05/05/2026
Congratulations to Rotarian Carolyn Godfread (far right), who had a tree planted in her honor at Elk Ridge Park on May 1 to recognize her many years of commitment to Bismarck and its urban forest!
Celebrating with Carolyn in the photo were her husband Ernie, son Ross, and daughter-in-law Rodham. The tree planting was part of the Bismarck Arbor Day 2026 event and the following dedication to Carolyn was included in the program:
"Raised in the rural western North Dakota badlands of Billings County, she came from tough stock that took root in a tough landscape. As a youngster, Carolyn watched and helped her Grandfather Swenson carefully plant native species of trees on their land. Spruce, ash, eventually Ponderosa pines. She recalls his tree stock came from Bismarck, the Oscar Will Seed Company. The attention paid to selecting hardy native species made an impression on Carolyn, fostering a life-long personal and professional interest in the study of prairie plants.
She holds a Doctorate in Plant Systematics, Classification, and Plant Ecology and has had a rewarding career in that field, first as a High School Biology teacher, then College professor, and on to years of volunteer work for the Bismarck Garden Club, Rotary, and 40 years on the Bismarck's Forestry Advisory Board. Eventually Carolyn rounded out her professional life as a Salvage Botanist, working as a consultant to oil companies requiring botanical surveys on federal land project areas. Nice outside work for a prairie girl who had ridden a horse to school across the badlands of North Dakota!
Carolyn also has an artistic side: she is a gifted rug ho**er, known for her unique and creative original designs. Her eye for color and design shows itself, too, in her work over the years in her layout and planting of the gardens at the old Governors' Residence. Jane Sinner reached out to Carolyn, pleading for more creative plantings than the plain petunias favored by other First Ladies, a challenge she accepted and relished for 20 years, as part of the Garden Club. Carolyn has worked to develop the pollinator garden by the Little Cottage Cafe, as well. Lovely!
We are pleased to recognize her years of commitment to Bismarck and its urban forest! Thank you, Carolyn."
Carolyn was also instrumental in the development of the Bismarck Rotary Club Arboretum, writing and illustrating a brochure about the various trees and shrubs planted there.
