It's feedback time as readers respond to recent Neighbors columns.
- The story: Cathy Schwinden and her husband, Morrie, of Fargo while on a cruise, stopped in Tunisia, where Cathy found the grave of her Uncle Leo Rutten, who was killed during World War II.
- Feedback: Doris Johnson, Grafton, N.D., writes that her niece Ruth is married to a Leo Rutten. They live in Harvey, N.D.
Cathy says this Leo is her cousin and was named for her uncle.
Cathy also says she had a call from a woman who was married for just over four months when her husband was killed in North Africa and is buried in the same cemetery as Cathy's Uncle Leo.
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A touching but terribly sad connection.
Riding high
- The story - Sheri Paulson of Galesburg, N.D., who has multiple sclerosis, has been a top fundraiser for the MS Society and was picked to participate in a bike ride in Tennessee to raise more funds.
- Feedback - "The bike tour was very challenging," Sheri reports. "I don't think any terrain in North Dakota or Minnesota could have prepared me for the terrain of the Tennessee hills.
"The first day was very tough, but with the encouragement and support of so many family members and friends who believed in me and the riders I met along the roads, I made it to the end.
"The last 6½ miles (the first day) had five miles of an uphill climb. (But it was) a very nice downhill ride first thing the second and last day.
"More than 800 riders participated and $500,000 had been turned in already (when the ride ended). Team BAMS (of which Sheri was a member) had more than $20,000 turned in and 22 riders. We were in third place for team fundraising."
Sheri's nice experience in Tennessee got even better when her husband, Alan, met her at the airport with flowers.
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"Then," she says, "he gave me a card (and) inside was a beautiful diamond anniversary ring. He said he wanted something to symbolize how proud he and Amanda (their daughter) were of all that I have accomplished."
Way to go, Sheri. And way to go to you, too, Alan, even though you are a tough act for the rest of us tightwad husbands to follow.
If you have an item of interest for this column, mail it to Neighbors, The Forum, Box 2020, Fargo, ND 58107; fax it to 241-5487; or e-mail blind@forumcomm.com
