Fact Or Fiction? (175)
On July 13, a young lady had her golden birthday (13 on the 13th). We were lucky enough to be part of her birthday brunch held at the Kernel’s Restaurant in Owatonna. Happy Birthday and many more to come, great niece, Anna Marie Combs.
When Grandpa Joel introduced me to his granddaughter, Savannah, he was beaming! Savannah flew from California to water ski on Beaver Lake for the second time in her young lifetime. Grandpa Joel even drove the boat!
DNR personnel put three live traps plus one gill net last week (two consecutive days) in Beaver Lake. The number of walleyes and their size was unbelievable for a lake so small.
They also caught a number of good sized sunnies. By the time you read this, the results should be available online. It bothers me when a gill net is used, as there is no survival.
The three young redtail hawks have returned to their nest where they were born here at Beaver Lake. They remind me of grown-up youngsters that return to the nest. Many moms and dads know what I’m referring to.
Some of you have wondered if I’m the Bob Hansen on the Steele County Park and Recreation Board. No, I’m not. Same name, different person, different spelling.
Papa and Mama Canadian honkers hatched five babies that they are raising on Beaver Lake. The babies are now the same size and look just like the parents. When swimming, they line up one after the other.
I’m certain one parent is the leader, but where is the other parent in the line? Second, last or somewhere else. Genie says last. I say second. What do you think?
For some reason, it quit raining. Genie and I tried all the usual ways to make it rain.
We washed both HHR vehicles – no rain. We watered the flowers – no rain. We washed the cabin windows – no rain. We left the car windows down – no rain. We hung up the wash outside – no rain. We prayed – no rain. ‘Twas then that we gave up.
As we left Hy-Vee in Albert Lea on a dark, cloudy, overcast, looks-like-rain evening, we spotted Farmer Craig Williams. He was with some of his Harley biker friends from Alden under a tree by the entrance to Hy-Vee.
I asked Craig what they are doing. He replied, “We’re going to make it rain. We have no helmets, no rain gear, and our best riding clothes. That always makes it rain.” We drove away shaking our heads. No way.
Did they make it rain? Yes and no. Yes, it rained one-half inch in Albert Lea. No, it didn’t rain in Alden!
We attended the Hanson Family Reunion on Broad Street in Mankato. We met at the house where Great Grandpa “Hans” lived when Mankato was first mapped.
Great Grandpa Hans was on the town council when the mayor announced it was time to name the streets. The mayor had a map with the streets beginning with Main Street. Each street to the side was 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and so on.
Hans got very excited when he realized he would have to tell all his Norwegian friends that the street he lived on was “T’ird” Street. The mayor asked Hans if he had a better idea.
To which Hans replied, “Yes, name my street ‘Broad,’ just like my shoulders.”
Readers, now you know why there is no 3rd Street in Mankato and Broad Street can be found between 2nd and 4th Street.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. 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. This is the Hanson’s 37th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, 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.
Change is the word of this era. It is here whether we like it or not.
For example, it used to be that a Good Field Of Corn measurement was “knee high by the Fourth.” Now the Good Field of Corn measurement is “Tasseling by the Fourth.”
I did a dummy and left the car key in the ignition. The net result? A dead battery the next morning.
After a call to Al’s Body Shop in Ellendale at 8:30 a.m. and a jump start, the car was ready to go. With quick service and a very, very reasonable fee, I was on my way at 11 a.m. Al’s Body Shop, you know how to give excellent service. Thanks.
Hey readers, it’s time for the “Everyone Attends” social event of the year. There are only two reasons not to attend: 1. You’re in the hospital. 2. You’re at a funeral – your own. I’m referring to your local County Fair. See you there!
The Lady is back at Beaver Lake. She spent the winter in Hawaii waiting for it to get warm here. She can be seen at the end of the dock (cabin 74). What a Doll!
How come it is that on a hot day, your liquid inflow far, far exceeds your liquid outflow?
As most of you know, a full moon can cause people to do strange things. I woke up to the sound of strange voices that sounded like Chinese.
The next night it was the same thing. The third night of the full moon, I was ready, and recorded the Chinese sounding voices that were floating across Beaver Lake. I mailed the recording to Hartland University at Hartland, Minnesota asking for a translation.
The answer back was, the voices were Minnesotans trying to copy High Society Mandarin Chinese. High Society Mandarin Chinese are very polite and educated.
They must ask permission to go to the bathroom. Minnesotans call this #1 and #2. High Society Mandarin Chinese ask permission with “sing a song” (#1) and “make a cake” (#2).
The letter back stated that for some unknown reason Minnesotans, especially those living on a lake, revert back to what they have learned in visiting the High Society Mandarins. The letter stated that asking permission usually happens only during a summertime full moon.
Hobnobbing with the Mandarin Chinese has definitely caused three couples living on Beaver Lake (in three different cabins) to revert back to what they learned on their recent trip to China.
To the young lad who threw a garbage can with garbage into Beaver Lake: “Is your Mommy proud of you?”
