40-year-old battles rare kidney disease
By JILL DENNING GACKLE
Ryder’s streets were empty but hearts were full.
A benefit for Nathan Wohlk was canceled but the generosity of friends and strangers continued. Girlfriend Nichole Bennett and Mary Simmons, bar manager and one of the organizers of the benefit that was planned for the Ryder Star Bar & Grill, drew the name of raffle winner Bruce Peterson of Ryder, The streets were empty as Nichole live streamed the drawing of a youth 22 gauge rifle donated by Rod Officer and thanked the 350 who bought tickets.
A canceled benefit didn’t stop the outpouring of support for Wohlk and Bennett and their combined family with eight daughters between 6 and 18 years old.
Tickets sales went into high gear when the meal, silent auction and evening of music and visiting was canceled March 18 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Buddies from Minot would come out and pick up like 10 packs of tickets and sell them all,” he said. “It was a big family and friends thing.”
Bennett said, “We’ve had a lot of positive response. It’s been really great to see that. I think sometimes when you’re going through a hard time it feels kind of lonely.”
