Fact Or Fiction? (175)
Who are:
Pat Ahern, Duane Aitchison, Paul Arnfelt, Arlen Brekke, David Broskoff, Dom Buckingham, David Christensen, Jim Cornelius, Chuck Crabtree, Clair Dahl, Gene DenHerder, Carroll Evans, Terry Fogel, Paul Groth, Dennis Grunwald, Whitey Hagen, Paul Hanson, Elvern Holland, Don Ingram, Ed Jensen, Jim Johnson, Lloyd Kaplan, Ralph Keyes, Bill Kottke, Lonny Klemmensen, Jim Korman, Joe LaFrance, Gene Larson, Jerome Lee, Andy Lerberg, Andy Mucha, Marty Nelson, Russ Nelson, Bill Newell, Max Pecht, LeRoy Sommers, Wayne Sommers, Mark Sorenson, Robert Swearingen, Roger Swearingen, Jerry Thompson, Warren Torgerson, Greg Wayne, Roger Wayne, Rodney White, Jim Worrell, and Roger Worrell?
They are part of the 50 sophisticated, sad, AARP qualified men with ties to the Ellendale-Geneva area. If you noticed you are qualified but not mentioned, it’s because you are one of the two names to add to the 48 names mentioned, making 50 in total.
Why are all 50 sad? See the answer at the end of this column.
On May 2, 2013 an S.O.S. flag was flying on the flagpole at the Ellendale Post Office. The three-day snowfall was almost 18 inches. It most certainly qualified for the nautical “Mayday” per the U.S. Navy. (The snowfall total was the most ever recorded for this area in the month of May.)
May 14, 2013 (10 days after the S.O.S. flag) was the earliest date ever of triple-digit temperature, the high being 102. Was the S.O.S. flag flown on the flagpole at the Ellendale Post Office? Nope, the pole was too hot to touch! (At the end of the day, there was still a snow bank by the Post Office from the May 2 snowfall!) The Weather Bureau has decided it was our one day of summer, as it was the warmest day of 2013. The snowfall total of May 2 was thus part of the winter of 2013 as it occurred before the one day of summer in 2013.
“There’s hope in butter sales, cause butter sales are up in Hope,” per the Minneapolis Star Tribune front page, April 14, 2014. The article contained pictures of Jay Logan, plant manager, Cody Blouin, and owner Victor Mrotz along with statistics of increased sales and why. For example, Hope Creamery went from 30,000 lbs. of butter in 2001 to 300,000 lbs. per the year currently. Wow!
The Hope newspaper article brought back memories. As a young boy (many moons ago) I would ride along with Grandpa McFarland when he took milk from his Guernsey cows into the creamery at Hope to sell and then buy groceries at the grocery store next to the hardware store in Hope. It was fun, plus I usually got a treat. Sometimes he would get frozen far animal meat out of the locker at the creamery where for a fee you could leave meat from a critter after butchering it yourself.
The Star Tribune article also mentioned that Victor Mrotz farmed. That also brought back memories, as Grandpa McFarland’s seven brothers farmed and one brother was the gun-toting cop in Ellendale. One of the brothers owned the farm where Victor now farms. Rural area history is so interesting.
And now, the answer as to why 50 sophisticated, AARP qualified men are sad. None of them received a May basket! Maybe you could ease the sadness of at least one of them with a belated May basket.
By the way, I qualify, but I’m not sad, as Genie gave me a May basket! Thanks, Genie.
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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.
This week’s column I call “Hopscotch,” in that it jumps all over the place.
I hope Easter was a time of importance in your household as it was in ours. “He is Risen, He is Risen, Indeed.” Hallelujah!
Sometimes the smallest part of the big picture can be one of the most important parts of that picture. For example: we had a contest at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church to guess when the 10-foot snow bank on the west side of the parking lot would be completely gone. (The winner received a Dairy Queen ice cream cake.) The smaller the snow bank, the more the fun, fellowship and talk about the contest. There was talk of adding snow, taking away snow, watering the snow down, all to help one’s chances of winning. The day prior to the snow being gone, Pastor Matt Griggs called one of the contest chairs to inform him at high noon there was very little snow left. That night, members of the Zumba class checked after class at dark and there was a very, very small amount of snow left. One of the class members (Kris Amarosa) ended up a very, very small amount of snow away from a Dairy Queen ice cream cake. We are all hoping that the winner (auctioneer Orville Johnson, with the winning date – the next day – of April 11) will be a sharing, caring person with a certain special lady.
On one of my morning walks, I walked by the skate park at Fountain Lake in Albert Lea. I now know that all my fellow ice fishers don’t remove all their litter; in fact it looked like big hunks of wooden debris were left on the ice. 1-800-652-9093 (TIP) was the next call I made.
