If not for the first inning, the NRHEG baseball team might have kept it close at Waterville-Elysian-Morristown on Monday.

But the first inning was a rough one.

The Bucs plated eight runs on four hits, six walks, an error and hit batsman and went on to beat the Panthers 15-5 in five innings. NRHEG fell to 0-2 after opening the season against teams favored to compete for the conference title.

With the weather being as it is I have not had much incentive to wet a line on area lakes. It seems as if when the days are sunny and warm the wind is blowing at a brutal pace and when the wind dies down it is cold and rainy. I guess that this is just the price we pay for living in our beloved state. On the other hand; we could live in "tornado alley" or in a place where hurricanes are always a threat.

Late last summer while I was at the cabin I mowed and used the weed eater to widen the path going down the hill to the lake. After I had finished I was taking a little break sitting on this love seat that we have facing the lake at the crest of the hill. As I stared down the path I thought of all the fun that the grandkids had over the years during the summer months. My wife Jean had bought an inflatable Kayak and later a paddle boat; both of which the kids, especially Trevor the oldest, enjoyed for many years. The boys would take turns with the kayak but Trevor, being the oldest and the most dedicated fisherman got the most use out of it. I believe that the last time that he used it was when he went to fetch it out from under the cabin and disturbed a hornet’s nest. He got numerous bites and after that he was never too anxious to retrieve the kayak from under the cabin again. I can see how that would make a kid just a little skittish. The paddle boat also got its share of use over the years but that eventually gave way to the 12 foot Lund that I had bought just to use on our lake. I eventually purchased a 14-ft boat that we leave on shore by the lake. The boys not only used the boat for fishing but also for exploring the lake and swimming out of on hot summer days.

I now use that 12 foot Lund for lake hopping and that is the boat that I like to fish out of when I am alone or with one of my sons or grandsons. We have a 1959 5.5 hp Evinrude that works good for fishing many of the small lakes that I like to fish. Most of the lakes that we fish have little or no boat traffic for the majority of the time so you usually aren’t competing for your favorite “hot spot”. This type of fishing is “right down my alley”, as my dad used to say. I like the solitude and have never been one to stand elbow to elbow on the bank of a stream or lake fighting for a spot to plop my lure in.

The lakes that I usually fish aren’t known to hold many walleye; bass, northern and panfish fill that void very nicely. I live spending time on a small lake enjoying the scenery and doing my best to find a lure or bait that will entice a fish to bite is what it is all about to me. Watching the sun rise while listening to the loons, watching a beaver busily swimming across the lake with a tree branch or spotting an eagle soar overhead is what it is really all about; catching fish is just a bonus.

Saying that it’s all about the experience may seem like a cop out but that is not really the case. I know others will disagree but the coach that says winning or losing doesn’t matter and that it’s just about playing the game is sending the wrong message. When it comes to sports like football, baseball, basketball or hockey and others you play for a reason; to win and if you act like that doesn’t matter then where is the competitive spirit that you need not only in sports but to carry you through life. Granted, winning is the goal but it’s more about being competitive and the winning is what keeps you coming back.

Fishing to some is all about how many pounds of fish you can put on the table and granted I like to eat fish but I don’t judge a successful fishing outing by how many fish I can put on the stringer, yes I still use one. The fishing experience alone is great but subconsciously, that one chance that I may catch the fish of my lifetime is what keeps me coming back for more.

As I sat on that bench staring down that path at the lake I would swear that I still could hear those kids laughing and yelling as they scurried up the hill to tell me about a fish that they had caught or of an animal that they had seen. I long for those days even though I know that they are gone. I still have hope that my two little granddaughters will be spending a lot of time at the cabin with us in the coming years.

Until next time, it's time to get outdoors when the weather permits. Wet a line whenever the opportunity arises and if you don't want to fish, it's still a great time to take a walk or ride your bike around the lake.

Remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers, not only during the holiday season but for the rest of the year. They are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms we have today.

Aren’t people funny? When the temperatures reach 68 or 70 degrees in the fall we put on extra clothes to keep us warm. Then when spring arrives, and the temperatures are back to those same temperatures, we shed the layers.

Why does the same temperature feel differently?

Bundling up in our winter attire has its advantages as well as disadvantages. It does help keep us warm, but it also helps hide the pounds we have put on from eating all those great comfort foods. 

