven Seas buffet will be served at 7:00 p.m. Because of space limitations, only 300 banquet tickets will be sold.

Reserve your $30 ticket early by call-ing the Seven Seas at 701-663-7401 or 1-800-597-7327.

The auctions will continue after the banquet and will end when the gavel falls on the final sale.

Seven Seas offersspecial rates

Make sure to ask for the special rates available to NDCHF members when making your reservations at the Seven Seas. Call 701-663-7401 or 1-800-597-7327.

Annual meeting brings information, visiting and good times


Good things do happen to good peo-ple, and Ashley Andrews of Bowman, the 2006 Miss Rodeo North Dakota, was crowned Miss Rodeo America in Las Vegas on Dec. 2.

One of 28 contestants from across the U.S., she was named the 52nd Miss Rodeo America. Andrews also won the personality, speech and written test awards.

It’s been 24 years since a North Dakotan held the position. In 1983, Brenda Lee Bonogofsky (now Pickett), of Carson, was crowned Miss Rodeo America.

(See Brenda Lee’s story on pages 14-15 in this issue.)

Andrews, the daughter of Bob and Rita Andrews, grew up on a farm/ranch near Bowman.

The 21-year-old cowgirl is the youngest of six children and a senior

at the University of Mary, Bismarck. Andrews is studying communica-

tions, public relations and political science. She looks forward to a public relations career, with an emphasis in either agriculture or cancer awareness.

A $10,000 Miss Rodeo America scholarship will help Andrews finish her studies after her reign.

She also received a $1,500 scholar-ship for winning the personality divi-sion and a $500 scholarship each for the speech and written test awards.

Other benefits that come with the title include a wardrobe of Wrangler jeans, Justin boots, Bailey hats and a silver-trimmed saddle.

In addition, she received her official Miss Rodeo America trophy buckle and a uniquely designed Black Hills Gold tiara.

Following the coronation ceremony,

New Miss Rodeo America makes North Dakota proud

Photo courtesy of Just For You Photos

Photo courtesy of MRA

Ashley and her parents, Bob & Rita Andrews


Andrews said, “Opportunity is often missed because it’s dressed in overalls and disguised as work.”

She said, “This achievement defi-nitely required some work, but I rec-ognize what an opportunity it is to serve as Miss Rodeo America.”

Andrews said, “I’m an avid rodeo fan and competitor, and it’s a dream come true to represent professional rodeo and the sponsors of this great sport.”

She will take a year off from her studies at the University of Mary to fulfill her duties as Miss Rodeo America.

Andrews will represent the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association at over 100 rodeos during 2007, traveling about 100,000 miles.

As Miss Rodeo America, she will serve as an official spokesperson for the sport of rodeo and educating the public about the sport, its sponsors and its opportunities.

Andrews is in for a tough schedule

during 2007, but she knows she can handle it. After all, she has already proven that by beating cancer during her year as Miss Rodeo North Dakota.

In January 2006, Andrews was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma and went through six months of che-motherapy treatment. She recently received news that she is cancer free.

In thinking about the past year, Andrews says, “There’s no way I could be where I am today without the whole state of North Dakota support-ing me and cheering me on.”

Her successful battle against can-cer is one reason Andrews is excited about working with Wrangler’s “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” pro-gram, which raises money to fight breast cancer.

She says of the program, “The Tough Enough to Wear Pink program shows the support of the rodeo fam-ily and by coming together to find a cure for breast cancer, the cure for other cancers will be right around the

corner.”The title of Miss Rodeo America

tops off a successful rodeo and rodeo



Ashley signs autographs for her young fans

Welcome home event at Bismarck airport


Now that NDCHF Board member Arlen Sommers has finished sell-ing off the patio tables at the Center of Western Heritage and Cultures in Medora, he’s busy promoting sponsor-ships for the 2007 Wild West Series.

A $1,000 sponsorship gives the sponsoring person, family, business or organization a number of benefits, including:

• Sponsorship listing;• Free admission to all 2007 Wild

West Series events;• One-year Wrangler membership;• Six daily passes into the Center of

Western Heritage and Cultures in Medora;

• Two banners, which will be on display at each Wild West Series event; and

• Five name announcements during each event.

Sommers says, “Just the two ban-ners should get lots of people inter-ested. They will be a uniform size and color, but will have whatever people want printed on them--at least what will fit.”

He says, “We are also working out an arrangement to leave the banners up at the Medora rodeo arena between the Wild West events so the sponsors will get additional exposure.”

For more information on the spon-sorship package, call Sommers at 701-845-2821 or 701-845-1882.

The Wild West Series events are those listed on page 36 of this Chronicle.

Sommers promotes Wild West sponsorships

queen career. Andrews began riding horse when

she was very young, before she could even walk or talk.

She says, “When I was growing up, the summers were all about rodeo.”

Andrews competed in showdeos and in youth and high school rodeos and helped her dad move cattle on horse-back. She got rodeo tips from her older siblings.

Though goat tying became her favorite event, she also competed in barrel racing and pole bending.

Andrews’ rodeo queen career began when she served as North Dakota High School Rodeo Queen in 2001.

And, in the summer of 2005, she was the goat-tying champion for the Slope Summer Circuit Rodeo Association.

However, rodeo isn’t Andrews’ only interest. She also enjoys play-ing guitar and basketball, motivational speaking, political campaign work and watching her favorite football team, the Green Bay Packers.

Community service fills out the remainder of her busy schedule, including volunteering for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, American Cancer Society and North Dakota Cancer Coalition.

Andrews has learned a lot from her experiences with cancer and with the Miss Rodeo America competition.

She says, “The lessons I have learned from dealing with cancer and dealing with other people are these three:

• Something good comes from every bad situation;

• Everything happens for a reason; and

• God gives us only as much as we can handle.”

Other 2007 Miss Rodeo America royalty are first runner up Miss Rodeo Texas, second runner up Miss Rodeo Utah, third runner up Miss Rodeo New Mexico and fourth runner up Miss Rodeo Florida.

Contestants competed in horseman-ship, personality and appearance, public speaking, personal interviews, modeling, photogenics and rodeo/equine knowledge.

Photo courtesy of MRA


Former NDCHF Board member Lydia Sage-Chase, 65, died Dec. 25 at her home in New Town. She was a cultural leader and teacher of the Mandan language and a former NDCHF Board member. Her funeral was held at the Twin Buttes Memorial Hall on Dec. 30.

Lydia was born on Dec. 9, 1941, in

Elbowoods to Louise Otter Sage and Sylvan Sibert Sage and was raised by her grand-parents, Catherine and James HoldingEagle. Her given name was ‘Wo phi day’ (scattered corn), and she was a member of the Knife Clan.

Lydia was educated in Elbowoods and Flandreau, S. Dak., where she graduated from high school. She attended the University of North Dakota, earn-ing a Bachelors degree in education and human development. In 1983, she married Bob Chase in New Town.

She was a very active and ambitious member of the Three Affiliated Tribes and stressed the importance of education to her students and com-munity.

Extremely proud of her heritage, Lydia was the cultural coordinator

in Fort Yates and Twin Buttes and she directed the Eagles Project in Twin Buttes.

From 1999-2005, she was the direc-tor of the Adult Education Program at Fort Berthold Community College in New Town, where her husband, Bob, assisted her.

Lydia was awarded the most elo-quent adult education program in the U.S. and, in 1999, she received the Greater North Dakota Association Community Leadership Award.

In early 2006, Lydia worked with the New Town High School, teach-ing Native American Studies and the Mandan language. She also presented Mandan language programs at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, Mandan.

Lydia was well known for her com-mitment to passing on the Mandan language, customs and traditions. She was very interested in keeping the language alive and enjoyed sharing Mandan stories and language on the KMHA radio station, New Town.

She also taught traditional basket making, food preparation, drumming and legends of the Mandan at schools throughout N. Dak.

Lydia was an advisor to the State Historical Society of North Dakota, and she gave many prayer bless-ings on behalf of the Three Affiliated Tribes. She served as SHSND liaison to the NDCHF Board for two years.

NDCHF Executive Director Darrell Dorgan says, “She was a remarkable person who brought a lot to the Board. She made an impression on everyone she met.”

He says, “Lydia cared deeply about her friends, and her friends will miss her.”

Lydia is survived by her husband, Bob Sage-Chase; her seven brothers; and her adopted sisters and brothers, including Darrell Dorgan.

NDCHF loses former Board member


ATIVE AMERICANN GalleryGalleryBaker boys pursue success

Paige Baker Sr., 1999 NDCHF inductee, would be proud of all that his sons Gerard and Paige Jr. have accomplished.

Between the two, they have spent 50 years in public service.

Gerard Baker, superintendent of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, has 29 years with the Federal gov-ernment--26 with the National Park Service and 3 with the U.S. Forest Service.

His brother, Paige Jr., was assigned to the superintendency of the Badlands National Park, near Mount Rushmore, in Dec. 2006.

Paige has served 21 years in vari-ous public service positions, including with the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs as superinten-dent and in education as district direc-tor with the University of Minnesota and worked at North Dakota State University.

Paige also worked with the Phelps-

Stokes Fund in Washington, D.C., and New York. In Denver, he worked with the Council of Energy Resources Tribes.

