Judd Froemming

Sandi Bonesteel writes:
Judd Froemming, age 56, a JHS graduate, passed away suddenly March 25.
He was a teacher at Ramsey, Minn.
Judd was a third cousin to me, and first cousin to Jeri Lee Salt Hillemeier. He is survived by his wife and children. His parents are Elroy (EJ) and Audrey Froemming, and siblings are Brad and Nikki.
I haven't seen anything yet in Echo Press but there will probably be something soon. Here is the entry from the Trib.

Froemming, Judd B.
Age 56, of Ramsey. Taught in the Anoka-Hennepin School District for 26 years. He was also a dedicated high school football and basketball referee for over 25 years. Survived by loving wife, Ann; children, Kelly, Katherine, and Christopher; parents, E.J. and Audrey Froemming; siblings, Brad Froemming (Mary Nortman), and Nicole Froemming; niece, Maren Froemming; great nephew, Cameron Froemming.
Mass of Christian Burial Thursday 12 noon with reviewal 1 hour prior at St. Stephen's Catholic Church, 5th Ave and Jackson St., Anoka. Visitation Wednesday 5-8 PM with a 7 PM prayer service at Thurston-Lindberg Funeral Home, West Main St and Branch Ave., Anoka. Private interment. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred.
Thurston-Lindberg Chapel 763-421-0220

Marlain Bruflodt -- "Miss B"

Marlain “Miss B” Joyce Bruflodt, 83, died March 11, 2008 from lung cancer.
Marlain was born October 28, 1924 in Princeton to John and Minnie (Teutz) Bruflodt. She graduated in 1942 from Milaca High School and enrolled at Bemidji State University where she received a double major in English and physical education.

Following graduation, she taught in the Thief River Falls school system for one year prior to moving to Rochester, New York to teach at the YWCA. In New York, Miss B had the privilege to play golf with Babe Didriksen Zaharias, one of America's greatest women athletes. Marlain returned to Minnesota where she received her master of education degree at the University of Minnesota and accepted a teaching position in the physical education department of Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.
It was at Stanford that Miss B had Mickey Wright as a student in her class. Ms. Wright was ranked as the 9th greatest golfer of all time and the top woman golfer of all time by Golf Digest magazine.
In 1954 Miss B began her career in the Alexandria education system and continued until her retirement in 1986 except for two years when she served as director of education at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park. Having a passion for reading, she studied for her master of science degree at St. Cloud State University and began the Developmental Reading Program in Alexandria’s District 206. She firmly believed in and enjoyed the “developmental approach” to reading by taking a student from wherever they were to reaching the fullest extent of their capacity. Miss B had a gift for treating each student as though they were her only student. Marlain was honored as Alexandria’s Teacher of the Year and a Minnesota Teacher of Excellence. She was truly one of the educators who made a difference in the Alexandria school system.
In addition to being an outstanding educator, Miss B was also a superb athlete and a trailblazer for current women’s athletic competition. In the 1960s and 1970s she was a champion for getting girls’ athletic events promoted to the varsity level of competition. As an athlete herself, she was outstanding and played in the Women's Softball World Series and had the opportunity to play for the Racine Belles of the All-American Women's Professional Baseball League (made famous by the movie A League of Their Own) during World War II. During her tenure in District 206, she coached girls’ basketball, volleyball, track and tennis. Miss B had a dream to coach boys’ football but had to settle for becoming an avid Vikings fan. She also enjoyed bowling, horseback riding, camping, fishing and snowmobiling.
She is survived by her brother, Curtis Bruflodt of St. Cloud, sisters-in-law, Dorothy Bruflodt of Milaca and Victoria Bruflodt of New Jersey; an aunt, Dorothy Johnson of Milaca; niece, Mary Jo (Chuck) Schmidt; nephews, Mark (Norma) Bruflodt, Marshall Bruflodt and James Bruflodt; cousins; grand-nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her closest friend of nearly 50 years, Marilyn Mesna.
Marlain was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Gerald “Dudy” Bruflodt and Robert Bruflodt; and nephews, Michael Bruflodt and Steven Bruflodt.
Memorial Services will be held on Friday, March 28 at 4 p.m. from the Anderson Funeral Chapel in Alexandria with the Rev. Ron Otterson officiating. Joe Capistrant and Jennie Hevern will offer eulogies, music will be provided by Chelsea Denny, Randy Morken and William Riggs and expressions of thanksgiving will be offered by the Rev. Nancy Larson. Serving as honorary pallbearers are Marilyn Mesna, Nancy Larson, Jennie Hevern, Monty Hevern, Joe Capistrant, Linda Capistrant, Pat McCarty, Bev Grossman, Sue Schmidt, Lori Hawkinson, Yvonne Maki, Bob Wallgren, Harland Angen, Violet Angen, Steve Hanzlik, Gayle Hanzlik and all former teaching colleagues and students.
Memorials are preferred to Hospice, Dolly Parton Books for Kids, or First Lutheran Church Parish Health.
Arrangements are with Anderson Funeral H

