2012
Celebrating those whose contributions will keep Steele County strong for years to come
owatonna.com
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Welcome …
Inside these 104 pages, you will find rich, colorful stories about pillars of our communities — individuals whose contributions will keep Steele County strong for years to come The individuals featured here stretch across the spectrum of life here in Steele County — from people in the business community to those in sports or who are involved in the arts. Some of the faces will be familiar; others may be new to you. But each person profiled here has contributed something of their time, their talents or their resources to make Steele County a wonderful place to live, and we are all made the richer in our lives because of their contributions. This annual publication is a product of the Owatonna People’s Press staff, covering months of photography, interviewing, writing, designing and creative advertising efforts. We hope you enjoy Portraits 2012 for weeks and months to come as we celebrate the pillars of our communities. — Ron Ensley, Publisher and Editor
Story index
Page 2
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012 2012
John and Cindy Anhorn: A match made for Medford.......................................................4 Vern Wilker: Family farmer.................................................................................................8
ns will Celebrating those whose contributio to come keep Steele County strong for years
Judy Meister: Continuing to contribute............................................................................13 Chuck Fuller: Mr. Baseball................................................................................................16 Carol Nelson: Good as Gold.............................................................................................22
owatonna.com
Portraits 2012 A special project of
Darryl Hill: Preserving History..........................................................................................26 Stormy Trom: Living out her passions...............................................................................30
owatonna.com
Bruce Kubicek: Civic-minded............................................................................................36
135 W. Pearl St., Owatonna, MN
Sandy Boss: Breaking ground..........................................................................................40
Publisher RON ENSLEY
Jim Brunner: Living by the numbers................................................................................46 Gene ‘Swede’ Michaelson: Gentle leader.........................................................................54 Wayne Starman: Service is everything.............................................................................60 Betsy Lindgren: Pursuing her dream...............................................................................66 Andy Lerberg: Feeding Ellendale......................................................................................70 Margaret Sisser: Blooming where she was planted........................................................76 Robert deWerd: The art of practicing medicine...............................................................80 Bob Ringhofer: Filling the fair barns................................................................................84 Harlan Strohschein: Friend and neighbor........................................................................92 Wally Tripp: From agent to attorney.................................................................................96 Jim Killen: The wildlife.....................................................................................................99
Advertising Director DEBBIE ENSLEY Managing Editor JEFFREY JACKSON Cover Design KATE TOWNSEND-NOET Account Consultants: LUKE BROWN, RACHEL EBBERS, BETTY FROST, DIANE GENGLER, DEB THEISEN Ad Design: JENINE KUBISTA, KELLY KUBISTA, KERRI LYNCH, SUE SCHUSTER Contributing Editors/Writers/Photographers JEFFREY JACKSON, ASHLEY PETERSON, REBECCA RODENBORG, JASON SCHMUCKER, IAN STAUFFER, KYLE STEVENS, DEREK SULLIVAN
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Advertiser Index
Page 3
1st United Bank ........................................................................... 69
Harland’s Tire & Auto Center ..................................................... 12
Owatonna Physical Therapy .....................................................75
43rd Street Pub & Grill ................................................................ 41
Holiday Inn & Suites ................................................................... 57
Owatonna People’s Press ............................................... 101, 103
A J Lysne Contracting................................................................. 73
HomeTown Credit Union ............................................................ 21
Owatonna R. V. Services............................................................73
A & W Restaurant......................................................................... 47
Horizon Eye Care ........................................................................ 21
Owatonna Veterinary Hospital ..................................................39
Able Copiers ................................................................................ 85
Hursh Motors .............................................................................. 19
Party-Plus ...................................................................................35
Ag Power Enterprises ................................................................. 49
Independent School District 761 ............................................... 79
Pearson.......................................................................................17
Al-Corn Clean Fuel ...................................................................... 43
Insurance Directory ............................................................... 62-63
Phone Station, Inc......................................................................43
Alexander Lumber ....................................................................... 47
J-C Press ..................................................................................... 11
Profinium Financial/Profinium Group ......................................99
Anhorn’s Gas & Tire ......................................................................7
Jensen & Jensen Auction .......................................................... 12
Prudential Advantage Realty ........................ Inside Front Cover
Attorneys Directory .....................................................................71
Jerry’s Owatonna Auto Sales .................................................... 12
Randall’s License Bureau .........................................................49
Best Budget Inn ...........................................................................95
Josten’s ....................................................................................... 55
Realife Cooperative ...................................................................97
Brookdale Senior Living/Clare Bridge .......................................41
KSW Roofing & Heating, Inc. ..................................................... 12
Riverland Community College ......................Inside Back Cover
Brooktree Golf Course ................................................................37
Keck’s Repair, Inc.......................................................................... 9
Salon -e- Clips............................................................................95
Casey & Groesbeck Construction..............................................57
Kelly Auto Parts .......................................................................... 97
Sette Sports Center ...................................................................83
Cash Wise Foods .........................................................................69
Koda Living Community ............................................................ 49
South Central Human Relations Center ..................................31
Cedar Floral Design Studio ........................................................77
Kottke Jewelers .......................................................................... 79
Southernminn.com ................................................................. 104
Cedar Travel..................................................................................35
Krejci Ford................................................................................... 31
Specialty Personnel...................................................................12
Central Valley Co-op ...................................................................... 5
Main Street Dental ...................................................................... 75
St. Clair’s for Men ......................................................................35
Child Care & Preschool Providers ........................................86, 87
Manke’s Outdoor Equipment & Appliances ............................. 99
Steele County Environmental Services ...................................77
Church Directory .................................................................... 51-53
Manpower .................................................................................... 95
Steele County Free Fair ............................................................27
Christian Bros. Cabinets ............................................................. 55
Mark’s Repair .............................................................................. 25
Steele County Historical Society .............................................77
City Auto Glass ............................................................................ 93
Mayo Clinic Health System ........................................................ 19
Steele County Landfill ...............................................................37
City of Owatonna ......................................................................... 73
McCabe Motors, LLC ................................................................. 11
Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric ........................................49
Clifton Larson-Allen .................................................................... 19
Metal Services..................................................Inside Front Cover
Stewart Sanitation & Recycling ................................................15
Clubs & Organizations ........................................................... 90, 91
Michaelson Funeral Home .........................................................55
Stockwell Accounting ...............................................................89
Cole’s Electric ...............................................................................89
Misgen Auto Parts ......................................................................41
Story Landscaping ....................................................................43
Community Bank Owatonna........................................................57
Modern Metal Products ..............................................................27
Sweet Towing and Repair ..........................................................73
Community Education .................................................................79
Morehouse Place ........................................................................81
Technology Navigators .............................................................85
Costas Candies & Restaurant .....................................................35
Morton Buildings ........................................................................41
The Gateway...............................................................................67
Country Goods .............................................................................45
Nagel Sod & Nursery ..................................................................41
Cumberland’s Northwest Trappers Supply .................................65
The Kitchen ................................................................................75
Nelson Decorating ......................................................................79
Curt’s Truck & Diesel ....................................................................93
Tonna Taxi ...................................................................................39
Nick’s Pizza Palace .......................................................................5
Traditions of Minnesota I & II ....................................................61
Noble RV ......................................................................................25
Travel Headquarters ..................................................................11
Northland Farm Systems ...........................................................23
True Wealth Advisors.................................................................17
Northrop Oftedahl House...........................................................37
Turtle Creek Nursery & Landscaping......................................97
Our Homes South .......................................................................39
United Prairie Bank ...................................................................93
Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism.................67
US Bank Owatonna ...................................................................85
owatonna.com ............................................................................75
Valleyview of Owatonna ............................................................83
Owatonna Country Club ............................................................ 47
V.F.W. Post 3723 .........................................................................75
Owatonna Floor Covering & Mirror ........................................... 81
Viracon .......................................................................................59
Owatonna Foundation................................................................ 28
Wells Federal Bank ....................................................................33
Cybex ...............................................................................................7 Dow Chiropractic Natural Health Clinic ....................................104 Dragon’s Lair...............................................................................104 Elite Auto Detailing ...................................................................... 61 Ellis Body Shop ........................................................................... 17 Express Employment Professionals.......................................... 45 Extreme Custom Powder Coating .............................................. 81 Farmers & Merchants State Bank .............................................. 31 Federated Insurance .................................................... Back Cover Festival of the Arts .........................................................................7 Flooring Frenzy & More ...............................................................35 Gandy ............................................................................................17 Garlick’s Water Processing ........................................................ 45 HaiRevolution Salon ................................................................... 65
Owatonna Granite & Monument ................................................ 65
Wencl Accounting & Tax Service..............................................65
Owatonna Groundsmasters....................................................... 33
Wenger Corporation ..................................................................61
Owatonna Hospital ..................................................................... 33
Westside Board & Lodge Home ...............................................65
Owatonna Heating & Cooling, Inc. ............................................ 9
Wireless World/Verizon Wireless ..............................................93
Owatonna Metal Recycling .......................................................83
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
John and Cindy Anhorn:
A match made for Medford
John and Cindy Anhorn pose inside their business Anhorn’s Gas and Tire in downtown Medford. The couple took over the station in 2001 after John’s father died. (Rebecca Rodenborg/People’s Press)
T
By REBECCA RODENBORG rrodenborg@owatonna.com
o the people of Medford, Anhorn’s Gas and Tire is like Cheers, only better.
Not only do owners John and Cindy know their customers’ names, but they also know the names of their grandparents, what type of oil they prefer in their vehicle and when they have family coming to town. The legacy goes deeper than that, though.
Now in its third generation of Anhorn owners — John and Cindy bought the business from John’s dad Bob Anhorn, who took over the store for his father, Tom Anhorn — the gas station and auto shop has always sat near the corner of Main Street and Second Avenue. Although the original building was torn down years ago, customers still walk in the front door in the same spot. Seeing John now in his blue Anhorn’s work shirt, jeans and boots, it’s difficult to imagine that at one point he had no intention of taking over the family business. After graduating from Medford High School
in 1992, John went off to the University of MinnesotaDuluth to pursue an education degree so he could teach high school math. “Math has always come easy to me since I was dealing with tickets here from such a young age,” said John, who recalled an area business owner saying he could count back change at the age of 10 better than many of their high school employees.
See ANHORNS
page 5
Anhorns
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 5
Continued from page 4
John Anhorn puts a new tire on a customer’s vehicle in the tire shop. John began helping at Anhorn’s at the young age of 7, when he was just tall enough to fill shelves and man the garage. (Rebecca Rodenborg/People’s Press)
John had began helping at his father’s store at the young age of 7 — just tall enough to fill shelves and man the cash register. By age 8, he was in the tire shop balancing tires. Once he was away at school, he missed the daily activity of the shop. It wasn’t until his mother Shirley got sick in December 1994 that John realized where he needed to be. “Dad was debating then what to do with the business, if they should retire and try to enjoy life,” John recalled. “Well, I decided this was home for me. This is where I belonged.” It was just months earlier that John had taken an interest in the cute drivethrough worker at the McDonald’s restaurant across town. After flirting with her all summer, John asked Cindy out on a date just two weeks before they both were to go back to college in the fall. Well, what took him so long? “I know!” Cindy said in a high-pitch voice, laughing. “Patience,” John replied softly. Their relationship grew as they saw each other only on weekends and holidays
and then, on Aug. 10, 1996, they were married in a Catholic church in Waterville. Cindy started at the station in January 1997, spending the first three months painting the inside from top to bottom. The job was meant to be an in-between for Cindy after she chose not to return to college and was looking for another job. She’ll be the first to admit that she knew she would never leave. Taking the job was a blessing in disguise for the Anhorn’s as it gave Cindy time to learn the business that she and her husband would eventually take over. That day came sooner than anyone had expected, though, when Bob Anhorn died on Christmas Eve in 2001. “Earlier that year when John’s dad got sick, he handed me his keys and said, ‘Take care of this for me.’ That was my promise to him and I will never let him down. We’re going to keep it going. That’s the important thing,” Cindy said with tears in her eyes.
See ANHORNS
page 6
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Anhorn Continued from page 5
Since then, John and Cindy have done just what they promised. The business continues to prosper as they carry on the traditions and values that were instilled decades ago. John Hager, a longtime friend of Bob’s, remembered asking John if one of those traditions would still continue when Bob died. “I said to John, ‘Are we still going to play cards every morning?’ He said he wouldn’t have it any other way, that of course we would,” Hager said. Since the Anhorn’s opened the doors in 1949, a group of local men have walked straight in at 8 a.m., ready to have a cup of coffee and play a round of cards. “Most of them are retired,” John said. “Their dads played here, some of them, heck, their grandpas played here.” Those men represent the consistency of the station itself. As businesses in town have come and gone, Anhorn’s Gas and Tire has remained. As it stands, the station is the oldest business in Medford. “I remember hearing about how a gas station moved right in next to here and the owner told (Tom) that he might as well close up because nobody was going to go to his store anymore. (Tom) said, ‘Well we’ll just pick up the stragglers then,’” Cindy said. “Here we still are. With the Anhorn men, their thing is they’ve outlived everyone around here. They’ve withstood a lot of things from the gas rationing and a lot of hard times. But we’re still here.” To Cindy, Anhorn’s continues to succeed because she and John have held on to the value that everyone is treated equally. “That’s something that has gotten lost so many places,” she said. “But it’s important. People stop here because they know they’ll get an honest opinion. A bigger shop is telling them they need all these repairs and they want John to tell them if that’s really what’s needed. Honesty has gone by the wayside for so many businesses but we will hold on to it for as long as we’re here.” Many of the store’s customers are second or third generation. John smiled as he talked about the family members who move away, but arrange work to be done on their vehicles for when they’re going to be visiting family in Medford. “That makes you feel good, like you’re doing something right,” he said. John beamed with pride as he pointed to a plaque behind the counter. With his father and grandfather there in spirit, John was able to go to Chicago for a regional Firestone dealer meeting. Out of the 2,500 people at the event, 12 got to go up front for an award honoring them as businesses that have been going for more than 50 years and buying Firestone for just as long. “That was really neat,” he said. It’s that down-to-earth attitude and genuine interaction with customers that keeps them coming back. “They are so very nice and very personable,” said longtime customer Jean Gillis. “They will help any-
body. It’s that customer service, you know. Anybody can offer a product but unless you provide good customer service — always friendly, always understanding — that’s hard to beat. They look out for their customers.” The couple’s good personalities don’t go unnoticed by one another. With some customers describing Cindy as the “belle of the ball” for her good natured ways, John looks at his wife and sees a good-hearted woman. “She’s always been great with the customers,” he said. “But they’re not just customers,. They’re her friends. They’re my friends. That’s the biggest thing.” Cindy knows that many in the community are a reminder of family. “He’s always stayed family oriented, and that’s what they knew his dad and grandpa for. They look at him and they see a lot of his dad and grandpa in him, which I think is more of a memory thing for them,” she explained as tears filled her eyes. “He has worked so hard to fill those big shoes. It’s a lifelong thing to do because his dad and grandpa, wow, there are just no words to describe.” Beyond being known for their strong customer service, Anhorn’s Gas and Tire has also earned a spot as Medford’s own 411. “If the power goes out in town, everyone calls here to see if we have power, to see if it’s just them or not,” Cindy said laughing. “They call and say they
can’t find a number in the phone book, so I help them. I sometimes feel like answering the phone and saying, ‘Medford information.’” The Anhorn’s reputation as the information center for all things Medford turned into a five-year stint on KRFO for Cindy. Once a week, she would record a community segment that included birthdays, funerals, church events, school events and any other tidbits people wanted announced. “When they were looking for someone to do it, they asked several people and they all said no,” Cindy recalled. “I figured I already knew everything, so I might as well put that to good use.” John and Cindy are more than just business owners, though. John is a training officer with the Medford Volunteer Fire Department and member of the Knights of Columbus. He and Cindy have also helped with the Medford Civic Club, with John serving on the board one year. Cindy lends her voice to the church choir. “They’re visible out in any community activity and that always encourages the community to support them because they’re out there supporting the community right back,” Gillis said.
See ANHORNS
page 7
Anhorn’s Gas and Tire was first opened in 1949 by John’s grandfather Tom Anhorn. Although the building was torn down once, it has always been in the same spot on Main Street in Medford. (Rebecca Rodenborg/People’s Press)
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 7
Anhorns Continued from page 6
A third member of the Anhorn crew came Nov. 26, 2010, three weeks earlier than Cindy and John had been expecting their daughter Julia to arrive. After waiting 15 years to begin a family, the couple was anxious to share the news with family and friends. The group of morning card players were told in a special way. “For the guys back here, since I knew we would consider them all her adopted grandpas, I put out applications for adopt-a-grandpa,” Cindy said laughing. “I set the applications out and they could fill them out and tell us what skills they had in case I would need their help.” Along with all of their contact information, the men checked boxes for holding, diaper changing, going for car rides and plenty more grandpa-like duties. After Julia was born, Cindy stayed home for six weeks while her nieces helped out at the store over winter break from school. Then, for another six weeks, Julia came to work with Cindy. “They got to see her everyday and they loved that,” Cindy said. “Now she’s at daycare. If I walk down on Sundays to see John, the guys
just love seeing Julia. She’s getting to that point where she’s really busy and entertaining.” One of those adopted grandpas is John Hager, who has known the Anhorn family since 1948. He’s played cards at the station every morning for about 40 years. “That was so special. It makes you feel like family,” Hager said. “But that’s what we all are. We’re family. If someone lives alone and they don’t show up for a day or two, John will go and check on them to make sure they’re OK.” As for the future of Anhorn’s, John and Cindy say they will keep the business going for as long as they can and then let their children decide from there. “We both know John at first had no intention of taking over, but look where he’s at,” Cindy said. “We’ve been going for 62 years,” John said. “So we’ve got 38 years to get to 100.” “Can we make it to 100?” Cindy asked John with a sly grin. “Yes, I say so. Let’s hit the 100 year mark and then see what happens.” Rebecca Rodenborg can be reached at 4442376. Follow her on Twitter.com @OPPRebecca.
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Cindy Anhorn gives her usual smile as she helps a customer at the counter of Anhorn’s Gas and Tire in Medford. (Rebecca Rodenborg/People’s Press)
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Vern Wilker:
Family farmer
I
By ASHLEY PETERSON apeterson@owatonna.com
f there are two things in life that make Vern Wilker happiest, they would be his family and farming. Thankfully for him, the two happen to coincide now that his two daughters have moved on to farms in the area. Wilker was born and reared on the family farm, which has been in the Wilker name since 1878. Now his daughter and son-in-law live on the farm, after Vern and wife June moved into town 22 years ago. Vern Wilker stands by a photo display in the Wilker’s home, a display that pays tribute to the Wilkers’ pride and joy — their five grandchildren. (Ashley Peterson/People’s Press)
See WILKER
page 9
Wilker
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 9
Continued from page 8 Wilker grew up on the farm alongside his brother and sister. Their dad milked pure bred Holsteins and their mother stayed home and worked in the house. “In those days, a farm was a farm and the whole family worked together,” Vern said. He went eight years through country school, to which he walked a mile-anda-half — up hill both ways, of course. The family lived in Meriden Township, and Vern and June are still members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Meriden to this day. Vern graduated from Owatonna High School in 1957 and went to the University of Minnesota for one year before feeling the call to come back to help on the farm. “I felt really proud to be able to have the opportunity to study, but I finished one year and when spring came around, I knew what I wanted to be, and that was a farmer,” he said. “I didn’t go back to college, but instead went back home and helped my parents farm.” Along the way Vern played a lot of
fast pitch softball and in 1962 he married June. The lovebirds just celebrated 50 years together on Feb. 3. “I always knew June’s family. She came from a family of 11. They lived in Ellendale. It ended up that I was playing softball and I knew she worked at the Dairy Queen, so I went to the DQ for an ice cream cone. I asked her out.” “Vern’s friend asked my sister out, so the four of us hung out for a while. Then my older brothers kind of ran us younger kids and after they met Vern, they said they’d never let another guy come to the house because they loved him,” June added. “And still to this day after all these years, my siblings are his family, and we’ve all been really close.” They got married a year later and moved out to the family farm where Vern farmed for many years with his brother.
See WILKER
page 10
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Page 10
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Wilker Continued from page 9
Over the years Vern has dabbled as a coach, auctioneer and a singer along with his love for the farm. The Wilkers never dreamt their two daughters would marry men who were interested in farming, but that’s exactly how it’s panned out. Vern milked cows until 1973, did some remodeling and didn’t want to make a milking parlor because he preferred his cows in stalls. He made the tough choice to sell the dairy herd and focus on the crops. Daughter and son-in-law Michelle and Mike Noble rear their family on the farm where Vern’s mother was born. Daughter and son-in-law Debbie and Pat Zeman live in the home in which Deb’s grandfather was born. Vern gets the best of both worlds as he’s welcome to help farm with his son-in-laws. “I want to retire, but I look at how much I enjoy the farming, and it’s like, ‘Why?’ I don’t know when I’ll ever say I’m done. I enjoy it very much,” he said. He’s got the six-minute drive from his home to the farm down to a science, and June said in the spring and summer he’ll be gone from 5:30 in the morning until late at night. “Getting up early is ingrained in me,” Vern said, smiling. “We would still be out on the farm, but I probably wouldn’t have bought another farm because I think this is more to help them out, too. I may be rich on paper because land is worth so much, but that isn’t my goal. My goal is to be able to start my kids because the way agriculture is going, there is a large number of corporate farms paying big dollars and I think some day we’re going to be sorry because we need young farmers in production agriculture and we’re not getting them. So someday down the road, we’re going to say, ‘Why didn’t we do more?’” When not laboring on the farm he loves so much, 72year-old Vern keeps quite busy with his social life. “Through the years I’ve always been involved in things, mainly because I do enjoy people and I enjoy being active in the community because that’s where I lived and I knew I wasn’t going to move away from it,” he said. “My biggest thrill was probably being on the school board. I got the opportunity in 1980 and stayed on for three terms.” He was also the soil conservation supervisor for 14 years, which led to him being the area director of Region 7, which led to him being the state president of the soil and water conservation district. “We got to travel all over with that,” June said. Now Vern sings with a group called Just Friends, a gospel music-singing group of men primarily from the New Richland area. “I thoroughly enjoy singing. It’s always a good feeling. We don’t get paid hardly any, but the pay is seeing the people out there and they’re smiling. That’s my pay,” Vern said. As for his favorite song, Vern said “it’s a crazy song and June kind of covers her face when I sing it, but when I die and the casket is going out, they’re going to be singing ‘Elvira.’”