Advice to the companions who watched: “You have issues in who you hang out with.”
A male resident on Beaver Lake tells me he has most certainly changed. Per him all his walking is “on the level.” It seems that his right leg bothers him when he walks uphill. Jim Hinton, is this true, or are you pulling my leg?
Uncle Sam is now in residence at cabin #90. He is outside to greet you in his red, white and blue outfit.
Once again, that dynamic Sommers duo did an excellent job making pancakes at the Farm and City Days in New Richland. Genie and I both thought the flipping Sommerses looked a little different!
Bass fishing at Beaver Lake has been “gooder than good.” Two catch-and-release bass fishermen caught ten in two hours: one seven pounds (22 inches), another five pounds (20 inches), and the other eight, one to three pounds.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. 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. This is the Hanson’s 37th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, 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.
It was one great birthday celebration from Friday, June 27 through Sunday, July 8. There was a watercraft parade, swimming, fireworks, picnics, fun in the park and other birthday related things at Beaver Lake.
There were four angel food birthday cakes with 59 red, white and blue candles atop each one. Fifty-nine times four is the number of birthdays celebrated. The birthday celebration concluded with the singing of “Proud To Be an American.”
Ole (“Fer it”) and Swen (“Agin’ it”) are circulating a petition to be on the November ballot. They need 279 signatures to be on the ballot. (10% of eligible voters) The vote will be whether or not you want the current speed bumps at the entryway on South Beaver Lake Road.
The Church Ladies of Central Freeborn Lutheran Church sponsored a bus trip June 24 to “A Mighty Fortress Is Our Basement” at the Plymouth Playhouse Theater in Plymouth. It was a musical comedy presented as a celebration of a Lutheran church basement kitchen and the women who work there.
The cast consisted of three adult ladies, a young lady about to be confirmed and their Lutheran pastor.
Do you have to be Lutheran to enjoy the play? No way, but it sure helps to have roots in Minnesota.
Dianne Elmer, Nancy Anderson, Orville Johnson and Gloria Jensen were bus prize winners (a packet of That Good Old Lutheran Dessert – red Jell-O®).
On the way back to Albert Lea, the bus stopped at KFC in Owatonna for an all-you-can-eat buffet with beverage. Judy and David Kerr, with their excellent employees, treated the bus people like the VIP’s that we are!
Many thanks to Laura in taking care of our mix-up as she refunded two tickets. Laura is a great example of Minnesota Nice.
F.R.O.G. of Central Freeborn Lutheran Church and Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea are jointly sponsoring a bus trip Monday, July 30 and Tuesday, July 31 to Lutheran Night at the Twins. Each bus leaves at 4 p.m. from behind Slumberland in Albert Lea. The cost is $45 per person with Home Plate view seats and bus parking one and a half blocks from the ballpark. Call 373-8655 for reserved seats.
Message to illegal ATV drivers: “What part of the ‘No ATV’ sign don’t you understand?”
You should know that crow hunting in Minnesota is legal as of July 12, 2012 (a black bird is not always a crow).
Some Minnesota Inland Waters Fishing Regulations you should know:
Crappie maximum possession limit is 10; sunfish/bluegill maximum possession limit is 20; one walleye over 20” is maximum possession limit (possession is in your care, custody or control).
Thanks to a poor fisherman at cabin 81 for showing me an Austin newspaper clipping of how East Side Lake in Austin came to be named.
It was a log dam, man-made lake, being first created in 1858 and named “Beaver Lake.” With Works Project Administration workers removing soil in 1935, and Highway 16 using soil from the lake bed for fill in 1938, it was renamed East Side Lake. Do you suppose the Austin City Fathers didn’t want any confusion with the Beaver Lake we know?
Like father, like daughter. Father Paul had knee surgery. Daughter Kathy tangled with a lake dock and lost. Both are using a crutch. Both have the same ornery disposition. Luckily for Mamma Paula, they both will recover. Brady and Logan, sons of Kathy, will be most happy.
How hot has it been on those hot days at Beaver Lake? It has been so hot that you couldn’t stand to walk barefoot on the beach sand.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. 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. This is the Hanson’s 37th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, 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.
Lois and Duane Aitchison are at their hideaway cabin on Beaver Lake on a beautiful clear day (the kind of day that would make an atheist wonder).
An SUV pulls in, honks the horn, rolls down the windows and both him and her stay in the vehicle.
Lois and Duane walk over to the SUV, and the lady informs them they are looking to buy a place on Beaver Lake. The lady asks Lois what kind of people live on Beaver Lake. Lois asks “What kind of people do you live by now?” The man replies, “Grumpy, stuck-up, snobbish, ornery.”
Duane says, “The same kind live here.” The man and lady roll up the windows and drive away.
Two weeks later, on another beautiful day, the same thing — only this time, a different man and lady walk up to the cabin and ring the doorbell. Pleasantries are exchanged and Lois asks “What kind of people do you live by now?” The man replies, “Friendly, easy-going, pleasant.”
