Sue Sitter/PCT Car enthusiasts discuss a 1936 Chevrolet van restored by Adam Bohl at The Rugby Lions’ Music in the Park – Art in the Park event, featuring local artwork, classic cars and a burger picnic.

A strong wind cleared just in time for the Rugby Lions’ annual Music in the Park Arts in the Park show on the evening of July 27 at Ellery Park.

With music provided by Bottineau “Too old to stand up” and a classic car display, attendees enjoyed a picnic lunch with burgers grilled and served by the Rugby Lions Club – with help from the Metigoshe Lions Club.

Members of both organizations served 620 burgers for the picnic. The burgers came with salads and lemonade for $10 per meal.

“There were a lot of people there,” Lions member Dale Niewoehner said after the picnic.

Lions members also scooped up ice cream for a steady stream of people. The Lions serve free ice cream at every Music in the Park concert during the season, but members said they always appreciate donations.

The funds donated are donated to the Music in the Park programme, a rugby tradition every Wednesday from June to August for 27 years.

“It’s our 27th year, really,” said Lions member Kathy Kirchofner. “We were forced to cancel in 2020 due to COVID, but if we hadn’t we would have continued for 27 consecutive years.”

Kirchofner, who has organized the event for the Lions since its inception in 1995, said Music in the Park has endured over the years thanks to the hard work of the Rugby Park Board and financial support from area sponsors.

“We wouldn’t do this without our sponsors” she added. “And the park council is doing so much not just for Music in the Park, but for Rugby Parks.”

Vendors of handmade jewelry, artwork and more set up tables to the left of the Ellery Park stage.

Behind the stage, visitors walked past a line of classic cars parked for display, courtesy of the Rugby Car Club.

LeAnn Cargo, who makes and sells western-themed jewelery for her business Tumbleweeds and Turquoise, said the wind was a problem when she first set up her wares.

“It was a good day, though,” said Cargo. “We had a lot of people visiting us. I’m originally from rugby so it’s fun to come back and see people.

“My parents are here listening to the band”, added Cargo, who lives in Towner.

On the scene, “Too old to stand up” sang classic pop and rock songs to enthusiastic audiences.

Marilyn Niewoehner from the Tumbleweed Gallery showed a collection of abstract paintings, “just because I wanted to do something different.”

The abstract pieces made with streaks of paint almost looked like blades of grass waving in the wind.

“I will participate in the 90th anniversary of the Garden of Peace and bring them there”, Niewoehner added. “I’m going to have a booth there.”

“It’s been a fun day” she says.

As people walked past cars ranging from fancy to simple with a touch of rust, Adam Bohl stood beside his shiny red 1936 Chevrolet pickup truck, deep in conversation with a classic car enthusiast.

“He bought this truck 45 years ago when we were dating,” Adam Bohl’s wife, Twyla, said. “We bought it from a guy from Barton when he was setting up grain elevators, and he was the original owner. And (Adam Bohl) said to the guy who owned it before, “I’m going to fix it and take it with us on our honeymoon.”

“Well, he would start working on it, then stop, because we had a farm,” she says.

Bohls Farm near Knox.

Work on the car proceeded in spurts over the next four decades.

“Then five years ago we found a guy who we thought would help make this (project) happen in Minnesota,” said Bohl. “We went to get him. Adam told the guy the story, and he said, “Forty-five years ago? And Adam said, ‘Yeah.’ He said, ‘Do you have the same wife?’ And Adam said ‘Yeah.’

“The guy said, ‘She must have been pretty patient, or it must have been a good honeymoon’” said Bohl laughing.

Bohl said that over the years, his sons have helped do major work on the Chevy, using skills they learned at North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton.

Twyla Bohl said that when she and Adam drove to Florida for a car show, she saw the perfect color for the truck – a deep red-purple metallic called razzleberry.

Bohl said her husband leaned toward a dark blue for the truck before finally agreeing with her on the color.

His son Nathaniel drove his new wife, Morgan Oppen Bohl, from the church where they were married on July 16, Bohl noted.

On stage, the music continued well after 8:30 p.m.

Before “Too old to stand up” Lead singer Shane Parsons announced two encore songs, Kirchofner thanked the band and everyone who made the concert a success.

Kirchofner reminded the public that the Lions have set up collection containers for used glasses and hearing aids at all Music in the Park concerts, Rugby Homes and RV Center and other businesses across Rugby.

“We didn’t have many hearing aids, but if you have them, bring them too.” said Kirchofner.