Family and home by Albert Lea Tribune

PROGRESS • FEBRUARY 26, 2017

FAMILY & HOME What’s inside?

“Living as a refugee is hard. You have to run every night. You have to be afraid of going outside. Here they give everybody a chance.” — MUTHA KHE ALBERT LEA RESIDENT

The journey to become a

U.S. CITIZEN A passion for art Albert Lea business owner uses her talents to help others. Page 3

Rising above cancer Two Albert Lea residents share about their lives since overcoming cancer. Page 4

Decorating homes A love of refurbishing furniture, collectibles leads women to open store. Page 5

Mutha Khe holds her daughter, Dahlie. Khe, originally from Thailand, obtained her United States citizenship on June 2, 2015, after coming to the U.S. as a refugee on Feb. 27, 2008. COLLEEN HARRISON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

2 A.L. women share their struggles, joys to a new life By Sarah Stultz

sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com

A love of pets See if you can guess which pets belong to which Tribune employees. Page 6

uch has changed for Albert Lea resident Mutha Khe in the last nine years. A refugee from Thailand, Khe, 27, came to the United States on Feb. 27, 2008. She lived in Akron, Ohio, for five years before moving to Albert Lea in 2013. She said she had a family member who already lived here, and it was here that she met her husband, Daw Han, who had lived in the same refugee camp in Thailand. She said they had lived in different parts of the camp and had not met each other before coming to Albert Lea. The couple has since had two children, Dahlia, who is 2 1/2, and Dawson, who is 7 months old. Khe said she learned how to speak English with the help of Albert Lea’s Adult Basic Education program in the years since coming to the city. When she first arrived, she only knew how to say “hi” in English. See JOURNEY, Page 2

PAGE 2 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PROGRESS 2017 | FAMILY & HOME | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017

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Flor Turrubiartes, pictured with her 2-year-old daughter, has passed the test and requirements for United States citizenship and is awaiting the ceremony for it to be official. She is originally from Mexico. COLLEEN HARRISON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

JOURNEY Continued from Front Page

She started working toward the goal of citizenship in September 2014. Khe said it took her about nine months to achieve this goal. She wanted to become a citizen so she could have what she described as “a new life.” “Living as a refugee is hard,” Khe said. “You have to run every night. You have to be afraid of going outside. Here they give everybody a chance.” She said was excited by the benefits of being a citizen of the United States, including the opportunity to make her own choices and do as she pleases. To complete her citizenship, she said she had to fill out a form with information about her background and have her picture and fingerprints taken. She also had to take a test in English and go through an interview process. “At first was panic,” she said. “I was afraid I wouldn’t pass. “The day I went there, I was so scared when they called me. The lady who interviewed me was very nice. They asked me yes or no questions, ‘Have you ever been jailed? Have you ever been outside the United States?’” The civics test is given orally, and she had to answer six out of 10 questions right. There were additional openended questions as well, of which she had to write her responses. After passing these steps, she said she received a letter notifying her of her ceremony to officially become a citizen at the civic center in Rochester. She, her uncle, her aunt and her niece all become citizens together at the ceremony, which included singing the national anthem and listening to a speaker.

“I’m very happy that I have reached this point. I love this country. — Flor Turrubiartes “They talk about this country — how to live a life,” she said. “They welcome us to become a citizen, to do a good job, to serve.” They raised their right hand and pledged to tell the truth and be true to the country. At the end, officials came and collected their green cards and granted them citizenship. “To become a citizen, I was excited,” Khe said. “I think whenever we go to other country, we have more chance.” Now that she has achieved her goal, she said she hopes she can help her husband achieve his own citizenship. He works at Albert Lea Select Foods and has struggled more with the language barrier. “Most of the people, they want to become citizen,” she said. “They like to live here. It’s a better life, better future as long as you work hard, obey the law.”

