Building a dream together

Transcription

B U I L D I N G
A DREAM
T O G E T H E R
B U I L D I N G
A DREAM
T O G E T H E R
Celebrating 75 Years of Verendrye Electric Cooperative |
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By Tom Rafferty
with contributions by Cleo Cantlon
Book designed by Liza Kessel
Published by Verendrye Electric Cooperative
Velva, North Dakota
www.verendrye.com
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Published by Verendrye Electric Cooperative
Tom Rafferty, Community Relations Manager
615 Highway 52 West • Velva, ND 58790
Book designed by Liza Kessel
North Dakota Living
North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC)
3201 Nygren Dr. N.W. • Mandan, ND 58554
Published in 2014 • Printed in the United States of America
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Dedication
This book is dedicated to the men and women who had the determination and courage to do something
extraordinary for their families and neighbors that no one else would have done for them. It is also dedicated
to the employees and directors of Verendrye Electric Cooperative - past and present - who have made the
cooperative a shining example of one of the greatest achievements in our nation’s history.
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Table of Contents
Dedication................................................................................................................................... v
Foreword..................................................................................................................................viii
Mission Statement..................................................................................................................... ix
Preface......................................................................................................................................... x
Chapter 1.............................................................................................................................1
Who was La Verendrye?...................................................................................................... 2
Chapter 2.............................................................................................................................9
Dream of electricity started in Verendrye........................................................................ 10
National dignitaries visited Verendrye by rail in 1925.................................................... 18
Chapter 3...........................................................................................................................21
Living a big dream in a small town................................................................................... 22
Chapter 4...........................................................................................................................29
We have an electric co-op, now what?.............................................................................. 30
Chapter 5...........................................................................................................................39
The wonder of ‘when the lights came on’......................................................................... 40
Chapter 6...........................................................................................................................45
Verendrye helped establish ‘Giant Power’ with Neal Station ........................................ 46
Verendrye used to encourage members to use lots of electricity..................................... 52
Chapter 7...........................................................................................................................57
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Verendrye powers national defense.................................................................................. 58
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Chapter 8...........................................................................................................................67
Employees remember technological advances at the co-op.............................................. 68
Verendrye promotes technology........................................................................................ 77
Chapter 9...........................................................................................................................79
Food, Fun and Politics: A history of Verendrye Annual Meetings................................. 80
Chapter 10........................................................................................................................97
Grassroots support is key to a strong co-op...................................................................... 98
Member control from the meter to the power plant....................................................... 103
How can you become involved in your cooperative?..................................................... 106
Chapter 11..................................................................................................................... 107
Storms and disasters have tested Verendrye over the years ......................................... 108
Chapter 12..................................................................................................................... 123
Growth makes the cooperative strong............................................................................. 124
Operation Round Up going strong since 1996................................................................ 128
Verendrye helped bring water, phones and housing to rural areas............................... 130
Conclusion: Keeping the dream alive.................................................................................... 135
Employees – past and present................................................................................................ 137
Board of Directors................................................................................................................... 141
Managers................................................................................................................................. 144
Time Line................................................................................................................................ 145
Verendrye Electric Cooperative Service Area Map.............................................................. 146
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Foreword
“
Communication is the
key to understanding
”
and their own generation cooperative. What a
blessing that these pioneers had the vision to control
their own power supply all the way from the electric
meter back to the electrical generating station. What
a blessing that this entire structure was set up being
“not for profit” and all about good, reliable electric
service. Most important was the concept of power
for “everyone” within the cooperative service area,
whether you are the United States Air Force or if
you own a pasture well north of McClusky.
There is nothing stronger in a cooperative than
an informed membership. This beautiful history
book is a great informational piece and one that I
I am very proud of Verendrye Electric
sincerely hope the owners of this organization take
Cooperative (VEC) and what the members have
the time to read. Then please pass it on to your
accomplished over the past 75 years. This is a
children and grandchildren as the next generation
marvelous story of folks building a better life for
of member-owners assumes responsibility for a
themselves. Imagine the farmers and ranchers in the
marvelous power supply system. I hope that all
Souris River Valley near the little town of Verendrye
future generations can appreciate the dedication of
digging power poles in by hand in the early 1940’s,
the early pioneers in our cooperative family. Their
just to someday have the privilege of electric power
attitude about their cooperative is best summarized
in their homes and barns. By paying their $5.00
by a quote from an early farmer giving witness at his
membership fee and buying electricity from the
church in the early 1940’s: “Brothers and sisters, I
cooperative, these customers became “owners” of
want to tell you this, the greatest thing on Earth is
the company, electing a board of directors from
to have the love of God in your heart, and the next
amongst themselves and determining their own
greatest thing is to have electricity in your house.”
future. That future eventually included 15,000
metering points, their own transmission cooperative
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As member-owners, please remember that your
greatest asset is not your poles or wires, but in fact
your employees. I do not know of a more dedicated
Administrator in Washington, D.C., which opened
and hard-working group of individuals who truly
the door for the possibility of me coming back
have grassroots cooperative philosophy as part of
home. Between a strong, informed membership and
their hearts and souls. From 1939 until the present,
dedicated, smart employees, I can promise you the
we are working for you because we sincerely “want”
next 75 years are going to be even more promising
to. It is truly a privilege for me to be the manager
and rewarding.
of this fine organization and I am very honored to
“Communication is the key to understanding”
have worked for VEC for 30 years of my 37-year
and we have thoroughly enjoyed working on this
rural electric cooperative career. I think it says
special communication piece for the membership.
a lot for Verendrye when an employee like me
Our history is very important. We need to learn
worked here for 11 years, left for an advancement
from it, never repeat its mistakes and continue
in eastern North Dakota and then wanted to return
controlling our destiny for generations to come.
to Verendrye. I was very happy to see Wally Beyer,
the previous VEC manager, get the appointment
as Rural Electrification Administration (REA)
-Bruce Carlson, general manager
Verendrye Electric Cooperative
Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide quality electric service at a competitive cost, to strengthen the area
economy and to lead in improving the region’s quality of life through innovation while operating
within cooperative principles.
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Preface
I
t’s hard to imagine life without electricity, yet
many of us know someone who went without
it. I have relatives who have been Verendrye
members since the 1940s and they remember living
without electricity early in their lives. Today, most
people don’t even think about electricity until
there’s an outage, or maybe when they have to pay
their bills.
When I started working for Verendrye Electric
in 2009, it took a while to fully understand why
cooperatives are regarded so highly by many people,
including by my great uncle Nick, who shook
my hand when he heard I began working for the
cooperative. Getting electricity to the rural areas
was not simply a matter of customers wanting a new
service. Rural electrification was a grassroots social
movement that improved people’s lives.
My hope is you will find this book entertaining,
educational and inspiring. Each chapter was
designed to be an easy read, packed with photos.
It’s more of a series of essays that highlight the best
of what it means to be a part of the cooperative,
than it is a comprehensive history reference book.
History is important to electric cooperatives, because
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they are owned by members like you and need your
I also met some wonderful people during my
support. We especially hope young people will read
research and trips to the town of Verendrye. I have
the book because they might not have heard the
to thank my new friend, Raymond “Buddy” Walter,
stories of how the cooperative movement started.
whose family was one of the first to be energized by
We will need the younger generation to become
Verendrye. Buddy served as my tour guide when I
leaders, and if they understand where we came
visited the town of Verendrye. I also want to thank
from, they might be inspired to become more active
David Blackstead, who invited me into his home
in their cooperative.
to tell stories of how his father helped start the
I would like to thank the Verendrye board of
cooperative. Last of all, a very special thanks goes to
directors and staff at the cooperative for supporting
David and Jo Ashley, the only remaining residents
this project. I would also like to give special
of Verendrye, and David’s brother, Stephen, who
recognition to Cleo Cantlon, a faithful Verendrye
farms with his brother. The Ashleys provided
member who helped with this book and also wrote
some priceless photos of the original town and its
a history of Verendrye in 1979 and an updated
residents, and graciously allowed us onto their farm
version in 1999. Thanks also goes to Liza Kessel, a
to work on this project.
graphic designer at the North Dakota Association of
I hope you enjoy reading about the history of
Rural Electric Cooperatives, who did an outstanding
Verendrye Electric as much as I enjoyed writing
job designing the book. Thanks also goes to Iris
about it!
Swedlund, a retired Velva librarian who helped me
find resources in the Velva Library, the Minot Daily
News for letting me use their archives for research,
and all of the members who sent in stories about
-Tom Rafferty, community relations manager
February 4, 2014
Verendrye Electric.
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Chapter 1
La Verendrye, a French explorer, is credited
with being the first European to explore
North Dakota. He visited the area in the
1730s, more than 60 years before Lewis
and Clark, in his quest to find a passage to
the Pacific Ocean. Print courtesy of Library
and Archives Canada.
Who was La Verendrye?
F
ew North Dakotans would question that
fascinating historical character. He was a soldier by
Verendrye Electric Cooperative has the most
age 12 and he fought in one of the bloodiest battles
unique name of all the electric cooperatives
in Europe. It was only later in life that he became
in the state. Many North Dakotans are somewhat
an explorer.”
Verendrye Electric bears the explorer’s name
familiar with the name — especially if they
remember their history lessons — but it is still a
because of where the cooperative was founded.
mystery to many.
It was organized in 1939 in a tiny town named
The cooperative bears the name of the French
Verendrye, located about 13 miles northeast
explorer, Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, the Sieur
of Velva. In 1941, the cooperative moved its
de la Verendrye. “Outside of North Dakota, most
headquarters to Velva, but has always kept its
people don’t know of him at all, except maybe people
original name. Verendrye is home to David and Jo
in Canada,” said Tracy Potter, director of the Fort
Ashley, who moved there in 1990 after the town
Abraham Lincoln Foundation in Mandan. Potter
was empty for several years.
has studied La Verendrye extensively. “He really is a
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THE MAN
La Verendrye was born November 17, 1685,
the fourth son of Rene Gaultier de Varennes,
governor of Three Rivers, Quebec. According to the
Dictionary of Canadian Biography, La Verendrye’s
father came to Canada in 1665 during the time
France was colonizing Canada. Before becoming
a fur trader and explorer, La Verendrye served in
the French Army beginning at the age of 12. He
arrived in France in 1708 to serve in the army,
and was wounded in a battle in northern France
between French and English forces in the War of the
Spanish Succession. He was also held prisoner for
15 months. He returned to Canada and was married
there in 1712. He and his wife had four sons and
two daughters. The sons eventually accompanied
him on his journeys. After spending time farming,
he eventually joined forces with his brother to
fur trade out of a post north of Lake Superior
before leading voyages to discover a route to the
Pacific Ocean.1
Potter said the French believed there was a large
gulf that extended to about Nebraska that would
lead them to the Pacific Ocean. La Verendrye was on
a mission to discover that elusive passage, and along
the way, he helped France by setting up posts for
fur trading.
1
Yves F. Zoltvany, Gaultier de Varennes et de la Verendrye,
Pierre. Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 3. University of Toronto.
1974. http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/gaultier_de_varennes_et_de_la_
verendrye_pierre_3E.html. (Accessed July 3, 2013)
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EXPLORING NORTH DAKOTA
La Verendrye never found the elusive waterway
to the Pacific, but in 1738 he reached Mandan
villages in North Dakota, and is credited with being
the first known European to visit the Northern
Plains in what is now the United States. He made
his way to North Dakota more than 60 years
before the legendary Lewis and Clark. He died on
December 6, 1749 in Montreal. La Verendrye wrote
about his visit to the Northern Plains — including
his interaction with the Mandan Indians — in a
translated journal available from the Champlain
Society.
Although the town of Verendrye bears his name,
no one really knows exactly how close La Verendrye
came to the town site. “It’s pretty clear he was
somewhere in the Turtle Mountains, but we don’t
know exactly where,” Potter said. “He probably
followed the Souris River loop, but there is no
guarantee of that.”
Dr. Raymond Wood, a retired professor
of anthropology at the University of Missouri,
Columbia, said it is also unclear exactly which
Mandan villages La Verendrye visited. Wood edited
the book, The Explorations of the La Verendryes in the
Northern Plains, 1738-43, which was written by G.
Hubert Smith and published in 1980.
“There’s no doubt he visited Mandan villages
near Bismarck, but exactly which ones is the
question,” Wood said.
Potter said there is even debate about whether he
visited the Mandan Indians or the Hidatsa Indians,
and if he was at the Missouri River near Bismarck or
farther north near the Washburn and Stanton areas.
Potter said La Verendrye mentions the Mandans, but
it is possible he misidentified the tribe based on what
he was told by the Assiniboine Indians. He said
when La Verendrye reached the Missouri River, he
had a group of 650 Assiniboines traveling with him.
SOUTH DAKOTA HISTORY
Although La Verendrye never made it farther
south than North Dakota, his sons firmly planted
the Verendrye name in South Dakota. In Fort
Pierre there is a Verendrye Museum and a National
Historic Landmark celebrating an important
item two of the sons buried there. Potter said La
Verendrye’s sons eventually made it as far south as
Wyoming.
Two of La Verendrye’s sons buried a lead
plate claiming control of the entire Missouri River
This is the actual lead plate La Verendrye’s sons buried near Fort Pierre,
S.D., that proclaimed the land for France. It is currently on display in the
Museum of the South Dakota State Historical Society in Pierre. Courtesy
of the Museum of the South Dakota Historical Society.
Drainage for France. The plate was dated March 30,
1743. It was discovered by children on February 16,
1913, and is now on display at the Cultural Heritage
Center in Pierre. A replica of the plate can also be
seen at the Verendrye Museum in Fort Pierre.
Darby Nutter, president of the Verendrye
Museum, said the discovery of the plate was very
significant, and there are all kinds of stories of how
the kids found it and what they intended to do
with it. “It was said that one of the kids was going
to throw the tablet into the Bad River, but another
talked him out of it,” Nutter said.
Although the museum bears the Verendrye
name, most of the museum’s artifacts contain Native
American items and early frontier items because
there’s really nothing besides the plate that signifies
the Verendryes’ journey through South Dakota.
“The museum is not dedicated to the Verendryes
because all they left us in history was the plate,”
Nutter said.
This illustration depicts La Verendrye’s sons burying a lead plate near
Fort Pierre proclaiming the Missouri River basin for French King Louis
XV. The plate was discovered by school children on Feb. 16, 1913.
Courtesy of the Museum of the South Dakota Historical Society, Pierre.
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A statue of La Verendrye is displayed outside
of the Quebec National Assembly building. La
Verendrye’s legacy remains strong in many
parts of Canada where there are also parks,
streets and other monuments that bear his
name. Courtesy of the Assemblee Nationale,
Quebec. Photo by Christian Chevalier.
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A special display was opened at the Museum of Manitoba, Winnipeg, in 2013 to celebrate the 275th anniversary of when La Verendrye built
Fort Rouge. Winnipeg is also home to a living history group, La Compagnie de la Verendrye, that re-enacts the life of soldiers and voyagers who
accompanied La Verendrye. Image courtesy of the Manitoba Museum and La Compagnie de la Verendrye, Winnipeg.
CANADIAN HISTORY
La Verendrye is an important part of Canadian
maps and artifacts from La Verendrye’s group.
There is a group of people in Winnipeg, known
history where he is more known than in the U.S.
as La Compagnie de la Verendrye, that consist of
There are parks, statues and streets named after
people who re-enact the history of La Verendrye.
him. “He was certainly the most important French
The living history group dresses in French uniforms
explorer of his day, especially in North America,”
and all of the members speak French. Michel
Wood said.
Loiselle, who has been a part of the group for 20
In 2013, residents of Winnipeg, Manitoba,
years, said La Verendrye is considered a local hero.
celebrated the 275th Anniversary of when he
Winnipeg has a park, a school and a street named
established the trading post Fort Rouge. As part of
after La Verendrye. “He’s one of the better-known
the 275th Anniversary of Fort Rouge, the Museum
Canadian explorers,” Loiselle said.
of Manitoba had a temporary display that included
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A monument in Fort Pierre, S.D., marks where La Verendrye’s sons buried a lead plate proclaiming land for French King Louis XV. Courtesy of the
Museum of the South Dakota Historical Society, Pierre.
LA VERENDRYE’S LEGACY
Potter said La Verendrye played a significant
Various accounts of La Verendrye’s journeys
role in helping France compete with England in the
describe him as being disappointed because he did
commercial fur trade, and that his legacy impacted
not receive the recognition he thought he deserved
Lewis and Clark. “After La Verendrye, there was
from the French government. Potter said he was
always a French connection to the Mandans and
relieved of command for not finding the nonexistent
Hidatsas,” Potter said. “When Lewis and Clark came
bay to the Pacific, but he was redeemed before he
through the area, they met Canadians that were
died. French officials eventually realized the bay
there because of La Verendrye.”
didn’t exist and they reinstated La Verendrye.
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Chapter 2
Minot AFB
Rugby
Minot
Granville
Verendrye
Velva
T
Dream of electricity
started in Verendrye
stores and other businesses.
o find the place where the dream of
The dream of electrifying rural homes in the
Verendrye Electric Cooperative began,
region began in the tiny town of Verendrye.
go off the beaten path to a location no
longer on the map. It is now a farm with only two
It is located about 13 miles northeast of Velva
residents, but it was once bustling with a railroad
along the Souris River. The area around Verendrye
depot, grain elevators, hotel, service station, lumber
contains rich farmland, wildlife and the scenic
yard, brick school, post office, bank, two churches,
Souris River Valley.
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David Ashley, right, shows Bruce Carlson, manager of Verendrye
Electric Cooperative, the exact site of the first location of the
cooperative’s office. The first office was an old bank building in the
town of Verendrye that was used from 1939 to 1941.
The town site is now home to the Ashley Farm.
In addition to the farmhouse, there are some large
shops and grain bins. The only recognizable building
from the early town site that still remains is the
school. The front façade of the school stands tall
among a field of wheat, but the roof and sides have
caved in from years of deterioration. All of the other
buildings have either burnt down, have been moved,
or have succumbed to the elements. The Burlington
Northern Santa Fe Railroad zooms over what was
Verendrye’s Main Street, and although Verendrye is
no longer even a dot on the North Dakota Highway
Map, a 10-ton granite globe celebrating geographer
David Thompson is listed on the map as a state
historical site.
The former town now has two residents, David
Stephen Ashley, left, and his brother David, pose underneath a sign
on their farm shop in the town of Verendrye that commemorates a
service station owned by their father, Monroe, that was one of several
businesses there.
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Ashley and his wife, Jo. David remembers his
grandfather Albert Lee, and others talking about
Verendrye Electric.
Some of the early residents of Verendrye. Back row, from left: Joe Schwan, Ed Chezick, Magnus Benum, Leo Hunkele, Gust Berger, Pete Silve and
“Steve.” Front row from left: unknown, Andrew Schaan, John Hagen, unknown, Mr. Dailey, Oliver Wolhowe, Martin Benum and daughter Helen.
“They talked a lot about the difficulties and the
honor La Verendrye, who was said to have traveled
greatness of how Verendrye Electric was started,”
through the area around 1738. The name Falsen
David said. “I remember stories of getting electricity
was chosen by Great Northern Railway officials in
going with a generator and a 32-volt battery. Of
honor of Christian Magnus Falsen, a Norwegian
course when electricity came, it was phenomenal.”
Statesman and historian. The name change was a
David’s brother, Stephen, lives in Minot, but he
big celebration complete with a visit by Governor
farms with his brother. He also remembers stories
Sorlie, and by experts on La Verendrye and David
about early electricity, even of people who were
Thompson from Canada and Washington state.1
against it. “Some people would say you can bring it
Schools and local governments began to organize
here, but we don’t want it.” Stephen, who is 15 years
in the mid-to-late-1880s in McHenry County, but
older than David, attended school in Verendrye, but
Falsen began to see real growth around 1910. In
David did not.
1912, the depot was constructed, and by 1913, the
hotel was built, with other businesses to follow.
BEFORE VERENDRYE WAS
VERENDRYE
The town bears the name of the famous French
explorer, La Verendrye, but it did not always have
the Verendrye name. The town was originally
Corabelle Brown, McHenry County: Its History and Its People
1885 to 1985., (Midwest Printing Mouse River Farmers Press,
Towner, N.D., 228.)
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called Falsen and the name was changed in 1925 to
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The Falsen School is the only recognizable landmark from the Verendrye
town site. The town was known as Falsen until 1925 when the name was
changed to Verendrye to honor the French explorer.
