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James Gang Java, 102 Indiana Avenue E, Alexander, ND (2026)

08/28/2026

Lest We Forget by Hedvig Clausen Svore,1959

CONCLUSION

As I look over the pages of this “Companion Book”, I realize with keen regret that the biographies of many worthy pioneers are incomplete and some are missing due to various reasons.

Only a few of the early settlers remain among us, and some of these are stooped with the weight of years so that when one meets them, he cannot but wonder at the things these pioneers have seen or experienced in their lives.

Over half a century ago before any railroad was built through this country, he wended his way from some other state, or he was an immigrant from The Land of the Midnight Sun or some other European country. He has seen these prairies blossom like the Garden of Eden under the tillage of the plowman.

All the joys and sorrows and hardships of pioneer life he experienced; all the pioneering changes that we read about and thrill over today-he lived-and recollects. He knew at
first-hand what life in the prairie in a “shack“ was like and “gee-hawing“ of his faithful oxen as he broke the first furrows of the sod, the long hours and tedious tasks, scant food, bitter cold, long lonely winters, and few pleasures.

He has seen times change, men change, conditions change. He has seen the ox at work, then the horse, later the tractor and automobile; and now he is watching the airplane outdo all other means of travel. He has seen the lignite coal and kerosene lamp give way to gas and electricity. He has seen the rural free delivery established. He has seen the telephone wires being stretched all over the country and witnessed radio and television become common place in the homes.

As he looks back over the pioneer days, it is with the most tender feelings, and he recalls only happy memories. Those were busy years, sad years, glad years-each filled brimful of living.

His life was dedicated to the bidding of this raw country into a good and prosperous community. What a wonderful example of courage. What a heritage that pioneering must have given him.

The End

08/25/2026

Lest We Forget by Hedvig Clausen Svore,1959

October 16 – Rawson‘s most dominant building, located on the corner of Main Street and Broadway, which served for about 34 years as the Rawson Lutheran Church, was moved October 16 to a plot just east of the Williams school and about 7 miles southeast of Johnson’s Corner, to become the house of worship for the Faith Lutheran Church of the Keene parish.

The building, the first to be erected in Rawson, was constructed in 1913 and served as the headquarters for the Farmers State Bank of Rawson throughout its duration until 1923. It was later purchased by the Rawson Lutheran congregation to become its church home.

Rawson Lutheran Church was organized in 1917 by Rev. Theodore Haakenstad, as a part of the Alexander parish, and held its first services in the homes of its members and in the community hall until 1924, when appropriate changes were made on the former bank building to be its church. Further steps in remodeling were made in 1931. Rawson has been a self-supporting congregation, but in 1957, because of its diminishing membership and lack of financial support, plans were made to disband. On February 2, 1958, members from Rawson, as well as others, were accepted into the membership of Trinity Lutheran Church of Alexander.

Last regular services to be held in Rawson were on Sunday, August 25, 1957, held by Rev. L. W. Jacobson, and the last of its organization activities was a potluck dinner on Friday, November 8, served by the WMF, followed by its regular monthly meeting.

Pastors who have served the Rawson Church are: Rev. T. O. Haakenson, 1914 – May, 1918; Rev. O. R. Svore, July, 1918 – July, 1948; Karsten Baalson, July, 1940 – July, 1941 – Rev. A. I. Edmonds, July, 1941 – January, 1944; Rev. O. E. Doely, July, 1944 – January, 1947; Rev. R. M. Williams, July, 1947 – January, 1950; H. F. Hofstad, July, 1951 – July, 1955; O. L. Bolstad, November, 1955 – June, 1956; L. W. Jacobson, June, 1956 – August, 1957, Rev. Carl Nelson, will arrive shortly after the first of the year, is the present pastor at Alexander.

Faith Lutheran Church was organized about two years ago, and is one of the congregations of the Keene Lutheran parish of the ELC, served by Rev. Harold Vold. It has a confirmed membership of 36, also a Sunday School and a ladies aid.

– Mrs. Oren Forthun, 38, wife of a well-known Alexander rancher was found dead by her husband Sunday morning in the rear seat of the family car after the couple had stopped to take a nap along the highway 23 about 17 1/2 miles northeast of Keene. They were returning from Minot where they had attended a rodeo, as members of the Badlands Saddle Club drill team.

