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Note: He served for 36 years in the service of the Federal Weather Bureau: beginning as a typist in Bismarck, ND and advancing to weather forecaster. Worked in Sioux St. Marie, MI until sent to the Coast Guard during World War II. While in the Coast Guard his ship guarded the shores from Nova Scotia to Argentina. When the war was over he was sent to Fargo, North Dakota where he worked, living in Moorhead, MN until retirement. Several years later he and Ruth moved to Balsam Township, MN where he developed large gardens on his 30+ acres, served as town treasurer, devoted much time to starting the senior citizens organization, and started and encouraged the Boy Scouts of America organization in Balsam.
He has always been active in Boy Scouts holding the Eagle award himself as well as did Greg. In the 60's he took the Red River Troup to an international camp in New Mexico, designed the scarf they wore (mother stitched it), and helping the group to construct small bridges and dams in the mountains where Philmont is located.
Wildlife conservation was very important to him. He refused to allow the township or county to spray his land for insects because it could hurt the wildlife. Daily he recorded his sightings of birds or animals for the Dept. of ? The deer used to hide on his land during hunting season. He refused to let anyone hunt on his land. During the course of the year deer used to peek out of the woods to watch while he planted corn, squash, beans, cucumbers, etc. Dad used to tell them, "You go over there. There is plenty to eat in the other garden. You stay out of here." The deer would stamp his feet a bit, snort and then go off.
The coons liked his gardens also. So Dad would string extension cords up through the woods from the house and then connect a radio that he left on all night in order to keep them out. It worked.
Brown bears used to walk through the driveway, stopping to eat the crab apples on the trees in the fall. We watched one pull a branch down and break it in the process.
On another occasion, when Heather and I were visiting there, we saw a huge white owl fly down the middle of the road. Later Dad saw it perched in a tree above the garden on the hill. Also bald eagles nested in the pine trees by the lake each year.
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