A proud grandpa and father, Vern enjoys a night out surrounded by his three granddaughters and two daughters. (Submitted photo)
June said not only is Vern an entertaining singer, but he also seems to be a crowd-pleaser anywhere he goes. “When we go somewhere, he doesn’t have to take a step and he’s surrounded, and they’ll stay as long as he stays,” June said. “He’s fun, and people like that. I usually come home, but he loves being out and loves people. I love people, too, but I don’t have the energy to do what he can do.” “I always feel bad because I drag you into all these things,” Vern said, chuckling. One thing is for sure, June and Vern were about as hands-on as parents as they could be, and they revel in the ability to remain parent-like with their five grandchildren to this day. “Our family is our proudest achievement,” Vern said. “I can always remember a day my dad had taken us into town for 4-H, and his accountant one morning said, ‘How do you find time to do this?’ And my dad said, ‘You see those three kids in that car? That’s my best crop.’ I never forgot that. That stuck with me.” Vern feels the same way about his kids. “All the years I farmed and raised many crops, but the best crop I raised was my two daughters Michelle and Debbie,” he said.
Though technically “retired,” the Wilkers barely have time to travel because they’re so involved in their five grandchildren’s lives. “That’s why we don’t go anywhere. We just love it here. We go to shows and things like that, but we always go to the high school games, watch (granddaughter) Maggie’s cross country, and when (grandson) Ben wrestled, we watched him. We do a lot with the kids and grandkids,” Vern said. “You couldn’t ask for a more perfect relationship with blessings with our kids and grandkids. We’ve had it,” June said. “We have had all the blessings. All five of the grandkids have never been jealous or envious of each other. They treat each other like brothers and sisters.” June said their relationship with their three granddaughters is especially close. “They share every part of their life with us. We know our granddaughters like we know our own daughters,” she said.
See WILKER
page 11
Wilker
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
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Continued from page 10 Granddaughter Maggie Noble, who is a student at Bethel University, called her relationship with her grandparents “the most incredible gift she’s been given.� “To be able to have my grandparents by my side through everything, as second parents, all the support and love they’ve provided to us through the nature of who they are and living so close, I’m so lucky,� Noble said. “Growing up on the farm, and with my grandpa being a farmer, in the summer time we’d have lunch together and I can just remember so many fun projects, like him helping us make a tree house complete with a bucket and pulley. I love the unconditional time he always invests in us no matter what his schedule is. We always come first.� Noble knows the relationship she has with her grandparents is a rarity in today’s world, and it’s something she will always cherish. “The relationship I have with them as best friends, my role model, my inspiration. They’re fitting so many different roles that I just cannot believe I’ve been blessed with that sometimes. I feel so fortunate for that gift,� she added. Growing up on the farm and living so far out in the country meant Grandpa and Grandma’s became a popular before- and after-school hangout between practices, lessons or events.
“We were constantly in town, and Grandpa and grandma’s house has always been central station for dinner between sporting events and hangouts after school,� Noble said, sitting in her grandparents’ kitchen. “That time just deepened our relationship all through the years. This is like my second home, and they’ve always made it feel like that for us. The door is always open, and anything they can do for us, they’re always there for us.� Noble couldn’t even begin to pinpoint a favorite memory with her grandparents, but she was quick to point out some of her favorite attributes of her grandpa. “His passion for things that are most important in life, standing up for what he believes in, his level of commitment into everything that he does, his relationships, putting family first all the time, just his love that he shares with everybody he’s with and how he makes each and every person feel special and valued has been something I’ve always admired,� Noble said, catching her breath. “And just how he sees the positive in every situation is just beyond describable. He is always looking for ways to make things better and especially when it comes to farming, just his passion for the land and for strong values in farming that he’s been dedicated to his values. “He’s teaching us to find something you love like
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that, and when you do find that, it’s not going to feel like work, which is proven by how he’s living right now — that he could be retired, and could be completely done with the farm, but he just loves it so much he doesn’t want to get away from it and that’s just been so cool to see.� Current Steele County Soil and Water Conservation District Manager Dan Arndt agreed, calling Vern upbeat, positive, committed and thoughtful. Arndt met Vern when he was a teenager and a mutual friend asked them both to go on a canoe trip on the Cannon River. “My first impression of Vern was, ‘This is a guy that likes to laugh a lot and have fun,’� Arndt recalled. “I always enjoyed working with Vern. He always followed through on his commitments and is a good problem solver. I admire Vern most for his positive attitude.� Those who love Vern most couldn’t agree more. “Wherever we go he’s always looking for ways to light up someone’s day, and wherever he is, the room is filled with joy and laughter,� Noble said. “He just lights up a room. His active spirit is so great and his hard work ethic that he’s taught all of us and his determination through whatever he’s doing has just been so inspirational to see, too.� Ashley Peterson can be reached at 444-2378.
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
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Judy Meister:
Continuing to contribute B
By DEREK SULLIVAN dsullivan@owatonna.com
efore the first question could be asked of her, Judy Meister had a question of her own. “Why me?” she asked from behind a desk located in her tiny corner office at Express Employment Professionals. Meister reads Portraits in Steele every year and always notices that the residents featured are normally business owners, long-time politicians or community leaders. “Usually the people in the magazine are in some niche,” she said. “I was wondering what niche I was in?”
See MEISTER page 14
Judy Meister sits in the sun room of her Owatonna home. (Derek Sullivan/People’s Press)
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Meister Continued from page 13
Despite her modesty, Meister has left an impact on Steele County. A former city council member, she helped handle a huge railroad controversy as well as key Owatonna issues while she sat on the council at the turn of the 21st century. While she did a lot of good work, she doesn’t consider herself a politician. Instead of being remembered for her work in local government, she wants to be a role model for the newly retired residents of Owatonna. “I kind of represent the new face of retired people,” she said from her desk at Express Employment Professionals. “This job is very flexible. You can do a lot of things on the computer.” To keep her, “brain moving,” Judy helps with accounting year-round at Express, a local employment agency. Someone with more than 40 years experience with a calculator could have found part-time hours at a host of area business, but Meister picked Express because of her relationship with owner Betsy Lindgren and her appreciation for blue-collar workers. Before joining Express, Meister worked for a general contractor for almost 25 years. “I have a real appreciation for what we call blue-collar workers,” she said. “They are the backbone of every community. Too many people tell kids if they don’t go to a school for four years, they aren’t going to have a good life. But I always tell people I want a good electrician and a good plumber. I want a good person working on my car. I want good, safe truck drivers on the road because I share the roads with them. They are good jobs, but they don’t need four years of college.” In 2007, Meister stepped down from her job as operations manager for A.J. Lysne Contracting of Owatonna to take care of her husband Woody, who was chronically ill at the time. He died on May 19, 2008, after a three-year battle with liver disease. The two worked together at Toy National Bank in Sioux City, Iowa. They were married on Sept. 4, 1970 and moved to Owatonna a few years later. While Judy worked for A.J. Lysne, Woody was a loan officer for Owatonna Savings and Loan and IDS Financial Services, and he was a partner at C & M Insurance Agency. Judy and Woody loved nature and being outdoors. They took long walks, planted gardens and bird watched. They were part of local group of funseekers called the “Weakenders.” This group has done canoeing, cross-country skiing, and white water rafting, as well as biking on trails in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, Colorado and Georgia. “I have been part of this group for 35 years and consider them some of my dearest friends,” Judy said. “We also gather at each other’s homes for potlucks, games and parties as well as frequenting many a restaurant.” Judy admits that 10 years ago, she envisioned retiring with Woody and traveling across the United States. Woody had goals of visiting all 50 states and seeing every presidential library. There was even talk of buying a place in the South to winter for a couple of months.
Judy Meister looks at a picture of her and her late husband “Woody.” The couple were married 38 years before he died in 2008. (Derek Sullivan/People’s Press)
His death five years ago changed her plans. “I kind of see myself as the ‘New Retirement Model’ in today’s world,” she said. “That is, people who find their retirement took a turn that they didn’t expect — in my case the loss of my husband, Woody, and how I have adjusted to that, namely still working, relying on friends for travel and activities that I formerly did with him — and volunteering and helping others.” Judy has a motto for retirement: Get Up, Clean Up, and Show Up. “In other words, get up and start your day,” she said. “Clean up, shower, get dressed and prepare for your day. Show Up, which can be go to work, have coffee with friends, do volunteer work, or stay home and do an activity or read a book — but have something meaningful to do!” Judy served on the Owatonna City Council from Jan. 1, 1998, to Dec. 31, 2001, and was president of the council for the final two years. Two years before winning her at-large council seat in a landslide, then-mayor Wayne Klinkhammer asked her to serve on Owatonna’s Economic Development Authority board. The group met once a month to make recommendations to the city council.
While serving on the EDA, council president Rick Kraus approached Judy about a run for an at-large seat that had been held by Ted Ringhofer, who died of liver cancer in 1997. At first, Judy was a little apprehensive. “Rick said to me, ‘A council member needs to be informed and interested in her community and willing to give a little time,’ and he said, ‘We need good people to step forward and run.’” The sales pitch worked, and Judy bought some red, white and blue signs with, “Judy Meister for City Council,” on them. “I remember when I was in school, I took a class called Civics and our teacher saying, ‘Democracy is a participatory endeavor. It’s only as good as the people who are participating. You can participate by voting, working for a candidate, being a candidate.’” I kind of thought, I have some interest in this. I have always loved history and government.”
See MEISTER
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 15
Meister Continued from page 14
She ran against three other people and received 75 percent of the vote. “I had so many people come forward and ask, ‘How can I help you with your campaign?’ That was very gratifying.” After Kraus moved out of Owatonna, Judy moved up to council president and dealt with what she calls “the Railroad Issue.” DM&E Railroad wanted to develop some coal reserves out west. If the railroad could receive funding, more than 30 trains would be consistently traveling through Owatonna. Residents were concerned about daily traffic stops and an increase in train accidents. “Things got pretty contentious,” she said. “It got to the point where I received a threat at one point saying, ‘If you come to a city council meeting, we are going to get you.’” Because the railroad owned the land, the council could not stop them from sending train cars through Owatonna. What they could do was make sure the railroad crossings were safe. As the council worked on increasing railroad arms and lights, federal funding fell through, and DM&E never increased traffic. Increased duties at A.J. Lysne kept Meister from running for re-election in 2001. She said while she was on
Judy Meister types information into her computer at Express Employment Professionals in Owatonna. (Derek Sullivan/People’s Press)
the council, she tried to look at every aspect of an issue. “As a council member, you have to look at the big picture. That is what is so wrong with Washington, D.C., and St. Paul. Politicians only listen to the lobbyists and big donors and don’t look at the big picture. “You need to look at what’s best for America, what’s best for Minnesota or Owatonna. Too many people only ask, ‘What’s best for me?” We really need to look at the big picture and that’s what I was trying to do.”
Currently, Judy serves as treasurer of the Owatonna Exchange Club, a organization she joined 25 years ago, and for PEO, a philanthropic and educational organization for women. She helps with the program committee of the Owatonna Woman’s Club, and has been a member of the Owatonna United Methodist Church for four decades. “A lot of people think at 65 I’m going to quit working and golf or go out to coffee,” she said. “They think I am going to do volunteer work and those things are all great, but there are still a number of us who still continue to work, and that’s OK, too. “I still feel like I’m contributing. My brain works.” It’s not all work for Meister. She signed up with a friend to take a three-week trip to Australia this year. Though she can’t go with Woody as she would have liked, she does have friends who also love to travel. She also goes with big groups, hoping to find new friends. “When you go with big groups, you always find a smaller group of people to hang out with,” she said. “It’s part of the excitement.” To take almost a month off of work, Meister had to work ahead. She said she’s loves the flexibility of her job at Express. “I enjoy my work because it is very flexible, so I can still enjoy other aspects of my life, like traveling, without being too tied down. It also makes me use my brain, and I get to work with a number of younger people. I really appreciate working there.” Derek Sullivan can be reached at 444-2372.
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Chuck Fuller stands in the baseball field named in his honor. (Ian Stauffer/People’s Press)
l l a b e s a B . r M
Chuck Fuller:
UFFER A T S N A I By atonna.com w o @ r e ff u ista
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or most people, the honor of having a building, park or field named after them is something that comes too late. That is, to say, they’re not around to enjoy it. For Chuck Fuller, having Owatonna’s main baseball field named after him is something he has enjoyed, but doesn’t quite understand. “I guess the nice thing is that I’m alive to enjoy it,” said Fuller, who is now 71years-old. “Most things they don’t name it until after you’re dead.”
The last part came with a laugh, something that always comes easy to Fuller. A born-and-bred Owatonnan, Fuller has only left town a handful of times, not counting the thousands of trips he’s made all over Minnesota for baseball or bowling. Fuller is Owatonna’s Mr. Baseball. Unlike the names that adorn professional stadiums all over the country, Fuller didn’t get his name on Owatonna’s park because he wrote a big check. Well, he kind of did. It just wasn’t written dollars. Fuller’s checks were written in blood, sweat and hard work. He started putting blood down on the field in the 1940s when it was still called Dartt’s Park. Every day, Fuller and his buddies would meet down at the field for a morning of baseball. When the lunch whistle sounded — “That tells you how long ago it was, we had whistles,” Fuller says with a chuckle — he would head home for an hour with his family. Then it was back down to the ball park until fireflies were the only light left in the sky.
If it got too hot, the boys would all dive in to Maple Creek for a swim and then spend a few minutes pulling off leaches before it was back to the field for another nine innings. “That was our life,” Fuller said. “There were 14 or 15 kids that all lived in the neighborhood, and that’s where we hung out.” Other than a few years turned on the calendar, not much has changed for Fuller now, even 60 years later. If there is a baseball game on the schedule, he can usually be found down at the park, either wearing blue behind the plate or trying to stay cool and picking on the young kids in the concession stand. For many years, it was Chuck’s wife, Bev, who was behind the concessions counter while Chuck was out managing, playing or both.
See FULLER
page 18
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Chuck Fuller dons the blue uniform of an umpire — one of the many aspects of the game that he has undertaken over the years. (Ian Stauffer/People’s Press)
Fuller
Continued from page 16 Behind every great man, there is a great woman,” Bev joked. Fuller first started playing organized baseball games in high school in juniors, which is the equivalent of present-day VFW baseball — kind of. The main difference is that Fuller’s junior team had only one coach for six teams. “Hugh Miller was the only coach we had for six teams, and we had morning baseball,” Fuller said. “We didn’t have six coaches, plus a half dozen parents sticking their noses in there. That’s how we learned to play baseball. I thought it was fun.” After two seasons with juniors, Fuller moved up to the varsity program and helped the Owatonna Indians win back-to-back Big Nine Conference titles his junior and senior years. Fuller never made it to state with the OHS team, but the American Legion Post 77 team made it in 1955. That was the last time Owatonna made it to the Legion state tournament until just a few years ago. After high school, Fuller jumped into a working
man’s shoes, but his cleats were never far away. After almost every spring or summer day during his 37-year career at the Owatonna Post Office, Fuller was at one baseball diamond or another. Whether it was playing, managing or umpiring, Fuller was always at the park for one reason or another. Along the way, he picked up a lot of friends and made very few enemies. “He’s an easy guy to get along with as long as you agree with him,” said Tink Larson, who has known Fuller since just after high school and has been involved in more than 1,000 games with Fuller as a teammate, opponent or umpire. “As a person, he would do anything for you. He’d treat you so well and respect you so well, he’s just a great guy.” The same sentiment gushes from dozens of other former coaches, players and umpires that Fuller has worked with over the years. Of course, there are some days where it isn’t entirely true, and one of those days took place about 15 years ago in Waseca. Larson was coaching Waseca against Albert Lea and
Fuller was the home plate umpire. The two legends’ stories aren’t completely in line with each other, but most of the facts are agreed upon. With runners on first and second and nobody out, a Waseca batter popped one up just beyond the infield dirt for what should have been an easy out. The hit triggered the infield fly rule, which means the batter is automatically out and the runners can advance at their own risk once the ball is caught or hits the ground. “It was a windy day, the wind blew it off a little bit, and they didn’t catch it,” Fuller said. “My field umpire wasn’t a very vocal guy, so he just stuck his hand in the air to call infield fly. Well, the runner on second didn’t see that, so when the ball landed, he took off and got thrown out a third for the second out on the play.”
See FULLER
page 20
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Fuller
Continued from page 18 Larson disagreed because the umpire did not literally call the infield fly. “Tink comes tearing out, saying ‘That’s not an infield fly,’” Fuller said. “After a while, I told him, ‘That’s enough, you know I’m not going to change it, so go sit back down.’” Only he didn’t go sit back down. He kept at it. “We had a discussion and maybe it lasted a little longer than normal and maybe both our voices raised a little more than normal,” Larson said. “And he gave me the boot. It’s funny now, but it wasn’t back then.” That was one of just three times Fuller has tossed a coach while umpiring a game, and it was one of just three times Larson was tossed out by an umpire. Despite their friendship, which was already about 30-years-old that day, Larson said he wasn’t surprised by the ejection. “I never figured I could say what I wanted with Charlie,” Larson said. “He was one of the best umpires we ever had over here, and he umpires the game the way he thinks it should be. I had been there too long and too loud, and he gave me the boot. It didn’t matter that we were friends.” Fuller’s playing career ended a few years later than it probably should have, though not by choice. While managing the Aces one day in Northfield in 2002, Fuller’s team found itself a player short. Fuller’s only options were to forfeit the game or put himself on the lineup card, and there was no way he was going to waste that trip to Northfield. “I was playing right field, 63-yearsold, and I dropped a fly ball that cost us the ball game,” Fuller said. “I said, ‘That’s it.’ The last game I played, I quit.” Fuller finished out the 2002 season as the Aces’ manager before officially retiring. The next year, the Owatonna baseball community and the city added Fuller’s name to the baseball field at Dartt’s Park. The Aces’ season opener on May 31, 2003 was the first game without Fuller as a player or manager in almost five decades. All the players signed a ball that day, and Fuller proudly displays it in his den. There are dozens of other plaques, certificates and pieces of memorabilia in Fuller’s den. He’s been inducted into
at least five halls of fame — he can’t remember exactly how many — including the Owatonna High School Hall of Fame in 2003. He’s also in the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame, the Minnesota State Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame and two bowling halls. In addition to playing for and managing the Aces, Fuller spent 13 seasons as the manager of the Post 77 team. The legion team came close to making it to state a few times, but Fuller was never quite able to lead the team where he had played years earlier. Chuck was never the only Fuller down at the ballpark. In addition to Bev often working in the concession stand, at least one of the Fuller’s four children or 12 grandchildren were working as well. Sometimes it was as a bat boy or bat girl, while other times it was as an operator back in the days of manual scoreboards. Several of the grandkids have followed Chuck’s footsteps and taken up baseball as their favorite pastime. One grandson, Benji Hager, even went on to play college baseball. The hallway at the Fuller house is filled with pictures of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but Chuck’s den is reserved almost exclusively for baseball. There are photos of Fuller, old baseballs and plaques cover almost every square inch. Every square inch, that is, where there isn’t some sort of New York Yankees knick-knack, figurine or photo. Fuller picked up the Yankees as his favorite team decades ago for no particular reason. Minnesota didn’t have a team back then — the Twins were still 10 years away — and the Yankees were the best of the best, so why not them? “When I knew what baseball was, the Yankees were my team,” Fuller says with a sense of pride. “The Yankees and the Giants. Then the Giants deserted me and went out west. They’re down at the bottom of my list now.” When Fuller was just 12 years old, he skipped class to stay home and listen to the radio when the Giants played the Brooklyn Dodgers. He heard Bobby Thompson’s “Shot heard ’round the world” live and the now infamous call from Russ Hodges: “THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT!” About the same time the ball landed in the left-field stands at Polo Grounds in New York, Fuller was running out the door to get back to
Chuck Fuller calls a strike from his position behind the plate. “He was one of the best umpires we ever had over here, and he umpires the game the way he thinks it should be,” said long-time friend Tink Larson of Waseca. (Ian Stauffer/People’s Press)
school before he got in too much trouble. “I ran like hell,” Fuller said while remembering the story. “As soon as he hit that, I was out the door and back to school.” Surprisingly, Fuller’s parents were not baseball fans. Fuller said they only came to one game during his entire career, and that was a game against Northfield when Fuller’s cousin was pitching for the other side. His parents never even got out of the car.
“My dad wouldn’t go across the street to see a baseball game,” Fuller said. “There used to be a little road out behind the outfield. My dad and mom sat in the car out behind the outfield and watched the game. My dad just wasn’t a baseball fan. He started working in eighth grade, so he didn’t get to do any of that.”
See FULLER
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
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Fuller
Continued from page 20 That’s not to say his parents didn’t support Fuller’s ambitions. His mom saved months worth of S&H Green Stamps to get Chuck his first baseball glove. Fuller said it never bothered him that his parents didn’t come to see him play. “Heavens no,” he said. “They backed me, no matter what, anything I needed. They just never came down to the park like the parents today.” So Fuller’s love of baseball passed down to his children and especially his grandchildren. All of the Yankees figurines and pictures in his den have sticky notes on the bottom like little claiming flags in the ground for when Grandpa dies. Fuller says that doesn’t bother him either. “It’s good that they’re interested enough in those things,” Fuller said. Fuller is relatively well-traveled, especially in southeast Minnesota, but he has never made the trek to Yankee Stadium — old or new. He catches guff
Some of the baseball memorabilia that adorns Chuck Fuller’s den — a room that is reserved almost exclusively for baseball. (Ian Stauffer/People’s Press)
from friends and family for liking the Yankees, known as the “Evil Empire” by many, but he takes it all in stride. “Whoever you like, that’s fine with me,” Fuller said. “I like the Yankees. You can like whoever you want ... except for the Red Sox.”
When the temperatures dropped and the snow fell and baseball season came to an end, Fuller filled his now empty nights with trips to the various bowling alleys that have called Owatonna home. He was a state champion bowler and spent several decades as a league secre-
tary. His wife, Bev, was also a successful bowler. Fuller has picked up a lot of plaques over the years. The important ones are up on the wall, but more than a dozen are safely tucked away in a cupboard in his den. From inside another cupboard, Fuller pulls out dozens of old scorebooks from legion and amateur teams from decades long past. Those cupboards and the den they sit in are like a time capsule that covers the life of Chuck Fuller. The pictures in the hallway just outside the den complete the image. If there was ever a man that deserved to have a baseball field named after him, it is the one who decorated that den. It’s the same man who skipped school to listen to a baseball game on the radio. It’s the same man who keeps his umpire gear in his trunk all the time just in case he is needed. It’s the same man who coached legions of kids from their teens to their 30s on the exact same baseball diamond that he played on as a kid and that now bears his name. Ian Stauffer can be reached at 444-2375.