Full-blood mem-bers of the Mandan-Hidatsa tribe of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, the two grew up on their par-ents’ cattle ranch in the Bear Den country of McKenzie County.

There they learned many of life’s impor-tant lessons while pitching hay in 30 below weather and growing up among successful ranchers

and rodeo competitors. From hard work, they learned lead-

ership and teamwork skills, the impor-tance of education, how to set and achieve goals and about their family’s history, traditions and culture.

Gerard attended schools at Mandaree and New England and college at Southern Oregon State University in Ashland, Ore., where he earned B.S. degrees in criminology and sociology.

He has worked as a deputy sheriff; as campground, law enforcement and wilderness/back country park ranger; and as a park superintendent.

Gerard began his NPS career in 1979 at the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site near Stanton as a park technician.

He was later assigned to the Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site and the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park as district ranger.

In 1990, Gerard transferred to the U.S. Forest Service, working at the Little Missouri National Grasslands as assistant district ranger in Red Lodge and in the Ashland District, Mont.

The positions in Mont. led him back to the NPS and to the superintendency at the Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument.

After other assignments with the NPS in Okla., Gerard became super-intendent of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, responsible for trail management and the traveling exhibit “Corps of Discovery II: 200 Years to the Future.”

He received the Department’s Superior Service honor award for his management of the Corps of Discovery II.

Gerard became superintendent at Mount Rushmore in May 2004.

Paige Jr. also attended school in Mandaree and New England. He graduated with a degree in social work from the University of Mary, Bismarck, in 1972.

He then worked with the Bureau of

Photo courtesy of Rhonda Schier, NPS

Gerard & Paige Jr.

Gerard Baker


Indian Affairs in Aberdeen, S. Dak., and with the American Indian Higher Education Consortium in Denver.

From 1983-1986, Paige attended Pennsylvania State University Graduate School of Education, where he earned Masters and Doctorate degrees in education administration.

Many of his positions have involved efforts to improve the lives of Native Americans through education, techni-cal assistance and economic and lead-ership development.

In 2000, Paige was back home at the Fort Berthold Agency where his

job involved protecting and managing tribal land and natural resources.

He also worked toward improve-ment of the social and economic status of the Three Affiliated Tribes and the individual members.

Paige joined the NPS as superin-tendent of the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Ariz. in 2004.

Among the ruins is the Casa Grande, or “Big House,” one of the largest and most mysterious prehistoric structures ever built in North America. The Casa Grand Ruins was the first U.S. archeologi-cal preserve.

Paige was recently became superinten-dent of the Badlands National Park, with its 244,000 acres of buttes, pinnacles and spires blended with the largest, protected mixed grass prairie in the U.S.

At Badlands, Paige is responsible for protecting the paleontological resourc-es, dating 23-35 million years old.

Yes, the two learned their lessons well back on their parents’ cattle ranch near Mandaree.

Today, they protect the history, cul-ture and natural resources of all peo-ples. And they practice the teamwork and leadership they learned there. Yes, their parents would be proud.

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Paige Baker Jr.

Gerard tells stories to a young group of students


GalleryGalleryANCHINGRFigure Four Ranch – a long-time Dunn County institution

Established in 1900 by Hans and Johanna Christensen, the Figure Four Ranch included deeded and leased land in Dunn County.

It was bordered on the east by the Fort Berthold Reservation and on the south by the Little Missouri River.

Born in Denmark, Hans came to the U.S. in the 1860s on a cattle boat at age 14. He worked his way across Canada with the Hudson’s Bay Fur Company.

According to his granddaughter Jo Anne (Christensen) Banta, “As he headed south into Dakota Territory in the 1870s to homestead, his horse fell, and Hans’s leg was broken.

He was taken into Fort Abraham Lincoln where he recovered and spent the time peeling potatoes for General George Custer’s troops.”

In about 1884, Hans moved to a Dunn County site north of Halliday

on a creek which was later named for him.

He sent back to Denmark for his widowed mother and Johanna, whom he married.

While at the Hans Creek Ranch, Hans gave cattle to the Indians in exchange for leasing grazing land on the Fort Berthold Reservation.

It was sometimes said by the old Fort Berthold Indians that Hans was the first man to pay for grazing on their land.

Early on, Hans was in partnership with Daniel Manning, whom he had met at Fort Lincoln. In the 1880s, they put up hay south of Sand Creek and planned to start a ranch there.

However, before it was completed, lightning struck, and a fire burned out much of the grazing land.

They moved their camp to Clark’s Creek, later renamed Manning Coulee,

where they built a dugout house and a barn.

Hundreds of Figure Four horses ranged from there to as far west as Tobacco Garden Creek.

When they dissolved their partner-ship in 1887, Hans took the cattle and Daniel, the horses. Daniel moved his operation to the Clear Creek Camp, staying until 1906.

Banta says, “Once the boundaries of the Fort Berthold Reservation were declared, Hans had to move from the Hans Creek location.”

He loaded his family in the wagon and headed west. She says, “At the top of a coulee, he saw four deer at the water below—hence the name Figure Four—and decided to settle there.”

The Christensen family’s move to the present location of the Figure Four Ranch was in 1900. At that time, it was mostly a horse ranch.

Hans soon started expanding the ranch, establishing a cow-calf camp near a large spring and using a horse camp on Clear Creek that Daniel had started.

The homestead, combined with the homesteads and tree claims of each of the children and lands bought from disgruntled homesteaders formed the basis for the ranch’s acreage.

The Christensens also leased gov-ernment lands and school section

Big Lease Trail

Hans cooking for the group!


lands.In May 1896, Hans had recorded

the Figure Four brand in the names of Christensen, Arrnet and Easton. Not much is known about that partner-ship, but the brand remained with the Christensens.

Johanna died in 1903, leaving Hans with four children to raise—Nels, Fred, Emma and Victor.

Banta says, “Hans was a firm believer in education, and he sent all of his children to college.”

She says, “After Nels, a mining engineer, was killed in Okla. during the early days of oil exploration, Hans put the ranch into a corporation, call-ing it the Figure Four Land and Cattle Company.”

Born in Dickinson in 1895, Vic attended the University of North Dakota and the University of Minnesota, earning a law degree from the latter. He served in the U.S. Army near the end of World War I.

After the war, the price of horses dropped significantly, and the Figure Four became a cattle operation, becoming one of the finest in the state.

At the height of its operation, the Figure Four ran about 3,000 cow-calf pairs.

Vic returned to the ranch after the war and later managed it, along with his sister Emma, after their brother, Fred, died in the early 1920s and their father in 1932.

Vic married Mildred Hein in 1931 in Jamestown, and they had two daughters—Jo Anne (Banta) and Carol

(Oukrop). In 1930, the old log house on

the ranch was remodeled. A fire destroyed it in December 1936, and the Christensens built a fire-proof, all brick and tile home.

From 1910 until the Figure Four was sold in 1957, it leased part of the South Pasture on the reservation.

Vic, Angus Kennedy Sr. and Jr. and Jim McCarten of the Davidson Long S outfit led the annual Fort Berthold round ups in the spring and fall.

Thorris Sandvick remembers the round ups. He says, “There’s a lot of history on the Figure Four. My brother worked for Vic, and we rode in the round ups.”

Lynell Sandvick grew up on the Wilse Richards ranch across the river from the Figure Four.

She says, “My brothers and I used to swim in the river. One time, Letty,

the half buffalo/half cow from the Figure Four, came along and chewed up my brother’s leather belt.”

The Christensen family also had a home in Watford City, and Vic was sometimes called “The Flying Cowboy” because he often used a small Cessna plane to travel between the two.

Vic continued ranching until 1953 when he died suddenly from a fall.

At the time, he was president of the North Dakota State Cattlemen’s Association (now the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association) and a direc-tor of the Bank of Killdeer.

After Mildred moved to Dickinson, William F. Christensen, Fred’s son, operated the ranch until it was sold in 1957.

The Figure Four was then purchased by Joe Reed, a Wyoming rancher. After several years, he sold to Darrell and Jerry Meyer (Dean Meyer’s par-ents) and Herb Birdsall.

Dean and his wife, Shirley, a NDCHF Board member, bought the ranch and raised rodeo stock on it for 35 years.

Kelly Hanna, a neighbor, remembers growing up nearby when the Meyers lived there.

Hanna says, “I learned to ride rough stock at the Figure Four. The Meyers were always around to help, and we all got together for the round ups.”

Today, the Three Affiliated Tribes owns the ranch and runs buffalo and elk herds there, along with a deer bow-hunting guide service.

With its long history, the Figure Four Ranch has certainly had a long-standing presence in Dunn County.

Original ranch house

Round-up time


ODEOR GalleryGalleryNorth Dakota's fi rst Miss Rodeo America returns home

(Former Miss Rodeo North Dakota and 1983 Miss Rodeo America, Brenda Lee Bonogofsky (now Pickett) will be coming home for the NDCHF Annual Meeting in Mandan.)

Some of our best North Dakota cowboys aren’t cowboys at all. Rather, they are the cowgirls who carry the American flag at grand entries and compete in events like breakaway roping and barrel racing.

These cowgirls make many appear-ances to promote rodeo and our great state, sign autographs and offer words of inspiration.

They look gorgeous with their curls swirling from under their custom-made hats, wearing finely tooled chaps with color-coordinated shirts.