We have a pair of red-tailed hawks in our neighborhood area in Albert Lea. I think they have young, as I see then dining out quite often. They like to carry away entrée meals of either snow birds or sparrows.
Central Freeborn Lutheran Church Ladies are sponsoring a bus trip on Sunday, June 22 to the Church Basement Ladies’ musical “The Last Potluck Supper.”
The cost is $51 per person (in advance – no refunds) with the coach bus leaving from behind Slumberland in Albert Lea at 11 a.m. There are center-section reserved seats at the 2 p.m. performance. Buffet supper at KFC in Owatonna is included if the 56-passenger bus is full. Call Genie at 507-788-8655 for reservations.
Something for my fellow older generation (over plenty-nine) to think about:
“’Tis not a problem to forget and leave something – ‘tis a problem when you can’t remember where you left it.” Speaking from experience, this is most certainly true.
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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.
The last week of March, Genie and I visited relatives in Harrison, Arkansas. We took Interstate 35 on the way down and U.S. 65 on the way back. The distance was almost the same, with the freeway being faster and 65 being more scenic.
Interesting things we saw along the way were: 1. A freeway sign “Don’t ‘Meth’ With Me, I’m Drug Free.” 2. On the back of the trailer of a semi: “Our main resource is sitting 63 feet ahead.” 3. On an outdoor sign in front of a church where the letters are manually changed: “Some will give God the credit but not the cash.”
We stayed at the Comfort Inn the first night at Bethany, Missouri on I-35. The young guy at the desk recommended “Toot - Toot” Restaurant for the evening meal. The restaurant was named after that old song “Toot, Toot, Tootsie, Goodbye.” We strongly agree with the recommendation, as the price was right, the food was good, and the articles on the wall were most interesting.
We stayed four nights at the Quality Inn in Harrison, Arkansas. Genie and I both agreed, as we left, that it was time to leave, as we were speaking slower and with a Southern drawl.
If you want to stay at a property with the desk employees’ treatment of guests “12” on a scale of one to ten, then stay at the Quality Inn in Harrison. Janie, Jan, Carrie and Ernie will exceed your expectations. This is most certainly true.
On our way to the Complimentary Guest Breakfast we heard a lot of hollering in the ladies’ restroom. A female voice was pleading for help. She told me the lock wouldn’t unlock. I brought the problem to the attention of Janie at the front desk. She contacted maintenance, and Mark (the boss) and Anthony (the slim younger helper) came to the rescue of Melissa, a housekeeping employee. The result was, Anthony took a ceiling tile out of the next room to crawl through, removed a ceiling tile and dropped down into the restroom to remove the door and rescue Melissa.
Genie and I both noticed being the boss most definitely has advantages. (Right, Mark?) Sad to say, Melissa hadn’t clocked in, so no payment for her long bathroom outing!
Our relatives, Sandy and Frank Meng, did an excellent job of showing us around Harrison while keeping my tummy full. As we left, Frank pointed out to me he was not a member of the rich Chinese Ming family, but a member of the poor Norwegian Meng family.
On our way home we stayed at the Comfort Inn award-winning property in Marshall, Missouri. As we checked out, we were lucky to talk to a most pleasant housekeeping supervisor at the front desk.
Once again, to all the Southern people with that great Arkansas drawl, “Thanks.”
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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.
To me, “Minnesota Nice” is a great label for many Minnesotans.
One of the best examples was when two Minnesota sophomore high school students wrestled for the Minnesota 120 lb. state title. The loser was pinned by his opponent. Did the loser throw his headgear, pout and stomp off the mat? No, he went over to his opponent’s dad – who was dying of cancer – and gave him a big hug. Then it was the winner’s turn to hug his dying dad. The crowd cheered, clapped and cried while standing to show their appreciation.
Closer to home, the NRHEG school board most certainly knows the meaning of Minnesota Nice. How so? Because they closed school on Wednesday and let out school early on Friday so NRHEG-Land could take part either in person or watch the great NRHEG girls win the Minnesota Class AA State Basketball Championship the second year in a row. (For those of you with the last name of Johnson: You may have the most common last name in Minnesota; however, Wagner is the most popular last name in NRHEG-Land.)
When you’re the editor of the local NRHEG newspaper, you get to prove how great you and your staff are promoting Minnesota Nice by publishing a “State Tournament Souvenir Edition” of the NRHEG Class AA Minnesota Girls 2014 State Championship basketball team. (There are 59 photos in the edition. Thanks, Star Eagle staff!) To me, the best picture was of the Mighty Team of 12 girls.
When you’re recognized as the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce Farm Family of the Year, is one of the requirements being Minnesota Nice? Most certainly, as in the example set by Paul and Linda Lynne of rural Hartland.
