In June of 1974 I switched employers from Rochester to Albert Lea. In July of 1974 we sold our house by the Girl Scout camp in rural Rochester. We bought a house in Chapeau Heights rural Albert Lea and moved in July of 1974.
Genie became a Brownie Girl Scout leader shortly after we moved into the house in rural Albert Lea.
In 1975 Genie received notice from the Girl Scouts of America stating, “She had too many Brownie Girl Scouts in her troop for just one leader to go camping.” (She needed two leaders.)
The notice stated she must either find a leader helper or reduce the size of the troop. The notice gave her until the start of the school year in the fall of 1975 to comply.
Genie didn’t want to ask any of the Brownie Girl Scouts to leave the troop, so she went looking for a leader helper.
I came home from work and Genie handed me a piece of paper and said, ”Sign here by the X.” Being an order taker, I signed. Genie said, “Congratulations, you’re now a co-Girl Brownie Scout leader.”
At that time we were looking for a cabin on either Beaver or St. Olaf Lake. I found out the parents of one of the Girl Scouts had a cabin on Beaver Lake, so I let her know we’re looking for a cabin on either St. Olaf or Beaver Lake.
Sunday evening, my phone rings: “Mr. Hanson, this is Terri Sternhagen. I’m in your Girl Scout troop. I was riding my bicycle around Beaver Lake and I saw a man pounding a nail into a sign on a tree by his cabin ‘For Sale’ with a telephone number. Do you want the number?”
She gave me the number. I called the number Monday morning. We closed the deal on Tuesday Morning and Wednesday, July 1, 1976 we became Beaver Lake Cabin owners. (Thank you, Terri.)
Being outgoing people, Genie and I got to know the farm owners, Kenny and Evie Toft, of the land next to Beaver Lake as we drove in from the East. We also got to know Ed and Norrine Jensen, owners of the house on the east side of the road across from the boat landing on Beaver Lake.
As time went by, Genie and I realized how proud Ed and Kenny were of Beaver Lake. Kenny would do many favors for cabin owners next to his farmland. Ed would wade out into the lake and clean up the lake bottom in front of the boat house. During these years (We left Beaver Lake the fall of 2012 after 37 summers.), both Ed and Kenny told me many stories about Ed the pitcher and Kenny the catcher. I was even shown the home plate one of them had salvaged from the ball field on the south side of Beaver Lake.
Genie and I attended the funerals of Kenny and Evie plus Norrine and Ed. At the funeral of Kenny, I saw Ed slip a baseball into the coffin with Kenny.
The funeral of Ed was held Saturday, June 10, 2023 at First Lutheran Church in Ellendale. The service was exceptional. I’ll admit this old Norwegian was moved by the special music. (it was Norrine singing as previously recorded.)
Ed was in the coffin holding a baseball in his right hand. Do you suppose he wanted me to get the message, ”I’m ready to pitch if my catcher Kenny is ready to catch?”
— — —
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 New York. 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.