9/24/2008 – News
Volume 125, Number 34
Rohrers leave farming for pulpit in Cando
BY TERESA HAMRE Towner County Record Herald Cando, ND
Michael Rohrer has been through many things in his life that most of us would not even dream about. How many people go through triple bypass surgery (2001) and then just a few short years later (2004) have to endure another surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in his gastro-intestinal tract. Then to top it off, receiving 18 units of blood over a period of eight months due to all the problems associated with the tumor. Yet he sits here today, perfectly healthy. He lived to tell about it.
He has now embarked on a new mission in life. For the past year, he has been training online with Global University out of Springfield, Mo. to be a pastor in the community. This college is associated with the Assembly of God Church, which is where Michael has chosen to reside. Global University concentrates on things such as minesterial ethics, mentoring courses and interpreting the Bible. Just a few things that every pastor must be able to deal with in everyday life.
Michael and his wife, Colleen have been members of the Assembly of God church since 1984. Never once, did they ever believe this would be more than just a church to them. It would be their new path in life.
Michael is the son of Margaret Rohrer and the late Darwin Rohrer. He grew up near Churchs Ferry and graduated from Churchs Ferry High School in 1970. He attended UND after high school and graduated with a business administration and management degree in 1975. In the summer of 1974 he married Colleen Miller of Cando in the Cando Methodist Church. That same year, he started farming with his dad. They continued farming together until 1995 when Darwin retired. Michael and Colleen remained in the farming business until 1997.
During their farming years, bison came into the mix. From 1994 to January 2008, you could find about 100 or more head around the farm and feedlot. Michael and Colleen owned shares in the North American Bison Co-op. He served on the board for more than a year and a half.
Colleen graduated from Cando High School in 1969. She is the daughter of John and Ida Mae Miller. John was a farmer while Ida Mae was a homemaker and also owned a ceramics shop in Cando. In the winter of 1970, after talking to Sister Ann at the Towner County Hospital, Colleen was trained for one day on how to be an aide. She started there and decided to pursue nursing further. Colleen enrolled in the nursing program at UND-Lake Region (which is now Lake Region State College). She graduated with her LPN in January of 1971.
They have three boys: Travis, 30; Jacob, 29; and Johnathan, 26. The family currently resides on Michael’s family farm that he grew up on in Normania Township of Benson County. They have been fortunate to have traveled together on mission trips for the past three years to Nicaragua with other members of the community and church. They believe in taking time to help the less fortunate in our world and helping where they are needed.
Upon talking to Michael, the subject of "How did you come to this decision?" comes up, along with "What tells you that this is for you?" His only answer is, "Ya know, it just hit me. I was doing chores one day, and for some reason, I just couldn’t shake this idea. I couldn’t get it out of my mind. I guess some things are just meant to stay in your head. This was one of those things."
Right now, Michael is limited to only practice ministry in North Dakota. He has been granted temporary credentials. In February of 2009 he will be granted his Certificate of Ministry. When he receives his certificate, he can minister anywhere in the United States. He will be ordained in three years upon completion of his journey. "I’m liking it more and more every day," said Michael. "I feel this is what I am supposed to be doing with my life."
Michael Rohrer and his wife Colleen have embarked on a new mission in life. They’ve left farming in Normania Township of Benson County and he is the new pastor at the Assembly of God Church in Cando. He expects to be ordained in about three years but has already begun his ministry.
New building in Minnewaukan
This rental storage building is going up in Minnewaukan south of the grain elevators and kitty-korner from the Benson County Courthouse. "The Space Place" features 10’x30′ storage units with concrete floor. The new building is expected to be available for renting by October 1. The building is owned by Jon Jury of Valley City, son of Myron and Mary Jury of Minnewaukan.
Sons of Norway visit
Elaine Nelson, representing the Odin Sons of Norway Lodge of Rugby recently visited the third grade class at the Leeds School and presented a gift to each student. Left to right, back row, are Elaine Nelson, Braydon Follman and third grade teacher Debbie Dunlap. Middle row: Rochelle Hanson, Garrett Johnson, Dani Schwanke and Cody Dickey. Front row seated: Arnikka Thompson and Ryan Wangler.
Arnikka Thompson receives her gift from Elaine Nelson.
