4 minute read
Labor of love: a gift for Grandpa
PHOTOS SUBMITTED Chuck Hector of Osakis has received an early 90th birthday gift as family members have been gathering on weekends to clean and organize sheds, display collections and share memories on his West Union farm. This group of Chuck Hector’s family members is working to clean and display Hector’s collections of tractors and memorabilia on the century farm near West Union. Pictured are (sitting) Lennon Hellermann; Middle: Tyler Harth, Carol Jean VanVranken, Rikka Hector-Burrer, Connie Hellermann and Jan and Mark Pladson; Back: Chuck Hector, Eric Hellermann, Todd Burrer and Dan Hellermann.
Labor of Love:
A gift for Grandpa
BY DIANE LEUKAM STAFF WRITER
WEST UNION – With the approach of Chuck Hector’s 90th birthday, his family wanted to provide him with a gift that is turning out to be a true labor of love. The West Union farmer has acquired a collection of tractors – and lots of other things – over his time on the century farm.
During the past few weekends, the family has gathered there to organize, clean and display the collection. Sheds were emptied and cleaned, tractors detailed and memories shared.
“Dad wasn’t quite sure what we were going to do at fi rst, but when things were all cleaned up and lined up, he seemed very happy and proud of the results,” Hector’s daughter, Connie Hellermann, said.
One day a friend
Thi fCh kH t ’ f il b i ki t l ddi l
stopped by and Hector joked, “Are you here for the auction?”
The friend just laughed, knowing that was not going to happen.
One of the things that made Hector happy was the offer of help from his 12-year-old great-grandson, Tyler Harth. Seeing another generation interested in his legacy was something to make him proud.
Hector’s son, Mark Pladson, knows how important the tractors are to his dad.
“Dad’s legacy is his tractors,” Pladson said.
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(above) Chuck Hector’s ( great-grandson, Tyler g Harth, 12, hooks a H chain to pull a tractor c while grandson, Eric w Hellermann, operates H the skid loader. (left) This t Farmall Cub is one of F Chuck Hector’s favorites C among his collection of a tractors. (below) Tyler t Harth sits proudly on an H Allis-Chalmers. A Chuck Hector leans on his H John Deere while watching family members work to clean and display his collection on his West Union farm.
Rikka Hector-Burrer (left) and Carol Jean VanVranken place memorabilia on display shelves built by grandson, Eric Hellermann.
