February 12, 2008 - Tuesday

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Todays Gazette is brought to you in memory of Robert E. "Smokey"
Rawlins.
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The current temperature is 8 degrees.
Yesterdays H/L temperature was 3/-15
Normal H/L Temp for this date is 22/3
Even though our normal low is already up to 3 degrees above zero, it
does sound like we can expect "winter like" weather for the rest of the
winter.
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"Profanity makes ignorance audible."
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L O C A L news & stuff,.. mostly stuff.
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I remember once being told that Santa Claus wouldn't come,... unless I
really believed. I'm beginning to wonder if global warming is the same
thing.
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It saddens me to report the passing of Irene (Mrs. Almer) Bjerke. Irene
has been a resident of the Grafton Lutheran Sunset home for quite some
time.
Funeral arrangements are pending with the Barnes Family Funeral
Service.
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Golfing really isn't my bag, (no pun intended) although I know it is
for some. --- Since bad shots come in groups of three, a fourth bad shot
is actually the beginning of the next group of three.
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Additional participants in the 1949 Grafton Parade Band Tournament of
Roses trip. Trombone; Allen Moe, Eddie Kopperud, Taft Kanna and Loren
Anderson. Baritone; Herman Vavrowski.
Alto; Lila Otto, Mary Ellen Johnston, Joe Deschenes and Pat Donelly.
Bass; Rubben Russum, Frank Kouba and Wenzl Kennedy. Snare; Jeanne
Altendorf. Cymbols; Richard Korphage. Cornet; Bruce DeSautel, Stuart
Lundberg, Joe Kouba. Clarinet; Beatrice Walker, Ilomay Clairmont, Helen
Davis, Avannelle Almen and Jackie Nygard.
Chaperons for the trip; Mrs. Milton Johnston, Mrs. Tom Donelly, Mrs C.
Rand, Mrs. H. B. Ensrud and Mrs. Roy Miller.
It must have been a glorious trip for all of those involved and a
equally gratifying honor for the entire community of Grafton.
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Many members of Marvin Windows and Doors Grafton Facility are
participating in Relay for Life again this year. Marvins employees,
along with contributing monetarily, has put together a cookbook packed
full of delicious recipes.
The proceeds will be going to benefit the effort to
eliminate cancer. Marvin Windows and Doors, Relay for Life cookbooks are
on sale for $10
each. They are available Monday through Friday from 8am to 4:30pm at the
front desk of Marvins Grafton office.
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"If you are not presently making history. There is a good possibility
you already are history." Or so it seems to me.
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The shortest distance between any two points on a golf course is a
straight line that passes directly through the center of a very large
tree.
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It saddens me to report the passing of Robert "Smokey" Rawlins. Smokey
was 71 years old on Friday February 8, when he died from injuries
sustained in a house fire in Grafton.
Although the actual year escapes me, the first time I remember meeting
Smokey was back when we used to go roller skating at St.Thomas and
Cavalier. So our casual association relationship goes back along time.
However, it has been during the past half dozen years that I come know
and understand Smokey best. It is amazing how much one can learn about
someone, over a cup of coffee. Smokey, and our "coffee cronies" have all
but completed a post graduate coarse in that regard. As a matter of
fact, it was at one of those coffee sessions only a few days ago that
Smokey and Duane Littlejohn exchanged their mutual, early school days,
interest in Esther Mae Dietrich. It is a small world isn't it? Esther
Mae is Pat's first cousin.
Born June 8, 1936 in Hamilton, ND the son of the late Charles and Helen
(Zieffler) Rawlins. His family moved to St. Thomas when he was nine and
he finished his education in St. Thomas. He served his country in U S
Army during the Korean Conflict. Following his discharge he was united
in marriage to Ruth Fridolfson in 1966. He was employed by the Walsh
County Record for a time. The couple lived in St. Thomas, Grafton and
Grand Forks. He later drove gravel truck for Bradshaw Gravel retiring in
2001 after 25 years. He also worked part-time for Transystems, Altendorf
and Suda Farms. He was a member of the St. Thomas American Legion Post.
Smokey enjoyed watching sports on T.V., drinking coffee with his
buddies, playing cards, walking and spending time outdoors. His greatest
joy was spending time with his grandkids.
Smokey is survived by his special friend of 29 years, Shelly (Ganyo)
Knutson, his children: Barbara (Mikel) Amich, Prescott, AZ; Deidre
(Steve) Robertson, High Point, NC; Emily Van Der Haegen, Janesville, WI;
Theresa Johnson, Rutland, IA; Wendy (Jeffrey) Morgan, Janesville, WI;
Ralph Rawlins, Reidsville, NC; Shelly's children: Dwight (Rachel
Williams) Knutson, East Grand Forks, MN; Melissa (Derek Anderson)
Knutson, Grafton, ND; 26 grandchildren, four great grandchildren;
siblings: Virginia Keeney, Coos Bay, OR; Margaret McLean, Jerome, ID;
John (Adele) Rawlins, Laverne, CA; David (Beverly) Rawlins, Litchfield,
MN; Mary (Harold) Moore, Arizona, Leonard (Marilyn) Rawlins, San Diego,
Ca; Wanda (James) Berg, Bismarck, ND. He was preceded in death by his
parents.
Funeral services will be Friday, February 15, 2008 at 10:30 A.M. at the
Grafton Federated Church. Visitation will be Thursday from 5-7 with a
prayer service at 7:00 PM at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton.
Friends may also call at the church on Friday for one hour prior to the
service. Military Rites will be provided by the St. Thomas American
Legion Post. Interment will be at the St. Thomas City Cemetery. The
Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton is in charge of the arrangements.
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Due to the tragic fire, Shelly (Ganyo) Knutson not only lost her soul
mate of 29 years. She lost all of her worldly possessions as well. If,
during the week of Valentines Day you can find it in your heart to help
Shelly thru hers days of loss and sorrow. Please send your monetary
contributions, to Shelly, in care of the Grafton Federated Church, 702
Griggs Avenue, Grafton North Dakota. 58237
And, thank you so much for your kind consideration. Gary
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GOTTA GO WORK ON MY DASH
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"Giving is the art, that works wonders for you soul and your heart."


Write if you can, call if you can't, and, tell your loved ones they
are,..... before it's too late.