The New Rockford-Sheyenne Rockets rolled into the North Dakota Class B Boys State Basketball Tournament on Thursday with great momentum, and an emotional burden that's dogged them since Jan. 26.
That's the day the world turned upside down in New Rockford and all of Eddy County. It was the day Rockford-Sheyenne Superintendent of Schools Tim Guler took his own life at the age of 50.
The communities, the students and Guler's colleagues are still in shock, struggling to understand how something so tragic could happen to a man who was so instrumental in their lives.
There are no answers, only grief and tears, and hopefully, eventual acceptance.
The Rockets suffered their first loss of the season, 45-42 to Dickinson Trinity Thursday night.
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Guler was a hometown hero, named North Dakota American Legion Player of the Year in 1972.
Guler went off to the University of North Dakota to get his bachelor's degree and then on to Arizona State University for his master's. Then he came home to be principal at New Rockford High School in 1986, moving to the top job in 1994.
He married a hometown girl, Ann Birkeland, a first-grade teacher who is as beloved as her late husband in the community. They had three children.
Guler had a reputation of community involvement, always being ther for the kids and a great sense of humor.
Kent Braunberger, co-owner of Evans Funeral Home in New Rockford, says nearly 1,000 people turned out for Guler's funeral in the school gymnasium. No one can remember an event that drew a bigger crowd in the town of nearly 1,500.
"His death was a shock to everyone," says Braunberger. "The community still hurts a great deal."
Coach Craig Demester's 25-0 Rockets nearly canceled a game against Linton in Jamestown less than 24 hours after Guler's death, but Ann Guler told players they had her blessing to play.
The Rockets came out flat and off their game -- emotionally drained -- and eked out a 56-54 victory, their tightest contest of the season. At the prayer service for Guler, Dr. Bob Belquist, a New Rockford dentist and father of Rockets' star Alex Belquist, read a message from Eric Guler, Tim's son from River Falls, Wis.
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Eric wished the Rockets the best of luck for the rest of the season and said his dad would be cheering them on from heaven when they headed for the Class B tournament.
The Rockets have stayed focused, despite their sense of loss.
Meanwhile, back in New Rockford, where the town is virtually deserted this weekend, Braunberger says, "I think of Tim every time I drive by the school. His vehicle was always parked there. That empty space is a constant reminder that he's gone."
Readers can reach Terry DeVine at (701) 241-5515 or tdevine@forumcomm.com