VERENDRYE’S HEYDAY
Raymond “Buddy” Walter, who now lives in
the basement of the bank in Verendrye, but it was
moved to Velva in 1941. H.H. Blackstead, the local
Velva, fondly remembers the town of Verendrye.
elevator manager and owner, along with his wife,
He attended school there and remembers there
Dorothy, were the founders of the cooperative.
being around 75 to 80 students. The school offered
Although the town had several businesses and
kindergarten through 10th grade, and most students
was the birthplace of an electric cooperative, it
finished the last two years of high school in Velva or
quickly declined after the railroad no longer needed
other area schools.
places to stop for water.
Walter said the peak of the town occurred in
“After the steam engines went out, the town
the 1940s, and the school had students until the
declined,” Walter said. “The buildings had went up
1960s. The first meetings to form Verendrye Electric
fast and they went down fast.”
Cooperative were held in 1938 and the cooperative
There is some debate on how many people lived
was officially granted articles of incorporation on
in Verendrye at its peak, but most people from there
Jan. 26, 1939. The cooperative’s first official meeting
estimate the population between 100 and 150.
was held on Feb. 15, 1939. The first office was in
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The front of the Falsen School still remains in Verendrye, but the top and sides have crumbled from years of neglect. From left are David Ashley,
Raymond “Buddy” Walter, Jo Ashley and Verendrye Chairman Blaine Bruner.
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VERENDRYE’S DECLINE
By 1970, there was no one left in Verendrye.
In a Dec. 5, 1970 Minot Daily News article
titled, “No One Left as Verendrye Completes Life
Cycle,” Leonard Lund reported the last resident
of Verendrye, Suzy Lee, David and Stephen’s
grandmother, had moved.
It wasn’t until 1990 when the town grew again.
That’s when David Ashley and his family moved
back to Verendrye from a nearby farm. They
had two daughters, but now that the children are
adults, he and his wife are the only two residents
of Verendrye.
In an ironic twist, a year before they moved back
to Verendrye, the Ashley family helped Verendrye
Electric lineworkers dig trenches to bring electricity
to the area because it was removed after being idle
for many years. “What goes around comes around.
It (electricity) started here and we helped put it back
in,” David said.
Verendrye is one of several North Dakota towns
that is no longer on the map, but for those who lived
Monroe Ashley owned the People’s Garage for many years in
Verendrye. He is the father of Stephen and David Ashley. Verendrye
had several businesses in its heyday, including a bank, hotel, stores,
lumber yard, two grain elevators and a post office.
there, it was a place where they built a community,
worked, raised children, struggled, succeeded, and
lived the dream of rural electrification - one of the
greatest success stories in our nation’s history.
This photo shows Verendrye before it became a ghost town. Today, the only recognizable building is the brick school, which is crumbling.
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Verendrye residents pose for a photo outside of one of the churches. The group of men in suits on the left, from left, are: Albert Lee, Julius
Hauge, Herman Munson, Harry Wolhowe, Gust Wolhowe, Cornelius Onstad, Severt Larson, Frederick Wolhowe, Fingar Pederson, Norman
Gjellstad and Hans Wolhowe. The group of women in the top row from left are: Norma Lee, Nettie Larson, unknown, Dorothy Blackstead,
Cecelia Wolhowe, unknown, Connie Blackstead, and Thelma Gjellstad. Women in the middle row from left are: unknown, Hazel Gjellstad, Marlys
Lee, Sigrid Wolhowe, unknown and Helen Wolhowe. Women in front row from left are: Marie Hauge, Anna Gjellstad, Edna Gjellstad, Annie Lee,
unknown, and Verna Gjellstad. The two people standing behind boys from left are: unknown and Fern Masteller. People seated from left are: Floyd
Masteller, Hugh Masteller, Sidney Larson, Wayne Lee, David Blackstead and Guy Masteller. The group of people on the right side of the women
on the stairs, from left, are: Marie Munson, unknown, Alta Oiem, Josephine Seyton, Anne Lee, Herbrand Lee, Ellen Lee and H.H. Blackstead.
The name of the little boy standing is unknown.
The town peaked in the 1940s, but quickly declined after the railroad no longer needed to stop there for water to refill steam engines.
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The front page of the July 17, 1925 Minot Daily News tells of how several national
dignitaries visited Verendrye that day as part of the Upper Missouri Expedition.
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National dignitaries visited
Verendrye by rail in 1925
V
isitors to a peculiar 10-ton granite
on a train dubbed the “Upper Missouri Special”
monument in Verendrye can still feel
that took off from St. Paul, Minn., on July 16.
the rumble and hear the horns of
The purpose of the Upper Missouri Expedition
locomotives blaze as trains zoom through the
was to challenge the American public to travel
forgotten town. The thundering Burlington
and explore cultural opportunities in their
Northern Santa Fe Railway freight trains
region. The trip lasted from July 16-21 and
provide a daily reminder that Verendrye, like
included stops in North Dakota and Montana in
many other communities, lived and died by
locations of cultural and historical significance.1
the railroad.
Frank Vyzralek, a retired North Dakota
Trains have been a part of Verendrye for
Historical Society archivist, author and
more than 100 years, and the town used to
historian, said one of the main reasons
be an important place to the Great Northern
railroads sponsored trips like these was to
Railway, which needed to stop there for water
promote passenger travel by rail.
for steam engines. After the railroad no longer
“The transcontinental traffic was an
needed Verendrye’s access to Souris River
important item for the railroad those days,”
water, the town eventually dried up. But on
Vyzralek said. “It might seem silly to people
one glorious summer day in 1925, Verendrye
now, but a lot of people traveled by rail
was perhaps the most important destination,
back then.”
or at least the most talked about destination of
the day for the railroad.
Although a profit motive was the main
impetus for the publicity these expeditions
On July 17, 1925, a train stopped in
provided, Vyzralek said the leaders of both
Verendrye for what Great Northern called the
the Great Northern Railway and Northern
Upper Missouri Expedition. The train brought
Pacific Railway were also very “historically
a host of dignitaries, including the North
minded.” Postcards of the stops were issued
Dakota Governor, a U.S. Supreme Court
by the railroads, which also published books
Justice, a world famous artist, a former Army
and artwork related to the expeditions.
Chief of Staff, and nationally-known authors
James J. Hill, former president of Great
and historians.
The contingent of dignitaries was hosted by
Great Northern Railway President Ralph Budd
1
F.G. Young, “The Upper Missouri Historical Expedition
July 16-21, 1925.” The Quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society,
Vol. 26, No. 3 (Sept. 1925), 276-279.
18
Northern Railway, even helped promote
legislation in 1910 that established Glacier
National Park in Montana. Great Northern
also set up tourist attractions and hotels near
the park to encourage travel by rail, using
the slogan of “See America First” in many
railroad advertisements.2 The Upper Missouri
Expedition also made a stop at Glacier Park.
The event in Verendrye centered around
a 10-ton granite globe commemorating the
life of David Thompson, a fur trader, explorer,
geographer, astronomer and mapmaker.
Thompson passed near Verendrye in 1797
and made the first reliable map of the region
from the west bend of the Souris River to
the western shore of Lake Superior. The
map was used by Lewis and Clark during
their expeditions. The monument is a state
historic site.3
The same day the expedition stopped in
Verendrye, the Minot Daily News had a front
A monument to David Thompson, an explorer and geographer, is located near
Verendrye. Pictured from the upper left to upper right are: Bruce Anderson,
Shawn Kaylor, Blaine Bruner and John Warner, all VEC board members;
Jo and David Ashley, Verendrye residents; Raymond “Buddy” Walter,
former Verendrye resident; Cindy Smith and Maxine Rognlien, VEC board
members, and Bruce Carlson, VEC manager.
page article listing the dignitaries and their
photographs. Some of the dignitaries listed
in the article include: North Dakota Gov. A.G.
Sorlie; U.S. Supreme Court Justice Pierce
Butler; Maj. Gen. Hugh L. Scott, former Chief
of Staff of the Army; world-famous cowboy
artist Charles Russell; author Lawrence Abbott,
who worked for President Theodore Roosevelt
and wrote a book about him; and author Agnes
C. Laut, who contributed to the Saturday
Evening Post and several other magazines.4
The dignitaries were met by a group from
the eastern U.S. that included historians and
authors who spoke about the adventures of
Thompson and La Verendrye.
The railroad paid for the Thompson
monument and presented it to Gov. Sorlie. The
event was a big deal for local residents. The
Minot Daily News ran several articles leading
up to the event, describing it as “precedent
setting” with crowds expected to number in the
thousands. The event also included a picnic,
The Great Northern Railway. National Park Service, http://www.
nps.gov/glac/forteachers/railway.htm (accessed Aug. 7, 2013).
2
“David Thompson Historical Site,” State Historical Society of
North Dakota, http://history.nd.gov/historicsites/thompson/index.html
(accessed August 6, 2013).
3
“Explorers of Northwest Honored at Verendrye,” Minot Daily
News, July 17, 1925.
4
19
|
a performance by the Great Northern Band
of Minot and a sports program that included
a baseball game between Velva and Bantry,
which Bantry won 6-2.
A 1925 Great Northern Railway postcard shows a train passing by the
David Thompson Monument in Verendrye to commemorate the Upper
Missouri Expedition that brought several national dignitaries to town.
Former Minot Mayor W.M. Smart, who was
Vyzralek said railroads made these
expeditions into big events, not only in North
one of the presenters at the banquet, spoke of
Dakota, but all across the country. “They were
how people need to have a sense of adventure
trying to get people to come to North Dakota.
to accomplish great things.
They needed more immigrants to come here,”
“There are two kinds of men in the world,
the one who always plays it safe, and the other
he said.
who is willing to adventure,” Smart said. “The
After the Verendrye stop, there was a
banquet held in Minot at the Leland Parker
first plays it safe that he may get more for
Hotel that was sponsored by the Minot
himself and he invariably loses the best things
Association of Commerce. Guests listened
in life. The other, fired by a great imagination
to presentations about La Verendrye and
and a great faith, is urged on by the spirit
Thompson, and viewed replicas of the lead
of adventure and finds that the hazy line of
plates that La Verendrye’s sons buried in Ft.
mystery is a land of treasure.”5
Pierre, proclaiming the land for French King
Louis XV.
5
“Honor to Explorers offered at banquet to Minot’s visitors,” Minot
Daily News, July 18, 1925.
20
Chapter 3
This bank building in the town of Verendrye served
as Verendrye Electric Cooperative’s first office until
the cooperative moved to Velva in 1941.
W
Living a big dream
in a small town
hen David Blackstead was a 12-year-old
boy didn’t know it at the time, but he was about to
boy, he witnessed a national movement
be a part of one of the greatest achievements in our
that would change his way of life in the
country’s history: rural electrification.
“I’m not sure I was totally aware of what
tiny town of Verendrye.
the consequences were at the time, but I knew
It was 1939. Adolf Hitler’s troops invaded
Poland on September 1 to start World War
it was something that would be nice and good,”
II, America was still in the grips of the Great
Blackstead said.
Blackstead, a retired school administrator
Depression and North Dakota farmers were
struggling with drought and poor crop prices. Front
who lives in Bismarck with his wife, Myrna, is
page headlines provided a daily mix of wartime
the son of H.H. Blackstead, the man credited with
correspondence from abroad and economic troubles
founding Verendrye Electric Cooperative. The elder
at home.
Blackstead was a businessman who managed a grain
But through all the hard times and bad news,
elevator in Verendrye, and later became the owner
something great was about to happen in Verendrye;
of both elevators there before he went into the farm
something that would spread beyond the tiny town
implement business.
to brighten the lives of thousands. That 12-year-old
22
In a college term paper about the town of
Verendrye, David describes how his father
summoned local leaders to his home to begin
planning how to create an electric cooperative.
“On a wintry Sunday afternoon in 1938, H.H.
Blackstead invited Leo Zaback and Joe A. Keller
of Verendrye, and Quentin Johnson, in charge of
the Otter Tail Power Company office in Velva,
to his home to discuss the possibility of arousing
interest in an Rural Electrification Administration
(REA) project for the community. Mr. Blackstead
had previously corresponded with officials in
Washington for information relative to obtaining
a federal loan to build an REA line. After much
discussion at this meeting, a form was filled out and
submitted to Washington, which was the first step
on a long road toward electric power. Many hours of
work went into formulating plans, many letters were
written, and seemingly insurmountable obstacles
were overcome.”1
RURAL ELECTRIFICATION
IN THE U.S.
The REA was a household acronym in its
day. It literally stood for Rural Electrification
Administration, but to farmers across the nation, it
meant the start of a movement that would provide
them with a better standard of living.
Verendrye was just one small example of rural
electrification in America. In the mid-1930s only
about 10 percent of farms had electricity, although
city dwellers had enjoyed electricity for decades.
The city of Minot was blessed with electricity in
the early 1900s. In 1901, the city granted a franchise
to L.M. Davis, a city resident, for construction and
operation of an electric plant and telephone system.
David Blackstead and his wife, Myrna, pose for a picture in their
Bismarck home. David is the son of H.H. Blackstead, the man whose
efforts led to the creation of Verendrye Electric Cooperative in 1939.
23
|
1
David H. Blackstead, “Verendrye - My Home” (term paper, Minot
State University, 1949), 42-43.
The company was known
serve the farms, and if
as Minot Light and
they did, the cost was
Telephone Co. Its first
unbelievable,” Beyer said.
building in Minot housed
Beyer eventually
both telephones and a
oversaw the restructuring
boiler and engine room
of the REA. The agency
for electric generators.
changed names to become
The company changed
the Rural Utilities Service
ownership and was
(RUS), a division of the
known as Consumers
United States Department
Power Co. for a time
of Agriculture (USDA),
before becoming Northern
and added programs
States Power (NSP) in
for rural water and
1916, and eventually
telecommunications. He
changing its name to Xcel
retired in 1999.
Energy. In 1911, there
Before farmers could
were 79 miles of electric
prove they were up to
distribution lines in Minot
the task of building their
and 16 transformers
own electric utilities,
to serve 1,292 electric
they needed a helping
customers. The steam
plant used lignite coal for
fuel. By 1930, NSP served
This REA educational poster illustrated how valuable electricity
was to farmers. Photo courtesy of the National Rural Electric
Cooperative Association (NRECA).
4,575 customers with electricity.
hand. Policymakers
in Washington had
been discussing rural
electrification for some time, and on May 11, 1935,
2
Otter Tail Power Co., which currently serves
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed an
Velva, also had a presence in North Dakota
executive order setting up the Rural Electrification
beginning in the early 1900s. Some North Dakota
Administration. Then on May 20, 1936, Roosevelt
cooperatives, including Verendrye Electric,
signed the Rural Electrification Act, which provided
originally bought power from Otter Tail before
funds to make low-cost loans to farmers establishing
creating their own power plants.
non-profit electric cooperatives. Verendrye Electric
Wally Beyer, who managed Verendrye Electric
from 1969 to 1993, and was appointed by President
Bill Clinton to head the REA, said without the REA,
Cooperative received its first REA loan of $90,000
on Sept. 25, 1939.
Dennis Hill, executive vice president and general
electrifying rural America would not have happened,
manager of the North Dakota Association of Rural
or it would have taken much longer.
Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC), said because of
“The investor-owned utilities didn’t want to
the financial conditions facing the country at the
time, banks would not have loaned farmers money
2
Northern States Power Co., Memories and Magic: 75th
Anniversary, 1911-1986.
to start electric cooperatives.
24
This poster from the Rural Electrification Administration illustrates the excitement rural residents had once they knew electricity
was on its way. Photo courtesy of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).
25
|
“Farmers had trouble coming up with a $5 sign
school because the school had its own generator.
up fee, let alone thousands of dollars to build miles
Those who didn’t have a generator or a wind
of power lines,” Hill said. “Rural electrification
charger relied on kerosene lamps for light, wood
would have been a non-starter without the REA.”
for their stoves and hot water and hours of physical
Verendrye, which energized its first members in
1940, was not the first electric cooperative in North
labor for washing clothes, hauling water and other
farm and household chores.
Dakota. Baker Electric, which started in the small
town of Baker, located 40 miles west of Devils Lake,
was the first. Baker Electric had its first meeting on
VERENDRYE ELECTRIC’S
EARLY DAYS
May 15, 1937, and energized its first farm on Nov.
After countless kitchen table meetings
24, 1937. Baker Electric is now known as Northern
and letters to Washington, Verendrye Electric
Plains Electric Cooperative and has offices in
Cooperative was officially incorporated on
Carrington and Cando.
January 26, 1939. The first official meeting of the
3
Not all cooperatives got up and running at the
cooperative was held on Feb. 15, 1939, and the
same time. KEM Electric Cooperative, based in
directors were H.H. Blackstead, president; Dorothy
Linton, was the latest to join the family of rural
Blackstead, P.A. Bolgen, Mrs. Josephine Colby,
electric cooperatives in the state. KEM did not
Joseph Keller, Mrs. Fern Masteller, Hans Wolhowe,
electrify its first members until April 1949. Hill said
H.T. Lee and Leon Hendrickson.
the war was a major factor in the time it took some
To this day, membership in a cooperative means
cooperatives to become established, because once
participants have a say in how their cooperative is
the war started, shortages of materials slowed down
operated, but in those days, part of the challenge
construction of rural utilities.
was getting new members. Blackstead and other
organizers literally drove around the countryside
RURAL ELECTRICTY
BEFORE COOPERATIVES
going from farm to farm asking people to give them
$5 and their trust in exchange for the hope they
Blackstead said one of the reasons his father
would eventually get power. Five dollars today will
wanted electricity from a cooperative was because he
buy you less than two gallons of gas, but in 1940 it
was frustrated with an old 32-volt home generator
could buy around 26 gallons or 62 loaves of bread.
with a row of 12 batteries in the basement. “The
The first Verendrye employee, Ruben Haga, a
generator was constantly being repaired,” he said.
bookkeeper, was paid $65 a month.
Blackstead remembers traveling many miles
“The engine ran continuously, but it kept the
with his father to sign up cooperative members, and
lights on.”
surprisingly, not everyone was open to the idea of
Few people had electric generators in their
homes, but Verendrye residents had a taste of what
getting electricity. “We drove around a lot asking for
it was like to have electricity when they were at the
$5 and that caused a lot of consternation because $5
was a lot of money back then,” Blackstead said.
Northern Plains Electric Cooperative, “Bright idea sparks state’s
first electric cooperative,” www.nplains.com (accessed Sept. 17, 2013).
3
Aside from the cost, some people thought
rural electrification was impossible, or downright
26
The Rural Electrification Administration’s acronym REA became a household name among farm families after the agency was
established in 1935. The REA logo could be seen on cooperative trucks, buildings and in various publications.
crazy. “Just like when Gus bought the first tractor
The first Verendrye Electric headquarters was
with inflatable rubber tires, everyone thought he
an old bank building. “It was absolutely grimy, and
was crazy,” Blackstead joked. David’s mother, the
they struggled for weeks to get it clean,” Blackstead
late Dorothy Blackstead, was quoted in a 1979
said. The cooperative moved to Main Street in Velva
Verendrye history book that she remembered
in 1941, and in 1957 it moved to its present location
sending out 100 postcards encouraging people
on the west side of Velva. Blackstead remembers
to come to the first official meeting and that
many members challenging the decision to move
many Verendrye area folks considered it “a lot
the headquarters, and that many people living in
of foolishness.”
Velva wanted to change the name of the cooperative.
Blackstead said the trick was convincing people
He said it made sense to move the headquarters to
that if they did not sign up early, the line would
Velva.“It wouldn’t have worked there (Verendrye).
be built around them. He said his mother was also
It was too isolated. Logically it had to move.”
instrumental in getting the cooperative started.“She
Though many thought it was impossible, efforts
was in favor of it and she could see the advantages
to sign up new members paid off and Verendrye
of it.”
Electric energized the first 35 families on June 27,
27
|
H.H. and Dorothy Blackstead
1940. The Blacksteads were among the first few
organizers to start cooperatives, but the benefit of
people to receive power. A refrigerator and washing
electricity was easy to explain. “It was a pretty clean
machine were two of the first appliances the
concept that was easy to articulate,” Hill said. “It
Blacksteads owned, along with a radio that sat on
was a matter of asking people: How would you like a
top of the refrigerator so it could be near one of the
light bulb in your house some day?”