‘I wanted to do this for my kids’

Flor Turrubiartes has lived in Albert Lea for 14 years, but her family has had contact with the United States for much longer. She said as one of eight children, she lived in Queretaro, Mexico. Her father was the first member of the family to come to the United States in 1980. He got a permit to work in the country, and then after that began looking into how he could bring his family here. He worked in various places, including Florida, California and then Minnesota. “I remember he was

always working here,” Turrubiartes said. “I remember when I was little in Mexico, my dad would send letters to my mom.” When she was 21, Turrubiartes said she got her passport, visa and resident card to come to the United States. She had to renew this paperwork after 10 years and then decided to start working on her citizenship. “It’s very important to get my citizenship because we have more opportunities to be a citizen in this country,” she said, referring to things such as a passport, scholarships and other benefits. Turrubiartes, now 36, is married, and she and her husband, Kleanthis Resendiz, have three children, ages 2, 8 and 14, who were all born in the United States. She has passed the requirements to obtain her citizenship and as of press time was awaiting word on when her ceremony will be to make it official. She said she started working on her citizenship last April and passed the tests in November. Though she is now close to becoming a U.S. citizen, she said her parents are back in Mexico. She is also encouraging her brothers, who are classified as permanent residents, to become citizens. She is the second child out of the eight children in her family to become citizens. Turrubiartes said it was not as hard as she anticipated it would be to pass the tests. She studied a list of 100 questions that the civics test can be based on. Though she wanted to vote in last November’s election, she said she looks forward to voting next time. “I’m very happy that I have reached this point,” she said. “I love this country. Now U.S. is my country.”

Examples of the U.S. naturalization test questions What does the Constitution do?

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017 | FAMILY & HOME | PROGRESS 2017 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PAGE 3

Using her talents to help others A.L. WOMAN’S LOVE OF ART, WRITING SPURS HER PASSION By Sam Wilmes

sam.wilmes@albertleatribune.com

Eloise Adams

Age: 78 Making cards for those in Address: Albert Lea need. Owning a local busi- Livelihood: artist and ness. Making prints for owner of Adams Originals major Albert Lea events. Family: husband, Jack; For one Albert Lea woman, six children: LuAnn, Lori, all of this is made possible Paul, Peter, Leah and Philwith hard work and faith lip; 14 grandchildren and in God. great-grandchildren Eloise Adams co-owns Interesting fact: Adams Adams Originals with her enjoys seeing other people. husband, Jack. The business, which opened at least 45 years ago, features art- where you are. Don’t wait work from the couple and for the perfect time. God an assortment of other will let you know if you items. should pursue it.” Eloise Adams, now 78, Adams’ community work started the business when extends far beyond the borshe lived in a small, three- ders of her store. bedroom home with five She makes prints each year for Eddie Cochran preschoolers. “My husband and I both Weekend and The Big majored in art, and Jack Island Rendezvous. was teaching at Southwest “That helps promote Middle School,” she said. Albert Lea and reminds us “But I knew I needed some- of our history,” Adams said. thing besides dishes and di- “So that’s important for the apers, so I priced the things community.” She started that I already made … I making cards priced them for other people about and put an ad 30 years ago in the paper. when she My husband was teachthought ‘let ing Sunday her get it school. The out of her cards were system,’ but made by when he made using the a couple trips letters of to the bank, he each studidn’t think it dent’s name. was that bad Adams used of an idea.” the cards The busiwhile teachness, at 238 ing to show S. Broadway, is open from students how 9:30 a.m. to 6 special each — Eloise Adams p.m. Mondays of them was. through Fri“Each child days. The store closes at 5 was created by God as a p.m. on Saturdays. special person, and I wanted To Adams, her store is an them to realize how special inspiration to others who they were by writing a little want to pursue a dream. story about themselves,” “I always tell people, she said. if you have an idea, start “For me, it is an easy

“I always tell people, if you have an idea, start where you are. Don’t wait for the perfect time. God will let you know if you should pursue it.”

