Marco's Coffee Group

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You can always contact me at:
1944rlb@gmail.com
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Marco's Coffee Club now meets a couple times a month using the Zoom app.
Check your emails for invite.

Marco's Minot Coffee Club

When I moved back to Minot in 2007 a couple of my (old) Minot friends invited me to join them for coffee at Marco's cafe in the Town & Country Shopping Center. A few years ago the group moved to the food court at the Mall after Marco's closed. I think they need to find a new name for the group. Little did I know at the time this was a group of nearly 20 regulars gathering Mon.-Fri. at 8 AM for coffee to discuss the local events and bash each other. The group I found was made up of retired teachers, coaches, businessman, farmers, athletes, media men and old guys just full of BS and wanting to have fun. This group over the years became some of my best friends. They would do anything for each other in time of need. They have a President (Henry Milkey) and Vice President (Larry Wahlund), pictured above, that were appointed in the beginning. To my knowledge an election has never been held and never will. The group operates under the strict rules of the president and has no printed rules. The president doesn't allow religion or politics to be discussed at the table. We all know the rule that no hats or caps are allowed on at the table. The president collects a $1 if you fail to take your hat off. Five dollars is collected from each member when someone turns 80 years old. Also, a $1 per day is collected by the president that goes into the coffee can. The president keeps this fund under lock and key.The group plays the numbers game (1-1,000) each day under the presidents rules. The winner collects a $1.00 from each member present. Winning two days in a row requires you to bring treats the following day. Over the past few years this money has been used to support a number of community projects. It's pretty much a secret how a guy gains membership to the group, but it's very well known that you need to be able to push a lawn mower as the main requirement. In the early years of the club Christmas parties were held at the presidents home and at Marco's in the later years. Homemade ice cream made by Henry in the early years was always a big treat everyone looked forward to. We even exchanged presents.

The club has a few community projects that the members are part of. One is working the hospitality area during high school athletic tournaments. This requires a lot of hours spent for a couple days.

The above photo was taken 7-15-2015 in Henry's beautiful backyard after mowing and a picnic.

The main club project is keeping the five Minot signs coming into Minot mowed and looking neat. The president took this project on a few years ago and now has ten new lawn mowers donated to the group by local businesses. Club friend Frank Lukosius, Bedford, New Hampshire, purchased Marco's t-shirts for the mowing crew. Toro gave the members caps for using their mowers. Longtime club member Rod Romine (retired media personality) contacted Toro informing them of the mowing project using Toro mowers. A storage area and gas is provided by the city. This project has been featured in The Minot Daily News a number of times and gotten favorable comments from the public. If you see one of the members (listed below) tell them "Thank You". The mowing was done by (aging) volunteers helping to keep Minot looking GREAT.

The following members show up most mornings for coffee. Duane Brekke, John Doering, Larry Wahlund, Dale Mattern, Ernie Madalen, Henry Milkey, Pat Schmitt, Rod Romine, Terry Hjelmstad, Pat McNally, Richard Westlake, Ron Hensen, Gary Huber, Keith White, Jack Nybakken, Bob Sunberg, Roger Backes, Myron Hayhurst and Terry Zeltinger. The following members live away from Minot. Frank Lukosius, Tom Seymour, Ron Fjeld, Roger Slotsve, John Kraljic and Richard Becker.

The above photo in article is of club President Henry Milkey (left) and Vice Pres. Larry Wahlund at a Christmas party. Ask Henry what's under the apron! That's probably what Larry is laughing about.
Below lists those members who've passed away.

Sad Day for Macro's Coffee Group . . . .
But it was the Right Time

Tues., May 21, 2019, Marco's Coffee Club Pres. Henry Milkey turned the club's lawn mowers over to a representative of First Western Bank of Minot. First Western Bank took over the lawn mowing duties as a community project. The coffee group had been mowing the grass around the Minot signs coming into Minot for many, many years. As the group (pictured below) aged they decided it was time to pass the mowers on and First Western was a good fit. Pres. Milkey always saw to it that the weeds were kept under control and the mowing was done on a regular time frame. He also made sure the mowers were in good working order and filled with gas. All the mowers were donated by local Minot businesses. This project was Henry's baby!!!