Even Minnesota weather can be nice, as March went out like a lamb!
A personal Minnesota Nice was shown to me. I went to Meg for teeth cleaning at the dental office of Dr. George Lundstrom in Albert Lea. When she was done, I sit up to stand up and leave. As I did so, the room was spinning and I was dizzy. I managed to leave and get to Dr. Salazar in Urgent Care at Mayo in Albert Lea the next day. My blood pressure and heartbeat were sitting up, lying down, and standing up. The readings were very different. A blood test was done, and Dr. Salazar told me my problem was easy to solve. “Drink Gatorade, on a daily basis,” was the answer. I am now drinking 12 ounces of Gatorade with no dizziness.
Where does the Minnesota Nice apply to the dizziness? Two days later, on a Saturday morning, a nurse from Urgent Care called to see if the Gatorade solved the problem. She told me she knows me from Beaver Lake, and her in-laws are Joe and Marge LaFrance, longtime cabin owners on Beaver Lake. Fellow Lion Kevin LaFrance, your wife is truly “Minnesota Nice.”
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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.
True to its slogan, March “came in like a lion.” Hopefully it will fulfill the rest of its slogan, “out like a lamb.”
With winter well over half gone and now daylight savings time, maybe those of you with cabin fever (better known as “wimps”) will once again be part of the “Minnesota Nice” population.
When you’re dealt a lemon, you make lemonade. When a “non-wimp” Minnesotan is dealt lots of snow and cold weather, they take advantage of it.
For example, a fifty-foot-tall snowman was built near Gilman, Minn. The nose was a fifty-five gallon drum. This snowman was shown on all the TV news networks plus many of the morning TV shows.
Gilman is a small town just west of Milaca, Minn., about the size of Hartland. It is like so many other great small towns – you have to have a reason to go there to find it.
Another example is the ice fishing contest on Gull Lake by Brainerd, Minn. The attendance was 10,000 – all “non-wimps.” Of course, this event was on national TV.
Just before you got to Gull Lake along Highway 371 was a handmade sign about 4’ x 6’ stuck in a snow bank reading “Girl Scout Cookies for sale.” The Girl Scouts sold cookies right at the scene during daylight hours. (One Scout remarked that tips were very good!)
Another example was students from a northern Minnesota high school taking fish houses of the lake to the tune of $10.00 per hour – no guarantee as to the condition of the fish house when they brought it to shore. They used John Deere power, muscle power, brain power, and feminine power to exceed their goal of $10,000 and no broken bones.
Another example was the four young girls and four young guys in this area in two minivans. The girls would drive by your house and decide if you needed snow removed from your roof and how much the charge would be to remove about three feet back from the roof overhang. If you agreed, they collected cash and the guys would remove it. I agreed, they collected fifty dollars, and the guys removed the snow. When the guys jumped into a snow bank upon finishing, I asked what they were going to do with the money. In unison they replied, “Prom, man!”
My definition of a “wimp” is a Minnesotan who stays in Minnesota all winter and moans about it. A Minnesotan who goes south for the winter is not a wimp. That person is one sharp Minnesotan. I am neither a wimp nor a sharp Minnesotan.
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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.
Genie and I usually leave Albert Lea for the Eelpout Festival at Walker, Minn. early a.m. Thursday, the day of opening activities in February.
We were watching TV Wednesday morning when the program was interrupted with flashes of “Blizzard Warning.” The storm was to hit early a.m. Thursday, with no travel, up to a foot of snow, high winds, and be ready to hunker down for Thursday and Friday.
Genie and I looked at each other, and I told her I would call the Palace Hotel in Cass Lake and cancel the room reservation. Genie told me okay to call the Palace Hotel, but see if we could change our arrival to Wednesday. I called and the great VIP, Kortney, at the front desk, said, “You got it.”
We paced in a rush and left Albert Lea at 11 a.m. (The only thing we forgot was Genie’s flute that she likes to play above the lobby at the Palace Hotel as the acoustics are excellent).
The roads were good driving all the way. We couldn’t believe a bad storm was coming. After arriving at dark and checking in, we turned on TV to congratulate ourselves on beating the storm. Everything from Albert Lea to Duluth was cancelling.
We went to the Eelpout Festival Thursday noon. Late afternoon the storm hit Walker with bad driving conditions, so we went back to Cass Lake about 5 p.m. It wasn’t good; we stayed at the hotel all day Friday due to the storm.
Because of the bad weather, attendance at the Eelpout Festival was down. The largest eelpout caught was just under 12 lbs. About 10,000 attended.