North Dakota has had many lovely ladies wear the crown of Miss Rodeo North Dakota, but there is only one who will always stand out as the first

North Dakotan to wear the beautiful Miss Rodeo America crown.

Brenda, the 1983 Miss Rodeo America, ranks as one of the best cowgirls from our state.

Many of the rodeo competitors from the early 1980s will attest to Brenda’s exceptional gift of inspiring so many, both in and out of the arena, and mak-ing them feel important.

Kaye Nelson, who lives near Grassy Butte, was president of the Miss Rodeo North Dakota Queen Committee during that time.

She says, “Brenda possessed the uncanny ability to say just the right thing at just the right time with just the right amount of words and did so without being too gushy.”

Support and encouragement are the main ingredients when one achieves a high level of success in her life, and it was no different with Brenda.

There are many individuals who

contributed to her success and, of course, the list would be quite long if every individual were listed.

Special mention is given to the communities of Carson, Elgin and Flasher and to her family and neigh-bors along the Heart River, who were all very supportive of her efforts.

At the time, Brenda also worked part-time at Neuens’ Western Wear for Walt and Evelyn Neuens, and they were major contributors to her suc-cess.

But the support from Brenda’s large North Dakota ranching and rodeo families, combined with her outgo-ing and upbeat personality, ultimately helped her win the coveted national title.

One of the highlights of her reign as Miss Rodeo America and a favorite story was meeting President Ronald Reagan.

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys

by Patricia J. Thomas


Association (PRCA) put on a com-mand performance in Landover, Maryland.

The Secret Service instructed every-one beforehand that, if an animal broke loose or threatened to harm President Reagan in any way, they would not hesitate to shoot the animal.

Apparently, President Reagan was not known for sticking to preplanned protocol and caused many headaches for the Secret Service. His attendance at this performance would be no dif-ferent.

As the National Anthem played, Brenda was sitting on a very pretty Paint horse in the center of the arena and holding the American flag.

The plan called for President Reagan to walk in, wave to the crowd and go to his seat. Instead, he walked straight to Miss Rodeo America and held out his hand for a handshake.

Brenda was faced with a dilemma, as one hand was holding the American flag and the other was holding the reins.

She let go of the reins, reached for the President’s hand and, just as she did, her horse moved forward, nearly trampling the President!

Brenda had visions of the Secret Service shooting her Paint right out from under her, but President Reagan was an experienced horseman and grabbed the headstall, winked at Miss Rodeo America and waved to the crowd as he took his seat.

After serving as the Ambassador of Pro Rodeo, Brenda came home and competed in breakaway roping in the North Dakota Rodeo Association, becoming the NDRA Breakaway Roping Champion in 1985.

However, she didn’t stay home long. Her roping skills and professional life led her to Caldwell, Ida., which became her new home as the wife of PRCA All-around Champion Dee Pickett.

The Picketts lived on the family ranch located on “Chicken Dinner Road” in Caldwell until fairly recent-ly. They now call Eagle, Ida., home.

The family includes Brenda, Dee and three children--stepson Cody; stepdaughter Sara; and daughter Carson Dee.

Dee owns a construction company there, and Brenda is in private prac-tice, with a Master’s in psychiatric social work. She feels very blessed to

do the work she does. Cody, 26, is an NFL

player, playing with the San Francisco 49ers for the past two years. Sara, 23, is in Los Angeles working on her certification in personal fitness train-ing.

The Picketts have shifted gears and no longer concentrate on competing in the arena themselves. They now channel their efforts to help-ing Carson Dee, 11, prepare for and com-pete in the English riding arena.

As for themselves, they have traded in their ropes for golf clubs.

Brenda will be loaning a few items of rodeo queen memorabilia to the NDCHF for display

in Medora. These will be great addi-tions to the current displays and will be ready for viewing this spring.

Brenda hasn’t been back to North Dakota in many years and is excited to have the opportunity to visit with friends and family at the NDCHF Annual meeting banquet and auction on February 23 and 24 in Mandan.

She is also looking forward to meeting Ashley Andrews, the newly crowned Miss Rodeo America, and seeing all of you, as well.

L to R: Cody, Carson Dee, Brenda Lee, Sara and Dee


ookB ReviewReviewBook Review by Doug Ellison

Among the truly legendary figures who have walked across the pages of North Dakota his-tory, perhaps none is more wholly mythological than Hugh Glass.

A man of mystery even in his life-time, not until 1963 did a substantial biography of him appear.

In that year, John Myers Myers pub-lished Pirate, Pawnee and Mountain Man: The Saga of Hugh Glass. The book has remained in print, now with the titles reversed.

Hugh Glass lived a life that a fic-tion writer would be hard-pressed to invent.

His exact origins remain uncertain, and not until he chose to ascend the Missouri River with the Ashley-Henry fur brigade in 1823 does any type of documentation reflect his passing.

What we know of his earlier life we have second hand, and only through the memoirs of George Yount, who knew Glass later in life.

From Yount, we learn that Glass had been a seafarer early in life and that his ship had been captured in the Gulf of Mexico by pirates under Jean Lafitte.

Glass and another man were spared execution and were accepted into the pirate crew. Later, they escaped from the ship and swam to the coast, mak-ing their way into the interior of the plains.

After several years living as a Pawnee and learning their ways, Hugh slipped away from the tribe and

went to St. Louis, at that time the commerce center of the west.

There, in 1823, he joined the Ashley-Henry brigade and ascended the Missouri River. This is the best documented period of his adventurous life.

The trappers fought a fierce battle with the Arikara at the mouth of the Grand River. A number of men were killed and wounded, Hugh among the latter.

Later that summer, Hugh was with a small group that wished to avoid hostilities on the Missouri and started overland along the Grand River.

They intended to cross over to the Little Missouri valley and then to Fort Henry at the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri.

Along the Grand, Hugh was attacked and severely mauled by a mother griz-zly. Two of his companions, including

teenaged Jim Bridger, were induced to stay behind, wait for him to die, and bury him.

Several days later they caught up with their brigade and reported Glass dead and buried, showing his weapons as proof.

Actually, the men had lost their nerve in the hostile country and had abandoned Glass.

Weaponless and nearly dead, he started to crawl back toward Fort Kiowa, far down the Missouri.

Incredibly, some six weeks later, Glass reappeared among white men, vowing revenge on the men who had robbed and deserted him.

After more close encounters with death, all documented, Glass found first one and then the other of the men who had deserted him, but let them live!

Glass then spent time in the far Southwest before again returning to the Upper Missouri and becoming a hunter at Fort Union, near the site of old Fort Henry.

In the end, he was killed with two companions by his old enemies, the Arikaras, on the ice of the Yellowstone River near Fort Cass and near the mouth of the Bighorn in early 1833.

Even among independent mountain men, Hugh Glass was an extreme loner, but his reliability and trustwor-thiness were unquestioned.

It was the ultimate epitaph for a man in that wild country. His many death-defying adventures had made him a legend among his contemporaries.

And in the Eastern press, even while he lived, his exploits were told and retold for as long as mountain men ranged the west.

The Saga of Hugh Glass is told by an expert storyteller, and it is best read beside a campfire.

The Saga of Hugh GlassBy John Myers Myers


ookB ReviewReviewBook Review by Darrell Dorgan

900 Miles from Nowhere, Voices from the Homestead FrontierBy Steven R. Kinsella

Nearly all of us are the children or grandchildren of homesteaders. Steven Kinsella’s new book looks at the spirit of the pioneers who came west to build new lives on the Great Plains.

Some simply moved further west to take up their new homesteads of 160 acres.

Thousands of others in Europe read the flyers and posters supplied by land agents and railroads, sold their belong-ings, and, in a leap of faith, headed into the great unknown.

Kinsella’s book is filled with amazing photos from Neb., N. and S. Dak. and Mont. It also contains letters to relatives back east or in the “old country” tell-ing about their lives on the windswept plains.

In a letter to friends back home, a homesteader by the name of Ed pro-vided some advice: “. . . if you can put up with any amount of inconveniences, hard grub, hard fare generally, work hard morning noon and night, stick to it--never let up, get out into some new country--start on the ground floor and hold your grip--be ready to do anything that turns up, you can make a success of it in the west.”

But Ed, who was also looking for a wife, cautioned his friend, Ev, “The west is no place for soft snaps--nor for feint of hearts--all she asks from those who come is to stick by her, and those who stick win. I plowed, dug up stone, worked on the roads, hauled wood, worked in the hay fields . . . .”

Ed had grit and determination and was full of hope. “. . . Money is scarce, but grub, such as it is, is plenty. My health is excellent. I have a good claim, think I could sell out for a thousand, but expect it will be worth five in a couple of years and perhaps ten . . . .”

No word on whether or not Ed made it, but I’ll bet his relatives still live in Emmons County and are prospering.

But it took more than optimism and hard work to settle the plains. It also took luck and pluck.

For years, the Great Plains had been regarded as a desert, inhospitable for grow-ing crops, but a new theory in the 1880’s detailed how the plains could be farmed.

The theory was called, “. . . Rain follows the plow . . . and it promoted the belief that, as more sod was broken, it released more moisture into the atmosphere, and rainfall would increase.” Nice theory.