Longtime Albert Lea resident and business co-owner Eloise Adams is using her talents in several ways. SAM WILMES/ ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

thing to do if somebody has lost a loved one. It is something that comes easily to me. I am an artist, and I also like to write.” To Adams, being an artist has always been important to her. “It’s just a part of me,” she said. “I went to a oneroom country school grades one through eight, and I have a report card. The teacher had written on the report card, ‘Eloise would have done better in math if she had spent more time on the problems and less time drawing in the margins of the paper,’ it’s just in me. God gave me the desire.” Adams enjoys the people she meets in her position. “I love what I am doing,” she said. “I’m too young to retire. I enjoy what I do. Why should I stop?” Eloise and Jack Adams have six children: LuAnn, Lori, Paul, Peter, Leah and Phillip. The couple also has 14 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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PAGE 4 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PROGRESS 2017 | FAMILY & HOME | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017

LESSONS LEARNED FROM BATTLING CANCER By Colleen Harrison

colleen.harrison@albertleatribune.com

Most everyone has been affected by cancer in some way, from either being diagnosed with some form of it themselves or through someone they care about being diagnosed. Albert Lean Tina Stripe has been on both ends of that spectrum. Stripe was diagnosed with breast cancer following a routine mammogram in September 2012. On Oct. 24, 2012, Stripe had a double mastectomy. She remembers the date because it was her wedding anniversary with her husband, James. Stripe’s husband had previously battled colon cancer himself, and when he went in for a checkup scan in September of that same year he found out his cancer had returned through a spot on his lungs. He would have surgery in October of that year, as well. For Stripe, everything was a blur. She couldn’t believe her family would have to go through that similar journey again. She said that she and her husband talked about how they would break the news to their three children, who were all teenagers at the time. Stripe said the couple decided to calmly tell their children, and to stress that — as a family — they would get through it. “I remember just not being able to deal with any of it,” Stripe said. The couple went to Rochester for their respective surgeries following the advice of Albert Lea medical staff. When Stripe would go in for reconstructive surgery in April 2013, her brother had to take her as her husband was too ill at the time. Stripe said she was lucky in not having to go through chemotherapy or any other forms of treatment aside from surgery. She attributed that to the fact that her cancer was caught

very early, and said that it enforces to her just how important routine mammograms are. “If mine wouldn’t have been caught, it would’ve been a whole different story,” Stripe said. Even without prolonged treatment, Stripe said her bout with cancer is still mostly a blur, as she was more worried about her husband’s health and how their children were coping at the time. “My focus was on taking care of (James) and the kids,” she said. Stripe’s husband passed away at the age of 54 in August 2013. By that time, Stripe said he had shut down and was in quite a bit of pain. While she said some couples have the conversation about what’s going to happen when one of them dies, that wasn’t a conversation they had. “He was a fighter till the end,” Stripe said. “It took everything out of him just to get through the day.”

“This community is amazing. People carried us when we could not take one more step.” — Tina Stripe Through the loss, the family was comforted by the support of those around them, she said. “This community is amazing,” Stripe said. “People carried us when we could not take one more step.” Through the months the Stripes battled cancer and in the months following her husband’s death, Stripe said people brought over gift baskets, mailed cards and gift cards, paid for groceries and showed up to see what else could be done for the family. There was also a benefit to help

By the numbers 2012

Year Tina Stripe was diagnosed with breast cancer following a routine mammogram

Month between Tina and James Stripe being diagnosed with cancer and them having their surgeries

3 Children Tina and James Stripe had together with medical expenses. “It makes the road a bit easier to travel,” she said. “I don’t know how you ever say thank you for what they did for our family.” The loss of her husband made their three children — Carlton, Karina and Chloe — grow up a bit faster, Stripe said. But, it also gave her children an amazing sense of empathy for others and brought the already closeknit family even closer together, she said. While it has been about 3 1/2 years since they lost their father, Stripe said the family makes a point of keeping up some of the traditions he started. They still watch some of his favorite movies and quote his favorite lines, as he was an actor with the local theater. They also have a Christmas tree they put up each year just for him and make sure to have salted nut rolls — one of his favorites. They have a team participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life each year, as well. While her first husband will never be forgotten, Stripe said her story finishes on a happy note. She’s now engaged to Matt Kermes, who lost his wife to breast cancer just 12 days

Tina Stripe was diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine mammogram in 2012. Following a double mastectomy one month after her diagnosis, she has since been cancerfree. COLLEEN HARRISON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

after Stripe lost her hus- Kermes initially became spouses, and the couple will band. Stripe said she and close over the loss of their be married in July.