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Page 22
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Carol Nelson:
Carol Nelson poses with a piece of forestry equipment in the parking lot of Caterpillar, the same spot he moved his business National HydroAx to in the early 1970s. (Rebecca Rodenborg/People’s Press)
Good as Gold By REBECCA RODENBORG rrodenborg@owatonna.com
Y
ou could say that anything Carol Nelson touches turns to gold, and you’d be absolutely correct. Take the case of the Hydro-Ax product line — a line that was conceptualized, designed and sold by Carol. In just a few decades the product line turned to gold — or at least a color close to it — when Caterpillar bought the line and started painting the machines with the distinct color used on all Caterpillar forestry equipment.
Still today, Carol is known as one of the true entrepreneurial spirits of Owatonna. If he wasn’t building up a forestry product line, he was investing in two brothers’ dream of creating a new exercise equipment line. Now, he and his wife Elsie snowbird in Arizona each winter. He still sets aside time to stop by Caterpillar to visit some of his former employees. On a day in October, he sat talking with Paula Rue, Ted Slezak, Tim Vizina and Tim’s mother, Dee. When asked if he’s retired, Carol laughed, noting that he was working on another project but didn’t want to talk about it yet. “But you could call me retired, sure. I play a lot of golf,” he said.
See NELSON
page 23
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 23
Nelson
Continued from page 22 Years ago, Carol didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have time for golf. No, Carol was busy building one of Owatonnaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most viable businesses from the ground up. It all started in 1963 when Carol was working for Wright Tree Service as a supervisor overseeing their operations in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Montana and Idaho. Working under Carol in Billings, Mont., was Merle Dalland. Carol tells the story best. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The two of us got together and decided to start our own business,â&#x20AC;? he says simply. But Carol, how do you decide that? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I told you he was a visionary,â&#x20AC;? Dee chimed in, smiling. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And he had a lot of guts.â&#x20AC;? Interested in starting their own business to contract with utility companies to clear new and existing rightof-ways, Carol and Merle relocated their families to Owatonna and opened up National Tree Expert in a small shop on the corner of 18th Street down by the old pit. There were 19 crews working for different utility companies, cutting brush and clearing areas. At first, the machines they were using came from Wright Tree Service. But the machines werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t coming fast enough and Carol was convinced there was a more efficient way to do the job. After several designs failed to deliver what Carol wanted, the single brush mower attachment was un-
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veiled. At first, the new tractors were only being used for National Tree Expertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s projects. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At that time, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d get about $500 per acre for clearing brush under power lines and heck, you get the area and the right brush and you could knock out about an acre an hour with that machine,â&#x20AC;? Carol said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pretty soon we had the old company we used to work for, Wright Tree Service, they wanted to buy one. We were taking a lot of business away from them, and then we had some REAs that wanted to buy them and pretty soon we were in the manufacturing business.â&#x20AC;? The brush cutter head developed by Carol is still being used today. The company, now operated by Caterpillar, moved to its current site in 1966. By 1972, Carol brought in Deeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s husband Lee Vizina as the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sales manager. Dee remembers well the day Carol offered the job to Len, who died about nine years ago. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Carol promised that they had a vision of what they wanted to do and if we would come, that we could go home in five years. We would go home more than comfortable money-wise or weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d go home broke. One way or the other,â&#x20AC;? she said, smiling. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been 38 years and we never went home.â&#x20AC;? Carol remembers it, too.
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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Len and I got together and decided to build the whole thing here,â&#x20AC;? he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and the rest is history.â&#x20AC;? On Jan. 2, 1972, National Hydro-Ax, Inc. became an independent company. The company had one product line in its first year, yet it generated $720,000 in sales that year. The company was owned by six local people, including Carol, and had just five employees. The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s products were sold in all but a few states, in all the Canadian provinces, in Mexico and in Africa, Europe and Australia. Carol eventually sold his interest in National Tree Expert to Merle and used his profits to buy interest in National Hydro Ax. To this day, National Tree Expert is still going strong, though now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s based out of Austin, Texas. As for National Hydro Ax, the company was sold to Omark Industries in October 1980 after rapid growth led to difficulties in finding funds to keep up with the demand for product. At that time, sales were at $9 million, the product line had grown to seven tractor models and four attachments, and the company employed 81 people.
See NELSON
page 24
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Page 24
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Carol Nelson moved his family to Owatonna in 1963 after working for Wright Tree Service as a supervisor overseeing their operations in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Montana and Idaho. (Rebecca Rodenborg/ People’s Press)
Nelson
Continued from page 23 Five years later, after the company expanded its product line to 10 tractor models and nine attachments, the company was sold to Blount Inc. In 2003, Caterpillar and Blount joined to produce the market products globally and then, in 2007, Caterpillar acquired Blount’s forestry products. Looking back at what began as a 4,800 square foot building in 1973 and is now three buildings totaling 172,000 square feet, Carol said he was satisfied. “The effort you put into it, and now to see it providing jobs for a lot of people in Owatonna, it’s good,” he said. Carol has had his hands on more than just machinery since being in Owatonna. In 1981, Roy and Mark Simonson, came to Owatonna from Minneapolis with a dream. They had exercise equipment to sell and plans to build a manufacturing facility. Carol described them as two young college kids with an excellent idea, but no money. That’s where Carol stepped in. “I liked what I saw and heard, and I had a building in town, so they started their little company there. You
could just see the start of a new industry,” he recalled. “My role was financing it.” The company started out as Eagle Performance, but was later bought by a company based out of New York that manufactured equipment that was used for treating people with sports-related injuries. Cybex still operates in Owatonna today. And to think Carol never even graduated from high school. “A high school education wasn’t as important then as a college education is today,” Carol said. “I just never pursued it. It was just an education everyday when you went out and experienced it.” Carol and Elsie married in 1948 when he was just 16 years old. The two knew each other from growing up together. The young couple lived all over Iowa and Nebraska and even spent some time in Sheridan, Wyo. Their family had already grown to six by the time they moved to Owatonna. Now, the couple has 10 grandchildren and 13 greatgrandchildren. Most of them were born and reared in Owatonna. Carol’s oldest great-granddaughter is a
senior at Owatonna High School this year. Carol has been able to use his business skills to help a few of his grandchildren start up businesses of their own. Grandson Jim Atkinson owns the Taco John’s in Owatonna. The group surrounding Carol that warm October morning described him as a visionary, someone who came with a dream and wouldn’t let anything stop him. “Oh yeah, he knew what he wanted to do. He had the dream,” Dee said. “He had a good eye for seeing opportunities and grasping them,” said Ted, who started working for Carol at the age of 16. “Failure wasn’t even a thought,” Paula said. “He was persuasive but also confident.” They pointed to the company’s bid to work on the Alaskan Pipeline in 1974 as an example of Carol’s drive.
See NELSON
page 25
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Nelson
Continued from page 24 â&#x20AC;&#x153;He went after that Alaska contract,â&#x20AC;? Ted recalled. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just this small company and we take on this high visibility project and nobody even so much as flinched. He said weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to do this and we did.â&#x20AC;? A total of 30 machines were sent up for the task of clearing brush for the pipeline. No one remembers exactly how long the project lasted, but they do remember the 12-hour-days and working seven days a week. Meanwhile, the workers back in Owatonna were building the machines in a garage bay. The project paid off, with sales really picking up from there, Ted said. Carol said the success of the project was beyond his doing. He knows he always had a strong team that could get a job done. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a team effort,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everyone jumped in and the key to the whole thing was I was able to hire some real good people and give them the responsibility to do the job and know they would do it.â&#x20AC;? While in high school and college, Ted worked parttime as the cleaning guy at the National Tree Expert office. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There were interesting days around here,â&#x20AC;? he said,
Page 25
laughing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My mom was the more logical, organized, canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t spend money until you have it type and she was always bucking heads with the entrepreneurial side of Carol. Sometimes she made her point and sometimes he made his. Even if they clashed, Carol never took it in a bad way.â&#x20AC;? Lenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son Tim started with the company at the age of 16 as well. Tim said he will always remember the days that Len and Carol would butt heads. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was supposed to be digging holes in the parking lot, which was packed rock, one day before they put in a new drainage way. Dad said I want you to dig a round hole around this and fill it with cement so it can drain. Then, a few hours later, Carol comes out and says I want it square. After lunch Dad came back out and said what the blank are you doing? I said round,â&#x20AC;? Tim recalled with a laugh. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They had their days.â&#x20AC;? Tim is now the lead in the assembly department at Caterpillar. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Carol did a lot for Owatonna,â&#x20AC;? Tim said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was really instrumental in the community and provided a lot of jobs. Everyone had a lot of respect for him.â&#x20AC;? Regardless of the sometimes frustrating days, Ted said Carol and Merle were also equal opportunity employers from the get-go. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You started at the bottom and worked your way up and when they found you were a good worker it was, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Oh here, go do this. Go try that.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; They gave you the opportunity to try different things and demonstrate your ability,â&#x20AC;? Ted said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how I wound up where I am today. I was given a chance.â&#x20AC;?
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Ted worked for Carol for 19 years after college, then left for his own endeavors, and finally came back to work for Caterpillar as an IT analyst about two years ago. Paula came to work for National Hydro-Ax in a temporary capacity in February 1975. She had just moved to Owatonna with her new husband and, with the help of the state employment office, Paula was sent to help with the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accounting work for six weeks. Soon after, the accountant moved and Paula took the job permanently. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Six weeks turned into 36 years, and counting,â&#x20AC;? Paula said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I told myself as long as I liked getting up in the morning and coming to work, that was a good thing. They just made it fun to come to work.â&#x20AC;? Paula said she respected Carol for always turning to local resources first in times of need, using everything from a local law firm and accountants. The staff working under Carol and Merle were more than a name on a paycheck, however. No matter the position or pay grade, everyone was invited to the afterwork get-togethers and weekend outings. They were family. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There was never a division between the top and bottom,â&#x20AC;? Paula said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was collectively one group, working together.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were a family,â&#x20AC;? Dee added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They treated everyone like they were their children. We were just a family.â&#x20AC;? Rebecca Rodenborg can be reached at 444-2376. Follow her on Twitter.com @OPPRebecca.
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Darryl Hill:
Preserving history
D
By KYLE STEVENS kstevens@owatonna.com
arryl Hill’s life isn’t defined by one thing. He’s an avid bird watcher who heads the largest Christmas Bird Count in Minnesota. He was the assistant principal of Owatonna High School, helping teachers guide students through a secondary education. Hill is also responsible for the Owatonna High School museum, which, if it doesn’t define him, has allowed the school to be defined by eras and graduates to relive the times when their high school years were lived and not viewed through glass.
See HILL
page 27
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 27
Hill
Continued from page 26 It is in the museum that Hill has given Owatonna one of its greatest gifts: memories. Displayed inside the hundreds of feet of showcases are photos and books, typewriters and computers, yearbooks, class rings and auditorium seats. And it was the end-cap to one of those seats that got the whole thing started. “I’m a collector anyway,” Hill said. “So when I was working at the school as a principal, we redecorated the auditorium. In the old auditorium, we had old, hard seats, but the ends of them had “OHS” on them. I thought, ‘that would be cool to keep some of those’ so the old timers would remember it.” Something as simple as the end cap to a row of seats started the museum. Soon, Hill’s office at the high school was filling up with all kinds of things. “I got a couple of (end caps) and put them in my office on the wall. Then someone else would see it and they’d say, ‘Well, I’ve got this,’ so I started taking some of those things in. Pretty soon I was getting all kinds of boxes in my office. “It grew from then, and people started seeing it and instead of throwing things away, or if their mother or grandmother passed away, (they’d say,) ‘I’ve got this yearbook from 1924. Do you want it?’ It grew. And because of that, we have now, over 100 feet of
showcases. We have binders with memorabilia with each graduating class. If you graduated in 1999, that binder would be the graduation program, sports events, speech, articles. So they can use those when they have reunions.” Hill won’t take full credit for the museum, often speaking to the generosity of donors and part-time workers and students and faculty. But the current principal of OHS said that the museum is a legacy that is firmly Darryl’s doing. “I think Darryl is being kind to himself, maybe being too humble,” Owatonna principal Dr. Don Johnson said. “I’ve never seen a school with remotely the kind of museum that we have here. This is all Darryl’s doing.” Hill, a Mankato native, arrived in Owatonna in 1968. After teaching math and physics in Worthington and Mankato, Hill went back to college to get his master’s degree as an education specialist. That allowed him to become an assistant principal, a job he held at OHS for 28 years before his retirement in 1996. Hill married a teacher and had two children, one of whom, a daughter, lives in Texas. That allows Hill an easy excuse to head south during the winter, time he can use to bird watch, something
he calls his passion. For as much as Hill likes talking about the museum, when the topic is changed to birds and his role in the Christmas bird count and the Audubon Society, Hill’s colors truly show. “We founded that 40 years ago. We’ve grown that to the point that we probably have more people helping us with our Christmas bird count, in our cirlce, than anyone in the state,” Hill said. “We had more than 10 new people this year. That’s the largest scientific project in the world, just by citizens. With the Audubon Association I think this is the 112th year that they have been doing this. The reason they do it is in New York they used to have big hunts on Sunday to see how many hawks they could shoot, how many squirrels they could shoot. Then they’d line them up on barbed wire fence. ‘Look what we did.’ A group of conservation people said, ‘This isn’t good.’ So they said, ‘Let’s go out, and instead of shooting them, let’s count them.’ So that’s what they did. And it spread in the area, and now it’s all through North America, Central America and South America.”
See HILL
page 28
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Page 28
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
1958 1958 -- 2010 2012
Celebrating 52 Years 54
Inside one of the display cases at the Owatonna High School museum is a box of class rings dating back to 1919. (Kyle Stevens/People’s Press)
For the past 54 50 years the Owatonna Foundation has awarded grants totaling over $11 $10 million for projects that touch every aspect of our lives in the following categories:
Hill
0 Community - people, parks, places
Continued from page 27 After arriving in Owatonna, Hill knew immediately that he didn’t want to leave. “I loved the community,” Hill said. The inspiration for the museum may have been the renovation and the things that the work uncovered, but, as he said, Hill has always collected things. “I used to collect cameras and political buttons and autographs. A lot of things, really,” Hill said. As the idea of the museum took off, one of the things Hill made certain of was the ability to see the museum by simply walking the hallways at OHS. “If you go to the school for a sports event, you walk by it. If you go for an auditorium event, you walk by it. Some schools have them in a room. So if you want to see the museum, you have to go see somebody and get a key and go in,” Hill said. “I thought when we started, that if it’s not out there where people are going to use it, I’m not going to spend all that time.” And people are always looking. “Any time there is a visitor with a new student, or here for a conference, concert or game they run into the museum,” Johnson said. “It’s a rare day that I don’t see someone with their nose pressed up against the glass trying to get a sense of Owatonna’s tradition, history and school culture.”
In addition to keeping a visual link to Owatonna’s past, the museum keeps tabs on graduates who are currently making their mark in the world. “Another section of the museum, we have some people that have done some unusual, interesting things,” Hill said. “Bill Redeker was an ABC newsperson on the national news. He graduated from OHS. We have a graduate who was in the Navy, and he was the commander of an atomic submarine. Now he’s commander of a fleet. We have writers who have books and we try to get a book or a picture so when people look in the showcase, (people say,) ‘Oh, I didn’t know he was from Owatonna.’ We’ve had some pretty interesting people who have graduated from here.” Hill’s favorite memento is the yearbook from 1877. It’s nothing like the yearbooks of modern times. It lists only lists seven names — Mattie Brown, Lewis Case, Eddy Greely, Arthur Gutterson, Alice Holt, Martha Nelson and Charles Pound. It takes only moments to read, but makes a powerful impact. Those seven are the first graduating class of Owatonna High School.
See HILL
page 29
0 Education - literary, scientific, historic 0 The Arts - musical, visual, cultural 0 Recreation - sports, leisure, family fun Make a Tax-Deductible Contribution in Honor of Our 52nd 54th Anniversary! Your contribution to the Owatonna Foundation will allow the Foundation to continue to preserve our history and respond to the changing needs of years! our community — for the next 50+years! ■
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 29
LEFT: Darryl Hill, far left, participates in the annual Christmas bird count. (Press file photo) BELOW: A Commodore computer, the first computer that was used at OHS, sets among older equipment that is no longer used at the school. The items are part of the Owatonna High School museum, which Darryl Hill started and maintained for years. (Kyle Stevens/ People’s Press)
Hill
Continued from page 27 As Hill spoke of the yearbook and the names and the history, he noted that the class of 1877 was the only graduating class in the first two years of the school. In 1878, there were no seniors, which was also the case in 1881. But Hill’s favorite story, one that he says completely captures the reason there is a museum, comes from a woman who has never seen a single item. She may not even know the school colors, or the nickname. But she does know a graduate, thanks to Darryl Hill. “One lady called and said, ‘I didn’t graduate from OHS, but my dad did. Could you get me some information,’” Hill said. “She said, ‘He graduated in 1941 (or) 1942,’ so I had a starting point to find it. So I went through the yearbooks. He was captain of the football team and he was this and that. I found it and sent copies to her. She wrote me back after she received it, and she said, ‘Thank you for getting that information. My dad was in the Second World War, and he was a pilot. He was shot down and killed.’ At that time, she was 1 or 2 years old. She never knew her father. She was so appreciative of that. And you do one thing like that, heck, all the work is worth it.” Hill has all kinds of stories. A question about one thing will lead into three or four others. There is no rambling or losing the topic at hand. Hill simply has
an extensive knowledge base of all things Owatonna. A question about the school changing its colors from orange and black to royal blue and silver led into the change of the nickname, and then back a few years to when the then-Indians were known as the Warriors and Braves. That led to a book, “School Days,” that was helped to publication by the Owatonna People’s Press. Hill opened the book, and flipped immediately to the page where the color changes were noted. There was no explanation on the page. But that didn’t stop Hill from elaborating. “It was finally voted on, and the first class was 1950. They were the first one to officially do it,” Hill said. “However, in 1944-45, they had blue and silver for the first time. (Coach Becker) had them be blue and silver, but we were orange and black and Winona was orange and black. They wanted something that was different. They had the uniforms (in 1944) and then the next year they would get more for the B-squad. But they didn’t vote on it until 1949, so the first class to have it officially was 1950.” The color and mascot change is something that takes Hill back in time. He doesn’t necessarily think about his childhood or his own high school days as he does about the time he spent as an assistant principal and as a teacher.
“I think more about seeing something when I was here. Like when we changed from Indians to Huskies,” Hill said. “We’ve got some old equipment that I used when teaching. That will bring me back a little bit, too.” The bird count and museum are just two examples of Hill doing something good for the community. Why does he do it? Because, like the museum shows, he appreciates where he lives. “What are the things that make Owatonna good,” Hall asked. “It’s things like West Hills, the Four Seasons (Centre), which was all (built) by donated money. We got a swimming pool and aquatic center. That’s all just money given. The museum is all money given to it. That’s why when we get help financially, help supporting it, I think that Owatonna people should be proud and commended for being thoughtful of other people. “It’s just an outstanding community. I had a chance to go other places to be a principal, but (here) you can get as involved in it or not as involved in it. The only thing I could find that other jobs had was they paid more money. To me, I’ll take less money and have a community like this any day.” Kyle Stevens can be reached at 444-2374.
Page 30
Stormy Trom:
Living out her passions
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Stormy Trom has been at the Steele County Food Shelf for 18 years. She has been an integral part of the success SCFS has had providing food to much of the area. (Ashley Peterson/People’s Press)
By ASHLEY PETERSON apeterson@owatonna.com
I
f you don’t see Steele County Food Shelf Director Stormy Trom working hard to help feed the area’s neediest, chances are she’s either on the back of her husband’s hog or riding her pastime of choice — her horse, Gameal. You see, the thing is, most people don’t know the whole Stormy. They just know the woman who labors intensively to write grants, secure food donations and help put food on Steele Countians’ tables. “I never talk about Stormy Trom. Stormy Trom is always kind of what I do, not who I am, ” Stormy said, “so it’s difficult to separate the two.”
See TROM
page 31
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 31
Trom
Continued from page 30 Stormy grew up in Claremont alongside four siblings. Her parents worked at what was then Owatonna Canning Company. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Growing up in a small town doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sound very exciting. I was a middle child. I was always known as the caretaker child.â&#x20AC;? While in high school at Claremont High, Stormy was a social butterfly, participating in cheerleading, theater and choir. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We pretty much felt like we had everything when we were kids. We had great parents and wanted for nothing. Yet our folks did â&#x20AC;&#x201D; I think now looking back â&#x20AC;&#x201D; struggle raising us, but they were such wonderful people,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think a lot of who I am is because of my parents. They were always caring and loving people, and we always had a lot of kids in, parties at our house and neighbors in for coffee. Our home was always the gathering place for Christmas for the entire family.â&#x20AC;? Looking back now, Stormy doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite know how her mother did it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I look back and wonder, because it was really amazing because she worked full-time. My parents worked opposite shifts so one of them was always there with us. Mother worked nights and dad worked days. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m
sure it was not an easy existence for them, but we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know it. It was the best of times growing up in the â&#x20AC;&#x2122;50s,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I guess we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have as much then as the kids do now, but I felt it was great. We went out and made our own fun with bicycles and we played. It was a good time.â&#x20AC;? Stormy graduated from high school and after that went to work for a year at a company in town and then married Gary, who sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been married to for 40 years. Settling into a home built by Garyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ancestors more than 100 years ago in rural Blooming Prairie, the Troms followed in the footsteps of Garyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parents, grandparents and aunts and uncles in calling the house a home. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Garyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great-great-great-grandparents came here from Norway and settled in the area, so thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of history here on my husbandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side of the family,â&#x20AC;? Stormy said. Two years after marrying, Gary and Stormy â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ernestineâ&#x20AC;? as her birth certificate reads â&#x20AC;&#x201D; moved to their current home to help Garyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father farm. Today, they own the home and the land it sits on, land that still produces cash crops such as corn and soybeans. Back to the whole â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ernestineâ&#x20AC;? thing â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Stormyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name is Ernestine. Her dad wanted to name
her Stormy â&#x20AC;&#x153;even before I was born,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what happened. He said he was reading a book at the time, if heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d remember the name of the book it would be a better story, but he just thought it was a cool name and my mom just thought he was taking leave of his senses.â&#x20AC;? When Stormyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father went home for the night after she was born, the nurse brought in the naming documents, and on the dotted line, Stormyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother wrote â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ernestine Fayeâ&#x20AC;? because â&#x20AC;&#x153;she was not going to have a child named Stormy. Dad said â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; care. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stormy to meâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and I had a choice between the two.â&#x20AC;? Sticking with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Stormyâ&#x20AC;? almost all her life, the mother of three has worked an array of jobs before becoming the face of the food shelf. From owning a car wash and mini-storage company, to driving school bus for 16 years, Stormy always found a way to make family her first priority. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She has taught me what it takes to be a good person and most importantly a good mother. I honestly donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know where I would be if I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a mother like her,â&#x20AC;? said Stormyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughter Holly Zapata. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She has helped me and taught me so much in my life. I would be lost without her.â&#x20AC;?