I know all of you have heard of “Employee Recognition.” The Palace Hotel now has “Guest Recognition” with Brad at the front desk one of the leaders of the program. We could tell the program is a success, as many of the employees recognized us with a smile and a handshake while welcoming us, and even a hug. We thank them.
Do you know who the best casino host in Minnesota is? Becky at the Palace is, as she managed to get us tickets to the awesome Phil Vassar Show at Northern Lights in Walker.
We attended Sunday church at Trinity Lutheran Church on Highway 2 just west of Cass Lake. In getting there early, we noticed most of the attendees did the Minnesota Stomp (where you stomp your feet at least three times to get rid of the snow when entering a building). Do you suppose NRHEG Wrestling Coach Mr. Larson learned the Stomp at Trinity?
On Cass Lake along Highway 2 is a Lions sponsored car. “Guess When Car Will Sink” is in big letters on a sign beside the car. I bought a ticket and put down Memorial Day, Monday, May 26. So far, I’ve got the latest guess.
In coming home on Monday, February 24, we saw the huge drifts along Interstate 35 between Owatonna and Ellendale. Wow!
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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.
Genie took me to The Old Mill Restaurant in Austin for my same double-digit birthday dinner in January. The food was excellent, followed by a birthday sundae with two spoons. Our server, Shawn, most certainly knows how to make dining out a pleasure.
Auctioneer Orville Johnson, who is younger, and I agreed to sponsor the Coffee Hour at church with a birthday cake and other goodies in honor of our birthdays. Our plans were for naught, as everything was canceled that day (Sunday, January 26) due to a winter storm.
Many small towns roll up the carpet every Sunday evening. Ellendale, Minn. rolled out the carpet Sunday evening, Jan. 26. 88 people accepted the invitation to stay overnight at the Ellendale United Methodist Church. They were escorted to the church by locals plus the Minnesota Highway Patrol, giving directions to the church. Local volunteers prepared a hot meal for all, including a late snack of popcorn. Monday morning the local volunteers were back in the kitchen with a rural type breakfast served to all. Where did the food come from? It came from Lerberg’s, that’s where. All 88 people left Monday morning knowing what rural America is all about during a blizzard.
Question asked by Ellendale residents on the street in Ellendale, Minn. on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014: “My Mayor can see his shadow; can yours?” The newly erected sign on the wall behind the Mayor’s plush soft recliner in city chambers reads:
Roger
Is his name
Chasing Shadows
Is his game
He came into this world October 30, 1938. He left this world Jan. 31, 2014. Raymond H. Thompson.
I first met Ray in 1989. He was an AAL agent and a Navy veteran, and so was I. As members of the AAL fishing team we fished, played cribbage, and went casino-ing once in May on soft water and once a year on hard water, usually at Leech Lake, beginning in 1990. Our last soft water fishing was in May of 2013. Hard water fishing for 2014 was scheduled at Leech Lake, but we had to cancel due to the snow and slush on the ice. Even though Ray was diagnosed with colon and lung cancer in 2010, he enjoyed three more years with the AAL fishing team.
A Celebration of Life for Ray was held Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014 at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Frederic, Wisc. It was truly an upbeat occasion. Granddaughter Amy Thompson sang “Amazing Grace.” His obituary was read by daughter-in-law Annette Thompson. Son Scott Thompson gave his eulogy and then invited all to speak about Ray if they so desired.
And speak they did. Fellow Lions, fellow businessmen, Sunday school students, church members, neighbors, Confirmation students, people he had driven to the V.A. in Minneapolis, plus others. The last speaker was an old Navy vet who concluded by “God” speaking in Navy language: “Ray, you old fart, I have called you and you are mine.”
Wife Carol, ‘twas then I got the feeling that Hubby Ray is in a place provided for him while waiting for you.
After the homily given by Pastor Paul Peterson, we sang “Here I Am, Lord” as we headed for food and fellowship in the church basement, celebrating the life of Ray Thompson.
Thanks be to God.
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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.
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.
On a cold Saturday of 5 degrees above zero, 48 people got on a coach bus headed for a warmer climate south of the border. At the helm was the great driver, Marilyn Matson.
Each passenger received a Christmas by the Lake flyer at random, each numbered from one to forty-eight, with the personal phone number of Santa (951-262-3062).
“Deal or No Deal” was played for prizes on the way south. A prize was shown, and a number between 1 and 48 was drawn. If the number drawn was the same number as the one on your flyer, you had a choice of either Deal or No Deal. If you chose Deal, the prize was sold for a cash prize later, plus any other prizes, including leftovers from the KFC food buffet later on, as your number was placed back with the eligible numbers.
