The Daily News

Although Wahpeton-Breckenridge wasn't Albert 'Chip' Houle's home his entire life, he died Sept. 30 and left his mark on the two cities, not only in art form but also in many people's hearts.

Named after his father and called Chip for much of his life, Houle moved to Wahpeton shortly after being honorably discharged from the United States Army in December 1956. His wife, Eleanor, and he both began work at the Wahpeton Indian School, now known as Circle of Nations School, upon moving to Wahpeton.

Houle, a talented artist himself, taught in the Industrial Art department, often teaching art classes in the evening.

Advertisement

"He really enjoyed the kids," said Rita Erdrich, a classmate and good friend of Houle's. Both grew up in Belcourt, N.D., and had been friends since they were young.

Houle's daughter, Kathy Langenwalter, said her father enjoyed giving kids the opportunity to make something of their art. Students that have taken their artistic abilities and turned it into a career have often told Langenwalter that her father was a source of their inspiration.

Langenwalter remembers her father painting and sketching more as he got older, but said he had been good at it since he was a high school student. Noteworthy pieces Houle created in the Twin Towns include the mural in the rotunda of the Richland County Courthouse, the Chahinkapa Park entrance sign sponsored by the Rotary Club and a mural in the entryway of the Circle of Nations School library. Several of his pieces reside in various buildings at the North Dakota State College of Science and in many of his friends’ homes.

"The artistic part of him was so fabulous. I enjoyed him immensely," said Woody Caspers, who served with Houle on the Wahpeton City Council in the late 1970s.

"He was very easy to work with," Caspers said. "He thought through the processes; he dug into all the issues."

Arden Anderson, who was the city auditor while Houle was a councilman, said Houle was level-headed and did his homework. Also, during the time Houle was an alderman, a committee was formed to design a new logo for the city of Wahpeton. Houle drew up a number of ideas, many of which were incorporated into the city seal at the time.

"He wasn't one to blow his own horn," Anderson said. "He just did his job and he did it well."

Houle moved out of the Twin Towns in 1983 to pursue further business endeavors, but returned to Wahpeton in 2004. Houle was a member of St. John's Catholic Church, the Hafner-Miller-Ross Legion Post No. 20 and also the Woody Keeble VFW Post No. 4324.

"He always enjoyed meeting new people, having new adventures. It seemed like he knew something about everything," Langenwalter said.

Langenwalter added that her father stayed involved with the community because he wanted to be a positive role model. From her father, she learned how to enjoy life and to meet as many people as possible along the way.

"He's a real people person and he always wanted to help," she said.

"I think he'd like to be remembered as being a good friend. He had many, many friends," Erdrich said.

People who haven't seen Houle's sketches or paintings or just need a friendly reminder of Houle and what he loved can stop into the Wahpeton Community Center any time in November. In honor of Houle and Native American Month, his art work will be displayed in the community center gallery.

Comments