Diamond Willows intrigue Dick Aos

Richard (Dick) Aos started working with Diamond Willows about 15 years ago. He found some wood and brought it to his home at Pine Lake, south of Gonvick. It took him quite a while to take off the bark. But once he started he was so intrigued that he could not quit until he had finished the piece.

The diamond willow is a willow that is deformed into diamond-shaped segments with different colors.  The willow gets a fungus that causes the wood decay in spots.

When Dick was ten years old he would watch as his dad Lewis would whittle on wood. He didn’t know what he was doing and he can’t remember if he made anything or not. 

He retired in 1988 as he was tired of selling insurance in North Dakota and Northwest Minnesota. He and his wife spent more time at their cabin on Pine Lake. Retirement was not for him as he drove city buses to Las Vegas, Georgia, Texas, and Connecticut and to almost every state in the lower 48 for Transit Tec Inc. out of St. Cloud. He also delivered buses for Greyhound out of Pembina, North Dakota. The most interesting trip that he took was to Vancouver Island, Canada. He sold print jobs for Richards Publishing in Gonvick for over 25 years.

When Dick’s wife became ill he stayed at home to help her. He then needed a hobby.

Dick became interested in the Diamond Willow and he would sit for hours peeling off the bark. He said once you start with a piece of wood you can’t stop as there are so many varieties of patterns and colors that show up.  The wood was so beautiful.

He thought that he should do something with the wood so he decided to make some canes and walking sticks. That would be easy to do. He has made over 150. He gave 50 canes and 50 walking sticks to the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) in Bemidji. 

He went to more interesting items as he has now made 35 coat racks that he has given to kids, grandkids and great grandkids. He also has some in town.

His son Ritchie Aos, from East Grand Forks, brought him several willows and it took him about three months to take the bark off them. He says he has enough to do projects for the next two winters. He does other things for enjoyment in the summer time. 

He has advanced his wood projects to making chairs, cribs and the next one he wants to tackle is a coffee table with a glass top. 

His wife passed away that left a void in his life but he still keeps going with the willow projects. 

He is a member of the Gonvick American Legion, the DAV in Bemidji, Lund Church in Gully and the Clerk for Pine Lake Township.