To today’s 12-year-old who uses electricity
few outlets in the house.
for many gadgets, a light bulb and a few measly
Beyer said there were few skeptics of rural
electrification once the first poles were set and
appliances doesn’t sound very exciting, but to David
people began getting power. “Everyone wanted
Blackstead and the rest of rural America, it was
electricity once the poles were set. Once it got going,
monumental.
it just mushroomed and it turned into a big bonanza
“This country is absolutely dependent on
for the whole country because people who had
electricity. Without electricity we would be in the
power for the first time started buying appliances.”
dark ages. It profoundly changed the way we live.”
Hill said it took strong community leaders and
28
Chapter 4
We have an electric co-op,
now what?
This is the second Verendrye Electric office. The cooperative moved into this building on Main Street Velva in 1941.
I
n 1939, Verendrye Electric Cooperative
advice. “One unique feature of the REA was they
went from a dream to a reality. Cooperative
provided regional field engineers to help all of the
founders had convinced several people to pay
cooperatives. They provided technical expertise
$5 to join the cooperative and a headquarters was
which was critical in the early days,” said Verendrye
established in an abandoned bank in the tiny town
Manager Bruce Carlson. The REA reorganized
of Verendrye.
in the late 1990s and is now known as the Rural
Rural electrification was finally on its way for
Utilities Service, a branch of the USDA. The RUS
thousands of rural residents in the area, but the
continues to provide cooperatives with loans and
hard work had just begun. Organizers still had to
requires cooperatives throughout the nation to build
convince the REA there were enough members to
their systems to the same specifications.
buy enough power to make the cooperative feasible.
John Westby, Verendrye’s operations and
They also needed to figure out just how to build an
engineering manager, said cooperatives also relied
electric cooperative.
heavily on consultants for engineering expertise.
The consultants would design and build the system.
REA HELP
When cooperatives first got going, the REA
would assign advisors to provide technical
“The bulk of the system was built by mass contracts,
some of which included hundreds of miles of line at
a time,” he said.
30
A group of Verendrye employees pose for a photo outside of the office on Main Street in Velva in the 1950s.
FINANCIAL WOES
Technical challenges were difficult for fledgling
Twice the REA told organizers the cooperative
was not feasible, but that didn’t deter them. H.H.
co-ops, but so too were financial hurdles. Although
Blackstead met with REA officials in St. Paul,
early organizers had received backing of several
Minn., and convinced them to reconsider. Before the
area farmers with a $5 signup fee, they still had to
first stretch of power lines could be built, the REA
convince REA officials they had enough members to
recommended there be at least three accounts per
be able to pay down REA loans. In addition to the
mile for the project to be feasible.
$5 signup fee, members also had to agree to pay a
In a 1979 interview of James Morley, the first
minimum of $3.50 a month which entitled them to
manager of Verendrye, he described the challenges
use 40 kilowatt-hours. Today an average home can
of signing up new members to meet the line
easily use 40 kilowatt-hours in one day.
density requirements.
“If we didn’t have enough people signed up to
use power, we didn’t get REA loans,” Carlson said.
31
|
“We were just coming out of a depression, and
there was no money in the country. Many people did
Verendrye employees huddle over some paperwork in the 1950s. From left are Billing Clerk Violet Robinson, Receptionist
Hilda Bechtold and Bookkeeper Lillian DeKrey.
not believe it could be done; the idea was absolutely
power was the turning point that made our loan
new. People around selling wind chargers told
applications feasible,” Carlson said.
farmers you couldn’t milk and cook at the same time
because the REA lines didn’t have enough juice.”
Although the three-members-per-mile rule didn’t
Finally, on Sept. 8, 1939, Verendrye Electric
received its first REA loan of $90,000, and on
Dec. 11, 1939, a contract was let to W.A. Patterson
pan out, the REA approved the first loan after some
Construction Co., of St. Paul, to build the first 67
of the lignite coal mines in the Velva area signed
miles of line and one substation. The power for the
up for $10. The addition of the mines, which had
substation was provided by Otter Tail Power Co.
much larger electricity needs than farms, helped
The magical day when the first line was energized
cooperatives convince the REA to approve the
came on June 27, 1940, when Blackstead threw the
first loan.
switch for the first 35 families in the Souris River
“Larger loads were particularly attractive.
Getting the mines in the area to sign up for
Valley in and around the town of Verendrye.
32
This photo shows workers setting a pole by hand. In the early days of electric cooperatives, many of the holes were also dug by hand, even by boys
who would be paid a small sum for each hole they dug. Photo courtesy of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).
33
|
This photo shows Verendrye lineworkers doing maintenance in 1959.
34
Linemen test their radios in this undated photo.
This undated photo shows what the older substations looked like.
BUILDING THE LINES
Verendrye also ran into obstacles as crews began
Brisk construction resumed from 1947 to 1950
when the cooperative connected more than 2,500
building. The United States entered World War II
new members and constructed nearly 2,100 miles of
after Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan on Dec. 7,
line. “By 1950, it was pretty much all built for those
1941, marking a dramatic slowdown of construction
who had requested power at that time,” Westby said.
nationwide because of scarcity of materials and
By 1951, the cooperative had around 3,800 members.
manpower. There were a total of 232 Verendrye
members in 1941.
Another challenge was figuring out who would
The explosion in growth brought on a new
problem for Verendrye and other cooperatives in the
state. People without power wanted it, and people
do the work and how they would be trained. “We
with power had an increasing appetite for more as
had to take green farm boys and make linemen of
they began using more appliances and machinery.
them,” Morley said.
Soon, Verendrye and other cooperatives would come
As the lines were built, farmers became anxious
together to set the cooperative movement on a bold
for the day they would receive power. Many helped
new path giving them independence from investor-
the process along by digging holes by hand and
owned utilities.
hauling poles for the contractors. Boys would be paid
(Much of the information from this article was taken from
Awake a Sleeping Giant, written for Verendrye in 1979
by Cleo Cantlon).
50 cents to dig each hole.
35
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BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE COOPERATIVE
As soon as you begin purchasing electricity from Verendrye Electric, you become a member of
the cooperative. Being a member gives you a voice in how the cooperative is operated because
you get to vote for who serves on the board, and you can run for a position on the board at the
annual meeting. In the early days of the cooperative, new members would receive a membership
certificate signed by the president of the board and secretary, complete with an embossed
corporate seal. New members were also listed in the minutes of board meetings and in the
cooperative’s publications. This certificate was presented to Frank Walter on Jan. 2, 1940, and
is numbered 95.
36
Many farm families relied on kerosene lanterns to see at night, either at the dinner table or in the barn to check the cows. Photo courtesy of the National
Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).
37
|
Electricity meant no more lanterns in the house
My name is Sula Scharbow Bruins. I grew up 5 ½ miles southwest of Donnybrook. I can
remember the day we turned on the switch and light came on in the middle of the living room.
Wow! No more lanterns on the table or no more lanterns hanging from the ceiling. My dad Otto
Scharbow and I had spent quite a bit of time stringing the wires to each room and mounting
switches and lights. My dad always said if it had not been for Bill Langer coming to our aid, we
would not have had any REA at our place. Our farm sat about three miles south of where one
line was going and about three miles north of where the other line was going. Nobody wanted
to spend all of that money and time to run that line to us. But Bill Langer went to bat for us and
we got lights too. We now live in rural Minot and receive great service from Verendrye.
(William “Bill” Langer served as Governor of North Dakota and later as a U.S. Senator.)
--Sula Bruins, Minot
Life became brighter for the Petriks in 1949
As an octogenarian, almost 90, these are a few of my memories of pre-electric days on the
farm. Wash day, on Monday, meant getting water from the slough and heating it in a boiler on
the stove. In the wintertime, hanging laundry outside meant bringing it in stiff as boards, but
oh it smelled so fresh.
On Tuesday, it was ironing day, using a gas iron which worked quite well. As most of our
clothes were cotton or rayon, there were lots of wrinkles and it was a big job.
Among my memories, kerosene lanterns and lamps were used to light the way to the barn to
milk the cows, and to light the house, but life was good and we were young.
In early 1949, Verendrye Electric planned to provide electricity to farms south of Makoti,
but the plans didn’t reach our farm in the southwest corner of Ward County, Mountrail County
to the west and McLean County to the south. My husband and I wrote to Senator Langer and
because of his intervention, we did get included.
In the fall of 1949, the lights came on and life became brighter.
--Marvel Petrik, Minot
38
Chapter 5
The wonder of
‘when the lights came on’
T
he wonder of electrifying rural North Dakota
farmsteads was a watershed event that increased
agricultural productivity, giving farmers new
opportunities that forever changed their lives. But in the daily
routines of men and women living on the prairies, electricity
provided miracles affecting every aspect of how they lived that
are now taken for granted.
Opinions vary among those early recipients of electric
power as to what was the most important result of “turning on
the lights,” but certainly refrigeration was near the top of the
list for most. And there is no way to discount the value of the
electric lights themselves.
“When we got lights in the barn,” one early day farmer said,
“we found two more cows to milk than we had seen before.”
Donna Vangsness of Minot, daughter of Ken and Irene
Sanders, who farmed northwest of Ruthville, said the change
in lighting was a major blessing when Verendrye Electric
Cooperative turned their power on in 1946.
“It was a wonderful day when we were finally hooked up,”
Evelyn and Anton Weninger of Drake, shown
with their goddaughter Sharon, were still waiting
to enjoy the benefits of electrification in the
photo dated July 13, 1947.
she said. “I remember how bright the light was, and especially
not having to clean those darned kerosene lanterns.”
Arnold Erber, who still lives east of the Minot Air Force
Base, remembered the arrival of power from a different
perspective. “Every night as it got dark, you could see how far
the Verendrye boys had gotten that day in putting in power
lines,” he said. “You just looked across the fields, and there was
another farm that was lit up. They worked long and hard, in
conditions that we now would think were pretty primitive. I
remember seeing linemen up on poles, stringing wire, when it
was 20 degrees below.”
40
“Our power was turned on
in 1947, on Christmas Eve,” he
said. “It was just in time to light
the first electric lights on our
Christmas tree.” He recalled the
men who worked on that exciting
project: Alfred Dockter, Jerry
McDowell and engineer Ruben
Haga. Smestad, who lived with
his uncle Nels Solheim north
of Velva, noted many holes for
power line poles were dug by
hand at that time.
“Salesman Oscar
Christianson, from Krebsbachs
in Velva, sold us the first
refrigerator and electric stove,”
he recalled. “Getting lights on
was the cat’s meow,” he said.
Replacing the old carbide lamps
was a major improvement, but
from Smestad’s point of view, the
ease of pumping water for cattle
was the biggest boost for farm
living.
Helen Thompson of Minot,
formerly of Velva, said the
This advertisement that appeared in the North Dakota REC/RTC Magazine in the early 1950s
illustrates how clothes washing machines had improved.
use of mercury vapor lights to
illuminate farmyards was another
to the Erber farm in 1948.
great help to farmers. “What a
linemen racing to bring electricity
Arnold’s wife, Jane, remembered
change to be able to chase away
to the farms. Many farmers were
the excitement of attending a
the darkness, both in the house
involved in hauling materials and
homemakers club meeting at
and out in the farmyard,” she
even digging some holes.
a neighbor’s farm, when the
said. She recalled getting electric
electricity was turned on. Marlin
power in Minnesota, where she
Vangsness recalled. “Everyone
“Bob” Smestad of Minot had
grew up, in 1948. “We couldn’t
did a little wiring in those days.”
another vivid memory of that
rush out and buy all the electric
The miracle of electricity came
early miracle.
appliances right away,” she said,
It wasn’t only the hired
“Dad did a lot of our wiring,”
41
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“but what a great deal of
butchering was done in
change with each thing we
the colder parts of the year
could afford.”
when the meat wouldn’t
spoil quickly. Animals were
Using windmills to
water cattle was common,
slaughtered and cut up at
and some farmers used gas
the farm, packaged and
engines to pump water at
hauled to a locker plant
wells in distant pastures.
in the city. A trip to the
Checking water for cattle,
locker plant to get meat was
turning on the windmill or
a frequent necessity since
fueling the gas engine, was a
fresh meat would only keep
daily chore.
a few days. “We canned a
lot of meat in those days,
The same ingenuity
which farmers are noted for,
beef, pork, chicken and
was used in pre-power days.
sausage,” Evelyn Weninger
Arnold Erber remembered
remembered. “In summer,
his father, Henry, would put
everyone had chickens so
just enough kerosene in the
if company came, you just
stove to cook for a limited
amount of time, turn it on
and then go out to tend to
This REA era poster illustrates how electricity made everyday
chores easier. Photo courtesy of the National Rural Electric
Cooperative Association (NRECA).
went out and grabbed a
couple.”
Enjoying ice cream or
Jello at home in the summer, plus being able to eat
other chores while his meal cooked.
Smestad’s wife, Leona, said refrigeration was at
really cold watermelon, were treats often mentioned
the top of the list for many farm women. “In those
by people who remembered those pre-power
days, you boiled enough potatoes at lunch to have
days. Cooking food prior to electric stoves was
extra for supper, and, without being able to cool
another chore that became much easier. Jane Erber
them, they could turn sour pretty fast in the summer
remembered her first Thanksgiving dinner, trying
heat,” she said.
to get the turkey roasted, along with everything else,
She and Vangsness agreed that keeping milk and
cream cool were less important because, as Smestad
using a cook stove.
Evelyn Weninger vividly recalled moving in
said, “Everybody milked twice a day, so you always
1949, with her husband Anton and sons Tom and
had fresh milk and cream.”
Bob, to a farm with electricity! “Just imagine, I
“My folks bought a refrigerator a year before the
could turn a switch and have light. We weren’t in
power arrived,” Vangsness said. “It sat on the front
the dark all winter.” She also acquired a washing
porch for a year before we could use it. Until then,
machine that ran on electricity, a far cry from the
we used a pail hung in a cistern to keep things cool.”
days of using a washboard. Later, she had a washing
Meat handling changed dramatically with
the arrival of electric power. Most beef or pork
machine powered by a gas engine before getting an
electric machine.
42
This 1953 advertisement appeared in North Dakota REC/RTC Magazine to show cooperative members how convenient it is
to cook with an electric range. Willie Wiredhand has been the official mascot of electric cooperatives since 1951.
43
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Arnold and Jane Erber remembered their first refrigerator.
Bennie Schimmelpfennig of Ruthville ordered it for them from a
Minot dealer. It was delivered the day they returned from a trip to
Montana, a wonderful welcome home.
“Quite a few neighbors had their own electric plants and
generators,” Erber said. “The local blacksmith shop had an engine
to run their power, and, of course, there were plants in towns.”
A surprising number of farmers didn’t want to sign up to
join the new electric cooperative, Erber said. He compared that
reluctance to some of today’s rural dwellers who don’t want to
buy into rural water systems. “They see the added expense and are
suspicious about whether it will work,” he said. “But look at rural
power. Consider what you can do with electricity!”
He also noted the consistent reliability of our rural electric
system, saying they had never been without power for over 48
hours. “Rural electrics like our Verendrye are the best things that
The REA
by Edna Thoreson
Polish up the lamps, Mother,
Make them nice and bright,
Because we have many lessons,
And we must do them tonight.
We wish we had a better light,
Would be much easier to see,
Mother said, “Don’t worry dear,
There is something called REC.”
President Roosevelt signed a bill,
To bring electricity to the farms,
To brighten up our homes and yards,
And save our backs and arms.
ever happened to farmers,” he said.
(This chapter was written by Cleo Cantlon, a
Verendrye member who wrote books about Verendrye’s
history in 1979 and 1999.)
Electricity made television,
refrigeration possible
This is a picture of the Rural Electrification
Administration putting an electrical pole on our
farm in 1953. Before that day, we used kerosene
lamps for lighting our farmhouse! We kept our
frozen meat in a barrel on the north side of
our house which stayed frozen. Shortly after we
received electricity, dad and mom bought a chest type freezer which
We waited as time went by,
We knew the power would come,
To help with the many chores,
And brighten up our home.
So on a happy day in June,
Nineteen forty was the year,
We turned on the light switch,
To find our electricity was here.
So hail to the rural electric,
We give you many cheers,
We really do appreciate you,
As you celebrate 50 years.
ran for over 50 years. In about the mid-1950s, we bought a television
set. We loved to watch “Gunsmoke,” “I Love Lucy,” “Bonanza” and
many other wonderful shows. A small refrigerator was a wonderful
addition to our kitchen. Electricity certainly changed our way of life
on the farm and it helped to make life much easier for all of us.
--Ardella (Kassner) Score, Minot
(This poem was originally submitted
to Verendrye Electric around the time
the cooperative was celebrating its 50th
Anniversary. It was resubmitted in 2014 by
Alice Senechal, age 97, of Billings, Mont.,
formerly of Velva, who is Edna’s sister.)
44
Chapter 6
Verendrye helped establish
‘Giant Power’
with Neal Station
This is an aerial view of the William J. Neal Station, located east of Velva near Voltaire. The plant was in operation from 1952 to 1985. It was
dismantled in 2000. Photo Courtesy of Basin Electric Power Cooperative.
T
hat old cliché that “history repeats itself”
electricity from a cooperative, they bought more
is definitely true when it comes to the
appliances and used more power. Those that didn’t
demand for electricity. Verendrye Electric
have power wanted to get it as soon as they could.
Cooperative and its generation and transmission
By 1951, Verendrye Electric had nearly 4,000
cooperatives (G&Ts) are continually planning for
members averaging 206 kwh a month, up from
future growth just like they had to in the early days.
232 members using an average of 89 kwh a month
in 1941.
For $3.50 a month, the first members of
Cooperative leaders from around the state knew
Verendrye Electric Cooperative received 40
kilowatt-hours of power, and some people thought
they had to do something about the increasing need
they would never use that much. Over the years,
for electricity, and that the solution should include
population growth, combined with all of the
generating their own power, rather than relying on
conveniences of today’s modern home and high-
investor-owned utilities. Power from the Garrison
tech gadgets, has created a need for more sources of
Dam was on its way, but cooperatives were growing
electricity and a push for energy conservation.
quickly and could not wait. Cooperative managers
A similar trend happened six decades ago. When
from around the state began talking about building
farmers discovered the convenience of receiving
46
The William J. Neal Station had two generators that produced a combined 45 megawatts of power. Although the output was substantial when the
plant was completed in 1952, it is a paltry amount in today’s standards. In comparison, Basin Electric’s Antelope Valley Station near Beulah has two
units that produce a combined 900 megawatts.
their own generating plants around 1945.1
“Cooperatives started out buying power from
about building their own power plant was not a
strong enough word.”
the investor-owned utilities and they were getting
In 1949, North Dakota cooperatives formed
ripped off,” said former Verendrye Electric board
Central Power Electric Cooperative, a G&T. Rural
member Ralph Birdsall. Birdsall remembers his
electric systems across the country were joining
uncle Leon, also a former board member, and other
together to form G&T cooperatives, in what was
Verendrye supporters, pushing for cooperative-
dubbed “Giant Power.” The concept involved
owned generation. “To say they were enthusiastic
cooperatives joining together to develop large,
Stan Stelter, Generation for Generations: A Vision for Giant
Power, (Bismarck, ND: Basin Electric Power Cooperative, 2011, 9-10.)
1
47
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regional G&Ts to take advantage of economies of
scale to provide low-cost electricity. The concept was
A worker checks gauges in the control room of the William J. Neal Station. There were two identical instrument boards – one for each of the two
units at the plant.
also a demonstration of a core cooperative principle:
cooperation among cooperatives.2
The William J. Neal Station was completed in
1952 near Voltaire, just a few miles east of Velva. At
The formation of Central Power was significant
the time, it was the largest lignite coal power plant
to Verendrye Electric, not only because Verendrye
in the United States. On June 4, 1952, a celebration
leaders pushed for its creation, but also because it
was held to commemorate the opening of the
led to the construction of a significant source of
plant. The plant was named after an REA deputy
electricity in Verendrye’s backyard.
administrator who helped get the project moving.3
2
Richard A. Pence, ed., The Next Greatest Thing: 50 Years of Rural
Electrification in America, Washington, D.C.: National Rural Electric
Cooperative Association, October 1984, 182.
Daryl Hill, “Former Neal Station employees hold final farewell,”
Basin Today, November 1999.
3
48
North Dakota Sen. Milton R. Young spoke at a ceremony for the William J. Neal Station, near Voltaire, in 1952. The power plant, fueled by lignite
coal, was a significant development for electric cooperatives seeking to end their dependence on investor-owned utilities for power.
