Annual Report 2020: Pride In Our People

Pride in our People

Annual Report

The Globe

Saturday, March 28, 2020 H1

LOCAL STORIES OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES

Driven to inspire Kalfs doesn’t let paralysis keep him from hunting, the outdoors

By Julie Buntjer jbuntjer@dglobe.com

Kalfs’ Okabena home is filled with trophies from OKABENA — From the experiences he’s had in mounted head of a horned the great outdoors.

Amid the displays are antelope to the perching wild tom turkey, and photographs of Kalfs on from the sprawling black his adventures in northern Wyoming bear skin rug to a pair of Minnesota, mounted deer heads, Lloyd and South Dakota.

One captures him while fly-fishing in a stream in the Black Hills. That one, he says, was taken the week before his accident.

The car crash on that evening of June 15, 2013, left Kalfs a quadriplegic, but it hasn’t dampened his spirits and his quest to enjoy all that life and the outdoors has to offer.

“One of the things that drives me most is I want to be an inspiration to other people — to especially go out and do what you want to do,” he said. “We live in a place and time that if you want to do something, there’s a will and a way to do it.

“I’m living proof of that.”

Life interrupted

Kalfs grew up on a farm a couple of miles south of Okabena, graduating from then-Southwest Star Concept in the spring of 2007. During high school he was active in the FFA, competing in the fish and wildlife and ag mechanics judging teams, and earning a trip to the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky on the nursery and landscape team.

His interest in everything outdoors led him to Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin in the fall of 2007, where Julie Buntjer / The Globe he majored in natural Lloyd Kalfs is shown with the antelope he hunted in resources and played four Montana. An Action Trackchair helps Kalfs maneuver years of college basketball. various terrain so he is able to continue to enjoy his time “They’re the No. 2 school outdoors. in Wisconsin as far as fish

Special to The Globe

Clayton Miller (from left), Tessa Moser and Kyle Metzger (right) join Lloyd Kalfs on a South Dakota turkey hunt. Kalfs was successful in bagging this wild turkey. and wildlife,” Kalfs said of the college, located an hour east of Duluth along the shore of Lake Superior.

“It was a very fun place to go to college and to be an outdoorsman.”

Following graduation in the spring of 2011 — seven months after his father’s death — Kalfs returned to Okabena and began working as a water resource technician for the Cottonwood County Soil and Water Conservation District in Windom. He’d been in the job for two

years when, on a summer evening drive toward home, Kalfs’ life was forever changed.

“I had a heart condition I didn’t know about,” he shared. “My heart stopped when I was driving, and that’s what caused the accident.”

Kalfs was alone in the car when it left the roadway and rolled three times in a ditch a mile from his house, and a mile from the farm where he’d grown up. A neighbor discovered the crash when

he saw headlights shining into a farm field.

Two vertebrae in Kalfs’ neck were broken in the crash, the C6 and C7, which caused the spinal injury and paralysis.

Doctors surgically fused the neck and, while in the intensive care unit, it was discovered that Kalfs’ heart would occasionally stop beating — once for slightly more than a minute.

KALFS: Page H3

Van Ecks have been ‘hair’ in Lake Wilson for 55 years and counting

By Scott Mansch The Globe

For years now, Jack has been the only working LAKE WILSON — male barber left in Murray Nearly 60 years ago at the County. Of course, it Arkota Ballroom in Sioux wasn’t always this way.

Falls, a young dancer from rural South Dakota Keeping on cuttin’ “I started barber school named Virginia noticed in 1963,” Jack said. “It a Minnesota man in part was a six-month term. because of his tie tack.

From there I came back to It was in the form of a Lake Wilson. George the small scissors.

Barber (Gowin) wanted “I’m a beautician,” to retire, so I apprenticed Virginia told Jack Van Eck. under him.

“Well,” said Jack, “I’m a “At that time there were barber.” at least a dozen (male) Says Virginia: “We barbers in Murray County. just kind of clicked from I knew there were five in then on.” three different shops in The laughter from both Slayton, two in Fulda, and at this memory brightens Hadley even had a parta delightful abode just off time barber. Iona had Minnesota 30 in this small one from Wilson’s who Murray County hamlet would come in and cut that has served as home hair at night. Currie had a base for Jack and Virginia full-time barber. He was since 1965.

Old Pete.”

Their bond is much Only Jack, who stronger than a common purchased the shop from cause of hair care. And George the Barber, is still that legacy, along with in business. It’s been that a love for this resilient way for a decade or more. community of about 230, is what distinguishes them.

VAN ECKS: Page H2 Jack and Virginia Van Eck have been married for 55 years.

Scott Mansch/The Globe

Annual Report

H2 Saturday, March 28, 2020

The Globe

A terrific team

Roemeling pairs with K9 Frankee to serve and protect WORTHINGTON — Worthington Police Department K9 Officer Frankee spends his dog days sniffing out crime and putting paws up for public safety.

The Belgian Malinois, who will turn 8 years old next month, has spent most of his life in local law enforcement.

Frankee’s human partner, Sgt. Dustin Roemeling, explained that K9s like Frankee are essential for a variety of WPD operations. Frankee is a dual-purpose dog, meaning that in addition to identifying the presence of illegal drugs, he is also trained in tracking.

Tracking spans a gamut of tasks, as well.

Frankee uses his nose to track missing persons and criminal suspects. He can also do an article search, meaning he finds objects that have been recently handled by a person. This

VAN ECKS From Page H1

skill is particularly useful for when a suspect throws a piece of evidence from the scene, Roemeling noted.

“He’s not using his eyes; he’s using his nose,” Roemeling said as Frankee demonstrated an article search.

The K9 can also conduct building searches, which is typically done in the event of a burglary alarm call or other instance where a building needs to be cleared of people. Frankee can do this much faster than a squad of human officers, and “it’s also a lot safer,” Roemeling noted.

Occasionally, Frankee needs to use his jaws to bite a suspect, either to prevent escape or protect Roemeling or another officer. Biting comes with strict guidelines for use, Roemeling emphasized.

Frankee is only asked to bite when absolutely necessary.

To learn these skills, Frankee completed

businesses. And in 2004, the fire hall exploded and the grain elevator was somewhat destroyed in a propane explosion.”

The three Lake Wilson disasters did not claim lives but caused millions and millions of dollars in damage.

“But each time,” Jack said, “the town came back.”

Jack, who graduated from Lake Wilson High in 1957, marvels at the town’s toughness.

“What hurt us the most was when the high school closed (Chandler and Lake Wilson students now attend Murray County Central in Slayton),” he said. “We had great sports teams. I’ve always loved athletics.”

Just like he’s always loved Virginia.

“I’m a dinosaur,” he said, laughing. “Hope I can keep going for a while.”

But Jack’s Barber Shop on Lake Wilson’s Main Street is quiet these days.

He was injured badly in a fall several months ago, an accident during which he fractured his right elbow and left wrist.

One afternoon last month Jack used a cane to move about his comfortable home while Virginia, who has been filling in for her husband out of the beauty shop she’s maintained for years in a room off her kitchen, worked the clippers.

Just a few short months ago, Jack maintained regular hours at his shop.

Even so, he sees no reason to refer to his work in the A dynamic duo past tense.

