For many years Art Lerberg, a lifetime summer resident of Beaver Lake, wrote a column for the Ellendale Eagle called “Just Rambling.” One of his many great columns was about the pileated woodpecker that would make toothpicks out of any telephone pole at a certain location. After the fourth telephone pole at that location, the telephone company noticed there was a hum in the line that vibrated in the pole. The pole was then wrapped in tin and the pileated woodpecker moved on.
Art has also moved on, but his likeable smile and the twinkle in his eye are a great memory for all who knew him.
Many of the area natives asked me to continue Art’s column. Their reasoning was, I was a native of the area with a cabin on Beaver Lake.
I said no.
After a few years of being asked, I relented, and “Fact or Fiction” replaced “Just Rambling,” with the main emphasis still being on the Beaver Lake area. The first column I wrote was in 2002 (a short 12 years ago).
The rest of this column will be a “Just Rambling” take-off.
“Frozen Chosen” are the few who attended the Sunday morning church service when the temperature was 25 below with 45 below wind chill factor.
Sign on the inside door of a fish house at Beaver Lake: “All I needed to know about cold weather, I learned while ice fishing at Beaver Lake.”
There are more fish houses on St. Olaf Lake than Beaver Lake. Why? Because the fish are smarter in Beaver Lake, and the fishermen are dumber. This known fact became the basis for the movie “Dumb and Dumber.”
The new pastor wanted a reserved parking stall to be designated by the church council. The church members wanted the council to talk to the new pastor to limit the church service to one hour. The council couldn’t figure out how to handle the requests. After much deliberation, Ole said he would solve the dilemma by the next Sunday. The newly erected parking sign read:
HOUR
PASTOR
ONLY
When asked, “How do you want your vegetables prepared?” he answered, “Through a cow, so they turn into steak.”
If Plan A fails, remember you have 25 letters left.
Who is the best maker of copies? Kris Heavner, that’s who.
Do you know the middle name of Barbie, that great doll? (Ken does.)
Call 373-8655, and for $5 we’ll reserve a seat for three hours beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, to eat pizza, play Norwegian Bingo, and eat an ice cream dessert at a Valentine’s Party held at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.