‘I would have never made it without my family’ By Sam Wilmes

sam.wilmes@albertleatribune.com

Six rounds of chemotherapy. Nearly three dozen radiations. For an Albert Lea man who is a breast cancer survivor, overcoming those obstacles was made easier with the help of family, friends and faith. Lynn Berven, 65, was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer on Nov. 12, 2010. “I remember that day, because (the doctor) came back and said it was cancer,” he said. Fourteen lymph nodes — three cancerous — were removed from his right breast. “But even after I got it, after I was taking the chemo and losing my hair, people would ask me ‘What kind of cancer you got?’ and I would say breast cancer,” he said. “‘Well, guys can’t get it.’ Well, tell my doctor then.” Berven’s first chemotherapy treatment took 6 1/2 hours after he experienced an allergic reaction, during which he could not talk or move his arms and legs and his blood pressure dropped to 80 over 50. “I thought I was done,” he said. After experiencing similar pain initially during his second chemotherapy treatment, Berven switched to another chemotherapy treatment format for his remaining treatment. Three dots remain on his chest where he received radiation, a treatment that burned him and made him tired. He would sleep for three to four hours each day in addition to sleeping all night. Berven, who was 59 when he was diagnosed, remembered his mother, who died of breast cancer at age 59. “All of these things are going through your mind, of what she had to go through,” he said. Berven’s family has suffered through an extensive history of enduring cancer. His father had prostate cancer, and his older brother died of colon cancer at the age of 68. Another of

Lynn Berven is a breast cancer survivor, and he credits his family, including his wife, Jan, for helping him out through the process. SAM WILMES/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

Lynn Berven Age: 65 Address: Albert Lea Livelihood: part-time employee at Bonnerup Funeral Service Family: wife, Jan; children Bart and Sari; grandchildren Hannah, Ashlyn, Aubri and Macy Interesting fact: Berven ran for Freeborn County commissioner last fall and could run for public office again Berven’s brothers was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 53. Berven said he was inspired to fight after speaking with the Rev. Al Stoa and his doctor, Jeffrey Lotts. “We just talked about it, and then I talked to my surgeon, Dr. Lotts, and I

just decided this thing ain’t going to get me,” he said. “I made the decision there, and ever since then it’s just been … full speed ahead.” Berven, who has been in remission since 2015, meets with a cancer support group at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea the last Monday of each month, and he enjoys helping others fight cancer. “You have changes in your body when you go through something like that, and it’s kind of nice to talk to somebody that has been there, and they can tell you, ‘yeah, that’s normal. What you are going through is normal.’” Berven tells survivors that they have an obligation to encourage others

“You can’t just sit. If you sit, you die. I gotta keep moving.” — Lynn Berven who are battling cancer, and he tries to recruit people to the group. Berven, a part-time employee at Bonnerup Funeral Service and hauled rural mail out of Glenville for 30 years before retiring at 55, has worked part time for Advance Auto Parts and Hy-Vee. Breast cancer is far less likely to occur with men than with women, Berven said. “A lot of the times when guys get it, they don’t believe they can get it, so by

the time it is diagnosed, it is usually Stage 4,” he said. Berven faced a PET scan Feb. 1, and genetic testing is planned for April. Berven and his wife, Jan, have two children: Bart and Sari; and four grandchildren: Hannah, Ashlyn, Aubri and Macy. “I would have never made it without my family,” Lynn Berven said. “When I first found out I had cancer … I knew my wife would be fine. I knew my kids would be fine, but I worried about my grandchildren, my grandbabies, and I thought, ‘Are they going to forget me?’ “My two grandchildren that I had at the time … I am not a touchy, feely guy, but I wanted one of them sitting by me all of the time. They just held my hand. Family

and faith and friends. I don’t know how people get by without them.” Berven’s cancer diagnosis has not kept him from continuing to be active in the community. Berven is a member of the Eagles Club. He is a Mason and a Shriner and drives Shrine cars during local parades. He has also acted in several plays, sang with a band and sang karaoke. “I’m very optimistic that I am going to be around for a long time, and I’d like to be involved in a lot of different things,” he said. Berven, who ran unsuccessfully for Freeborn County commissioner last fall, won’t rule out running for public office again. “You can’t just sit,” he said. “If you sit, you die. I gotta keep moving.”