Thirteen drawings were held for prizes. Winners included: Roger Jemming, Rhonda Jacobson, Stacey Jacobson, Marie Carlin, Erica Truesdell (?), Gerri Gilbertson, Bob Hanson, Lori Shaunce and Carol Miller. The cash drawing winner was Cheryl Schnarr.
Food coupons were given to each person on the bus. (Perkins from the Clear Lake Chamber, Dairy Queen from Jamie in Albert Lea, and KFC shaped like a Christmas stocking from Guyla in Albert Lea.
We arrived at our destination (Marilyn parked the bus such that the lighted Christmas parade and fireworks could be seen from the seats) with about an hour to partake in the various activities. Horse-drawn rides, strolling Dickens characters, trained geese, a petting zoo, chestnuts roasting on an open fire, and shopping were just some of the activities.
The lighted Christmas parade at 5 p.m. was followed by excellent fireworks shot from the ice on the lake. The fire ball with a loud blast at the end was so loud and long that many people claimed their teeth rattled. By now, you readers should have figured out all this took place south of the border in balmy Clear Lake, IA, with a temperature of 11 above zero and no wind. The sky was clear with a partial moon above the fireworks – an excellent evening for outside viewing. It was also an excellent night for long johns and cuddle-duds.
From the lake, we took the bus to KFC in Clear Lake. Kelly and Staff treated us like royalty with an all-you-can-eat buffet. Kelly even sent leftover buffet food containers, which were raffled off on the bus.
As we departed Lowell, Elmer gave a candy cane to all nine of the KFC staff. Bill Groskreutz led us in singing, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” to the staff as we gathered to leave. Just as we finished, the KFC staff sang the same song back to us. Needless to say, it was most touching.
The evening concluded with the bus being met by Pastor Vern Harris as we drove through the 20th Live Nativity at the New Life Christian Church on Marshall Street in Albert Lea.
The next planned F.R.O.G. activity is a Valentine’s Day party with pizza, pop and an ice cream bar with Norwegian Bingo on Saturday evening, February 8th at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church.
The Christmas by the Lake bus trip in 2014 is scheduled for Saturday, December 16th.
Captain James Brickson of the Salvation Army, Albert Lea, MN: your record of 105 hours ringing a Salvation Army bell is fantastic. You are truly a professional bell ringer. Are you a professional hard water walleye fisherman at Lake of the Woods in Baudette, MN?
Many, many moons ago at this time, Mary and Joseph were really in a bind, as she was about ready to deliver a son and they couldn’t find an inn to stay at. The little feller born in a manger was named Jesus. Please remember the reason for the season.
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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.
On Friday, Nov. 8, Genie and I headed north from Albert Lea on our annual Sabbatical to the North Woods. (Genie calls it “Extended Socializing,” I call it “Deer Hunting.”)
The traffic north of Minneapolis was bumper-to-bumper, as the next day was the opening of Deer Hunting through Sunday Nov. 24 where I hunt, on the shore of Lake Winnie by Bena, Minn.
We stopped at McDonald’s on the shore of Lake Mille Lacs at Garrison, Minn. for a late lunch. The parking lot was filled with vehicles occupied mainly by men in orange clothing headed to the North Woods. An employee asked Genie and a lady in front of us to please let him know if they wanted to use the women’s restroom. This confused us, so we walked back to the restrooms and then we understood. “Women” had an orange jacket hung on the door so as to read “--Men.” I guess you could call it “double or nothing” in regards to restrooms!
Prior to leaving, Santa Claus asked me to help him on his “Naughty or Nice” list of the employees at the Palace, where we stayed at in Cass Lake, Minn. The list results are at the end of this column. (951-262-3062 is the number to listen to Santa.)
While there, we attended Trininty Lutheran Churh on Highway 2 just west of Cass Lake the three Sundays of our Sabbatical. It was understood that as a mebmer of TLC you were expected to be in church if you weren’t a deer hunter, or if you got a deer during the three Sundays of the deer hunting season.
If you’re in the Cass Lake area on a Sunday, attending TLC is a must experience. Wayne, the organist, played a faster, more upbeat tempo of “How Great Thou Art” as we stood facing each other while singing with gusto at the end of one Sunday service. How many Sunday services have you attended where they clapped for the organist and choir?
Socializing kept us busy. Genie attended the “Does Only” champagne brunch at Patrick’s in Longville with Sandy Roscoe, former member of Central Freeborn Lutheran Church, Albert Lea. They both met Brenda Bauer, also former member of Central Freeborn, at Park Rapids for lunch.
We drove to Grand Forks to visit and have lunch with Alex and Jack Knudson, graduates of Albert Lea High School and student at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.
We drove to Baudette, Minn. for lunch with Carol Edstrom at the Holiday Extravaganza at Lake of the Woods School on the scenic Lady Slipper Highway 11 west of town.
