Basin Electric original incorporator Arthur Gabel
Art Gabel was one of the first to electrify his farm in McCook County.
Basin Electric Power Cooperative
- December 29, 2011
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| Arthur Gabel |
Arthur William Gabel was born Feb. 6, 1905, in Tea, SD, to Henry and Minnie Gabel. He was the oldest of five children living on a farm near Chester, SD. He finished his formal education at the eighth-grade level as was common at that time.
As a young man he went to stay and work with relatives in California. Missing the changing seasons, he returned to South Dakota and began farming in the Humboldt/Hartford area. There he met and married Hilda Muchow Oct. 12, 1927, and they had two children. In 1933 he bought a farm in Spencer, SD, and the couple had two more children. Continuing his self-education and hard work, he became a successful farmer gradually growing the acreage of his farm. He held various positions on school and church boards. Always self-reliant and open to progress, he was one of the first in the area to electrify his farm. He served on the board of directors for the McCook Electric Cooperative* for several years. This led to his active involvement in the establishment of Basin Electric in 1961.
Failing health forced Art and Hilda to sell their farm in 1973 and move to California to be closer to family and required health care. Hilda died in 1976 and Art in 1980. "Throughout their lives they were great examples of what could be accomplished with determination, hard work, and an openness to new ideas and people," said daughter Barbara Williams.
*On Jan. 1, 2006, McCook Electric Cooperative merged into Southeastern Electric Cooperative Inc., Marion, SD.
On May 5, 1961, 69 people from several states gathered at the Patterson Hotel in Bismarck, ND, to sign Articles of Incorporation for Basin Electric. Their names are on a brass plaque immediately outside of the main entrance to the Headquarters building. Kathi Risch, Basin Electric senior staff writer/editor, has been trying to find out more about the original incorporators.
If you have information you would like to share about a Basin Electric original incorporator that has not yet been recognized, please call Risch at 701-557-5606 or send information, photo scans, etc. to krisch@bepc.com.
See all the stories done to date on our Original Incorporators page.
Headquarters
1717 East Interstate Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58503-0564 USA
Phone: 701.223.0441
Basin Electric Power Cooperative will provide cost-effective wholesale energy along with products and services that support and unite rural America.
