Here is a classic family photograph. When my Aunt Dian Marcella Erickson married Floyd Nick Boutrous in 1961, she brought into the family an incredible group of folk. Energetic, smart, and quite different than the quiet, stoic Skandis of the Ericksons and the Nelsons. A breath of fresh air swept in at the Lebanese dinners I attended; these dinners were memorable.

Mother Della Boutrous, “Queen of the Attiyeh’s" as she was known, at the head of the table for all of them till the mid 1980s. Fun and good food was the measure of the day. I met many of the Boutrous, Nemer, Nicola and Nassif family members over the years. Exciting times for me especially when I was a kid.

I was never fortunate to meet Attas Fares Boutrous Sr., Floyd’s father, who passed in 1944. A photograph of Attas Sr. in 1935 is below. He was born in Ain Arab, Lebanon, Syria in 1882. Ain Arab is a small village in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon. It lies in the shadow of the Biblical Mount Hermon, and is the headwaters for the Jordan River.

Attas Sr.’s parents were Miriam Nicola Attiyeh and Fares Boutrous Abu Dakken; and were both born and lived and passed in Ain Arab. Attas Sr. later dropped the 'Abu Dakken' from his name in the early part of 1900s.

Attas Sr.’s wife, Della Nassif Boutrous, Floyd’s mother, who I recall well, was also born in Ain Arab in 1892. That was the same year as my grandfather Frank G. S. Erickson who was born in Sundsvalle, Sweden. This of course brings to mind yet again, that many of us here are from Immigrant families and that should be celebrated not condemned or forgotten. In this case, less yee forget, if you do not know where you came from, you may never be sure where you are truly going.

In this photograph you can view the inside of the Boutrous ‘Corner Grocery' Store circa 1930s /1940s. It was first established by Attas Sr. on January 1, 1929. He ran the store till 1944, where upon his five sons (photo below) took over. The store was family run till it closed in the early 1970s and was located at 500 North 3rd Street in Bismarck, North Dakota. I recall as a child visiting the store with my Uncle Floyd.

The last photograph here taken in front of the Dakota Territory Marshall's Office in Bismarck, ND are the six grandsons of Attas Fares Sr, Della Nassif Boutrous, Clara Amelia (Nelson) and Frank Severin Erickson.

left to right:
Mark Jon Erickson, Allan (Al), Steven, Attas Jr, Nick Boutrous and Michael Boutrous.