Spring has arrived, and as a result those extra pounds are now visible as we take off all those extra layers of clothing. It is, once again, time to start eating healthy.

Did you know that orange juice or other fruit juices made from concentrate have little of the really good stuff left in it? The fiber and vitamins have been reduced to not much more than a sweet beverage through the processing. 

My mother used to scrub oranges really well to hopefully get rid of some of the pesticides – and then she would “juice” the whole orange in the blender. Yes, it is good and gives you so much real goodness because of the vitamins and nutrients in the skin and “white stuff” you usually peel away. Most fruits have the majority of their nutrients in the skin.

What is it about a dollar store? They seem to feature some of the same things found in the old “F.W. Woolworth” stores – everything from bobby pins to birds. For real variety, and hard to find items, it is hard to beat a thrift market, a “goodwill” store or a benefit auction.

If you’re old enough you will remember when hair styles were often “set” for the older, white haired ladies that had a hue of purple to them. Purple colored hair seems to be back but not exactly the same way. We can also see it in many shades of red, green and yellow. A fun thing - at least it will wear or wash out when the fad goes away.  

Too bad those permanent tattoos can’t fade away. It is hard for me to understand why anyone would spend money and suffer misery to blotch their skin. I guess I think of the German concentration camp victims who were tattooed for the death chamber or calves that are branded for identification on a ranch.

I shudder when I see someone holding their cell phone up against their check for any length of time.  Maybe it isn’t dangerous, but some say too much of that type of exposure causes tumors. Pregnant women should be careful about where they put their cell phones, such as the pockets of their clothes, because of the potential danger to the baby that they are carrying.

I know if we went by everything we hear we wouldn’t be able to do much of anything or eat anything.   But there is some truth to be considered. Some items like bread and meat are filled with chemicals that keep them from spoiling, which is a plus, but what does it do to one’s body?

Maybe it isn’t nice but have you ever sat and watched shoppers leave a store and thought about the variety of clothing and merchandise they had bought?

Dressing choices can vary from flip-flops to boots, winter coats to T-shirted customers. That temperature test can hinge on 68 or 72 in the fall and feels cold but yet in the spring those temperatures feel warm enough to shed some clothing.

The weather service has been kept busy trying to predict the weather. Is it only in Minnesota that weather can be varied, changeable and “spotty”? It can snow or rain in a patch here and there while leaving other patches warm and dry and very sunny.

During our recent snowfall it was interesting to see the great number of robins in the back yard. Spring has sprung? What is that old saying? ”A robin’s tail will be snowed on three times before spring.”  I wonder if the robins know that and can count?

Spring tempts us into treating ourselves to an old-fashioned ice cream cone at McDonalds. It is hard to believe how different the texture and taste of the ice cream can be that is served from the different McDonalds you patronize. You would think it would all be the same.

Don’t throw it - stow it. Keep a bag in your car for garbage and wait till you get to the nearest garbage can before you dispose of your trash. The corner of the access to Geneva from the freeway is like a magnet – attracting the trash that people throw out of their windows from their fast food stops.

One thing about yellow cars: you see them – just like the safety apparel that has become fashionable for visibility and safety sake. People who walk or ride after dark would do well to adapt their clothing choice during those times to something bright so they can be easily seen.

Doesn’t it make you feel good when you see an empty building come to life again as a renewed or new business? Think of all the Western towns and their abandoned buildings – like on old TV Western. It is such a sad situation to see empty buildings that were once busy with people coming and going.

Squirrels! I can’t believe how these little rodents can manipulate even up the smallest metal pole. I know some people don’t care for them but they are entertaining and their babies cute.

— — —

Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented that they like to read about events such as family and school reunions, birthdays and anniversaries, and birth and wedding announcements. In order to read about these important things we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us. 

Also, if you have an idea for a story that you think would be of interest to our readers, please contact me.

If you have birthdays and anniversaries you would like to include, or news to share, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., by postal mail, P.O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035; or telephone, 507-256-4405.