The ownership of the plant was eventually
power, which the Minot Daily News described as
transferred from Central Power to Basin Electric
“mammoth,” because it raised the total generating
Power Cooperative in 1973.
capacity in North Dakota by one-third.4 Compared to
“The Neal Plant was significant because it gave
newer plants, it produced a paltry amount of power.
cooperatives a critical new supply of electricity
In comparison, Basin Electric’s Leland Olds Station
and it paved the way for larger and more efficient
near Stanton, had a capacity of 222 megawatts when
generating stations,” said Daryl Hill, former
the first unit went online in 1966, and another
manager of media and communications relations
447 megawatts with a second unit there in 1975.
for Basin Electric. Basin Electric is a G&T formed
Antelope Valley Station, a Basin Electric coal-fired
in 1961 by Verendrye and other distribution
plant, has a capacity of 900 megawatts combined
cooperatives. Today, Basin serves 137 cooperatives
with its two units.
in nine states.
The Neal plant provided 45 megawatts of
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Jack Bone, “March 15 date for power from Neal Plant,” Minot
Daily News, February 23, 1952.
4
A train brings a 70-ton load of lignite coal into the William J. Neal Station. The plant was the first in North America to use lignite coal. The coal would
be dropped into a hopper below and then sent onto a conveyor to be crushed. Once crushed, the coal would ride another conveyor 300 feet to the
top of the plant.
“It’s amazing how the cooperatives got things
The Neal Plant was closed in 1985 in favor
of newer, larger and more efficient plants. It was
done in those days,” Birdsall said. “It took a group
eventually dismantled, but to honor the early
of strong-minded cooperative supporters to realize
achievement, Verendrye Electric has a special
we needed our own power generation and to get
memorial display outside of the Velva office to
it done.”
recognize the pioneering achievement of electricity
generation by North Dakota electric cooperatives.
50
A giant transformer overshadows a man in this 1950s photo. This transformer was used to reduce the voltage from 115,000 volts to 41,600 volts to
be carried over power lines owned by Verendrye Electric and Otter Tail Power Co.
51
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Verendrye used to encourage
members to use lots of
electricity
I
t was a luxury for the first members of
Verendrye Electric to have a few electrical
outlets for lights, a refrigerator and a
radio. Fast forward 75 years and homes have
outlets on nearly every wall to plug in all kinds
of appliances and gadgets.
Because of the proliferation of electrical
devices, rising energy costs and a nationwide
movement to save energy, Verendrye Electric
promotes conservation. However, in the early
days of the cooperative, the opposite was true.
“When Verendrye was new, the members
were encouraged to use as much energy as
possible because it brought in money that
helped the cooperative get on its feet,” said
Verendrye Assistant Manager Randy Hauck.
In the early 1950s, Verendrye published
a newsletter that proudly listed the members
who used the most power. Those who used at
least 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kwh) were part of
the “1,000 Club.” For the month of February
1950, there were 28 of 2,627 members in
the club. The average electricity usage of a
member then was 239 kwh. Today the average
farm household on Verendrye’s service uses
around 1,500 kwh, and several thousand of the
15,000 Verendrye meters record more than
Member Services Representative Rob Orts inspects a member’s
high-efficiency water heater and ground source heat pump system.
Verendrye encourages energy conservation and offers rebates and
special rates for those who install qualifying equipment.
1,000 kwh of monthly usage.
52
Verendrye employees promote controllable water heaters in this undated photo. The water heater program includes rebates and reduced electric
rates for members who participate. The program allows Verendrye to remotely shut off water heaters when the system is experiencing peak usage.
The early newsletters would also publish
water heaters that can be remotely turned off
the “Dog House,” a list of members who didn’t
by the cooperative when there is high demand
pay their bills on time, and a list of “Early
across Verendrye’s system. Peak usage occurs
Birds” who were the first 10 to pay their bills.
during extremely hot or cold days. Verendrye
More than 100 members were in the “Dog
is able to lower its power bill because it gets
House” in April 1950.
a discounted rate from Basin Electric Power
ENCOURAGING THE USE OF APPLIANCES
Today, Verendrye encourages members to
Cooperative by participating in the program.
The water heaters are large and well insulated,
which helps the water stay hot even when the
purchase specific types of appliances, lighting
units are turned off for an extended period
and heating and cooling systems that are
of time.
energy efficient. A good example is the water
“The water heater program has been very
heater program. It provides members with
popular with our members because it saves
rebates and reduced rates if they purchase
them money, but it is also a great tool for
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in Verendrye’s service was built north of Velva
by Lawrence Linrud. The cooperative used
the home as a demonstration project before
offering an electric heating rate that was lower
than the standard rate. By 1964, there were 39
electric heat systems on Verendrye’s service.
Today, thousands of Verendrye members,
including Walmart, use electric heat.
INCREASING USAGE = DECLINING RATES
From 1951 to 1968 power costs steadily
declined. Members paid an average of around
4 cents a kwh in 1950 and less than 2 cents
a kwh in 1968. Today, the average residential
rate is around 8.5 cents a kwh. Nationwide, the
Verendrye Electric used to offer rebates for certain appliances, regardless of
their efficiency, as a way to encourage more energy usage.
Verendrye to manage its overall energy load,”
Hauck said.
Early members were encouraged to buy
appliances, but the motive was to encourage
more energy consumption. Verendrye once
offered rebates for ranges, refrigerators,
average price of electricity has only increased
about two times what it was in 1937.
“Electricity is a great value today, but
decades ago, it was so cheap that some
people thought we would get to a point where
we could charge a flat monthly rate without
metering it,” Hauck said.
In 1961, Business Manager Ruben Haga
explained why the board was able to approve
dishwashers, freezers, water systems and
washers and dryers. In 1963, the cooperative’s
rebate for those appliances was $10 to
a significant rate reduction. He wrote that
rates increased 15 percent in 1945 because
costs for materials had risen when the war
$15 each, depending on the appliance.
ended. However, because sales were strong
Advertisements in cooperative publications
– increasing from an average of 150 kwh
often encouraged members to purchase
electric appliances for Christmas gifts. In 1955,
Verendrye had a demonstrator clothes dryer
it would lend to members who wanted to see
how it worked. They were allowed to have it
for up to three days in their home. “You too
will agree that the old style clothes line is for
the birds,” an advertisement said.
A major milestone in electricity usage came
in 1957 when the first electrically heated home
monthly per account in 1945 to 730 kwh in
1961 – rates could be eased.
“With this increase of kwh usage and
therefore an increase in revenue, your
cooperative has been able to compensate
for the lean years and now has established a
desirable gain,” Haga wrote.1
1
Ruben Haga, “History of Verendrye Electric’s Rates,” North
Dakota REC/RTC, February 1961, 18.
54
Advertisements in the North Dakota REC/RTC Magazine often encouraged cooperative members to purchase more appliances. This ad, appearing
in a 1960 issue, was a call to men to buy appliances for their wives for Christmas.
55
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As sales continued to climb, the cooperative
to grow nationwide. But because member-
had such favorable conditions that in some
owners, not shareholders, are the focus of the
years in the 1960s capital credit checks totaled
cooperative, Verendrye’s leaders will continue
more than 20 percent of a member’s bill for
to work hard to keep rates as low as possible.
the year.
“Electricity sales are necessary for the
By the 1970s and 80s prices began to
cooperative to operate, but because we
climb as cooperatives had to pay for new
don’t have to worry about making a profit
power plants to meet rising demand for power.
for shareholders, we can focus on striking a
Pressure on prices is expected to continue as
balance between maintaining our system and
new environmental rules are placed on power
keeping rates as low as possible,” Hauck said.
plants and as demand for energy continues
WHAT IS A KILOWATT-HOUR?
Electricity is measured in units of power called
watts. It would require nearly 750 watts to equal one
horsepower. A kilowatt is the same as 1,000 watts.
Electricity use over time is measured in kilowatt-hours
(kwh). A kwh is equal to the energy of 1,000 watts
working for one hour. Verendrye uses kwh to determine
how much electricity a home or business uses. If you use
a 100-watt light bulb for 10 hours, you have used one kwh
of electricity, or if you run 10 light bulbs at 100 watts each for
one hour, you have also used one kwh.
56
Chapter 7
Verendrye powers
national defense
A plaque is unveiled on Oct. 24, 2013 to commemorate a B-52 Stratofortress model placed on the Minot Air Force Base. From left are Col. Alex Mezynski,
commander of the Minot Air Force Base, Scot Oathout, Boeing B-52 and Legacy Tanker Program Manager, and Verendrye Manager Bruce Carlson,
who is also chairman of the Military Affairs Committee. Another similar model is also on display at the Dakota Territory Air Museum in Minot.
B
y the early 1950s, members of Verendrye
“We feel very fortunate in securing a contract
Electric Cooperative had proven that a
such as this for it will change the financial picture
group of farmers could build a successful
for the future. Currently the Air Force is asking for
electric cooperative from scratch. But in 1955, the
2,000 kilowatts, a demand which is comparable to
cooperative would face a new test of its abilities
about one-sixth of the electricity used in the city of
– a test that to this day has proven to be one of its
Minot.”1 Today the base is Verendrye’s single largest
greatest achievements, resulting in a decades-long
user of electricity, comprising nearly 20 percent of
partnership to electrify one of the most powerful
its kilowatt-hour sales.
places on Earth.
Verendrye’s partnership with the Air Force
In the July 1955 issue of North Dakota REC/
actually began in June 1951, when it energized
RTC, Line Superintendent Ruben Haga announced
a radar base south of Minot. That base was
the cooperative signed a contract to power the Minot
decommissioned decades ago, and now contains a
Air Force Base. Haga described it as a “huge jet
number of privately owned homes.
air base.”
1
Ruben Haga, “Line Superintendent’s notes,” North Dakota REC/
RTC, Verendrye Electric News, July 1955, 10.
58
START OF MINOT AIR FORCE BASE
After World War II ended in 1945, the Soviet Union
emerged as a new threat to the United States. Because of the
Cold War, the U.S. began to look for possible sites for military
bases in northern states.
By 1955, Minot businessmen and citizens donated
approximately $50,000 to buy the first portions of land for the
base north of Minot. The groundbreaking took place July 12,
1955, and construction started shortly after that. The base
started out as an Air Defense Command Base and the first
unit was the 32nd Fighter Group, activated on Feb. 8, 1957.
The Air Force took up occupancy eight days later on Feb. 15.2
The first mission of the base was to send jets to shoot down
enemy bombers.
Minot Air Force Base, “Minot Air Force Base History,” http://www.minot.
af.mil/library/history.asp (accessed on August 28, 2013).
2
An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic
missile is launched at Vandenberg Air Force Base
in California. The Air Force periodically removes a
missile from a silo in North Dakota and test launches
it in California.
1st Lt. Jeremy King (left) and 2nd Lt. Glen Jasper (right), both from the 740th Missile Squadron, simulate launching a Minuteman III intercontinental
ballistic missile at the missile procedure trainer at the Minot Air Force Base. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Matthew Smith.
59
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Pictured here is the Minot AFB Main Gate in 1965. For decades, visitors to the base have been greeted with the words “Only the Best Come North.”
U.S. Air Force photo.
Throughout the years, the base has been home to a variety of aircraft, and in July 1961 the first B-52H
Stratofortress, named “Peace Persuader,” was stationed there. Today the base is only one of two bases with
B-52s; the other being Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.
In 1962, the base began constructing underground silos to house Minuteman I intercontinental ballistic
missiles (ICBM), with the first missile arriving on Sept. 9, 1963, and the missiles being ready for combat by
April 1964. The missiles were eventually upgraded to Minuteman III ICBMs and the base currently controls
150 of them. The only other bases that control Minutemans are F.E. Warren in Cheyenne, Wyo., and
Malmstrom in Great Falls, Mont.
60
TODAY’S MISSION
Today, the Minot Air Force Base remains a
critical part of our country’s national defense and is
BUILDING THE ELECTRICAL
SYSTEM
Verendrye initially had to build 20 miles of
the only base with two of the three components of
power lines to bring power to the base, and upgrade
the nuclear triad: bombers and missiles. The third
several miles of power lines from single-phase to
leg of the triad is nuclear submarines.
three-phase power. While these upgrades were
“It is very important that Minot Air Force Base
essential for the new base, the improvements also
with its dual nuclear mission of B-52s and missiles
helped other members by providing a more robust
remain a vital, robust, well-funded, well-supported
distribution system.
part of our military now and for generations to
In November 1961, Harlan Hanson, the
come,” Sen. John Hoeven said in August 2013 at a
Verendrye engineer at the time, announced
ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new $16 million air
Verendrye was awarded bids to serve 44 missile
traffic control tower and base operations facility.
sites. Hanson said bringing lines to the sites would
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, speaking at the same
be challenging because each one would require
event, described the base as the “second most
three-phase service. Each site would use enough
powerful on Earth” and urged continuing support of
electricity to power 30 farms. Crews had to convert
Minot AFB.
184 miles of line to three-phase service and build an
additional 29 miles of line.
Lineworker Burton Atkinson carries a large light bulb that was
installed in the light fixtures towering above the B-52 flightline on
the Minot Air Force Base. Verendrye has served the base since
the 1950s and was awarded a 50-year contract in 2011 to own
and maintain the electrical distribution facilities.
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This 1960s era photo shows the 5th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at the Minot Air Force Base. The base’s original mission was to provide jets that
could knock down enemy bombers that might fly into the U.S. from Russia. The base is now home to B-52 bombers and Minuteman III missiles.
Photo courtesy of the Minot Air Force Base.
The short timeline for construction was also a
and operate electrical distribution infrastructure.
challenge to Verendrye. “The completion dates, as
This arrangement helps all Verendrye members
set forth in our contract with the Air Force, are very
because of additional revenue and the availability of
rigid. They did not give us any time to loiter along
more resources. Three full-time lineworkers, who
the way,” Hanson wrote in March 1962.
work on the base, can be called on to help in other
areas during outages if needed. The contract meant
Because of the large footprint required for
150 missiles, the missile field is also powered by
that Verendrye had to construct a 4,000-square-foot
Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative, North
facility on the base for its workers and equipment.
Central Electric Cooperative, Burke-Divide Electric
“We’re extremely proud of the relationship
we have with the Air Force Base,” said Verendrye
Cooperative and McLean Electric Cooperative.
Although Verendrye has served the base since
Manager Bruce Carlson. “The relationship was
it was built, it did not always own and maintain
beneficial when the base was built and it remains a
the facilities there. In 2011, the cooperative was
vital part of our cooperative today.”
awarded a 50-year contract to purchase, maintain
Verendrye has taken steps to ensure the
62
Workers construct a missile site in this photo. Construction on the missile sites began in 1962 and the missiles were combat ready by 1964.
Verendrye provides power to 44 of the 150 sites. The missile field is also powered by Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative, North Central Electric
Cooperative, Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative and McLean Electric Cooperative.
lights stay on for national defense. John Westby,
Verendrye’s operations engineer, said Verendrye has
IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY
The base is crucial to North Dakota’s economy,
built the distribution system in a way that allows
with an economic impact of $584 million in 2013.
the base to be served from multiple sources. “We
The base has more than 1,700 housing units for
have three sources of power and each one could
members of the military and has a population of
run the entire base. There is triple redundancy,”
around 12,807, which includes 5,569 military
Westby said.
members, 6,053 family members and 1,185 civilians.
Verendrye also utilizes Supervisory Control and
Data Acquisition (SCADA), which alerts employees
About 50 percent of the population lives off base.
The Air Force has also proven its commitment
to potential problems in substations. “If something
to the community through the years, not only
goes wrong with a substation, we are going to see an
through its economic impact, but in other ways. In
alarm go off in our Velva office,” Westby said.
2011, the base showed its commitment to the area
by providing troops to help fight the historic Souris
River flood.
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Workers build a substation for the Air Force Base in this undated photo. Verendrye has powered the base since it opened in 1955.
“The flood was definitely evidence of the way
departure, said the power and endurance of the
people in this community care for each other,” said
B-52 symbolizes the long-lasting relationship with
Col. James Dawkins, commander of the base at that
the community. “The base is truly an extension of
time. “The relationship between the base and the
our community. We have been partners for over
community is one of the strongest I have seen in
50 years,” Mezynski said at an Oct. 17, 2013 event
my 23 years in the military. That strong linkage
commemorating a scale model of a B-52 on the base.
and interaction also gives the folks downtown an
Local businesses raised $75,000 for two models
intrinsic understanding of what our purpose is and
– one on the base and the other in the Dakota
what it means to serve in the military.”3
Territory Air Museum in Minot.
Although the strong relationship North
Col. Alex Mezynski, who took over as
Dakotans have had with the Air Force has developed
commander of the base following Dawkins’
over six decades, there were indications in the 1950s
Candi Helseth and Kent Brick, “Electric co-op’s services, support for
bases moves well into 21st Century,” North Dakota Living. July 2012, 13.
3
that the relationship would last.
64
“We want to become part of this
community because we are going to be
here for a long time,” said Lt. Col. Harry V.
Blankard, in 1959. Blankard was second in
command of the base at the time.4
Con Blomberg, “Verendrye Serves National Defense,”
North Dakota REC/RTC, September 1959, 6.
4
A B-52H Stratofortress soars through the sky during the rapid
launch exercise at the Minot Air Force Base. A sequence of
seven B-52s successfully launched confirming the Air Force’s
agile ability to respond when called upon. U.S. Air Force photo
by Airman 1st Class Jesse Lopez.
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Capt. Earl Schaller, pilot, and Capt. Brandon Wheeler, co-pilot, both from the 69th Bomb Squadron, move into position behind another B-52H
Stratofortress during a training mission. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lee A. Osberry Jr.
66
Chapter 8
Employees remember
technological advances
at the co-op
Lineworkers plow in new underground cable in this photo. No underground cable was used in the early days of the cooperative, but today it is
widely used.
V
erendrye members can pay their bills and
relied on hard-working employees to get the
check their hourly electricity usage on
job done. Many of those workers witnessed the
their computers and cell phones. When the
transformation to the modern age.
cooperative first started, some members didn’t even
have phones. During outages, dispatchers now use
calls from members and a sophisticated computer
THE EARLY BUSINESS OFFICE
Lillian DeKrey, who worked for the cooperative
system to pinpoint problems before lineworkers
from 1945 to 1982, remembers the tedious task of
arrive on scene.
processing bills and payments. Each bill would be
Verendrye has not always relied on modern
calculated by hand with an adding machine. Adding
technology to serve its members, but it has always
machines are mechanical devices in which you press
68
down number keys, then pull a lever to get the total.
“You added as much in your head as you could,”
DeKrey said. “We didn’t have much for equipment.”
She remembers bills being $3.50 a month for up to
40 kilowatt hours of electricity. Each member had
a card assigned to them, and if the meter reading
showed more than 40 kwh, the excess bill would
then be calculated by looking up numbers on a
rate sheet.
DeKrey still remembers the good feeling she
got when new members would sign up with the
cooperative. “Every time you added a little piece of
line the new members were so happy,” she said.
Gerry Deibert, a data processing manager who
worked at Verendrye from 1971 to 2005, helped
usher in the computer age at the cooperative. “I
was just amazed when I first came here. It was like
stepping back in time,” he said.
Office technology gradually progressed at
Verendrye, but personal computers were not used
by the cooperative until the 1980s. For many years,
bills were calculated with an adding machine that
produced a long paper tape. The tape could be sent
through the telephone lines with a teletype machine,
to a central data processing facility in Mandan
called North Central Data Cooperative (NCDC),
which was formed by Verendrye and a handful of
other cooperatives. The formation of the NCDC
was a big technological step for cooperatives, and
another example of how cooperatives formed other
ventures to save their members money. Once NCDC
received the data, it would then create bills and
send them back to Verendrye. In an announcement
to members in the North Dakota REC/RTC, Ruben
Haga compared the data processing of the 1960s to
Lillian DeKrey poses for a picture with lineworkers Clint Stevenson,
left, and Ruben Haga in the 1950s.
the technology of jets.
“Electronic data processing is the modern
way of management, like the jet age,” he said.
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Gerry Deibert, (top photo) a data
processing manager who worked at
Verendrye from 1971 to 2005, sits near a
teletype machine that was used to send
information to a central data processing
facility. Deibert helped usher in the
computer age at the cooperative.
Paul Froemming, (left photo) a work order
clerk, sits behind a desk near a mechanical
adding machine that was used before
calculators and computers. This picture
was taken in 1952.