Duane says, “The same kind live here.”
Genie and I drove to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where our daughter Deb and son-in-law Roland live, and then we rode in their 50+ miles-per-gallon Prius to the Outer Banks of North Carolina on the Atlantic Ocean. Deb’s birthday and Father’s Day were the same day this year (Sunday, June 17).
We enjoyed a Sunday brunch (after coming back from the Outer Banks) at Tripps Restaurant in Winston-Salem with Roland’s sister Barbara and her husband, Lloyd. We thought “Tripps” was the place to go seeing as how Genie and I were on a “trip.”
The following are some of the interesting things we noticed in the 1,475-mile drive each way.
Car license plates issued in the Outer Banks begin with OBX.
Some Kentucky, Indiana and South Carolina license plates have “In God We Trust” on the plates.
A Virginia pickup truck with two Good Ol’ Boys and the license plate “EWE-HLR.”
In quizzing them, they hauled rams to various places to “service” ewes, thus “Ewe-Hauler.” They were on their way home from delivering a ram in Iowa.
A sign reading “Horse-pital Next Right.”
A sign reading “Comfort Station” for tired travelers.
On Pope Road, a sign reading “Hill Blocks View.” We looked, but no Pope did we see. Guess the hill blocked our view of the Pope.
A church in the Outer Banks with a Subway restaurant as part of the church proper (Verlaine Williams of Albert Lea tells me it was on an early-morning TV program she saw). Guess they were following that old Bible saying, “Feed them and they will come.”
A bright yellow semi headed for the world’s largest truck stop on I-80 in Iowa. The door had New Richland, MN on the side.
The freeway speed limit ranged from 60 to 70 mph. Trucks were legal on only some of the lanes.
In watching car license plates, we saw 45 of the 50 states.
Gas was $3.16.9 in the state of Virginia.
Based on the people who stopped to talk to Lois and Duane at the beginning of this article, can you figure out what kind of people Genie and I experienced on our 2,950-mile trip?
Rosie at the Super 8 in Peoria, Illinois.
Peter, Mary, and Pat at the Comfort Inn, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Pixie, April and Warren at the Comfort Inn, Nags Head, North Carolina on the Atlantic Ocean.
If you said, “Friendly, easy-going, pleasant,” you’re right on!
We stopped at our house in Albert Lea prior to continuing on to Beaver Lake upon our return. Surprise! Air conditioning was out. A call to Johnson Heating and Air Conditioning (also residents at Beaver Lake) and with quick service and mega bucks on the credit card, we now have air. Thanks, Kevin and crew, for the speedy service.
Thanks to Earl and Rosemary Colstrup for feeding the birds at Beaver Lake.
Thanks to Ken Bertelson for being Central Freeborn Lutheran Church Greeter while I was gone.
Ah yes, Beaver Lake, what a great place to come back to!
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. 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. This is the Hanson’s 37th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, 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.
It is June, and most of the Beaver Lake cabins with out-of-state owners have been used by the owner. Colorado, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Virginia and Ohio owners either have been or are here now. As of this writing, California and Maine owners have not been here. Every cabin has been used by someone since May 1st. Do you need to know all this? No, but now you know anyway.
For you Fisher People: Crappies and sunfish are too easy to catch currently at Beaver Lake. Bass are biting, with the largest being 11 ½ inches (7 lb.) so far. Lutefisk are not biting – they are an “R”-month fish.
On the 17th of May, I wrote about the South Beaver Lake Road cabin owners charging a user fee to help pay for the cost of blacktopping their private road. Boy, did I get flack back!
The lady rural route mail carrier sent me 25¢ via her mail relay person, Patrick from cabin #3. She informed me that the U.S. Government is very short of funds, and with the government discount, 25¢ should cover her using the toll road to deliver parcels.
Don (cabin #10) sent me an email wanting to know if the newly hatched wood ducks will be charged a lake access fee.
I received a typed, unsigned letter in the mail (postmark was Mankato). It declared that the privacy law means nothing, because you can find out anything you want to about a person through your computer. It stated you could find out who owned property, and the conservative value of the property, around any lake in Minnesota. It went on to say that you could find out the income, taxable income, and income tax for the lake property owner. With all this info, the letter stated, one could determine the net worth of any lake property owner. In doing this for all the property owners on South Beaver Lake Road, the lowest net worth was $614,000. Based on this, the letter said, the cabin owners could afford to pay for the blacktopping themselves.
As a result of the above three responses, the user fee has been dropped!
Cabin #80 is one tough cabin to find. I found #79 and #81, but no #80. Can you find it? (I checked with the Steele County Law Enforcement Center and no one has reported a Missing Cabin.)
How is your social life? Do you know what great things are happening in Minnesota? Your area is abuzz. Do you know why?
