Here is an engaging group shot taken in Bismarck, North Dakota at the Attiyeh Family Convention in 1940. Three generations of Attiyeh's are featured here in this fantastic photograph. My uncle Floyd Nick Boutrous is standing in the top row, far right. His father Attas (Ghattas) Fares Boutrous is in the front row, 4th from the left.

I was never fortunate to meet Della's husband Attas (Ghattas) Fares Boutrous, who passed in 1944. He was also born in Ain Arab 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. and his wife Della (Nassif) ran the Boutrous ‘Corner Grocery' Store that was established on January 1, 1929 until Attas Sr. passed in 1944. Their five sons pictured below; Thomas (Tom), George, Floyd Nick, Theodore (Ted) and James (Jimmie) took over the business following the passing of their father.

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 many times with my Aunt Dian and Uncle Floyd.

Top - left to right:

Joe Nicola, Badiyeh ‘Bert’ Nicola, Lester Nicola, Mitchel Nicola, Michael Saba, Nick Nicola, Sam Skaff, Mahfouz George Saba, Lynn Nicola and Floyd Boutrous

bottom - left to right:

Salem Nicola, Salameh Nicola, Salom Nicola, Attas Boutrous, Joe Kellel, Nassif Massad, Ami Shaker Nassif, Tom Nassif, Tom Kellel and Faris Skaff.

As my uncle Floyd used to tell his son Michael Boutrous about a photo session for the 3rd image below for an article on the Attiyeh Convention in Bismarck, ND in 1961.

“It was harder than hell to get all these folk together for this photograph, they threw a hell of a fuss.”

It was published on June 10th, 1961 in the Bismarck Tribune and as Michael said and I agree, "We are lucky Floyd strong armed them into it!" It's a classic photograph.

Michael's grandmother Della (Nassif) Boutrous is shown here sitting on the right.

I know Della was quite happy to have the beautiful Dian in the family. My memories are clear of Mother Della, “Queen of the Attiyeh’s" as she was known, sitting at the head of the table of so many family Lebanese dinners I attended. 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.

Della 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 most if not all of us here are from Immigrant families and that should be celebrated not condemned or forgotten.

Della's mother was Takla (Skaff) Nassif and was born like many of the family in Ain Arab, Lebanon-Syria. Takla later came to the states and joined Della and her father, (Takla’s husband) Jirji (George) Nassif Attiyeh a few years after they had immigrated west.