According to coroner Clarence Leiseth, Mr. Forthun reported that after leaving New Town, where they had stopped for supper, he became sleepy and asked his wife to drive. However, she refused, saying she was also tired, and so they stopped for a nap. During the night, Mr. Forthun said he awakened, and started the car motor for warmth, then turned it off and went back to sleep. When he next woke, about 7 a.m. he was unable to rouse his wife who was sleeping in the backseat. He hailed a passing motorist who took him into New Town, where McKenzie County authorities were called.

Mrs. Forthun was taken to Minot where examination by a pathologist disclosed she had passed away of pulmonary edema, resulting from a heart condition. She had been in ill health for some time.

Lillian Bernada Madson, daughter Anders and Bessie Madson, was born at the Birdhead ranch near Alexander, on June 25, 1920. She attended Bull Flat elementary school from 1926 to 1934, and graduated from the Watford City High School in 1938. She attended the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks in 1938 and the North Dakota Agriculture College in the fall of 1939. During the winter of 1940–41. She attended Christie Beauty School in Bismarck.

On October 22, 1939, she married Oren Forthun at Fargo; and they lived in Fargo until 1940 when they went to Bismarck. 1941. They returned to the Birdhead ranch where they had since made their home.

Mrs. Forthun was a member of the First Presbyterian Church Watford City; a member of the Watford City Eastern Star,
4-H leader and member of the drill team of the Badland Saddle Club.

Survivors are her husband, two children, Barbara, 15 and James, 13, both at home; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Anders Madson of Watford City, and one sister, Mrs. Archie Holms of Dickinson.

Funeral services will be conducted from the First Lutheran Church in Watford City on Thursday, October 23 at 2 p.m. Rev. Clayton Parcels, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church will officiate, assisted by Rev. K. Wylie of Dickinson, and Rev. Gordon G. Belzer of Alexander. Mrs. Clarence Leiseth will be organist and Mr. Leiseth soloist.

To be continued…

08/24/2026

Lest We Forget by Hedvig Clausen Svore,1959

September 18 – The matter of the “Goose“ versus the “Bruck“ service by the Great Northern Railway Company between Williston and Watford City and East Fairview, has been settled. The “Goose“ wins!

In an order released by the state Public Service Commission, the application of the railway company to discontinue its single unit passenger train service has been denied, as has the companion application to substitute bus-truck service. The vote was two to one, with a commissioner Martin Vaaler, dissenting and Commissioners Ernest D. Nelson and Anson J. Anderson approving.

The GN had requested authority to discontinue the single unit, passenger train, commonly referred to as “The Goose“ and to substitute a combination bus-truck unit known as them “The Bruck.“ Both units would carry passengers, baggage, mail, express, milk, cream, and newspapers between Williston, Watford City, Sidney, Montana, and intermediate points.

Under the “Bruck“ system of service, the communities of Dore, Buford and Trenton would not receive any passenger service by rail and would not receive service of any kind from the “Bruck“.

The order states that the Great Northern Railway Company is presently suffering an out-of-pocket loss of approximately $85,000 annually on the “Goose“ operation. Substitution of the “Bruck“ would have reduced this loss by about $67,000, plus the cost of any additional services made necessary by removal of the “Goose“.

The PSC order said the particular weight was given to the testimony of local citizens who appeared at the hearings, especially in regard to road conditions and personal experiences in transporting heavy loads over some of the roads during wet or winter weather.

Commissioner Martin Vaaler dissenting vote was expected as this seems to be his policy in all corporation hearings.

– Over 200 women attended a coffee party in honor of Mrs. John Davis, wife of the distinguished governor of North Dakota, at the Dean Jacobson residence in Alexander, Friday afternoon, October 24. Guests included women from throughout McKenzie County and several groups from Williston.

Wives of local Republican precinct committeemen who poured were: Mrs. Vincent Rettig, Mrs. Bill Monson, Mrs. Henry Lebak, Mrs. Tim Dwyer, and Mrs. Gunder Skedsvold.