To get with it, there is a Great Social Event from 9 to 11 a.m. every Saturday next to the Liquor Store in Ellendale from now through the last Saturday in October. To make it sound good, the event is known as “Farmer’s Market.” Not only can you buy something locally produced, but you can find out the talk of the town. For example, “Who is Gus?” or The Name of the Lady Running For Mayor In the Next Election (The Guy With the Red Suspenders can clue you in).
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. 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. This is the Hanson’s 37th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, 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.
There are two things you must know to understand how Beaver Lake went dry:
1. Star Creamery was a place on St. Olaf Lake where the local dairy farmers sold their milk (The building is still there on the NE shore).
2. Lost River is the name of the underground river that flows from St. Olaf Lake to Beaver Lake. (The river is shown on most of the early area Waseca-Steele County maps.)
One winter the boiler in the Star Creamery started losing its ability to maintain the necessary pressure to process the farmers’ milk. The Star Creamery board of directors got on the problem right away, and managed to get a new boiler installed without wasting any milk.
But, the old boiler became a problem, as the board couldn’t find anyone to take it away. It was the middle of winter, and St. Olaf Lake was frozen solid.
Board member Lars Larson got a light bulb idea.
They hauled the old boiler out on the ice to let it sink when the ice thawed. It worked, and as the boiler sank, it turned over, with the long train-engine-like smokestack going down first.
Spring came, and as usual St. Olaf’s water level started to rise. It continued to rise, getting to where water was flowing out the south side of St. Olaf Lake and into the LeSueur River. Why all the water compared to previous springs? The locals were dumbfounded.
Meanwhile, the water level in Beaver Lake kept dropping. It got to the point where Beaver Lake was bone dry. What happened to the water? The locals were dumbfounded.
Ole, Lars, Swen and Nels, the four smartest Norwegians in the area, took it upon themselves to solve the puzzle of why St. Olaf Lake had so much water and Beaver Lake had none.
First, they checked the dried-up bottom of Beaver Lake. They discovered a mound of sand and gravel like a river would deposit. They wondered where this river was coming from, and why it quit flowing.
They thought just maybe the source was St. Olaf Lake, and was no longer flowing into Beaver Lake, thus causing St. Olaf’s water level to be so high. But what plugged the underground river?
Lars got a light bulb idea.
It was the boiler that was sunk when the ice went out on St. Olaf Lake!
The four Norwegians each got on a horse (in case you didn’t know, a horse is a very good swimmer) holding a small chain attached to a log chain behind the horses, and started to drag the bottom where the boiler had been sunk.
Luck was with them as they snagged the boiler. The horses pulled and there was an instant whirlpool. In a few days, Beaver Lake’s water level was back to normal.
Now you know how Beaver Lake went dry. I know this story to be true, as the event is told by one of the panelists at the History of Beaver Lake meeting held at the Historical Society in Owatonna on Thursday, June 21, 2012, at 7 p.m.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. 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. This is the Hanson’s 37th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, 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.
I hope as a veteran you remembered Memorial Day and Flag Day with a salute and a click of the heels. “This land is your land, this land is my land.” Enough said.
Father’s Day is Sunday, June 17. Whether living or deceased, honor that great Dad of yours. We will be in North Carolina that day, as not only is it Father’s Day but also our daughter’s birthday. A four-night stay in the Outer Banks of North Carolina will be part of the celebration.
There is a sidewalk chalk artist at Beaver Lake cabin #63. Very big multicolored letters form a message. The letters all run together, yet you can read the message.
The ground must still be shy of moisture. It has been raining quite regularly here at Beaver Lake, but yet the lake level isn’t rising. The sources of water into the lake were dried up prior to the last rain of three inches in four days. People have been using the west end exposed sand bar for picnics, sunning and other non-water activities.
The Lions Club’s arsenal of “Get Things Done” has added another feather. Dr. Oz is now a member of the San Francisco Peninsula Lions Club. His comment about joining was that his TV show is good about getting the word out, while Lions are the driving force to get the work done in a community (Dr. Oz was referring to health activities).
If you’re interested in history of Beaver Lake, be at the Wenger Room in the Village of Yesteryear at the Steele County Fairgrounds Thursday, June 21 at 7 p.m. A panel will do the presenting and you will have a chance to share your memories. The panel will all be fact except for me!
My two trail cameras are now in place here at Beaver Lake. I’m disgusted that someone used a four-wheeler to break a plastic fence so that they could get through (thus one camera zeroed in on the fence).
A four-wheeler has been driving across farmer Tim Toft’s beanfield. I did see a him-and-her on a four wheeler going across the beanfield, which is a destruction of the crop (thus one camera zeroed in on the beanfield).
In talking to Barry Braaten, builder of all things, Barry tells me he just build a first. The building-of-multiple-use can be seen at South Beaver Lake Road in front of cabin #97. Joe and Marge LaFrance will use it as storage in the summer, then move the storage out in the winter, when it will be a lutefisk fish house. They will be renting it from June through September as a nursery for baby snapping turtles on the just-below-ground level. (As of this writing, all the space for snapping turtles is taken.)