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017 | FAMILY & HOME | PROGRESS 2017 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PAGE 5

Andrea Hall and mother-and-daughter-team Penny and Whitney Thompson are the face behind Junktion Market, which opened last fall on West Main Street. An occasional store, it is in the location of the former Trophy Showcase. SARAH STULTZ/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

A.L. WOMEN ‘SAVE AND RESCUE’ FURNITURE WHAT STARTED AS A HOBBY TURNS INTO A BUSINESS By Sarah Stultz

sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com

A hobby of refurbishing furniture has turned into a business venture for some Albert Lea women. Junktion Market, started by Andrea Hall, Penny Thompson and Whitney Thompson, had its first sale date in October, and has been open the second weekend of every month since. The store, at 919 W. Main St., offers everything from repurposed and upcycled furniture to collectibles. The women said prior to October, they worked out of their homes, but were running out of space. Penny Thompson had participated in flea markets for several years, and both she and Hall had booths at a local antique store. Penny Thompson said she knew Hall was looking for a space, too. They started chatting about a common interest and found out the former Trophy Showcase space was available through a third party. They made some renovations to the space, including pulling off carpet and sheetrock, painting and adding corrugated tin on portions of the wall. The women said they hoped for an industrial feel for the building, and building owner Mike Owens installed new windows in September. “He likes to save and rescue things like we do furniture,” Hall said.

The women behind Junktion Market try to have differentthemed displays at the shop.

“Every day is different. It’s fun to take a piece and play with it and create something new.” — Andrea Hall Hall said she and Penny Thompson have different interests in furniture, so it has worked out well to have them be together. Penny Thompson likes primitive furniture, while Hall prefers more mid-century modern. They both like vintage industrial. “Every day is different,” Hall said. “It’s fun to take a piece and play with it and create something new.” The women each have strengths. Whitney Thompson is in charge of marketing and social media for the store; Hall likes staging in the store. Hall and Penny Thompson’s husbands, Jeff Strom and Tom Thompson, respectively, also do a lot of work behind the scenes. Penny Thompson said their store is different from any other in town and has been met with many positive comments. The women

said they have many people who come from out of town to shop at the store. In the spring, Junktion Market plans to move downtown to a building at the intersection of Broadway and College Street. The women said they look forward to the new location, as it will have better visibility. There’s a possibility they may expand the hours there. Updates for Junction Market can be found on Facebook. The store is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the second weekend of every month. People Much of the merchandise for sale at Junktion Market has been refurbished. The store can call to make appoint- also sells collectibles. ments outside of those days. Outside of Junktion Market, Hall is a probation officer for Freeborn County. Penny Thompson worked at Mayo Clinic Health System for 17 years before Days Junktion Market is Address of Junktion Women behind Junktion starting her own business, open on the second weekMarket’s building on West Market A Simpler Time by Penny, end of each month Main Street full time with her husband.

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331 S. Broadway, Albert Lea MEMBER FDIC

377-6868

Proud to offer honest, consistent, personal service for over 30 years!

Thompson Sanitation, Inc.

LOCALLY OWNED & OWNER OPERATED

Clarks Grove, MN

507-256-4370

www.thompsonsanitation.com

PAGE 10 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PROGRESS 2017 | FAMILY & HOME | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017

Freeborn Lumber Co. 917 Plaza Street W Albert Lea, MN 56007 507-377-4284

www.cafourek.com

Congratulations to Ryan Cafourek as he takes

over as President of Cafourek Insurance Agency

Ken Cafourek

Lynn Bartness

Agent

Jesse Grimes Agent

Jennifer Hoyt

Melissa Cafourek Agent

Agent

Jeff Wilke CPA

Terin Smith-Bangert Agent

Diane Webb

Customer Service

Tiffany Arndt Agent

Shelly Egeness

Janice Adams

Customer Service

Agent