On this day, as Jack sat “I’m not nearly as busy as I used to be,” Jack said. next to where his wife of Then, he smiled. “But I’m 55 years cut hair, their not as young as I used to be, either. Back in the ’60s and until the early ’70s, the Chandler Air Base was in operation. And there was an abundance of young men who had to have haircuts. So I was quite busy then.”

The best thing about his job?

“The people,” he grins.

And not the gossip?

“Barber shops are notoriously famous for spreading gossip,” Jack says. “I tried not to be one of those. Because usually the truth, by the time it got to the barber shop, was no longer the same thing when it got across the street.”

A love for his hometown

Jack’s work in his hometown has never ended at quitting time. He was a charter member of the Lake Wilson Lions Club and for many years has been on the city council, serving as mayor for quite a while.

Lake Wilson is close to his heart.

Jack, 80, was born on a farm between Lake Wilson and Chandler, delivered by midwives who were his grandmothers.

“I moved here from Iona when I was in the seventh grade,” he says. “It’s a special place.”

It’s also one with a history of heartache.

“The whole Main Street burned down on May 11 of 1911,” Jack said. “Then, in 1992, a tornado came along and destroyed 10 or 12 homes in town and did a number on some

extensive training.

When he was about a year old, Frankee and Roemeling went to K9 training together. Each training program lasts from 14 to 16 weeks and ends in a PDI — a qualifying trial for patrol dogs. Throughout the training, Frankee and Roemeling learned to communicate in sync with each other.

Roemeling gives Frankee verbal commands in the German language.

The partnership uses this strategy to prevent Frankee from responding to Roemeling’s words when he isn’t giving a command. It also helps reinforce that the K9 should obey only Roemeling and not other people.

Part of Frankee’s training included special agility conditioning, such as learning to climb ladders and jump hurdles.

Leah Ward/The Globe

WPDK9: Page H3 Sgt. Dustin Roemeling and K9 Frankee have been partners for almost seven years.

Scott Mansch/The Globe

For years, Jack Van Eck has been the only working male barber left in Murray County. affection for each other was obvious.

“It’s been a very good marriage,” Jack said.

Then, his eyes twinkled.

“Probably it’s sustained as long as it has because I worked downtown and she worked here.”

Jack is on the mend, but elbow and wrist injuries are not what a barber needs. He hurt something else, too, in the fall.

“I also suffered a severe

case of wounded pride,” Jack said with a laugh.

Make no mistake, though, he’s not retiring.

The sign on Jack’s Barber Shop now reads “Closed Until Further Notice,” but Jack hopes to one day return to work.

“It certainly is my intention,” Jack said. “But I’m just not physically able to do it yet.”

Then he paused and looked at Virginia.

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“I miss the people,” he said.

He and Virginia have two daughters, three granddaughters and two greatgranddaughters. Virginia, who grew up about 135 miles west of Lake Wilson near Wessington Springs, S.D., has no intentions of retiring, either.

“I’ve liked doing hair since I was a little kid,” she said, smiling. “And I still like it. If I can make somebody happy and like the way they look, that’s my thing. And now lately I’ve enjoyed cutting some men’s hair.”

It was suggested that men might be more difficult to please than women when it comes to haircuts.

“No, no, no,” Virginia responded, laughing.

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The extra work load in recent hasn’t been easy for her. Always a helpful partner, Virginia aids Jack even more now.

And, it turns out, that started before they were married.

Upon first meeting her future hair-cutting husband at the Arkota Ballroom, Virginia might’ve assumed Jack could also cut a rug properly.

“Well,” Virginia said, and then paused. “Let me tell you a little story.”

Their loud laughter echoed.

“I gave him lessons,” she said. “We helped each other.”

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By Leah Ward lward@dglobe.com

Annual Report

The Globe

Saturday, March 28, 2020 H3 good, he added.

Kalfs is also able to shoot with a muzzleloader from his chair, and now has started experimenting with a crossbow.

“You have to tinker and think and figure out what’s going to work,” he said. “I think it’s time to break that crossbow in with an antelope hunt.”

Tales to tell

Last October, Kalfs turned his love of all things outdoors into a weekly column he now writes for his hometown newspaper, the Tri-County News in Heron Lake.

Writing about the outdoors was something he’d considered already in childhood as he read and learned new tips and tricks from the outdoors magazines to which his family subscribed.

“I learned so much from publications like that, and I thought some day I’d like to write my own Special to The Globe outdoors stories,” Kalfs said. “I had a good friend Lloyd Kalfs (right) is shown with friend Aaron Johnson and a mule deer Kalfs harvested in 2018. in college who had done some outdoor writing, and “I’m so blessed. I have have to have a passion for I had encouragement from off the ventilator at all at Trackchair from the Action Mobility Foundation. Like the best friends anybody doing it.” that point,” he added. friends who said I should From Page H1 Kalfs has a mount Kalfs, though, had a raised wheelchair on could ask for,” Kalfs keep pursuing this.” tracks, the chair allows said. “Since my accident, that braces the gun on other plans.

Kalfs uses a program He spent roughly five him to navigate virtually I’ve harvested three wild his Action Trackchair. with his computer that “At that point, my months at the rehab every terrain. turkeys, a white tail He moves a joystick with dictates speech to text. family decided to put a hospital in Nebraska, In the spring of 2015, deer and mule deer from either his chin or his “It’s pretty much as fast pacemaker in, and I’ve earning his discharge the Kalfs used his new Action Wyoming, a pronghorn mouth to move the gun up as I can talk,” he said. had that ever since,” day before Thanksgiving. Trackchair on a hunt in antelope in Wyoming or down, left or right.

Kalfs basically talks into he shared.

“I aim the gun with my By then, his family had South Dakota and was and a black bear in a microphone, and Dragon Kalfs was sent to the found him a home in able to bag his first wild northern Minnesota. mouth and pull the trigger Madonna Rehabilitation Okabena that would work turkey. Since then, the “Who would have by sipping on a straw converts it to text on his Hospital in Lincoln, for his mobility chair. chair has made it possible thought I’d be able to go that pulls the mechanism computer screen. This is Nebraska for therapy, His mom, Sandy, joined for him to join his friends out hunting when I don’t of the trigger,” he how he writes his weekly but while there he began newspaper column. explained.

The kickback have use of my arms and on numerous hunts across him there a year and a experiencing intense “Since I’ve gotten that legs?” he asked. “You just can rock his chair pretty three states. half later. pain. An X-ray revealed set-up, it’s allowed me that the fusion during the Where there’s a will, to be more active on the original surgery fell apart. computer — I’m able to do “Essentially I had a there’s a way more things and do things Despite the spinal broken neck for three easier,” he said. injury that took away weeks,” Kalfs said, noting Kalfs has written that the subsequent the use of his arms and about pheasant counts, surgery included three legs, Kalfs’ passion and conservation, turkey drive to pursue outdoor rods and 18 screws in his hunting, farming practices neck. It’s believed that adventures never wavered and farm drainage thus far. during the three weeks after he returned home. It “I kind of want it to have was his physical therapist between the fusion something for everyone,” breaking apart and the who encouraged him to he said. discovery, additional research devices that Kalfs hopes someday could help him. spinal damage was done. to write stories for an “She was a hunter,” Kalfs “With the original outdoors magazine — injury, I would have had said. “She said ‘there’s stories that span all of his stuff out there where you a lot more function in years of experience. my arms,” Kalfs said. can do this again,’ so I “I have a lot of good Following the second looked into that.” memories, but those Thanks to a fundraiser surgery, doctors weren’t things aren’t in my sure what he’d regain during a girls basketball Julie Buntjer / The Globe past,” he said. “I plan game at Southwest Star for function.

