Llewellyn “Bud” W. Hitchcock

A celebration of the life of Llewellyn “Bud” W. Hitchcock was held on Nov. 24, 2009 at Mountain View Memorial Gardens, Mesa, Ariz. Mr. Hitchcock passed away on Nov. 18, 2009 in Mesa.
Llewellyn “Bud” Hitchcock was born on April 20, 1922 at Lisbon, N.D. to John Earl and Minnie (Gunderson) Hitchcock.
Bud married Margaret Schmit in 1945.
Bud is survived by his wife, sons Gary (Donna) and Tom (Ellen), daughter Patricia (Don) Hunter, sister Edlyn, and many relatives and friends whose lives he touched with his smile and stories.
He will always be in our hearts.

This obituary is printed in full because it is a paid obituary.

LAHS Fall Gala is huge success

Over 350 people enjoyed the 1st Annual LAHS Fall Gala on Friday, November 13 at the Expo Center. Pictured in the forefront of the photo are: (clockwise from left) Keith Dick, Brenda Dick, JoAnn Saxerud and Morrie Saxerud.

Peggy Larson, administrator, Lisbon Area Health Services and Wes Well who serves on the board of directors, greet guests as they arrive for the Fall Gala at the Expo Center.

John and Lynn Otterson (left) and Connie and Rodney OIson (right) enjoy the dancing at the Fall Gala.

Last of project worksheets signed . . . Over $860,000 in FEMA projects approved for Ransom County

by Janet Hansen
Teresa Rotenberger, Ransom County Emergency Manager, reported to the Board of Commissioners at their Tuesday, Nov. 17 meeting, that she had signed the last of the FEMA project worksheets and the FEMA representative who has been helping her will be moving on to another area of the state.
The total approved by FEMA for flood recovery projects for Ransom County, according to Rotenberger, is $861,845.95. She explained that the county and townships will be receiving 97 percent of that figure. According to Rotenberger’s figures the total to be paid from local funds will be $25,855.38.
In answer to questions from the commissioners regarding the Qual road project, Rotenberger explained that the amount allotted for the project by FEMA was $195,351.55. The actual costs for work completed totaled $170,801.55. Rotenberger stated that the savings came in engineering costs because Cretex Concrete Products West, Inc., the project contractor, furnished its own on site engineer.
She explained that she will be submitted the following additional costs from the project, a gravel overrun of $1,500.00 and some drain rock which cost $898.15. Rotenberger has also submitted a request to use the remainder of the savings on the project, which amounts to $22,151.36, toward the culvert removal expenses.

Wrestling Preview… Broncos versus Burros in First Wrestling Action of the Season

By Joe Howell
Lisbon will travel to Hillsboro in the first dual meet of the respective schools seasons.
The Burros and Broncos will square off on this Tuesday night, November 24.  This is a major change in the wrestling schedule as the Broncos have traditionally opened with rival Oakes.
Lisbon Broncos – a co-op of the Lisbon, Enderlin, and North Sargent school districts.  For the last few years, only students from Lisbon and Enderlin have competed for the Broncos.
*denotes from Enderlin
Joe Kern enters his seventh year as head coach and Kern will be assisted by Bob Moller* and Richard Lacina.
The Broncos return two state placewinners in:  three time state champion, Michael Nord* and fifth place at 103 last winter, Dylan Urbach.
Returning state qualifiers are:  Kasy Groettum, Hunter Mairs, James Briss*, Jace Berg, and Reed Huether.

LHS Drama Department delights audience with one act plays

by Janet Hansen
The Lisbon High School Drama Department presented two one act plays during their annual Drama Night held on Tuesday evening, Nov. 17 at the high school commons.
The first play, “Big Bad” by Alec Strum, was directed by first year LHS English teacher and drama coach, Jodi Reardon. The play, which took place “once upon a time,” was set in a courtroom in the Enchanted Forest. On trial was the infamous “Big Bad Wolf.”
The comedy provided some lighthearted entertainment for the audience. The eccentric and sometimes confused judge, during the swearing in of the witnesses, asked them to place their hand on a book of fairy tales. The judge, along with a fairy godmother as a lawyer, a wolf as the defendent, and a wide collection of unique characters who brought to mind various fairy tale characters as witnesses, made for an entertaining scenario.  

