12/27/2006 – News
Volume 123, Number
Christmas tree business busy before holidays
Editor’s note: The following article concerns Glenn Stevens of Burlington. He is a native of the Esmond area and is a 1957 graduate of BCATS at Maddock. He and his brother Jay operate a nursery at Burlington. The nursery was founded by their father, Milton Stevens, and Milton’s silent partner, Clarence Jensen of Esmond. Jensen later sold out to the Stevens family.
BY CARLA WILLIAMS
Minot Daily News
For nearly 40 years, Des Lacs Valley Nursery of Burlington, just outside of Minot, has been a holiday tradition for families in Minot and surrounding communities.
Located at 9050 S. Project Road in Burlington, owners Glen and Jay Stevens have been providing families with a variety of choose-and-cut Christmas trees that are mainly Colorado Black Hills Spruce. Des Lacs Valley Nursery is also a retail nursery and landscaping service.
"Over the years, we have experienced it all from grandchildren coming with their grandparents to get a tree to couples from the air base who wish to carry on the tradition they grew up with of cutting down their own tree," Glen Stevens said. "In fact, some families have made it an all day outing in choosing their tree."
"Furthermore," he said, "people may come out and cut down their own tree of choice or we will cut it down for them. Some who want to make a remembrance usually bring their own saws, but we can also supply people with one. Or, we can just cut it down for them," Glen Stevens said.
According to Glen Stevens, his father and another business partner started the nursery in the 1950s and Glen and Jay took it over in the early 1960s.
The nursery received its name from the Des Lacs River that is near by.
"Our father chose the name because of the river near by not realizing the proximity of the community of Des Lacs," Glen Stevens said. "In fact, he named the nursery before the family moved here."
Glen Stevens also explained that the tree business itself started from thinning out the overstock.
"People would come by or call and ask if they could cut down a tree for use as their Christmas tree," he said. "The choose-and-cut tree business grew from there."
The Stevens believe that they’re one of the very few choose-and-cut tree businesses around the Minot area. "There are very few (choose-and-cut tree businesses) here, but there are a lot of wholesaler tree growers in northeast North Dakota," Glen Stevens said. "The whole choose-and-cut tree business itself is more popular in certain areas of the country than others."
For 20 years, Steve and Linda Fuegmann of Minot have made it a family tradition of coming out to Des Lacs Valley Nursery to choose their own Christmas tree. Their seven children took part in the festivities over the years, and now their grandchildren always look forward to the outing.
"Since the kids were very little, the family loves coming out here to the nursery to choose their own tree," Linda Fuegmann said. "We love trees and the smell of the fresh pine – you don’t get that smell from artificial trees."
Glen Stevens said sales of the trees have varied over the years and he loves the experience of meeting new people. "We have made a lot of friendships, and loyal customers come back each year," he said.
Glen Stevens, co-owner of Des Lacs Valley Nursery in Burlington, stands among the many choose-and-cut Christmas trees available at the nursery. For nearly 40 years, the nursery has been a holiday tradition for families in Minot and surrounding communities to come out and choose their own tree and have it cut down.
(Minot Daily News photo by Carla Williams)
New sheriff
ND District Judge Lee Christofferson of Devils Lake, left, swears in new Benson County Sheriff Steve Rohrer, who will take office January 1.
Rohrer, a native of Irvine Township, will replace veteran sheriff Ned J. Mitzel of Maddock, who did not run for re-election.
New tower goes up
The new Altell cell phone tower went up south of Maddock on Thursday. A huge crane from Wanzek Construction was used in placing the section of the tower in place. Workers bolted the sections together. One can see the workers at the top of the tower waiting for the next section to be lifted into place. (Photo by Teran Hermanson)
Students of quarter
The Leeds High School announces its students of the second quarter. Students are selected for this honor based on their academic performance, cooperation, personal behavior, attendance, responsibility and school spirit. Left to right, back row, are sophomore Elliott Gunderson, son of Sue and Randy Gunderson; junior Michael Anderson, son of Lisa and Duane Anderson; and freshman Morgan Leapaldt, daughter of Gay and Brian Leapaldt. In the front row are senior Lemeng Zhang, foreign exchange daughter of Sharon and Leo McGarvey; seventh grader Kyle Jorgenson, son of Geri and Steve Jorgenson; and eighth grader Lauren Olson, daughter of Beverly and Rick Robinson.
Essay winners
Mylie Herman, left, and Joshua Blegen were the winners of the Drug-Free Essay Contest at the Leeds Elementary School. (Photo by Karyn Nathan)
Participants in the North Dakota Make it With Wool Contest are pictured modeling the outfits they made. Left to right are Autumn Wang, daughter of Orville and Audrey Wang and granddaughter of Peter & Marlys Wang, all of Devils Lake; Beth Horner, daughter of Dick & Jane Horner of Graham’s Island and granddaughter of Esther Augustin of Devils Lake; Tricia Berg, daughter of Doug and Mary Berg and the granddaughter of Jean Christianson and the late Melvin Christianson, all of Devils Lake; and MacKenzie Ness, daughter of John and Kim Ness of Devils Lake.
Horner wins again at state wool contest
The annual 2006 North Dakota Make It Yourself with Wool Contest was held in conjunction with the ND Lamb and Wool Producers’ convention December 1 and 2 at the Seven Seas Inn in Mandan. Twenty-one contestants from across the state competed for the five ambassador positions.
Chosen as senior ambassador (ages 17-24) was Beth Horner of Devils Lake. Beth won a full-sized Pendleton blanket sponsored by the 4 Bears Casino, a monogrammed clothes bag complements of Varsity Bags of Fort Totten, a plaque sponsored by the ND Lamb and Wool Producers, Pendleton wool yardage and several other prizes. She will travel to San Antonio, Texas to represent North Dakota at the National Make It Yourself with Wool Contest. This is Beth’s seventh experience representing the state at the National Make It Yourself with Wool competition.
She also won the Creative Award, which is given to the contestant who has outstanding workmanship, creativity or unique embellishment. She won a collection of embroidery thread and notions sponsored by Sewing Machines Plus! of Mandan.
Autumn Wang of Devils Lake was named the alternate junior ambassador and MacKenzie Ness of Devils Lake was named the alternate preteen ambassador.
The Make It Yourself with Wool Contest was started in 1937 with the purpose to promote the beauty and versatility of American wool fabrics and yarns. The contest is a fashion, sewing and presentation competition. It is open to all North Dakota residents. The contest encourages personal design in sewing, knitting, and crocheting and recognizes creative skills. Contestants must select, construct and model their own garments made of at least 60% wool in front of a panel of judges.
Next year’s contest will again be held in conjunction with the ND Lamb and Wool Producers’ convention. For more information and for an entry form, contact Jane Horner, ND Make It Yourself with Wool Director, 341 Old Main, Devils Lake, ND 58301 or check out the Web site at www.NDLWPA.com under the MIYWW button.
Five generations
Five generations are pictured in this photo. Seated is great-great-grandmother Pearl Reynen of Devils Lake holding great-great-grandson Ayden. Clockwise from her left are great-grandmother Kay Mootz of Devils Lake, mother Tracy Burkhartsmeier of Bismarck, grandmother Sharee Jacobson of Bottineau and great-great-granddaughter Abby.
See the tremendous specials offered by Riggin Motors this week