The following women acted on the reception committee: Mrs. Dean Jacobson, hostess; Mrs. Ragna Aasen, Mrs. Martin Fjelstad, Mrs. Ed Taylor, Mrs. Aveard Fjelstad, Mrs. Peter, Nygaard, and Mrs. Garvin Jacobson of Alexander; Mrs. Walter Riek and Mrs. Ed Sanders of Rawson; Mrs. Milton Olson of Cartwright, Mrs. Orville Hagen, and Mrs. Andy Stenehjem of Arnegard.

Mrs. Al Ley, Mrs. Lloyd Powell, and Mrs. Luella Wold worked on the serving committee.

Planning and arrangements were made by Mrs. Lloyd Powell, Mrs. Luella Wold, Mrs. Peter Nygaard, and Mrs. Garvin Jacobson.

Miniature orchids, a gift of Oscar Knutson of Watford City, were given as favors.

Mrs. Davis was honored at a luncheon attended by the officers of the McKenzie County Republican women’s club at the Brooks Keogh Ranch at Keene before continuing onto Alexander. She was accompanied by Mrs. Burt Wheeler, daughter of Mrs. Martin Stenehjem, publicity manager for the 1958 Republican campaign.

September – Clarence Edgar Musgrove, 67, for 25 years operator of a pest control business in Santa Barbara, California, died suddenly in a local hospital after a heart attack early today. A native of Illinois, he was born November 10, 1890, coming here with his wife, the former Charlotte I. Bradley, in 1924. They were married in 1913 in Alexander, North Dakota, where he was the owner and operator of the McKenzie Hotel. He founded the Musgrove Pest Control Company, on the De la Vina Street shortly after he arrived here and ran it until 1955 when he sold it to his son, Clarence A. Musgrove. Mr. Musgrove was an active member of the Church of the Open Bible, serving as a deacon for many years. Surviving besides his wife and son are two daughters, Mrs. Kenneth Callahan, and Mrs. Ray Weeks, both of Santa Barbara; also eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

September 11 – McKenzie County oilfields are rapidly reaching for the top of the value of oil production taxes for North Dakota, rating second in the three-month period ending June 30, in the state’s $11,431,623. McKenzie County‘s oil and gas production tax for that quarter being $3,544,838, being topped only by Williams County where more wells are in production and more gas is produced to a rate $4,929,402.

The state oil and gas production tax is five percent and according to the state tax commissioner, taxes accruing to the state amount to $571,581. This amount could be greatly increased if wells in the various fields were allowed to produce more oil. At the present time, the outlet for crude is limited.

Production value in other North Dakota counties for the June quarter are as follows: Montreal, $1,452,702; Burke, $767,936; Bottineau, 449,008 $83; Billings $163,708, Divide, $67,527; and Stark, $11,747.

To be continued…

08/22/2026

One of my great joys is when former volleyball players stop by and surprise me! Thanks so much Fay and so wonderful to meet your daughter Morgan! 🏐👏🏽☺️

08/22/2026

Lest We Forget by Hedvig Clausen Svore,1959

August 10 – George Anderson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Anderson of Sidney, and Wanda Bell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Bell of Alexander, were united in marriage at a small private wedding held at the Ebenezer Congregational Church in Sidney, Sunday afternoon, August 10. The Rev. B. Knapp, local pastor, performed the ceremony in the presence of the immediate families of the bride and groom. DeAnna Taylor of Alexander was bridesmaid, and David Sorseth of Williston was the best man. Immediately following the ceremony a reception was held at the home of the bride’s parents, after which the newlyweds left on a wedding trip through the Peace Gardens. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson will make their home at Keene, where Mr. Anderson is employed by Oil Field Service.

– Vernon Klose and Karen Dashner were married August 10 in the Methodist Church in Sidney, by the Rev. William Powell of Williston. Their attendants were her cousin, Leota Gregg, and his cousin Walter Link. They returned Saturday from the wedding trip through both Yellowstone and Glacier Parks, and to Portland, Oregon. They will live in Fairview until his parents move to their valley farm near Fairview, when the young couple will move to the home farm east of Cartwright.