Illness was always a major threat to the settlers. In 1880, 246 out of each 1,000 children died within the first year of life.

A Minnesota homesteader had lost seven of his children by 1900.

In a letter to his parents in Norway he writes, “The mild winter left much sickness among the settlers all around. There was scarlet fever, measles, and whooping cough . . . .”

Bess Cobb, who homesteaded with her family near Leipzig, N. Dak., in 1907, didn’t miss television, telephones or highways.

She was always ready for company, a dance or visiting neighbors. “Up one valley, we can see ten miles (up the Cannonball River)--so when anyone starts to our shack, if we see them in time, we can comb our hair, change our

gowns and get a good meal in running order before they arrive.”

Bess enjoyed neighbors, especially a group from Kentucky that lived nearby. “Mrs. Heron invited the five Kentucky boys over, besides the folks were there and a Russian family by the name of Lempke. I was to go home that Sunday, but times were too good so I stayed . . . .”

All of us have grown up with the stories of homesteading. Unfortunately, most have been lost with time. Kinsella gathered the letters and great photos to help us remember the times that were.

Many of us still have letters and pho-tos of grandparents and great-grandpar-ents who homesteaded.

Read the book and then take copies of those letters to the local or state histori-cal society so the days of courage, hard-ship and optimism will be recorded and always be remembered.


NDCHF, along with Cloverdale Foods Company of Mandan, will host a concession booth at the North Dakota Horse Fest in Minot on Mar. 3-4.

Featured will be the Cloverdale/NDCHF all-beef franks and all-beef sausage.

The 6th Annual North Dakota Horse Fest provides an annual, compre-hensive exposition that promotes all aspects of the U.S. horse industry.

The event offers a wide variety of educational opportunities for horse,

mule and pony enthusiasts of all disci-plines.

A wide selection of saddles, tack and accessories, working apparel, home and barn items, gifts and crafts are also available for the horse enthusiast.

District 5 Trustees Bob Knudson and Paul Christensen are lining up volun-teers for set up on Mar. 2 and for the booth on Mar. 3-4.

Call them at 701-839-5359 or 701-852-1923, respectively, if you are interested in helping.

• “Legends in Concert”

• The Auto Collections

• Dealertainers• Seasonal Poolside Luau

• Show and Tour Desk

• The Spa• Race & Sports Book

• Free Gaming Lessons

• Monorail Station

• Nine Restaurants• Nine Bars/Lounges• Karaoke Club• Shangri-La Pool• Car Rental• Wireless Service• Business Center• Wedding Chapel• Beauty Salon

NDCHF participates in ND Horse Fest

NDCHF recognizes volunteers

The following people have given of their time and energy on various NDCHF projects and events in recent months, and their efforts are truly appreciated.

Art Show/Sale

Medora Community Center for use of display panels

United Printing for color catalogs

Auctioneers Larry Schnell and Shane Wolf

Tiffany Ross and Julie Tescher for auction assistance

Phil and Lynn for serving as auctioneer clerks

Karen Putnam, Medora Convenience Store, for bever-age service

JoAnn and Paul Douglas of Eagle Ridge Lodge for appetizers

Assistance with mailings & other projects in Bismarck office

Rick Knudson

Kade Langemo

Joan and Armin Lennick

Vonny Young

Assistance with movingoak display case

Steve Halvorson

Doug Pickle

Wyoming Casing Service and Oilnd Safety, Dickinson



PlaquesElmer Agnew was born in 1917 at

Menoken, the son of Melvin Frederick

and Emma Carrie (Klipstein) Agnew.

Ella Noria Pokall was born

Mar. 14, 1923, four miles south of

Coldwater.

She attended Dickey country

school and loved to ride horse in the

hills above the school in Lorraine

Township.

Elmer married Ella in Bismarck in

1940, and they had two children—

Elvin, Steele; and Lonnie (Privratsky),

Braddock.

The Agnews farmed and ranched

near Menoken and McKenzie. They

purchased a farm west of Moffit and

lived there for 52 years.

In the fall of 1999, they sold the

farm and moved to Bismarck.

Ella was a gracious lady who was

very involved in her church and com-

munity and enjoyed music, reading,

playing cards and Scrabble.

Elmer also loved music and played

several instruments by ear. He and

Ella provided good dance music for

many occasions.

In addition to farming/ranching,

Elmer was a weighmaster for the

Cattlemen’s Weighing Assn. and a

brand inspector.

He was a Burleigh County

Commissioner, township supervisor,

4-H leader and a 42-year member of

the ND Stockmen’s Assn.

Elmer was a NDCHF Trustee and

served on many committees and

boards and was a member of various

organizations.

He loved roping, riding and rodeo

competition and helped found the End

of the Trail Saddle Club.

Ella died Sept. 28, 2001, and Elmer

on Sept. 3, 2006.

Palmer Nelson was born Oct. 2,

1925, in Walworth County, S. Dak., to

Tobias Nelson, who immigrated from

Norway in 1907, and Agnes Paulene

(Carlson) Nelson, who was born in S.

Dak. in 1896.

Palmer attended school in Walworth

County schools until halfway through

his junior year of high school when he

had to take over the farm.

Though not eligible for the draft in

1943 because of his farm responsibili-

ties, Palmer did join the U.S. Navy in

1950 when his brothers, Tillman and

Alvin, were older. He was sworn in at

Bismarck on Aug. 6, 1950, and served

as a machinist mate on the U.S.S.

Ruchamkin.

After four years in the Navy, Palmer

farmed in Walworth County with his

mother and his younger brother, Toby.

In 1958, he moved to the Little

Missouri Badlands near Grassy Butte

where he retired from ranching and

continues to live.

Card filesGerald "Jerry" Barnhart was

born in 1927 and spent much of his

childhood in the Grassy Butte and

Medora areas.

Jerry worked for the Theodore

Roosevelt National Memorial Park,

Dickinson Police Department and

State Highway Department.

Jerry married Dorothy Grow in

1948. He enjoyed oil painting, leather

tooling, fishing and hunting.

Jerry died Aug. 15, 2006.

Arnold Berg, West Fargo, was born

in 1937 in Walcott and graduated from

Lisbon High School.

He served in the ND National Guard

from 1955-1957 and married Averil

Larsen in 1958.

Arnold worked as a brand inspector

for the ND Stockmen’s Assn. and as a

truck driver.

He died May 13, 2006.

Sidney Connell, Beach, was born

in 1908 on the TIX Ranch south of

Medora. He was educated in rural

Billings County schools and in

Dickinson.

NDCHF honors 14 with memorial plaques and card files

Elmer & Ella Agnew

Palmer Nelson


Sid ranched with his father and

brother until 1932 and then alone. In

1939, he purchased the present ranch.

He married Doris Kinmark in 1941

and returned to the family ranch in

1942.

Sid died Sept. 12, 2006.

Thelma Fenton, Killdeer, was born

in 1915 in Dunn County. She attended

Killdeer Public Schools, graduating in

1933.

She married George Fenton in 1935

at the Fenton Ranch. Thelma was

active in the Red Cross Home, 4-H

and St. John’s Lutheran Church. She

served as a NDCHF Trustee.

Thelma died Sept. 13, 2006.

Wilhelmina “Buddine” Fredericks Stewart was born June 30, 1930,

and graduated from Elbowoods High

School.

Buddine earned a teaching certifi-

cate from Dickinson State College and

taught near Marshall and Keene. She

participated in rodeo at New Mexico

A&M.

She earned a Bachelors degree in

education and taught in S. Dak and

Calif., and ended in Mandaree Public

School.

Buddine was an avid horsewoman.

She married George W. Stewart and

had one adopted son, Gary Mark

Fredericks.

She died Jan. 29, 2005.

Kip L. Gress, Dickinson, was born

Sept. 1959. He was raised and edu-

cated in Dickinson.

Kipp married Rhonda Olheiser in

1986 and worked in the oil fields. He

enjoyed the outdoors.

He died Apr. 8, 2006, in Bismarck.

Andrew William Hoff was born

Jan. 5, 1981, and was raised on a

ranch near Richardton. He attended

NDSU, majoring in economics.

Andy enjoyed calf and team roping,

golfing, skiing, fishing, hunting and

athletics. Andy died Apr. 12, 2005.

Joan C. Longmuir, Hannover, was

born Oct. 1949 and grew up near

Hannover. She loved the outdoors and

horses.

Joan graduated from Center High

School in 1967. She married in 1971

and had two children. She lived and

worked in Bismarck for 20 years.

Joan died Apr. 22, 2006.

Owen O’Neil, Killdeer, was born

June 1916. He attended school to the

8th graduated and then started ranch-

ing.

He was the last living rancher who

participated in the Big Lease on the

Fort Berthold Reservation.

Owen died Mar. 8, 2006.

Thomas Orchard, Bismarck, was

born Apr. 1928 in Dickinson. He was

raised in Bismarck and served in the

U.S. Army.

Tom attended Bismarck Junior

College and graduated from the

Colorado State University School of

Veterinary Medicine.

He and Donald Hastings oper-

ated Midway Veterinary Hospital

and Clinic from 1959-1993. He was

named “ND Veterinarian of the Year”

in 1988.

Tom married Ruth Kracke in 1956,

and they had three sons.

He died Nov. 19, 2006.