Birthdays and anniversaries:

• Thursday, April 14th: Dakota Clark, Anna Elizabeth Bailey, Tina Hagen, Jason Vogt, Rachel Oswald, Marcia Hemingway Jensen, David Jensen, Ron Huber, Butch & Gail Ottesen;

• Friday. April 15th: Mason Robert Klemmensen, his 8th;  Terry Jensen, Barry Troe, James Benson, Sarah Christine George, Cayla Conroy

• Saturday, April 16th: Eddie & Arlene Miller, their 64thd; Terry & Cindy Vaith their 32nd

• Sunday, April 17th: Mike Nesdahl, Suzanne Marcus Cory, Matthew Olson, Diane Van Riper, Kathy Paulsen, Bethany & Terry Mikesell, Jerry & Mary Peterson

• Monday, April 18th: Ellen Hanson, Marge Leak, Peggy Wallerich, Tim Stollard, Tom Kaphers, Rebecca Lyn Peterson, her 14th; Brian Olson, Danielle Zamora, Levi Michael Den Herder, his 10th

• Tuesday, April 19th: Elizabeth Rose Wallace, her 9th; Cody James Reistad, his 10th; Aaron Utpadel, James Bremmer, Jaxon Branstad, his 14th; Kaden Shaw Tonlinson, his 12th

• Wednesday, April 20th: Jacob Dau, his 9th; Sara Elizabeth Hemingway, her 13th; Steve Mumm, Brenda Sorenson, Kathy Haberman, Jennie Korsbon, Paul & Jennifer Wayne

May the year ahead bring you a world of pleasure.

Echoes From the Loafers’ Club Meeting

What are you doing today?

Nothing.

You did that yesterday.

I know, but I wasn't finished.

Driving by the Bruces

I have two wonderful neighbors — both named Bruce — who live across the road from each other. Whenever I pass their driveways, thoughts occur to me, such as: Old age always comes at a bad time. If you think you will remember it, you must write it down. Today, 140 characters is a tweet. When I was a boy, it was my family reunion.

The cafe chronicles

I visited the table of infinite knowledge. The men there were participating in social media. It was the social media that has been around forever. Gossip.

"It needs more ketchup" was the daily special.

"What’s the difference between the $7.99 special and the $8.99 special?" asked one who is devoted to the pleasures of the table.

"The $8.99 comes with antacid tablets," replied the waitress.

I didn’t order the special because it came with beets and I remembered the day that we had beets as part of our tasty and nutritious school lunch. Then I had beets at home that night. Life had beet me down.

I ordered a number four. I was going to get the number three, but I figured a four would be at least one better.

Spring has sprung, maybe

I worked in Dallas the first week of April. Uffda, it was hot! April 5 and 87 degrees don’t belong together. A Texan told me that Dallas had no winter this year. I told him that ours had been fairly well-behaved. I described it for him. He shuddered and asked how we could tell when winter was over. That’s a good question. When is spring here? The robin is hardly a harbinger of spring. We see them during the winter. Maybe killdeer are a bit better at that job. Is it when the UPS drivers start wearing shorts? Do we declare it spring once all the basketball tournaments are over? Baseball, dry sidewalks, eating outdoors? Is it the lawn mower that rises from the melting snow? I think spring comes when we no longer have to kick the fenderbergs from our vehicles. Fenderbergs are that cruddy, dirty snow that builds up in the wheel wells of cars. No matter what you call those clumps — fendercicles, chunkers, tire turds, car boogers--once they are gone, we can’t kick them or kick about winter.

A traveling man

I check the weather back home when I travel. I prefer checking the weather in a newspaper. I know I can get it on my cellphone, but I like newspapers. I check the temperatures in the paper. Of course, Hartland, Minnesota isn't included in the periodical’s list of cities, so I read the temperatures for Hartford, Connecticut. It's the closest I could find to Hartland, at least in spelling. We get used to what we get for weather. I sat at a Loafers' Club Meeting at a cafe in Fairbanks, Alaska. Some of the sourdoughs complained that it hardly ever reached 50 below zero there anymore.

I saw a woman in Phoenix wearing a T-shirt reading "Royal Pain." I had no reason to doubt her.

I spotted a child’s seat with a tot in it attached to a wheeled suitcase moving through a busy airport.

I encountered a tractor-trailer rig with an arrow pointing to the left saying, "Passing side" and an arrow pointing to the right saying, "Suicide." The problem was that the vehicle was driving in the left lane of the freeway.