See TROM
page 32
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Trom
Continued from page 31 Stormy recalls the stresses of daily life on the farm and raising a family, but she said it’s her faith that’s kept her grounded and helped her realize her calling in life to help others. “In the interim of life and all its flurry and activity was raising the kids and the different programs I helped start. I eventually ended up working for a priest part-time and I was going to college at the time. He introduced me to people who started the food shelf going on 18 years ago, so I’ve been actively working and studying and trying to help people facing poverty and hunger issues in my work life ever since,” Stormy said. “That somewhat defines who I am because I am so passionate about everyone being entitled to at least their basic needs in life.” Stormy sometimes gets so consumed in her work that her husband has to remind her there is life outside her job. “She’s definitely into her volunteering. You can tell she’s not just doing it as her job,” Gary said. “For a number of years, she’d bring her job home with her and that really weighed heavily on her. People come in there to get food and they’re probably at a point in their life they’d never thought they’d get to, so they get pretty emotional, and that wore on her for a long time. But she learned to deal with it, but she’s still got a deep feeling for all those people. It’s not just a job with her. It’s her dedication, her spot in life.” Another way Stormy escapes the daily routine of work and chores is on horseback. “It’s my calling. We have rigs with living quarters. It’s a good way to get everything in perspective again before going back to work on Monday and feeling like you have your head in the right place,” Trom said of the many camping trips she takes with family and friends. “Horses are wonderful. I never liked to be told I couldn’t do something. Pretty much if you have the will you’ll find the way to get things done or to just do it.” Whether it’s her passion for her horses, her love for her family or the compassion she has for those who need the SCFS organization’s help the most, Stormy knows how to reach people and touch hearts in ways not many can. Holly remembers when her mom first started working at two little food shelves — one in Blooming Prairie and another in Owatonna. Holly would help unload shipments and stock the shelves alongside her mother. “I think I was probably one of her only volunteers back then. I thought it was the coolest thing, and as a kid I didn’t fully understand what her mission was there, but of course over the years I have come to learn exactly what the food shelf is for, and I can say I don’t think it would have grown into such a successful re-
Gameal, Trom’s trusty horse, gets some attention in the Trom’s rural Blooming Prairie barn. (Ashley Peterson/People’s Press)
source for those in need if it wasn’t for her,” Holly said. “I think she should feel wonderful about what she has done and to see a place like this grow the way it has. In my mom’s work with the food shelf I think she has educated the community about hunger and opened their eyes to understand just how many of our neighbors are in need.” Stormy would be the first to tell you the need is great, sometimes greater than the means she has to help meet that need. “I don’t think people really value food, and not just what you’re eating, but what it represents: The family gathering at the table. It just brings people together,” Stormy said. “Every night our family sat down at the table, not only were we taught manners, but it was expected. In today’s world, and even with my own children, it seems we’re getting more and more instant and moving away from slowing down and taking the time to really sit down and know one another.” SCFS board members Jerry Roberts and Kent Rossi have gotten to know Stormy over the years in her capacity as director of the food shelf, and beyond. “Steele County is fortunate to have Stormy in charge of our food shelf, as she is a very caring person with our clients. She amazes me at how much physical work she does in the course of a day. Then she must take care of the management of the volunteers, inventory,
contributions and everyday paperwork,” Roberts said. “She makes sure she is always in touch with those who contribute to the food shelf and she treats volunteers with great respect. She is a great person to be associated with as a board member and a volunteer.” Rossi described Stormy as down-to-earth, easy to work with, accommodating and always smiling. “I have never heard Stormy talk about ‘comp time’ or overtime pay or anything like that,” Rossi said. “When things need to be done, she simply does them because she is totally committed to working for the benefit of the clients. She doesn’t complain, but instead gets the job done.” Stormy does her job so well, she was recognized one year with Business and Professional Women’s Woman of Achievement Award, among many other honors over the course of her career. “Five other women were up there that night and I was just thinking, ‘What am I doing in the presence of all these amazing women?’ And when they announced my name, I almost fell over. You don’t think of yourself as very prestigious, so that was a pretty big honor,” Stormy said of the Woman of Achievement Award. “It’s nice to be recognized once in a while, but that’s not really why I do it.” For those who know Stormy, the awards come as no surprise.
See TROM
page 34
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 33
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Trom
Continued from page 32 “I admire her ability to keep pushing forward. I am sure she has had to overcome many obstacles with making the food shelf a success, and instead of giving up she found a way to work with what was presented to her and turned a negative into a position. She is very good at finding the good in every situation,” Holly said of her mom’s outstanding work ethic. “She has inspired me in a way that makes me never want to give up and to always be pushing and reaching for my goals in life. Settling or taking no for an answer is not the way to live your life. If you want something, then you need to go out there and make it happen for yourself. Don’t just sit around dreaming or wishing for it.” As for Stormy’s dreams, she plans to continue with the mission
of the food shelf and the journey of her 40-year marriage. “You know, we made an agreement and we’ll just stick with it,” Gary said, looking at his wife. “A lot of people throw marriages out the window, but that’s not my style. It wasn’t the way I was brought up or how she was brought up. We get along fine and we’re both pretty high spirited, but that’s fine. We have our moments.” And how do they keep their marriage strong all these years? With their thrills, of course. “She’s into horses and I’m into Harleys and hotrods,” Gary said. Ashley Peterson can be reached at 444-2378.
Stormy Trom takes a break from a hectic work week to spend time in her favorite place — horseback. (Submitted photo)
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
By ASHLEY PETERSON apeterson@owatonna.com
P
aging through his biography authored by his wife, Bruce Kubicek glances over page after page that brings him back to a childhood he remembers fondly, and the life he continues to enjoy alongside longtime friends, colleagues and an expanding family. Wife Rose Ann wrote up Bruceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life history as a gift for his 50th birthday. Turns out there was quite a story to tell, and surely much yet to be told.
See KUBICEK page 37
Bruce Kubicek sits at the head of the Steele County Board of Commissioners table at a recent board meeting. Kubicek is the acting board chair for 2012. (Ashley Peterson/ Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Press)
Bruce Kubicek:
Civic-minded
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 37
Kubicek Continued from page 36
Bruce was born in Blooming Prairie, and by the time he was a year old, his family had moved in with his grandfather and grandmother in rural Ellendale. Five years went by until Bruceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dad bought the farm next door and moved the family into their own home. It was in that home that Bruce would remain until he married Rose Ann in 1973 and the newlyweds moved back into the home that formerly belonged to Bruceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grandparents. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Before we moved here, dad was a mechanic in Blooming Prairie and a state-licensed electrician. My grandfather, also an electrician, had a hardware store and his partner was a plumber,â&#x20AC;? Bruce said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They followed the power lines, bidding on the farms to wire them. They wired 600 farms in two years.â&#x20AC;? Bruce and his older brother grew up watching their father help their grandfather on the farm, and can still faintly remember living with his grandparents. But the story of the day his dad bought the neighboring farm is one he will never forget. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dad and Grandpa went next door, where the farm was up for sale on an auction. My dad bought the farm, but didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go over there to do that,â&#x20AC;? Bruce said.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Grandpa told Dad to buy the farm, and Dad said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any money,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; so Grandpa lent him money.â&#x20AC;? Bruceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother had never even seen the house she was about to move the family into, as it was in poor condition from being a bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s farm for many years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When she walked into the house, she almost had a heart attack because it was in rough shape,â&#x20AC;? Bruce said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There was no electricity, but that was no issue. We moved in that January, but wanted the line in before winter, so Dad asked if he could put the power line in and wired the place before we moved over there, though we had no running water until the following fall.â&#x20AC;? Bruce still remembers helping his father and the neighbors dig the water lines by hand that fall; he and his brother would haul away the chopped up roots while the grown men kept digging. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one thing I remember growing up in those days, more so than now, is neighbors helped neighbors all the time,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d stop by each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fields to talk. Nowadays you probably donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even know who it is on the tractor at your neighborâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, and you may not even wave.â&#x20AC;?
See KUBICEK
Bruce Kubicek as a baby in his baby buggy. (Submitted photo)
page 38
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Page 38
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Kubicek Continued from page 37
Bruce went to grade school on County Road 3 at River Point School, following in his mother’s footsteps at the country school near their home. By eighth grade, the country schools had started to consolidate, so Bruce started going into town for school, but it was back home on the farm where he and his friends had the most fun. “Growing up around here was fun. There were kids across the road here, another family on the other side of our house, kids on every farm around here. As kids, we had bicycles and got together during the summer on the evenings,” Bruce reminisced. “As kids we spent a lot of extra time either fishing in the summer or ice skating in the winter. I guess you could call us river rats. We’d even go down there when it was raining and fish under the bridge.” Bruce also remembered the canning factory’s trucks hitting potholes in the summer near the farm, dumping peas over the edge of the truck. “So as kids, we’d hide under the bridge, run up and grab the dropped peas and run home and give them to mom so we could have fresh peas. The drivers knew we were there. We even got to the point where once in a while one would just stop, pull off a bunch onto the ground and keep going,” he said, smiling at the mischief he got into as a kid. By his teenage years he ditched the bike for better wheels, and joined up with fellow classmates to drive over to Beaver Lake for a nighttime swim. “Especially after a day of baling hay and getting all dirty, we’d pile into a car and drive over to swim,” he said. “Those were the good old times. We had a lot of work, and we worked hard.” As a junior in high school, Bruce was selected as
one of the top students in civics and was asked to participate in a model United Nations in Winnipeg, Canada. The local Rotary Club sponsored the 20-hour train ride to the event, where Bruce got his first taste of what it might be like to be involved in parliamentary procedure. “I spent three days up there representing the country of Uganda. Kids from all over the world came to represent different countries. We had committee meetings, and I wrote a speech about allowing China to become a member of the UN,” Bruce recalled. “It felt like quite an honor at that time, but that was the first time I was away from home for any distance. I never really thought about it, but I guess you could look back and say it was my first involvement in government stuff.” After his high school graduation in 1964, the Vietnam War was heating up, and Bruce joined the Army Reserves through a Faribault unit. It wasn’t until later that year that Bruce would get to know Rose Ann a little better. The two knew each other from their church circle, but hadn’t ever really talked. “My mother had on and off mentioned ‘Why don’t you ask Rose Ann out?’ I was kind of a couch potato. I was not a social butterfly,” Bruce said. “We talked a little bit that night, but then I did call her up for a date the next day and we went bowling.” That was December 1965, and the two dated on and off through the winter. That May, Bruce went off to basic training and was gone until December. “We dated pretty steady then, twice a week. We’d go out Friday nights and Sunday usually, and then I’d call her on Wednesday. That was the schedule. Then on Valentine’s Day of ’67 is when I asked her to marry
The Kubiceks live on the family farm east of Ellendale. (Ashley Peterson/People’s Press)
me and gave her a diamond,” Bruce said. “That night, before he came over I said to my mom, ‘What if he brings me a diamond?’” Rose Ann said. “She said, ‘It’s your life, but I think he’d make a good husband.’” With his mother-in-law’s blessing, Bruce settled in with Rose Ann after their wedding in January of 1968. The pair moved to the other side of Hope and rented a farm house for $50 a month while Bruce still helped his father farm. Later that year, the newlyweds rented the farm behind his grandfather’s home and stayed there until 1973 when his grandfather moved into a nursing home. The home sat vacant for six months before Rose Ann and Bruce took over the rent and moved their family in. One thing Rose Ann has never let Bruce live down is the fact he missed the birth of their third son, Tim. “I was in Georgia for Army reserve summer camp,” Bruce said. “She was already pregnant when I found out about that. They would not let me stay home, but we had a distant cousin of mine stay with Rose Ann while I was gone.” Bruce left on a Sunday, Rose Ann delivered Tim the following Sunday, one week before Bruce returned. “I stewed about it until May,” Rose Ann said, smiling at Bruce in their living room. “I cleaned and organized my entire house, had to focus on something other than him not being here for the birth.”
See KUBICEK page 39
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 39
Kubicek Continued from page 38
A total of six kids later, the Kubiceks made a life on the farm, while also dabbling in politics. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We got started in the DFL politics in 1973,â&#x20AC;? Rose Ann said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We got involved in DFL politics and I was county chairman for at least three or four terms,â&#x20AC;? Bruce said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We worked on Tim Pennyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campaign. He had a farm advisory group and I was on that panel. My kids remember stuffing envelopes. Pennyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s headquarters was in Owatonna and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d take the kids up there to stuff envelopes. They were a lot of help because we had a lot of kids.â&#x20AC;? Kubicek first became a Steele County commissioner in 2000, and said heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seen politics change since his start working campaigns. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At that time, politics was a lot more fun. It was serious, but there was a fun side to it. Now it just seems like itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so charged and antagonistic thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no fun left in the political party part of it,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one reason I like being a county commissioner. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s non-partisan. You can be yourself and vote what you think is right, not what some party affiliation tells you to do.â&#x20AC;? Since being a commissioner, Rose Ann said sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seen Bruce grow as an individual and as an elected official. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One thing Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d say is when he needs a new challenge, that really helps him, to be challenged. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very intelligent
and he needs new challenges,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He can listen to someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s problems and then let them go. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s amazing the issues he gets called on.â&#x20AC;? Fellow commissioners Doug Johnson and Corky Ebeling also speak highly of Bruce, whom they did not know well prior to becoming commissioners. Johnson described Bruce as honest, a steward, committed and trustworthy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I never doubt where Bruce stands on an issue and know when he says something he believes in it and is committed to seeing it through,â&#x20AC;? Johnson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With his farming and family background, Bruce is a steward of the resources God gave him. It is visible in his work on water resource boards etc., but also in his family and the tax dollars that are used by the county to provide services.â&#x20AC;? Johnson said he can trust Bruce â&#x20AC;&#x153;with anythingâ&#x20AC;? and considers that a great relationship to have with someone with whom he works closely. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bruce would be in my top 10 list of individuals engaged in what they believe in,â&#x20AC;? Johnson added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;From his family, his church, his farm and the county, Bruce will see things through to the best of his ability, utilizing resources as needed to bring the best possible solution to bear on the problem.â&#x20AC;? Ebeling called Bruce honest, polite, committed and competent.
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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bruce always strives to get a consensus by listening first and allowing everyone to give their point of view,â&#x20AC;? Ebeling said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He is very well respected by the many boards, committees and organizations he has worked with. He is viewed as a team player.â&#x20AC;? Ebeling said Bruce always says his â&#x20AC;&#x153;best timeâ&#x20AC;? to think about issues facing the county board is when heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s alone on his tractor or in his combine. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This demonstrates his passion, work ethic and commitment to the county, as he is always working beyond the board room,â&#x20AC;? Ebeling said. When not in the board room or on the farm, Bruce prefers to spend his time fishing and hanging out with his family. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve liked fishing all my life,â&#x20AC;? Bruce said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I enjoy being able to help people with their concerns, and those are the kinds of things Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m probably most proud of, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a pretty proud grandpa, too.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got grandkids that adore him,â&#x20AC;? Rose Ann said. Bruce said he wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be who he is today with Rose Ann. Like two peas in a pod, the pair love nothing more than a summer vacation spent fishing, Bruce said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The best crop I ever raised on this farm was my kids. And I mean that.â&#x20AC;? Ashley Peterson can be reached at 444-2378.
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Sandy Boss poses beside the balance beam — a piece of sports equipment that she, the first gymnastics coach for Owatonna High School, is quite familiar with. (Ian Stauffer/People’s Press)
Breaking ground
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By IAN STAUFFER istauffer@owatonna.com
andy Boss never played organized sports growing up because they weren’t offered for girls, but the feisty Boss always wanted to play. So when she rode the train from Minneapolis to Owatonna in the spring of 1969 and found out the school was looking for a phy. ed. teacher and gymnastics coach, she jumped at the chance. Four decades later, thousands of girls have pulled on an Owatonna uniform to play sports and most have no idea what Boss made possible for them. Boss took over a 1-year-old gymnastics program and helped start half a dozen other sports in just her first few years in town. She got started before she even had the job. See BOSS
page 42
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Newspaper clippings from the Owatonna People’s Press detail some of the successes of teams coached by Sandy Boss in the early days of girls athletics in the Owatonna school district. (Press files)
Boss
Continued from page 40 “I told them I’d do it, but I really wanted to start a swim team, too,” she said. “They said OK, so that’s where we started.” Soon, things blossomed and Owatonna had a girls basketball, track and volleyball team. Other sports followed, and Boss was right there to help all of them get going. “Sandy is one of the greatest people we ever hired,” said Earl Bruhn, Owatonna’s activities director when Boss was hired. “She was one of the goers that was really helpful. She did an excellent job. You ask her to do something, and it’s done.” Of course, to get a team started from scratch, there are a lot of resources that need to be lined up. Uniforms, equipment and practice time in the gym are big ones. Opponents are also a necessity. Boss knew she couldn’t demand everything at once, so she nibbled away and took whatever she could get, bit by bit. At first, the girls couldn’t practice at the same time as the boys, so the girls practiced late or they found a different room to practice in. Uniforms were a different story. Since money for girls sports was in short supply, Boss purchased generic Owatonna uniforms for all the sports. “If you go back and look at all the yearbook pic-
tures, the girls are wearing the same uniforms in every photo,” Boss said. “We need the money for equipment instead of uniforms back then. I came from nothing, so anything I got was gravy. If we could only practice two times a week, that was OK, but then I’d ask for three. If I got shot down, I’d wait and ask later. “These days, I think we are pretty much on par with boys sports. Contests, uniforms, facilities, all the things we were maybe lacking to begin with.” And Boss knows about the lacking. Growing up in Sebeka, a town of less than 1,000 in north-central Minnesota, Boss had very few opportunities to play sports. There was always gym class, and occasionally the gym teacher in Sebeka would bring a car full of girls to the next town over for an informal scrimmage, but never anything truly organized. “I loved to play on the playground,” Boss said. “We’d just organize games and play outside all the time. Sports was a big part of my childhood.” When Boss went to the University of Minnesota to pursue a teaching degree, she finally found organized sports, though they were only intramurals. She played field hockey for the Golden Gophers. About 10 years ago, Minnesota decided to honor all of the female athletes who played before Title IX and Boss received a varsity letter for her time with the Gophers.
“I got my Minnesota ‘M’ in field hockey,” Boss said. “That was pretty cool.” In Owatonna, Boss did a lot more cool things. To get more girls out for sports, she and her counterparts at other Big Nine Conference schools started holding “play days” for a Girls Recreation Association. Each school would spend a few weeks playing different sports, switching often between basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, soccer and others. Every once in a while, two or more of the schools would get together and play each other in bunch of sports. “It started slow, not practicing every day, just two or three days a week,” Boss said. “Gymnastics was different because that was a real team, so we practiced almost every day.” Surprisingly, there was very little push back from anyone in the community that was against girls sports. Boss said most everyone was supportive, including the activities directors, boys coaches and parents. “All of these moms were like me. They went through that dry spell where they couldn’t do anything,” Boss said. “If their daughters were getting these chances they never had, they were pretty excited about it. “The reasoning for some was that women shouldn’t sweat, shouldn’t show their legs, whatever. It just wasn’t feminine to be on a court bouncing the ball.”
See BOSS
page 44
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
When Boss returned to teaching and coaching in 1984, girls sports were well established in Owatonna and all over the state. She started teaching at Wilson Elementary, took over as the head gymnastics coach, and helped coach the track team. (Ian Stauffer/People’s Press)
Boss
Continued from page 42 The first big breakthrough for girls sports came in Boss’ first fall season when she all but demanded a Big Nine Conference title for gymnastics. The ADs relented and a traveling trophy that girls teams could win was ordered. Owatonna won the first one in gymnastics in 1969, and then Owatonna won another one in volleyball. In the spring of 1972, Boss and her team won the first Big Nine girls track and field title. Boss smiles when she thinks back to those years, and she easily rattles off the names of the first female standout athletes at OHS. One of those was Mary Lou (Jandro) Boyd, the first female athlete inducted into the OHS Athletic Hall of Fame in the inaugural class in 1996. “Mary Lou was an outstanding athlete,” Boss said. “Basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, track. She was one of the first. I really thought she was the premier athlete that came through in those decades.” Since Boyd was one of the first, she was there when Boss helped get it all started. “Back then, we were just so happy to have something to do instead of going home after school and help at the house,” Boyd said. “Sandy kind of jumped right in and learned right along with everybody else. Everyone was kind of at a beginner level. As things progressed, she
progressed right along with us.” It wasn’t long after Boss, who was Sandy Benci back then, arrived in Owatonna that she met and fell in love with Jeff Boss, another junior high teacher. After she and Jeff married, she left teaching and coaching for eight years to raise her three daughters. In her first year out of coaching, Owatonna won the state girls track and field championship. “That was my team!” Boss said with a laugh. “My assistant took over for me, so he was the coach when they won it.” When Boss returned to teaching and coaching in 1984, girls sports were well established in Owatonna and all over the state. She started teaching at Wilson Elementary, took over as the head gymnastics coach, and helped coach the track team. Jeff Boss also coached cross country, track and youth basketball. A few years back, before summer basketball camps became all the rage, Sandy and Jeff taught basketball skills classes in the summer. Many of the players on the Owatonna boys basketball state team last year were students of the Bosses. “Mitch Hawkins, Tyler Supalla, those kids were in my class. That was still my team!” she said with another laugh.