Oh What Fun!

In Alexandria,

Tom Obert's neighbor cleans up after this morning's snowfall.

In Dallas,

Lorlee Bartos promises the long winter of our discontent is near. Provides evidence taken yesterday in a park near her home.

"Miss B" dies

Marlain "Miss B" Bruflodt, age 83 of Alexandria, died Tuesday, March 11, 2006.
Miss B was a longtime beloved teacher of District 206. She taught many of the members of the Class of '65 how to read faster and with more comprehension in seventh and eighth grade.
A Memorial service will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home of Alexandria.

Split Rock photo is the real McCoy

Hello,
Your 65Roundup blog recently featured a photo of Split Rock and I thought I could fill you in on the photo. [See photo below.]
Yes, it is real. No tricks. Photo was probably taken by one of about five photographers that were along the shoreline on the evening of January full moon on Martin Luther King Day this year. The moon does rise that far north in the winter. December and January are the only months this shot is possible as the rest of the year the moon rises farther out in the lake. There has been no ice on Lake Superior near the lighthouse until around the first of March and now the lake is mostly ice covered as far as you can see from the lighthouse. The photograph that you posted most possibly was taken by Dennis O'Hara, a Duluth photographer who has taken many very good photos of the lighthouse. His web site is www.northernimages.com.
Lee Radzak
Historic Site Manager
Split Rock Lighthouse
Minnesota Historical Society
3713 Split Rock Lighthouse Rd.
Two Harbors, MN 55616

Our beautiful world

Sunrise

Tom Obert rose this morning and took this picture of the sun rising over frozen Lake Darling. He writes: Our niece, who moved to Minnesota from Virginia in December and immediately professed a profound disdain for Minnesota winters, is now getting the last laugh. She reports that "Minnesota nice" has turned into "Minnesota miserable," as all the natives who previously expressed their love of winter to her now have grown weary of its length - as we continue to endure colder than normal temperatures into March.

---

Sunset

Last night, a mule deer in southern Arizona ambled to the top of a Catalina ridge and watched the sun disappear in the west.
(Photo by Stan Rolfsrud)

Carol Engstrom Lussier's daughter visits the TB

Leah Lussier, the daughter of Gary and Carol (Engstrom) Lussier of Minneapolis, and her boyfriend visited the Trailboss and Mrs. Trailboss in Tucson this morning. Carol was a 1966 graduate of Jefferson High and an accomplished pianist. Leah, and boyfriend Jesse Sixkiller, are presently attending law school at the University of Arizona. Leah is a graduate of Harvard and Jesse graduated from Dartmouth. They'll spend the summer working in Minneapolis, and some weekends at the family cabin on Lake Darling in Alexandria.

Stan and Kathleen Rolfsrud enjoyed breakfast and telling tales of the youthful adventures of Leah's mother, Leah's aunt Linda Akenson, and her late Uncle Leslie Engstrom, filling in some gaps in the historical record.

Obituary for Mike Bolin's father

Floyd Bolin, 98
Alexandria Echo Press
Published Friday, March 07, 2008
Floyd Erland Bolin, 98, died peacefully February 24, 2008 at Bethany Nursing Home in Alexandria.

On March 17, 1909, Floyd Erland was born to John and Hilda (Johnson) Bolin in the home on the farm (where people were born by midwife) in Nelson. He was baptized as an infant and confirmed his faith at Fahlun Church in Nelson. Floyd was raised on the family farm and attended a one-room school not far from his home. Floyd graduated from the 8th grade at the young age of 14 but his education did not stop there. His dad taught him how to fix things and he soon became an accomplished mechanic. As a teenager he began to hire out to work on Ford Model T cars and trucks.
He left the farm and worked construction in Minneapolis for awhile and then took a job at the Alexandria Boat Works. He spent "four tech-school style educational years at the Lake Carlos Boys Camp."
Floyd was very proud of his many accomplishments at the camp and credited this time as the most challenging and interesting time in his life.