Wesley Tibbetts, Miles City, Mont.,

was born in 1943. He graduated from

Mont. State University with degrees in

agriculture and business.

Wes returned to the family ranch

and, with his father, purchased the

Miles City Livestock Yards in 1971.

He purchased Cattleman’s Choice

Loomix Co. in 1991.

He operated the Miles City Bucking

Horse Sale for 20 years. He married

Judy Schnell, NDCHF Trustee, in

1974.

Wes died Aug. 30, 2006.

Memorial Wall Program honors

family and friendsThe North Dakota Cowboy Hall of

Fame’s memorial wall and registry

program is the perfect tribute for fam-

ily, friends and others.

It ensures that a person’s life and

accomplishments will be documented

and remembered by future genera-

tions. Honor someone special any time

of the year with a plaque or card file.

Much like the National Cowboy

Hall of Fame’s card file registry, the

program offers family and friends an

opportunity to honor someone in the

NDCHF registry for $250.

All memorials received for a person

are applied toward a card file.

The registry is currently available

for viewing at the NDCHF office in

Bismarck and will eventually be com-

puterized and accessible at the Hall of

Fame in Medora.

All inductees and those with plaques

in the memorial wall program auto-

matically have cards in the registry.

For $1,000, any person, business

or organization can be honored with

a plaque measuring 14 inches by 9

inches.

In the shape of North Dakota, the

wood plaque includes the name and

location, a metal plate with a screened

photo on it and the NDCHF logo.

All memorials received for a person

are also applied toward a plaque.

Special benefactor plaques honor

those who gift $5,000 or more to the

Hall of Fame or for whom that amount

is received in memorials.

The $5,000 plaque is much the same

as the $1,000 size, but measures 18

inches by 10 ½ inches and includes

biographical information.

If you are considering someone for

the NDCHF’s memorial wall program,

simply call the NDCHF office at 701-

250-1833 for more information and

the necessary forms.


Pledges/Capital FundPatrick Brown, Brady Martz & AssociatesDon Clement, Brady Martz & AssociatesRex Cook*David Dunlop*Mary Ann Durick*Delbert* & Donna EszlingerKevin Hay, Brady Martz & AssociatesGeorge* & Sydney HeggeDeVerne Hoggarth*Rose Howard*Dianna Kindseth, Brady Martz & AssociatesKirkwood Bank & TrustBarb Lang*Byron* & Deloris LangleyTom & Frances Leach Foundation Inc.John Mongeon, Brady Martz & AssociatesRay** & Mary MorrellAlvin* & Kaye NelsonRobyn Nelson**Phyllis O’Neil*Delvin Reich*Ross Rolshoven**Joe & Katherine Satrom

John Schell, Brady Martz & AssociatesJerry & Carla SchnellMarvin* & Barbara SemrauDonald* & Sandra SivertsonStockmen’s Livestock Exchange (Dickinson)Art Todd*Steve TomacDuaine Voigt*Joe Wicks*

Patio TablesDakota Magic Casino (Hankinson)Randy** & Laurie HatzenbuhlerLenard Ressler

MembershipsDiamond Saddle ($1,000-$4,999 annually)Stephen & Denise McDonoughDave Strain

Gold Buckle ($500-$999)Russell** & Helen DanielsonElizabeth GrantierBette Krabbenhoft*Ernie Krabbenhoft*Milton & Beverly McCutchan

Silver Buckle ($250-$499 annually)Patricia (Higgins) Caudel*Fay* & Lynn Connell

Grace Hart*Glenn* & Joanne McCroryLinda M. Steve, CPA

Trophy Spurs ($200-$249 annually)Tex* & Pauline* AppledoornLyn* & Al BjornsonMary Ann Durick*Sonny* & Mardean EhrCary* & Margie HandeDeVerne Hoggarth*Denver* & Bobbi JorgensonBarb Kennedy Johnson*Loren KopsengCharlotte King*Loren KopsengDennis Lewellyn*Pat O’Brien*Lenard ResslerRoss Rolshoven, Great Plains Claims,

Inc.**Don* & Janice RustadJerry Schlosser*Marvin* & Barbara SemrauRichard Stern* & Nancy TorsonJudy Tibbetts*J.D. Van Horn, Unique Antique

Museum*Fran Werre*

The following are new or renewing NDCHF members. To contribute to the sustaining drive, the building fund or the NDCHF Foundation, please complete and mail the form on page 23. (Information is current through January 12, 2007, deposits.)

Members Contribute to NDCHF

Join the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame!The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation.

All contributions are tax deductible.

• Kid Corral –––––––––––––––– $10-49 annually

• Wrangler Club ––––––––––––– $50-99 annually

• Ranch Boss Club –––––––– $100-199 annually

• Trophy Spurs Club ––––––– $200-249 annually

• Silver Buckle Club –––––––– $250-499 annually

• Gold Buckle Club –––––––– $500-999 annually

• Diamond Saddle Club –––– $1,000-4,999 annually

• Trail Drivers Club ––––– $5,000-9,999 annually

• Bronc Rider Club –––––––––– $10,000+ annually


Ranch Boss ($100-$199 annually)Monte & Nancy AllenKent & Michele AndersonHerbert & Sharon BendixsonDavid BorlaugJames A. ChamleyDale Chilson*Charles & Karen DahlDickinson Area Chapter of ASIWilliam DissByron & Kim DorganDarrell & Kathy DorganBettie Erickson*Richard & Janet ElkinRobert & Wilma FreiseBernice GalushaG.R. “Roy” Gilbreath*Rosemary HansonDavid HendricksonJanet Holt TompkinsArlene Isaak*Gordon Jensen*Marvin & Nancy KleinRussell KleppeRueben & Phyllis KnutsonGene & Peggy LangleyGregory Lardy* & Lynae Hansen- LardyPaul & Sue LarsenArmin & Joan LennickJeff & Ashlee Miller, Slick Rock

DesignsEloise Ogden*Ray & Beverly SandnessGordon & Sandra SchnellElmer SkogenWes & Linda (Shipley) VettelLeNore WagnerBeverly WengerWilliam* & Carol Winter

Wrangler ($50-$99 annually)Merle AusErnest & Alvi BachlerDaniel & Norma BaranickC.J. BloomquistDu Wayne T. BottRodger & Mavis BuchholzVern & Mavis BucholzJames* & Lucille ClementJohn Combs & Ferne Nordin CombsDonald & Jannene JanssenJohn & Carlotta JonesCurtis JuhalaMarvin KaiserVivian KnutsonLyle & Ruth McDermottSusie MelbyGene & Susan MelgaardConnie* & Glenda RedmondDon & Betty RehmGary ReileSteve & Barbara RogallaCharles RothbergHal & Anna Thorson, Thorson RanchJason Wirtz*Nita Wirtz*Ronda & Carl Zeltinger

Kid’s Corral ($10 annually)Chance AppledoornKailey AppledoornAlex DorganBrendan DorganHaley DorganPaige DorganChesney GjermundsonKazanne GjermundsonJaime GietzenSharon KilzerDanielle KnutsonDestinee Knutson

* Denotes NDCHF Trustees**Denotes NDCHF Board Members

(Please notify the NDCHF of any errors or omissions by calling 701-250-1833.)

North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame Membership/MemorialsMembership Contribution of $ _______________________ Category ____________________________

Memorial gift of $ _________________ in honor of ___________________________________________

Patio Table Fund $ ________________ Building Fund $ ________________ Foundation $________________

Name _______________________________________________________________________________

Address _____________________________________________________________________________

City ___________________________ State ________ Zip Code ________ Phone __________________

Credit Card ___________________________________________________ Exp. Date ______________________

Mail this form (or a copy of it), along with your check, to:

North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, 1110 College Drive, Suite 216, Bismarck, N.D. 58501


NDCHF gifts honor loved ones The NDCHF has received honorariums/memorials for the following individuals. Information is current through the

January 12, 2007, deposit. To honor a loved one, see the memorial/contribution form on page 23.

In memory of Elmer AgnewConnie Heaton, Cattlemen &

Weighing Assn.