“Some were concerned Concept, Kalfs was able A double bearded wild turkey Lloyd Kalfs hunted from his Action Trackchair is displayed on making many more that I would never get to purchase an Action in his Okabena home. memories outdoors.”

KALFS

WPDK9 From Page H2

“The reason why these dogs do the job is because they want the toy,” Roemeling explained.

Frankee has learned to associate certain toys with specific tasks Roemeling asks him to do.

Since that time, Frankee and Roemeling have continued to do at least 16 hours of training each month so that Frankee can be recertified annually in both narcotics and tracking.

“It’s a very rewarding assignment,” Roemeling said of his K9 partnership.

WPD uses several measures to keep Frankee and the other two K9s safe on the job.

Frankee has his own bulletproof vest that

WPD purchased using grant funds. Additional accessories include a bite sleeve and a bite suit, a special tracking harness that doesn’t pull on his neck, a K9 medical kit in case of injury and a selection of leashes.

Most of Frankee’s safety equipment is included in WPD’s regular budget.

Squad car safety is also essential for Frankee’s well-being. On patrol, the dog rides in a special kennel behind the driver’s seat that stretches all the way to the trunk of Roemeling’s squad car.

It’s blocked off from the suspect holding area, so Frankee is never in danger from arrested suspects.

Frankee’s kennel is heated and airconditioned and contains a water bowl.

Its environment is carefully monitored, even when

the vehicle is turned off.

If the kennel ever gets too hot or too cold while the engine is off, the squad car’s windows will automatically roll down, the sirens will blare and all the lights will turn on, alerting Roemeling that Frankee needs the squad car to be turned back on.

Off duty, Frankee goes home with Roemeling and is loved by the officer’s wife and children.

Although Frankee is trained to take down suspects when necessary, he is gentle at home with Roemeling’s little girls.

“All of our K9s are super-friendly dogs,” Roemeling explained.

WPD makes special efforts to invite the public to meet and interact with the dogs.

“The community has been super supportive of our K9 unit,” Roemeling

noted.

Community members have historically been generous in donating toward WPD’s K9 program, he added.

Typically WPD K9s retire around age 9, Roemeling said. Frankee will be 9 in a little more than a year, but his health has been good his whole life, so he may be able to work a little longer.

This is typical for his breed — Belgian Malinois are becoming more preferred by police departments around the United States because they are smaller than German Shepherds, have more drive and fewer health problems.

When it comes time to retire, Frankee will be able to live the rest of his life as the Roemeling family pet, getting to play with Leah Ward/The Globe his favorite toys without Frankee lies down to indicate that he has found something during an article search demonstration. having to work for them.

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Nurse for life: Balster logs 46 years as a nurse, nursing instructor in Worthington

By Jane Turpin Moore The Globe WORTHINGTON — Nursing might not actually be in Marcie Balster’s blood, but the caring profession certainly seems to run in her family.

“I have a sister, sisterin-law and nephew who are nurses,” listed Balster, “and all three of my husband’s sisters are nurses, as well as two nieces and quite a few cousins.

“And my daughter [Josie] became a nurse a few years ago. When she was only 3 years old, she told us she wanted ‘to help people and animals.’”

This June will mark 46 years since Balster, a St. Kilian native, set foot in the local hospital now known as Sanford Worthington Medical Center to begin her first shift as a nurse.

“I’ve worked in a lot of different areas, and I’ve liked each of them for different reasons,” said Balster.

“I started out in the extended care unit — that evolved into Med/ Surgical — then worked some in the ICU and Behavioral Health.

“The bulk of my time has been in same-day surgery and the infusion area, where I’ve logged more than 20 years.”

Getting started

But even with her early exposure to nursing, Balster did not necessarily always aspire to the profession.

“I didn’t have a burning desire to be a nurse from a young age,” she confessed. “What I really loved in high school was journalism, because I liked writing and research.”

Her experience as a nurse’s aide helped her appreciate the “caring aspect” of nursing, however, and she recalls sensing that career options for women were still somewhat limited in the early ’70s.

“I have loved the career, and my mother was a very caring, understanding person, so becoming a nurse was a natural progression for me — and I haven’t regretted any of it,” mused Balster.

Each time she had the chance, Balster took steps to advance her education and status within the profession.

“I went back to Minnesota West in the late ‘80s when they began offering an associate degree program for transition from an LPN to an RN,” noted Balster.

And just a few years ago, Balster went online to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall, completing that distinction in 2018.

“I had always wanted to have my bachelor’s degree, but it didn’t seem as possible when I was raising children,” she noted.

“But I always really loved school, and I highly recommend the SMSU online nursing degree to anyone else who might find it a good match.”

A 1971 graduate of Adrian High School, Balster spent three of her teenage summers employed as a nurse’s aide at a nursing home in Minneapolis, where two of her older sisters were working.

“Then I moved back home and got a job as a nursing assistant at what was then Fauskee’s Nursing Home,” said Balster.

“When I was approaching 21, I went to Worthington Junior College in the Family life second year they offered In between her a one-year LPN nursing professional achievements degree program.” and educational

Submitted photo

When she’s not working, Marcie Balster an her husband Jim (at left) enjoy visits to see grandsons Ravi, 2, and Amorin, 5, in Oregon. advancements, Balster made time for family.

She married Jim Balster, a Wilmont farmer and owner of Balster Construction, in 1976.

Together they have three adult children — Chad, now of Louisville, Ky.; Nick of Portland, Ore.; and Josie of Mosier, Ore. — plus two grandchildren (Josie’s sons Ravi, 2, and Amorin, 5).

The Balster children have the singular distinction of each having represented Worthington as yearlong exchange students to Crailsheim, Germany, in the historic WorthingtonCrailsheim International Inc., program.

“My grandparents were immigrants from Germany who settled in the St. Kilian area,” commented Balster about her German heritage.

“And my parents were Ted and Salome Diekmann; my father was a firstgeneration American.”

Today, Balster works part-time, even while maintaining professional responsibilities in a number of areas. Fewer hours on the job mean more time for personal pursuits.

“I’ve developed a lot of interests,” said Balster. “I do more gardening — I have a butterfly garden — and spend more time working around my house and yard.

“I also like to read; I lean more toward non-fiction or health-related topics.

“And we travel to Oregon quite often to see our grandchildren, and we try to make it to Kentucky a few times a year, too.”

Balster’s grandchildren are aware of the career she and her daughter have chosen, and Josie earlier worked as an EMT and volunteer firefighter before completing her nursing degree.

“Amorin, the 5-yearold, has said he wants to be an EMT or a firefighter,” said Balster. “But maybe he’ll become a nurse, too.”

“There, I provide education for the nurses and nurses aides,” mentioned Balster.

Balster commends Sanford Worthington Medical Center for staying current with medical developments.

“The hospital has done a very good job of keeping up with technology, and when the hospital instituted the computergenerated record-keeping system, they were far ahead of many other hospitals their size in the area,” Balster observed.

“It was a huge change, and not necessarily a lot of fun to go through it, Mentorship and but I’ve always liked new things and change — medical progress Having logged nearly 46 and now everyone loves years in the nursing field, the electronic system Balster has worn plenty of and wouldn’t want to hats — and continues to go back to using paper and pencils.” do so.