Joe has a very interesting You-Can’t-Go-Wrong guarantee: he guarantees you will catch just as many lutefisk in their house as any other lutefisk fish house on Beaver Lake.
Call Marge at 823-6423 for fishing reservations. She has different rates for weekends and weekdays. Before calling, you might want to convert the telephone numbers to letters of the alphabet.
For construction questions, call Barry toll free at 1-800-684-2832.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. 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. This is the Hanson’s 37th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, 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.
We came from three different states and seven different towns. Ray Thompson, Frederic, Wisc.; Donald Thompson, Oklahoma City, Ok.; Caleb Lang, Maiden Rock, Wisc.; Walter Proft, Woodbury, Minn.; Paul Proft, Owatonna, Minn.; Bob Goetz, Austin, Minn.; Bob Hanson, Beaver Lake, Minn.
This was the 37th year of our annual fishing trip to Leech Lake, Walker, Minn., staying at Ivanhoe Resort. The seven of us all arrived by car, but not all the same arrival and departure date, during the week of May 19 through May 26.
Thanks to Caleb, we enjoyed Caribou Coffee every meal and many other occasions as in most cases the temp was in the 40-60° range (Caleb has connections at the Caribou Coffee Shop in Red Wing, Minnesota, an Old Train Depot building).
Fishing was Badder Than Bad. Some of the guys never caught a walleye! Three of us each caught two keeper walleyes (I was one of the three).
Bob Goetz was told a stand-up colored jig was the hot lure to use. He bought six of them. In about three hours of fishing, reality set in that the hot lure was not so hot. He switched to a plain minnow rig and managed to catch a small Northern for the day. In cleaning the Northern, he saw something shining in it stomach. Bob now has seven stand-up jigs.
Walter Proft is the father of Paul Proft and the grandfather of Caleb Lange. Thus, we had three generations of men fishing in the same boat with the same fishing luck – “NONE.”
Donald Thompson noticed a red spot and a reddish ring on his leg (the usual sign of having been bit by a deer tick, which can cause Lyme’s Disease). A visit to the local hospital’s emergency room at 9 p.m. resulted in an oral medicine prescription. The doctor told Donald he could pick up the medication from the drug dispensing machine on his way out, and use his credit card to cover the co-pay. Yes, readers, there is now a machine that dispenses drugs!
How tough is a Dutchman? A Dutchman is tougher than a huge buck deer. Bill, of the “Dynamite Bill and Mary DeVries” husband and wife team, owners of Ivanhoe Resort, took on a deer at 50 mph while riding on his motorcycle. The buck became an instant member of Deer Heaven. Bill had some time to wonder why God didn’t want him in Heaven, as he endured three separate hospital stays including two helicopter rides. Bill is now back to his easy going self. We all agreed with Mary when she said, “Thanks, Lord.”
Upon checkout, we complained to Mary DeVries about the bad fishing. Mary smiled and handed each one of us a card that said:
North: Don’t go north.
South: Fish don’t open their mouth.
East: Fish bite the least.
West: Fish bite the best.
Sorry: You’re a three-directional fisherman.
Readers, if you want to find out how many directions you fish from, call Mary at 1-800-962-2842. Mary will charge you for all four directions at an increased rate if you mention this article.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. 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. This is the Hanson’s 37th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, 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.
Many thanks again to the Ellendale-Geneva Sportsmen’s Club for furnishing the dock at the landing at Beaver Lake. The original one was installed in 1994. Once again, thanks.
It is now official. In the Governor’s Opening (for walleye fishing in the Great State of Minnesota) Governor Dayton and I tied for the number of walleyes caught. He didn’t catch any!
Attention, if you’re going fishing: Noodling in Minnesota is illegal. The sunnies and crappies at Beaver Lake are hard to keep off your hook when fishing. No problem if you’re not fishing!
It’s sad to say, but my vote doesn’t count as much as it used to. I used to go to both of my deceased grandfathers’ places of voting, identify myself as my grandfather, and they would check it out in their book that I voted. Now, I have to furnish proper identification, thus my previous three votes are only one.
My former employer (AAL) merged with Lutheran Brotherhood to form Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Thrivent was named as one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” for 2012. I wonder if my retiring helped them get that award.
So, I can only answer the land line phone when I’m at home. I can’t send or received pictures on my land line. It has to be plugged in to work. These are just some of the reasons I was going to switch to a cell phone. I hung tough, but gave up and Genie and I now each have a cell phone and no land line.
Attention Mustang car owners: Sturgis, S.D. now has a Mustang car rally after the Harley Motorcycle Rally. The numbers are growing rapidly, with about 7,000 participating in 2011.
Genie and I attended the High School Graduation party for Tammi Hendrickson at a farm site just west of Hartland in 1986. Genie and I attended the High School Graduation party for Jacob Staloch at a farm site just west of Hartland in 2012. Same farm site both times! Both mom and son were beaming with joy in 2012 (Grandma Sharon beamed the most of all three). How many of you readers attended both parties?