We attended some of the Veterans Day Nov. 11 activities, including the evening meal at the American Legion in Cass Lake.
Genie and I, along with Grace and Charlie, TLC members, took advantage of the Shrimp Special dinner at the Big Fish Supper Club on Highway 2 by Bena, Minn. As we left, I asked how many of the 10 guys dressed in orange bellied up to the bar were good deer hunters – no answer. I asked, how many were no-good deer hunters – no answer. I asked how many were part of the famous Zarn Deer Hunting Group from the Sleepy Eye, Minn. area – no answer. ‘Twas then I knew, there was a deer hunters Liars Club in Sleepy Eye.
Many thanks to Becky for helping us get up-front seats to the band “Gloriana” at the Northern Lights Entertainment Center in Walker, Minn.
Per Larry the Weatherman: summer was on a Monday in 2013 in the Cass Lake Area.
The first Wednesday of deer hunting was a “grouse, pheasant, goose, duck” type of experience – where you are startled and just point the gun and shoot, getting nothing cause the air is full of what you’re hunting. Four deer came walking by in front of me – I was so startled, I just pointed the gun and shot. A doe just walked into the bullet, thus my limit of one deer was satisfied. Thanks to LeRoy and Jeff for helping get the doe into the back of their truck.
The Santa Claus “Nice List” included most of the Palace employees. Sad to say, there were three employees that were a notch below the Nice List, but a notch above the “Naughty List.”
“So (you three) be good for goodness sake!”
Once again, many, many thanks to all for treating Genie and me like special guests – we feel you are special.
On our way home we stopped at Olivia’s Restaurant in Owatonna. The food was good, the service excellent – plus we got to meet Mr. Olivia (Chef Logan). What a treat!
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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.
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In doing a survey of the readership of this paper, I discovered a lot of interesting statistics. For example:
• You are one of about 6,000 readers who have either or will read part or all of this week’s Star Eagle.
• The most read is Al Batt, with the police blotter a close second.
• The readership will greatly increase with pictures of local interest (for example, the NRHEG Girls’ State Championship Basketball Team).
• Many of the readers of the Star Eagle get the newspaper passed down from others. They read it at their place of employment, at a medical appointment, or second-hand from a relative. (Fellow Hospital Auxilians in Albert Lea Arlene Murray and Darlene Nicolai are prime examples of second-hand readership.)
To make this survey legal, I must let you know it is subject to plus-or-minus 100 percent in error.
Along the lines of second-hand readership, Jim Lutgens, Editor and Publisher, has decided that if readers furnish the picture of a person in uniform in a foreign country reading the Star Eagle, he will publish the first 50.
In mentioning the Albert Lea Hospital Auxiliary, I should point out our All-Day Book Sale Wednesday, Oct. 30 and Thursday, Oct. 31 on the lower level at the hospital. There is a large variety of books.
October 31 is Trick or Treat Day. Fortunately, it is usually Treat Day.
October 31, 1991 was a Trick Day, as it was the beginning of a major storm in this area. No electricity, power lines down, almost 30 inches of snow, a real mess. Reid Knudsen of Clarks Grove was freezing and trying to deliver mail in Albert Lea on November 1. ‘Twas then he was the recipient of a Random Act of Kindness in the form of hot soup in a hot cup. Twelve years later, Reid is still thanking Genie and me. (He says the soup is getting better with age!)
The fall migration is in full swing. All those two-legged creatures are headed south – whether it be birds or Minnesotans, they want out of the snow.
Genie and I are slow learners (especially me). We plan on having a white winter. Deer hunting at Cass Lake in November. Christmas by the Lake bus to Clear Lake, Ia. on December 7. Perch fishing on Leech Lake late December or early January. The Eel Pout Festival at Walker, Minn., mid-February. Ice fishing at Lake of the Woods, late February or early March. NRHEG Girls’ State Basketball final game in March.
It will then be April and I plan on writing this column weekly. Until then, it will be sporadic.
See Dorothy or Swan Tollefson for information as to performances at Chanhassen Dinner Theater by grandson Adam Moen.
At our 50th Anniversary party at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church on a Saturday, many of our Catholic friends attended. At the Soup and Pie Supper (two days later) at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church, many of these same friends attended. Genie and I now refer to them as “Lutheran Associates.”
Genie is the retired R.N. who led a tour of first graders from St. Theodore’s Catholic Church in at the hospital in Albert Lea. The tour made the front page of the Albert Lea Tribune.) Two days later Genie and I helped do Reader’s Theater (we read and play-acted a book to the kids) at St. Theodore’s School. Genie and I are now referred to as “Catholic Associates.”