Boss laughs a lot these days. Since she retired from teaching in 2006 and coaching in 2007, she gets plenty of time to visit her children and grandchildren in Waseca, Minneapolis and Denver. She is also a very common face at Owatonna athletics, serving as a site manager or table worker at soccer, basketball, gymnastics and volleyball game. If she’s not working, she’s usually in the stands cheering on the Huskies, particularly her former students. “Jeff gets tired of me pointing out all the Wilson (Elementary) kids I used to teach,” she said. She also works as an official or helper at the state track, volleyball and gymnastics meets as a good way to stay close to the sport and keep in touch with old friends. “If we’re going to the games and tournaments anyway, we might as well work at the table and get the best seats in the house,” Boss reasoned. The Bosses also go on a few vacations a year to visit family and friends, and an annual trip to Mexico in the spring gets them into some warm weather. “You have to use your retirement to retire a little bit,” Boss said. Ian Stauffer can be reached at 444-2375.
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Jim Brunner:
Living by the numbers By ASHLEY PETERSON apeterson@owatonna.com
Jim Brunner sits at his dining room table, a place he doesn’t have much time to enjoy because he’s often busy with his many commitments to community organizations and non-profits. When he does have a chance to sit down at his table, chances are he’s writing checks for the many groups he’s involved in. (Ashley Peterson/ People’s Press)
A
sk anyone who knows him, and they’ll likely tell you the same thing: “He’s a great guy, and I love him to pieces.” Such were the sentiments Steele County Historical Society Director Laura Resler had about longtime Owatonnan Jim Brunner. Similar feelings were had by many who had worked with Brunner over the nearly 50 years he’s been contributing to Steele County non-profit organizations and businesses.
From Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Grandparents for Education to the Owatonna Foundation and his own homeowners’ association, if there’s a group needing a fiscal manager, Brunner could be — or already has been — your man. The self-proclaimed number lover grew up in Gibbon, Minn., — population 800 — and settled in Owatonna in 1964 after enlisting in the Army, going to college and marrying his wife LaVonne. “Gibbon was a great place to grow up because you can’t imagine what growing up was like back in 1931,” Brunner said. “I loved playing baseball, bowling, golf, dances. Life was great. I was too bashful to ask a girl out. I met my wife on a blind date. “But in 1950, I still remember very clearly — it was a Sunday afternoon after a typical big Sunday dinner,
and I was getting dressed for a baseball game. And they interrupted the news program to say North Korea had invaded South Korea, and I knew right then my life was going to change.” Brunner enlisted in the Army in March 1952 and learned Morse code before going to Okinawa where he spent two years working shifts he can still remember. When he came back to Minnesota, he planned to return to the job he left at his father’s cousin’s insurance business. “But my younger brother was going off to college and Mom said to me, ‘Why don’t you go to the university with your brother?’ It took me five seconds to say I’d go,” Brunner said. “It changed my life. I knew right away I wanted to be an accountant. I like math. I like working with numbers.”
See BRUNNER
page 48
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 47
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Brunner Continued from page 46
After marrying LaVonne in 1958, the couple had four kids over the following five years. Sadly, Brunner lost his other half to pancreatic cancer almost three years ago, a mention that still makes his voice crack when recalling his only love. “She was a natural mother. We did make our 50th wedding anniversary before she died,” he said. “It’s been different cooking, cleaning, washing, so that took some getting used to. I’m back on firm footing. I have a lot of friends. That’s one of the benefits of living here for 45 years. I have a lot of friends.” Those friendships are what kept him here in Owatonna. That and the fact he is involved in countless organizations, clubs and boards in Steele County. Brunner came to Owatonna after Harry Wenger hired him to be the accountant for what was then a 53-employee Wenger operation that had just recorded its first $1 million-sale year. “He made me an offer and I accepted it and moved to Owatonna in late 1964. Wenger’s was a very small company with a lot of nice people. You couldn’t go wrong working for Harry Wenger.” And he was with the company when it grew tremendously back in the 1970s. The education amendments of 1972 included Title IX and another bill that said if a school created a new program, the government would help fund it. “Schools across the U.S. didn’t have music programs, so they started them and the orders started flooding into Wenger. Business was good,” Brunner recalls. “At that time, they just opened the industrial park and we built the first building out there. We thought we were in heaven. We had a lot of good years.” Brunner stayed with Wenger until his retirement in 1994 and never had any desire to “retire” anywhere other than Owatonna. “I still distinctly remember thinking ‘I’d sure have to hate to move.’ So I never did,” he said. “And I remember when I retired. I was 63 and thinking, ‘I worked all these years. I sure hope I have at least one good year. Boy, I’ve had 17. Can’t beat that.” The term “retire” is used loosely to describe Brunner, because despite being 80 years old, he’s a non-stop kind of guy. “Jim has an active interest in the community. He’s interested in what’s going on here and the betterment of the community, and I think that shows with his involvement with the Owatonna Foundation,” Foundation President Dave Einhaus said of Brunner. “I know many years ago he was very active with the youth and high school hockey programs — one of the old timers in that. He’s a good guy.” Brunner’s son, Paul, said he remembers his parents running the old skate exchange in Owatonna, where hockey players would trade skates when they outgrew their skates. “When we were growing up playing hockey, he was always very involved in the hockey organization. He’s
Jim Brunner sits at his desk at Wenger Corporation in 1985. He spent more than 30 years as a Wenger accountant before retiring in 1994. (Submitted photo)
been just a wonderful dad,” Paul said of his dad. “He’s been involved in the community and has been very involved in all our kids’ lives. But what’s kind of neat about that, too, is he’s kind of one of those dads who’s always there when you need him, but he also gives you freedom. Mom was the same way.” Paul said one of the things he admires most about his father is the loyalty he has for his family, town, work and church. “He’s been a real good role model for his family,” Paul added. Brunner’s faith has been something he’s relied on his whole life. From the couple’s early involvement in YoungLife to Jim’s lifelong commitment to Sacred Heart, Jim has always made his faith and his church a priority. Brunner has served and still serves in several
capacities at Sacred Heart. “I most admire his enthusiasm for his faith because he’s very faithful. Even in all the struggles he went through with his wife when she was ill, Jim really made sure he kept up with his faith. Even in hard times he had a smile and was willing to help somebody else out,” said Paula Trenda, Sacred Heart’s secretary. “He’s just really a good person for Owatonna. He’s done a lot of good for a lot of people. If you ever need someone or need to toss some things around relating to any business or accounting aspect of the church, he’s really knowledgeable in that area and has a lot of great ideas still and is very beneficial to the community for sure.”
See BRUNNER
page 50
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
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Brunner Continued from page 48 Local YoungLife Director Chuck Jamison called Brunner “one of the most gracious guys” he’s ever met. “Jim and his wife LaVonne were on a committee and one of the early couples who helped YoungLife get going in the community,” Jamison said. “I admire most about Jim that he’s got that rare combination of a great sense of humor, a gentleness and a genuine faith.” Like Jamison, Resler has worked with Brunner in the community for years, most recently as Brunner and the Owatonna Foundation helped facilitate donations to the new History Center. “I always look forward to his visits. He loves history, so as a supporter, he’s been very involved. He’s been such a strong supporter of the History Center project and I’ve always appreciated that because there’s challenges along the road, so that’s been invaluable to me,” Resler said. “He’s just a very, very kind-hearted man and they just don’t come any better than him.” It seems there’s no stopping Brunner. He joins most groups or organizations that appeal to him and often offers, or is asked, to be a treasurer or secretary for the many groups he’s joined. “The one lesson I’ve learned is it’s real easy to get involved in a non-profit or business, but it’s hard to get out. You can get in real easy, but you can’t get out,” Brunner said, chuckling about his busy life. “I’ve been really busy the last three weeks, and people are down south golfing, and here I am. I don’t have the time to go south anymore.” Who would have thought an 80-year-old, retired man would not have time to vacation much anymore? “I don’t slow down much, but I’ve thought maybe that’s what keeps me going,” he said.
Above, left: Jim and LaVonne Brunner were married June 14, 1958. The couple met in 1956, got engaged in 1956, married in ’58 and started their family of four children one year later. The couple celebrated 50 years together before LaVonne died three years ago. Above, right: A 2011 Christmas celebration brought Brunner’s entire family together, including all 12 grandchildren. (Submitted photos)
Even at home, Brunner has found a way to give back. He’s been the treasurer of his condo’s Carriage Homes of Walnut Creek Association since 1998. Association President Len Olson had only good things to say about Brunner’s accounting skills, and the friendship that’s transpired over the years working together. “We have to have our books audited each year, and each year the auditing committee says that his bookkeeping is nothing but professional,” Olson said. “We’ve had some of the individuals from our community to our cabin and we’ve played some good-natured card games. He is just the perfect gentleman.” Olson said Brunner has a tendency to fit in with all walks of life and is always smiling. “The most important thing about him is he’s such a positive person. No matter how bad things get, he finds a way to make the sun shine,” Olson said. “We sure have appreciated
“This is the greatest business town, an entrepreneurial hotbed. And they all helped each other.” — JIM BRUNNER
the Brunners and they’ve been a very important part of our association here. Jim has helped do little maintenance jobs here too, so he’s just a person who sees the glass half full instead of half empty.” Brunner also stays busy with his four kids and 12 grandchildren, two of whom live in Owatonna, the rest in the Metro area. “I have a reason to get up every day. I have breakfast with some guys four days a week. We go to games together. There’s always something to do, somebody to talk to,” he said. “To me there are so many
people in town doing so many things. There’s just no end to things you can get involved with. So if you were going to list all the people in this town who do things for no pay, it would be endless. This town is exceptional at that.” Perhaps most recognized for his work as the executive coordinator for the Owatonna Foundation, Brunner called the grant-giving organization a “local gem.” “This is the greatest business town, an entrepreneurial hotbed. And they all helped each other. Wenger, Federated, Owatonna Tool Company, Jostens. You’d go a long way to find a community that has all the home-grown business that this area does. Almost all of them have sold out, except Wenger Corporation,” Brunner said. “At the Foundation, we’ve granted over $11 million in the last 53 years, but I’d say about $5 million has been in the last six years.” In addition to their side-byside roles with the Foundation,
Einhaus has gotten to know Brunner on many sporting event sidelines as well. “Over the years, I’ve known him because he’s a big high school hockey fan, and baseball, and those jive with my interests so we’ll talk to each other about those things,” Einhaus said. “Even though he’s retired, I think he loves what he’s doing. He’s one of those guys who needs to be busy and likes what’s going on in the community and talking and meeting with people.” A 30-year Gopher hockey and football season ticket holder and 20-games-per-season Twins ticket holder, Brunner finds joy in so many aspects of his longlived life. “I can’t believe I lived this long. I really can’t. It’s just been a milestone for me, to reach 80,” he said. “Life is good, it really is. I’m damn glad to be here.” Ashley Peterson can be reached at 444-2378.
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 51
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COUNTRYSIDE CHRISTIAN CHURCH OWATONNA, MN 55060 CHURCH OFFICE 451-5547 JIM AVERY - MINISTER - 456-3040 CELL EMAIL: countrysidechurch@q.com WEBSITE: www.countrysidechurchowatonna.com Meeting at Victory Christian Center 1320 E. Rice Lake Street Sunday 11am Worship Family Movie Nite 5:30pm Last Sunday of the Month
For small group information call Pastor Jim at 456-3040
ST. PAULâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA
St. Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Episcopal Church South Cedar & Mill, Owatonna 451-5319
Sunday Worship - 10:00 a.m.; Child Care Provided Wednesday Worship - 12:10 p.m. Wednesday Christian Education - 5:45 p.m.
2781 SW 92nd Avenue, Meriden West of Owatonna on Co. Road 18
507-451-2165 Sunday Worship: 10:30 AM Communion: 1st Sunday of Month Sunday School: 9:15 AM Air conditioned & Handicapped Accessible
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Saturday Mass at 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses at 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. " #$! ' ( "" " #$! ' # % $ ! ( % ' &&& " ! !# & # !
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
A Time To Rejoice, Celebrate & Worship Our Saviorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lutheran Church-ELCA
St. Joseph Catholic Parish 3 %LM !VE s /WATONNA s
Pastor John Weisenburger Assoc. Pastor Karl Korbel Intern Pastor Gena Koeberl
Rev. Edward McGrath & Deacon Patrick Fagan
Sunday Worship # " Education Hour 9:25 a.m. " " " !
Saturday 4:00 p.m.; Sunday 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 a.m. Daily Masses - 8:00 a.m. (please call to verify) Reconciliation - 3:00-3:30 p.m. Saturday & also after 11:00 a.m. Mass the 4th Sunday of each month
Weekend Masses:
4059213 St. Joseph Church sig page Portraits
St. John Lutheran Church, ELCA
Trinity Lutheran Church 609 Lincoln Ave. So., Owatonna Phone 451-4520 Fax 451-1348 Pastors John Lestock, Dean Smith, Julie Malone Visitation Pastor Charles Espe
Services - Sat. 5:00 p.m., Sun. 8:15 & 9:45 a.m. Contemporary Service 11:15 a.m. Sunday School 8:15 & 9:45 a.m. Adult Education Forum 9:45 a.m. Sundays and most Wednesday nights. Please call for details. Cable TV Channel 8 - Mon. 10 a.m., Wed. 6:30 p.m., Sun. 11a.m.
www.tlcowatonna.org
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4059212 Good Shepherd Church sig pg
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 53
Daybreak Community Church Gather With Family, Friends, and Neighbors
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Home of Owatonna Christian School Pre-K through 12th grade
507-451-3495
Sunday School Morning Service Evening Service Wednesday Service ~AWANA
8:45 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 6:45 p.m.
Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church (WELS)
Thomas Smith, Pastor
Sunday Worship - (Sept.-May) 9 a.m. Christian Education Hour - 10:15 a.m. ! www.emmanuel-wels-owatonna.com
To Worship At the Church Of Your Choice.
Page 54
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Gene ‘Swede’ Michaelson:
Gentle leader
By DEREK SULLIVAN dsullivan@owatonna.com
G
ene Michaelson has spent his life helping area residents deal with the loss of their loved ones. For the past 40 years, Michaelson, known to his friend by the nickname “Swede,” has listened to thousands of stories told by grieving family members after a loved one has died. Since 1971, Michaelson has worked at funeral homes. From 1979-2006, he owned Michaelson Funeral Home in Owatonna.
See MICHAELSON
page 56
Gene “Swede” Michaelson stands outside of Michaelson’s Funeral Home. The building was constructed in the late 1990s and opened in 1998. (Derek Sullivan/People’s Press)
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 55
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Michaelson Continued from page 54
Michaelson said while many people believe mortuary science deals with the deceased, in reality 90 percent of what he does is help the living. “The challenges of working with the living are enormous sometimes because of family dynamics,” he said. “There are so many skills required to enter a room with a grieving family and hopefully help. In the end, it always comes down to respect.” Though Michaelson studied mortuary science at the University of Minnesota, he knows it’s difficult to learn and put into practice the skills needed to run a funeral home in a classroom or from a book. “You need to sit down with people you don’t know and be that gentle leader they are looking for,” he said. “That’s really the key. We have to be the facilitator to help families figure out what they want to do and then tell them how to do it. “Most people think all we do is take care of the dead. It’s such a small part of it. I mean we have to do it with dignity and respect, but learning how to deal with the people walking in the door is the vast majority of what we do.” Gene and Rita Michaelson purchased the funeral home from Darryl Wollin in 1979. The funeral home was operated under the former Conley-Wollin name until 1981 when the Michaelson family attached their name to the business. Gene said he hopes that every person who enters his funeral home will leave with a positive memory, even though no one wants to sit through a funeral or wake for a loved one. “It can be difficult for people because there is always some unfinished business,” he said. “People worry about something they said or didn’t say. Because of that, they may be nervous to attend. “We have to let them know that it’s important to say goodbye, to move the relationship from a physical one to an emotional one. “The funeral and visitation services are not for the dead person, but for the living.” As a facilitator, he has had to deal with his share of sibling rivalries and parents who try to hide death from their young children. “Feeling bad about someone’s death is part of life,” Gene said. “It’s natural and normal to feel sad in a sad situation,” Gene said. “We have activities for kids. We recommend that they write Grandpa a letter or draw him a picture, anything to be part of the process. We want to mark in their minds the importance of the event. We want them to know it’s a normal part of life.” Gene served in Vietnam until 1970. When he returned home, he studied mortuary science for two years at the University of Minnesota. After he graduated, he
“You need to sit down with people you don’t know and be that gentle leader they are looking for. That’s really the key. We have to be the facilitator to help families figure out what they want to do and then tell them how to do it.” — GENE MICHAELSON
worked at the Conley-Wollin Funeral Home in Owatonna. His wife, Rita, was the sister-in-law of Wollin After a couple of years, Gene and Rita Michaelson moved to Austin. Nearly four years and a failed purchase of an Austin-area funeral home after that, the Michaelsons were back in Owatonna. At every stop, Gene worked at a funeral home. “It was curiosity more than anything else that got me started in the funeral home business,” he said. “I knew that I wanted to be in something that would help people, and it’s people that kept me in.” When the Michaelsons bought the Conley-Wollin Funeral Home, the business was small. There were also three other funeral homes in Owatonna. Gene wanted to expand his business, so he bought the assets of the Thompson Mortuary, which was downtown next to US bank, in 1981. Eleven years later, he purchased the assets of the Woodrich Funeral Home on Elm Street. By consolidating all three funeral homes, in 1998, he had the volume to move from his downtown location and open his current location at 1930 Austin Road in Owatonna. “I knew if I could somehow merge the businesses, I could build a facility like this for the local community,” Gene said. “I wanted to make it was user friendly and a place to accommodate large families because there are a lot of large families in Steele County. Everyone is related to someone.” Though he enjoyed working with local families, seven years ago, the pressure of his job started to wear on him. “I felt something change inside me,” Gene admitted. “Working with emotionally charged people every day of your life wears you down, beats you up and eats at you. “By the time I was 60, I knew it was time to do something else. I didn’t feel the same enthusiasm or joy that I used to feel when I sat down with people. I think you get to that point where you are worn out — not physically, but emotionally.” Soon thereafter, Rita would have heart surgery, and that’s when Gene and Rita started to realize they
wouldn’t be around forever and better start thinking about their futures. At that point, they decided to sell the business to their son Cory. Cory had been a funeral director and mortician since 1996 before purchasing the business from his parents. Though Cory said he realized that he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps in high school, Gene made sure he experienced other things before going into the funeral industry. “When I was in high school and I realized I wanted to work (in the funeral industry), my dad pushed for me to try other things first. He wanted me to try other things and work other jobs. “I tried other things, but always came back to this. It was at that point, that my dad supported me 110 percent.” Before settling in on a career in funeral service, Cory eyed a life as a pilot or a car salesman. Cory and Gene both love to restore 1960s muscle cars. Cory thought for a little while about restoring cars for a living, but eventually realized, “It would be a good way to ruin a hobby.” In 2006, Cory moved from funeral director to owner. Unlike in 1978 when the Conley-Wollin Funeral Home became Michaelson Funeral Home, this time around the name stayed the same. “I was very proud to carry on what he started,” Cory said. “It was a quite an opportunity. “The biggest thing I learned from him is how to keep the families first. You need to have the family’s best interest at the forefront. That was the most profound thing he taught me.” It’s tough to make a clean break after running a business for 30 years, so Gene will talk to Cory almost every day. “It’s the one thing I never had when I was young,” Gene said. “I didn’t have anyone to bounce things off. It was something I wished I had so many times because there are a lot of hard decisions to make during the years you’re just getting started.” While living in Owatonna, Gene was a member of several local organizations. While part of the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, he helped raise money for the new chamber building. He is proud to be involved with the Owatonna Foundation, an organization, which he said, “provides funding for projects that otherwise wouldn’t happen.” He served on the board for the Community Bank of Minnesota and helped start Owatonna Community Bank in 2002. Gene wanted Owatonna to have its own bank. “We wanted a bank that gives the community the service the bigger banks don’t offer. It was really a joy to be a part of that process.”
See MICHAELSON
page 58
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 57
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Gene “Swede” Michaelson stands in the entryway to one of three rooms, which can be used for wakes, visitations or memorial services at Michaelson’s Funeral Home. (Derek Sullivan/People’s Press)
Michaelson Continued from page 56
In 2004, Gene started another business, Minnesota Concrete Products. The company makes precast concrete products, vaults, septic tanks, and other concrete products. Forty years after a business opportunity in Austin fell through, Gene is happy it did. Because of that failed purchase, he has spent his adult life in Owatonna. “Owatonna is one of the most progressive and diver-
sified communities in Minnesota because of the base of industries we have here, because of the unique architecture we have with West Hills and the (Wells Fargo) bank downtown and Gainey Conference Center. There are so many things that make Owatonna so unique compared to the other communities that I have lived in. It’s something that I’m proud to be a part of.”
Although he is retired, residents will still see him at Michaelson Funeral Home, helping out in whatever way he can. “Funeral service is my life and will be until the day I’m gone.” Derek Sullivan can be reached at 444-2372.
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Wayne Starman greets a customer in Cashwise. Starman said that it was the building of relationships with customers and their families that was the most rewarding part of his work. (Press file photo)
Wayne Starman:
Service is everything
By JASON SCHMUCKER jschmucker@owatonna.com
F
or more than five decades, Wayne Starman has been a staple in the lives of Owatonna shoppers — not unlike the bread, milk and eggs that he has been stocking on the shelves of grocery stores throughout the community for years. “I actually started in the grocery business in December of 1958,” Starman said. “I went to work for Duffy Hamren, who had Duffy’s Fairway across town where the Salvation Army building is now.”