Wyndmere-Lidgerwood Ends Broncos Volleyball Season in Region Title Match

By Joe Howell

Lisbon came into the Region 1 championship match as the three time defending champions and just one week earlier had defeated Wyndmere-Lidgerwood 3-2 for the District 1 title.
Wyndmere-Lidgerwood wanted nothing to do with keeping alive Lisbon’s recent domination of the Region 1 tournament.  The Warbirds played a near perfect match in derailing the Bronco Express to the state tournament with a 3-1 victory in the Northern Cass gym.
The Broncos had earned their way to the title match with a 3-1 victory over Oak Grove minus their star, Kali Olson, and went onto sweep Finley-Sharon-Hope-Page in the semifinals.

Steven C. Olson

Name: Steven C. Olson
Age:  59
Residence:  Prairie Rose, ND
Funeral -
Date:  November 21, 2009
Location:  St. John Lutheran Church, Fargo
Date of Death:  November 16, 2009
Birthplace: Fort Ransom, ND

Bernice A. Ptacek

Funeral services for Bernice A. Ptacek, 95, Lisbon, N.D., were held on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 at First Baptist Church, Lisbon, with Rev. Gene Cannon officiating. Ms. Ptacek passed away on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009 at Lisbon Area Health Services.
Bernice A. Ptacek, daughter of Charles J. and Katie (Boyd) Ptacek, was born on October 17, 1914 in Long Prairie, Minn. She attended a rural elementary school and graduated from high school in Long Prairie. She attended the State Normal and Industrial College in Ellendale, N.D. for two years and then went on to attain a bachelor of science degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. In 1945, she attained a master of religious education (M.R.E.) degree from Northern Baptist Seminary, Chicago, Ill. and in 1948, she graduated from Northwestern University, Evanston, with a master of arts degree. In 1949 she went on to do graduate work at the University of Minnesota.
Bernice taught in rural schools in McIntosh, Logan and Dickey Counties of North Dakota from 1933 to 1937. She taught fourth grade in Ellendale, N.D. from 1937 to 1942 and fourth grade in Loveland, Col. from 1946 to 1947. She was a librarian at Northern Baptist Seminary, Chicago from 1942 to 1945, assistant professor and associate professor at Sioux Falls College, Sioux Falls, S.D. from 1948 to 1980 and Dean of Women at Sioux Falls College from 1953 to 1964. She retired on July 1, 1980 and moved to Lisbon.
Bernice taught Sunday School classes and served on various boards, committees and offices of  her church. She served as board member and president of Sioux Falls League of Women Voters, board member of American Indian Services, member and officer of Delta Kappa Gamma, member and president of Altrusa Club, and board member and president of United Brotherhood Council, all of Sioux Falls. She was a founding member and board member of South Dakota Peace and Justice Center, a board member of the Community Food Pantry, a board member of the Women’s Advocacy Network and a member of Friends, the hospital and nursing home auxiliary organization, all of of Lisbon. She received the following awards: NAACP citation for outstanding service in the field of civil rights and human relations; Doctor of Humane Letters from Sioux Falls College; Outstanding Victim Advocacy Award, June, 1992, presented by the Office of the North Dakota Attorney General; and a Leadership Award, September 18, 1994 from American Baptist Churches of the Dakotas.
She was an active member of the First Baptist Church, Lisbon.
Bernice is survived by: two brothers, Lynn (Margaret), Valley City, N.D. and Lloyd (LaVerne) Cogswell, N.D. and a sister, Beverly (Fred) Maack, Lisbon.
She was preceded in death by: siblings, Bertha Olson, Charles Ptacek, Sylvia Skjefte, and two infant brothers.
Pallbearers were Ronald Skjefte, Donald Maack, Daryl Olson, James Ptacek, Paul Ptacek, Ardell Ptacek, Douglas Ptacek, and Randy Ptacek.
Music was provided by organist Eileen Geske and soloists Josh and Tara Bolin.
Interment at Harlem Cemetery, rural Cogswell.
Armstrong Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

This obituary is printed in full because it is a paid obituary.

Alpha L. Olson

Name: Alpha L. Olson
Age:  97
Residence:  Bethany Homes, Fargo
Funeral -
Date:  November 20, 2009
Location:  Fredrikson Funeral Chapel, Kindred
Date of Death:  November 16, 2009
Birthplace: Wyndmere, ND

Carmen M. Reinke

Name: Carmen M. Reinke
Age:  70
Residence:  Lisbon, ND
Funeral -
Date:  November 17, 2009
Location:  Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisbon
Date of Death:  November 13, 2009
Birthplace: Lisbon, ND