My departure gate at the airport had been changed. The announcement should have included the warning, "And no whining." As I prepared to hike to the new gate, part of the airport's physical fitness program (Motto: Making travelers even more tired), a young woman groaned, "Why does life have to be so hard?"

A woman in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and I shared our appreciation for Buckeyes, lovely chickens with pea combs. Buckeyes are cold tolerant, friendly, make varied sounds and have distinct personalities. They are noted for being good mousers. 

I parked in the ramp of the hotel where I was staying. I felt validated.

Joyce Kilmer wrote, "The only reason a road is good, as every wanderer knows, is just because of the homes, the homes, the homes to which one goes."

Nature notes

 "How far from water will wood ducks nest?" Wood ducks have been known to use tree cavities and nest boxes a mile from water.

Meeting adjourned

Life is too short to hate. Life is too long to hate. Be kind.

DuWayne Kirchner, born May 24, 1937, died March 30, 2016. On March 30, 2016 DuWayne was honored with, “I have called you and you are mine.” DuWayne is now occupying that room prepared for him by his Lord and Savior.

DuWayne was my mentor when I became an AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. He helped me through many of the bumps in the road to become a successful AAL agent. I know that without DuWayne’s guidance, Genie and I would not have been able to retire early, nor would we have the finances to live so comfortably.

DuWayne – a heartfelt, many, many thanks.

Bernadette Clark, born July 3, 1955, died March 31, 2016. On March 31, 2016, Bernie was honored with, “I have called you and you are mine.” Bernie is now occupying that room prepared for her by her Lord and Savior.

Bernie was an AAL branch officer at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church when I was the AAL agent assigned to Central Freeborn Lutheran Church. How Bernie found time to be the branch secretary while raising three young boys was just amazing.

I can vividly recall when the three young boys stayed with Genie and I at our cabin on Beaver Lake for a long weekend while Bernie and Wayne enjoyed a much-needed break. The boys surprised me by being such excellent dock bluegill fishermen that catch-and-release was necessary as they caught over 300. A fish fry was a must with their parents listening to all the fish stories before the boys went home Sunday evening.

Bernie – many, many thanks for the memories.

I believe that DuWayne and Bernie both knew the following poem by an unknown author:

“The Clock of Life”

The clock of life is wound but once

And no man has the power

To tell when its hands will stop

At an early or late hour.

To lose one’s wealth is sad indeed,

But to lose one’s health is more

But to lose one’s soul is such a loss

That no man can restore.

Now is the only time you have,

So live long and work it well

And have no confidence in tomorrow,

For the clock may then be still!

———

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.

Last week, I wrote about the increasing burden on teachers, in part leading to a shortage in the profession. Part of this dealt with all the other hats we have to wear. If you don’t mind, I’d like to expand on that this week and be a bit brusque in my outlook.

When I started teaching 20 years ago, many of the problems we had to keep an eye on were in dealing with kids whose parents were going through a split. We’d hear about this and always be aware of how tough that might be, showing empathy and knowing that sometimes there might be unusual actions from these students. We didn’t judge; we just tried to help guide the students through this difficult time in their lives.

Today we aren’t told about these things. We also don’t know about many other outside issues which might influence a child’s behavior such as problems with the law, suicidal tendencies, and a cornucopia of other areas of concern, many of which we veterans never dreamed of having to deal with.

And that’s part of the problem: we get told to keep an eye on someone, but often not why. This is in large part due to privacy concerns. Sometimes parents give permission for us to know what’s going on, but most times we don’t have a clue. This is detrimental to our ability to help. What exactly should we be noticing? It certainly varies from one scenario to the next.

Back to the original example, what I look for in a child in a household going through a divorce is vastly different than what I should see in a kid who had a parent arrested the night before or the student who has hinted at wanting to take his or her own life. Teenagers act funny and different on the best of days; if we know more specifics, there are some crucial variances we can spot.

Sometimes living in our small communities gives us the chance to know what is going on, even if we’re not told. Word spreads quickly about town, and we often learn more from students coming to us to talk about something than we do from any administrator. I understand some need for privacy in some situations, but then I’d rather not know there’s even something occurring. I’d be more likely to notice something being off if I didn’t have a long list of kids who have issues that I can’t know the details about. Either tell me what’s going on or don’t tell me anything at all.