One superficial but “I teach a nursing assistant class at notable change for nurses Minnesota West one or since Balster began is two evenings a week,” said their accepted work attire.

“When I was an aide Balster. “It’s a prerequisite for the nursing program, and new graduate nurse, and I’ve taught it off and the standard uniform was a dress, white stockings on for the past 15 years.

“Not everyone who and a nurse’s cap,” takes it goes on to become listed Balster.

“My sister and I were a nurse, but I like teaching and having an influence the first to wear uniforms with the next generation with pants in 1969; our mother made them.” of health care workers.”

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“That was a welcome change,” said Balster.

This experienced nurse observes that contemporary nurses have more autonomy and input to patient care than in her earliest days on the job.

“It feels like more of a partnership with the doctors now,” said Balster.

She heartily recommends the career, which is in high demand, to those who feel the call.

“Nurses have so many opportunities, with many different work areas and levels of degrees and education,” said Balster.

“I always urge any students who are interested to at least go for their bachelor’s degree or beyond — because more education benefits both you and patient care.”

Balster’s nephew recently commented that he sees nursing as “dedication to a career of helping.” Balster views it similarly, and also as a position that is rewarding to the practitioner.

“It’s been a wonderful career,” said Balster. “I’m blessed, and I always told my kids, ‘You’re lucky if you love what you do’ — and I do.”

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Annual Report

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Saturday, March 28, 2020 H5

Visionary works to beautify The Lake, Luverne neighborhood

By Julie Buntjer jbuntjer@dglobe.com LUVERNE — While some of the locals still refer to it as Creamery Pond or Sybesma’s Pit, the gravel pit that is now known as The Lake has become a community hangout — the center of attention for such events as Luverne’s Fourth at The Lake and Get Hooked ice fishing derby.

And yet, Luverne native Mike Davis knows the area can become so much more.

The local entrepreneur’s can-do attitude has inspired others to take what was once a blighted area of the community and turn it into something people can be proud of.

“I grew up about a block away from here,” said Davis. Back then, the pond was used primarily for irrigation. “Me and my friends spent our childhood down here fishing, playing in the mud, catching turtles.”

Over time, the area became a dump site.

Concrete slabs were tossed out, and dump trucks backed in and unloaded junk. Then, trees began to grow out of that.

Davis, though, could see the diamond in the rough. He looked beyond the blighted area and envisioned one day a water body with a sandy beach, a fishing dock, a campground and even some cabins.

Half a dozen years ago, Davis purchased a fouracre parcel that abuts the east side of the lake, including some lakeshore.

“My original plan was to clean it up and put a shop on it,” he said. “The city had a grant to help out with blighted property.

That’s how we started to get the place cleaned up.”Davis brought in sand and created the beach, and in time the city acquired the rest of the property.

Together, they have worked to make the site a usable, enjoyable space for the community and turn Davis’ vision into reality.

Do-it-yourselfer A jack-of-all-trades, 42-year-old Davis has combined his life experiences and on-thejob training to carve out a living in his hometown.

He has a successful snow removal operation that includes contracts with several local businesses.

His year-round job is tree

trimming, and he and his wife, Traci, also own five rental properties in the community.

“That’s my 401k,” he quips.

Not too bad for a kid who “got booted out of high school,” he said, blaming that on his lack of interest in school and a rocky relationship with the superintendent at the time.

(They get along fine now, he said.)

LUVERNE: Page H8

Ann Witzel: Devoted to Fulda for nearly 40 years

By Scott Manch The Globe FULDA — She has been called a minion maker.

A lively lady. And a passionate personality whose energy devoted to her home has created an uplifting legacy of good will.

For most of all, Ann Witzel is a Fulda fan.

A community member for nearly 40 years, Ann’s dedicated devotion to this town is remarkable and, she says, a labor of love.

“I once heard a person say ‘Why would you want to live in Fulda?’ ” Ann said. “That made me angry, because why would you NOT want to live in Fulda?”

The attitude has spurred a revival movement here, a feel-good attitude that has helped businesses and even brought families to town. Ann is involved in the Wood Duck Addition, a housing development west of U.S. 59 that slowly

but surely is adding to the population and tax rolls.

She estimates perhaps five new homes have been built in recent years.

“And in Fulda,” she said, “five homes is a big thing.

“It’s fantastic for everybody. And it’s not about me; it’s about everybody in our town.”

Several years ago she became known for manufacturing “minions,” decorative little people made from used tires that were no longer needed at Pronto Auto Parts and Service, the shop on U.S. 59 owned

by Ann and Jim Witzel.

Ann designed and painted the minions, and soon businesses in Fulda and throughout Murray County were displaying the little tots made from tires.

The response: consistent cheerfulness.

WITZEL BUS SERVICE FULDA

“It was great fun,” Ann sayid. “My intention was to make people smile.”

Then she grinned.

“Life is short,” she added, beaming.

Though no longer married, Ann and Jim remain business partners — and fast friends. And that says much about their personalities.

It doesn’t hurt that their hearts share a common bond of affection for Fulda.

“We raised five kids here,” Ann said. “I love the school system and I love the town. And I want to draw attention to what a great place it is.”

Ann and Jim have five grown children (Matt, Elizabeth, Andy, Chris and Margaret), six grandchildren and four foster grandchildren.

Scott Mansch/The Globe

WITZEL: Page H12 Ann Witzel has been a member of the Fulda community for nearly 40 years.

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The Globe

Lismore’s Bruce Loosbrock remembered Popular wrestling coach did everything ‘to the max’

By Scott Mansch The Globe ADRIAN — There is a missing link in Lismore these days.

It’s because of a sorrowful story connected to the Adrian wrestling program.

Last October, Bruce Loosbrock passed away suddenly at the age of 59.

As the longtime owner of Loosbrock Digging Services, Bruce was well known throughout the area.

And as an assistant wrestling coach for the powerful Adrian Dragons, he was respected across the region by friends and foes alike.

Submitted photo “Everything he touched, As an assistant wrestling coach for the Adrian Dragons, he did to the max,” Lismore friend Deb Lutmer said.

Bruce Loosbrock was respected across the region.

Bruce was on the Lismore city council. He was active in his church.

“He was easy to get along with,” Deb said. “He spoke his mind, but yet he was fair. I’m sure he had people who didn’t agree with him.”

And they were his friends, too.

“He was just really a great guy,” Deb said.

Gregg Nelson has been the Adrian wrestling coach for 21 years. Randy Schettler and Bruce were his assistants for years.

“Bruce was an honest, good guy,” Gregg said. “He told it the way it was. He was a volunteer assistant who helped a lot behind the scenes. He really had a good head for wrestling.”

Bruce and his wife,

for years. Like others, she shares in the heartache.

And there is plenty of it.

Several years ago, Brenda was badly hurt in a car accident that has left her partially paralyzed.

Bruce was there to help her. Then he was gone.

And that hurts all who know the family.

“Yes, yes,” Deb said Many friends softly. “But they come “Everybody liked through it.”

Bruce, you know?” Gregg Brenda, she said, is very said. active in the community Certainly those in the maintains Adrian and Lismore a n d communities know only a positive outlook. too well. And that’s “She’s adjusted to her why nearly six months situation,” Deb said. “She after Bruce’s death, the has a very strong faith. pain remains.

Their whole family does.”