Floyd married Lois Schelin on October 14, 1937 at First Lutheran Church of Alexandria. They lived in Flint, Michigan, for a brief period of time before returning to Alexandria. In 1939, they opened the Dutch Girl Dairy, where Floyd organized the many aspects of starting a new business. After the dairy business was sold in 1958, Floyd worked for State Bond and Mortgage Company as a financial advisor. During this time, Floyd also found the time to be active in city government, city planning, the Alexandria Rotary Club and Calvary Lutheran Church.

One of Floyd’s favorite success stories was putting the local Alexandria aircraft builder Bellanca Aircraft back in the black. He took a six-month leave of absence (1964) from the bond company and took over the management of the assembly plant where he implemented dozens of assembly line efficiency improvements.

Floyd and Lois shared a passion for adventure and exploring. They traveled far and wide in the Wally Byam Caravan Club, The Airstream RV Association and served a term as president of the Minnesota Unit. They searched their roots back in Sweden four times and established new friends and found new relatives, leaving them with many loving and lasting memories.

In Floyd’s own hand, he wrote: "I owe my success to my father - who said: Learn to think! Use your head and hands! Do good work and give in full measure when hired. Don’t waste time - save it for old age."

Floyd was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Lois; sister, Ethel; and brothers, Vernol and Harold.

He is survived by a brother, Rueben of Nelson; two sons, Stan (wife, Ginger) of Georgetown Lake, MT, and Michael (long time friend, Debra Jensen) of St. Paul; two grandchildren, Brock (Megan) of Elko, NV, and Chas of Bozeman, MT; great-grandson, Nathan (son of Brock and Megan); several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service for Floyd was held at Calvary Lutheran Church of Alexandria on Tuesday, March 4 with Pastor Dale Olson officiating.
Interment was at Kinkead Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers were Rueben Bolin, Brock Bolin, Chas Bolin, Allen Ljung, Stan Johnson and Herman Felt.

Memorial gifts would be welcome on behalf of Floyd to Calvary Lutheran Church.

Split Rock Lighthouse

This photograph was emailed anonymously to Tom Obert, without identifying the photographer. Tom passed it on to us. The caption says it is a picture of the Lake Superior Split Rock lighthouse in late January. The photographer is standing on the shore, south of the lighthouse. Isn't there ice along the shore this year? Does the moon really transit that far north in January? What an amazing sight if it does. Or is this just internet fantasy? A composite? Do we have a class astronomer who can comment knowledgeably? It is a fabulous photo.

Confusion in the Land of Enchantment

Our New Mexico correspondent, Carolyn Hoffland, writes:
Greetings from the "Land of Enchantment!" It has been awhile since we have written on the blog. However, Lorlee's story about the "Texas Two-Step" has encouraged me to tell our story here in New Mexico. At least Texas knew how to count the votes, it took New Mexico nine days to count our votes! They counted, re-counted and counted! Ridiculous! Yes, we are probably the only place in America where they allowed xerox copies of ballots!
Nobody in New Mexico was ready for this primary, I think, because usually it is held in June. They moved the date up and then didn't have adequate polling places. People waited 2-3 hours in line. Many elderly gave up and went home. They even ran out of ballots!
I am embarrassed to even tell our story. However, maybe it is good Governor Richardson didn't make the "White House" because he can't even manage his own "house" here in New Mexico. Frustrating!
Otherwise, on the brighter side, Harland and I are fine. We thought we were starting to enjoy warmer temps and now they say it will snow. Our little hide-away in Northern New Mexico (Chama, a town much like Nelson) has received 14 feet of snow. They made the national news! Of course, that is better news than taking 9 days to count our primary votes! Who knows what the "Land of Enchantment" will produce next to get national coverage!

