Eugene Molbert had no idea that when a Hettinger couple disappeared this summer, his three-month effort to find them would put him in the local and national spotlight.

The 52-year-old Adams County sheriff was thrust into the public eye in August when Norman and Yvonne Olson vanished from their Hettinger home. Molbert gave up time with his wife, adopted daughter and four horses to join the Olson family in their attempts to find the couple.

He and family members contacted newspapers and television stations across the state to get the word out, even driving the 143 miles to Bismarck to meet with reporters.

"It's been a priority since it happened," Molbert said.

News crews began coming to Molbert earlier this month when the Olsons' car and Yvonne Olson's body were found northeast of town. Yvonne Olson died of a gunshot wound, and searches continue for Norman Olson, who also is presumed dead.

Molbert said the last few months have changed him.

He grew up on a farm near Reeder. Before going into law enforcement, Molbert worked on the family farm, in the oil fields near Dickinson and as a maintenance man in Reeder. In addition to their adopted daughter, Molbert and his wife have three grown children and five grandchildren.

Molbert took a job as a part-time deputy at the Adams County Sheriff's Department in 1988, went full time in 1991 and in 1994 he was appointed to replace former sheriff Robert Bartz, who resigned to take a different job. Molbert was re-elected in 1994, 1998 and 2002.

This is the biggest case Molbert has handled since he became sheriff, he said. In the last 10 years he's dealt with "typical small county stuff" including car accidents, minor thefts and barking dogs.

Molbert also recently handled three rape cases and, in 1993, while still working as a deputy, he helped investigate a murder. Kevin Kern, of Lemmon, S.D., was found dead of a single gunshot to the head, and buried under snow in a shallow slough less than 10 miles from Hettinger. Leland Thomas Ash, of Billings, Mont., was sentenced to life in prison for the murder.

But none of those crimes drew as much attention as this case. Molbert talked about his role Wednesday afternoon from his sheriff's department-issued Dodge Durango. It was parked in a field a couple of miles from the Quonset where a pheasant hunter found the Olsons' car. About a dozen horse trailers and pickups sat nearby, and 30 horse riders and 20 people on all terrain vehicles searched land miles in each direction.

The sheriff's battered felt cowboy hat only came off his head long enough for him to wipe his brow. He said he had five more hats at home, "some old ones, some dirty ones and some I've thrown away."

He wore gray cowboy boots, blue jeans and a brown snap jacket. A gold sheriff's star was pinned over his heart. Handcuffs were fastened to his belt, and a handgun was holstered at his side. A week earlier he appeared in front of a television camera wearing a pair of chaps.

The interview was continually interrupted by Molbert's radio - chatter from highway patrolmen, Molbert's three deputies and townspeople. Calls are directed to his radio when nobody's at the sheriff's department to man the telephones.

A couple of television reporters came to the window of the sport utility vehicle to ask Molbert for interviews. Twice he got out to stand in front of a television camera and talk about the search. He appeared more comfortable speaking into the lens than the television reporter.

"Back in August I was nervous to talk to the media, but it doesn't bother me anymore," he said. "I just say what I'm going to say and shut up because there are things in a case like this we have to keep to ourselves until it's done."

Molbert said the only air time he'd done prior to the Olsons' disappearance was a few words on a local radio station. As of Wednesday he'd talked to reporters from across the state, some from South Dakota, and did a phone interview with Fox News. He said he runs all new information by the Olson family before he releases it.

"The media was good to us during the start of this. When I asked them to do something, they'd do it," he said. "Now I'm returning the favor."

Molbert said the Adams County Sheriff's Department has shown themselves capable of handling the case, with some outside help from the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. A half-dozen BCI agents showed up to help after the car was found.

"I look to them (BCI agents) for advice but the decision-making is left up to me," Molbert said.

Opinions of the sheriff appear to vary among the more than 2,500 people in Adams County. A half-dozen residents said they didn't want to comment on Molbert or the job he's done as sheriff. Those who were willing to talk were as slow to praise the sheriff as they were to criticize.

"It's a hell of a job," Gene Hanson said of the sheriff's position. The retired Mobil gasoline distributor was one of many retired businessmen and farmers who gather each day for coffee at Peppy's, a restaurant in Hettinger. They said they've discussed every possible theory as to what happened.

"I don't think he's (Molbert) the worst in the world, but he's a hell of a long way from the best in the world," Hanson said. "I'd hate like hell to be in his boots."

"Me too," said Arly Coplen, a close friend of Norman Olson.

Bob Lewis, a retired rancher, said "I think he's (Molbert) doing the best he can with the current situation. We don't see things like this very often."

The men dodged questions on whether they voted for Molbert in the last election or would vote for him when he comes up for re-election in two years. Hanson said he doesn't know how he'll vote in 2006 because he doesn't know who Molbert will run against. Molbert ran unopposed in the last two races.

Nick Schaefer, the owner of Peppy's, said a few people have asked him to run against Molbert. He was a police officer in Lemmon for 11 years and a police officer in Miller, S.D., for 8 1/2 years. He said he's offered to help with the investigation and searches, but Molbert hasn't gotten back to him.

"I'd like to help, but if I do they might think I'm butting in," Schaefer said. He said he's done what he could for the Olson family.

Molbert said he plans to stay in law enforcement until he retires.

Hanson's older brother, Duane, jokingly said Molbert may have other plans. The Hansons are from Reeder and grew up near Molbert.

"I think he's going to be a movie star when he gets done," the retired Reeder rancher said.

(Reach reporter Mike Albrecht at 250-8261 or cops@ndonline.com.)