Deb has been friends with the Loosbrock family LISMORE: Page H7

Brenda, had seven children who went through the Adrian school system, including three sons who wrestled.

“It wasn’t just about his kids,” Gregg said. “He was there for all the kids.”

Bruce was a familiar figure to many throughout southwest Minnesota, both because of business and athletics.

Zwart has helped build community for 60-plus years

By Scott Mansch The Globe EDGERTON — Lloyd Zwart was a solid senior athlete at Edgerton High in 1960, when the Flying Dutchmen were expected to have a fine basketball team.

He couldn’t go out for the squad.

“I’d been on the team in ’59,” Lloyd says. “But my dad got in bad health, and I quit playing basketball and went to work after school to help us through. And that year we went to State.

“It was disappointing to me, but my family comes first.”

He still feels that way. And it’s not an exaggeration to say his family has for decades been expanded to include the entire community of Edgerton.

He’ll do it

“There’s two kinds of people in the world,” Lloyd said with a soft smile.

“Talkers and workers. I’m more or less a worker. Not a talker. I have difficulty getting up in front of people. But if I’ve got something to do, I’ll do it.”

He’s been doing great things for his hometown

community all his life.

From cheering on the famous state championship basketball team 60 years ago, to raising a respected family in his hometown, to operating a successful construction company that to this day touches lives in this small community, Lloyd has been an Edgerton backer.

It’s always been that way.

Lloyd was born in Hardwick, moved with his family as a toddler and grew up on a farm a few miles from Edgerton. He’s never left the area. Nor did he ever want to.

“I’ve been here all my life,” he said. “Edgerton is my home.”

He’s 79, but there is no thought of retirement. On a recent day over lunch (cheeseburger and fries, hold the bun) he talked optimistically about his life, his work and the future of his town.

“The good Lord keeps me going, and I want to keep going,” Lloyd says. “I love to be with people and I love to work for people.”

Scott Mansch/The Globe

Lloyd Zwart was born in Hardwick, moved with his family as a toddler and grew up on a farm a few miles from ZWART: Page H10 Edgerton. He’s never left the area.

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LISMORE From Page H6

When he spoke, they listened

Gregg laughed softly when asked for a story or two about Bruce.

“He liked to have a cold beer and sit down and visit,” Gregg said. “He didn’t say a whole lot, but when he did people listened.”

Jim Carr was the head wrestling coach at Adrian some 45 years ago. He knew Bruce Loosbrock as both an athlete and a student.

“He was a very sharp kid who did very well in his studies,” Jim said. “As a wrestler it was difficult for him because of his size — he was about 170 pounds and that’s a tough

weight class — but that didn’t bother him at all.

He didn’t back down and he worked his (behind) off.”

Jim was a highly successful coach for the Dragons. He had many state champions.

Bruce was not. But that didn’t make him any less memorable.

“I can still remember a match at the district tournament where he took third place,” Jim said with a slight chuckle. “He was pretty excited about that.

He really loved wrestling.

And he was so positive.

He’d go out of his way to help people.”

Bruce had a highly successful excavation business. His winters, though, were devoted to Adrian wrestling.

are plans to place a 15-foot banner over a trophy case where Dragon wrestlers are honored. It will say “Bruce Loosbrock Hall of Champions.”

Bruce was instrumental in honoring the Adrian wrestlers, both with plaques, photos and trophies.

It’s an impressive tribute.

As many Minnesota prep sports fans realize, Adrian’s wrestling is an impressive program.

Bruce was an important part of it.

“One thing people should know,” said Gregg.

“Bruce wasn’t just about In memoriam The practice facility wrestling. He didn’t only where so many great donate and give his time Adrian grapplers have to wrestling — which worked is now called the he did. But he also gave Bruce Loosbrock Wrestling to everybody, to the Room. In addition, there basketball programs, the “He was one of the main instigators when we got together here a few years ago and had a 50-year reunion of Adrian wrestling,” said Jim, who lives now in Yankton, S.D. Though Bruce was never a superstar or state champion as were so many Dragons, he certainly deserves mention in any discussion of all-time Adrian greats.

“He can be mentioned as a wrestler, he can be mentioned as a coach, and he can be mentioned as a promoter,” Jim said. “He was quite a guy.”

Saturday, March 28, 2020 H7 concession stands, the shop area. ... He just tried to help all the kids.”

Gregg told a story.

“This was before we were paired with Ellsworth for basketball,” he said.

“When those boys started their run of (state) titles about 10 years ago, Bruce wanted to do something for Ellsworth kids. He was going to buy them a charter bus so they could ride in comfort, but they didn’t want that. So he bought the Ellsworth boys basketball team a meal before every state basketball tournament.

And we weren’t paired with them at the time.

He just did it because a neighboring community was successful.

“So every year Jim bought them breakfast,

lunch or dinner. Just because.” Cody Schilling won championships and set scoring records both at Ellsworth and Augustana (S.D.). Schilling and his brothers were among many fine players who helped Ellsworth dominate Class A basketball several years ago.

They all knew Bruce.

“Bruce was a great guy,” said Cody, who now lives in Waco, Texas, where his wife, Erica, is an associate athletic director at Baylor University. “He was always friendly and seemed like a guy who would help in any way and give you the shirt off his back. We were fortunate to cross paths with Bruce in 2006-08. The world needs more (people like) Bruce.”

Alan and Cindy Cox: A productive partnership for Adrian ADRIAN — This July, Cox Realty and Land Services LLC will mark 10 years in business.

Its owners, however, have been partners for many years, as they’ve been married since 1983.

“We’ve worked together all of our lives, pretty much,” said Cindy, who grew up in Rushmore and graduated from Worthington High School.

“We farmed together for many years.”

“Our son (Mitchell) has taken over the farm,” Alan said. “I had gotten into the appraisal business parttime in 2000, and got into the real estate business back in 2003 — I’d worked out of the Luverne area.”

“Then we kind of decided we’d go on our own,” Cindy added. “I had been working in Worthington for about 10 years.”

“There was no other real estate company in Adrian,” Alan said. “It was a good central location, near the South Dakota line and Iowa to the south of us.”

Sure enough, the Coxes received a lot of positive feedback upon starting their business, as their clients were excited to have a real estate and appraisal company in Adrian.

A love for Adrian

Special to The Globe

Alan and Cindy Cox have been married since 1983 and opened Cox Realty and Land Services in 2010. include helping landowners in the management of their farms, from collecting rent to analyzing tile systems and monitoring nutrient levels, “It’s making sure they’re being a good steward of the land,” Alan said. “In saying that, a typical farmer is always a good steward of the land.”

to the hiring of three additional agents at Cox Realty and Land Services.

Kayla Cox, Alan and Cindy’s daughter-in-law (married to Mitchell), joined the company two years ago. Next was Shane Sauer, followed most recently by Esther Kalass.

“When we first got into the business, we were told 50% make it and 50% don’t,” Alan said.

Adding agents “We told ourselves, Cindy, meanwhile, spent ‘We’re going to do it, and her first two years in the we’re going to make it,’” couple’s business running Cindy added. “We thought the office. She got her this was something we realtor’s license in 2012, would do as long as we The ag side Alan’s focus over the and after that received could.” broker’s license years, he said, has been her “Naturally, we couldn’t (though Alan acts as the do the agricultural sector. it without the “When I got out of company’s broker). surrounding communities, Cindy primarily shows without the support and farming, I told myself that I wanted to be affiliated residential properties, and referrals,” Alan said. “We with the agricultural side said there’s more stagings started pretty much in doing something,” he said. of home showings now Nobles and Rock counties.