When you’re on I-35 leaving Ellendale and headed for Owatonna, you will see a sign with the word “Hope” on it. If you don’t turn off, you are then “beyond Hope.” That is a good comparison of my feelings for the Twins. At the beginning of the baseball season I had “Hope.” Now the Twins are “beyond Hope.”
I have many good memories of the great little town of Hope. My Irish grandparents (McFarland) farmed just east of Hope on the Straight River, where I caught a lot of Northerns. Grandpa taught me how to enjoy a glass of tap beer with salt at the Hope Tavern at age 14!
The following two paragraphs reveal the Best True Fishing Story so far this season at Beaver Lake.
I stopped to talk to two fishermen on my early morning walk around Beaver Lake, just as they were putting their boat on the trailer. They told me fishing was very slow, and one guy said he left an unattended line out in the lake by a dock on the north side.
I remarked that this was illegal. He laughed and said he wasn’t worried about any fine. They were in fact trolling and had laid his rod and reel on the back seat to pour a cup of coffee. The hook snagged something and the rod and reel fell in the lake. Thus, to his way of looking at it, an unattended line in the bottom of Beaver Lake!
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. 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. This is the Hanson’s 37th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, 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.
Fishing opener Saturday, May 12 was very slow at Beaver Lake for walleyes. The largest number of boats at one time was 14 counting the Steele County Water Patrol Boat. And, I’m aware of only three walleyes caught with the biggest weighing not quite 4 pounds.
An early morning temperature of 44 degrees was ideal for deer hunters. I saw two such characters dressed in blaze orange. Not only did they not get a shot, they never saw a four-legged deer. One hunter remarked that he was staying home the next day with a great two-legged dear. (Mother’s Day)
There are four sources of runoff water into Beaver Lake: Two field tile, one small creek and an overflow from a slough. After almost five inches of rain, water is entering from all four sources. When this happens, the lake level rises two inches for every inch of rain. Because the ground was so dry, the five inches of rain only raised the lake level two inches.
There are several springs, the biggest being in about 18 feet of water in sand bottom. This spring is between the two buoy markers and out farther in Beaver Lake.
On May 8, I saw the first proud parents of baby geese. The 5 babies were about a week old. They enjoyed a short green manicured lawn here at the lake. One good thing is their droppings aren’t very big. Sad to say the droppings get bigger! Reminds me of that song “Slip Slidin’ Away.”
Swen, Ole and Nels decided they would try their luck fishing for lutefisk on fishing opener. They started fishing at sunup (6 a.m.). They fished and fished, but no luck. They heard the noon whistle and decided it was pizza time. After some bantering back and forth, they agreed on Supreme Pizza. Nels said he is a great lover of pizza and he wanted an equal share.
Sven is one sharp Norwegian. On his cell phone, he ordered three Supreme Pizzas cut exactly in half and delivered to the Beaver Lake boat landing. The three pizzas cut exactly in half were delivered. How many slices did Lars get?
The next Saturday, they decided to try their luck at Beaver Lake for lutefisk again. Same “ting,” not even the smell of one. The noon whistle sounded and again they decided on three Supreme Pizzas delivered to the boat landing. Nels wanted smaller slices. Swen called the order in, with each pizza cut in exactly four equal slices. The three pizzas cut in exactly four equal slices were delivered. How many slices did Lars get?
One more Saturday. Same “ting,” only Nels wanted smaller slices. Swen called in the order with each pizza cut in exactly eight slices. How many slices did Lars get this time?
Readers, unless your answer was the same each time for the number of slices Lars got, enroll in the Remedial Reading course taught through your local adult community education program.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. 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. This is the Hanson’s 37th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, 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.
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Genie and I were in charge of the program for WELCA (Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Austin for their May meeting. Our program featured our teaching in remote First Nation Villages in the far north of Canada.
I let it be known that I’d also be talking about my hair-raising Walleye fishing experiences while at the villages. This caused six men to be WELCA temporary members so they could listen to my fishing tales.
Genie and I have taught through LAMP (Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots) at various villages of roughly 500 people. Genie has clocked in 20 years. I’ve participated for 10 years.
We do the program for any group. The charge is up to the group with any amount up to $100, which we donate to LAMP. Anything over $100 we keep. So far, no keeper! Call us at (507) 373-8655 if you’re looking for a program of this type.
Interesting enough, when I walked in prior to the program, a lady walked up to me with her right hand held out and said, “My name is Vivian Nelson and your talk better be fact or fiction.” I promised it would be and shook her hand. Thanks, Vivian, for the great welcome.
As is the case every spring, the first few early morning walks around Beaver Lake are a bit of a struggle. It takes a little longer to walk the just over two miles than years past. I think it has something to do with age and weight!
I have noticed four for sale signs. There is one new house since this time last year. (Welcome new home owners to the Scott Crabtree family.) The red tail hawk pair are back again this year with their nest high up in a pine tree.