“Computations can be done more rapidly,
Verendrye eventually used digital machines that
economically, accurately and effectively.”
would store information on tapes. Today, Verendrye
1
When NCDC’s data processing was implemented
calculates its own bills, but uses the National
in February 1966, Verendrye allowed people to call
Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC), to
the office collect for that month in case their bills
process them. NISC is a cooperative that was formed
were incorrect.
in 2000 after NCDC merged with the Central Area
Although NCDC made billing easier, the process
Data Processing Cooperative.
Deibert said at first technology progressed slowly
still required many hands and hours of work. The
bills came to Verendrye in one long sheet and had
at the cooperative because it was new territory to
to be torn apart from each other and stuffed into
cooperative leaders, but he credits the cooperative
envelopes by hand.
for being on the cutting edge of technology today.
“It seemed like it was always hard to get money
“That was a big day when we had to tear all
those bills apart and get them going. Of course it was
back then to upgrade. It wasn’t an area they knew
always a rush deal we had to hurry, hurry, hurry,”
too much about, so they were reluctant to do that,”
said Olive Kelly, an employee from 1976 to 1986.
he said.
1
Ruben Haga, “Data Processing to begin soon,” North Dakota REC/
RTC, Verendrye Electric News, December 1965, 13.
70
A group of lineworkers poses for a photo in front of Verendrye’s first digger boom truck that was purchased in 1960. Machinery has improved
working conditions at Verendrye over the years. The cooperative now has six bucket trucks, seven diggers and a host of other equipment to
help lineworkers do their job. Standing from left to right are: J.P. Ulrich, Charlie Boucher, George Fix, Charles “Bud” Hystad, Merle Holte,
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|
Marvin Unterseher, Robert Farstad, Jerry McDowell, Orville Roebuck, Curt Stevenson, Bob Stevenson, Archie Farstad, August Boechler,
Norman Olson, Joy Schlag and an unidentified safety instructor. Seated from left are: Raymond Babcock, Henry Hoffer, Harry Sanda, Alfred
Grossman, Don McFarland and Joe Duchsherer.
72
System Supervisor Tim Krumwiede (far left), Velva Area Forman Rick Erickson (green shirt), and Operations Supervisor Dan Kudrna, work in
Verendrye’s new dispatch room. Modern technology and wall-sized maps help employees manage outage repair and operate the distribution
system more efficiently.
TECHNOLOGY SLASHES
OUTAGE TIMES
Getting the bill on time is important to members
of a cooperative, but having power restored quickly
after an outage tops the list. Because of technology,
Verendrye can restore power much more quickly
and efficiently. From 1960 to 1986, average outage
times per member per year ranged from two to nine
hours. Since 1987, the average has been less than
two hours.
Starting in 1981, Verendrye began to utilize a
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system
(SCADA), which allows the cooperative to remotely
monitor the electrical system to detect and correct
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|
problems. Technology allows dispatchers to monitor
substations and switch lines remotely to reroute
power before lineworkers have to be called to
make repairs.
“The technology has come a long way. You can
switch a line from the office now and we couldn’t
do that when I was there,” said Harry Sanda, a
lineworker from 1960 to 1986.
Vern Moldenhauer, a lineworker from 1962 to
2001, said Verendrye used to rely solely on phone
calls to find outages. “The dispatcher would try to
figure out where all the calls were coming in from
and send the guys to that area,” he said.
Verendrye still needs members to call to report
Dispatcher Raymond Babcock takes a call in the old dispatch room at Verendrye Electric in 1963. Back then, phone calls from members provided
the main source of information to determine where outages were. Today, once Verendrye receives one outage call, employees use technology to
“ping” meters to help pinpoint outages before crews are sent to make repairs.
“Even our most rural substations have the same
outages, but because of the use of Advanced
Metering Infrastructure (AMI), commonly referred
level of automation and technology as substations
to as “smart meters,” once one outage call is
in Minot,” he said. “We are on the leading edge
received, Verendrye can communicate with meters
of technology.”
Another technological advancement that
in the vicinity and determine approximately where
and how widespread an outage is before lineworkers
revolutionized how Verendrye serves its members
are sent to make repairs. Verendrye can also read
is load-management technology. Load-management
meters remotely from the office and smart meters
programs allow the cooperative to monitor and
allow members to log onto their accounts online and
analyze times of peak usage and control certain
see their energy usage down to the hour.
equipment. Members who sign up for the off-peak
program receive a reduced rate in exchange for
John Westby, Verendrye’s engineering
and operations manager, said reliability and
allowing their appliances and other equipment to be
efficiency have improved dramatically throughout
controlled during peaks.
the cooperative’s entire service area because
of technology.
74
75
|
Pictured are a 1960s-era truck and a modern one. Bucket trucks hoist
lineworkers up poles. The increased availability of bucket trucks over
the years has reduced the amount of times lineworkers have to climb
poles.
76
Verendrye promotes technology
Verendrye helped get a wind monitoring site in place south of Minot
years before Basin Electric Power Cooperative built the 115-megawatt
Prairie Winds North Dakota wind farm south of Minot. Construction of the
wind farm began in August 2009 and was completed in December 2009.
The $250 million wind farm includes 80 turbines in addition to the two
that were built in 2002. Photo courtesy of Basin Electric.
MACHINERY AND TRAINING
TRANSFORMED
Computers have transformed outage restoration,
but so too have the prevalence of bucket trucks,
diggers, and other equipment. To get to the top of a
truck in so you had to use hooks.”
Sanda and other retired lineworkers will often
pole, lineworkers are either hoisted up in a bucket
jokingly brag about how many poles they have
truck, or they climb the pole with special hooks
climbed. “I have outlived a lot of guys and my
attached to their boots.
schoolmates are all gone,” Sanda said. “I suppose it’s
Gary Jensen, a lineworker from 1966 to 2005,
said he remembers climbing poles with hooks in
most instances in the early years of his career. “Back
because I climbed all those poles. I think I climbed
more poles that anyone alive today.”
Merle Holte, a lineworker from 1960 to 1994,
then almost everything you did was with hooks,” he
said he remembers the equipment being more
said. “A lot of those places you couldn’t get a bucket
“primitive” in his early years, but that there was
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Energy Advisor Tom Jespersen, right,
shows a class of Minot State University
students a solar pasture site. Verendrye
has provided solar leases to members
since 1990. The program allows ranchers
to have power to pump water without
having to build expensive power lines to
the sites.
This truck, powered by hydrogen, was
used in a wind-to-hydrogen demonstration
project that used electricity generated
from wind to extract hydrogen from water
with an electrolyzer. Verendrye, Central
Power Electric Cooperative, Basin Electric
Power Cooperative and the NDSU North
Central Research Extension Center worked
together on the project.
A tractor that used a mixture of sunflower oil and diesel for fuel was on
display at Verendrye’s 1981 annual meeting. Farmers found innovative
ways to use sunflowers in the 1980s. Sunflower hulls from a crushing
plant near Velva were also burned in the Neal Station, along with coal, as
fuel to generate electricity.
always a strong emphasis on safety and training.
go through on-the-job training and testing to achieve
“Verendrye has always been very safety-minded
journeyman status.
and through the years that progressed even more,”
While modern technology, equipment and
training have allowed Verendrye employees to serve
he said.
Lineworker training has also changed. Marvin
the members more efficiently than ever before, it has
Pedersen started working for Verendrye after first
always been the people at the cooperative who have
gaining experience with a contractor. Pedersen, who
made it into what it is today. Those who remember
was a lineworker from 1967 to 1997, said most of
some of the early struggles and triumphs of the
guys then did not attend lineworker school. “They
cooperative look back fondly at their serving the
started out and got their training mostly with the
members of the cooperative.
contactors. Because we didn’t have lineman school
“It’s nice to get up and go to work knowing you
at that time the way they do now,” he said. Now
like your job,” Pedersen said. “Verendrye was a good
lineworkers go through a program at Bismarck State
place to work.”
College or other schools across the country, and then
78
Chapter 9
FOOD, FUN AND POLITICS:
A history of Verendrye
Annual Meetings
Before moving the Verendrye annual meeting to Minot in 2000, they were held at the cooperative’s Velva office. This is a photo of the 1969 annual meeting.
T
he Verendrye Electric annual meeting
Chairman Blaine Bruner. “It was a time to meet up
epitomizes what it means to be a member
with your friends and neighbors you hadn’t seen in a
of a cooperative. Its lively atmosphere
while, but it was also important because it gave you a
provides a celebration of togetherness. Its election
chance to participate in your cooperative.”
While the quintessential elements of today’s
gives members democratic control of their
cooperative and its business meeting educates them
annual meetings have evolved over the years, most of
about the health of the cooperative. Add a delicious
what happens at the meetings is steeped in tradition
meal, entertainment and speeches from dignitaries,
going back to when the cooperative was founded.
Three weeks after Verendrye Electric was
and it becomes a time-honored tradition for the
incorporated, a meeting was held on Feb. 15, 1939,
whole family.
“When I remember the annual meetings as a
to elect the first officers who had the daunting task
kid, our whole family would take the day to attend
of leading a brand new electric cooperative. Because
and we knew it as Verendrye Day,” said Verendrye
the cooperative started in the town of Verendrye,
80
the first annual meetings were held there. The
be made to make changes to Verendrye policies or to
meetings, and the cooperative’s headquarters, were
thank officials for supporting the cooperative.
eventually moved to Velva, and the annual meeting
The 2012 annual meeting included a resolution
was moved to Minot in 2000 where it is held in the
to thank the City of Minot for renewing the
State Fair Center.
cooperative’s 20-year franchise. In 1979, a
resolution was passed to endorse nuclear energy,
DECISION MAKING
Annual meetings have always included election
even in the wake of the Three Mile Island incident.
A resolution against a Burlington Dam project
of directors, but many of the early ones also
was also passed that year. The Burlington Dam
included a number of mundane policy decisions,
project caused consternation among some people,
or administrative matters such as deciding on
including some city aldermen who later threatened
how much the cooperative should borrow from
to revoke Verendrye’s Minot city franchise over the
the Rural Electrification Administration. There
resolution. Other water-related resolutions passed
was even a resolution in 1940 directing the
at annual meetings included support of the Garrison
cooperative to use cedar poles and copper conductors
diversion project and support for dams along the
whenever possible.
Souris River.
Other meetings had greater implications, and
Another notable resolution was in 1967 when
included controversy. On November 22, 1940, a
Verendrye members passed a resolution against
special meeting was called to vote on moving the
corporate farming in North Dakota. Corporate
headquarters from Verendrye to Velva. The motion
farming is prohibited in North Dakota, but there
to move the headquarters failed 52-56, but the issue
have been a number of unsuccessful attempts to
resurfaced at a meeting on March 26, 1941, that was
overturn the ban.
held in the Velva High School. This time the motion
passed 162-49 and the headquarters was moved.
Many of the early meetings included groups
FARMING
Farm issues have taken center stage at many
of people voting by proxy, a process that allows
annual meetings, especially during the 1980s when
someone to vote on another person’s behalf. This
prices were low and drought caused hardships.
procedure would later prove to be controversial. The
In 1980, the keynote speaker was the U.S.
Verendrye board banned proxy voting at the 1954
Secretary of Agriculture Bob Berglund. Berglund
annual meeting and a group of outspoken opponents
spoke about how the Carter Administration would
sued. The case was eventually decided by the North
resume grain sales to the Soviet Union if the Soviets
Dakota Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the
would agree to pull out of Afghanistan. Carter halted
Verendrye board to ban proxy voting. The board
the sale of 17 million tons of grain to the Soviets in
banned proxy voting because it wanted as many
retaliation for their invasion of Afghanistan.1
people to attend annual meetings as possible.
Resolutions are also an important part of annual
meetings. Resolutions can be made to urge an elected
official to take a position on an issue. They also can
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A memorable meeting was in 1982 when
Verendrye leaders demonstrated the plight of
1
Phil Glende, “Bergland Says Embargoes Better than Waging War,”
Minot Daily News, June 30, 1980.
Former Sen. Byron Dorgan speaks at a Verendrye annual meeting. Pictured far left is former Verendrye Board Chairman Everett Dobrinski. Former
Sen. Kent Conrad is pictured farthest right and former Verendrye attorney John Petrik is next to him.
farmers by allowing them to pay for a portion of
Reagan Administration. That year, the members
their electric bill with grain. At that time, grain
passed a resolution to urge the Farmers Home
prices were not high enough for farmers to pay the
Administration to prioritize their loan program and
cost of producing it. Farmers were allowed to bring
put family farm needs at the forefront.
up to 15 bushels and received a credit of $5.32 per
In 1985, Sarah Vogel, an attorney in the civil
bushel, which was the cost to the farmers to produce
division of the N.D. Attorney General’s Office, spoke
it. Verendrye collected 6,500 bushels, about enough
about how pessimism among farmers was severe.
to make 273,000 loaves of bread. Byron Dorgan,
She noted that farm foreclosures had increased 300
then a freshman in the U.S. House, was the guest
percent from 1982 to 1984 and that 23 percent of
speaker at the meeting, and at that time Congress
all the state’s farmers were delinquent on loans.
was in a contentious debate over passing a farm bill.
She estimated that, on average, 88 farmers in each
county would go out of business that year. She was
“The pile of grain was huge. It was quite a
known for her efforts forcing the Farmers Home
sight,” said Verendrye Manager Bruce Carlson.
At the 1983 annual meeting, Dorgan returned,
Administration to extend due process in foreclosure
this time bringing Rep. E. Kika de la Garza, then
against farmers. She eventually went on to become
chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.
the state agriculture commissioner.2
The theme for the meeting that year was “A dairy
celebration.” Dorgan and de la Garza spoke about
the shortcomings of farm programs during the
2
Frank Strom, “Vogel Finds Some Cause for Optimism,” Minot
Daily News, June 22, 1985.
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BMX stunt bikers were a popular attraction at a past annual meeting.
David Reiten, general manager of KXMC-TV, left, former Sen. Kent Conrad, and Chester Reiten, pose for a photo together at an annual meeting.
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Verendrye Mechanic Jon Hauf collects ballots at the 2013 annual meeting. The annual
meetings give members a chance to vote for who they want to represent them on the
board, or to run for election.
Women intently watch some type of kitchen demonstration at an annual meeting in this undated photo.
84
Sen. John Hoeven, a Minot native, has attended numerous annual
meetings dating back to the time he was child. In this photo, taken in
2004, he was the governor of North Dakota.
DIGNITARIES
There’s no doubt the large number of people
attending Verendrye annual meetings draws in
politicians. Recent annual meetings have drawn
more than 3,000 people, and the governor is usually
on hand to greet the guests.
The earliest record of a governor speaking at an
annual meeting was on June 16, 1944, when Gov.
John Moses addressed the meeting and discussed
the Missouri River and the REA in front of 102
members. The first record of a Congressman
speaking at an annual meeting was on June 17, 1948,
when Rep. Charles Robertson, of North Dakota,
who was also a member of the House Appropriations
Committee, spoke about REA funding. The minutes
of that meeting read that “Mr. Roberts assured
us that everyone in Congress was our friend and
predicted a bright future for REA cooperatives.”
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Clyde T. Ellis, the first chief executive officer (CEO) of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), spoke at the annual meeting in
1965. At that time, he was considered the leader of the rural electrification movement, having served as the CEO of the NRECA since 1942.
86
Verendrye members square dance at a Verendrye annual meeting in this undated photo. Annual meetings have always had a festive atmosphere.
While the REA did have a bright future, not
going in the early days and what a wonderful thing
everyone in Congress was favorable to the program.
it was for people to get together,” he said.
Sen. John Hoeven, who has spoken at several
Verendrye was also honored to have had one
annual meetings during his time as governor, has
of the pioneers of rural electrification as a keynote
a long history of attending them. His father Jack, a
speaker. Clyde T. Ellis, the first CEO of the National
Verendrye member and staunch supporter, is among
Rural Electric Cooperative Association, spoke at
the most loyal of annual meeting attendees. Jack
the annual meeting in 1965. At the time, he was
said he remembers missing maybe only one annual
considered the leader of the rural electrification
meeting since 1968.
movement, having served as the CEO since 1942.
“I think annual meetings are important because
Prior to his time at the NRECA, Ellis served in
I like to know who is going to be elected to your
the U.S. House from Arkansas from 1938 to 1943.
board,” Jack said. “I brought John to the meetings as
According to a June 19, 1965 Minot Daily News
a little boy and he enjoyed them a lot, too, especially
article, 5,000 people turned out for the annual
the ice cream.”
meeting that year. Ellis spoke against efforts of
Jack said he is pleased with the board members
investor-owned utilities at the time that were
who have served over the years and he knows how
opposing an NRECA request to Congress for
important the cooperative is to many. “I know how
additional REA loan funds.
hard a lot of people worked to get the cooperative
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“When you consider the cost of building and
This 1954 advertisement published in the North Dakota REC/RTC Magazine told of the importance of attending the annual meeting.
Although annual meetings have changed over the years, the reasons to attend remain the same.
88
Today’s annual meeting meals are prepared indoors, but past ones included outdoor cooking such as meat cooked on a rotisserie.
maintaining rural power lines, it is easy to see
between the people of Iraq and North Dakota.
that you operate at a tremendous disadvantage in
Fourteen years later in 1990, the United States and
comparison with the private power companies,
UN coalition forces went to war with Iraq after the
few of which have ever evidenced any interests in
country invaded Kuwait, and in 2003, the United
serving the thinly settled regions of rural America,”
States invaded Iraq again.
Ellis said.3
Some guests came from far away, including
Another notable figure who attended an annual
meeting was Britt Hume, an investigative journalist
Amin El-Hassan, head of Iraq’s mission to the
who later became ABC’s chief White House
United States, who visited in 1976 and signed a
correspondent and eventually worked for FOX
statement of friendship with Gov. Arthur Link,
News before retiring. Hume spoke at the annual
meeting in 1972.
3
Minot Daily News, “5,000 at Verendrye REA Session,” June 19,
1965.
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Verendrye annual meetings typically draw more than 3,000 attendees.
This is a photo of the 1960 annual meeting. That year, Verendrye served 1,600 dinners, which included 600 pounds of beef, 90 gallons of pop and
2,300 ice cream cones.
90
The Harvey Clown Band entertained guests at past annual meetings.
Verendrye members use a large wire spool as a table to enjoy their annual meeting dinner.
Entertainment at past annual meetings included rides in Verendrye bucket trucks.
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In 1982, Verendrye leaders demonstrated the plight of farmers by allowing them to pay for a portion of their electric bill with grain. At that time, grain
prices were not high enough for farmers to pay the cost of producing it. Standing are former board member Ralph Birdsall, right, and former manager
Wally Beyer, left. Seated are former board member Cliff Gjellstad, right, and Robert Carlson, former North Dakota Farmers Union president.
92
Verendrye Manager Bruce Carlson greets guests at an annual meeting in the State Fair Center in Minot. Long ago, guests ate dinner outside at
the annual meetings.
FOOD, PRIZES AND
ENTERTAINMENT
Verendrye’s annual meetings are the most well-
dining hall in the State Fair Center. Meals have been
a tradition at the annual meetings, and it was even
attended of any distribution cooperative in the state,
noted in the 1940 annual meeting minutes that a
and are known for their lively atmosphere.
free meal was served to the members.
“Verendrye has always had a picnic or a party
Before the Royal Fork began serving the
atmosphere more so than the other cooperatives and
meeting, various local groups around Velva,
it was always one of the biggest,” said retired board
including the Velva Music Mothers, would serve
member Ralph Birdsall.
food. Past meals include homemade potato salad,
People familiar with today’s Verendrye annual
meetings might rave about how a delicious meal of
beans, chicken, roast beef and even bison.
Entertainment is also a tradition at the annual
meatballs, mashed potato and gravy are served, or
meeting. The first mention of entertainment in the
how Verendrye linemen hand out ice cream from a
meeting minutes was the Velva Band performing in
large refrigerated truck parked in the middle of the
1948. Entertainment usually includes clowns and
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Verendrye Chairman Blaine Bruner draws a name to win a cash prize at the 2013 annual meeting while Administrative Assistant
Val Heisler calls to see if the person drawn is registered at the meeting.
games for kids, and a local musical group for the
Prizes have also been a tradition at annual
adults. Past annual meetings often included pony
meetings. At the 1945 annual meeting, the main
rides, and once included rides in a Verendrye bucket
prizes awarded were a $25 war bond awarded to
truck. There were also clown bands and BMX
Christ W. Linnertz and an electric butter churn won
bicycle stunt performers.
by A.J. Kittelson.