PS: Stan. I am NOT shy! .... a proud volunteer for the "change" America, and "Yes, we can!"
Signed: Carolyn Hoffland
(Carolyn. Yes, we know you are not shy. That reference to being shy was to your fine husband, Harland. I will change the sentence in your blog thumbnail to make that clear. We do know you are not shy. :) Thanks for the post! Who's next? TB)

Lorlee does the Texas Two-Step

There has been much press and speculation about the Texas Democratic Party process for selecting delegates -- sometimes called the Texas 2-Step. One votes in an election where about half of the national delegates are determined -- and then comes back after the polls close to a caucus, signs in for your candidate and this starts the process for determining an additional 65 national delegates.

Delegates to the Senatorial Convention are determined and then at that convention, the delegates to the State Convention are picked. And at the State Convention, the 65 national delegates are chosen. Well anyway, below is my experience with that process, thought you might find it interesting.


I was mostly minding my own business on my way to Whole Foods when I thought I would just stop by my Precinct and at least sign in for Hilary. So there I am at 6:45 -- chatting with a new neighbor. I am about the 25th person in line with the line contining to grow behind me.

7 pm arrives. There are no voters in line, so we expect they will open the door and let us in to start signing in. The line is now about 75 people. My lovely new neighbor and I are am having a nice chat about the recent burglaries, her blues magazine and exchanging cards.

At 7:15 the doors are still closed. The line is down the block and around the corner. So another neighbor and I go to the door to inquire and to say that they are supposed to be signing people in. Whereupon the election judge says she can't sign people in and that she is waiting for the person whose name is on the sheet.
Surprise, surprise -- it is MY name. Holy Crap. I am only here on happenstance, with my grocery list in my pocket.
So I look over the materials quickly -- set up 2 tables and start signing people in. I go out and announce that I will be starting the caucus and announce that in order to speed things along, I am going to trust that they have voted and just sign people in without checking the voter book. There is an Obama operative and a Clinton operative who object that this isn't procedure and that they are going to be calling their lawyers --

My reply, "well you just go right ahead and do that." The Obama guy wanted to call a point of order -- which I ignored since he isn't a voter in this precinct and I don't think he has standing to do it. At the height, we had about 10 sheets going at once -- getting the basic info -- name, address, voter certificate if they had it or Drivers license and Presidential preference. We didn't bother with checking the under 35, gay, etc boxes at the end of the sheet -- Heck, with 2 point type, we couldn't read them. By now, the Clinton and Obama guys have decided this is the best they are going to get and decide to helpful and forget calling their lawyers.

207 people signed in. 158 for Obama, 59 for Clinton. I appointed the Clinton and Obama guys to count figuring they would keep each other honest. 18 delegates for Obama and 6 for Clinton.

A permanent chair was elected, thankfully not me, 23 people wanted to be delegates for Obama and 7 for Clinton so everyone could go as either a delegate or an alternate. I left at 8:40 and never did get to Whole Foods.

So how do we think this happened? Well, two terms ago, I was the precinct chair. Didn't sign up the last two terms though I did run an election about a year ago. Got a card asking if I wanted to run the election this year and declined. There was a letter last week which I sent directly to the recyling bin since I knew I had declined the opportunity to run the election.
So had I decided not to stop by, 206 people might still be waiting in line at St. Lukes Church.
So I guess you should read your mail -- or the Democratic Party ought to believe me when I don't sign up to be precinct chair.
Lorlee Bartos

Remember Floyd Bolin's chocolate milk, kindness

Jim Clifford writes:
I remember Mr. Bolin's kindness to kids going home from religious instruction at St. Mary's on Saturday mornings. In the winter, he always had hot chocolate milk available for free to those of us passing by on our way home from "religion." At our young ages, the fact that he wasn't Catholic never occurred to us, but in those days that was still an issue with some people around Alexandria. On both sides there were needless fears, resentments and petty malicious attitudes.

I can recall Carl Johnson working there on those Saturdays. He was Catholic, but I don't think that was the motivating force behind a simple and welcome act of kindness on a cold Saturday morning. Funny, when I read the piece on Mr. Bolin's life, and Carl Johnson's name appeared, I immediately got a mental image of being in the back of the dairy, just indoors from the alley, and seeing Mr. Johnson standing there in black boots, white trousers, a white T-shirt and a white apron, as someone passed out the hot chocolate. It was one of those really vivid images that gives me the notion that I actually dug up a still shot from a memory that is real. Carl Johnson's daughter, Claudia, was a classmate of ours in the class of 1965.

That piece on Mr. Bolin's life was really fascinating. My condolences to Mike, our classmate, and his older brother Stan, who was a classmate of my older brother, John.