By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

One of the prominent duck hunting cabins in Otter Tail County during the 1950s was one owned by renowned Fergus Falls attorney Roger Dell who later became chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. His was located near Mud Lake in Star Lake Township, southeast of Maplewood State Park.

This was much more than just your average duck hunting cabin where Dell entertained his lawyer friends on weekends. His cabin, close to some prime duck hunting areas, not only had overnight lodging but also had the comforts of home such as a deluxe stove, refrigerator, clothes washer and clothes dryer.

“As kids, the judge let us hunt there on weekdays,” said Doug Lange who lived nearby with his parents Adolph and Marcella Lange and his brother, Larry. “The judge would oftentimes wave to us while riding his gaited horse. He would remove his cowboy hat and wave in a friendly gesture.”

The brothers recalled those good duck hunting days on invitation of Judge Dell to hunt on his property weekdays, before and after school. Doug Lange is a retiree living with his wife Sharon in Seattle, Washington, and his late brother, Larry, resided with his wife Joan in Perham.

“Judge Dell was a larger-than-life historical figure in Otter Tail County,” said Sharon Voigt Hintgen, first cousin to Doug and Larry Lange who grew up in Dent, not far from the Dell hunting cabin.

“He came to the county in 1920 with nothing. He rose to be one of the most powerful people in our county’s history,” said Sharon who worked as administrator of the Otter Tail County Historical Society before becoming a math instructor at the community college in Fergus Falls.

Dell also was an

expert trap shooter

Roger Dell had another claim to fame as a firearm owner and duck hunter.

He was an expert trap shooter, ranking high in United States trap shooting competition at the national tournament in Vandalia, Ohio. He loved fishing, in addition to duck hunting.

In 1993 Dell was posthumously inducted into the Fergus Falls Chamber of Commerce Sports Hall of Fame. Accepting the award on behalf of Dell was Gerald Rufer, groomed by Dell at the law firm established by the late judge.

Rufer held a hand-made 12-gauge shotgun with beautiful engraving. The firearm was formerly owned by Dell. His wife was also deceased and they had no children, thus the reason for Rufer accepting the award on Dell’s behalf.

“A beautiful shotgun,” Rufer told the audience. “It was custom made and willed to me. Of course, I drew up the will.”

The audience roared with laughter.

Born in 1897 at Bird Island, Minnesota, Dell graduated from the St. Paul College of Law in 1920. That same year he started work as an attorney in Fergus Falls, under the firm Brown and Dell. 

Dell later worked with the firm of Dell, Rosengren and Rufer. Dell was widely known as a trial lawyer. It didn’t take Dell long to acquire real estate and build his wealth in Fergus Falls. 

In 1953 Dell was appointed by Minnesota Gov. Elmer Anderson to the State Supreme Court, as an Associate Justice. A year later he was named Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court. Dell retired from the State Supreme Court in 1962.

In Fergus Falls Dell was a member of St. James Episcopal Church, as well as many civic organizations. He died on March 8, 1966, at the age of 68. The Dell Trust, established in his memory, provides funds for charitable purposes and non-profit organizations.