– Eldon I. Nowstrup, supervisor of the Nuclear Reactor Research Facility at the U. S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D. C., recently returned to his alma mater, the University of North Dakota, as a guest lecturer. As the topic of his lecture, Nowstrup discussed the peaceful uses of atomic energy.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Nowstrup of Alexander, he spent his earlier in McKenzie County and graduated from Williston High School. Since 1951 he has been doing research in nuclear physics. He has assisted in testing the first thermal-nuclear (H bomb) device in the Pacific and also worked with Westinghouse scientists on the development of a nuclear power plant for the Nautilus, first atomic powered submarine.

A graduate of Atomic Energy Commission’s advanced school on nuclear power technology at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Nowstrup assisted with the design of the nuclear research reactor at the naval research laboratory in Washington, D.C. and is presently in charge of operation of the nuclear reactor and it’s associated facilities for research. The reactor is used as a source of nuclear radiation for basic studies in physics, biology, chemistry, and metallurgy.

With his wife and four-year-old son, Dennis, Mr. Nowstrup visited with his parents at Alexander before returning to Washington, D. C.

August 28 – Candelabra and baskets of yellow and white gladioli decorated the altar for the wedding of Jewell Bratcher, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lonzo Bratcher, and Forrest Abelmann, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Abelmann, all of Alexander. Rev. Rodgers officiated at the double ring ceremony at 8 p. m. in Williston. Both Mr. and Mrs. Abelmann are graduates of Alexander High School. Mrs. Abelmann is employed at the American State Bank in Williston while Mr. Abelmann is engaged in farming and will attend the State School of Science in Wahpeton this fall.

September 18 – According to a recent story in the Minneapolis paper, a former resident of Rawson, Harold D. Covlin, is president of the Minneapolis Jaycees, having been elected in April. His current major projects include overseeing preparations for the Twin Cities Centennial Air Fair in St. Paul, and getting ready to play host to 1600 delegates (700 from overseas) at the November 16-23 international convention. Besides spending about 30 hours a week on Jaycee business, he is assistant cashier and loan officer at the Midland National Bank, treasurer for the Hennepin county chapter of the infantile paralysis national foundation, and aide to the commanding general of the Minnesota National Guards 47th Infantry Division. He recently received an award for participation in the national youth fitness program,
co-sponsored by Sports Illustrated Magazine, and the Jaycees, and will receive the city of Minneapolis award to New York. Covlin is a graduate of the Arnegard High School.

– Rev. Theodore O. Hokenstad, first resident pastor of the Trinity Lutheran Church at Alexander, passed away at his home at Bremerton, Washington, on September 26.

Rev. Hokenstad and his family arrived in Alexander on July 15, 1914, after having accepted the call to Trinity Church, and delivered his first sermon on the text from Romans 1:16 in the Alexander Community Hall on the following Sunday.

The first step having been taken in 1913 to build a church, and the cornerstone of the new church laid on November 29, 1914, Rev. Hokenstad supervised the completion of the interior of his church in October, 1915, and the church was formally opened on Easter Sunday of the following year. He was pastor of the four congregations of the Alexander parish until the summer of 1918, when he moved to Bremerton, Washington.

One daughter, Margaret, and a daughter, Elvira and his wife survive. A son, Ted, gave his life for his home and his country in army service in Africa in 1942.

To be continued…

08/21/2026

Lest We Forget by Hedvig Clausen Svore,1959

– One of North Dakota‘s largest real estate transactions since the railroad – building and homesteading era – the acquisition of land for the Garrison Dam and Reservoir project – has been virtually completed, Col. Lynn W. Pine, Garrison District Engineer, said.

The program resulting in the government‘s purchase of 462,850 acres of land at a cost of $21,188,000 has been in progress for approximately 12 years under the direction of Roy Dory, Chief of the Real Estate Division of the District Corps of Engineers. During that time, 3324 tracks were acquired, 1350 of them within the Fort Berthold Indian reservation.

The program involved also the acquisition of three towns, Elbowoods, Sanish, and Van Hook, and their relocation and consolidation into the city of Newtown; the purchase of the Lewis and Clark irrigation project and the east bottom and continuous lands of the Berthold-Trenton irrigation project in the Williston vicinity. A few little clearance problems and pending compensation settlements are all that remain for final cleanup in the acquisition program, Dory said.

