cont’d. on

“We all believe in the Ukrainian military, and we all believe that they’re gonna fight until we win because it’s our land. So, we do have hope, a lot of hope, but, of course, this is terrible, but we hope for the better, and we know that we’re gonna win,” Anna said.

After phone calls, Facebook messages, and much coordination, Anna’s five family members boarded a train in the packed Kyiv train station in the chaos of gunshots and panic on Friday, March 4 and headed to western Ukraine to reunite with Brent and Anna.

Family members ended up in different train carriages and spent 11 hours standing in the train, as there was no room to even sit on the floor. They left with small bags - nothing more than what they could carry with them on the train – and had to leave everything else behind.

“What we want people to know back home…this is, this is terrible,” Brent said. “And Ukrainians shouldn’t be going through this, and the world shouldn’t be witnessing this.” Farmers & Merchants Bank of North Dakota PO Box 305 McVille, ND 58254

Farmers & Merchants Bank of North Dakota PO Box 405 Tolna, ND 58380

“It’s kind of hard to describe what we

Photo submitted by Anna Huso “The Last Full Family Photo”: Anna Huso (married to Brent), Anna Karpenko (Anna Huso’s niece), Olga Bondar (Anna Huso’s mother), Sergey Karpenko (Jenya’s husband), Jenya Karpenko (Anna Huso’s sister), Arina Karpenko (Anna Huso’s niece), Alexander Bondar (Anna Huso’s dad).

They arrived in Lviv and spent three hours in a car getting to a safe place to stay until they can figure out what country they will call home.

“Reuniting with my family and being able to hug them again was the best feeling I’ve ever experienced in my life,” Anna said.

Anna’s brother-in-law, Sergey, got his family to the train station and onto the train, but men aged 18-60 are restricted from leaving Ukraine, so he had to stay behind as the train moved away on the tracks. Sergey died of a Anna said watching his entire family board an evacuation train to safety was too much for his heart. No one can attend the funeral, as it isn’t safe.

“The last thing the kids will remember is their father crying on the platform and giving them thumbs up,” Anna said. “My sister has no husband, no job, and no place to come back. Anna will never have graduation. My par-

ents will never see their fruit garden bloom again. They had to leave everything behind. Everything they were creating and working hard for all their lives. They need to start over from the beginning, find a new home in a different country and start their lives over again. And we believe we can do it because it’s the only option available.” A fund has been set up at Farmers & Merchants Bank of ND. Funds will help Brent and Anna and their five family members leave Ukraine. Funds will also help provide food and shelter and to assist in setting up a new household. At press time, they didn’t know what country they were going to or where Anna’s family would settle. want people to know back in North Dakota. I know everyone back in our home state and the whole area, they’ve all reached out to us, and we’ve had hundreds and hundreds of prayers and thoughts for us and that means the world to us,” Brent said. “Keep praying for Ukraine. We’ll stay positive here if everyone back home stays positive there.”

To learn more, follow “Huso Ukrainian Family Relief Fund,” an open page on Facebook that has recently been created by friends in the U.S. to follow the Husos’ family story.