A big favor to ask for a young feller named Max Hanson living in Owatonna, age 11. Please include Max in your prayers as he is having major health issues.
Max thanks you. His parents, Scott and Christy, thank you. His grandparents, Paul and Paula, thank you. Genie and I thank you. Remember, there is Always Room For God.
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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.
Oh, what a great week it was! On Thursday we picked up Dan and Laurie at the Rochester airport. Deb and Roland flew into Minneapolis, rented a car, and we all met at the Comfort Inn (by Trails Travel Center) where the four of them stayed the five nights they were in Albert Lea.
Thursday evening meal was at the completely-changed restaurant in Trails. (It is very nice.) This was the first time all six of us had been together since my retirement 15 years ago. Time goes by too fast!
Friday was the day of setting up and decorating for our 50th Wedding Anniversary, held the next day at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church.
If you’re looking for professional decorating and layout of a church at your wedding anniversary, Gale Nelson and Sue Mickelson are the pros. They are so good, they only do 50th Anniversaries!
Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013 was our 50th Anniversary party, from 2 to 5 p.m. We were married Saturday, Sept. 28, 1963 at 2:30 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake, Iowa.
The pastor who married us got a bit confused. The Best Man was Robert (Tollefson) and I was Robert (Hanson). He got the last names mixed up and the Best Man signed the Iowa marriage document as the Groom, and I signed as the Best Man. Thus the Best Man became a bigamist, as he was married to Dorothy. I was then the Best Man at my own wedding. Fortunately, the pastor noticed the error before we left the church, and with a little White Out and re-signing, the error was corrected.
The Open House 50th at Central was just great. There were about 200 people who attended or were involved. Thanks, thanks, and more thanks to all of you who attended and/or sent cards plus in-person well-wishes.
The family celebration continued at The Willows in New Richland on Saturday night. Those in attendance were from California, North Carolina, Vermont, Iowa and Minnesota. Unfortunately, three of the wedding party are deceased, and two were unable to attend because of health reasons.
Dani was our great waitress at The Willows. She promised to be just as good if we held our 100th at The Willows. Genie and I said, “Deal.”
Sunday was church day plus rest if one wanted to. Dan and Laurie took Gary Fischer up on his offer to be at the farm Sunday evening to see pheasants at dusk. Gary fulfilled the offer plus, as they saw not only pheasants but also deer.
What a great day for a Soup and Pie Supper on Monday, Sept. 30 at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church! It was a little windy with a warm temperature and no rain. 745 people were fed. (We have fed over 800.) The prediction was 700, so we ran out of some food items. Even so, everyone got enough food to overflow their tummy.
Mary Ann Atchison was the chair, with Linda Anderson, Kathy Legried and Diane Thompson co-chairs. They surrounded themselves with good workers and the results showed it!
On Tuesday, Oct. 1, Dan and Laurie flew back to Vermont and Deb and Roland flew back to North Carolina. (Genie and I napped in the p.m.)
To complete the week, we had a pizza-watermelon evening meal at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church on Wednesday. The main theme was Fun and Fellowship to Fuse Generations. Thus it was called “Faith Fusion.” To be an active church, we most certainly need fusing of membership. (About 60 attended.)
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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.
As Jackie Gleason used to say, “Fall, how sweet it is, orange you glad?”
In our recent travel along I-90 to the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming and back, the crops looked the best we’ve seen in our forty years of going there. There were cornfields with corn next to the Badlands of South Dakota. Ranchers were cutting their third crop of alfalfa. Hay bales, both round and square, were vey plentiful. The only fields that didn’t look good were in Freeborn County due to the wet spring and not being planted.
My farming (gardening) ability is next to zilch. A vine started growing in our lawn that looked very much like cantaloupe or watermelon. It had very pretty yellow flowers so I faithfully watered it. (Some days I could taste the cantaloupe and other days the watermelon.) Even bumblebees were pollinating the pretty yellow flowers. The flowers develop into a pod with very sharp stickers on the outside. ‘Twas then my taste buds went to store-bought melon. (I am still watering the vine as I want to see what the seeds inside the pod look like.)
In regard to the above, I called to see if there would be any financial help to eradicate the noxious weed. For Freeborn County my request was too late in the growing season.
Genie and I attended the RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) Pavilion in Albert Lea.
Pre-dinner music, which was very danceable, was played by Millard and Ken. Genie and I danced a waltz and a two-step before the meal was served. We would have danced more but a sad-faced lady we didn’t know came to us and said she would like to dance “just one” waltz. She was wearing a blue type RSVP vest, which told me she was probably a VIP-RSVP. She did tell me her name was Eleanor, her husband was Steve, and they lived in a border town.
I danced a waltz with her and was very surprised, as she was an excellent dancer.