“We’ve always had a focus on kids,” Carlson
To this day, the Verendrye annual meeting is
considered a tradition for many members of the
said.
cooperative. Not only is it a time to get together
The annual meetings include displays and
demonstrations, including a truck that used
and celebrate the cooperative’s history and
hydrogen for fuel, solar panels and electric safety
accomplishments, it is a day to remember what it
displays. At the 1949 annual meeting, a county
means to be a part of a cooperative.
extension agent gave a talk about “home freezing”
that included a demonstration on how to prepare
meats for a freezer.
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Men gather around an old tractor driven by Delbert Krumwiede at a past annual meeting.
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VEC members remember
annual meetings
It was a big day on the Norenberg (Carl) Farm
when the Verendrye meeting was held in the Velva
City Park. The chores seemed to get done early
without any complaining!
We arrived to stand in long lines for a great meal –
more often than not it would be raining – but no one
seemed to mind. Then it was off to the park to play
while the oldsters caught up on news with friends and
neighbors. The meeting was next which didn’t thrill
the kids too much. Names were drawn for a bike, but
I never won. As years passed, my parents died and
the farm became ours and if possible we still attend
Verendrye Day meetings in Minot and after all these
years, my name was drawn for $500 in 2007!
--Norma Anfinson, Bismarck, ND
(farm north of Granville)
Our family attended the Verendrye Electric annual
picnic at Velva for a couple of years before the move
to Minot at the State Fair Center. Our children were
young at the time and loved going to the Verendrye
picnic. The first year we attended at the State Fair
Center my oldest son Jacob proclaimed “We’re at an
underground picnic!” Jacob turned 16 this spring
and our whole family still calls the Verendrye annual
meeting the “Underground Picnic.” The last year the
annual meeting was held in Velva was 1999.
-Kolette Kramer, Towner
96
Chapter 10
Grassroots support
is key to a strong co-op
The annual meeting has always been the premiere event for the cooperative to gather its grassroots supporters together.
W
said former Verendrye board member Hilton Sollid.
hen H.H. Blackstead and other
That same grassroots support Verendrye Electric
founders went door-to-door asking
people to help start a cooperative, they
relied on for its birth has been vital throughout
were asking for more than a $5 membership fee;
its history as the cooperative has faced numerous
they were asking for grassroots support. Supporting
political battles ranging from local territorial issues
the cooperative was done out of necessity because no
to attacks in Washington on the REA program itself.
one else, including investor-owned utilities, would
“The cooperative family is strong and it
percolates up from the bottom,” said retired
bring electricity to rural areas.
Verendrye employee Bob Horne, who managed
“We’d get together, and organize and put
together something to help ourselves, and that’s the
VEC’s Minot office for 20 years and also served in
basic thing, of course, for the co-ops: If they aren’t
the North Dakota Legislature.
going to do it for you, you have to do this yourself,”
98
This 1960s-era advertisement that appeared in the ND REC/RTC Magazine illustrates how bringing electricity to rural areas was considered a
moral obligation by cooperative leaders. Because cooperatives focused on improving people’s lives, rather than making profits, rural electrification
became a strong grassroots movement backed by millions of people throughout the U.S.
99
|
Verendrye members visit the Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE) booth at an annual meeting. ACRE is a bipartisan, grassroots political
action committee that supports candidates who support policies favorable to electric cooperatives. In 2005, Verendrye Electric won the Walking
the Wood award from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) for being the top performing cooperative in ACRE involvement.
In 2013, Verendrye Electric Manager Bruce Carlson won the William F. Matson Democracy award for outstanding accomplishments and service to
rural electric cooperatives through political action, political education and member participation.
RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AS
A SOCIAL MOVEMENT
Rural electrification was a social movement
aimed at bringing equality to rural residents who did
not have the same quality of life as city residents.
Depression-era policies like the Rural Electrification
Act of 1936 helped cooperatives get their footing
with low-interest loans and technical assistance, but
a grassroots movement to improve the conditions
of rural people started decades before that. Before
the REA, only about 10 percent of farms were
electrified. Today, almost all rural areas have access
to electricity.
President Theodore Roosevelt took some of
the first crucial steps toward a plan to light up the
countryside. Roosevelt appointed the Country Life
Commission to publish a report on how the lack of
services in rural areas created disparities between
city and rural residents. The report suggested the
use of federal hydropower and the organization
100
A large group of Verendrye’s grassroots supporters attend a meeting with area legislators in 2012. The cooperative relied on a grassroots movement
to start the cooperative, and relies on supporters today for political support.
of cooperatives to help electrify rural areas. He
today represents more than 900 cooperatives. The
was also a strong advocate of “preference power,”
NRECA has been called upon countless times to
which requires federal power marketing agencies
defend against attacks on federal programs that help
(PMAs) to give preference to electric cooperatives
cooperatives. One of the most memorable attacks
and municipal utilities to purchase low cost
on cooperatives is known as “Black Friday” by
hydropower.1 Verendrye receives preference power
cooperative leaders.
generated from the Garrison Dam that’s marketed by
the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA).
On Dec. 29, 1972, President Richard Nixon’s
administration ended the REA’s low-interest loan
program in favor of higher interest loans from
COOPERATIVES FORM THE
NRECA
Once cooperatives began to grow strong, they
formed a unified grassroots network starting with
the Rural Development Act, and refused to spend
authorized funds for other rural programs. REA
supporters flooded Washington, D.C., and by May
1973, the program was restored.2
state organizations and later a national organization.
“I can remember the groundswell and we went
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
to Washington and had massive rallies and not just
(NRECA) was established in 1942, initially for the
North Dakota, but all over the nation, to show the
purpose of getting restrictions on supplies lifted
political muscle and the Congress had to overturn
when they became scarce during World War II.
these types of things,” said Gary Williamson, a
The organization grew into a strong lobbying
arm of cooperatives in Washington, D.C., and
1
Richard A. Pence, ed., The Next Greatest Thing: 50 Years of Rural
Electrification in America, Washington, D.C.: National Rural Electric
Cooperative Association, October 1984, 39-41.
101
|
former VEC employee and legislator before serving
as manager of Central Power Electric Cooperative
for many years.
2
Ibid, 197.
1,400 rural electric leaders gathered in Washington, D.C.’s Mayflower Hotel on January 23, 1973, to protest the Nixon
Administration’s move to terminate the REA loan program on December 29, 1972. Congress restored the program on
May 11, 1973. Photo courtesy of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).
102
Cliff Gjellstad, a Verendrye director from 1985 to 2012, speaks at the dedication of Prairie Winds ND 1 in 2010. Cliff is a past chairman of Basin
Electric Power Co-op. Verendrye is one of 137 cooperatives that own Basin. The directors that lead Basin come from the distribution cooperatives
that own it.
Member control from the
meter to the power plant
W
hen Verendrye Electric was
Today, electric cooperatives sell
established, the cooperative didn’t
approximately 50 percent of the electricity in
own its own power plants, and had
North Dakota with $1 billion of investments
to rely on purchasing power from investor-
into distribution facilities and $5 billion of
owned utilities. Now cooperatives control their
investments into generation and transmission
own destiny by owning and operating power
infrastructure.
plants with a leadership structure that begins
with the members.
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Managing the cooperative-owned
generation and high-voltage transmission
ALL POLITICS ARE LOCAL
The NRECA provides cooperatives a say
system is a democratic process that starts
with the individual member-owners at each
of the distribution cooperatives. Verendrye
and five other distribution cooperatives have
in federal issues, but some of Verendrye’s most
important issues have been decided on the state
and local levels. Before the NRECA was created,
cooperatives in a number of states had created
an ownership stake in Central Power Electric
statewide organizations to lobby on a statewide
Cooperative, a transmission cooperative,
level. North Dakota cooperatives formed the North
and 137 cooperatives own Basin Electric
Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives
Power Cooperative, a generation and
(NDAREC) in 1958.
transmission cooperative. Verendrye’s board
of directors elect a representative to serve
One of the most prickly problems cooperatives
faced was protecting their customer base from being
swallowed up by nearby investor-owned utility
on the Central Power board. The Central
companies. Once cooperatives became more
Power board then elects a representative
established and cities began to grow, investor-owned
to serve on the Basin Electric board. The
utilities would build services into co-op territory to
process is repeated in each of Basin’s 11
serve lucrative new areas of growth. Cooperatives
districts which are spread out over nine
were successful, with the help of a unified voice
states serving 2.8 million members.
through the NDAREC, in passing the landmark
Territorial Integrity Act (TIA) of 1965.
An example of how control starts at the
The TIA was passed to protect territory of
meter and continues to the power plant
cooperatives and prevent wasteful duplication of
is former Verendrye board member Cliff
services. Williamson, who voted for the TIA as
Gjellstad. Cliff was elected to the Basin
Electric board in 2000 and became chairman
a legislator, remembers Verendrye racing against
Northern States Power Co. (now Xcel Energy),
in 2010 before retiring from cooperative
to extend lines into areas that were thought to
leadership in 2012. Gjellstad was born and
be potential growth areas. “Verendrye was very
raised on a farm near where Verendrye
aggressive in attempting to put lines where they
Electric started.
thought the development would come,” Williamson
“Cliff’s time as chairman of Basin Electric
was a great example of how cooperatives
use the democratic process to control the
cooperative from the bottom up,” said
Verendrye Manager Bruce Carlson.
said. “People thought I was kind of nuts, but I’d
sign-up billboards and we’d string wire to billboards
and put mercury vapor lights on them to get into
the territory.”
Both Williamson and Horne describe the
passage of the TIA as a major accomplishment for
cooperatives. “The greatest event in North Dakota
was probably the Territorial Integrity Law of 1965,”
Horne said. “It had a great affect on Verendrye
because that allowed the city council of Minot to
104
DOBRINSKI IS A
GRASSROOTS LEADER
A great example of
leadership starting at the
grassroots level is Everett
Dobrinski, a past Verendrye
chairman, who is Chairman of
CoBank.
CoBank, a cooperative
bank based in Denver,
provides loans and other
financial services to rural
electric cooperatives,
agribusiness, rural water
systems and communications
providers in all 50 states.
CoBank has 24 directors
elected from six regions of
the country. It is Verendyre
Electric’s secondary lender.
Everett began serving on
the CoBank board in 1999 and
was elected chairman in 2008.
He served on the Verendrye
Electric board from 1985
to 2012, having served as
chairman for many years. He
is the owner and operator of
Dobrinski Farm, a cereal grain
and oilseed farm in Makoti.
Tom Mund, a former director at Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative, testifies in 2005 in the State
Capitol in Bismarck against legislation to limit where cooperatives can serve new members.
Cooperatives have defeated several proposals to limit where they can serve thanks to a strong
network of grassroots supporters. Photo courtesy of the North Dakota Association of Rural
Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC).
enter into an agreement with NSP (Xcel Energy) and Verendrye to
draw that territorial line around Minot, which gave us the wherewithal
to build our base on the outside of Minot.”
The TIA stopped many territorial battles, but not all of them. Years
after the TIA was passed, Chester Reiten, longtime Minot mayor and
Republican legislator, brought Verendrye Electric and NSP to the table
to help resolve territorial disputes. “Chet got tired of the continual
lawsuits that he thought slowed growth in the area, so he called the
NSP head in Minneapolis and us, and we sat down and worked it out,”
said former VEC Manager Wally Beyer.
The City of Minot approved a 20-year franchise for both utilities
in 1992 without any opposition from either utility or the public. The
franchise was renewed again in 2012 without opposition. Verendrye’s
first franchise with Minot dates back to 1973. Verendrye also has
franchises to serve areas of Velva, Surrey, Burlington, Berthold and
Harvey.
The TIA has been challenged on many occasions through the years,
but cooperatives have been successful in fighting back the challenges
thanks in part to their strong grassroots support. One example is
the 1999 legislative session when IOUs introduced Senate Bill 2389
that was aimed to gut the TIA. Hundreds of cooperative supporters
throughout the state crowded committee hearings and wrote letters
against the bill before it was soundly defeated.
“There’ve always been challenges to it and so far the co-ops
have prevailed, in my opinion, because they stay active politically,”
Williamson said.
(Cleo Cantlon contributed to this chapter)
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How can you become involved
in your cooperative?
V
erendrye Electric encourages its
members to become more involved in
their cooperative, and there are several
levels of involvement ranging from attending
informational meetings to becoming a director. If
you have questions about how to become more
involved, contact an employee or director of
Verendrye.
MEMBER ADVISORY COMMITTEE
You can become the co-op’s “eyes and ears”
by joining the Member Advisory Committee.
To become a member of the committee, you
must be nominated by a director. There are
normally around 60 members of the committee.
There are one or two meetings of the Member
Advisory Committee each year. The meetings
allow members to discuss policies, cooperative
ANNUAL MEETING
programs and energy-related topics with staff
The easiest way for members to be involved
and directors. Members also get newsletters,
in their cooperative is to attend their annual
and some help assist with the annual meeting.
meeting each year, which is held the second
Many of Verendrye’s board of directors first
Thursday in June. The annual meeting is
served on the committee.
important because members can vote for the
candidates they want to represent them on the
board, and also vote on proposed resolutions.
The annual meeting is also a good time to learn
about the cooperative and voice your concerns
with directors and employees.
ACRE
Members can help their cooperative in
the political arena by becoming members of
the Action Committee for Rural Electrification
(ACRE). Membership levels begin at $25 and the
funds go toward supporting political candidates
CAUCUS MEETINGS
who support policies favorable to cooperatives.
For those who want to become more involved
ACRE members are invited to a complimentary
by running for a position on the board, the
dinner every other year where they can meet
caucus meetings are the place to start. Each
candidates for the Legislature and city and
April, Verendrye holds one caucus meeting in
county offices. There is also a special ACRE
each of its three districts where you can nominate
reception at each annual meeting with a special
someone to run for the board, or be nominated
presentation on national, state and local issues
to run for the board. These meetings also give
affecting cooperatives.
members a chance to hear presentations about
how the cooperative is doing.
106
Chapter 11
Storms and disasters have
tested Verendrye over the years
The 1983 ice storm was such a significant event that lineworkers and members who helped restore power were given a commemorative belt buckle.
1983 ICE STORM WAS A BEAST
Y
“I’ve never seen an ice storm as bad as that ‘83
storm in our area,” said Gene Shoenberg, who farms
southwest of Velva.
ear-by-year, mile-by-mile, Verendrye
Electric has built an electrical distribution
The storm started on Friday, March 4, when it
began to rain. Temperatures hovered right around
system serving thousands of member-
owners. In one weekend in March 1983, a large
the freezing mark, and the rain eventually froze,
part of that system was destroyed. Poles snapped
layering poles and wires with thick ice.
and splintered after freezing rain coated wires with
Schoenberg remembers Verendrye calling him
five pounds of ice per foot in places, leaving over a
at 3:30 Sunday morning asking him to drive from
thousand members in the dark.
his farm to Velva to report on how many poles
were toppled. His farm is about 12 miles south of
Verendrye has faced the wrath of Mother
Nature on several occasions, but the 1983 ice storm
Velva and five miles west. “I drove towards Ruso
remains the disaster to which all other disasters
and Velva to count poles and there were about 34
are compared.
down,” Schoenberg said. “When I left Velva and
108
This photo shows a 1,000-foot radio tower that was knocked down in the 1983 ice storm. Photo courtesy of the Minot Daily News.
went back home about four or five hours later, I
counted at least 80 poles down.”
Verendrye’s report in North Dakota REC/RTC
By Monday, March 7, the beast damaged 2,200
poles, downed more than 100 miles of power lines
and darkened the lives of 1,145 members. Hardest
described the storm as a beautiful and ugly sight.
hit were the Ryder-Makoti and Burlington-Des Lacs
“March indeed roared in like an icy beast. Beautiful,
areas where rainfall was heaviest.
yes – as ice entombed grasses and trees, creating a
Larry Erickson, who lives south of Minot,
fairyland in the glistening sunshine. For an electrical
remembers being without power for several days.
cooperative, however, the beauty was transformed
Erickson, whose father Lawrence Erickson served
into a beast.”
on the Verendrye board from 1948 to 1969, was one
1
of several farmers who helped Verendrye recover
1
Verendrye Electric Cooperative. “Beauty versus Beast!” North
Dakota REC/RTC Magazine. April 1983, 61-62.
109
|
from the storm.
“We had a tractor with a dozer and we helped
open roads for Verendrye,” Erickson said. “Out
here, people always work together to help out
their neighbors.” He and his family kept warm
with a kerosene heater, which became a popular
item because of the outage. “We hauled around a
kerosene heater to keep warm and we even used it
to heat up our coffee,” he said.
It is common for Verendrye to enlist the help
of members to repair outages, but in 1983 some
members helped in unique ways. Members were
organized into what were called “ice beater” crews.
Dozens of men would go out with Verendrye
lineworkers and beat ice off of downed wires
that were de-energized. Curt Hall, a Verendrye
lineworker from 1976 to 2011, serving as foreman in
Berthold before retiring, recalled recruiting people in
Berthold to help de-ice the wires.
“The ice was so thick, you couldn’t put the line
back up,” Hall said in a 2011 interview. “We would
get whoever would want to help and they would
beat the ice off of the lines with bats and hammers.”
Schoenberg was part of a crew assigned to beat
the ice off of downed lines. He said over a few days,
he and five or six other men cleared ice off of about
seven miles of line. The crew lined up about 100
feet apart from each other and would whack the
power lines with broken ax handles or sticks. “You
had to hit the lines at least every foot and when you
got to where the next guy was done clearing the
ice, you would leap frog ahead to the next section,”
Schoenberg said.
This one-foot piece of ice weighing five pounds was taken off of a
power line near Des Lacs after the 1983 ice storm.
Don Roen, a former Verendrye board member,
was enlisted to be in charge of a crew of area farmers
whose task was to remove hardware from broken
poles that could be re-used on new poles. Some
power lines fell onto frozen sloughs and became
stuck on the ice. “The lines froze into the ice and we
110
Don Roen, left, and his son help remove hardware from broken poles
after the 1983 ice storm that to this day is the most damaging storm
Verendrye Electric has encountered.
111
|
were chipping away the ice to get them loose,” Roen
said. “That was the toughest part of the job because
you had to be careful not to hit the wires as you
were chipping.”
The storm caused major problems for KXMCTV, a Verendrye member with a broadcast tower
southwest of Minot. The storm toppled their tower,
leaving Minot and the surrounding area without
a KXMC broadcast for a few days. David Reiten,
general manager of KXMC-TV, said he was working
in Dickinson at the time, but he remembers his
father, Chester, telling him about the storm.
“We were not on air at all for a few days until
we got what was called a stub tower,” Reiten said.
The stub tower allowed the station to broadcast, but
the range was limited. Reiten said it took weeks to
regain their full capabilities and they installed a new
tower later that year. “It was quite an experience,
but we ended up getting a new tower with a
better antenna.”
It took 175 workers, 28 bucket trucks and 36
diggers to help repair the damage from the storm.
A number of other electric cooperatives and
contractors helped. The total damage cost about
$2.5 million to repair, which is about $5.8 million in
today’s dollars.
Many storms have caused damage to Verendrye’s
system over the years, but most pale in comparison
to the 1983 storm. More recent storms include those
in the winter of 2009-10. That winter there were
three notable storms – a blizzard Christmas Day that
brought two feet of snow to some areas in one day,
a January blizzard with winds approaching 50 miles
an hour, and an Easter weekend blizzard bringing
heavy, wet snow that damaged 100 poles.
112
A Verendrye truck is stuck in the snow in a blizzard in January 2010 after sliding in the ditch.
A January 2010 blizzard didn’t stop Jim Hagen and other lineworkers from restoring an outage
south of Minot. Winds gusting more than 40 mph reduced visibility and made work difficult.
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|
A farmer helps pull a Verendrye bucket truck through muddy fields in April 2010 after a Good Friday storm knocked out power to 300 members.
The Easter 2010 outages affected 300 Verendrye
damage from a snowstorm again in the fall of 2013
that caused millions of dollars in damage.
members, some going without power for three
The ice storm of 1983 has gone down in history
nights. Other cooperatives didn’t fare as well in
2010. The Easter outage at Mor-Gran-Sou Electric
as the worst to hit Verendrye Electric members, and
Cooperative, based in Mandan, took down 600
to this day it is a reminder of how Mother Nature
miles of power lines and damaged 12,000 poles.
can be a beast.
