Staff Reporter

A long-standing tradition continues Thursday in Alexander as Old Settler’s Day kicks off its 63rd year of existence. This year, beef for the event is provided by Vivian and Roy Winden, who lived in Alexander for 27 years and raised their children there before moving to Williston.

“I’ve been to every Old Settlers picnic but one,” said Roy, who moved to Williston in 1977.

It is a huge event in Alexander with a strong annual tradition, and is always host to many area residents.

“There are usually about 2,000 or more,” said Vivian of how many people the picnic serves. Roy said it’s hard to know exactly how many people to expect. Many farmers are done with their harvest this fall, so there could be a few more people on hand this week.

“It’s been from 2,000 to 3,500 people at different times,” said Roy.

Luckily, they have ordered 1,300 pounds of beef to make sure everyone gets enough to eat. The beef is cooked in a bonfire pit for 24 hours.

The Windens were always very active in the community of Alexander, and Roy helped with all the Old Settlers events. All of the kids grew up and graduated from Alexander.

“Our youngest daughter graduated from high school there the year we left,” said Roy. “So we all got to go to school in Alexander.”

Vivian also has fond memories of their family life in Alexander.

“It was a great place to raise a family, and at the time we were raising our family there were a lot of neighbors,” she said.

On their particular block, there were 34 youngsters, said Roy.

“We were always very active in the community,” commented Vivian.

Roy also noted all of the children and many of the grandchildren are coming home for the event this weekend in Alexander.

There also is a unique presentation about an Alexander native that is a world premiere of a documentary.

“It’s a documentary that’s going to be on PBS, and they’ve been making it for a year,” said daughter Joyce Kaiser. “Art Link is from Alexander and is now in his 90’s. It’s about an hour long and they will be doing the world premiere of it down in Alexander on Old Settlers Day. It’s kind of a big event that I think will attract a lot of people from neighboring towns,” she said.

The documentary is to be shown at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30. The documentary is produced by David Borlaug.

Some family history

Roy was born in Northwood in 1924, which was the home of his parents, A.G. (Gilman) and Hattie Winden, and grandfather. His father then moved the family to Alexander.

Gilman was a grain buyer for the International Elevator Company. After a year, they relocated to Archer, Mont., where he was sent to manage a grain company there.

After four years in Archer, the family returned to Alexander. This was in the time of the drought and grasshopper infestation, and there was not much grain being produced as people were struggling. The family continued to live in Alexander for 45 years.

Roy worked various jobs for others to help with the family income. He graduated from Alexander High School and then worked for Elmer Iverson in the trucking business.

As World War II approached, Roy enlisted in the Army Air Force. He was assigned as a tail-gunner in a B-24 Liberator bomber. He was stationed in England for a year and saw action over Germany, completing 30 missions.

After the war, Roy returned and went into business by himself. He purchased a grain truck for custom grain hauling, hauling coal and livestock. Roy also had a custom floor-sanding business.

Roy purchased the recreation hall in Alexander, which used to be just to the north of the park in Alexander. At that time, it was used as a gymnasium for the school. He also put on dances at the hall, and people came from all over the region.

It was also used as a roller skating rink and for showing movies until he sold it several years later. Roy and Vivian met in 1949 at one of the dances in the hall.

Vivian, born and raised in Esmond, N.D., graduated from nursing school in Minot, and was a registered nurse at Mercy Hospital. The two were married, raised their six children, and made Alexander their home for 27 years, with all of their kids graduating from Alexander High School.

Their children include Jean (Jon) Berger of Williston; Mary (David) Njos of Williston; Margaret (Mark) Fleck of Minot; Joyce (Marv) Kaiser of Williston; Don Winden of Cheyenne, Wyo.; and Karen (Dave) Fehr, of Scottsdale, Ariz. Vivian and Roy have nine grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, one great-grandson and two step-great-granddaughters.

Roy and Vivian purchased the Winden family home from Roy’s parents, which remained their home until they moved to Willston in 1977. Vivian was a stay-at-home mother, but as the children grew older, she returned to work as a nurse, first at the Good Shepard Home in Watford City and then she worked at Mercy Hospital in Williston for the next 18 years.

Roy was a rural mail carrier for the U.S. government in Alexander for 23 years until he was transferred to a route in Fortuna for 10 months, after which he was transferred to the Epping and Williston routes. After all their children graduated from Alexander High School, Roy and Vivian moved to Williston.

Roy was always active in civic activities in Alexander and played a role in Old Settler‘s Day from the very first one. Roy helped in gathering and hauling the wood for the bonfires and with barbequing of the meat and the messy job of removing it from the pit. Since moving to Williston, they have always visited returned to Alexander to celebrate Old Settler’s Day and see old friends.

In 1984, Roy retired, purchased a camper and he and Vivian have enjoyed traveling the U.S., seeing 43 states.

Event highlights

The Old Settler’s Day weekend begins with a bonfire to be lighted by Roy at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 28. Food vendors are available throughout the weekend.

Friday is a chili cook-off on Main Street, a team roping at 5 p.m. in the Alexander Roping Arena and old-time music from “Wes and the Sidewinders” in the firehall from 6-9 p.m.

A parade is at 11 a.m. on Saturday and is followed by a barbeque in the park and a Winden Family program at 1 p.m.

A kids’ carnival, karaoke and other fun and games are scheduled from 1-4 p.m. and are followed by bull riding at 3 p.m.

Joyce and Marv Kaiser are hosting a world premiere showing of a documentary on Art Link at 3 p.m.

The evening winds down with a street dance 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.