We made it into North Dakota on September 2, 2004
It was getting late and we wanted to stop so we took the next exit to find a place to boondock.
Thinking we'd find a spot to pull off easily, we started down a country highway road. Oh boy......we soon discovered we could only drive about 40mph as there were so many deer nibbling on the side of the road running out in front of us. Then, it got so dark we couldn't see down the side roads and there was no place to turn around. We drove 30 miles before finding a spot. Talk about in the middle of nowhere!  But it was quiet, relaxing and off the main road.


Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
   The distinctive red coloring and the black strata of coal in the hills make up what is called
" The North Dakota Badlands". It's an awesome sight.


I wish I'd recorded the squeaks these prarie dogs made talking to each other.
There were hundreds of them living in their wide spread town. Look how cute they are!
But, I discovered after that they actually do quite a bit of damage to the badlands.
 
     
Strange rock formations added intrigue to the scenery.


Wild horse crossing!
This stallion sure stopped traffic as he waited patiently in the middle of the road until the rest of the herd
crossed the street. Wild horses.......Can you imagine the thrill we felt?
     

The 2 mule deer on the left anxiously await the fawn to get safely across the street. Look at those ears!

The little fawn raced across....
and made it to Mom.

A glimpse of the fall colors already here in Medora, North Dakota on September 2, 2004.
As we left the park, this lone buffalo stands out almost as a symbol of our American heritage.

September 6, 2004
We arrived in Bismark and invited the first of my Norwegian kin over for a chicken piccata dinner.
This is Douglas, Andrea and little Sophia Holloway. Douglas is my first cousin, once removed.
His grandmother, Myrtle, was my mother's sister. Quite a young man who is an attorney
and currently holds the position of Deputy Insurance Commissioner of North Dakota. Andrea is a sweet woman on maternity leave from her profession as occupational therapist. Little Sophia is a precious darling with a loving family.

What a pleasure to meet them. We so enjoyed getting to know each other as we shared stories of our lives.

I leave you this time with a gorgeous Bismarck sunset taken from our motorhome.

September 9, 2004
We were greeted by Joann at her husband Elroy's ranch in Glenfield, North Dakota. .
They live just 2.5 miles south of the Spickler Ranch.
  
Elroy now raises sheep. This is a small group from a herd of about 500.

There is little doubt upon arriving at the Spickler's that it is indeed a thriving cattle & horse ranch.
      

Joann took us to check for newborn calves when we discovered this one still wet
and just beginning to try and stand on its own.
     
Unfortunately, we'd scared off MaMa so later Joanne became a real cowgirl.....she saddled up and while gently
calling for the calf to "follow the horse", she led it back to the herd where MaMa was waiting.
     
Look how the cows hide their young calves in the grass!
It was hard to spot them as we drove through the birthing field looking for new ones.

Next morning, we met Justin & Sarah who now run the ranch. It's an immense job.
Dan & I have great respect for their love & devotion to the responsibility on their shoulders.

Raising black angus and the quarterhorses are their lives.

This year, 7 colts were born...now the mares are pregnant again!

   

Both Justin & Sarah suffered through our many questions. Zip their pup, waited patiently in the barn.

     

Saturday September 11, 2004
Dan & I took a pleasant drive around the area admiring the huge sunflowers fields.

That evening, we picked fresh apples, sat down to peel & slice.
Joann made a delicious apple crisp for Sunday dinner with the gang.
   

Sunday September 12, 2001
I went to church service with Joann & Elroy in Grace City. Then final preparations for a wonderful
"Spickler Black Angus Roast" Sunday dinner began.
   


   
After dinner we gave Sarah, Nathan & Justin a tour of our motorhome. We had a discussion about creating the spickler.com website! What a pleasure it'll be to possibly keep communications open with this side of our family.
 
Joann took Dan & I for a trip to the cemetery to pay respects to the Spickler's & Burk's.
   

   
We respectfully remember Harold who we missed visiting with.
Sadly, he passed away early last year.

As you can see, this church has been refurbished since Dad's Midwest trip in 2001!

On a tour of Elroy's property & sheep herd,
we were surprised to see his donkey who herds the sheep and keeps the coyotes away!

Elroy has this gorgeous view of the James River
where across the river are Justin's cattle grazing on the Spickler property.

September 13-18
Fargo, North Dakota
We left Glenfield and made it to a nice spot along the Red River in Lindenwood Park, Fargo, ND.

Tuesday 9/14
We enjoyed a delicious ham dinner while we visited with Gloria, Don and his Mom, Geneva Holloway.
Another beginning into learning more about our Norwegian kin in the Midwest.
     
   

Wednesday 9/15
Although it was a miserable & rainy day, Gloria took us into Minnesota and up to Halstead
where both our mothers' were raised on the farmstead seen below.
It's a nice town and larger than most in these parts!
        


At the cemetery, we found our grandparent's gravesites.

Thursday September 16, 2004
The Norse Museum "Hjemkomst Center" Moorhead, MN
This was cool to see the viking ship and stave church built by local Moorhead, MN men.
The viking ship "Hjemkomst" was mostly built by Robert Asp and finished by his family after his death iin 1980.
The summer of 1982, it actually sailed over 6,000 miles from Duluth MN to Bergen, Norway .
Hopperstad Stave Church was built and hand carved by Guy Paulson of Fargo, ND.
The original Hopperstad was built in the late 1100's.



    

Later that day, we met Mike Evenson and his 2 daughters, Grace & Rachel.

Jacob Denning being silly and his Mom, Jackie and sister Cathy Evenson.
   

That evening Gloria kept busy making a delicious pot roast dinner while Don entertained us with his many stories.
Thank you "Holloway Family" for your kind hospitality and pleasant company.
     

The Five Helleland Sisters
Cora, Tillie, Myrtle & Lillian and Edith
 

September 17th
As we got ready to leave Fargo, John Oksness kindly offered Dan & I a quiet place to catch
up on our business affairs. So we gratefully accepted and drove to the Oksness's lakehouse on Otter Tail Lake.

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