In memory of Betty Bahm DavisLeNore Wagner

In memory of Ernest BenzMaureen BenzRobert & Edna SandJerry & Anna Schettler

In memory of William CerkoneyGene & Elaine Fedorenko

In memory of Vic ChristiansenJo Anne (Christensen) Banta

In memory of Sidney Connell Celestine & Thomas AdamsMichael & Julia BraceElsie Stiles

In memory of Enola EckEnola “Babe” Cassell

In memory of Ray ErhardtJason & Nita Wirtz

In memory of Thelma FentonTex & Pauline Appledoorn

In memory of John “Buzz” Fredericks

Tex & Pauline AppledoornJim DanksPhyllis O’NeilLoretta TescherRebecca Tescher Robison, R&R

Trading PostWillard & Linda SchnellGeorge & Irene Wolf

In memory of Jeanette GlassWinston & Barbara Satran

In memory of Lori HowardTom & Linda Krumwiede

In memory of Curtis LauttEugene & Elaine Fedorenko

In memory of Leva LawrenceEmily Tescher-Johnston & Doug

Johnston

In memory of Nick LeingangMarlene Magilke

In memory of Joan LongmuirTeri Schulte, Joan Longmuir Estate

In memory of Clara MonroeFrank & Marvel Fischer

In honor of Alvin NelsonLoretta Tescher

In memory of Raymond NorbyPhilip & Sharleen Thompson

In memory of Owen O’NeilRuby Benz

In memory of Tom OrchardYvonne BenderG.R. “Roy” GilbreathTroy & Phyllis GreenMarlene MagilkeDavid & Cynthia OrchardRuth OrchardThomas & Marty PetersonSheila SchaferVonny Young

In memory of Clemins PfligerMark & Laurie AlbersRobert & Virginia BubelLouis & Marlene HagerottJean KautzmanLois KruegerPam PetersonLouise PfligerArlyce Schulte

In memory of Lydia Sage-ChasePhil BairdDarrell & Kathy DorganGinny Eck

In memory of Daryl SivertsonPhilip & Sharleen ThompsonLynn & Linda Wold

In memory of Stephen “Stess” Sletten

Robert & Edna Sand

In memory of Jim TescherDan & Mary Zimmerman

In memory of Kenneth ThomasLois Krueger

In memory of Wesley TibbettsJim & Kenna Dian BottcherDarrell DorganMichael & Brenda FisherWarner Johnson Inc.Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth LeisethRonald & Teddy RobertsonGordon & Sandra SchnellWillard & Linda SchnellAl & Lois WenkoJimi Lou & Gary Woodard


Many of my friends and acquaintances have left the work force and moved to warmer climates. Florida and Arizona seem to be the most popular.

Being a bit of a contrarian and a North Dakota native, Debbie and I recently moved the other direction. We moved to Montana from Utah.

The move was prompted by a number of concerns: open spaces, less traffic, cleaner air and a smaller town were some of them.

I have long noticed that, after my friends have completed their move south, they will write in the winter months and, without fail, will mention some recent “shirt-sleeve” experience they just had.

With our recent move to “frigid” Montana, these notes boasting of “basking in the sun” have arrived more often. And they are becoming more annoying.

I suppose living in humid, crime-ridden Florida, wary of highway sniper attacks and struggling to find a clerk or waiter who can speak English, has to be justified.

Somehow they never remember to write of their having to board up their windows twice a summer or stand in line to buy water jugs while the most recent hurricane churns its way to shore.

The January fishing trip on a man-made lake in Arizona is touted. A treeless shore-line littered with empty bait containers and miles of mono-filament seem to be

overlooked. The endless signal lights when travers-

ing the “Valley of the Sun” and the traffic jams created by those darned “snow birds” are forgotten.

I guess they find some form of serenity, sitting in their little boxed-in backyard gazing at their patch of red-rock grass.

When they make this move south, many chose to buy in a “gated community.” For the life of me, I do not understand how living behind gates—the sole purpose of which is to provide security from vandals and muggers—would be something one would boast about.

Ever heard of a “gated community” in North Dakota or Montana? Of course not; there is no need.

I think next summer, when a hurricane is approaching Florida or Tucson is expe-riencing 115 degrees, I may write my old pals and say something about the natu-ral, uncrowded lakes here in 80-degree Montana.

Or the pleasure I find in looking out my window at 10 miles of pasture land with horses grazing alongside the deer. Or our dog running free every morning, flushing out the pheasants that nested in the draw last night.

Naw—I’ll take the north any day. I find it amazing what people will put up with just to keep a few snowflakes off their shoulders.

An Observationby Greg Childs, NDCHF Trustee

Around The State...

Feb. 13-14 – KFYR Agri-International, Bismarck

Feb. 17-18 – AQHA Team Penning at NDWS Event Center, Valley City

Feb. 24 - NDRA Awards Banquet & Annual Meeting, Killdeer

Mar. 3-4 – ND Horse Fest, Minot

Mar. 6-11 - 70th Annual ND Winter Show, Valley City

Mar. 10-11 – NDWS PRCA Rodeo, Valley City

Mar. 17 – PRCA Championship

Rodeo, Fargo

Mar. 24-25 – ND Winter Show Team Penning, Valley City

Apr. 27-29 – NDWS Quarter Horse Show, Valley City

May 4-5 – DSU College Rodeo, Dickinson

June 2-3 – NDWS Paint Show, Valley City

June 16-17 – 50th Anniversary White Earth Valley Rodeo, White Earth

July 20-28 – ND State Fair,

Minot


Newton Burr Sr., 76, New Town, died July 22. He was born Sept. 25, 1929, at Elbowoods. Newton served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.

He is survived by his sons, Ryan, Robert and Newton Jr.; his daughters Denise Cavanaugh, Karen Koite and Maria Burr; and many other family members

William “Bill” Cerkoney, 79, Belfield, died Nov. 22. Born Jan. 10, 1927, he served in the U.S. Navy and worked with his father on the family farm.

In 1949, Bill married Ellen Palanuk, and they had one son, Edwin. Bill enjoyed fishing, music, carpentry, sausage making, spending time with his family and giving to the community.

Bill is survived by Ellen, Edwin and his wife, Catherine, and others.

Betty Jane (Bahm) Davis, 87, of Bowman, died on July 8. She was born on May 14, 1919, near Rhame. She graduated from Dickinson State College with a teaching degree in 1938.

Betty taught for many years and married Eugene “Speck” Davis in 1945. They lived on the Davis Ranch north of Rhame. She enjoyed the out-doors, gardening, riding horses and working cattle.

Betty is survived by her son and his family and other family members.

John “Buzz” Fredericks Jr., 73, died Dec. 27. He was born Mar. 24, 1933, on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. His given name was “Shu-pa” Ankle.

Buzz attended college on a rodeo scholarship. He won the steer wres-

tling title and 3rd in bareback rid-ing at the 1956 College National Finals Rodeo. He finished second in the saddle bronc riding at the 1957 CNFR. He was an NIRA director and did livestock judging.

After college, Buzz competed in professional rodeos and served in the U.S. Army. He taught at the Twin Buttes School and later started his own consulting business.

Buzz ranched west of Twin Buttes, where he enjoyed the cowboy way of life. He served as the first presi-dent of the National American Indian Cattlemen’s Assn.

Buzz is survived by his wife, Judy; his 11 children, and many other fam-ily members, including his brother Pete, NDCHF Inductee and Trustee, and his sister, Juanita Warden, NDCHF Trustee.

Teri Galusha, 47, Minot, died June 13. She was born Jan. 1959 in Minot and raised there.

Teri worked at the Minot Livestock, Harrington Brothers and at Pinkerton Animal Hospital. She was a crop adjuster and broke and trained horses.

She in various trail riders groups, the NDRA, 4-H, and the ND Horse Fest. She enjoyed animals, leather crafting, photography and pottery.

Teri is survived by her mother, Bernice; and many other family members and special friends.

Lori Howard, 45, Minnewaukan, died Dec. 17. She was born Jan. 5, 1961, at Devils Lake, the daughter of NDCHF Trustee Rose Howard.

Lori worked at the Benson County Farmers Press for many years. She was a member of St. Jerome’s Catholic Church, the Benson County

Rodeo Assn., and other organizations. She received the Secretary of the

Year Award from the NDRA in 1999. She was also active in softball.

Lori is survived by her mother, four brothers, two sisters and many other family members.

Paul Krenz, 81, Sherwood, died Nov. 2. Born July 12, 1925, he moved to Sherwood in 1929. He served in the U.S. Army and gradu-ated from Bozeman State University in 1955.

He married Rosemarie Johnson that year, and they lived, ranched and raised their family in Renville County.

Paul served as ND Stockmen’s Assn. leader from 1980-1982, expanding the board during his ten-ure. He was a member of the State Board of Animal Health.

Paul is survived by his wife, their four children and others.

Leva (Johnston) Lawrence, 45, Trenton, died Sept. 10. She was born Sept. 6, 1961, in Williston. Leva lived most of her life in Trenton and worked in the medical field at the Trenton Indian Service Area for 22 years.

She married Troy Lawrence in Sept. 1988 in Williston. Leva enjoyed caring for her family, attending rode-os, crocheting and reading.

She is survived by her husband; her three children--Clinton, Stetson and Charann; and many other family members.

Leslie Leier, 53, Velva, died Nov. 21. He was born Oct. 1, 1953, in Minot and raised and educated at Velva. He worked for the railroad, drove semi, farmed and raised

OBITUARIES


Quarter horses. Les married Joan Petersen in 1973,

and they had three sons. In 1995, he married Lynette Thorp, and they farmed near Velva.

He was a member of the AQHA, Velva Saddle Club and the Minot Trail Riders. He enjoyed restoring antique cars, trail riding, snowmobil-ing, and the outdoors.

Les is survived by his wife; his sons; and other family members.

Raymond Norby, 77, Charlson, died Oct. 13. He was born on July 24, 1929, at Charlson. Raymond served in the U.S. Marine Corps dur-ing the Korean Conflict.

Raymond married Shirley Kummer at Watford City in Dec. 1954. He farmed, ranched and worked in the oilfields for many years.

He was a member of Keene First Lutheran Church and served on many boards in the area.

Raymond is survived by his wife, Shirley; his son Kelly; and many other family members.

Thomas Orchard, 78, Bismarck, died Nov. 19. He was born in April 1928 in Dickinson. He was raised in Bismarck and served in the U.S. Army.

