As my cousin Michael calls this photograph, 'Roarin' 20's Floyd,' it becomes a fitting name for this image of his father, Floyd Nick Boutrous. Look at that smile, he had that his whole life, classic Floyd. At six years of age in 1923, Floyd is looking sharp as razor in his beauty of a Bowler Hat. Stylin' Floyd is what I always called my Uncle Floyd.

I look at the countless photographs of Floyd, many posted here on the website, and in many he is right next to his stunning wife, my Aunt Dian Marcella (Erickson) Boutrous. The second photograph below bares that out quite clearly. If ever there was a handsome couple, it was Dian and Floyd. Dian far more shy, reserved, yet a beautiful source of inspiration for anyone that knew her. Of course counterbalanced by the ever handsome host of all occasions, Floyd. They lived a good life together and each devoted to each other.

As I witnessed many times it was Dian who could light up a room, and talk and listen with such care, you knew you were in the company of someone extremely unique. Maybe her beauty became the story, but that was just in the cards. Once one overcame that Hollywood starlet exquisiteness, you beheld one of the kindest brightest woman. When I was a kid I was struck by her look, no one else in the family looked like her, yet as the years went by, I fortunately saw her as my Aunt Dian, kid sister to my father, Ernest Anders. Photographs below show Dian and her dad, Frank, and brother, Ernest in Bismarck in 1944.

Dian and I wrote letters back and forth over decades and her caring was evident, especially when I went off to college, as she said, "Very exciting times ahead for you Mark, enjoy them, for they will pass quickly, take every moment and savor them." I took her advise, and I still think of her often, and still take her advise to savor the moments.

A fantastic mother, wife and woman, Dian was the one in the family you looked to, next to her mother, Clara, two strong Dakota women. Floyd felt the same the moment he met her, and obviously struck with delight at meeting the prettiest girl in Bismarck, probably in the whole state of North Dakota. Floyd chased her down like any intelligent guy would that had the opportunity to meet such a woman.

When Floyd approached a year or so later my grandfather, Frank, and father, Ernest Anders, for Dian's hand in marriage, a classic story was to be unveiled. But needless to say, and beyond the myth of that story, and i will leave that for another time, Floyd was coming up against two hard core Skandis. Floyd's approach to the subject of marriage to the fair Venus of the Erickson family would have to be delicate and well stated. His supposed nemesis' at the moment were the adoring Lost Battalion, cowboy father, and the protective older brother. I'd rather face down in Tombstone the Clanton gang in "My Darling Clementine."

In the end Floyd passed muster, after a couple intense conversations, and as the years passed Floyd and Frank became ever so close as friends. My father came to realize his brother-in-law Floyd was the man for his kid sister, respected him and obviously liked him quite well. Even after having five sons, the couple known as Dian and Floyd flourished and were 'the' couple of Bismarck.

When I sent this photograph to Floyd's son, Steven, he relayed the perfect story to accompany a gem of an image.

"One of the many great stories Floyd told me about when he was a very young man driving on the interstate in Colorado was this one. Speeding along in his coup, Floyd was pulled over by a Highway Patrol car, and the officer, taking his time with the good looking 'suspect' thought he might have a gangster on the loose. At the time, maybe he was assuming he had the legendary Pretty Boy Floyd in hand. The cop gave Floyd the 3rd degree, but with Floyd's charm, politeness and smile, the cop soon enough was convinced otherwise. Floyd was allowed to go on his way, and I have to assume, the cop felt he had just met a pretty good guy."

Floyd Nick Boutrous was born on January 30th, 1917 in Bismarck, North Dakota to Attas (Ghattas) Fares & Della Nassif Boutrous. Both his parents were born in Ain Arab, Lebanon/Syria on February 12th, 1882 and February 17th, 1892 respectively. Attas Sr. and Della had eight children; three daughters and five sons.

Photograph attached here of Attas Sr. and Della's daughters and sons:

left to right - top row:
James (Jimmy), Floyd Nick, Thomas (Tom), George and Theodore (Ted)

left to right - bottom row:
Sylvia, Lorna, Della, Attas Senior and Flossy

Attas called the boys his "steps" as they went from tallest to shortest in a complete natural order. Shortly after this photo was taken, three of the boys went off to serve in the war in Europe and never saw their father Attas again, as he passed away in February of 1944.

The Boutrous-Nassif-Attiyeh were among the first proud immigrant families from Lebanon/Syria to settle in the Bismarck area. Not unlike many from his home country, Attas Boutrous began covering the territory as a peddler, moving from small town to small town, and from farm to farm, selling the wares of the day — food, pots and pans and medicines. Eventually, the family opened "The Corner Grocery" in Bismarck at the corner of Third Street and Avenue A — the same site in which Floyd maintained his Real Estate office. The structure today is 20 feet wide and 60 feet long, much larger than the original size of grocery store — 16 feet by 30 feet. Floyd spoke of this time. "It was all groceries — from bottom to top and it was business done a different way. Back then, it was neighborhood grocery stores. There weren't any supermarkets and lots of credit was extended."

The greatest lessons Floyd ever learned came from that tiny family store. "My parents said the biggest honor you can ever have is to be an American citizen." That's what Floyd always believed and that's how he wanted to be remembered.

Floyd graduated from Bismarck High School in 1934. He married Dian Marcella Erickson on July 12, 1960, in Las Vegas. Dian is the daughter of Clara Amelia (Nelson) and Frank Gustaf Severin Erickson also of Bismarck. Dian graduated from Riverview High School in 1957. Floyd and Dian have five sons, Michael, Nick and Attas II of Bismarck and Allan and Steven of Berkeley, California.

In addition to the family business background, there was another important element in Floyd's life — The Attiyeh Society — the extended Lebanese family organization whose motto is "God Bless America."

It was in the early 1950s that Floyd accepted the position of Chairman of the North Dakota Crusade for Freedom — an organization committed giving new hope and faith to the 70 million people behind the Iron Curtain. He accepted the post for three reasons, he thought it was a good cause; and he hadn't served in the military during the war and with the background of his parents, he thought he should help his country.

Floyd also served on the board of Radio Free Europe, an independent American enterprise of private citizens. In 1959, Floyd was honored as being part of an entourage of Radio Free Europe representatives who traveled to Munich, Germany. Boutrous was there when hundreds of helium-filled balloons containing leaflets were launched to residents of Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Albania and other Iron Curtain countries. In Berlin, he delivered an address on Radio Free Europe—a moment he regarded as one of the "big honors of my life." One of Floyd's prime projects was the promotion of Constitution Week in North Dakota each September.

Floyd was a memorable man, he had class and style, and was a kind gentle giving man to the end. He used the term of 'Honey,' a kindness towards people when he referred to folk he cared about. He was a charmer!

With deep respect I write this in his honor and to my Aunt Dian. A couple that no one can possibly forget if they were ever fortunate enough to come upon them.

with love and good memories
your nephew, Mark