Thousands of acres of reservoir land, Mr. Dory, pointed out, are being developed for public recreation and cottage site areas, while other tracks have been set aside as wildlife sanctuaries, and transferred for operating purposes to the State Game and Fish Department.

Land not needed for a reservoir purposes is being leased for grazing and farming, Dory said, with 75% of the lease income coming back to the counties where the land is located.

July – The total of deposits in all banks in North Dakota stood at $696,685,556 on June 23, according to G. H. Russ, Jr., state examiner. This compared with $638,372,364 a year before.

– Funeral services for Ole R. Iverson, 78, Alexander community pioneer, were held in the Trinity lutheran Church at Alexander at 2 p. m. Tuesday, July 22. He passed away at the community Memorial Hospital in Sidney, Montana, on July 17 of a heart condition from which he had suffered for several months.

At the services Mrs. Garvin Jacobson was organist. And George Iverson was soloist. Burial was made in the Highland Cemetery 17 miles south of Alexander. Pallbearers were six nephews, Ralph and Morris Cross, John and Iver Brostuen, Henry Lebak and Dietrick M. Iverson.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Iver Iverson, he was born at Ringebu, Norway, August 23, 1879, and was reared and educated in that country. In 1905 he came to the United States to join his brother, Matthew, who had immigrated earlier, and together they worked in lumber camps and on farms in Minnesota and Canada. In 1906 homesteaded south of Alexander and after proving up returned to Minnesota to farm for a brief period. In 1911 he returned to his homestead at Alexander and continued to make his home there until he retired in 1953 and moved to Sidney, Montana, to make his home with his brother, Matthew.

Other survivors include a brother, Dietrick Iverson of Alexander, three sisters; Mrs. Ella Brostuen, Williston, Mrs. Oline Cross and Mrs. Julia Furstad, Alexander.

July 29 – A long-standing interest in sub-Arctic vegetation has taken a former McKenzie County man, Knut Norstog to Iceland for five weeks of research and study. Dr. Norstog is now associate professor of biology at Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio.

He arrived in Iceland, June 11 to begin an intensive period of study of Icelandic plant life. His purpose is too fold: one, to become more familiar with sub-Arctic vegetation, and two, to study, particularly, the characteristics of one plant species – Seneca grass, which is found in Iceland.

Seneca grass is a plant relic of the glacial period, according to Dr. Norstog, and for that reason can best be studied in a country which has glacier regions. The plant is relatively uncommon in the United States, and differs from that found in Iceland.

In 1956, Dr. Norstog received a $4500 research grant from the National Science Foundation for a three-year study of the cellular development of three grasses, Seneca, English Rye grass, and barley. Dr. Norstog has been growing tiny plant cells from the three grasses in test tubes. Part of his goal is to solve the riddle of the cells, rapid growth and the answer as to why they do not develop into actual plants.

His period of study in Iceland is being financed by a portion of a grant received recently by Wittenberg from the Esso Foundation. Since Dr. Norstog teaches conservation courses, he is also interested in the forests being started in Iceland by importing trees from Alaska.

Mrs. Norstog also is a former McKenzie County girl. With her sons, Jon, Erik and Paul, she arrived last Tuesday to visit with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Evanson while Dr. Norstog is in Iceland.

To be continued…

08/20/2026

Lest We Forget by Hedvig Clausen Svore,1959

July 17 – Mr. and Mrs. Morris Martin and family of Illinois, were guests at the 25th classroom reunion on Monday evening at the American Legion Hall. Class members and friends from Watford City, Arnegard, Rawson, Cartwright, Fairview and Alexander were present. Potluck was served and much handshaking and a very enjoyable time was had by all.

– Mrs. Mathilda Oian passed away last Tuesday at the hospital in Watford City. Funeral services were held Friday at 2 p.m. from the Trinity Lutheran Church. She was buried in the Alexander cemetery.

July 22 – a 62-your-old farmer drowned where he had been swimming.

The body of Joseph Lien was recovered three hours later with grappling hooks by volunteers from the western North Dakota village directed by the sheriff Joe Zitek of McKenzie County.