Now, we’re in Pipestone, “I thought the appraisal than years ago.

“It’s definitely more of Murray and Jackson, and business was a good way to be involved with the a sellers’ market now, I recently added Blue Earth, Watonwan and Martin feel,” Cindy said. ag sector.

That market has led counties. We don’t have “We’re fortunate in the last few years that we’ve had a lot of young people getting into the agricultural sector,” he continued. “They may have a parent who’s involved, or they’re getting in the cattle business. It’s a good way to get their foot in the door and hopefully expand later once they get rolling.”

“We have a lot of farmers who are interested in having additional farmland,” Cindy agreed.

“I think what’s happening is that interest rates are low again, and it’s such an intense livestock area that these additional acres of land are being bought and being used for manure applications and for hog and cattle operations,” Alan elaborated.

“Farmland historically has always been a huge interest.”

Another part of Alan’s role with the company pertains to agricultural land management and consulting.

Services

In addition to their business, both Alan and Cindy have been involved for years with the American Red Cross and are co-coordinators for the Adrian area.

“One thing we do is get area high school students to help with blood drives … and then they earn scholarship dollars,” Cindy said.

Those blood drives take place at Adrian High School, and the Coxes work to encourage as many students as possible to come in and donate.

The Coxes are also members of the surrounding Chambers and in addition are very active at St. Adrian Catholic Church.

“We sing in the church choir, which we thoroughly enjoy,” Alan said.

Alan still goes to the farm “nearly every day” to help Mitchell with cattle. He and Cindy also have two daughters — Ashley, who resides with her husband, Spencer Gosch, and three children in Mobridge, South Dakota; and Whitney, who lives with husband Michael Pittmann and two children in East Bethel.

With Mitchell and Kayla having three children of their own, that brings the grandchildren count to eight.

Through all their years of marriage and operating Cox Realty and Land Services, Alan and Cindy are grateful for plenty.

“The relationships we have with other real estate companies in the surrounding area has been wonderful,” Alan said. “We really have some good ties with them.

“And we both just love the community of

Adrian,” Cindy added.

“It’s a great place to live.”

“The big thing about our wonderful small surrounding communities is they tend to stick together in times of crisis,” Alan said. “We are blessed to be living here.”

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By Ryan McGaughey rmcgaughey@dglobe.com

Annual Report

H8 Saturday, March 28, 2020

The Globe

Tim Middagh/The Globe

Hundreds of people take part in the annual Fourth at the Lake celebration in Luverne. The beach and the building in the background were constructed by landowner Mike Davis.

He worked to clean up the property and create a space for the public to enjoy.

LUVERNE From Page H5

Davis ended up at vocational school in Pipestone to earn his GED, then was hired by IBP in Luverne. When the plant closed less than a year later, he went to school for auto body.

“I just wanted to learn the trade,” he said, adding he had no interest in running an auto body shop. Ultimately, he landed a job in construction that took him on the road and away from Luverne for weeks, even months at a time. By then, Davis and his high school sweetheart were married and had started a family.

Together they camped in communities where Davis worked, spending a summer in Clinton, Iowa, another in Hibbing, and yet another in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

“That summer, my kids got to play baseball in Deadwood and be on a travelling team,” Davis said. “That fall, I just decided my kids were young and I didn’t want to be the one that wasn’t there. I quit the next day, and we drove home.

“Traci said, ‘What are we going to do?’, and I said, ‘I don’t know. We’ll figure it out.”

“The first year I don’t think I could buy a job in Luverne,” he said. Today, between snow removal and tree trimming, there’s enough work that their three sons are called upon to help when needed.

Traci works as a paraprofessional at Luverne Elementary and is taking online classes to become a teacher.

As for their sons, Trae, 20, plans to study HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning)

this fall; Carson, 18, is studying auto mechanics at Southeast Technical College; and Carter, 15, is in high school.

Trae also hopes to invest in rental properties in Luverne, and between him and his parents, they will continue to transform the diamonds in the rough.

“When I buy a house in Luverne, I’m looking for one that’s not too far gone but needs some serious attention,” Davis said.

“We started fixing one and I saw three or four other houses get fixed up.

If you can start something in a neighborhood, it’s going to grow. People are going to want to live in them again.

“I don’t believe there’s a neighborhood that’s a lost cause,” he added.

All of the rental houses the Davises own — including their own home — are located along South Donaldson Street, not far from The Lake.

Lakefront property

After Davis’ vision for The Lake began to take shape, Luverne Area Chamber Director Jane Lanphere broached the idea of having the site be the backdrop for an Independence Day celebration in the community. Not only would they have fireworks, but family-friendly activities like sandcastle building and water games.

When Lanphere suggested her ideas, Davis was intrigued. At the time, though, there was a lot of cleanup work yet to be done, and he told her as much.

Within days, Lanphere had a construction crew on site removing the concrete slabs and junk.

After the city acquired the remainder of the property, the work to beautify the property continued.

Today, a fishing pier juts into the north side of The Lake. The pier was salvaged from Blue Mounds State Park after flood waters wiped out the dam and the decision was made to not replace it.

The city constructed a point on the north side and installed repurposed light poles that came from the Veterans Addition.

“That’s been wonderful — it really lights up the area,” Davis said.

With that work completed, the next big project is the development of a campground.

“The plan is to have two small campgrounds,” Davis said — one northeast of The Lake, and a second at the old Boy Scout Camp across town by the city park.

The campground at The Lake is proposed to have nine sites. Eventually, Davis wants to also have nine, 12- by 24-foot studio cabins on the property.

The cabins will feature a bathroom, kitchenette, full- or queen-sized bed and a pull-out couch. His goal is to have them open year-round.

“If I had my way, I’d be building cabins right now in my Midwest Fire

River Water Trail, a canoe and kayak trail down the Rock River.

“I hope that evolves,” Davis said. “So far with the state, we’ve got one launch in at the city park.

My goal in the end is to connect from Edgerton to Rock Rapids (Iowa).

“We were really hoping to get more accesses on state-owned land like Pheasants Forever land,” he added. “I pray that we can catch their eye and keep building this up.”

The group is also working on developing a side-by-side ride that connects many of the smaller towns in Rock County — Kenneth, Hardwick, Beaver Creek and Hills. The first one took place last October, with a big turnout, Davis said, and they are planning a second ride this summer.

“I’m for stuff that’s out of the box,” Davis said of his ideas to promote local tourism. “What can Luverne do better — stuff like that interests me.

“That’s my hobby — to see things happen.”

city is already working to get wi-fi installed on its lakeshore property.

Meanwhile, Davis is working to try to get a food truck to park at The Lake on Sundays for part of the summer — another When he spoke, thing to draw people to they listened Gregg laughed softly town and to The Lake.

With the loss of the lake when asked for a story or inside Blue Mounds State two about Bruce.

Park, Davis said the park He has all of his land has already been sending use permits already, and people to The Lake for his next steps are to summertime swimming. apply to the Minnesota Last summer, he saw Department of Health numerous families come and present a business for a day of swimming. plan to his banker.