And here’s where the problem becomes exacerbated. There are many cases where the school is treating some students with extreme examples of kid gloves. And the kids know it. An increasing number of them will look for as many crutches as they can to avoid the tasks placed before them. It’s gotten to the point where, if a student asks to see a counselor or therapist on staff, I just say no unless they have a pass from that person. These kids figure they can use the fact that we teachers don’t know much, if anything, about their situation to wander about and miss class consistently.

Hey, I get it. There are some serious problems with a greater amount of our students than ever before, many of them related to mental health. But we’re including many kids under these umbrellas because they’ve learned how to work the system. I fill out paperwork all the time about kids looking to qualify for special services and most of it is laughable, but required by the government.

I sat at a meeting for a student recently where the child was asked about why work wasn’t being completed. Too many leading questions were asked: “Is it too hard? Do you not understand it?” This is like asking your young child if specific areas of the body hurt. Rather than ask if their ears or their tummy hurt, a parent should ask the child to tell where it hurts; otherwise, they will tend to agree with anything you suggest.

The same was happening at this meeting. I spoke up, as I am wont to do, and gave my theory: a mixture of stubbornness and laziness. The work wasn’t always easy, but the student had shown previous ability to do it just fine. Let’s not rule out the obvious reasons right away. Again, some of these kids are getting pretty good at getting what they want, which is less responsibility.

I often tell students that excuses are like belly buttons: we all have them, but they don’t do us much good anymore. If I had a dollar for every kid who had an iPad about to run out of charge, I’d be a lot closer to retirement. Why wasn’t your iPad charged last night? Is your phone fully charged? You know, there’s another set of holes in the same outlet where you should plug in your VERY IMPORTANT device that you need for school. Every one of us has forgotten to charge up something at some point, but the repeat offenders for that and non-completion of school work are troubling, along with their excuses.

Sometimes a child is just trying to get out of work and we’re handing them excuses. Stop trying to make everybody feel like singing “Kumbaya” and get to the heart of the problem. Otherwise, leave us out of it.

Word of the Week: This week’s word is apricity, which means the warmth of the sun, as in, “On an otherwise dreary day, the teacher stepped out into the sudden apricity caused by a parting of clouds and found a smile.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!

With small glimpses of spring here and there, the scurs suspect the Weather Eye is about to cut loose with some nicer forecasts. It’s about time, but will it last? Starting Wednesday, sunny with highs in the low 60’s and lows in the low 40’s. Thursday, sunny with highs in the upper 60’s and lows in the mid-40’s. Mostly sunny Friday with highs in the mid-60’s and lows in the upper 40’s. Saturday, mostly sunny with highs in the upper 60’s and lows in the mid-40’s. Partly sunny Sunday with a modest chance of showers and thunderstorms.  Highs in the upper 60’s and lows in the upper 40’s. Monday, mostly cloudy and slightly cooler with a modest chance of a shower or thunderstorm. Highs in the upper 60’s with lows in the upper 40’s. Mostly cloudy skies for Tuesday with a continued modest chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 60’s with lows in the upper 40’s. The normal high for April 15th is 57 and the normal low is 35. We’ll see the sun set at 8 o’clock on April 16th. The scurs will be exhausted after paying for the “free stuff” on Tax Day that everyone is being promised.

Fieldwork was scattered at best last week. Some anhydrous ammonia was applied and fertilizer spread, but generally fieldwork was on hold with spring in suspended animation. Some always behave as though the calendar is a month or more ahead of the actual date and that’s fine. Someone has to plant first even though there is no award ceremony for it. Planting on Monday the 11th or afterwards allows the crop insurance to kick in for replanting, so it’s all good. Very little weed growth thus far, to no one’s surprise. Cold temperatures last week and scattered snow showers, not to mention frozen soil a couple 18-degree lows, have had everyone wondering when this pattern will change. Hopefully by the time this reaches print, the cold will be a fleeting memory. Luckily, in spite of the cold temps, it has been relatively dry and the gusty winds have dried the soil more than one might imagine. It’s still sticky underneath in places, but if worked at a reasonable depth, it should allow one to at least contemplate planting corn.