Coffee Members Display MSU T-Shirts

Coffee Club Member Makes Vegas Magazine

Club member Richard Becker now living in Sun City Summerlin, Las Vegas, NV, has been taking pictures for the local Link Magazine. The Link is published monthly and is delivered to some 12,000 homes in Sun City Summerlin. The Link June 2020 issue published an article on Richard. The very nice article was written by our Executive Director Mitzi Mills. You can read the article by clicking on the line below and going to Pages 34-36.
http://www.suncitylink.com/uploads/1/0/3/9/103913400/june-2020-link-for-web.pdf

My Visit to Minot Tues., April 16, 2019 Found the Old Coffee Group

I Caught Up With The Coffee Group Mon., July 15, 2019

The Macro's Coffee Group Moves to the Driveway

With the COVID-19 virus the coffee group gathers on club member Rod Romine's driveway for coffee and socializing. What a great idea to keep the guys together. (Thanks to Bob Sundberg for the photos)

Top Right to Left: Jerry Meyer, Passed Away Mon., Aug. 18, 2014. Arden Butts, Passed Away Sat., Aug. 31, 2015. Ken Flynn, Passed Away Wed., Sept. 19, 2018. Maynard Sandberg, Passed Away Wed., Oct. 30, 2019.

John Doering, Passed Away Sat., Nov. 28, 2020

Keith White, Passed Away Fri., May 8, 2020

Myron Hayhurst Passed Away Wed., Oct. 30, 2019

Roger Backes Passed Away Thurs., Jan. 28, 2021

Frank Lukosius Passed Away Sat., Feb. 19, 2022

Rod Romine passed away Wed., Mar. 30, 2022

Death has taken away club members and spouses
Club member Maynard Sandberg lost his wife Jeanne in 1998.
Club member Dick Westlake lost his wife Marlene, Thurs., Mar. 2, 2006.
Club member Ron Fjeld lost his wife Dorothy, Mon., Dec. 22, 2008.
Club member Pat McNally lost his wife Arlene, Sat., Apr. 30, 2011.
Club member Richard Becker lost his wife Nan, Thurs., May 12, 2011.
Club member Rod Romine lost his wife Gladyce, Wed., Jan. 30, 2013.
Club member Roger Backes lost his wife Connie, Tues., Oct. 1, 2013.
Club member Myron Hayhurst lost his wife Carol, Sat. May 7, 2016.
Club member Larry Wahlund lost his wife Edwina, 84, Minot, died Tuesday, September 21, 2021, in Trinity Hospital, Minot, ND.
Jerry Meyer, 82, died Mon., Aug. 18, 2014, Minot, ND. (Photo taken 8-4-2010 in Minot.)
Arden Butts, 82, died Sat., Aug. 31, 2015, Bismarck, ND
Kenneth Flynn, 83, died, Wed., Sept. 19, 2018, in the Albuquerque area after a brief battle with cancer. (Photo taken 7-11-2009 in Minot.)
Maynard Sandberg, 88, died Wed., Oct. 30, 2019, Minot, ND. (Obit photo)
Keith White, 82, life- long Minot resident and former Minot Recreation and Auditorium Manager, died Friday, May 8, 2020 in a Velva, ND, care center.
Myron Hayhurst, 85, Minot, died Wednesday, September 23, 2020 in a Minot hospital. (Photo taken 2011)
John 'Jack' Doering, 83, Minot, died Saturday, November 28, 2020 in a Minot hospital. (Photo from obit)
Roger Backes, 84, Minot, died Thursday, Janurary 28, 2021 at home. (Photo from obit)
Frank Lukosius, 80, died Saturday, February 19, 2022 in Merrimack, NH. (Photo from obit)
Rod Romine, 89, Minot, died Wednesday, March 30, 2022, in a Minot hospital. He suffered a massive stroke.

To the (left) is members Richard Westlake and VP Larry Wahlund (working) at a basketball tournament. Richard is praying for a Kenmare Honker win. Larry is just beat and no praying.