Tom attended Bismarck Junior College, Colorado State University and the CSU School of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 1954.

Tom and Donald Hastings oper-ated Midway Veterinary Hospital and Clinic from 1959-1993. He married Ruth Kracke in 1956, and they had three sons.

He served on many medical boards, agencies and associations and with many civic and community organizations. He was named “ND Veterinarian of the Year” in 1988.

Tom is survived by his wife, sons and many others.

Clemins Pfliger, 79, Stanton, died Dec. 1. He was born on the family farm in Oliver County near Stanton on May 12, 1927. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force and began rode-oing while stationed in Tex.

Clem returned to N. Dak., and worked on the Garrison Dam and in auto mechanics. He married Betty Tysver in 1953 and had two children. They farmed and ranched until Clem retired in 2000.

Clem enjoyed calf roping, rodeo, woodworking, reading western his-tory, hunting and spending time with his grandsons.

He is survived by his wife, his chil-dren, and others.

Marie Sheppard, 89, Valley City, died Oct. 28. She was born June 22, 1917, in LaMoure and married M. Roy Sheppard in 1939.

She taught school and worked with her husband in their furniture busi-ness.

Marie was an avid reader, enthusi-astic bridge player and an excellent gardener, baker and cook. She was a member of the Methodist church, PEO chapter, and served with the Girl Scout Council.

She is survived by her husband; two daughters, NDCHF Trustee Barbara Lang and Mary Ritter; one son, Roy; and many other family members.

Daryl Sivertson, 62, of Keene, died Nov. 29. He was born Nov. 24, 1944, in Williston and was raised near Keene.

He married Frances Cook and Joan Thomas. Daryl and Joy Erickson-Williams were married for 21 years. He worked in the oilfields, farmed and ranched.

Daryl enjoyed fishing, deer hunt-ing and pinochle. He was a member of the Long X Wagon Train, 4 Bears Saddle Club and Blue Buttes Fun

Days. He is survived by his wife, Joy;

five sons; four daughters and many other family members.

Kenneth Thomas, 72, Mandan, died Nov. 17. He was born Oct. 1, 1934, in Towner and raised there. He served in the U.S. Army in 1955-57 and married Carol Rosencrans in 1956.

The couple moved to Mandan in 1957, where Ken worked for the Amoco Oil Refinery until retiring in 1990. They purchased a farm/ranch north of Mandan in 1967 and raised cattle, small grains, hay and Quarter horses.

Ken was a horseman and enjoyed participating in the ND Cutting Horse Assn. and roping. He compet-ed in the Capital City Gun Club, was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and a leader in the Mandan Horse and Saddle Club.

Ken is survived by his wife, his two daughters—NDCHF Trustee Ellen Huber of Mandan and Renae Smith of Trotters, his son Lee and other family members.

If you are aware of the recent

death of a NDCHF member;

a N. Dak. cowboy, cowgirl or

rancher; or a friend of western

heritage, please inform us and,

if possible, provide an obituary.

Obituaries can be sent to:

NDCHF, 1110 College Drive,

Suite 216, Bismarck, ND 58501.

Space availability may deter-

mine inclusion and length.

BITUARY

POLICYO


EMBERM NewsNewsCelebrating Our Members

Rodeo Council inducts two

In Nov. 2006, the Dickinson State University Rodeo Council’s Arena of Academic Excellence inducted Tammy Gjermundson Gilstad and Robert Irwin.

Held during the Rodeo Council’s annual Cowboys and Candlelight fundraiser, the Arena recognizes DSU alumni and former members of the rodeo team who have achieved aca-demic distinction.

Gilstad earned a B.S. degree in edu-cation in 1982 and competed on the Blue Hawk rodeo team for four years.

She lives in New Salem with her family and is an English teacher at New Salem High School.

Irwin attended DSU from 1980-84, majoring in business administration, with an emphasis in agriculture.

He competed on the rodeo team for four years in steer wrestling and team roping events.

Hill receives honor

The North Dakota Stockmen’s Assn. recently honored Bill Hill of Valley City for his 40 years as a NDSA brand inspector.

An NDCHF Trustee, Hill began as a local inspector and, in 1972, became a full-time inspector-in-charge of the Triple S Cattle Company Buying Station in Valley City.

In 1984, Hill joined the Jamestown Livestock Auction and later the Edgeley Livestock Sales until retiring in 1994.

Since retiring from farming/ranch-ing in 1980, he and his wife, Earlis, rent out their land, and Bill works for Valley Meat Supply of Valley City.

NDSA recognizes Misek

A 19-year North Dakota Stockmen’s Assn. member and a 22-year local brand inspector, Al Misek of Granville was recently honored at the 2006 NDSA Annual Convention in Fargo.

Misek, a NDCHF Trustee, began inspecting brands after becoming the NDSU Rodeo Club adviser in 1984.

One of his duties was to see that the rodeo team members had their brand paperwork in order before leaving the state.

His duties grew when the NDSU Horse Barn was erected recently.

Misek, originally from Granville, earned an animal science degree from NDSU. He recently retired from NDSU and now lives in Granville.


2611 Old Red TrailMandan, ND 58554

1-800-597-7327

NDCHF Trustee Pat O’Brien of Belfield received the 2006 Veterans Award at the Medora Cowboy Christmas in Dec.

The Medora Chamber of Commerce recognized O’Brien for his contribu-tions during World War II.

A Billings County native, O’Brien served in the U.S. Navy from 1944-46. He was on a destroyer’s escort in the Pacific as a helmsman/gunner’s mate.

O’Brien feels fortunate that his ship was never hit by enemy fire, though it

came close a couple of times. After returning to Medora, he

worked as an auctioneer and a ranch-er.

O’Brien receives Veterans Award

Photos courtesy of Odermann Communications Company; James Odermann, Artist Right: Pat O'Brien


As you step into wheelwright David Watson’s shop and begin visiting, it is easy to slip back in time to a more colorful era, one filled with horse-drawn vehicles of all kinds.

Watkins shares not only his knowl-edge of the wheelwright trade, but also detailed histories of the wide variety of vehicles he has worked on--from simple wagons to a doctor’s buggy to the ever popular stage coach-es of a bygone era.

The Manning native recently returned to N. Dak. and is now offer-ing workshops and teaching wheel-wright skills.

The trade has been gaining appeal with the growing popularity and inter-est in horse-drawn vehicles.

Watkins discovered his interest in the wheelwright trade while working as the vocational education director at a prison in Mont.

He believed strongly in a work-therapy program that would help the participants develop a good work ethic, as well as gain pride in their accomplishments.

The program he was seeking needed to be labor intensive and in which par-ticipants would be able to develop a number of skills, as well as producing a product that would not be competi-tive with those produced in the com-munity.

He researched the possibility of starting a wheelwright program while

restoring his first wagon. “It took nine months just to do the

wheels,” he recalls. Unfortunately, the wheelwright program never did become a reality for the prison, but Watkins’ research did open the door to an intriguing pastime.

Watkins is self-taught. “I’ve read, researched, taken things apart and talked to people in the trade,” he explains.

“There really are very few places to learn the trade these days, nothing like when there was a huge need for it.”

He says, “I did complete a 10-inch wheel, just as they did in the apprenticeship pro-grams they used to have.”

For Watkins, authenticity, accuracy and quality of work-manship are vitally important. All of the work he does is well researched.

About half of Watkins’s tools are originals; the remaining ones are tools he has made and some that are just everyday tools like sand-ers and various types of saws.

He uses three main hand tools: the traveler, the spoke sharpener and the hollow auger. These are still being manufactured and are fairly accessible to purchase.

The larger equipment used

in building or reconditioning wheels (tire roller, hub borer and the rubber tire machine) is no longer being made and is much harder to obtain.

Technically, a wheelwright works on the wheels, while a wainwright works on the bodies of the vehicles and another craftsman specializes in the painting, upholstery and detailing.

Watkins is one of a very few that has become an expert on complete restorations.

To date, he has done about 50 res-torations on a wide variety of horse-drawn vehicles. The cost for this type of restoration starts at around $2,500, but varies greatly depending on the type of vehicle, how complete it is, how much detail there is and many other factors.

Thorough research is the key to his reputation for excellence and attention to detail.

Watkins explains, “There are two things that are completely reliable--old catalogs and old photographs. They are accurate and easily documented.”

Each part is researched and an exact

David Watkins keeps the wheels turningby Vicki Pennington

Photos courtesy of Vicki PenningtonDavid with sewing machine

David centering wagon wheel


replica is either made by Watson or, in certain cases, obtained through one of his sources.

There are some companies that still make the parts. Today, 95 percent are made by the Amish since they use buggies and carts in their everyday lives.

The most challenging restoration project Watkins has faced so far has been a doctor’s buggy, but he feels his current project, an undercut surrey, will rank right up there.

Watkins enthusiastically explains, “I have never seen so much attention to detail as I have encountered in this one. The owner wants quality restora-tion to the point of all materials being authentic.”

He adds, “I haven’t even identified all of the materials yet!”

This surrey has a brass plate that identifies it and enhances the value of the vehicle.

“You don’t see many with plates anymore, because the plates them-selves are collectibles so they usually disappear,” the wheelwright/historian explains.