If the project moves Community promoter forward as planned, With all of the ideas David said he will Davis has for The Lake — turn the shop — built and Luverne in general in 2018 to house his — it’s easy to understand snow removal and tree why he was asked to join trimming equipment, the board of directors but since transitioned for the Luverne Area into a gathering place for Chamber and Visitors birthday and graduation Bureau. He currently parties, class reunions serves as board chairman. and other events — into “It’s been fun — they a lodge. do a lot of good things,” “I could see a shelter Davis said. “We spend house some day,” he said the lodging tax that the of his vision. “I can still hotels pay. With that see ways to improve it money, our goal is to get — maybe fix up some people to stay the night additional shoreline.” in Luverne — to attract Davis said the city has people to Luverne.”

Among some of the also talked of paving the road passed The Lake projects they continue with asphalt, and the to develop are the Rock building and then bring them down here to put on footings,” Davis said.

“But, you can’t start construction without an OK.”

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Saturday, March 28, 2020 H9

The Globe

SOME JOBS CAN’T STOP. To people in all kind of professions who have jobs that just keep getting harder:

THANK YOU. We’re with you.

dglobe.com

Annual Report

H10 Saturday, March 28, 2020

ZWART

He laughed softly.

“I’ve worked for a lot From Page H6 of them. There’s an awful lot of real good people in Edgerton.”

Building friendships Lloyd is a builder, Lloyd is nearing 60 s p e c i a l i z i n g in years in the construction both structures and business in Edgerton, relationships.

Neither specializing in home and task is especially easy. commercial building.

“At times it’s been a He pretty much knows roller coaster,” he says. everyone in town. And his Going the extra mile friends are many.

Indeed, Lloyd has “I always say,” said Lloyd with bright eyes, known heartache. He “there’s only two ways lost his wife, Carole, a you can become good few years ago. She passed friends with people. You away suddenly and either marry them or you unexpectedly. work with them.”

“It was the 18th of

August,” Lloyd said softly.

They’d been high school sweethearts and had been together for nearly 60 years.

“It was a shock.

Terrible,” he says.

His many friends in Edgerton provided comfort.

“People were so good, very good,” Lloyd said.

“A lot of real good people live here. I thank the Lord for them every day.”

So, too, are many in this community thankful for Lloyd.

Mike Drooger is a lifelong Edgerton man and

former business owner on Main Street who knows Lloyd well.

“He’s built or remodeled a high percentage of houses in town,” Mike said. “He built my grocery store back in ’93. He’s very good with our community.

He wants to help Edgerton grow and help out in any way he can.”

Mike said Lloyd goes the extra mile.

“He wants everybody to prosper,” Mike said. “He doesn’t care what church they go to, what school they go to, he just wants everyone to do well.”

The Globe Mike paused a moment, then related a story.

“My Dad had Parkinson’s disease,” he said. “It severely limited what he could do around the house. There were times we’d call Lloyd to do some maintenance work, and Lloyd would be right there.”

Often, Mike said, Lloyd would not accept any money for these tasks.

Neither would he boast about having helped a friend.

“He’s quiet,” Mike said. “He’s not a rahrah kind of guy.

Lloyd leads by example.

He’s respected, very respected for who he is.”

The 1960 Edgerton basketball team is legendary in Minnesota history.

The tall trophy won that weekend at Williams Arena sits majestically in the school’s trophy case, and though high school games are now played in an expanded newer gymnasium, the cramped court where the fantastic Flying Dutchmen won so often 60 years ago is still used today for P.E. Classes.

Cobbler with a cause

Leroy Prahm has kept shoe repair business going for more than 35 years

Scott Mansch/The Globe

Needing a job about 40 years ago, Leroy Parahm landed a non-paying position at Slayton Shoe Repair. He later bought the business. from Slayton High in 1947.

He served in the U.S. Air Force, then returned home and worked at several places that eventually went out of business.

Needing a job about 40 years ago, he landed a non-paying position at Slayton Shoe Repair, which had been owned by Paul Harmsen and, before that, Darris Snelling.

Leroy bought the business and, eventually, the building that once was home to the Murray County Herald newspaper.

That was more than 35 years ago. And he’s still in business.

“I don’t advertise or anything,” he says.

He doesn’t need to.

The best thing about it?

“I’m my own boss,” he smiles. “I can close up whenever I want.” But that doesn’t figure to be for years.

By Scott Mansch The Globe SLAYTON — Leroy Prahm’s store is filled with shoes in need of tender loving care.

They’ve come to the right place.

Leroy’s Slayton Shoe Repair is one of the few spots in this area where fatigued footwear can discover extended energy.

“It’s a dying trade,” Leroy says.

The building, on Slayton’s Broadway Avenue, for decades housed a newspaper business operated by the well-known Weber family. These days the office is less conspicuous, with Leroy working in relative obscurity.

But make no mistake: Leroy Prahm’s handiwork speaks volumes. For he is a cobbler with a cause.

Leroy, 73, graduated

“I like what I do,” Leroy says. “I always have.”

Many others in this town like him. And for good reason.

While Leroy’s vocation is repairing shoes, his avocation is restoring hope. One of the ways is his lengthy involvement with an endeavor called the Murray County Christmas Project. It’s an annual drive to collect gifts for needy children.

Bonnie Friesen directs the effort, which produces more than 100 donated presents from generous folks throughout Murray County. Leroy travels extensively to pick up the gifts and stores them in his shop.

His white beard is suitable, but he’d make a most slender Santa Claus.

No matter. The name fits.

“It’s for the kids,” Leroy says. “I do it for them.”

One day last month within the walls where once a newspaper thrived, Leroy sat between the silence of shoes. And he told stories.

Like all main streets in rural America, much is different from days gone by. Leroy recalls when business boomed and teenagers pounded endless laps in downtown Slayton.

“Things have slowed down a lot,” he says softly. “My business has for sure. I used to fix a lot of shoes. Now they’re all throwaways.”

The memories are worth saving. After all, it’s said there’s nothing more comfortable than an old shoe.

Leroy grins at the suggestion.

“I still fix them throwaways,” he says, eyes twinkling. “I sell Red Wings (boots), too.

I’ve got some regular customers.”

He’s also got some regular duties, at Christmas and throughout the year.

“I guess I’m a go-to guy,” Leroy smiles when discussing his volunteer work for the kids and others.

He looks after his older sister, Gwen. She lives in Fulda and doesn’t drive. Leroy’s work week includes chores for his sis.

“And,” he says, pointing to a man waiting quietly in the front of the store, “I take care of him.”

Sitting in the shoe repair this day is Jack Sweely, a Slayton native robbed of sight by diabetes years ago. Jack lives alone and would be sitting by himself in the dark these days, if not for Leroy, who

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walk the short path up a block and back on this familiar street.

But he couldn’t make it without Leroy.

“It’s my heart, I guess,” Leroy says with one more gentle smile. “I try to get him out of the house and do a little walking. I can’t quit now.”

Leroy has spent virtually his entire life in Murray County.

“I know everybody in town,” he says.

Enemies? He has none.

“I hope not,” he says.

“I hope not. I used to know a lot of the oldtimers, but now they’re all gone.”

Don’t call Leroy an oldtimer, though. He’s still a businessman intent on working for a living — and working to make his hometown a better place.

“I’m going to keep going as long as I can,” he says. “What are you going to do at home?”

Another smile.

“I’d rather come to work,” he says. “Plus I’ve got to get Jack down here every day.”

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picks up his old pal each afternoon. Jack has his own chair in the shop, his own routine that includes short walks up and back Slayton’s main street.