The lake is currently turning over. In plain English, that means the water on the bottom is coming to the top and the water on the top is going to the bottom. This is causing some green globs in greenish-colored water with a slight not so pleasant odor. This should be over after about two weeks.
This month’s issue of Minnesota Volunteer magazine has a more elaborate explanation of lake water turnover. I also learned that subscriptions to Minnesota Volunteer are tax deductible.
The South Beaver Lake Road cabin owners have decided to blacktop their road. The problem is it takes money to do so. After much discussion we have decided on a user fee. We checked with Berlin Township supervisors to see if it was legal.
The answer was as long as it was a private road, we could charge a user fee: A $1 fee to enter, and a $5 fee or a flat tire to leave. The fee would be for four-wheeled non-cabin owner’s vehicles only.
Enforcement is a trail camera taking pictures of every vehicle entering and leaving by the lock box that states the user fee. For those of you who believe this road rage story, please donate $25 to the cause and you may enter and leave South Beaver Lake Road as much as you want in 2012.
Tis’ the season, the crappies and sunfish are biting. Wrens, Baltimore Orioles and Rose Breasted Grosbeaks made their appearance May 4. The first tornado came from the west with the following rain and wind from the east, thus confusing this old Norwegian. (A total of two-plus inches.) Ah yes, Beaver Lake, how sweet it is! Amen.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. 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. This is the Hanson’s 37th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, 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.
I and many other concerned area citizens attended the “open-to-the public” allegations presented by the Ellendale City Council to Roger Swearingen, city maintenance man. In my opinion, the three following suggestions would make life easier for the council and Roger plus others:
• A salary for Roger.
• A city maintenance vehicle at Roger’s discretion with limited usage outside of Steele County.
• Head apparel especially for Roger that features big, highly visible three letters “NMS” (no more swearing).
If all or any of the three suggestions are put in play, I expect to be Grand Marshal of the Beaver Lake Watercraft July 4th Parade!
Congratulations to Officer Scott Hanson on being named “Peace Officer of the Year” by the Owatonna Exchange Club. Scott started his law enforcement career as a policeman in New Richland. (This does not mean diplomatic immunity from speeding in Steele County for Momma Paula of Beaver Lake).
How strong was the easterly wind at Beaver Lake the weekend of April 27? It was so strong it moved the water in Beaver Lake two feet west. Look at the shoreline by the boat landing and you will see it’s at least two feet to the west of the normal landing.
Another wind measurement was the underground river flowing from St. Olaf Lake to Beaver Lake reversed direction for about 48 hours.
The below are weather happenings since we have had a cabin at the lake:
• June 9, 1985 — High of 102.
• 1987 — 24 days in a row of 90-plus highs.
• April 26, 1988 — Nine inches of snow.
• June 22, 1988 — High of 102.
• June 19, 1989 — Frost.
• October 31, 1991 — Bad ice storm, below-zero snowstorm.
• May 1992 — snow on Memorial Day.
• June 21, 1992 — Frost.
• February 2, 1996 — Low of minus 33.
• February 3, 1996 — Low of minus 32.
• September 15, 2004 — Seven inches of rain.
• March 2, 2007 — 12 inches of snow.
•June 17, 2010 — Many tornadoes.
• September 23, 2010 — 11 inches of rain.
Does the above verify global warming? I don’t think so. It does go along with that old saying, “Weather will be weather, whether you like it or not.”
An interesting thing was the picture of the tractor and corn planter (taken along highway 13 at the Greg and Cindy Recknor farm) out in the field after the nine-inch snowfall April 26, 1988. The photo even showed snowmobile tracks around the planter!
After high school, I joined the Navy where I learned the tough game of Pinochle. Upon completion of my enlistment, I enrolled at Mankato State College where I met Milan Bergein, whose life history was similar to mine. We were both very good Pinochle players and as partners, we rarely lost a game.
After college, Milan became an appliance salesman and called on Warren Sorenson’s Appliance and T.V. in Geneva. He found out that Warren, Mayor Elwood Jensen and Reverend Huber from Community Lutheran Church all like to play Pinochle. Many a night Milan and I would travel to Geneva to play the two of them partners against us. The result was almost always the same — we lost 2 out of 2 and once in a while 2 out of 3.
Warren Sorenson, thanks for the memories.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. 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. This is the Hanson’s 37th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, 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.
Fishing opener prospects looking good at the lake
Written by Jim LutgensWe have moved into the cabin at Beaver Lake as of Thursday, April 19th. It was windy, raining, and 39 degrees with a few snow flurries. I guess temperature-wise March and April did a flip-flop this year.
Swallows, martins, geese, ducks, blue birds, osprey, loons — all the spring birds — are here except orioles and hummingbirds. We have two female wood ducks nesting in the same wood duck house. They each have a different mate, but I think there is a little hanky panky going on.
We have a willow tree that blew down and is partially in the water. I haven’t seen them, but there is at least one beaver slowly trimming off the live green smaller branches (probably for youngsters). How about that, a family of beavers living at Beaver Lake!
