Obituaries

Believe it or Not: Noel almost Got Arrested in North Dakota I retired from CHS, (Cenex) in April 2014 after serving the cooperative family for 40 years. I now live in SE Minnesota @ Pine Island. Jerry Tweet was the President when I came onboard in the early ‘70s, followed briefly by Darrell Mossesen and then by Noel. There were tough times in the Agriculture Sector at that time and I believe the decisions Noel made during those difficult times, saved Cenex from extinction. I spent most of my 40 years on the road for Cenex in the TBA, (Tires Batteries and Accessories), and Petroleum Divisions in Minnesota and North Dakota. One of my fondest memories of traveling with Noel happened in North Dakota on or about early 1992. The late ‘80s were tough years for Cenex and things were on the mend in the early ‘90s. Noel asked if he could travel with the Petroleum Reps throughout the region and visit with the ‘Key’ Energy Coop Managers. He wanted to maintain the connection needed to keep the mother ship heading in the right direction. It was about January or February of 1992; Noel flew into Grand Forks ND, traveled a few days with Elroy Rostberg, Energy Sales Rep for Eastern ND, and we met for Dinner at Rugby, ND. At Rugby, Elroy would pass the torch, so to speak, and Noel would travel with me for the next couple days in NW North Dakota. He stayed the evening in Minot, where I lived. On the way from Rugby to Minot, about 100 miles via US Hwy 2, we are pulled over by a local County Sheriff. He turned on his lights behind us as we were traveling down Hwy 2 and Noel’s first response was; I really apologize that I was distracting you and now you’re going to get a ticket. Luckily, we were only 20 miles out of Rugby and very close to a Cenex Convenience Store in Towner ND, (a branch location of Rugby), so I pulled into the parking lot of the C-Store. The Sheriff pulled in behind us, lights flashing and siren blaring. I the review mirror I could see him exit his vehicle, walked up to my driver’s window and asked: Is there someone by the name of Noel Estenson in the vehicle? I could see Noel’s heart sink. I’m sure he thought there was an emergency back home. Then the Sheriff said: ‘Noel, could you step out and come behind the vehicle please”? Noel slowly, but deliberately, exited the passenger’s door and briskly met the Sheriff at the rear of the vehicle. I left my window open and this is the conversation I overheard: Sheriff: ‘Your name is Noel Estenson’? Noel: ‘Yes’. Sheriff: You are the President of Cenex? Noel: ‘Yes’. Sheriff: Well Noel, out here in North Dakota, we think the price of gas is a little too high……So Consider this a Verbal Warning? As you might imagine; there was a conspiracy involved! The good news was that Noel took it in the spirit it was intended, and I stayed employed at Cenex for another 20 years! Thanks Noel, for saving our Regional Cooperative and Hat’s Off! Mike and Rhonda Sellnow