Videographer pays tribute to Walhalla creator of the Blue Moose sculpture BY DELANEY OTTO Grand Forks Herald
WALHALLA, N.D. — In a Facebook video posted by JR Photography, a car slowly makes its way through Walhalla. It travels along the road, up to the Masonic Overlook. The drone moves past it, looking out over the vast landscape, trees serving as a horizon, met by the blue sky. This video was an experiment, as well as a tribute for a fellow artist. “[It was] a perfect opportunity to try something new and make something important to you at the same time,” said Jesus Ramos, the photographer of JR Photography. Married duo Jesus and Sara Ramos, from Neche, N.D., talked about the technical
side and the emotional side to the video. While it was an opportunity to test new editing software, and showcase the beauty of Walhalla, it’s also in honor of a Walhalla sculptor who recently died. Kenneth “Kenny” Tetrault, 74, died on Sept. 11 at Valley Senior Living in Grand Forks. A veteran with a comedic personality and talent with wrought-iron sculpting, he’s known for multiple pieces of art in North Dakota. One such piece sits in East Grand Forks in front of the Blue Moose Bar and Grill. The life-sized moose — in the color blue, of course — sculpture was made more than 20 years ago by Tetrault for David Homstad, a previous owner of the restaurant. “I think it added to our legend,” Homstad
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said, noting how many people have taken photos with the iconic creation. He also said Tetrault would come by the restaurant now and then, making sure to say hello. In Walhalla, the moose that stands on the raised triangle at the intersection of N.D. Highway 32 and Pembina County Road 55, as well as the elk that sits at the Masonic Overlook, were also both created by Tetrault, a short time before the blue moose. The two originally stood together at the raised triangle, before the elk was moved to the overlook in 2008, a decision Tetrault didn’t approve of at the time. Those two particular sculptures were part of the inspiration Tetrault gave to JR
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