Lien, whose home was in Charbonneau community west of Alexander, had driven to the Skedsvold Dam, on a creek 3 1/2 miles north east of here, accompanied by C. A. Berklund, 78, of Alexander.

Berklund said that Lien parked his car in the vicinity of the reservoir, took off his shoes and plunged into the pool, swam across it and climbed out on the opposite shore. Berklund said he watched Lien on the bank for a time, then returned to the car to rest.

After he had sat in the car for about half an hour, he said, he became concerned because Lien did not return to the vehicle. The elderly man went back to the reservoir shore, and when he could see nothing of Lien, he raised the alarm.

Lien‘s body was recovered in 10 feet of water about 40 yards from shore.

July 28 – Retiring North Dakota Rep. Usher L. Burdick, 79, had some choice remarks to make Sunday during the fifth annual Old Settlers Picnic at Epping-Springbrook Dam, northeast of Williston.

Burdick, who looked slightly wan after his recent illness, but whose voice still commanded attention, told his audience he expected to live another 20 years “so any woman who marries me for my money and expects death is going to get fooled.“ He reported he intends to spend his future time “buzzing around the area and having a good time.“

Referring to his recent illness, Burdick said, “All my cash has been spent for doctors. “He reported he was being charged $20.50 a day for a hospital room in Washington, D.C., so when he decided to correct that situation he went to Boston “where they charged me $29.“

Burdick also said he didn’t expect to see any water in the Williston area (from the Garrison Dam) at any time “in the next 20 years.“

– Latest nation-wide traffic accident records show that for the first four months of this year in North Dakota was in the unpopular position of last place in the prevention of traffic test in the United States.

In fact, the state record for the January-April was so bad that the 47th place holder was 25% better than North Dakota – and that state (Idaho) showed a 65% increase in traffic deaths. North Dakota came up with a whopping 90% increase.

In 1956 North Dakota established its all-time high for traffic deaths. The record for the first four months of this year makes the 1956 record look like a school picnic because the January-April record is 52% higher than in 1956.

For the same period last year, North Dakota registered 20 deaths. This year the records stood at 38 at the end of April.

To be continued…

08/18/2026

Lest We Forget by Hedvig Clausen Svore,1959

July 10-Tim Dwyer of Alexander has been named winner of this year‘s award in the North Dakota Soil Conservation Achievement program for the Arnegard – Alexander Soil Conservation District.

There were seven contestants entered in this year‘s contest and all have carried out many fine conservation practices, such as strip cropping, grassed waterways, dams, tree plantings, etc. Judges were Ras Rolfson and Art Nelson, supervisor of the Soil Conservation District, both of Watford City and Dean Jacobson of Alexander. Kermit Toepke, county extension agent and Earl Anderson, of the Soil Conservation Service, assisted the judges.

Mr. Dwyer will be honored at the North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts banquet to be held in Williston this fall. At that time he will be presented with a colored aerial photograph of his farmstead by the greater North Dakota Association.

The Soil Conservation Achievement program is sponsored annually by the Greater North Dakota Association; North Dakota Association of Implement Dealers; North Dakota Press Association; Extension Service; and Soil Conservation District.

June 17 – Lt. Col. Ferdinand L. Svore, son of Rev. and Mrs. O. R. Svore, 1207 Mandan Street, received a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard University last week and is expected to arrive in Bismarck Wednesday evening for a visit with his mother. Accompanying him are his wife and daughter, Erika. Col. Svore will report to San Antonio, Texas, for a new assignment with the Air Force in July. Also moving to Texas, Mr. and Mrs. Jerome H. Svore, former Bismarck residents, and children, Donald and Deanna. Mr. Svore, a brother of the Colonel, has been with U. S. Public Health Service in Portland, Oregon, but will be transferred to Dallas, Texas, this week.

July 10 – Some four inches of rain hit Alexander in McKenzie County between 1:30 and 2 o’clock Thursday afternoon, making the main street virtually impossible.

Selmer Ohnsager, Alexander druggist, said the town was covered by “a small cloud, but a mighty wet one.“ He reported that for sometime after the downpour ended, merchants were unable to enter or leave their buildings, because of the water covering the sidewalk.