Verendrye Electric and several other cooperatives
“After seeing the devastation and hardship the
and contractors were brought in to help rebuild
1983 ice storm created, when I hear about other
Mor-Gran-Sou’s power lines after that storm.
storms, I have a soft spot for those who are going
Cooperatives in southwest North Dakota and parts
through it,” Roen said.
of South Dakota also experienced widespread
114
Verendrye Electric Cooperative’s Velva headquarters was protected by a dike during the 2011 Souris River flood. Fortunately, it was not needed
because the dikes along the river saved Velva from flooding.
115
|
Several Verendrye employees help fellow coworker D.J. Randolph
sandbag his home near Logan during the 2011 flood.
FLOOD OF 2011 AFFECTED
VERENDRYE MEMBERS AND
EMPLOYEES
The Souris River flood of 2011 didn’t cause as
much damage to Verendrye’s system as the 1983 ice
storm, but its impacts were longer lasting and more
devastating to people who were affected.
Sirens sounded in Minot on June 22 at 12:57
p.m., signaling the dikes could no longer hold back
the floodwaters. Approximately 12,000 people had
to evacuate their homes. Although Verendrye does
not serve the center of Minot, it does have hundreds
of accounts in city limits that were flooded.
Water damaged about $2.4 million worth of
electrical meters, transformers, underground power
lines and power poles in Verendrye’s system. The
damage occurred in Minot and in rural areas in the
river valley. Nearly 1,000 Verendrye members were
affected with approximately 670 losing power for
some period of time.
116
Flooding was so severe in Minot that water touched this railroad bridge
on Sixth Street near City Hall.
“A flooding catastrophe is much more
devastating than an ice storm. When we have an ice
storm, we know where the power line is down and
we’ve got kind of a feeling for how long it’s going
to take to get it back in. With this disaster, we had
no idea what had all failed in the river valley,” said
Verendrye Manager Bruce Carlson.
The flood also caused logistical problems for
Verendrye workers because water blocked major
transportation routes in Minot and Velva, resulting
in miles of backed-up traffic in some areas. The
cooperative also built a dike around its Velva office,
but it was not needed because dikes along the river
held and saved Velva.
117
|
Members of the North Dakota National Guard toss sandbags to increase the height of dikes in Velva during the 2011 flood. Both the Guard and
airmen from the Minot Air Force Base were instrumental in helping save Velva. ND National Guard Photo.
118
Transportation was made difficult during the 2011 flood. In this
picture, U.S. Highway 52 just west of Velva was impassible.
Photo by Karen Thomas.
119
|
A power line owned by Central Power Electric Co-op., Verendrye’s
transmission cooperative, was taken down by floodwaters in 2011.
120
Homes of four Verendrye employees were
flooded and several Verendrye employees helped
their fellow co-workers, family and friends recover
from the most devastating flood the region has
ever faced.
The flood provided cooperatives across the state
a chance to live up to the principle of commitment
to community by helping to restore electrical
infrastructure in Minot’s Oak Park in 2012. More
than 60 cooperative employees from 14 cooperatives
helped on the project.
“Never in my wildest dreams would I have
imagined having 60-plus REC employees from across
the state helping with a project this large,” Carlson
said. “It was a great day in Oak Park.” The project
was important to the city because the park was the
location of a community event that marked the oneyear anniversary of when the sirens sounded.
“This means a great deal to the community,”
Minot Mayor Curt Zimbelman told the cooperative
employees. “This will be a big lift for our city.”
Pictured are Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),
manufactured homes that were used as housing for people displaced
from their homes after the 2011 Souris River flood. Verendrye Electric
served around 1,100 FEMA homes on four group sites and on many
private sites. The installation of power for the homes at the groups sites
was a massive undertaking that Verendrye Electric completed in about
two and a half months in order to help people get into the homes as
soon as possible.
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More than 60 electric cooperative employees from 14 cooperatives around the state helped rewire Minot’s Oak Park in June 2012.
122
Chapter 12
Growth makes
the cooperative strong
Officials celebrate an expansion of the Archer Daniels Midland plant east of Velva in 2007. The plant was originally owned by Midwest Processing
as a sunflower crushing plant until ADM purchased it and converted it to a canola crushing plant.
W
1980s
hen Verendrye leaders started the
cooperative, they needed as many
March 1981 was significant for Verendrye
members as possible to make it viable.
because it began serving the Dakota Square Mall in
Some new members had to be convinced that the
Minot. As the city grew, Verendrye served much of
cooperative way of bringing power to the people
the new growth, including both retail and residential
would succeed. But once people saw Verendrye gain
members. From 1981 to 1982, the cooperative saw a
its footing, new members flocked to the cooperative,
10.7 percent increase in electricity sales, the largest
resulting in growth that provided a strong
single year increase in the past three decades. Much
foundation.
of this increase was because of the new mall.
Growth is good for the cooperative because it
Jim Jensen, a realtor who developed the mall,
means there are more people to help pay for fixed
said many people, including executives at Northern
costs, which include things like power plants,
States Power (NSP), which is now Xcel Energy, did
substations poles, wires, transformers and offices.
not believe a mall would be built in south Minot
Verendrye has been blessed with strong periods
where it is today. “Northern States Power didn’t
of growth in its 75-year history, with notable
think anything would happen out there. They had
expansions in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and beyond.
no interest in it,” Jensen said.
124
An aerial view shows the Dakota Square Mall in Minot in the early 1980s. Much of the land seen vacant in the top of the photo is now developed.
Verendrye serves the mall and surrounding areas.
He convinced Verendrye Manager Wally Beyer
“For most businesses to succeed there is a
to build service into the area. “From that point on
window of opportunity. The time was right for
it was a tremendous thing for Verendrye and the
this to happen and without Verendrye Electric’s
community.”
forward thinking and interest in seeing our area
Jensen appreciated Verendrye’s help so much
grow, it would not have happened,” Jensen wrote.
that in 2001 he wrote a letter of support to a
The bill was eventually tabled, which means it was
legislative committee that was hearing Senate Bill
effectively killed without legislators having to vote
2418. The bill would have made it unlawful for
on it.
electric co-ops to serve any new customer locations
The 1980s also brought a major new industrial
in cities of 2,500 people or more. In the letter, he
member to Verendrye with the opening of the
explained how Verendrye was willing to bring
Midwest Processing plant, a sunflower crushing
service to the mall and install underground utilities
plant east of Velva. Archer Daniels Midland later
in other areas when NSP would not.
bought the plant and converted it to crush canola.
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Verendrye Electric serves 16 hotels in Minot, including the Candlewood Inn and Suites and the Souris Valley Suites pictured here. Several new hotels
were built in Minot from 2008 to 2013.
Today, it is one of Verendrye’s top members in
terms of electricity usage.
Verendrye grew from 6,907 meters served in
1980 to 8,232 in 1989, an increase of 19 percent.
Growth then tapered off until the mid-1990s.
Although the 1980s brought some major new
loads to Verendrye, the decade also brought tough
economic times for some. From 1985 to 1986, the
cooperative actually had a net loss of 29 meters.
The loss was attributed to a poor farm economy
coupled with drought that forced some farmers out
of business.
1990s
Starting in 1993, the cooperative began to
enter another period of growth. The economy was
improving and Minot was growing. The city also
had an aggressive economic development effort that
Minot Milling, which grinds durum for making pasta, is one of Verendrye’s
biggest users of electricity. It was one of a number of economic
development projects in Minot in the 1990s.
brought in several new businesses.
126
VERENDRYE ELECTRIC GROWTH IN METERS SERVED
15000
12000
9000
6000
3000
0
Bob Horne, former Minot area manager for
development project of the 1990s. The call center
Verendrye, was involved in many of Minot’s
closed in 2010 after being in business for nearly
economic development efforts, including serving
two decades, but it continued to employ some
as chairman of the Minot Area Development Corp.
people in home-based jobs in Minot after it closed.
He helped encourage the passage of a one-cent sales
The building became a new home for Ackerman-
tax in Minot for economic development and helped
Estvold, an engineering and surveying firm.
recruit businesses to the area.
Another milestone in economic development came
“Verendrye has always been a community-
in 1997 with the start of Minot Milling. The plant,
minded organization and the board encouraged us
which grinds durum to make pasta, located in east
to be involved in economic development,” Horne
Minot, remains one of Verendrye’s largest users
said. “New businesses helped Verendrye because
of electricity.
they would become members of the cooperative, but
Horne remembers the 1990s as a decade of
more importantly, these new businesses provided
major milestones for Minot’s economic development
new jobs.”
efforts. “It was exciting times when each of those
Minot’s economic development boom came in
projects came to Minot,” he said. The 1990s
many forms, from call centers like Choice Hotels
provided exciting and prosperous times for the
Reservation Center, to value-added agriculture
region, but nothing compared to what was about
like Minot Milling. Choice Hotels, which provided
to come.
hundreds of jobs, was the first major economic
127
|
Operation Round Up
going strong since 1996
A
s Verendrye has grown, so too has its
centers, parks and to people with extraordinary
popular Operation Round Up program,
medical expenses. More than 85 percent of
which has granted funds to hundreds of
members participate in the program and the
board members are elected from Verendrye’s
worthwhile causes since 1996.
Member Advisory Committee.
Operation Round Up, approved by
From 1996 to 2014, Operation Round
members at the 1995 Annual Meeting, is a
program in which members voluntarily round
Up has contributed $795,000 to more than
up their bills to the nearest dollar. The funds
850 causes. For information on how your
generated from the program are then granted
organization can apply for a grant, go to www.
to organizations like schools, fire halls, senior
verendrye.com or give us a call.
TGU Granville Teacher Tina Webb holds a check for $1,500 granted
through the Operation Round Up program to purchase microscopes in
2009. Schools are often recipients of Operation Round Up grants.
Shannon Webster, left, and Jennifer Hubrig help give away grass
seed in 2012 to people whose homes were flooded. The project
was spearheaded by Rotary Clubs in Minot and Verendrye Electric’s
Operation Round Up program granted $750 for it. Hubrig is the
daughter of David and Jo Ashley, the last two residents of Verendrye.
128
Blaine Bruner, chairman of Verendrye Electric, cuts the ribbon on a new $1.9 million, 9000-square-foot addition to the cooperative’s Velva
headquarters. The addition, the first in 33 years, was a needed addition for the growing cooperative.
2000s
“In the past, it was a big deal for us to see growth
As Verendrye entered the new millennium,
of 200 or more members a year,” said Verendrye
the cooperative saw steady growth of between 80
Manager Bruce Carlson. “We’ve never had growth
and 200 new meters a year and gained some large
like what we’ve had now.”
members like the first electrically heated Super
The increases can be attributed to exponential
Walmart in the nation, and businesses around the
growth of drilling activity in the Bakken oil
mall like the new Sleep Inn and Suites that includes
formation in western North Dakota that brought
a water park.
new opportunities and new people into the state.
Then in about 2008, Minot’s economy began
Although Verendrye did not serve any of the new oil
to get red hot. The cooperative started that year
wells, the boom benefited the cooperative in other
serving about 11,000 meters and by the end of the
ways. Because of Minot’s proximity to the Bakken,
year it gained another 400. From 2008 to 2013, the
the city grew to accommodate new oilfield-related
cooperative added 4,000 new members, an increase
businesses and their employees. As the city grew,
of 36 percent.
much of the expansion occurred in areas Verendrye
129
|
Verendrye helped bring water,
phones and housing to rural areas
T
he cooperative spirit that helped bring
electricity to rural areas in the 1940s was
duplicated in the 50s and 70s, to bring
phone, water and a self-help housing program to
rural areas.
TELEPHONE
In 1950, the Verendrye Electric board
of directors turned its attention to bringing
telephone service to those living in the rural
areas of McHenry and Ward counties as well as
adjacent areas along the southern swing of the
Souris River into central North Dakota. In 1951,
Souris River Telephone Mutual Aid Corporation
was established and Articles of Incorporation
were filed on September 29. A year later, in
October 1952, SRT purchased its first exchange,
the Martin Telephone Company, for $500.
With this purchase, SRT acquired its first 82
subscribers.
Today, as North Dakota’s largest telephone
cooperative, SRT Communications Inc. employs
over 200 people and serves approximately
50,000 telephone customers in north central
North Dakota.
RURAL WATER
In 1970, Verendrye Manager Wally Beyer
helped lead a steering committee to study the
idea of forming a rural water cooperative. By
October 1971, the committee incorporated
and formed North Prairie Rural Water District
(NPRWD). North Prairie solicited membership fees
of $50 and an additional $200 for construction
costs per member. NPRWD held its first annual
meeting in February 1973 and began construction
of the first water pipelines in the spring of 1974.
Today, North Prairie serves more than 4,000
members with 1,500 miles of pipeline.
HOUSING
Verendrye facilitated a self-help housing
cooperative in the 1970s that resulted in the
construction of dozens of homes in Surrey.
Members of the cooperative got together to help
each other build homes and purchase materials
in bulk. The project saved people money on labor
and also because they could receive betters deals
from contractors and suppliers by combining
their purchases.
Top: Officials hold a ribbon cutting ceremony at their office building in North Minot. Verendrye Electric helped create SRT in the 1950s.
130
Verendrye Electric serves Minot’s Super Walmart, the nation’s first one heated exclusively with electricity.
Enbridge, which is served by Verendrye, has expanded its pipeline and rail facilities in Berthold over the past few
years to keep up with the demand for shipping Bakken oil out of the state.
131
|
The construction of new homes and apartments has been a common sight in the Minot area. These homes in southeast Minot are served
by Verendrye.
serves. The 4,000 new members added from 2008
point in Verendrye’s growth. Earlier that day,
to 2013 included not only oilfield businesses, but
the Minot City Council unanimously approved
also hundreds of homes and apartments, hotels,
renewing Verendrye’s franchise for another 20
restaurants and retail businesses. Smaller towns
years. Verendrye leaders reported to the members
in the area also benefited, with major new housing
that the cooperative added a whopping 1,650
developments going up in Burlington, Berthold,
accounts in 2011. Those new accounts included
Surrey and Velva.
around 600 FEMA trailers set up for displaced flood
victims. “You should be very, very proud of your
To keep up with the growth, Verendrye
gradually hired more employees and built an
electric cooperative,” Gov. Jack Dalrymple told the
addition to its Velva headquarters in 2012. The $1.9
Verendrye membership at the annual meeting. “The
million, 9000-square-foot addition was the first office
way they conducted themselves in the past year was
addition in 33 years. “We are growing faster than
very inspiring.”
we ever have in the 73-year history of Verendrye
Verendrye partnered with Central Power
Electric,” said Everett Dobrinski, chairman of
and Basin Electric to build a new bulk delivery
the board at the time the project was under way.
substation in 2013 that provided another source
The office expansion added needed space, but also
of power to the region. The bulk delivery project
allowed the cooperative to improve its efficiency by
included a new $7 million substation and $5
adding a high-tech operations room that is used in
million of transmission lines southwest of Minot.
day-to-day operations and outage management.
It benefited urban and rural members by providing
The 2012 annual meeting marked a high
better reliability and redundancy throughout
132
The Cash Wise grocery store and other stores in the area are served by Verendrye. The area in southwest Minot was developed in 2013
with shopping and apartments.
133
|
A new bulk delivery substation built by Central Power for Verendrye Electric was celebrated in March 2013. The $7 million substation, located
southwest of Minot, also included $5 million worth of transmission lines.
the system. That same year, the cooperative also
a healthy increase in the number of new members
celebrated the completion of a new building on the
each year, and is projecting steady growth for the
Minot Air Force Base that provided an outpost for
foreseeable future. Verendrye is planning ahead
workers there.
with an aggressive engineering plan to replace
Verendrye continued to be involved in economic
aging infrastructure in rural and urban areas,
development. The cooperative was instrumental in
and to partner with Central Power to build more
getting a new daycare in Berthold and a Farmers
distribution substations. In 2014, the Verendrye
Union convenience store in Velva. Verendrye
board approved adding more office space to the
helped get those projects built by serving as the pass
Minot service center.
through organization for loans through the Rural
Growth has been a challenge more than once,
Utilities Service Rural Economic Development
but Verendrye has turned it into an opportunity
Loan and Grant (REDLG) program. Verendrye
to build a stronger, more efficient cooperative that
also continued to send representatives to serve
cooperative leaders wouldn’t have imagined possible
on economic development agencies in the area
in 1939.
and advocated for several economic development
initiatives including Minot’s energy and agricultural
parks that now house major new businesses.
Although Verendrye’s growth has slowed some
from the height of the Bakken boom, it is still seeing
134
CONCLUSION
Keeping the
dream alive
O
ver the past 75 years, your cooperative has
accomplished things that would have been
unimaginable to H.H. Blackstead and other
members for decades. Last of all, you can’t forget the
thousands of members who have attended annual
meetings and have supported the cooperative through
tough legislative battles by appearing at committee
hearings or by sending letters to politicians. Once you
think of all of the people involved in the cooperative,
you will realize the greatest accomplishment is not
about technology or growth.
The single most important accomplishment is
people helping each other to accomplish a common
original organizers. It has gone from digging holes
goal for 75 years. The cooperative spirit is why
with hand shovels to using powerful digger trucks that
Verendrye Electric and hundreds of other cooperatives
drill holes in seconds. Members used to read their
exist. That spirit has worked well for 75 years. It is
own meters and bills were calculated with mechanical
why you can call us and talk to a real person, or walk
adding machines. Meters are now read remotely
into our offices to pay your bill or voice your concern
and members can check their hourly usage and pay
in person. It is why you can vote for your board of
bills with cell phones. The first farms with electricity
directors, and even run for the board.
had a few measly outlets reserved only for the most
The cooperative spirit also allows your cooperative
essential devices like lights, refrigerators and radios.
to focus on people before profits. Money is returned to
Today, Verendrye serves more than 15,000 meters
you in the form of capital credit checks when finances
that power hundreds of items in farms, homes,
allow it. Your cooperative contributes to communities
businesses and the mighty Minot Air Force Base.
through Operation Round Up and by encouraging
Considering all these advances, what is the single
employees to volunteer. It is also why Verendrye has
most important accomplishment of your cooperative?
been a part of the National Rural Electric Cooperative
You might think it is impossible to point to just one
Association’s International Fund that helps establish
accomplishment, but one does stand above the rest.
electric cooperatives in remote areas of developing
To come up with the answer, you have to imagine
yourself sitting in a dimly lit kitchen table meeting
countries where poverty is rampant.
We hope you enjoyed learning about your
in 1939 with dreamers who tirelessly brainstormed
cooperative’s history and, especially if you are a
how to start an electric cooperative. You have to put
younger member, we hope this book has given you
yourself in the shoes of David Blackstead, a young
a newfound appreciation of what cooperatives are all
boy tugging on his father’s pant leg as they went
about. Technology will continue to change, but with
door-to-door asking people for $5 in times of war
the help of hard-working employees, visionary leaders,
and economic disparity. You have to think about how
and a well-informed membership, your cooperative
women like Dorothy Blackstead, Josephine Colby and
will continue its focus on helping people by working
Fern Masteller, all original board members, helped
together. We will face new challenges in the next 75
send hundreds of letters urging people to become
years and we will need your help. Whether it is simply
members. You have to remember people like Gene
attending your annual meeting and voting for your
Shoenberg who helped beat ice off of downed power
directors, or helping us fight against unreasonable
lines in 1983 and all of the lineworkers who have
energy policies, we encourage you to become active
sacrificed family time on a whim to restore power in
in your cooperative. Help us continue to build the
blizzards. You have to think of longtime employees
wonderful dream that was started 75 years ago.
and board members for their dedication to serving
135
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See you at the next annual meeting!
136
Employees – past and present
Verendrye Electric Cooperative has had many outstanding employees over the past 75 years. Without
dedicated, hard-working employees, the cooperative would not be what it is today. Verendrye’s current and
past employees are listed on the following pages.
CURRENT EMPLOYEES
EMPLOYEE
Atkinson, Burt J.
Bruce, Jody R.
Buchmeier, Shawn A.
Bullinger, Justin M.
Burke, Nathan J.
Carlson, Bruce R.
Danielson, Spencer G.
Doll, Bradley G.
Erickson, Rick G.
Finley, Damon H.
Forbes, Ethan G.
Fredrich, Nick
Freeman, Lloyd A.
Gaikowski, Eugene A.
Gingles, Pat
Hagen, Jim A.
Hartung, Cody D.
Hauck, Randy J.
Hauf, Jon J.
Heisler, Val L.
Hoff, Kristie K.
Holte, Ron J.
Holzer, Joey L.
Hystad, Jill M.
Jespersen, Tom T.
Johansen, Michael D.