Just prior to the meal, a young lady came over to us and told us she remembered Genie and me from doing readers’ theater at her school in Albert Lea (Lakeview). Readers’ theater is an RSVP program where we read and play-act a book to youngsters in local schools. Shelby, the young lady, was helping her mom and older sister serve the meal. Thanks, Shelby.
Somehow our table was the last to go through the serving line. To make matters worse, I was the only male at the table. Thus I was the very last of about 200. Just as I got my plate, they ran out of beans. The servers (Hillman and Hillman) politely told me I’d be okay without beans as I was full enough with hot air gas!
I was putting up a Soup and Pie Supper flyer for Central Freeborn Lutheran Church at Wagner Foods in New Richland,when a lady wearing a bandana started talking to me. (My first impression was, a friendly Harley rider.) She told me she and her hubby were involved in the area farming community. She apologized that she couldn’t make the Monday Soup and Pie Supper, as Monday is her chemo day. Please join me in praying for her – especially on Mondays. Cheri Possin, you made my day, thanks.
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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.
‘FAR AWAY’ – Continued from last week’s column (after we found this page stuck to the back of a Post-it®)
The Three Wyoming Brothers were there (the Big Horn Lodge near Sheridan, Wyo.) as usual. They fly a skunk(ed) flag until getting an elk. Dan, Frank and Fred all say the same thing at the end of each season: “One year closer to getting an elk!”
Thanks, Clay, for letting Genie and I enjoy a fire at your fire ring with Tiki torches. It must really be enjoyable in the winter with the three six-foot surrounding snowbanks.
After Labor Day until the end of October, there are two kinds of tourist travelers: newlwyeds and nearly deads.
Remember, readers, this article is either fact or fiction – you decide!
And now, this week’s column.
09-11-13: Back late from the mountains.
09-12-13: Catch up on mail, e-mail and phone calls.
09-13-13: Catch up on mail, e-mail and phone calls.
09-14-13: Thrivent Financial luncheon meeting at the Fairlane Building in Albert Lea.
09-15-13: Church – rest.
09-16-13: : Catch up on mail, e-mail and phone calls.
09-16-13: Do “Fact or Fiction” column.
09-17-13: Teeth cleaned.
09-17-13: Jim Martin funeral at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church.
09-18-13: Skin cancer burned off.
09-19-13: Steve Dulitz funeral at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church.
09-19-13: To Mason City to purchase 50th Anniversary items for our 50th party on 9-28-13.
09-20-13: Set up L.A.M.P. (Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots) display that I’m manning at Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea for the ELCA Ladies of Southeastern Minnesota convention. Genie is the outgoing Vice President of all those great Lutheran ladies.
09-21-13: Manned above display at Grace Lutheran Church.
09-21-13: To Naeve Health Care Foundation 50th Anniversary Gala Ball at Wedgewood Cove in Albert Lea. As Naeve Hospital Auxiliary members Genie and I danced the night away.
09-22-13: Church – rest.
09-23-13: Complete setting up arrangements for “Christmas By the Lake” bus trip Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013. Complete setting up arrangements for bus trip to “Church Basement Ladies” Sunday, June 22, 2014.
09-24-13: Retired Senior Volunteer Program Appreciation Picnic at Edgewater Park in Albert Lea.
09-24-13: Finish “Fact or Fiction” column you’re now reading.
In reviewing the above hectic two-week schedule, the words of Katie (Genie’s Danish grandmother) ring very true: “No rest for the wicked, and the righteous don’t need it.”
Just before leaving on our annual one-week stay in the Big Horn Mountains, the staph infection came back. A quick visit to Dr. Kelley and I think it has cleared up. Dr. Kelley prescribed a stronger medication – plus a shot of moral support. Just as I was leaving, she told me to stand up to get my shot of moral medication. She held her arms out and gave me a big hug from a little lady. Dr. Lynn Kelley, I don’t know where God got the mold for you from, but I do know the result is divine.
If you attend an event where there are names drawn for prizes, you listen really close and you will hear the last name of Spooner called if either Kathy or Duane are present. How do I know this to be true? I’ve been present at three consecutive events where the name drawn has been Spooner.
Did you know Bev Janke is a faithful reader of this column?
Thanks to Jim Martin for all the conversations we’ve had over the years. You always had a no-hurry way about you – thus it was always more than, “Hi, how are you?”
Thanks, Steve Dulitz, for the many conversations about hunting and fishing. You helped me prove that two Navy veterans can carry on a clean conversation. Yes, Steve, you were, and as you said, “I’ll be fine.”
The Lutheran Ladies are very nice – their outgoing Vice President gave me a hug and even invited me to go dancing with her –so I did!
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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.