Jan 15, 2006 - 06:07:04 CST
With the passing of Russell Dushinske, North Dakota has lost a true pioneer in the management of its water resources.Throughout the state, Russ was referred to as "Mr. Water" or "Mr. Garrison Diversion." He was editor of the Devils Lake Daily Journal for 30 years and a water management advocate for most of his 92 years.
During my 10-year stint as editor of the Journal, Russ was a frequent visitor to my office, and we had an opportunity to talk about a great many issues. Russ was about a sharp a person as I've come across, and he had a passion for things being done right.
The first time we met was early in 1995 at the Ramsey County Extension Roundup. Russ sat down beside me at a meeting on Devils Lake's unprecedented rise. Russ introduced himself, telling me he was a longtime editor of the Journal and he liked what I was doing. At that time, I didn't know the role he played in the state's water resources, but it didn't take long to find out as he had the ear of many influential people throughout North Dakota.
While Russ was opinionated on many water development issues, particularly related to Garrison Diversion, he never tried to twist anybody's arm, just presented them with the facts and let them make their own decision. Any time I had a question, he was willing to listen and try to provide an answer. The more I got to know him, the more I liked him, and I called upon his experience on several occasions.
When I attempted to take up running - this was pre-hip replacement - Russ picked on me because my gait was anything but smooth as arthritis put a noticeable hitch in my giddy-up. He always quipped that he planned on joining me, because at 86, he'd found someone he could keep up with.
Russ loved Devils Lake - the community and body of water - and hated to leave it to winter in Florida. But he knew it was best for his well-being. He also liked baseball and told me about the good times he had going to games during spring training. Those stays in Florida got to be longer and longer and I don't think he made it back to North Dakota much during the past two years.
In December, at the state water convention, I made a few inquiries about how he was doing. The news wasn't good, Russ was in a nursing home and his health was failing. So when I saw the story in the paper it wasn't so much a shock, but it was still sad.
When the 50th anniversary of one of North Dakota's most devastating train wrecks occurred - the Empire Builder just outside Lakota near the end of World War II - I put together a story by interviewing an eyewitness, who just happened to be Russ. He was on the scene, taking pictures and relaying the story to the Associated Press. Those were difficult memories for him to discuss, but he painted me a picture no one else could.
Russ Dushinske was about much more than water and journalism. His family and community were at the top of the list. Russ was active in Devils Lake, even leading the Chamber of Commerce. I feel his interest in water stemmed from the problems Devils Lake experienced. Part of Garrison Diversion's original concept was to provide a means to stabilize Devils Lake.
Russ told me stories of how at one time the lake was no more than a mud bog. He'd grimace as he told me there were times in the late 1930s and early 1940s that when the wind blew from the west, everything would be covered with a film of alkali coming from the lake bed, which was exposed to the elements. He'd chuckle remembering how he met Sivert Thompson (one of the original movers and shakers in Garrison Diversion) and how Thompson and he got involved in the Souris River diversion, which eventually became Garrison Diversion.
Russ never had anything bad to say about anyone and he always tried to take in all points of view when formulating decisions. Russ liked to talk about the Journal in his early days.
He started working for the paper in 1932 and became editor in 1941, retiring in the early 1970s. Russ was a member of the Garrison Diversion Board for 20 years, chairing it a couple of times. He received numerous awards and recognitions and is a commodore in North Dakota's mythical navy and a member of the North Dakota Water Users Hall of Fame.
North Dakota is just learning the importance of water resources, but Russ knew all along that management of those resources are critical to the state's future. Russ helped shaped the community of Devils Lake as well as the entire state of North Dakota through his efforts.
(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 701-250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com)
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