To donate on Venmo, send to @ BrentandAnna (Huso Ukrainian Family Fund). cont’d. from page 1 - LADY CARDS TAKE FOURTH PLACE LANGDON-EDMORE-MUNICH 59, Jalynn Swanson 2, Marlee Hetletved MOHALL-LANSFORD-SHERWOOD 2 21 Grafton -- Walker DeMers 22, Ainsley MLS -- 8 3 4 6 -- 21 McClain 16, Reagan Hanson 9, Keira LEM -- 21 14 9 15 -- 59 Cole 2, Cassie Erickson 2 Rebounds -- LEM: 21 (Freije 5); G: 37 Langdon-Edmore-Munich -- Jaya Hen- (Demers 21) derson 24, Jalynn Swanson 14, Mor- Assists -- LEM: 7; G: 10 gan Freije 11, Marlee Hetletved 4, Steals -- LEM: 5; G: 6 Meredith Romfo 2, Halle Jabs 2, Olivia Turnovers -- LEM: 16; G: 12 Christianson 2 Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood -- Madison Field goal percentage -- LEM: 14/43 Moberg 4, Jamie Thompson 3, Kylee (32%); G: 21/48 (43%) Abernathy 3, Lauren Steeves 2, Lain- Free throw percentage -- LEM: 5/13 ey Schmidt 2, Emma Southham 2, Isa- (38%); G: 6/13 (46%) belle Buynak 2, Jasmine Undlin 2, Alli Undlin 1 Shiloh Christian 53, Langdon-Edmore-Munich 39 Rebounds -- LEM: 29 (Freije 9, Hen- The Cardinals were looking to avenge derson 7); MLS: 24 an earlier loss to the Skyhawks over Assists -- LEM: 11; MLS: 2 the holidays, but they got in early Steals -- LEM: 16; MLS: 6 foul trouble, fell down 26-17 at the Turnovers -- LEM: 10; MLS: 23 half, and just could not consistentField goal percentage -- LEM: 24/53 ly get enough baskets to catch back (45%); 8/33 (24%) up. The Cards had five more shot atFree throw percentage -- LEM: 3/5 tempts than Shiloh but were just 28 (60%); 8/13 (61%) percent from the field shooting for the game. Grafton 51, Langdon-Edmore-Munich 33 The Lady Cards met the Spoilers in the semifinals, a team they had beaten earlier this year in Grafton. This game came down to the Cardinals not being able to stop Spoilers 6-foot-3 inch center Walker Demers. She had perhaps the best game of her career with 22 points and 21 rebounds, 11 of those on the offensive glass. Demers will be attending South Dakota and play women's basketball there in the fall. In what Lady Cards fans hope is a nice glimpse into the future, freshman Meredith Romfo led the team in scoring with 14 points, and she and Morgan Freije each had a team high seven rebounds. Hailey Quam had 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Skyhawks.

SHILOH CHRISTIAN 53, LANGDON-EDMORE-MUNICH 39 SC -- 10 16 12 15 -- 53 LEM -- 8 9 11 11 -- 39

Grafton out-rebounded Langdon-Edmore-Munich 37-21 for the game. The Cards were still in it to begin the second half, down 26-17, but they could only manage five points in the third quarter. Morgan Freije led the Cards with 15 points and five rebounds, while Jaya Henderson had 10 points. The Cardinals went 0 for 6 from the 3-point line.

GRAFTON 51, LANGDON-EDMORE-MUNICH 33 LEM -- 10 7 5 11 -- 33 G -- 15 11 12 13 -- 51

Langdon-Edmore-Munich -- Morgan Freije 15, Jaya Henderson 10, Meredith Romfo 2, Whitney Pankratz 2, Langdon-Edmore-Munich -- Meredith Romfo 14, Jaya Henderson 8, Jalynn Swanson 7, Marlee Hetletved 5, Whitney Pankratz 3, Morgan Freije 2 Shiloh Christian -- Hailey Quam 17, Grace Kelly 15, Kennedy Walth 8, Hannah Westin 4, Alyiah Schock 4, Paige Shock 3, Emma Duffy 2 Rebounds -- LEM: 22 (Freije, Romfo 7); SC: 39 (Quam 14) Assists -- LEM: 7; SC: 14 Steals -- LEM: 9 (Hetletved, Henderson 3); SC: 3 Turnovers -- LEM: 10; SC: 15

Field goal percentage -- LEM: 14/50 (28%); SC: 20/45 (44%) Free throw percentage -- LEM: 9/16 (56%); SC: 10/20 (50%)

Tayler Lorenz fires off a 3 point shot against Grafton. Photo by Larry Stokke Jalynn Swanson lays in two points against Shiloh Christian. Photo by Larry Stokke

All Tournament Team, Front Row: Jaya Henderson- LEM, Jaycee Richter - Linton-HMB, Morgan Freije- LEM, Ainsley McLain- Grafton. Back Row: Kayie Burner-Kindred, Terryn Johnson-Kindred, Walker Demers-Grafton, Abby Duchscherer-Kindred, Hailey Quam-Shiloh Christianson- Grace Kelly-Shiloh Christianson. Photo by Larry Stokke.