Our car insurance lady calls me and tells me we must take the senior defensive driving course if we want the lesser premium. She gave me the telephone number at Senior Place in Owatonna as there is a course being taught there next week. I called and enrolled Genie and myself.
The young lady, Kim, was very efficient in making the arrangements. She let me know that she specializes in taking care of seniors. She also informed me that if we have any trouble with our lake neighbors (Jim and Jen Worrell) to let her know. Kim restates her specialty of taking care of seniors especially if a cousin is causing the problem.
The Beaver Lake water level is the lowest I’ve seen for this time of the year. The ice fishing was limited this winter because of the ice not being safe. In fact, the winter fishing contest was cancelled due to unsafe ice.
The water is very clear. You can actually see the bottom in about six feet of water. My analysis: Not too many fish caught this winter, less water for the fish to hide. They can easily see your bait. Conclusion: Excellent walleye fishing opening day Saturday, May 12. Ladies, this means your fisherman can be at your beck and call Mother’s Day.
When Pastor Matt Griggs is absent his replacement is named either Nelson, Jensen or Anderson. When this happens, every last name listed in the church bulletin is usually Scandinavian, (sen or son.) Both East and Central Freeborn Lutheran Churches welcome you no matter what your last name is.
Whether you’re a Twins fan or not, take a close look at the Twins display in the window at Lerberg’s in Ellendale, “fan”-tastic!
Ice out with wind can be very powerful. For example, park at the Beaver Lake parking lot, walk through the tunnel under the road and out onto the DNR fishing pier. Take a look at the shoreline just to the north. Yep, the ice out moved a lot of sand, gravel and rocks into rolls on the shore. (A great outdoor biffy for kitties!)
Thought for the day — You don’t have to be a Minnesotan to get confused, but it sure does help!
How dry is the ground around Beaver Lake? It is so dry… that even after 1.5 inches of rain, now water is flowing out of any field tile into the lake.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. 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. This is the Hanson’s 37th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, 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.
Here we come again! This is our 37th summer at Beaver Lake and my 11th summer of writing this column. As of this writing, we two old people are in the process of moving into an old cabin at Beaver Lake.
Congratulations to Sharon Sorenson on becoming a new grandparent to grandson Jett Allan Sorenson born February 28, 2012. Grandpa Mark doesn’t think he is old enough to be called Grandpa, but he is working on it. Please notice that Grandpa Mark isn’t quite so grumpy since that eight-plus pound boy (that looks like him) was born.
Laura Groth, a college student resident at Beaver Lake, is now a graduate of my old alma mater, Mankato, with a Bachelor of Science in Earth Science. Mom and Dad (Chuck and Jean) are now last in line for student loan repayments.
Paula Hanson of Beaver Lake is one year older as of April 24th. I agreed not to tell when and how old she was. At least I kept half of the bargain.
Ecclesiastes 3:9 says, “A time to be born and a time to die.” Sterling Meyer, a retired farmer from Thompson, Iowa and former owner of cabin 74 for many years, knew the Bible and practiced what he read. The night before he left this earth in March, he called all his children. The next morning he left this life.
The ice went out of Beaver Lake very early this year. (March 15th to be exact.) Spouse Jane Braaten told spouse Barry, “Let’s be first at something.” They had their dock in the lake March 16th — the first dock of 2012.
If you’re interested in going to the Plymouth Playhouse to see “A Mighty Fortress Is Our Church Basement” by the Church Basement Ladies on Sunday, June 24, please call me at (507) 373-8655. The bus will leave from behind Slumberland in Albert Lea at 11 a.m. Cost is $45 per person which includes a buffet supper at KFC in Owatonna.
After the Twins lost their first four games of the 2012 baseball season, the radio station KRFO sports announcer decided to conduct an in-person interview regarding the Twins. He decided to interview three people on the street in Ellendale asking them the same question, “What do you think of the Twins?” This was to be done on the fifth day of the season.
John Schultz was the first one asked, to which John replied, “I think they’re good basketball players and when they’re the same age as their older sister, NRHEG will take first rather than third in the Minnesota State Girls’ Basketball Tournament.”
The next person asked was Knose Etall. He replied, “At least the Twins can’t lose today because they’re not playing.” He walked away with his grumpy face and nose up in the air. (By the way, the Ellendale Rescue Squad has saved him three times from drowning when he got caught outside in a sudden downpour of rain).
The third person asked was Ginger Thompson. She replied “We’re only four games out of first and we have 158 games to catch up!”
If you’re interested in going to Lutheran Night at the Twins either Monday, July 30 or Tuesday, July 31, call me (507) 373-8655. Cost is $45. (You don’t have to be Lutheran to go. In other words, this could be your chance to convert a Lutheran to your liking.
To those of you that have read to this point: Please read the heading and ending bylines real careful. Hint, this column is either fact or fiction, you decide.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. 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. This is the Hanson’s 37th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, 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.