Vista’s noted Swedish astronomer made a stop to discuss old cars and left me with some notes on what to look for in the heavens at night courtesy of the Steele Co. Astronomical Society. The night skies were cloudy much of the month of March, but the near-term April forecast so far looks more promising for stargazing. Jupiter is the most prominent feature in the southern sky at dusk, with the planet being about halfway up. Look for Jupiter to be in close conjunction just below the crescent moon on the 17th, when Mars and Saturn rise around midnight but can be seen most easily in the hour or more before sunrise low in the southern sky. Mars will increase in brightness each night. It will be almost as bright as Jupiter by the end of May.

Seeing the anhydrous tanks going by on Sunday had me in full yard clean-up mode. Got the last of the crushed rock and sod piles taken care of then re-landscaped the area on both sides of the sidewalk, something that needed to be done to improve water flow if nothing else. The brush from the apple pruning was also loaded on the Gator and the batteries installed in both lawnmowers. At least it looked like we were making progress. Just have to pick up the sticks in the backyard so they don’t go through the vinyl siding and we’ll be golden. While assessing that situation, I spied the first dandelion of the season growing out of the foundation on the south side of the house. Maybe spring will come after all.

Both dogs had a big day Sunday. The mud has largely dried up and the sun was periodically shining, making it ideal for them to be outside. Anytime, though, you start up as many machines with small engines as we have, it’s bound to get them excited. There are, after all, a lot of tires to bite. There was also an opportunity for them to show off their Border Collie talents. Had to make a trip through the feedlot gate with some brush and Fudgie was on hand to make sure the ewes didn’t get any ideas about coming out. Ruby ran back and forth frantically in front of the opening too, so pretty sure the sheep didn’t know which dog was which. All they knew was it’s simply not worth the effort when the dogs are on patrol.

Lambing at the ranch finally came to an end last Wednesday so another year of fun and games is over. There are somewhere in the vicinity of 50 lambs running around. They were tickled when the Big Dubya came by Saturday and plopped a round bale in their lot. Not only did it give them something more to nosh, it provided another object for their obstacle course.

The birds have made some subtle indications that the season may be about to turn the corner. An eastern meadowlark can be heard singing on calm mornings and flickers have been moving through. A yellow-bellied sapsucker appeared on Saturday and the chickadees are singing their springtime song. The most pleasant surprise was the sighting of a pair of goldfinches. The male was a little splotchy yet but there was no mistaking the bright yellow that was starting to emerge. There are still juncos yet although the Harris’s sparrow has been with them occasionally. Have also heard some white throated sparrows vocalizing in the windbreak. Had better have my grape jelly and sugar water ready just in case the orioles and hummingbirds are not far behind.

See you next week…real good then.

Funeral services for June Lageson will be held Saturday, April 16 at Community Lutheran Church in Geneva, MN. Reverend Dr. Kristen Venne will officiate. Interment will be in First Lutheran Cemetery in Ellendale, MN. Bonnerup Funeral Service is handling the arrangements.

June Lageson, of Geneva, passed away at her home on Tuesday, April 12, 2016. She was 74 years old. June Marie Ottesen was born at her home in Clarks Grove on April 9, 1942 to her parents, Clarence and Bernice (Hansen) Ottesen. She was raised in rural Ellendale and was a member at First Lutheran Church in Ellendale for many years. In 1949 when June was 7 years old, she had Polio and was admitted to the Sister Kenny Institute in Minneapolis.

Funeral services for Curtis L. Miller, age 75, of Alden, will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2016 at Cross of Glory Church. Rev. Charles Espe will officiate. Interment will be at West Freeborn Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. on Friday, April 15 at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Curtis died Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at St. John’s Lutheran Community.

Curtis LeRoy Miller was born April 24, 1940 in Alden, the son of Serinus and Margaret (Hansen) Miller. Curtis was raised on the family farm south of Freeborn. He graduated from Freeborn High School in 1958. Curtis married Shirley Thompson on October 8, 1960 at Salem Lutheran Church in Albert Lea.

Caroline J. Prehn, age 87, passed away on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at New Richland Care Center.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 11 a.m. at North Waseca Lutheran Church in rural Waseca with Pastor Nancy Hansen officiating. Interment will be held at North Waseca Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. prior to the service at the church on Saturday.

Arrangements are being completed by McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory of Waseca, Minnesota.