Johnson, Brian L.
Jungling, Bruce A.
Keller, Alesha D.
Keller, Blane P.
Kersten, Allen D.
Kittleson, Sarah L.
Krueger, Alonna L.
Krumwiede, Tim R. Kudrna, Dan G.
Laskowski, Christel L.
Leier, Travis J.
Michalenko, Sandee F.
Miller, Tim R.
Nett, Patrick D.
Nowak, Justin
Oase, Derek H.
Orts, Robert P.
Peterson, Curtis A.
Prouty, Bob C.
Rafferty, Tom D.
Randolph, D.J.
Roberts, Aaron C.
Schatz, Trent M.
Schiele, Byron L.
Schlecht, Wally D.
Schlieve, Eric L.
Schmaltz, Jackie L.
Schwan, Bryan A.
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JOB TITLE
Lineman Working Foreman - Minot Air Force Base
Lineman - Minot
Lineman - Velva
Lineman - Velva
Lineman - Minot
General Manager - Velva
Lineman - Minot
Electrical System Engineer - Velva
Lineman Area Foreman - Velva
Lineman - Harvey
Lineman - Velva
Computer Engineer Assistant - Velva
Staking Engineer - Velva
Lineman - Harvey
System Dispatcher - Velva
Lineman - Velva
Purchasing & Warehouse Supervisor - Velva
Member Services & Asst. General Mgr. - Velva
Mechanic - Velva
Administrative Assistant - Velva
Customer Service Representative - Velva
Lineman - Minot Air Force Base
Lineman - Minot
Receptionist - Velva
Energy Management Advisor - Velva
Warehouse Worker - Minot
Lineman Area Foreman - Minot
Customer Service Representative - Velva
Lineman - Velva
Member Services Technician - Velva
Accountant - Velva
Work Order & Accounting Clerk - Velva
System Supervisor - Velva
Operations Supervisor - Velva
Business Manager - Velva
Member Services Secretary - Velva
Equipment Supervisor - Velva
Operations/Eng. Technician - Velva
Lineman - Minot
Lineman - Minot Air Force Base
Member Services Representative - Minot
Lineman - Velva
Lineman Area Foreman - Harvey
Minot Public Relations & Communications Manager
Computer Engineer - Velva
Warehouse Worker - Velva
Lineman - Minot
Operations/Eng. Technician - Velva
Lineman Working Foreman - Minot
Lineman - Minot
Billing Manager - Velva
Lineman - Velva
DATE OF FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT
2005
2009
2009
2011
2004
1994
2001
1995
2002
2002
2012
2013
1979
2009
2013
1978
1997
1984
2012
1983
2011
2012
1989
2012
1989
2002
1977
1975
2005
1979
2005
2009
2013
2002
1979
2009
2006
1989
1989
1995
2013
2012
1995
1998
1971
2009
1991
2012
2010
2006
1988
2011
1980
2003
Shattuck, Cindy M.
Sorensen, Brady W.
Stober, Krystal
Suckut, Jesse C.
Svangstu, Becky J.
Swartz, Steve M.
Torfin, Dean A.
Voeller, Kevin P.
Werchau, Lance M.
Westby, John P.
Credit Manager - Velva
Business Asst/Customer Service Rep - Minot
Customer Service Representative - Minot
Lineman - Velva
Secretary/Receptionist - Minot
Lineman - Velva
Lineman - Velva
Lineman - Minot
Lineman Area Foreman - Minot
Manager of Operations & Engineering - Velva
1979
2008
2013
2001
2012
1976
2001
2012
1988
1977
PAST EMPLOYEES
EMPLOYEE
Wally Aannerud
Maylynn J. Asmundson
Chris Awsumb
Raymond Babcock
Matt Bachmeier
Gary Barnett
Carol Bauer
Kathryn Bauer
Mark Baumgartner
Hylda Bechtold
Michael Bell
Elizabeth Benham
Wally Beyer
Jeff Block
August Boechler
Blanding Borstad
Lilly Bradshaw
James Bryngelson
Karen Byre
Oscar Christianson
Martin Dahl
Gerald R. Deibert
Myren Deibert
Lillian DeKrey
Lori Paige Dibble
Raney Dihle
Kelly Dragseth
Joseph Duchscherer
Wayne DuMond
Clara Engbretson
Floyd Erickson
Everett Evenson
Martin Fadness
Archie Farstad
Robert Farstad
George Fix
Jeffrey Fugere
Delilah Ganje
Ollie Glasoe
Judy Gonzales
Alfred Grossman
Ruben Haga
Curt Hall
Melford Hanson
Harlan Hanson
Lynn Helgeson
Donald Hicks
Kathryn Hillerud
Henry Hoffer
Merle Holte
Robert M. Horne
Charles Hystad
Linda Hystad
Mavis Hystad
PAST EMPLOYEE TITLE
Lineman
Secretary/Receptionist Minot Office
Fleet Supervisor
Lineman
Lineman
Lineman
Billing Clerk
Bookkeeper
Energy Advisor
Receptionist
Computer Engineer Assistant
Secretary/Receptionist Minot office
General Manager
Lineman
Maintenance Manager
Construction Supervisor
Billing Clerk
Lineman
Cashier
Fees and Easements
Minot Office Manager
Data Processing Manager
Draftsman
Bookeeper
Billing Clerk
Bookkeeper
Energy Advisor
Lineman
Office Manager
Receptionist
Operations Supervisor
Operations Manager
Groundsman
Equipment Supervisor
Lineman
Lineman
Lineman
Secretary
Business Manager
Billing Clerk
Lineman
Electrical Advisor
Lineman
General Manager
Engineer
Office Manager
Verendrye Housing Project Director
Administrative Assistant
Ryder Outpost Foreman
Warehouseman
Receptionist
Billing Clerk
EMPLOYEE
Cedric Jacobson
Gary Jacobson
Jared Jacobson
Gary Jensen
Stacy Johnson
Vernon Jutila
Shirley Keller
Olive Kelly
Joe Klein
Linda Knutson Kramer
Tom Krumwiede
Kenneth Leier
Ed Marquart
Connie Martin
Philip Martin
Travis Martin
David Matson
Jerry McDowell
Don McFarland
Thomas McGrath
Carol McMahon
Dorothy Hatlestad Michelson
Dale Miller
Vern Moldenhauer
Dana Jenson Moran
Cyndy Morey
James Morley
Ed Mosbrucker
Henry Nehrenberg
Terry Nelson
Arthur Ness
Gail Guthrie Nordstrom
Ruben Nordstrom
David Norton
Ordean “Lars” Nygren
Lynn Oberg
Kevin Olinger
Norman Olson
Gloria Orser
Brian O’Shea
William Otto
Sue Packulak
Jennifer Pederson
Marvin Pedersen
Robert T. Peterson
Calvin Pfeilschiefter
Diane Pfeilschiefter
Christine Pietsch
Fletcher Poling
Jeffrey Reiser
Violet Robinson
Mabel Roebuck
Orville Roebuck
PAST EMPLOYEE TITLE
Business Manager
Area Development Representative
System Supervisor
Lineman
Computer Engineer
Office Manager
Member Services Secretary
Work Order Clerk
Lineman
Billing Clerk
Lineman
Member Services Assistant
Ryder Outpost Foreman
Secretary
Electrification Advisor
Engineering Technician
Member Services Director
Engineering Assistant
Line Superintendent
Receptionist
Secretary
Lineman
Lineman
Receptionist
Billing Clerk
General Manager
Work Order Clerk
Warehouse Chief
Lineman
Fees and Easements
Receptionist
Mechanic
Member Services Assistant
Business Manager
Lineman
Lineman
Billing Clerk
Lineman
Mechanic
Secretary/Receptionist Minot Office
Bookkeeper
Lineman
Berthold Outpost Foreman
Lineman
Secretary
Minot Secretary
Water Resources & Community
Development Director
Lineman
Billing Clerk
Secretary
Equipment Operator
138
EMPLOYEE
Harry Sanda
Joy Schlag
Ralph Schnell
Don Scott
Michelle Shipp
Bob Stevenson
Curtis Stevenson
Marion Sullivan
Jean Svedland
Ann Kramer Swedlund
Jodi Thomas
Pete Thomas
PAST EMPLOYEE TITLE
Lineman
Lineman
Lineman
Warehouseman
Business Assistant - Minot
Lineman
Lineman
Billing Clerk
Secretary
Secretary
Receptionist/Billing Clerk
Lineman
EMPLOYEE
Thorvald Thompson
Helen Thompson
Larry Turner
J.P. Ulrich
Marvin Unterseher
Claire Vigessa
Fred Whittle
Gary Widmayer
Gary Williamson
David Wolf
M.F. Whitney
PAST EMPLOYEE TITLE
Custodian
Secretary
Mechanic
Construction Foreman
Energy Advisor
Granville Outpost Foreman
Area Development Representative
Lineman
Office Manager
Verendrye Electric depends on lineworkers to maintain the system and
restore power after outages.
Staking Engineer Brian Johnson (left), and Minot Area Foreman
Bruce Jungling review plans at a jobsite.
From left are Minot Warehouseman Mike Johansen, Purchasing
and Warehouse supervisor Cody Hartung and Fleet Supervisor
Tim Miller.
Above: Harvey lineworker
Damon Finley works on a power
line. Right: Velva Lineworker
Shawn Buchmeier practices a
poletop rescue procedure.
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|
Minot lineworker Lance Werchau gets ready to go up in the bucket.
Verendrye employees are happy to serve the members of the cooperative.
Employees shaved their heads to raise money for kids with cancer.
Verendrye staff includes Business Manager Christel Laskowski
(standing left), Manger Bruce Carlson (standing middle) and
Administrative Assistant Val Heisler (standing right). Seated are
Engineering and Operations Manager John Westby (left), and
Assistant Manager and Member Services Manager Randy Hauck.
A group of employees are recognized for their years of service to
Verendrye members.
Each year a group of Verendrye ladies
purchase gifts to donate to children
during the holidays.
Computer Engineering
Assistant Nick Fredrich gives a
thumbs up at the annual meeting.
A group of Verendrye employees support cancer patients by wearing pink.
140
Board of Directors
Verendrye Electric Cooperative is strong today largely because of dedicated and hard-working leaders. Not all
of them faced the same issues, but they all had a common goal to do what was best for the members who own the
cooperative. Listed below are all of the past and current directors and managers.
H.H. Blackstead
1939-1941
P.A. Bolgen
1939-1947
Josephine Colby
1939-1941
Dorothy Blackstead
1939-1939
Joseph A. Keller
1939-1939
Fern I. Masteller
1939-1941
Hans G. Wolhowe
1939-1939
Henry T. Lee
1939-1939
and 1941-1947
Leon Hendrickson
1939-1947
Marie Hauge
1939-1941
Albert C. Vix
1939-1948
M.M. Holte
1939-1941
Edward Hammer
1939-1954
Theodore Polsfut
1941-1947
A.R. Schultz
1941-1947
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|
Floyd Francis
1941-1947
J.W. Kidder
1941-1947
Jess Joiner
1946-1947
Merritt Warner
1946-1952
Glenn Pace
1946-1957
Earl Everson
1946-1948
Axel Kongslie
1946-1966
Emil Sitz Jr.
1946-1948
Edwin Schimke
1946-1948
Richard Finke
1947-1950
Tony Faul
1948-1954
Nels Solheim
1948-1970
Lawrence Erickson
1948-1969
Leon Birdsall
1950-1971
Lesley M Peterson
1952-1970
Frank Bruner
1954-1974
Myron E Shook
1954-1971
Leonard Smestad
1954-1961
Art Solberg
1957-1959
Gehard Ronnie
1959-1975
142
Albert Weltz
1961-1966
Lloyd Frey
1966-1966
Farrel Nelson
1966-1981
Melvin Flatlie
1966-1976
Arlo Olson
1969-1973
Wendell E. Haugen
1970-1985
Hilton Sollid
1970-1985
Ralph Birdsall
1971-2010
John Grunseth
1971-1992
Carl W Davy
1973-1987
Daniel Bruner
1974-2001
Richard Backes
1975-1989
Dennis Alexander
1976-2003
Orlin Oium
1981-1999
Everett Dobrinski
1985-2012
Cliff Gjellstad
1985-2012
Don Roen
1987-2002
Don Larson
1989-2008
Burdette Kittelson
1992-2007
Orrin Nelson
1999-2011
143
|
Blaine Bruner
2001-
Cindy Smith
2002-
Ken Schild
2003-
Pat Bachmeier
2007-2013
Bob Wolf
2008-
Karen Hennessy
2010-
Maxine Rognlien
2011-
Shawn Kaylor
2012-
John Warner
2012-
Bruce Anderson
2013-
Managers
James Morley
1939-1954
Wally Beyer
1968-1993
Melford Hanson
1954-1968
Bruce Carlson
1994-
This photo of Verendrye leadership was taken outside the cooperative’s Velva office
in 2013. From left are: Manager Bruce Carlson, board members Bob Wolf, Shawn
Kaylor, Blaine Bruner, Maxine Rognlien, Karen Hennessy, Ken Schild, John
Warner, Bruce Anderson and Cindy Smith, and Verendrye Attorney Carol Larson.
144
Time line
May 11, 1935 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt
creates the Rural Electrification Administration by
executive order.
May 20, 1936 – Roosevelt signs the Rural
Electrification Act into law, which provides millions
of dollars in low-interest loans to help start electric
cooperatives.
January 26, 1939 – Verendrye Electric
Cooperative’s articles of incorporation are granted
by the State of North Dakota.
Feb. 15, 1939 – The cooperative holds its first
official meeting.
June 27, 1940 – The first 35 farms are energized
by Verendrye Electric Cooperative.
March 1941 – Verendrye’s offices move from an
old bank in the town of Verendrye to an office on
Main Street in Velva.
June 1951 – The radar base south of Minot
becomes a Verendrye member, marking the
beginning of the cooperative’s relationship with the
U.S. Air Force.
June 1952 – William J. Neal Plant is dedicated,
marking the beginning of co-op owned power
generation in North Dakota.
1955 – Garrison Dam begins generating power.
July 1955 – Verendrye announces it will power the
Minot Air Force Base.
June 1957 – Verendrye moves its headquarters
from Main Street in Velva to its current location at
the west edge of Velva.
1965 – The Territorial Integrity Act becomes
law, helping resolve disputes amongst electric
cooperatives and investor-owned utilities.
November 1973 – City of Minot grants Verendrye
a franchise to formally serve parts of the city for the
first time.
145
|
July 1974 – Verendrye opens its Minot office.
March 1981 – Dakota Square Mall in Minot opens,
becoming one of Verendrye’s biggest users of
electricity.
March 1983 – An ice storm causes major damage
to Verendrye’s system, downing 2,200 poles and
122 miles of power lines.
1985 – William J. Neal Station is mothballed.
1990 – Verendrye begins offering solar power for
pasture wells.
1992 – Verendrye’s franchise with the City of Minot
is renewed for another 20 years.
October 1993 – Verendrye Manager Wally Beyer
is appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve as
administrator of the REA. Beyer helped the REA
reorganize into the Rural Utilities Service, a branch
of the USDA.
June 1995 – Verendrye members approve the
Operation Round Up program, which involves
members voluntarily rounding up their bills to the
nearest dollar to go toward charitable causes.
1998 – Verendrye becomes a Touchstone Energy
Partner, a cooperative brand that includes hundreds
of cooperatives from across the country.
2011 – Verendrye is awarded a 50-year contract to
own and maintain electrical distribution facilities on
the Minot Air Force Base.
June 22, 2011 – Sirens sound in Minot signaling
that floodwaters from the Souris River would
cause major devastation. Nearly 1,000 Verendrye
members are directly impacted by the flood, with
670 losing power.
June 2012 – City of Minot renews Verendrye
Electric’s franchise for another 20 years.
January 26, 2013 – Verendrye Electric celebrates
its 75th anniversary.
Service Area Map
LEGEND
Offices
Outposts
Paved Road
Board District
Donnybrook
Towns
Glenburn
RENVILLE
Counties
52
Minot Air Force
Base
Carpio
Hartland
MC HENRY
83
Deering
Foxholm
MC LEAN
Towner
Berthold
Central District
2
Lonetree
52
Denbigh
Burlington
Des Lacs
Minot
Surrey
2
Norwich
PIERCE
2
RENVILLE
Granville
SHERIDAN
Western District
MCHENRY
Logan
WELLS
Sawyer
WARD
WARD
Velva
Voltaire
Makoti
Bergen
52
83
Balfour
Drake
Ryder
PIERCE
Anamoose
Douglas
Kongsberg
Martin
MCLEAN
52
Harvey
Eastern District
WELLS
SHERIDAN
Lincoln Valley
146
1 9 3 9 - 2 01 4
Spotlight on Excellence Entry Form
#34
NRECA Voting Member Classification *
Distribution Cooperative: 1-20,000 meters
Category *
6. Best Special Publication
Entry Title *
Building a Dream Together: Celebrating 75 Years of Verendrye Electric
Cooperative
I wish to receive Judges' comments on
this entry
Yes
Entrant's Name *
Tom Rafferty
Cooperative *
Mailing Address
1225 Hwy. 2 Bypass E.
Minot, ND 58701
United States
Email *
tomdr@verendrye.com
Phone Number *
(701) 852-0406
Names of others (freelancers or
organizations) involved in the project, if
applicable
Liza Kessel and Cleo Cantlon
Describe your/the co-op's role in the
project *
Besides one chapter and a portion of another, I wrote the entire book.
I also dug through literally thousands of historic and modern
photographs to select which ones would be used. There were a few
photos that I took too. Research I conducted included our own
archives, interviews of past employees and members, archives of the
local newspaper and other sources on the Internet. Every outside
source used was cited in the text and on artwork.
Describe others’ role in the project (Reference outside sources of material, including templates; pre-existing
Web tools and apps; information from outside groups, such as Straight Talk or Touchstone Energy; stock
photos and music, etc.) *
Liza Kessel, a graphic artist at the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives in Mandan, designed the
book. Cleo Cantlon, a freelance writer, wrote Chapter 5 and a contributed to Chapter 10. We made every effort to use
original photos from our cooperative, but we had to use a few from the NRECA because we could not find any photos
of certain things like people setting poles by hand. We also added a nice touch by using some vintage NRECA
advertisements, which were a big hit with our members. Because we are named after a French-Canadian explorer,
some of our sources came from Canada, including a picture of a statue that came from the National Assembly in
Quebec. The letter I received giving me permission to use the photo was completely in French, so I had to have it
translated for me! We also had a special contest to encourage members to submit essays about what they remember
about the cooperative and paid $100 for the best essay. We also used the Minot Daily News as a source and even
used an image of one of their old newspapers. Another neat thing is that I found an 88-year-old postcard on Ebay
that showed the old townsite of Verendrye. We also received permission to use photos submitted from the Air Force
and North Dakota National Guard. All external sources used in the writing and all artwork is cited and given credit.
The book was printed by Forum Communications in Fargo, N.D.
Circulation or Number of People Reached * 3200
Number of Attendees *
Project’s Budget *
$38,000
Target Audience(s) *
Co-op Members, employees, elected officials and VIPs in our area
Project's Objective *
We wanted to have a special book made to celebrate our 75th Anniversary. The goals were to celebrate our history
and to educate people about cooperative values and how we came to be what we are today. Our hope is that the book
might connect new generations of people to their cooperative that don't know how we started, to energize the old
generation of cooperative supporters and to remind policymakers and others that how we started is also why we are
supported politically today. This is also going to be used as an educational tool and required read for all new
employees and board members. It was a nice, hard-covered, full color book that we gave away for free at our annual
meeting. We also did special presentations to more than 500 people in the community and gave the books away at
those. We gave copies to many libraries and schools and other organizations too. The local news channels and the
local newspaper ran stories about the book, which created a nice buzz for it and our special 75th Annual Meeting.
Restrictions/Limitations *
Because of costs and logistics, we could not provide a book to every single one of our 11,000-plus members so we
settled on 3,200 copies. We were also limited to how many pages we made the book because we didn't want it to be
too boring or dry. This was a challenge because we could have had included much more of our history with more
pages. The goal was to make each chapter a quick read that would keep people interested. Time was also a
challenge. All of this work was done in addition to all of the normal duties I had at my job. Some of the interviews
required travel, and it took a lot of time and research to find some of the sources and artwork that was used. It got to
be a challenge towards the end to meet the deadline to have it in time for the annual meeting, but we did it! Keep in

Building a dream together

Transcription

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