My Uncle Floyd Boutrous’s father Attas (Ghattas) Fares Boutrous Sr. pictured in a formal photograph studio setting was born in Ain Arab, Lebanon, Syria on February 12th, 1882. Attas Sr. and Della (Delleh) Nassif were married on September 19th, 1910 in Sioux City, Iowa and had eight children, three daughters and five sons.

The name Ghattas means 'to immerse.' He was born during the Orthodox seasonal celebration of Christ's baptism. He simplified his name at the time he immigrated with his uncles to America at the turn of the century. Attas moved to North Dakota to homestead a farm near McClusky, North Dakota and later began to peddle goods in central North Dakota.

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.

Della and Attas settled in Bismarck and opened 'The Fair Store’ which was a clothing & general merchandise store. A newspaper ad is attached below on the 'The Fair Store' from 1917. In 1929 along with his wife Della and children, he opened the 'Corner Grocery.' The family acquired real estate in the area and were a well respected family in Bismarck. Attas Sr. passed in Bismarck on January 12th, 1944.

Attas’s wife, Della (Delleh) Nassif Attiyeh, was born in Ain Arab Lebanon, Syria on February 17th, 1892 was the eldest child of the family. She immigrated with her cousins via Mexico to unite with her father at his homestead in Sheridan County, North Dakota, near Denhoff. Speaking no English, she made her way by train to North Dakota with a piece of paper that had “Denhoff, North Dakota" written on it.

Della worked hard alongside her husband and was a devout Lebanese American. She met President Eisenhower at his inauguration ceremony in January of 1953. Upon going through the receiving line she startled Ike with what must have been perceived by him as an unusual custom. While shaking his hand, Della then bowed down and kissed his hand in a gesture of respect, and also appreciation for bringing home safely her three sons who served during the war. This practice of kissing the hand of a leader is custom in Della’s background. Della passed on June 30th 1985 in Bismarck.

I can still recall the many Lebanese dinners I went to at Della's home and my Aunt Dian Marcella (Erickson) and Uncle Floyd's home. The energy in the house was remarkable, kids running around, the elders from all the families, Lebanese and Swedish mixing, talking and the great food. To me in the beginning strange, but that wore off quick and the feeling in the dining room was one of family and friendship. My cowboy tough grandfather Frank G.S. Erickson and Uncle Floyd were great friends and very close. I looked at that and realized how lucky we all were and will never forget those outstanding times in Dakota.