“It is too bad because it really places the carriage and gives it prov-enance. Wagons usually have that information painted directly on the wagon itself.”

Watkins’ skills in restoration are in high demand but, unless the vehicle

“turns up on site,” it is not considered on the waiting list.

The three-day workshop at Watkins’ shop near Manning gives students the opportunity to repair a wheel and build and decorate a wheel.

The limited enrollment for each class affords great one-on-one time so each student can truly get a feel for the trade and the use of the tools.

They come to the Iota Learning Center (named for the Iota School District, Watkins’ boyhood country school) for a variety of reasons, but leave with a new skill and a true appreciation for the trade.

Although he has been very suc-cessful in both teaching the trade and restoring horse-drawn vehicles, Watkins smiles as he says, “I try very hard not to make it into a full-time job!”

Military wagon


Ross Rolshoven, Boat Racer

NDCHF Board member Ross Rolshoven has a passion for horses, but that’s not the only kind of horsepower he enjoys.

As a member of the American Power Boat Association, he completed his first full season on the boat-racing circuit in 2006.

He races two boats, a Sport C, a 12-foot tunnel-hull race boat, and an SST 60, a 14-foot fully encapsulated tunnel-hull race boat.

Both of his boats sport the NDCHF

logo, showing off another organization he’s proud to be associated with.

Rolshoven says, “I made it to 10 races across the Upper Midwest, including the national tournament in Ill.”

He says, “We race on rivers and lakes, with a course set up with two buoys at each end, and we race in an oval around the buoys.”

Speeds in the Sport C boat range in the 60- to 65-mph range. The SST 60 boat goes in excess of 100 mph.

Rolshoven says, “Overall, we had a tre-mendous year on the water, but it wasn’t without some difficulties. I believe I may have set a club record for sinking two boats in a single day!”

He ended up taking second place for season high points in Region 8 and won the Sport C Regional Championship for Region 8 in Moose Lake, Minn.

He says, “I’m affiliated with the Twin City Power Boat Club out of Minneapolis.

I tip my hat to my crew members, Mark Monroe and Vern Skari. Without them, we would not have had the successful season that we did.”

Rolshoven sports the NDCHF logo on his boats and says, “I have talked to peo-ple all across the Upper Midwest about the NDCHF and what we’re accomplishing.”

“Many were not aware of the new Cowboy Hall of Fame building in Medora and have expressed their interest in stop-ping by when they get through North Dakota.”

The White Earth Valley Saddle Club is busy preparing for the 50th Anniversary of the White Earth Valley Rodeo on June 16-17, 2007.

A special feature of this year’s rodeo is a raffle drawing for an Arnie Addicott sculpture “Teamin’ Up.”

Anyone wanting raffle tickets to buy or sell or people with stories, memories or photos to share for the 50th Anniversary can contact Vera Bergstrom, Saddle Club sec-retary, at 701-664-2661 or at 5970 102nd C. Ave. NW, Tioga, ND 58852.

White Earth Valley Rodeo celebrates 50 years

Medora Cowboy Christmas

Photos courtesy of Odermann Communications Company; James Odermann, Artist

Rodney Nelson, storyteller


NDSA electsnew leaders

The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association elected Mark Huseth as president at its November 2006 Annual Convention.

Huseth, a 32-year NDSA member, has served in various positions. He and his family run a commercial cow-calf operation in the Sheyenne River Valley.

Jack Reich of Zap was elected vice-president. District directors who were re-elected include Joel Schmitz, Enderlin; Warren Zenker, Gackle; and Richard Fast, New Salem.

Newly elected directors are Keith Johnson, Sharon; Steve Brooks, Bowman; and Doug Feiring, Powers Lake. Fred Helbling was appointed to fill the District 4 position vacated by

Reich.

NDSU hosts81st Little “I”

NDSU and the Saddle and Sirloin Club host the 81st Little International Livestock Contest on Feb. 9-10 in Fargo. The event is NDSU’s largest student production and oldest tradi-tion.

The Little “I” is an opportunity for college students to participate in showmanship, public speaking, hip-pology and livestock and crops judg-ing contests.

This year’s Hall of Fame Banquet will honor Durward Otterness, Tower City, as the 2007 Agriculturalist of the Year.

The public is invited to attend all events. Contact Russ Danielson at 701-231-7648 for more information.

NHSRA namesAir Ride Student Athlete of Month

The National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA) named Breana Kiser of Valley City as the Air Ride Student Athlete of the Month for Nov. 2006.

Kiser is a junior at Valley City High School and has been a member of the NDHSRA for three years. She com-petes in breakaway roping, barrel rac-ing, goat tying, pole bending and team roping. The award recognizes exemplary NHSRA members who are well-round-ed students and active in their com-munities.

Valley City is siteof AQHA event

The Sheyenne Valley Team Penning, an American Quarter Horse Association-approved special event, will be held Feb. 17-18 at the North Dakota Winter Show Event Center in Valley City.

This special event is for team pen-ning and ranch sorting enthusiasts, and all Quarter Horse owners are invited. For more information, contact Keith A. Lynnes at 701-645-9004.

New Miss Rodeo North Dakota takes over the reins

Reba Buccholz, 20, of Bismarck, was crowned 2007 Miss Rodeo North Dakota in Minot in Oct. 2006 during the Minot Y’s Men’s PRCA Rodeo.

Representing This Old Hat of Mandan, Buccholz was standing on the back of a horse by age 3 and bull rid-ing at 12. Though rough and tumble, she also enjoys the “queening,” as she calls the rodeo queen job.

In Minot, she also won the horsemanship, speech and photogenic categories. She took home a 3-foot-high tro-phy, saddle, jacket, jewelry, $500 college scholarship and use of a new truck during her reign.

ther HORSEO NewsNews


11stst Wild West Art Show and Auction Wild West Art Show and Auction a successa success by Pam Reinarts

The NDCHF Wild West Art Show and Auction made

its debut the weekend of September 8-9, 2006, in Medora. Artist receptions were held both nights, with the auction wrapping up the festivities on Saturday evening.

The following artists were chosen, from over 50 entries, to exhibit and present their work for auction:

• A.R. Addicott, Stanley• Gretchen Bederman, Mandan• Timothy Bumb, Mandan• Kaye Burian, Manning• David Christy, Fargo• Rod Dewald, Jamestown• Vern Erickson, donated by Joe

Hauer, Bismarck• Andy Knudson, Towner• Brother Llewellyn Kouba,

Assumption Abbey, Richardton• Marsha Lehmann, Bowman• Chip Liebel, Mandan• Gary P. Miller, Bismarck• Barb Nechiporenko, Bismarck• Scott Nelson, • Walter Piehl Jr., Minot• Wayne Pruse, Bismarck• Frederick Remington, donated by

Sheila Schaefer, Medora• Sheila Rieman, Sentinel Butte • Robert Scriver, donated by Rex

Brenneman, Mont.• Tom Temple, Glendive, Mont.

People’s Choice Awards

were presented to Burian and Liebel.

Special thanks to our buy-ers, including Ron Luethe, Walter

Borntragger, Linda Schnell, Dudley Stuber, Jeff Underhill, Terry Kristensen, Shane Wolf, Bob Lee, Tom Marple, Dick Heidt, Robert Lorenz and Phil Baird.

Thanks, also, to the following for their help and support:

• Medora Community Center for use of display panels,

• United Printing for color catalogs, • Auctioneers Larry Schnell and Shane

Wolf,• Tiffany Ross and Julie Tescher for

auction assistance,• Phil and Lynn for serving as auction-

eer clerks, • Karen Putnam, Medora Convenience

Store, for beverage service and• JoAnn and Paul Douglas of Eagle

Ridge Lodge for appetizers.


Photos courtesy of Odermann Communications Company; James Odermann, Artist

The Cowboy ChronicleNorth Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame1110 College Drive, Suite 216Bismarck, North Dakota 58501

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PAIDBISMARCK, NDPERMIT NO. 256

PLANNING AHEAD...After last year’s successful Wild West Series, the

NDCHF Board and staff are excited about the 2007 season.

2007 Wild West Series:May 12 – NDCHF Annual Family Trail RideMay 13 – Kidz ShowdeoJune 9-10 – Team RopingJune 23-24 – Barrel RacingJuly 28 – 3rd Annual National Day of the Cowboy, with demonstrations, BBQ and patio danceAug. 3 – NDCHF Patio Dinner and DanceAug. 4 - Annual Induction CeremoniesSept. 15 – Don Hart Memorial Trail Ride (tentative)Sept. 15-16 – Team Penning/Ranch SortingSept. 22-23 – ND Cutting Horse Invitational

For more information on the NDCHF events listed above, please call the Center of Western Heritage and Cultures in Medora at 701-623-2000, the NDCHF Bismarck office at 701-250-1833, or check the NDCHF website at www.northdakotacowboy.com.

Other events around Medora:May 25-27 – Dakota Cowboy Poetry

Gathering

June 14 – Flag Day All-horse Parade

(need good representation from NDCHF members)July 1 & 4 – Medora 4th of July

Parades (need NDCHF riders, float, etc.)

Aug. 5 – 51st Annual HOTR

Champions’ Ride, Sentinel Butte

Nov. 30-Dec. 1 – Cowboy Christmas

Documents

Chronicle_Feb07