Donation received
The Maddock Bleacher Fund was enriched by $900 with a donation from the Active Women of Maddock. Pictured is Corinne Stadum, left, a member of the Bleacher Fund Committee receiving the check from JoLynn Fautsch, right, a member of the Active Women of Maddock. This brings the total donation from the Active Women of Maddock to $1,900. Other donations received recently were Thrifty White Drug $200, John and Barb Rice $200, Jared and Jen Benson $200, The Bread Box $20, Mikel and Jen Kallenbach $100, Doris Ambers $10, Harlow Co-op Elevator $500, Bob and Dennette Buckmier $1,000, Summers Mfg. $250, Northern Plains Electric Cooperative $350, Charlotte Simon $250, memorials in memory of Doug Hvinden $30 and the Sons of Norway $100.This brings the total raised thus far to $25,200. An estimated $60,000 will be needed for the new bleachers. The next fund raiser will be on October 4, the city-wide rummage sale and soup, sandwich and pie luncheon.
Write 2nd grade constitution
The second grade class at Maddock got a taste of what life was like back in 1787 when they completed and signed their own version of the Constitution. The students compiled and agreed to a list of rules they felt were important to follow in second grade. Each student and teacher JoLynn Fautsch signed the second grade constitution, making it a binding agreement. Some of the 10 items on the list include: no talking back to teachers, keep hands and feet to yourself and no secrets! State law requires schools to do an activity about the Constitution on September 17 each year. Left to right, back row, are Gannon Griffin, Jude Lawson, Connor Arnold, Brady Kallenbach, Samuel Hill and Jay Garcia. Front row: Kenzie Randle, Charity Dosch, Abigail Grossman, Marissa Lunde and Talissa Aabrekke.
Thrivent funds go to family
Louise Olson of Maddock, left, president of Benson County Thrivent Chaper 31327, presents a check to Johnny and Christine Lawson of Maddock, front, center and right, who lost their home in a fire. More than $3,600 was passed on to them as a result of a fund-raiser held by the chapter. In the back row are Ralph Olson of Maddock, an officer of the chapter; Sheriff Steve Rohrer, who convinced the chapter to undertake the benefit; and Cherish Richter-Lawson, daughter of the Lawsons.
Radio club supports exercise
The Benson County Amateur Radio Club, along with several other hams from the area, turned out in support of the Roads Acting As Dams exercise that took place at Fort Totten September 16 and 17. Starting with the very plausible training scenario that Spirit Lake Route 5 had broken and water was flooding low-lying land on the reservation, area responders from Benson and Ramsey Counties, the Spirit Lake Nation, the ND Department of Transportation and the ND National Guard conducted a practice emergency response to the simulated disaster.
Terry Hermanson of Harlow, Jim Armey of Cando and Richard Budd of York set up the antenna tower and emergency communications trailer immediately adjacent to the exercise command center in Fort Totten.
The amateur operators then demonstrated their capabilities to county emergency managers from Benson, Ramsey, Walsh and Bottineau Counties, the emergency manager from the Spirit Lake Nation, as well as communications personnel from the National Guard.
During the exercise the club made contact with local hams in the Devils Lake basin, regional hams from Mandan to Moorhead as well as ham radio operators from California to Connecticut. Club members were pleased with their role in the exercise and felt it was a good effort to let local emergency managers know what amateur radio can do to assist local officials should there be a real emergency.
Benson County Emergency Manager Gene Hager, left, talks about the exercise with Benson County Sheriff Steve Rohrer beside the Benson County Amateur Radio Club’s communications trailer at Fort Totten.
Members of the Benson County Amateur Radio Club Terry Hermanson, left, and Richard Budd stand outside beside the club’s mobile communications trailer and tower in Fort Totten.
Sanstead visits Warwick
A record number of parents attended the open house hosted by the Warwick School on Tuesday, Sept. 9. Special guest was ND Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Wayne Sanstead, accompanied by his wife, who were impressed with the school, the open house, the programs offered and the staff. Dr. Sanstead made a point of coming early enough to spend time in the elementary classrooms to discuss state government in the fifth grade class and read a story to the first graders. He also visited Kevin Bennefeld’s social studies class in the high school.
Those who attended learned about the new PLATO curriculum, took a scavenger hunt as they walked over to the Industrial Tech Center, visited classrooms, enjoyed drawings for door prizes and a roast beef dinner with all the trimmings prepared for them by the head cook Michelle Christopherson and her assistant Margita Sitar.
Dr. Wayne Sanstead gives a lesson on state government in Kevin Bennefeld’s social studies class at the Warwick School. Students are Mitchell Owlboy and Victor Jackson.