Ohnsager said the water was only an inch or so lacking from drifting in the doors of main street businesses.

There was no hail in the storm.

Readings varying between two and 1.52 inches of precipitation were made according to weatherman, Tony Paluck, whose own yard was flooded and silted. A driving wind accompanied the rain.

Runoff from the overflowing dam, located above and to the northwest of Alexander, added to the water problem, multiplying actual flooding, so that much higher precipitation was at first reported.

It was believed the dam had burst, so heavy was the runoff down the hill at the west side of town, but investigation showed terrific overflow instead.

At Quale‘s Jack and Jill store, fast shovel work, protected the coal chute and the south and west sides of the building with a hastily thrown up embankment, but water ran around to the front and into the store. Young rivers ran down both sides of main street. The fire department pumped out 5 1/2 feet of water from the Post Office basement, also from basements in the Custer Solem building and the Jacobson Implement warehouse, among others.

Chief of Police James Neer reported his own residence basement flooded clear to the ceiling of the first floor, and sustained quite a loss due to their domestic water supply plant being installed in the basement. Cleaning up the mud later was a chore all over town where basements were flooded. Loose articles were swept down the creek, never to be seen again, and much yard damage was caused by the swift flowing waters. On Saturday another cloudburst repeated some of this damage all over again.

To be continued…

08/17/2026

Lest We Forget by Hedvig Clausen Svore,1959

March – Winter vacationer, Mrs. O. R. Svore, is back at 1207 Mandan St. after spending the winter on the West Coast. Mrs. Svore left last fall to visit in Billings and Missoula, Montana before going onto Portland, Oregon, to see her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Svore, former Bismarck residents. The entire family drove to Los Angeles, California, to spend the Christmas holidays at places like Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm. Mrs. Svore remained to see the Rose Parade in Pasadena while the Jerome Svore’s went back to Portland. She stopped there again on the return trip and with Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, friends before coming here.

May 1 – Grandma Neer, who is 94 years old, was taken to the Williston hospital last Thursday with a light heart attack.

May 8 – Open house was held at the Roy Burns home on Sunday, May 4 from 2 to 7 p.m. honoring Violet and Roy Burns on their 25th wedding anniversary. The many friends and relatives who attended made the anniversary party a grand success.

May 15 – Marianne Ohm, daughter, Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Ohm, was chosen from the junior class at the Alexander High School, by the American Legion Auxiliary to represent the school at Girls State to be held June 10-17 at Grand Forks. Elaine Mrachek is the alternate. These girls were chosen by their scholastic ratings, leadership, cooperation, talents, and moral standards.

June 5 – Cora “Grandma Neer“, died last Monday at the Williston hospital where she spent several weeks. Funeral services were held at the Sletten Funeral Home in Williston and she was buried in the Alexander Cemetery. Our sympathy goes to all the relatives.

June 11 – A double ring ceremony in the Wilmington Lutheran Church in Arnegard, united in marriage Ordis Stenseth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Stenseth of Arnegard, and Robert Charchenko, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Charchenko of Watford City. Rev. William Humlie performed the candlelight service at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 11.

July 3 – The news of the death of Mrs. E. E. Eidbo, Fargo, was announced by Pastor Humlie in church Sunday morning. Mrs. Eidbo was the wife of Pastor Eidbo who served Wilmington Lutheran Church as pastor from 1914 to 1922 and will be remembered by many of the old timers that lived here at that time. All 10 of their children attended Concordia College. Eight of them graduated from the school.

A CROWN OF THORNS
By Alice Erickson, Junior at Alexander High School

A crown of thorns my savior wore
On the cross of Calvary;
A crown of thorns that pierced His brow
To set each sinner free.

His blessed hands were pierced with nails,
His precious blood He shed,
But still no cry, my Savior made;
He only bowed His head.

“Forgive them, Father,“ were his words,
“They know not what they do.“
The mocking crowd looked on in scorn
As morning brought the dew.

And Christ gave up His soul to God
And died on Calvary;
A crown of thorns about His brow
That we might live eternally.

To be continued…

James Gang Java

08/28/2026

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