The grand patron of the Boutrous family in Bismarck, North Dakota was one Ghattas (Attas) Fares Boutrous Abu Dakken seen here in 1939. Attas Senior is standing behind the Boutrous house at 220 East Avenue A, and adjacent to his family run market, 'The Corner Grocery.'

photograph by his son Jimmy Boutrous

My Uncle Floyd Boutrous’s father Attas Sr. 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. (Photograph below)

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's parents were Miriam Nicola Attiyeh and Fares Boutrous Abu Dakken; and were both born and lived and passed in Ain Arab. Attas 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 and general merchandise store. 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 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 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.

2nd Photograph below

left to right - top row: James (Jimmy), Floyd Nick, Thomas (Tom), George and Theodore (Ted) left to right - bottom row: Sylvia (Trent), Lorna (Michaelson), Della (Nassif), Attas (Ghattas) Fares Sr. and Florence 'Flossy' (Nemer) Boutrous.

Attas called the boys his 'stairs' as they went from tallest to shortest in a complete natural order. Shortly after this photo was taken, three of the boys Ted, George & Jimmy) went off to serve in the war in Europe and never saw their father Attas again, as he passed way in February of 1944.

3rd Photograph below:

The Boutrous sons:
Thomas (Tom) Boutrous was a Doctor and was born in Sioux City, Iowa on October 30th, 1912 and passed on May 20th, 1974 in Detroit, Michigan.

George Boutrous was a Chiropractor and was born in Sioux City, Iowa on March 5th, 1915 and passed in Phoenix, Arizona on April 4th, 1995.

Floyd Nick Boutrous was a Real Estate Developer and was born in Bismarck on January 30th, 1917 and passed in Bismarck on March 2nd, 2010.

Theodore (Ted) Boutrous was an Attorney and was born in Bismarck on July 3rd, 1919 and passed in Bismarck on October 28th, 1996.

James (Jimmy) Melad Boutrous was a Real Estate Broker and was born in Bismarck on January 3rd, 1922 and passed in Fort Collins, Colorado on September 11th, 2014.

The Boutrous daughters:
Florence (Flossy) Boutrous Nemer was a stenographer for the North Dakota Legislative Council and was born in Bismarck on March 12th, 1924 and passed in Bismarck on December 24th, 2002.

Lorna (Boutrous) Michaelson was a Jazz Piano Player/Musician and was born in Bismarck on September 16th, 1928 and passed in Minneapolis / St. Paul, Minnesota on July 20th, 2013

Sylvia (Boutrous) Trent was born in Bismarck on June 19th, 1933 and lives in New Jersey and is a wonderful mother and grandmother and still going strong.