See STARMAN page 62
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Starman Continued from page 60
Reared on a farm in Litomysl, 19-year-old Starman was fresh off of a six-month stint in the National Guard when he heard that Hamren was seeking a produce checker at the Fairway. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I started in the produce department,â&#x20AC;? Starman recalled. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was a farm boy from 12 miles south of town, and I came to town looking for a job and ended up there.â&#x20AC;? Starmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tenure with Duffyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fairway would be long-lived and would set Starman on a path he would follow throughout the rest of his life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I worked for Duffy from â&#x20AC;&#x2122;58 until 1980,â&#x20AC;? Starman said. Under Hamrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tutelage, Starman learned the ins and outs of the grocery business. When the lease of a Fairway in Albert Lea came open, Starman was promoted to store manager at the age of 22. Starman returned to Owatonna in 1965 and began management training at Hamrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s store, further immersing himself in the ins and outs of the grocery business. Then tragedy struck the Hamrens in 1973 when their son-in-law, a journalist, vanished in Chile shortly after the coup that placed Gen. Augusto Pinochet in power. The Hamrens were able to bring their daughter, Joyce Horman, back home safe. The disappearance and suspected execution of her husband, Charles Horman, would later be adapted into the 1982 motion picture â&#x20AC;&#x153;Missing,â&#x20AC;? starring Jack Lemmon. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It took a lot out of Duffy,â&#x20AC;? Starman said. Not long after the ordeal ended, the Hamrens made the decision to retire and get out of the grocery busi-
In this undated photo, Starman is pictured with Dan Coborn, whose family founded the Cash Wise brand. (Submitted photo)
ness. Again, Hamren, who died in 2010, would influence the course of Starmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In 1980, I bought the store from him and changed it
to Wayneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fairway,â&#x20AC;? Starman said. In the 1980s, Owatonnaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grocery scene was vastly different from what it is today, with numerous stores dotting the city. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There was a Piggly Wiggly downtown, which is now Napa (Auto Parts on Pearl Street). There was a Red Owl Star kitty-corner from the post office which is now the Federated offices, which eventually burnt down. Hy-Vee was in the mall. Super Valu was in where Hy-Vee is now.â&#x20AC;? Even with all the competition, there was plenty of business to go around. In the â&#x20AC;&#x2122;80s, grocery stores were much, much smaller affairs, Starman said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They were all small â&#x20AC;&#x201D; other than Hy-Vee, which was a good-sized store â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in the range of, I would say, 10- to 12,000 square feet,â&#x20AC;? Starman said. Throughout the decade, Starmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business thrived, and he built and nurtured personal relationships with most of his customers. Hamren had encouraged Starman to complete the Dale Carnegie Training program, which Hamren had found invaluable to his business. Carnegie training is a globally-recognized program that offers courses in selfimprovement, salesmanship, corporate training, public speaking and interpersonal skills. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of the things you do with the Dale Carnegie program, when you meet a person you associate the name of the person with something else. I will give you an example, there is a gal who shops at our store (Cash Wise, where Starman still works part-time) regularly. Her first name is Jackie, and when I look at her, I just think â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Jackie Kennedyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and, boom, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right there.â&#x20AC;? The training helped Starman remember the names and habits of hundreds and hundreds of customers over the years.
See STARMAN
page 64
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
“When I was in business out there, I would say I knew 80 percent of my customers on a first-name basis. … My favorite part of the job was the people. It still is.” — WAYNE STARMAN
Wayne Starman and his wife, Janet, are pictured at their home in Owatonna. Starman has been a part of the lives of Owatonna shoppers for more than five decades and was instrumental in the construction of the Cash Wise grocery store in town. (Jason Schmucker/People’s Press)
Starman Continued from page 62
“When I was in business out there, I would say I knew 80 percent of my customers on a first-name basis,” Starman said proudly. “As the town has grown, though, it has become tougher to know people on a first-name basis like we used to.” It was the building of those relationships with customers and their families that Starman found most rewarding. And Starman’s devotion to customers didn’t just stop with the adults, either. “We had a mechanical horse. It ran on a penny. I always carried a supply of pennies in my pocket and that was the thing with the kids — either put a penny in while they were riding or give them a penny. My favorite part of the job was the people. It still is.” The horse, which is just as ingrained in generations of Owatonna as Starman himself, is still on display, only now downtown at Owatonna Shoe. Wayne’s Fairway became a true “family” business — his high school sweeheart and wife of 52 years, Janet, served as Starman’s business partner and four of their five children worked in the store. Starman continued on in the grocery business, and Wayne’s Fairway joined the Cash Wise family of stores in 1990. At the time, Starman was in the process of bringing another store into the community and was working to develop a site on the north end of town.
“In 1989, we started the development of the site that is now Cash Wise,” Starman said. Starman would stay with Cash Wise, serving as the store’s general manager until his retirement from the position in 2005. Even though he was retired, Starman couldn’t give the grocery business up cold-turkey. “I still work at Cash Wise, 15 hours a week,” Starman chuckled. “I do pretty much what odd jobs they want me to do. My main job is our shelf extender program. I put up home delivery orders, I stock shelves, pretty much whatever.” Even though his responsibilities are reduced, Starman still makes customer relations his number one priority. “The fun part is, I work mornings so I get to see ‘my’ customers,” Starman said. Throughout it all, Starman never forgot his roots in Litomysl and his time in the National Guard. In fact, it was his service with the Guard that led him to join several local veterans’ associations. “I’m a member of the (American) Legion, and I’m very active in the VFW and AmVets,” Starman said. “I’m an American veteran. I served in the service, but not overseas, so I am what is referred to as an American veteran.” Through these organizations, Starman became involved with the Honor Guard program, which provides
military rites at veterans’ funerals. “That was one of my goals after I retired,” Starman said solemnly. “I had been to a number of funerals that involved the military rites for veterans, and I always thought it was special part of funeral and a great tribute to the individual. I’ve been involved since the fall of 2005.” Starman is also particularly proud of his involvement with the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, where he formerly served as a board member and currently fills the role of ambassador. In fact, Starman has been honored several times as “Ambassador of the Year.” After having played such an integral part in the lives of so many Owatonna families, it’s no surprise that his own family is what keeps the Starmans in town. Two of the Starman’s five children live in town, and the other three live throughout the region. After so many years in the community, Starman is grateful for the support that he has been shown throughout the decades. “I think Owatonna is just a wonderful community,” Starman said. “It just has so much to offer and I think it is positioned well for the future.” Jason Schmucker can be reached at 444-2377.
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
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Page 66
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Betsy Kennedy Lindgren stands in front of a display of some of her business’ awards that she’s collected over the past 26 years. Lindgren became a licensed Express Personnel Services franchise owner in 1984. (Rebecca Rodenborg/People’s Press)
Betsy Lindgren:
Pursuing her dream
By REBECCA RODENBORG rrodenborg@owatonna.com
I
f Betsy Kennedy Lindgren could tell the younger generations one thing, it would be to have the faith and willingness to pursue their dreams. But it goes a bit further than that. “If you have a vision, you need to have the faith in yourself to step to the edge of all that you are and then take one more step,” she said. “A lot of times you’re blindfolded when you do that, and you just have to have that faith.”
See LINDGREN page 67
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 67
Lindgren Continued from page 66
For Betsy, that moment was in 1984, when she was almost 30 years old. After working with mentally handicapped adults at a group home in Owatonna for nearly five years, she decided it was time to go into business for herself. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The vision for me, first and foremost, was because I wanted to work for myself,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If I was willing to put in all the hours that were necessary then it was up to me whether I failed or succeeded. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want someone to have a hand in that.â&#x20AC;? Betsy looked at different businesses in the area to try to find what was needed. She learned that more and more companies were seeking temporary help, and before she knew it, Betsy was meeting with Express Temporary Service franchise owner Mark Tasler in Rochester. The firm, now called Express Employment Professionals, was a new staffing agency that aimed to provide expertise in evaluation hire, temporary staffing, professional search and human resources. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What I was looking at doing was helping people help themselves, helping people find employment,â&#x20AC;? Betsy said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s helping employers find great people
â&#x20AC;&#x153;What I was looking at doing was helping people help themselves, helping people find employment. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s helping employers find great people and that seemed like what I wanted to be able to do, to help other people through a means such as this.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; BETSY LINDGREN
and that seemed like what I wanted to be able to do, to help other people through a means such as this.â&#x20AC;? With little money to her name, Betsy took a $2,500 loan out on her old, red Plymouth Volare to pay for the franchise license, and became the 25th Express franchise, a company that now has more than 500 franchises across the nation. She was sent to Oklahoma City for a three-day training and, in Betsyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own words, â&#x20AC;&#x153;signed the paperwork and changed my entire life with just three days of intense training.â&#x20AC;?
Betsy recalled her first night in a hotel room in the city as she contemplated her decision. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was sitting there and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m thinking to myself what have I done? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve quit my job and I have two kids to support. I was a little fearful as a single mom. And how I was going to tell my parents that I had quit my job and started my own business?â&#x20AC;? she said, laughing. The announcement took four months and the words of her 10-year-old daughter. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We all went out to dinner and I said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Dad Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got something to tell you.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; He said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Oh, whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; I should tell you that my dad â&#x20AC;&#x201D; his eyes start blinking whenever heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nervous. So I say â&#x20AC;&#x153;Um, I quit my job,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; and his eyes begin to blink very rapidly,â&#x20AC;? Betsy recalled, laughing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My daughter jumped in then. She said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Well, Grandpa, if somebody doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come to work, then mom will help that company bring somebody else in. Or if theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to have a baby, then she would help replace that person,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? Betsy continued. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a very remedial explanation, but it was wonderful. It was a moment Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never forget.â&#x20AC;?
See LINDGREN page 68
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Page 68
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Betsy Kennedy Lindgren looks at some of the awards her business has earned. Just last year, Lindgren herself was honored with the Chairman’s Club Award from Express Personnel Services, an award that recognized the staffing firm’s top 13 owners nationwide. (Rebecca Rodenborg People’s Press)
Lindgren Continued from page 67
Betsy had found an office space on the second floor of the building on East Main Street in Owatonna that is now Premier Bank. The space was about 700 square feet, allowing Betsy a small walled-in office for private consultations. The door on those meetings was only closed briefly, though, because of how quickly the temperature would rise in the space. Still, Betsy remembered working long days in the first year as an Express franchise owner. The initial challenge was to help employers and job seekers understand what Express was all about. The people being placed in jobs weren’t going to be charged a fee like at other staffing companies. That was the business’ responsibility. “It was a lot of sales calls, sales calls, sales calls,” Betsy said. “It was educating people about what Express was and how it was different and what it was going to do for them. What I remember from that first year was working sun-up until sun-down and eating and drinking my passion for this business.”
Betsy was entering the staffing world when the economy was trying to recover from a downturn — minimum wages in Minnesota were just $3.35 per hour and average pay was no more than $4.25. It was just one of five downturns in the economy that Betsy and her Express business have experienced, the most recent being in 2007. The difference between past downturns and the one the nation is just now climbing out of? Length and impact, Betsy said. “It seems like all people were affected by this one so tremendously. This one got so deep and it lasted for so long,” she said. “It went fast and everybody felt it. I don’t think anyone was left unscathed by it.” Betsy said that her staffing business plays an important, supportive role in the community regardless of the economy. “We play a role when times are not so good, to be that support. We need to be that person answering the phone when someone out of work is calling every day
to see if there’s a job for them. We need to be that person that tells them there may not be anything today, but to have hope,” she said. Betsy became a regional developer for Express in Iowa and Nebraska in 1989 and held that position until 2006. By the early 1990s, Betsy saw her business grow to the point of needing more staff and more space. She found a house on South Elm Avenue that would allow for significant expansion, but also knew that it would take a lot of work to renovate. “I remember that day so well, knowing that we had grown so very fortunately and rapidly and having to make the decision of do I stay exactly where I am or do I get better,” she said. “If I got bigger, I knew that would be a big step. I made the decision very consciously to yes, move forward, get bigger.” In 1995, the building was renovated into storage and meeting space, offices and training rooms.
See LINDGREN
page 69
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 69
Lindgren Continued from page 68
Also along the way, Betsy expanded her Owatonna franchise with an office in Albert Lea in 1992 and purchased another franchise to open up an office in Cedar Falls, Iowa, in 1999. Betsy was honored with the Chairman’s Club Award, an award that recognized the staffing firm’s top 13 owners nationwide, during Express Employment Professionals’ 28th annual International Leadership Conference in 2011. She also received the Meritorious Award for her contributions to the Work Comp Focus Group which develops and monitors the modifier system and education to the franchises. Since opening in 1985, Betsy’s agency has put out well over 80,000 W-2s — the easiest way to measure the successes of an office. Betsy said she was shocked by the total, but didn’t think about it often. “You don’t think about it because you focus so much on your everyday plan,” she said. “But it is overwhelming when you consider the population of Owatonna and that’s almost three times the population. It gives me a sense of pride because many of these people we helped so many years ago I still see. You see them in the community and in their life and see the opportunities they’ve taken and it feels great.” That’s a lot to accomplish for a woman who wasn’t originally from Owatonna. Betsy was born and raised
in Janesville, Wis., as the oldest of five children. She first moved to Owatonna in 1978 and returned in 1980. To those who know Betsy best, her success isn’t a surprise. “Betsy has a very keen business mind,” said friend Sharon West, who has served on various boards and organizations with Betsy over the years. “I have witnessed through watching her business succeed and the work she does with the Owatonna Foundation ... Betsy is a very good idea person and project leader. She gets very involved in projects and organizations and asks the difficult questions to help guide them in their efforts.” Friend Barbara Jacobson agreed. “She’s multitalented,” she said. “She’s very smart and has a quick brain.” Beyond owning a business in Owatonna, Betsy has embraced the town as home through her support and involvement in community events and organizations. She has served on the board of directors for the Owatonna Incubator, the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, the Steele County Food Shelf and United Way of Steele County. She’s also a member of the Owatonna Rotary Club and Owatonna Foundation, among several others. “She is very community-minded,” said Jacobson, who owns Travel Headquarters and has known Betsy
since they were a part of Business and Professional Women in the early 1980s. “She’s a great community member as she’s always giving her time so generously.” Betsy grew up with her father as her role model — he was a pharmacist and ran his own Rexall drug store. “My dad was an entrepreneur. He worked for himself and built a business and that was the life I was raised in,” she said. “From the time we were old enough to be able to take items off the shelf and dust the shelves down and dust the product, we were in that store watching Dad work.” Even though Betsy’s father died six years ago, she still refers to him as her hero, her mentor, her confidant. “I would always talk to Dad about business,” she said. “He was just wonderful.” Looking back on the 27 years with Express, Betsy is quick to note that she in no way did it on her own. Along with her father, Betsy had a circle of support from other business owners, colleagues and friends. “Nobody does it on their own,” she said. “There have been people that helped me and supported me, certainly emotionally and mentally. I feel so honored when I look back at some of the people I’ve had a privilege to work with and learn from.” Rebecca Rodenborg can be reached at 444-2376.
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Page 70
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Andy Lerberg:
Feeding Ellendale
Andy and Mary Lerberg shop at Lerberg’s Food in Ellendale. The couple owned the store from 1972-2007. (Derek Sullivan/People’s Press)
By DEREK SULLIVAN dsullivan@owatonna.com
F
or most of his life, Andy Lerberg has fed Ellendale. Andy started working at the store in 1966. Six years later, when he was in his late 20s, he took over the store, keeping it in the family.
“I always enjoyed the store business. I always enjoyed talking to people. So I guess that is what happened.” Andy’s grandfather emigrated from Norway in the late 1800s and found his way to southern Minnesota. His grandfather worked several jobs before starting a grocery store in the growing railroad town of Ellendale. Andy believes Lerberg’s Food was the first retail business in Ellendale.
For more than a century, a Lerberg ran the grocery store. Along with his grandfather and father running the store, Andy’s uncle was the owner. Since Andy was 15-years-old, he has done everything with Mary, the girl who would grow up to become his wife. The two met when Andy was a junior and Mary was a sophomore at Ellendale-Geneva High School.
See LERBERG page 72
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 71
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Page 72
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Mary and Andy Lerberg stand next to an exercise machine at Lerberg’s Fitness Center, a business Mary runs. Lerberg’s Fitness Center only uses machines from Cybex in Owatonna. (Derek Sullivan/People’s Press)
Lerberg Continued from page 70
Not only did they see each other at school, they also went for car rides when Andy had to do a certain family chore. Fifty years ago, there weren’t any garbage trucks traveling house-to-house picking up garbage. When the garbage piled up, homeowners would toss the bags and other pieces of trash into a truck and drive to the area dump. The Lerbergs went to the dump once a week and the 15-year-old Andy always volunteered to be the family’s garbage man. Why? Because his 14-year-old high school sweetheart lived on the route. Andy would load the truck and pick up Mary on the way. “Real romantic, I know,” Andy said. Andy might not have thought it was that romantic, but Mary still remembers those truck rides. “It’s crazy, but it’s something you remember,” Mary said. Throughout high school, Andy and Mary were inseparable.
“You might say we were the one and only sweethearts for each other,” Andy said. Although his father and uncle ran Lerberg’s Food, Andy wanted to go in a different direction. He wanted to be an industrial arts teacher. For training, he headed south to Forest City, Iowa, and to Waldforf College. Eventually, he transferred to Mankato State University. Though he was studying in Mankato, Mary was working for Federated Insurance in Owatonna. While it was only 90 miles away roundtrip, it was too far, and Andy didn’t return to Mankato for his senior year. Why didn’t he return? “The love bug,” he said. At first, Andy did construction with his father. When his father bought the family’s grocery store, Andy started at Lerberg’s Food. While Andy stayed in Ellendale full-time, Mary continued to work at Federated. She got the job after winning the Federated Award. Her bookkeeping skills
allowed her to not only work at Federated, but also handle the books for all of the Lerbergs’ businesses. When the couple had their first child, Angela, Mary became a stay-at-home mom. “It was wonderful. We were able to do what a lot of people wish they could do,” Andy said. “It worked very well until the kids got into junior high.” The couple had two children, Angela and Wendy. They also have five grandchildren: Jordan, Trevor, Jade, Jack and Sidney. Jade Schultz is part of New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva High School’s Gopher Conference girls basketball championship team. Wendy coaches the Panthers’ girls softball team. Jade is the starting pitcher for her mom’s team.
See LERBERG
page 72
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 73
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Lerberg Continued from page 72
As large-chain grocery stores have come into neighboring communities like Waseca, Owatonna and Mankato, Lerberg’s Food keeps on selling groceries to area residents. “Over the years, our employees have been excellent,” Lerberg said. “The customers in town and the surrounding areas have been very loyal. None of this would have happened without good customers and good employees.” “We just couldn’t do it without them,” Mary added. Though the Lerbergs are known for their grocery store, they do run other businesses as well. Located just east of the grocery store was a storefront that the Lerbergs also owned. Starting in 1980, Mary started running a clothing and gift store. After a few years, Mary decided the store should just specialize in gifts. While running the store, Mary also drove up to Owatonna to work out. As the number of people signing up for health clubs grew in the late ’80s and ’90s, Mary got an idea. She decided to end the gift shop and open a 24-houra-day exercise club in Ellendale. “I thought she had gone off the deep end,” Andy said. “As so often, it takes a lot to convince a husband, but she was right. “It’s been a very good thing for the community and I think people appreciate it.” Mary said the business has been profitable thanks to all-day access and insurance companies paying part of the monthly rate. “It’s everybody and all ages,” Mary said. “We have retired people that come, everybody in town will come. We also only feature equipment from the Owatonna company Cybex. Since the 1960s, Andy has become co-owner of a laundry facility, a car wash and a trailer court. He’s been very successful in all of his business ventures. “All thanks to the customers,” he said. Five years ago, Andy decided to retire, or more accurately, semi-retire. In May 2007, he sold the business to Russ Sletten. “When it was time for us to fade out of the picture, it was time for him to take over,” Andy said. “We are so fortunate and the community is so fortunate to have him.” Sletten started working part-time at Lerberg’s Food in 1976 when he was 13 and continued working for Andy and Mary through college. After college, he tried his hand at a couple of different jobs, but missed the grocery store. One day, on a whim, he called Andy and asked him if he needed any help. Andy hired him back right away. Soon, Andy sold the business to Sletten. “It was a big day for me when I bought the store,” Sletten said. “I had worked (at Lerberg’s Food) pretty much all the way through high school. In the back of my mind, I was hoping someday to buy the store, that it would happen and one day, it did. “
Mary, left, and Andy Lerberg, center, stand next to Russ Sletten at Lerberg’s Food. The Lerbergs sold the grocery store to Sletten in 2007. (Derek Sullivan/People’s Press)
Andy and Mary hoped that even though a Lerberg no longer owned the grocery store, the name would live on. Sletten said he never considered changing the name. “We had to leave it Lerberg’s,” Slatten said. “It was the first business on Main Street when Ellendale started. We had to leave it Lerberg’s.” The decision put a big smile on Andy’s face. “It was his choice,” Andy said. “We have known him for so long. His father and I were such good friends. He was just like family. We were very happy when he kept the name.” In the five years Sletten has owned the store, the food industry has exploded. Retail stores like Wal-Mart and Target now sell groceries. And supermarkets like HyVee sell gas. While big-city grocery stores get bigger and bigger, Lerberg’s Food has stayed the same and stayed successful under Sletten’s leadership. “If I could say what I learned from Andy, it’s customer service and how to deal with customers. That’s the biggest thing. If you can please a customer, they will come back.” Though he is officially retired, Andy can still be found in the store. He comes in every day for his “free cup of coffee.” He calls himself the head recycler. “I carry all of the cardboard to the recycling machine,” he said. He also helps unload the truck each week and watch-
es over the store when Russ goes on vacation. “If he needs some time off, I’m usually available if asked,” Andy said. “If there is one thing you miss when you are retired, it’s the people you would see every day. That is a hard thing to give up.” With three grandchildren in the NRHEG school district, the Lerbergs can be found at virtually every Panthers event. Sletten said Andy and Mary are two of Ellendale’s biggest supporters. “There is only one Andy Lerberg, seriously,” Sletten said. “He’s one of the few people who is a backbone for this community. We’re really fortunate to have him. He’s always there. He’s very involved in all the community’s efforts. I can’t say enough good things about him. He’s quite a guy.” Many people head south when they retire, but the Lerbergs are happy to enjoy retirement in Ellendale. “There are deep roots here for my wife and I,” Andy said. “Over the years growing up here, I have never wanted anything else. We have had so many good friends here.” Along with being a business owner, Andy has been a lifelong member of the local ambulance service as an EMT. “It’s been a good experience. We feel very blessed.” Andy said. Derek Sullivan can be reached at 444-2372.
