By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
More than 50 members of the Routh, Olson, and several other families attended a surprise birthday party for Monica Olson at the Kipp Routh Farm just west of New Richland.
Olson, a longtime girlfriend of 15 years to Kipp Routh turned 60 on August 6, but Routh and others decided the best time for a party was when all the family returned for their annual “Farm Fest” celebration.
“When Dennis showed up, he said it looked like a county fair down here,” longtime friend Melissa Bolduan said.
Kipp remembers the day he met Monica, August 21, 2008. “She was smoking on the curb,” Kipp joked.
Monica, “the only female truck driver in Minneapolis,” mistook Kipp for a driver she knew. The two got to talking. She asked for his number and “the two have basically been engaged ever since.” (Multiple family members/friends in attendance agree anyway.)
For the past 15 years, the Rouths, and friends from all over, get together for an annual Farm Fest celebration, “one last hurrah before the snow flies.”
Regarding this hurrah, Olson had no idea. “Laura Chicos led us around this year and kept me busy all day.”
The group drove 14 side-by-sides around all day, per usual and Olson was none the wiser, even when a dozen family and friends stayed back to set up and organize the band.
Both Monica and Kipp come from large families. Routh is the youngest of nine siblings, spanning 23 years. They are, in order of oldest to youngest: Sally, 84, followed by: Barb, Dennis, David, Dean (who passed away in ‘05), Mitch, Scott, Kelly, and then Kip. It is believed they all graduated or attended some variation of NRHEG schools.
The Routh parents were Ray and Dorothy (Dott).
“Mom said it was cold winters,” Kipp joked.
Monica is one of 12, with her youngest sister, Renee, being 52, and the oldest would be Rick if he were alive today. Her siblings, in order from oldest to youngest are: Rick, Diane, Sharon, Larry (Duffer), Lois, Steve, Al, Monica (Petie), Randy, Jane, Ray, and Renae.
Don’t ask any of the family where Monica’s nickname of “Petie” comes from. She’s just always had it.
Marty Branch, a family friend, said Monica is very accomplished. “I can’t speak more highly of her.”
Monica has more than 20 years of Commercial Driver’s License experience. She started with Transport America in 1994 as an owner operator. She later moved to safety specialist, then to terminal manager in Eagan Minnesota. For the past five years, she’s worked in recruiting. She was once on the cover of Independent Contractor Manager for Transport America in 2008. Monica grew up in North Dakota. She and Kipp farm about 1,500 acres of corn and soybeans.
Monica enjoys hunting, fishing, makes wine, love’s a good blizzard, and teaches firearms safety to kids learning to hunt.
During harvest season Monica makes lunch for all the farmers nearly every day, and drives it out to them while they’re working. Many other stories were shared throughout the evening.
“I give 110 percent,” Monica said. “That’s the way I was brought up. I love my family and my extended friends’ family… Tonight, this was pretty special.”