Fishing excursion proves it's the little things that count for residents of Edgewood Grand Forks

Dec. 16—GRAND FORKS — On a recent December afternoon, a group of residents from Edgewood Grand Forks got together to talk about fishing and other activities they enjoy doing with a little help from their friends.

There was Delores Suess, who at age 93 caught her first fish — a rainbow trout — in September during an outing for Edgewood residents to Ryan Pond in Grand Forks.

Patty Dunn, who got plenty of bites that night but didn't hook any trout. "I hate when they take your bait and run with it," she said.

Kay Amundson, who also caught a rainbow trout during that September excursion.

Helene Fossum, who lived in Cooperstown, N.D. — "best place in the world" — and admits she doesn't like fishing all that much but enjoys the variety of activities available to Edgewood residents.

Mike Hill, a 1999 graduate of Central High School who lives at Edgewood to get the help he needs to manage his diabetes.

And last but certainly not least, Rosemary Dombrowski, a relative newcomer to Edgewood who grew up in Hallock, Minn., and came down to the community room to enjoy the conversation but didn't attend the fishing event at Ryan Pond. "We used to go fishing every Sunday afternoon when I was a kid," she said.

The opportunity for Suess to catch her first fish at age 93, and for Amundson to also hook a rainbow trout that September evening, came about through the efforts of Amber Hahn, life enrichment director at Edgewood.

Hahn attended a

leadership class four years ago that is offered annually through the Chamber of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks.

Several graduates of the 2018 class have stayed friends, she says, and try to volunteer somewhere in the community once a month. Fellow course alumni Derik Zimmel and Jason Laumb of Grand Forks, both avid fishermen, suggested taking the residents to Ryan Pond, Hahn says, and she took the reins from there.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department provided 10 complimentary fishing licenses for the residents, and the volunteers supplied the gear.

"It was wonderful," Amundson said of the excursion. "When I finally caught (the fish), I didn't want it to get away."

Suess, who grew up in Crystal, N.D., and lived 40 years in Cooperstown, spent 29 winters in Arizona before moving to Edgewood. It might have taken her 93 years to catch her first fish but it wasn't because she didn't have chances. Suess says she frequently went to Devils Lake and enjoyed being on her son's boat, but she didn't fish. Ditto for the Ontario side of Lake of the Woods, where a brother used to have a cabin.

"I wouldn't put on one of those" worms or other bait, she said. "I went there to eat and play."

During the outing to Ryan Pond, Suess says she had a good net man in Laumb.

"Once I got the little bugger on the line, he was right there with a net to bring it in for me," she said.

With seven sons and one daughter, Suess says she cooked plenty of fish over the years that the boys brought home. Her favorite fish to eat, she says, is walleye.

She has plenty of company on that one.

"I'm pretty blessed," she said. "Everything you need is here."

The trip to Ryan Pond offered an opportunity for the residents of the assisted living facility to get outdoors and enjoy some fishing with help from the leadership group volunteers, Hahn says. Located near Kings Walk Golf Course in south Grand Forks, Ryan Pond is just minutes from Edgewood.

Laumb said the outing was the most enjoyable volunteer night he's done.

"Such a simple thing," Zimmel added. "An hour or two spent trying to catch a fish or two, really can be so meaningful."

Winter presents numerous challenges — cold temperatures and ice among them — for getting residents outside, Hahn says, so the focus this time of year is on indoor activities such as Bingo, trips to UND sporting events and movies in Edgewood's movie theater.

"We really get a lot of good activities from this place," Suess said.

There's no reason for anyone to get bored at Edgewood, Hahn says. And once winter is in the rear-view mirror, there'll be more opportunities for the residents to enjoy the outdoors, she says.

Besides the September trip to Ryan Pond, excursions last spring and summer included trips to Lake Cameron in Erskine, Minn., attending Friday night races at the Grand Forks Speedway, the Greenway Takeover Festival, the Downtown Street Fair, golfing and the 2022 Walk to End Alzheimer's.

Next summer, Hahn says, she'd like to organize more fishing outings, perhaps a catfish excursion on the Red River or a fishing trip to Devils Lake. A return trip to Ryan Pond is also likely.

"I've only been here about nine months, so I am super excited," she said. "I have a lot of fun things planned next summer."

The benefits of spending time outdoors are well-publicized.

"It's always important to get outside," Hahn said. "With them not being able to drive anymore, it's great to have them see things, and they rely on us to show them. There's so many places in town that they've never gotten to go before. So, new experiences are great for them, for socialization and mental health and just enjoying our weather. We really have great summers."

Helping the residents have fun and enjoy Edgewood's activities, whether it's a fishing excursion to Ryan Pond or something indoors, is rewarding, Hahn says.

No doubt, though, the fishing trip to Ryan Pond was a highlight.

"Just seeing those smiles on the residents' faces and, even if they didn't catch a fish, just being out there and holding a fishing pole in their hands and being social and meeting new people was just great for them," she said. "It really does not take a lot to satisfy them.

"It's really the little things that count, and they were very appreciative about it."