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 75
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Margaret Sisser:
Blooming where she was planted
Margaret Sisser sits in her Owatonna home. Now retired, Margaret once owned and operated Sisser’s, a clothing store that was opened by her husband. (Rebecca Rodenborg/People’s Press)
T
By REBECCA RODENBORG rrodenborg@owatonna.com
he conductor’s cap given to Margaret Sisser by friends and fellow business owners more than three decades ago was anything but a practical joke. No, that blue cap was a symbol of Margaret’s abilities. Since her taking over her husband Don’s business after his unexpect-
ed death in 1978, it became apparent to everyone around her that when she decided what she was going to do, there was no stopping her. Instead of closing up shop when downtown shopping activity took a turn for the worse, Margaret stepped up to the plate through ways of the chamber of commerce board of directors. But let us start from the beginning. See SISSER
page 77
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 77
Sisser
Continued from page 76 Margaret was born and raised in Easton, a small town in Faribault County with less than 200 people. While working in nearby Blue Earth, Margaret met Don Sisser, who lived there while working at J.C. Penney. Margaret and Don married Oct. 19, 1950, on what Margaret remembers as a beautiful, Indian summer day. “It was just beautiful, golden trees and warm,” Margaret described as she smiled and closed her eyes. Don was working at a J.C. Penney store in Austin when they got married, but was soon transferred to a store of his own in Kenyon, then to Pittsburg, Iowa. Margaret and Don began a family during those years, having four children before they moved to Owatonna in 1960. A fifth was born the day after the move, and two more children came into the Sisser family in 1962 and 1965. “You can see when I woke up being a mother for a few years,” Margaret said, laughing, “I was definitely a mother.” What brought the Sissers to Owatonna was what led
Don anywhere: a business opportunity. It was in 1960 that he gained access to the family-owned building in downtown Owatonna. He turned it into a shoe store and keeping the store name Sisser’s. While Don ran the business, Margaret took care of things at home. She became active in Sacred Heart Parish, the local Parent Teacher Association and was even a Girl Scout troop leader. She also found time for her favorite hobby — flower gardens — by joining an afternoon garden club. Friday nights were a day of relief for both with Don coming home to have dinner with the children while Margaret manned the store. It was those nights that allowed Margaret time to be social. “I had been told I needed to get away and be just for me,” Margaret explained. “I found it was a way to get acquainted with Owatonna because I’m not from here.” In 1965, neighboring business owner Lucy Turek offered Don her store space as she planned to retire. The two stores were turned into one, with the new space
becoming an area for women’s clothing. Once the Sisser children were all old enough to attend school, Margaret filled her spare time by doing radio ads for Sisser’s. “I got introduced to Duane ‘Pink’ Allen. He was the owner of KRFO, and his wife, Ardie. And she and I did a five-minute ‘What’s New at Sisser’s’ descriptive thing that would go on the air,” Margaret remembered. In the early 1970s Don and Margaret had transformed their business entirely. They went from running a women’s clothing and shoe store to also offering young men’s clothes and finally turning the store into a juniors clothing shop — the first of its kind in Owatonna. When the focus turned to misses clothing, Margaret got more involved. Then, on Oct. 7, 1978, the unexpected happened: Don died from a heart attack at the young age of 55. Her husband’s death left her no choice, and with the help of the store’s employees and other business owners in town, Margaret took over Sisser’s.
See SISSER
page 78
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Page 78
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Sisser
Continued from page 76 “I think you keep going automatically because you have to, first of all,” Margaret said. “Secondly, the employees we had were wonderful, wonderful people, and they encouraged me to keep going. So one by one, I learned the rest of the business, the control, and it became my business then, not our business, and it was quite interesting.” Margaret knew that not only did she have a business to run, she also had a pretty big name to live up to by following in her husband’s footsteps. “My first desire was to continue to run the business with the honesty and helpfulness that I learned through my husband. He was a tremendous merchant and always had a smile on his face,” she said. “Then there was the Sisser family name. Sisser was a name I wanted to stand out for the sake of the name and the sense of accomplishment. I wanted to help with that.” Just as Margaret and her son got all the business paperwork changed over to her name, another responsibility came up. Don had served on the chamber of commerce board of directors for years and was in the middle of a term when he died. “Ted Ringhofer, who was president at the time, came in and asked me if I’d fill Don’s position. I said, first of all I meekly said no because I didn’t think I could do it,” she said bashfully. “I have to admit that I had so much help with encouragement to put myself forward and I learned a lot and it did make me a more well-rounded person because I think, not because I had to but because of Don’s good personality. I kind of was his backup, and now all of a sudden I’m doing what I have to do and was enjoying it.” The next 10 years were filled with hard work both to keep the Sisser business afloat as well as the other downtown businesses. When Margaret was elected president of the Downtown Business Association, she was encouraged by fellow business owners Tom Brick and Greg Krueger to keep going. Brick joked about the conductors cap that he and Krueger had given Margaret so many years ago. “The cap was a symbol of the railroad job we would accuse her of carrying out. She would never lead us astray,” he said. Together, the group worked toward the
Aside from being a business woman, Margaret Sisser always had a passion for perennial gardens. In this People’s Press file photo, Margaret poses in her garden before the annual “Secret Garden” community event.
betterment of the downtown business community. They planned extravagant promotions around the re-opening of streets that had been under construction for the past two years, concerts in Central Park and even the farmers markets. “We really had quite an organization going,” Margaret recalled. “It was all about keeping life in the downtown.” When Margaret wasn’t tending to downtown Owatonna, she turned her care and attention to a small vegetable garden behind the family home. Before long, the garden was transformed into a beautiful perennial garden filled with bright blossoms. Thirty years later, Margaret said she’s pleased to see that many of those activities that she helped develop are still being held. “I know how we struggled to get things that would attract people to the downtown with that beautiful Central Park,” she said. “We felt that was a core that we could work around. I’m so happy they are still doing that.” But why was it so important to Margaret? The question is almost silly, as Margaret’s livelihood had already been engraved in the sidewalks along Cedar Avenue. Owatonna was now her home, and she was going to make sure it re-
mained vibrant and warm, the way it was when she first moved to town. “I can’t tell you what a beautiful city I moved into,” she said. “Even when my children were grown, at Christmastime, they were so delighted to come home because the streets were always full of friends they hadn’t seen and the music was playing and it was truly a hometown Christmas.” Todd Hale remembers Margaret as the voice of the downtown merchant — always contributing to the Owatonna Chamber of Commerce and sticking up for the hometown business people. For Hale, Margaret was his secret weapon when it came to shopping for his wife. “Every Christmas all I had to do was walk into Sissers and Margaret had the perfect outfit in mind — size, color — everything that made the perfect gift,” he said. All that changed in 1991, after more competition moved into Owatonna and took much of the women’s clothing business away from Sisser’s and other shops downtown. At first Margaret brought in different types of merchandise, trying to find a different angle to bring in customers. “The handwriting was on the wall for all the women’s shops in town. They were closing,” Margaret recalled. “We just couldn’t exist anymore, so one by
one, we closed. It was very hard to make that decision, to close up what we had worked so hard for. I finally had to realize it was time.” Although Margaret is now known for being one of the very first female business owners in Owatonna, she looks at it differently. “I really approached it from a different angle,” Margaret explained. “I had a business that needed to be run. I had a family that still needed me, and those two things, along with the necessity to please the customers that I did have and the competitiveness to try and get more, those were the things that kept me going.” To Brick, Margaret was a pioneer in a man’s world. She was also much more than that in his eyes, though. “Probably one of the nicest people I’ve had the pleasure to know,” he said. “I do not know how many firsts she can claim, but she is always the first to encourage, applaud and thank. I’m fortunate to know her and call her friend.” Despite being of retirement age, Margaret couldn’t sit still once she closed up Sisser’s. She quickly turned to her hobby of flowers and gardening, finding a job at Partridge’s Floral Shop for five years until they closed and then working at another floral shop until officially retiring in 2002. Still, Margaret continued to earn her title as a master gardener in town. One year, her perennial garden was featured as one of the community’s “secret gardens” — a program that gave people a sneak peek into their neighbor’s hard work. Brick said Margaret’s label as a master gardener symbolized more than just her love of flowers. “She has long helped arrange the hidden potential in people, allowing them to blossom in their own time and not be overshadowed by those around them,” she said. “She has always encouraged people to strive to do their best and not be discouraged by the negatives surrounding them.” Looking back on her life, Margaret said she believes moving to Owatonna was the first in a long line of great decisions. “Owatonna has made me a more complete person. It’s made me more outgoing and more active within the community events. It’s given me a new outlook. I tell people I may not have grown up here, but this is my town now. I’ve adopted it,” she said with a grin. Rebecca Rodenborg can be reached at 444-2376. Follow her on Twitter.com @ OPPRebecca.
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 79
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Robert deWerd:
The art of practicing medicine By KYLE STEVENS kstevens@owatonna.com
Bob deWerd and his wife Rita pose for a photo during a vacation to Paris a few years ago. (Submitted photo)
G
rowing up in Olivia, Minn., in the 1940s, it would have been hard not to know everyone in town. And it would have been harder still to not be influenced by those around you. If a friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father was a doctor, and that man always mentioned that maybe you should be a doctor, it would seem to be a losing battle to not try and become a physician.
See DEWERD page 81
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 81
deWerd Continued from page 80
That, more or less, is how Bob deWerd became interested in medicine, and how he became the fifth doctor at the Owatonna Clinic. â&#x20AC;&#x153;(I became interested in medicine) in my teenage years,â&#x20AC;? DeWerd said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had a very good friend in high school whose father was the town physician. He was always trying to talk people into going into medicine in one way or another. He had one son who had become a physician, and the one I was friends with started in premedicine, but left after a while. I just kept going.â&#x20AC;? Being a doctor a couple of generations ago was a different deal than it is today. Much of the technology that makes life easier for the doctor and the patient was simply not yet discovered in the mid- to late 1950s. There also werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t many people interested in becoming doctors, at least not locally. But deWerdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interest never waned. When he graduated high school, he went on to the College of St. Thomas (now St. Thomas University). After three years in the Twin Cities, deWerd was accepted to the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola
University in Chicago. Not only was that the beginning of a career, but the beginning of a whole other life. DeWerd met the woman who would become his wife, Rita, in Chicago. She was a flight attendant for American Airlines while he was in school. The relationship blossomed and they were married three days after deWerd graduated from Stritch. Eventually, the couple would have five children, four boys and a girl. But before the family started growing, deWerd was pressed into military service. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Those were the years of the military draft,â&#x20AC;? deWerd said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I took a military deferrment to finish medical school. At the end of medical school, I had been optioned to the Air Force for my first year of post-graduate training and internship. For taking that, I had to give them back an extra year.â&#x20AC;? The extra 12 months kept deWerd in the armed service until 1959. That summer, with no job lined up, deWerd traveled to Owatonna to meet with Dr. Frank Anderson, one of the founding doctors of the Owatonna
Clinic. The location was a good one for deWerd who was looking for a central location between his hometown and Ritaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; home in Milwaukee. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My parents were still living in Olivia at that time, and I was married and my wife was from central Wisconsin,â&#x20AC;? deWerd said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wanted a spot in between the two sets of parents.â&#x20AC;? The interview was at a good time for deWerd. His time in the Air Force was coming to an end, and Owatonna was looking for a qualified doctor to round out its staff. So deWerd headed north, hoping to get a job in a city that needed him and would balance trips from Olivia to Wisconsin. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had been stationed in Arizona for most of my Air Force career,â&#x20AC;? deWerd said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;(In June), the fourth man at the Owatonna clinic left. Dr. John Huff â&#x20AC;Ś went on to training for ear, nose and throat. It just so happened there was an opening when I came up here. I called Dr. Frank Anderson and set up an appointment to see him and Dr. (A.J.) Olson and Dr. (Don) Honath, the three partners at the Owatonna clinic.
See DEWERD
page 82
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Page 82
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
When Dr. Robert deWerd posed for this photo in February 1985, he already had served at the Owatonna Clinic for more than 25 years. His first day at the clinic was July 15, 1959. (Press file photo)
“People will come up to him at the fair and ask him if he remembers them. They’ll say, ‘You delivered me.’” — RITA DEWERD
deWerd Continued from page 81
The appointment was to see them after I was out of the Air Force, but things worked out and they hired me on.” DeWerd’s first day was July 15, 1959, the beginning of a 38-year career that ended on Dec. 31, 1997. Back in those early days, deWerd and two of his colleagues were counted on to do just about everything. “There were four of us, and one was a surgeon,” deWerd said. “We all did obstetrics except for the surgeon. We were all family practitioners. And the next several doctors were as well. Then we started to branch out, but it stayed a family practice for a long time.” One of deWerd’s biggest responsibilities was delivering babies, something that he’s asked about every so often. “People will come up to him at the fair, and ask him if he remembers them,” Rita said. “They’ll say, ‘You delivered me.’” “I don’t remember,” deWerd said with a laugh. In addition to being a jack of all trades, deWerd also needed to be readily available. Because the surgeon didn’t deliver babies, that meant that the three others were pretty much always on call. “Doctors were in short supply much of that time,” deWerd said. “There were no other groups with more than two physicians. (Other places) didn’t grow, and we were fairly aggressive. We added positions slowly but steadily over the years. By the time I left, I believe there were 16 or 18 doctors. It’s grown tremendously to what it is today. They advertise 60 or 70 with all of the consultants.” Even which doctors are around is a change. DeWerd practiced in Owatonna for nearly four decades. These days, there’s a good chance a patient will change doctors several times, possibly even a couple of times per year.
See DEWERD
page 83
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 83
deWerd Continued from page 82
Technology is also one of the biggest changes between deWerdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s early years and what patients see now. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There were huge differences in technology and it improved all the time. We were happy to add the young physicians because they would be trained in the newest thing and they could teach the old-timers,â&#x20AC;? deWerd said. The fresh faces may have had some new knowledge to pass along, maybe a new way to do a procedure. But deWerd and his older coworkers were still able to pass along some tips to the younger generations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That was a different thing we taught them â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the art of practicing medicine,â&#x20AC;? deWerd said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But when it came to the science and tech, they could show us a lot.â&#x20AC;? As deWerdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s career progressed, his family grew. His children, born every two years, got involved in sports. Their active lifestyles got them involved in the community, and even if there was a chance for deWerd to move on to a larger practice in a bigger city, it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t going to happen.
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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Once the kids started to grow up, we were pretty well anchored here,â&#x20AC;? deWerd said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The boys were all hockey players and football players and our daughter was a gymnast and cheerleader. None of them wanted to move. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re happy here.â&#x20AC;? Now, the kids are grown and have moved on to their own careers â&#x20AC;&#x201D; jobs that run the spectrum from dentist to financial planner. All of the time spent away from his family while he was practicing medicine is now spent traveling. A quick run to the Twin Cities to watch a swimming meet is planned, as is a trip to Texas. And by the time the deWerds return home from the south and its warmer climate, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get to enjoy higher temperatures in Owatonna. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We used to travel a bit more,â&#x20AC;? deWerd said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now we go to Texas and see our son. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our longest trip. And the way the weatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been, when we get back, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be summer.â&#x20AC;?
An old clipping from the Owatonna Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Press announces the appointment of Dr. Robert deWerd to the staff of the Owatonna Clinic. Dr. deWerd joined the clinicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s staff in 1959. (Press files)
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Bob Ringhofer:
Filling the fair barns
Bob Ringhofer flips through “A Brief History of the Great Steele County Fair,” a book he helped write. Ringhofer worked at the fair for 57 years. (Derek Sullivan/People’s Press)
By DEREK SULLIVAN dsullivan@owatonna.com
W
hen Bob Ringhofer started at the Steele County Free Fair in 1948, the Midway’s carnival rides arrived by train. Four years later, when he was given his first superintendent post, the Midway attraction was the Twentieth Century Shows, featuring 18 rides, 10 shows and more than 50 concessions.
See RINGHOFER page 88
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
The Steele County Free Fair board gets together in 2010 in front of the side show exhibit. Bob Ringhofer is in the front row, third person from the right. (Derek Sullivan/People’s Press)
Ringhofer Continued from page 84
Ringhofer must have loved what he saw that summer 60 years ago because he stuck around for another 57 years. Ringhofer became Superintendent of Horses in the 1952, after Bill St. Clair stepped down after 14 years of being in charge of the ponies. Most recently, Ringhofer has served as director of the Muckle Fair Museum. Even though he has not served on the board of directors for the past six years, Ringhofer has vowed he will still make frequent appearances in the fair office where he volunteers his services wherever needed. Ringhofer ended his tenure on the board of directors of the Steele County Free Fair on Nov. 2, 2007. In those 57 years, Ringhofer served the fair in many capacities. He was vice president of the fair board (1970 to 1974), parking and beer garden director, liaison between the fair and 4H and president from 1975 to 1983. Elmer Reseland, who was secretary of the fair from 1995 to 2011, lived near the fairgrounds and would see Ringhofer there almost year-round. “He’s a great, great guy,” Reseland said. “He’s been great for this fair. “His leadership, not only in the fair, but in the community was helpful in getting the fair where it is today.”
While Ringhofer did many things at the fair, his true love was horses. When St. Clair handed over the title of superintendent to him, Ringhofer’s main goal was filling the horse barns. “At the time, they couldn’t fill the horse barns,” he said. “I would take a trailer and go around and find ponies. I would take care of them all week and then took them home.” He cared for, curried and cleaned up after the animals and delivered them back to their owners. Ringhofer’s day job was as a fertilizer salesman, so he had strong connections with area farmers. Those connections made it easy for farmers to trust Ringhofer with their horses. “I loved to walk through the horse barns,” Ringhofer said. “I knew the fair could put on a good horse show, if we could get a bunch of people involved.” For all of his years of service to ponies and horses, Ringhofer was inducted into the Steele County Free Fair’s inaugural Equine Hall of Fame class. Along with his hard work for the SCFF, Ringhofer also was the cofounder of the Owatonna Saddle Club. He also owned chocolate dapple Shetland ponies and showed one horse and 16 ponies during the fair and other events. Long before joining the Steele County Free Fair,
Ringhofer worked as a butcher in Owatonna. When he turned 18, he joined the U.S. Army. “I was going to probably get drafted, so I joined when I was just old enough,” he said. The U.S. Army had no need for butchers, so Ringhofer became a cook. After two years in the service, he returned to Owatonna and worked as a butcher for Ringhofer and Sons. It’s easy to notice that Ringhofer lost parts of two fingers, and most people would probably assume it was from his years as a meat cutter. In reality, his fingers got cut during a farming accident, while he was selling fertilizer. “I lost part of three fingers, but they were able to save two,” he said. Along with being a butcher, fertilizer salesman and horse lover, Ringhofer was also an historian. He, along with Reseland, compiled “A Brief History of the Steele County Free Fair,” which inside of the book’s 100 pages looks at SCFF from 1871 to 2001. The book is filled with photos and highlights from 130 years of the Steele County Free Fair. It also talks about when the Minnesota State Fair was held in Owatonna in 1883 and 1884. Owatonna was the last town to hold the fair before it moved to its current St. Paul site.
See RINGHOFER
page 89
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Ringhofer Continued from page 88
Along with going through pages and pages of records for more than 100 years of Steele County fairs, Ringhofer also compiled information on Steele Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s century farms. Families that have farmed in the county for more than 100 years are honored at the fair and entered into the Century Farm Book. As the number of century farms grew, so did the number of books. There are three now. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is the only place in the world that has books with every century farm in the county,â&#x20AC;? Reseland said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bob personally made that one of his projects. He called the people and asked them to bring in pictures, and because they knew him so well, the farmers were very cooperative.â&#x20AC;? The century farm books were so successful that after Ringhofer retired from the fair board, Farm Bureau Insurance stepped in and kept the annual century farm books and celebrations going. Ringhoferâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love of history is no more evident than inside the Muckle Museum. In 1997, Ringhofer help create a museum display of all the Steele County Free Fair superintendents, dating back to 1918. He said, at the time, that he picked 1918 because that was when the fair moved to its current location.
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In 1997, the museum, which now has photos and memorabilia from many aspects of the fair, had photos and the years of service for the superintendents of the following departments: cattle, horses, poultry, sheep, swine, grains and grasses, vegetables, flowers, dairy, bee culture, culinary, horticulture, textiles, fine arts, photography, hobby, homemade wine, homemade beer, wood carving, speed and police. The museum, located just north of the fair office, was named after Stan Muckle, who was the Steele County Free Fairâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Agricultural Director from 1948 to 1982. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bob was (at the fairgrounds) every day checking on the progess of the building,â&#x20AC;? Reseland said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He looked at it as if it was his responsibility. After it opened, he kept coming in everyday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He worked year-round to get all of the photos and memorabilia. He did it because he had so much interest in the history of the fair.â&#x20AC;? After 57 years of service to the fair, Ringhofer retired from the fair board in 2006. During the 2006 fair, there was a surprise party thrown for him and his family. His grandchildren and great grandchildren call it â&#x20AC;&#x153;Grandpaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fair.â&#x20AC;? Though he is technically retired, Ringhofer still stops by the fair to do, as Reseland put it, â&#x20AC;&#x153;anything for you.â&#x20AC;? Ringhofer answers the phones. He will run and get the mail. Even at the last Augustâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fair, Ringhofer stopped by to eat lunch with fair staff and sponsors. He doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say much and his hearing isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t what it used to be, but heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s there almost every day, Reseland said. While Ringhofer has made an impact on many parts of the fair, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the horse barns where Reseland be-
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lieves he made his biggest contribution. Unlike many traditional rural counties, Steele County is small, only 432.16 square miles. Among all Minnesota counties, only Ramsey, in the metro area, is smaller at 170.13 square miles. To the north, Rice County is 516.13 square miles, and to the south, Freeborn County is 722.63 miles. With little land area, Steele County didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have as many farms as some other counties. Despite that, Ringhofer was able to fill the horse barns every year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just look at our horse shows today,â&#x20AC;? Reseland said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My gosh. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s amazing how many different entries we have. You need a guy like Bob to get it going.â&#x20AC;? For Ringhofer, it was just his job. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wanted us to have great shows,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just went out and found horses. It was important to the fair and the people that attend the fair.â&#x20AC;? Soon the barns became one of the fairâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest attraction. Reseland said some people would skip the midway and grandstands shows. They would travel for miles, just to walk through the barns and look at the animals. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He just did a wonderful job with the barns,â&#x20AC;? Reseland said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was able to not just relate to farmers, but to anyone who came to the fair. What has always stood out about Bob was his personality. He would sit down and visit with anyone.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a big reason we have been able to make the fair bigger and better throughout the years.â&#x20AC;? Derek Sullivan can be reached at 444-2372.
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
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The mission of Centro Campesino is to improve the lives of members of the Latino and Migrant community southern Minnesota through community organizing, education and advocacy. Areas of Focus: & "! & ! ! # ! & " ! ! % & ! # " ! $
! ! ! Thank you Steele County for your on-going support! All are welcome: ' + !) + ( %!
