In Loving Memory of George Vettel

We lost an important part of the Vettel family on Veteran's Day, November 11, 2008. James' father was living with congestive heart failure and its complications. He spent the last few weeks of his life in the hospital. The boys and I were fortunate enough to see him two weeks before he passed away. James saw him two days before he died. He was surrounded by his loving family.

Here is his obituary:

George F. Vettel, 78, Cummings, N.D., died Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at the Hillsboro Medical Center, Hillsboro, ND.

George Francis Vettel was born June 26, 1930 in Hillsboro. He was the seventh of 12 children born to Walter H. and Frances Olivia (Schnoebelen) Vettel of Caledonia, ND. He was raised in Caledonia and attended school there. In 1939 he and his family moved to a farm near Cummings, ND. He continued his education at Ervin Township School No. 4 and graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1948. He farmed with his father and brothers.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1950-54 as a radar operator aboard the U.S.S. Taconic. After his military service, he returned to the family farm. He farmed the rest of his life — in body and spirit — working in partnership with his brothers Walter N. and Tom. He married Betty Ann Germaine of Fargo October 7, 1961. They made their home on the Vettel family farm and raised their seven children there. He was very active in the community and served on a variety of boards including the Ervin Township board, the Shelly Creamery board, the Land O’ Lakes District board, the Hillsboro Medical Center board, the Health and Humanities Foundation board and the Traill-Steele Mutual Insurance board. He was also active in the Knights of Columbus as a grand knight.

He is survived by his wife, Betty; four sons, George H. Vettel; Steven (Jane) Vettel; James (Jen) Vettel; and Joel (Sandy) Vettel; three daughters, Michelle (Mark) McLean; Colleen Vettel; and Sherri Vettel; nine grandchildren, Maggie, Jacob and Alex McLean, Adam and Jack Vettel, Eric and Luke Vettel, and Kennedy and Taryn Vettel; three brothers, Ed (Dorothy) Vettel; Gerald (Lorraine) Vettel, and Tom (Karen) Vettel; three sisters, Rita Frenzel, Lavonne (Walter) Kozojed; and Janice (Jim) Berry.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Carl, Walter N. and Harold; and two sisters, Geneva Anderson and Dorothy McCoy Smith.

Halloween 2009

Shopping for Halloween was easy for Jack. The minute he saw the desert trooper he was hooked. Adam had a hard time deciding if he was going trick or treating or not. Finally, the day before Halloween he decided to go. Even though I thought the Joker from Batman was the creepiest thing I had seen at the movies, he LOVED it.

Fundraiser with Friends

We were invited to attend the Herb Brooks Foundation Gala to raise money for youth hockey. After the event, we went to a couple of bars downtown Minneapolis. One of the photos is taken of us in the elevator at the Foshay Tower.

Can YOU eat 6 saltines in a minute?

The boys decided to take the challenge to see if they could eat 6 saltines in a minute. Jack tried the 1 cracker at a time technique and made it to 3. He had showers of crackers coming out if his mouth. Adam tried the shove all the crackers in your mouth technique. With each laugh, it was a stream of cracker crumbs. They eat about 3 saltines each.

Apple Orchard

We had a beautiful day at the apple orchard. Unfortunately, all the apples were picked off the trees, but we were able to taste and pick from barrels. Jack liked the Corland and Adam liked Harrelson. We made a tasty apple crisp that night.

In Loving Memory of Uncle Bob

Robert, 71, passed away quietly at his home surrounded by his loving wife and family on Tuesday, October 21, 2008, under Hospice care.

He was born March 12, 1937, the first son of William and Myrah (Thiele) Scholand of rural Buxton, ND. He attended rural grade school and completed high school at the Crookston Cathedral. He was united in marriage to Caroline Adams at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on November 17, 1959, in Reynolds, ND.

They farmed at Buxton, ND, for 36 years and shared the love of music and entertained at many occasions around the area for 20 years with the Bob Scholand Band playing old-time music. Following farming, he did carpentry work and then was employed at UND for 4 years.
Bob enjoyed being and participating as a member of the Reynolds Knights of Columbus Council #6430. He had a deep love of hunting and fishing with family.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Caroline, Portland, ND; 3 children, Steve (Terri) Scholand, East Grand Forks, MN, Sherri (James) Erdahl, Wahpeton, ND, and Bonnie (Marty) Amble, Bismarck, ND; 7 grandchildren, Tyler and Kyle Scholand; Krista, Brandon and Cole Erdahl; and Sydney and Taylor Amble; sisters Rita Frey, Champlin, MN, Joyce (John) Riske, Reynolds, ND; brothers Gary (Mary Ellen), Lawton, ND, and Michael (Connie), Buxton, ND.

In Loving Memory of Uncle Harold

June 22, 1932 - October 17, 2008

Harold, age 76, of Countryside, born July 22, 1932 in Oak Park, Illinois, passed away October 17, 2008 at LaGrange Memorial Hospital. In addition to serving in the Navy (Korean War), he served on the LaGrange Police Department. He also worked for Northrup Grumman Security and Santa Fe Speedway Security. He enjoyed computers, fishing and reading. He adored his grandchildren and his dog Molly. Survivors include his wife Patricia, nee Christopher; children Karl (Nancy), Steven (Jennifer), Cynthia Cozen and Martin (Lois) Rodey; grandfather of James, Steven, Emily, Andrew, Michalla, Hannah, Keisha and Charles; great-grandfather of Steven; brother of Fred and Theodore Rodey and the late Pauline Begitsche.