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Clubs & Organization Community Action changes peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. The Salvation Army Thrift Store and Service Extension Unit of Steele County
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Harlan Strohschein:
Friend and neighbor By IAN STAUFFER istauffer@owatonna.com
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By IAN STAUFFER istauffer@owatonna.com
here is a row of model cars on a shelf in Harland Strohscheinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home office that would make any car buff blush. Their makes range from Ford to Mercedes, and the model years on most pre-date World War II. The collection is pretty much exactly what one would expect to find on the shelf of a man who loves cars and spent most of his life fixing them. But there is a problem.
See STROHSCHEIN
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Strohschein Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
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Continued from page 92
Despite being the Harland behind the 60-year-old Harlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tire & Auto, Strohschein doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t much care for cars. He canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell you what make or year any of his beautiful models are, and he spent most of the 40 years he ran his shop dealing with customers and making sales. Fixing cars was not his game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I liked the customers, just BSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ing with them and talking with them,â&#x20AC;? said Strohschein, now 83 years old and retired since 1992. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I knew parts pretty well and
where things went on a car, but that was about it. As far as going out and fixing it, I probably couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have done that. After I spent some time with the customer, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d call one of my guys over (and say), â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;This guyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got a rattle in his car. Go check it out.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? There was one exception. Strohschein bought a 1928 Ford Model A, and he and his wife Ramona used to cruise around in that. They would go to Mantorville for dinner, or visit friends out of town.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d go parading around, driving at 35 or 40 miles an hour,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You open the hood on that thing, there was hardly anything in there. When I bought it, my wife told me I could never put it in a parade, so I never got to do that, but it was still a lot of fun.â&#x20AC;?
See STROHSCHEIN
page 94
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Strohschein Continued from page 93
Strohschein bought the business that bears his name in 1952 and moved it once before settling at the current location on West Main Street in Owatonna in 1959. He operated the business there and expanded several times before retiring and selling the business to his son John and son-in-law Dan Boeke in 1992. Not long after that, John Strohschein sold his share to Boeke, and the business has stayed in the family since. “Dan has done a real good job down there,” said Strohschein, who still spends a little time down at the shop talking with old friends and customers. “I always tease my wife that Harland offered me a job, but the only stipulation was that I had to marry his daughter,” joked Boeke, who married Laurie Strohschein. “Of course, that’s not true. Harland called me after we were married and asked if I could help while he was looking to expand his business.” Strohschein’s life began in the community of Moland, northeast of Owatonna, where his father was a buttermaker for 24 years. He went to Medford High School before his family moved into town and he switched to Owatonna High School. He graduated in 1946. It was the move into town that drastically altered Strohschein’s path. He was working for his father and uncle driving a milk truck when he was hired on as an assistant to Clayton Wanous at the old Pontiac auto dealership on Main Street. “Clayton was a top guy in my book,” Strohschein said. “He approached me one day and said, ‘You’re not going to drive truck forever are you?’ I told him I was planning on going to college. He asked me to come and help him out with his parts system, so I did that and I never made it to college.” When Wanous sold the dealership after a few years, Strohschein joined him in starting a new business, Wanous Tire & Battery, on West Rose Street. Six months later, Wanous wanted out, and Strohschein was a business owner. Around the same time, Strohschein began dating Ramona Hanson, whom he later married. For the next 40 years, Strohschein got to know pretty much everybody in town when they pulled into his shop. At first, it was just tire repair, but then he started selling Goodyear tires. “We would charge people a buck to repair a tire,” Strohschein said. “If the tire was on the car, we’d take it off, repair it, balance it and put it back on for a buck and a quarter.” Eventually Goodyear told Strohschein he had to start offering more services if he wanted to keep selling their tires. That’s when the tire repair shop became a full-service
Harlan Strohschein, left, works on a tire in his shop in 1956. (Submitted photo)
automotive repair business. Oil changes, shock absorbers, brakes, mufflers and everything else that could be screwed or glued to the car became Strohschein’s business. When he wasn’t at the shop working with customers, Strohschein kept himself plenty busy. He won a seat on the Owatonna City Council and served two two-year terms from 1960 to 1964. He was on the Owatonna Foundation for 23 years from 1988-2011. He was a member of the OHS Hall of Fame board for six years from 2004 to 2010. He expanded the business to include stores in Faribault (1978 to 1987), St. Peter (1981 to 1985) and St. James (1981 to 1983). Along the way, he hired some very good employees, some of whom still work at Harland’s even 20 years after he retired. “I had some real good help along the way,” Strohschein said. “Quite a few of the guys were with me from start to finish. John Jensen was one of those guys.” Working in the tire business, and especially with Goodyear, had its perks for Strohschein. He and his
store appeared in a magazine of Goodyear dealers several times, and he won several contests that allowed him to take free vacations around the world. He and Ramona have been to Germany, Switzerland, Austria, China, Ireland and many Caribbean islands on cruises. And through it all, he ran a successful business in town and made a lot of friends. When his children took over in 1992, they had a good example to follow. “Harland always told me, ‘Treat people like they’re your friends and neighbors because they are your friends and neighbors, especially in a small town like Owatonna,’” said Boeke. “Harland was an upstanding businessman, honest as the day is long, integrity that just doesn’t quit.” These days, Strohschein spends a lot of time in his home office, either answering emails from friends all over the country or doing family research on ancestry. com. He gets out of the house for exercise and likes to take walks at Fleet Farm or Lowe’s when the weather is cold.
See STROHSCHEIN
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
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Strohschein Continued from page 93
Harland Strohschein represents the Central Region at an â&#x20AC;&#x153;Accelerate in â&#x20AC;&#x2122;68â&#x20AC;? meeting of Goodyear Tire dealers in 1968. (Submitted photo)
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As the temperatures start to rise, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll spend more time on his back deck, which overlooks the No. 7 tee and the No. 8 green at Brooktree Golf Course. Strohschein used to chew up a lot of hours playing the fairways at the Owatonna Country Club and Brooktree, but back problems forced him to put his clubs away three years ago. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was a lousy golfer, but we had a lot of fun out there,â&#x20AC;? said Strohschein, who said he about a 10 handicap at his best. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There was always a bet going somewhere. I supported the dentist I think.â&#x20AC;? With the Owatonna Foundation, Strohschein supported much more. He helped complete numerous projects, including walking paths at Kaplanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Woods, the soccer fields at Lincoln Elementary School, the River Springs Water Park, and a large addition to the Owatonna library. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Foundation does a lot of good things, and so many people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what all theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done,â&#x20AC;?
Strohschein said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The addition to the library was a big thing. That was one of my favorite things we did.â&#x20AC;? Strohschein is a self-admitted sports nut, so serving on the hall of fame board was a no-brainer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a lot of fun and very interesting to see all the records and see where all those guys I watched play went after high school and college,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I guess they figured I knew a lot of the guys because I had been around so long and watched so many of them play. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I never was much of an athlete myself, but I always loved sports.â&#x20AC;? So if you see Harland out walking the aisles at Loweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, or cruising the walking path on Rose Street near Brooktree, stop and say hi. Strohschein is always willing to share a nice word with a friend. Just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ask him what that noise is under your hood. Ian Stauffer can be reached at 444-2375.
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Wally Tripp:
From agent to attorney Wally Tripp retired from practicing law in 1985. He now spends his days with his wife, Dorothy. (Kyle Stevens/ People’s Press)
A
By KYLE STEVENS kstevens@owatonna.com
stint in the military can train a person for all types of careers. Some make a life out of staying in the armed forces, or parlay military training into a career in law enforcement. Wally Tripp did just that, though his enforcement style was done in a suit and in a court room, not with a badge on the streets.
Tripp began his career as an attorney in 1949 with the firm of Nelson and Nelson, which was started in 1911 by Harold Nelson, another military man who graduated from the Pillsbury Military Academy. Over the next couple of decades, the Nelson practice grew to include Harold’s father, Soren, and brother, Otto. In 1946, Byron Casey, like Harold and Otto a military man, joined the fold as the first non-family member. Tripp’s arrival three years later rounded out the group at four, and it would not grow again until 1954. Twelve years after starting with Nelson and Nelson, Tripp became a partner as the firm became known as Nelson, Casey, Tripp and Dow. Tripp retired in 1985, 36 years after his career at Nelson and Nelson began.
See TRIPP
page 97
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 97
Tripp
Continued from page 96 Tripp, originally from Spencer, Iowa, graduated from Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. From there, Tripp went to the University of Minnesota to study to become a lawyer. But like many men of his era, Tripp ended up in the armed forces. But unlike his peers, Tripp was not in the infantry or stationed in the United States. Instead, Tripp found his way into an agency best known for not being known. Tripp spent much of his time in the Army dressing as a civilian and rising through the ranks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the Army, I was a CID agent, a secret agent, for the Criminal Investigation Division of the Army,â&#x20AC;? Tripp said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I did a lot of work in that. We had our choice on dress, whether to wear our regular uniforms or not. I was a master sergeant, which is the highest rank you can be as a noncommissioned officer. Three years I was overseas in Europe.â&#x20AC;? During his stint in Europe, Tripp was on hand for one of the most important days in our nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was in Normandy for three days plus D-Day,â&#x20AC;? Tripp said.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the Army, I was a CID agent, a secret agent, for the Criminal Investigation Division of the Army. I did a lot of work in that.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; WALLY TRIPP
Asked what he did in the CID, Tripp gave the type of chuckle that is generally reserved for a Hollywood production. It was a laugh that is usually followed with, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do anything. I sat at a desk.â&#x20AC;? But Tripp was more than forthcoming about his time as a secret agent. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was mainly investigative work,â&#x20AC;? Tripp said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We recommended whether or not to court martial soldiers for violating rules and regulations. (We investigated) black-market activity (and) crimes against or with civilians. I worked closely with Scotland Yard when I was in England. I was in France for a long time and worked with their CID.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was natural for him to be a lawyer,â&#x20AC;? his wife Dorothy said.
Dorothy might be the biggest reason the Tripps ended up in Owatonna as she is a native to the city. But it was Wally who kept them in town through his work as a lawyer and his time spent with the Owatonna Foundation, something that he still connects with. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was very active in that,â&#x20AC;? Tripps said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was chairman of the executive committee for years, which is quite a responsible job. The executive committee makes most of the large decisions.â&#x20AC;? Tripp said that if a project was to cost more than $150,000, it would go to the executive committee for a recommendation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a small enough group â&#x20AC;&#x201D; about eight of us or so â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that we were able to take more time investigating things,â&#x20AC;? Tripp said. There were many such projects that came through in Trippâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time with the foundation, but he has one favorite. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The walkway by Morehouse Park was one of my favorite things,â&#x20AC;? Tripp said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nicely furnished with benches to sit on.â&#x20AC;?
See TRIPP
page 98
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Wally Tripp and his wife Dorothy, whom Wally calls “Dot,” pose for a photo taken a few years ago. Tripp was a longtime lawyer with Nelson, Casey, Tripp & Dow until his retirement in 1985. (Submitted photo)
Tripp
Continued from page 97 The Owatonna Foundation has been responsible for many things, the trail system that is currently more than five miles long, the Lincoln soccer complex that is considered the best in the Big Nine Conference and among the best in the state, the Steele County Food Shelf, SeniorPlace, the Steele County Historical Society, the Owatonna Arts Center, Little Theatre of Owatonna and, most recently, the River Springs Water Park. Tripp said his involvement with the Owatonna Foundation started because of his boss. “Our senior partner that originated our law firm, Harold Nelson, was involved with the Foundation,” Tripp said. “My respect for him and my knowledge of what he was doing had a big influence. And it’s still is one of my charitable donees.” Tripp hasn’t been a board member for a few years, but still finds time to be involved as a Trustee Emeritus. “I am invited to go to important meetings, but I don’t
have a vote,” Tripp said. “I just observe and make any comments if they ask me.” Tripp’s time with the Owatonna Foundation coincided with his years spent as a member of the Steele County Bar Association. There, Tripp kept other lawyers in line, something that harkened back to his time in the CID. “I was chairman of the ethics committee of the Southern Minnesota Bar Association,” Tripp said. “We reprimanded lawyers that violated ethics. Like, at that time, solicitation was unethical. It’s not today. But it used to be that advertising was unethical. We had to discipline and reproach lawyers for violating that.” Tripp said that he doesn’t like the selling of services but as a whole. “I don’t like it,” Tripp said. “I think a lawyer should be selected on the basis of recommendations of other lawyers or friends or professors or assistants, not how
much they pay for advertising.” While much of Tripp’s career was spent in Owatonna, he also branched out to nearby cities, towns and counties. “I spent most of my time in court rooms in southern Minnesota,” Tripp said. “Rochester, Mantorville, Owatonna, Faribualt, Northfield, Waseca, Austin, Albert Lea. I spent a lot of time in Albert Lea.” Despite the travel and long hours, Tripp said that he thoroughly enjoyed his work as a lawyer. “Every case was different,” Tripp said. “It certainly wasn’t boring, being a trial lawyer. I enjoyed the practice and I enjoyed the trial work, and I was in court a lot in trials.” “He enjoyed being a lawyer,” his wife interjected. “Yes,” Tripp said. “I sure did.” Kyle Stevens can be reached at 444-2374.
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Jim Killen:
Page 99
The wildlife
By KYLE STEVENS kstevens@owatonna.com
E
ast of Owatonna, there is a plot of woods surrounding a home. Settled among the trees is a creek, a haven for wildlife seeking hydration or a momentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rest. The house itself sits on top of a small hill, a large living room looking out at the vast expanse of thick trunks and sprawling branches, moss covered logs and snow-covered grass. A glance to the right or left presents the eye with an artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s depiction of the scenery, and of those who frequently, or occasionally, populate the thicket. Deer and ducks, dogs and pheasants are painted in mid-trot or flight.
Jim Killen stands beside one of his wildlife paintings that hangs in his house. Killen, who has won several contests, is currently commissioned to paint the South Carolina Duck Stamp. (Kyle Stevens/Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Press)
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Page 100
Killen
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Jim Killen sits in front of one of his paintings. These days, Killen, who has won the Minnesota Pheasant Stamp contest three times, works primarily on commissioned depictions of dogs. (Kyle Stevens/People’s Press)
Continued from page 99 The entryway to the home presents none of this. It is a simple greeting, a rug and various exits to the greater building. A small closet holds coats, awaiting retrieval for ventures down the hill and into the wild. It is a trip that Jim Killen often takes, if he’s not getting in his car and heading into more remote locations. Killen will grab a camera and wander to the creek. Maybe one of his dogs will accompany him. Maybe not. The canine’s might stay behind and lie in the living room, gazing upon paintings ancestors and mirror images. Killen does a lot of dog paintings. It’s what takes up most of his time these days. People from all over the country will send photos of their dogs from multiple angles. Some send a few photos, others ship dozens. The fact that Killen, one of the best wildlife painters in the nation, is at this point is something of a curiosity. His talent has always been there, as has the passion. Yet
there were times when being a wildlife artist seemed as remote as the woodlands outside Killen’s home. The path Killen took to his dog-filled days is s story that can only be lived by a generation that grew up without the Internet. “When I graduated from high school in Jackson in 1952, I had no intention whatsoever of going to college,” Killen said. “But I loved the outdoors and nature. I applied for a civil service test as a forest ranger. I hitchhiked to Mankato where I took the test, and then back to Jackson. I got a notice that I had been appointed to a forest guard position in Park Rapids.” The job was a seasonal one, so Killen spent his time out of the woods doing other odd jobs. “I drove a distributor truck for a beverage company, and I drove a gravel truck until I couldn’t wait to go back to Park Rapids,” Killen said. “But then they passed a regulation requiring a degree to advance.”
With a pen stroke from the Legislature, college had become all but a necessity. Like many people who step on a college campus with a degree in mind, Killen switched majors. The classes to become a park ranger were not exactly up his alley, so he majored in art instead. It had always been a passion, and with a little luck could become a career. But luck had different ideas for Killen’s productive, creative mind. “I was recruited out of college by Jostens,” Killen said. “I was editor of the yearbook in college at Mankato State. They thought I would go to the yearbook division, being editor of the yearbook. When I graduated, I said, ‘No, I don’t want to go in to yearbooks. I want to be an artist.’ So they found a spot for me in the design department in Owatonna and I started in 1957 right out of college.”
See KILLEN
page 101
Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 101
Killen
Continued from page 100 Despite talking his way into an art job, Killen would have to put his plan on hold once again when the federal government came calling. “I was drafted two months (after starting at Jostens),” Killen said. “I had a scholastic deferment during college, so I went in the service for two years. I met (my wife) Karen in the service, and when I got released two years later I came back to Jostens.” “We met in Leavenworth on a blind date,” Karen said. “I was in a girls school. I was going to be a nun.” To hear Killen tell his story, one might believe that there were no detours from point A to point B. But when asked to explain his time in the armed forces, a whole different life is exposed. “It was interesting, because I had a lot of psychology in college, as well as an art major. When I got out of basic training, they found out I had a hearing issue. They knew I was an artist, so for my basic training I did murals at Fort Carson (Colo.) in the mess hall,” Killen said. “I had two months of that experience, and, of course, after you finish basic training, they determine
“Timing was so important because the public interest in wildlife art got very exciting. It was the thing back then.” — JIM KILLEN
what your military occupation specialty will be and there was an opening in the Army prison in Leavenworth. “They said, ‘You know, you qualify for that, or you can stay here and work in special projects at Fort Carson.’ I said, ‘I’ve got two months of art experience, let’s try the psychology.’ So I went and worked in the department of psychology in the Army prison as a clinical psychologist’s assistant. Then I got an early release to go to the University of Minnesota to study that and get a master’s degree (in clinical psychology). I went up there, and Karen and I got married
that fall, and we were expecting right away and I just couldn’t afford to stay in grad school. So I called Jostens, and they said, ‘Yeah, come back.’ And I’ve been back ever since.” The Killens dropped anchor in Owatonna in 1960. “It was very good for me, because when I came back, eventually Dave Boss became art director. He was almost the No.1 waterfall painter in America and he was my supervisor for a while,” Killen said. “I went to Philadelphia in 1963 as a field designer, but then Dave left. They brought me back to be art director in 1965. And then I became product manager of the scholastic jewelry division.” It was in Philadelphia, Karen said, that Jim started to paint more often. When they moved back to Owatonna, having Boss as a supervisor and mentor gave Killen the idea that maybe being an artist, a painter, could be a career. “Timing was so important because the public interest in wildlife art got very exciting. It was the thing back then,” Killen said.
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Killen
Continued from page 101
Jim Killen sits behind the tools of his trade, brushes that hold paint that transfer the image in Killen’s mind to the canvas. Killen, one of the country’s best wildlife artists, won the 2012 Minnesota Pheasant Stamp contest. (Press file photo)
“(Boss) was selling artwork, and I thought, ‘Wow, maybe I could do this as well,’” Killen said. “So I started painting on the side. He was a mentor in a couple of different directions.” It’s not to say that it was easy. Much like his return to Owatonna from grad school in the Twin Cities, Killen was about to take a step that could have jeopardized his income. But under Boss, Killen had learned what was
and was not selling. And what was selling had his last name on it. “I had a good feel for what was required, and my stuff was selling,” Killen said. “It became a refocusing more than anything.” Killen came to the realization that he could make more selling his paintings at a couple of shows than he could in a year at Jostens. Two incomes would surely
have been nice, but the pace was getting to him. “Then the artwork took off and got to the point where I couldn’t do both. I was burning a candle at both ends. I love to paint. Art is kind of intoxicating, addictive. It gets in you, and you can’t leave it alone,” Killen said. “As it turned out, it was a good decision.”
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Page 103
Hard Work Pays Off The Owatonna People’s Press grabbed several top honors in the 2011 Minnesota Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest. First Place General Reporting First Place Advertising Excellence First Place Innovative Online Advertising Advertising Consultant, Deb Theisen & Graphic Designer, Kerri Lynch First Place Explanation of News Operations or Newspaper Ethics Managing Editor, Jeffrey Jackson Second Place New Journalist of the Year Reporter, Ashley Peterson Second Place Design Portfolio News Editor, Jason Schmucker
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OTHER HUCKLE MEDIA, LLC AWARDS Northfield News Use of Typography General Reporting Sports Reporting Best Use of Video Special Section Columnist Editorial Portfolio Photographers Portfolio Business Story Investigative Reporting Advertising Excellence
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Portraits In Steele County March 24, 2012
Killen
Continued from page 102 Of course it wasn’t that simple. Nothing about Killen’s rise as an artist has been. Jostens had moved its corporate headquarters to Minneapolis from Owatonna. Killen was asked to relocate, and he said he considered it. But downtown living wasn’t what he was looking for. He and Karen had just bought 40 acres east of Owatonna. They had made the decision to make Owatonna their home. “When he decided, in about 1972 when Jostens wanted to move us, that he wanted to paint, I said, ‘Let’s do that,’” Karen said. “We were young enough and had some savings. I wasn’t worried. It was exciting.” Besides, a wildlife painter living in the middle of a concrete jungle? It just doesn’t seem right. “We enjoy different places,” Killen said, “but we like our rural area here. This is a piece of heaven.” Karen, originally from Kansas City, Mo., said that even though her roots are south of Owatonna, southern Minnesota is home. “I’m from Minnesota now,” Karen said. Professionally, life has slowed a bit for Jim, though
“I concluded that so much of life is luck and timing and meeting certain people. The Lord has a plan for your life, and that’s just the way it is. You don’t realize what this is going to lead to.” — JIM KILLEN
the dog commissions keep him busy. The Killens don’t attend nearly as many art shows, but do go to one in South Carolina every year. Karen, who manages the couple’s company, Sportsmans Art Ltd., said that the art shows double as vacation and work. “We like what we do,” Karen said. “It’s not like it’s work all the time.” Killen’s painting career is littered with success. Three times he’s had a painting chosen to be printed on the Minnesota Pheasant Stamp, required of all pheasant hunters in Minnesota. His work has also been displayed
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on stamps in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Illinois and New Jersey. South Carolina put his work on duck stamps in 1983, 1988 and 1991. Then they got sick of his winning the stamp contest and commissioned him to do a six year series from 2007-12. Illinois had Killen do a five-year series starting in 1998. “I’ve been fortunate,” Killen said. “I got in at the right time, and it’s been a wonderful career.” That may be so, but Killen knows that looking at just the destination can be too simplistic. His was a route full of twists and turns. “I concluded that so much of life is luck and timing and meeting certain people. The Lord has a plan for your life, and that’s just the way it is,” Killen said. “You don’t realize what this is going to lead to.” “We’re very grateful to God for it. I can’t imagine him doing anything else,” Karen said. Kyle Stevens can be reached at 444-2374.
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