Many greet Jack upon entering the repair shop and Jack always responds.

It’s not a stretch to say that Leroy brings a little light to Jack’s life.

What would Jack say about Leroy?

“Nothing but good things,” Jack says. “He’s been a whole lot of help to me.

“He’s just a real good guy.”

Irene Moline and her husband, Jerry, own a business next to the shoe repair shop.

They’ve known Leroy for decades.

“He’s such a caring man; just a very, very caring man,” says Irene.

On this day, Jack sat quietly except when visitors came into the shop and said hello. Then Leroy told him to head out for his little walk.

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Annual Report

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Saturday, March 28, 2020 H11

Keeping, and spreading, the faith Brenda and Gene Hoyer make The Lantern a true community space

Submitted photo

Gene and Brenda Hoyer pose for a photo with their son, Bailey, who took his own life on Aug. 14, 2018. The Hoyers continue to honor Bailey with multiple efforts through The Lantern Ministries.

SIBLEY, Iowa — Brenda and Gene Hoyer purchased The Lantern Coffeehouse and Roastery on June 1, 2017.

In a little less than three years, they’ve endured tragedy — and given back plenty, thanks to their inspiring faith.

The Hoyers, from south-central Nebraska, came from the Minnesota community of Rice to Ashton, Iowa near the end of 2008. The couple had owned a large dairy farm in Rice, sold it and then arrived in northwest Iowa to build a new dairy farm near Melvin, which they then sold in January 2018.

The couple moved into Sibley in 2012, and still keep plenty busy.

Following a dream

Brenda, an avid reader, aspired to have her own business enterprise, but it took years before the right opportunity arose.

“One of my lifelong dreams was to have my own bookstore and coffeehouse, but we moved around so much, it just never happened,”

she shared. “Then, around Thanksgiving of 2016, we heard The Lantern was for sale, and we purchased it June 1, 2017.

The Hoyers continued roasting the coffee beans, making the specialty drinks and started serving lunches again after assuming The Lantern’s ownership and operations.

They quickly discovered that the regular customers kept coming back — along with new ones, too.

“People are pretty loyal to The Lantern, to the great coffee and to the establishment that Adam and Beth started in 2010,” Brenda said. “I also think the territory has increased ... I’m always amazed at the people that come in the door from places like Minneapolis, Kansas City, Lincoln and Omaha, as well as other countries.”

“The people that really like the coffee shop atmosphere, they’ll just google and find us while traveling,” Gene added.

to re-establish it as a nonprofit enterprise.

“We really wanted to do it for the glory of God,” Brenda explained.

“I really sensed the Lord saying, ‘If you’re going to be serious about this, you have to start it as a nonprofit,’ but Gene said it still needed to be run like a business.”

“It still needs to run in a way that you can receive those funds to give back to the community,” he clarified.

Brenda noted that The Lantern has funded gift cards and gas cards, as well as gifts to students in Haiti through a local Haitian man. There has also been an expansion of what Brenda calls The Lantern’s ministry that has come about through personal tragedy.

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By working to be positive influences on young people, it’s hoped that the youths can in turn give to the community and each other when needed.

“We encourage them to be the best person they can be. They can be the one that others look up to,” Brenda said.

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“Gene and I know Jesus, and we’re going to see him again someday. That’s our everyday hope.

“We want to turn our tragedy into helping those who are hurting today. We hope that when someone’s having a bad day, they’ll remember what we talked about that day — how they can go ride a bike, talk to a friend, talk to a counselor … the list goes on and on.”

Bailey’s Lodge

On Aug. 14, 2018, Gene and Brenda’s 17-yearold son, Bailey, took his own life.

The Hoyers already had A non-profit venture plans to convert the back When the Hoyers made room of The Lantern into the decision to buy The a family and children’s Lantern, they did so ministry area. When Bailey knowing they were going died, it wasn’t long before Serving the area’s Premium Coffee Lunch at 11 a.m. Daily Homemade pastries & cheesecakes Roasted small batches

“We want the community to use the lodge,” Brenda continued.

“We have a women’s Bible study, men’s Bible study, a Dave Ramsey financial peace group. ... There have been board meetings here, we’ve had youth groups meet here. The most special thing in my heart is the school, since January, has brought fifth- and sixth-graders in here to speak about suicide and depression prevention. We put these chairs all in a big circle and we talk about depression, and we talk about how we all have bad days and what positive things we can do to get out of a bad day.

“We talk about engaging them and educating and empowering them, and then they educate one another.

That’s the beauty.”

“I always say Bailey knew Jesus,” Brenda said.

001839448r1

By Ryan McGaughey rmcgaughey@dglobe.com

they decided to name the space after him, titling it Bailey’s Lodge. The Hoyers then opted to use the money given as memorials for Bailey for remodeling the room.

Brenda pointed out that Gene did a lot of the work in the remodeling of Bailey’s Lodge and also does all of the maintenance at The Lantern, “which is quite a task.” But the Hoyers truly see their work as a labor of love and faith.

“The chess kids meet back here twice a week and after playing chess they’ll play foosball, air hockey and ping pong — you can tell they just feel really comfortable here,” Brenda said. “What I really love, too, is it’s bringing the young moms in here; the kids will just play here and the moms can relax and visit for a while — and dads like to come in and play games with the kids, too.

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Annual Report

The Globe

Kid-friendly Windom’s Howard Davis has helped youths plenty, both inside and outside school

By Leah Ward lward@dglobe.com WINDOM — When Windom’s Howard Davis is asked about his lifetime of service to area youths, he will probably deflect the attention from himself by sharing stories about the kids he’s helped over the years.

Davis moved to Windom with his wife, Rosalee, in 1970, and a list of the people he’s served since then would require its own edition of The Globe.

He began as a guidance counselor at Windom High School, following five years of teaching junior high math in Tracy.

“Education, whether it’s college or not, is important,” Davis said.

He tried to emphasize that with Windom students throughout his nearly 30 years as a guidance counselor.

He wasn’t just helping students in his office. Davis also dedicated his free time to creating programs and resources for Windom’s young people.

In 1978, Davis led a group of community members in forming Windom Dollars for Scholars, a program that offered zero-interest loans for graduating seniors to attend college.

Loan recipients agreed to repay the balance after they finished school and went on to their careers.

Since then, the organization has split from its original parent organization to become Windom Education Honor Loans. It is still guided by the vision Davis outlined in 1978.

In 1985, Davis started Windom’s knowledge bowl team, and he served as its advisor until 1995. He also advised the student council and

Windom’s chapter of the National Honor Society, volunteering hundreds of hours of his personal time to help students grow and learn.

Davis was honored as the Windom Schools Teacher of the Year in 1983 and as the Minnesota Senior High Counselor of the Year in 1993.

“When I retired,” Davis recalled, “I didn’t know what I was going to do.

Three weeks later, I was bored silly.”

He quickly found a new way to serve: as a guardian ad litem for the Cottonwood and Jackson county court systems.

“Ad litem” is a Latin phrase meaning “for the lawsuit.” A guardian ad litem, Davis explained, “reports to the judge what’s in the best interest of the kid.” Guardians ad litem are appointed by courts for a variety of cases, including truancy, parental rights and juvenile crime.

Davis performed this work from 1999 until 2003, when a change in state law made his service untenable.

The state of Minnesota decided to adopt a new system of area guardian ad litem offices, and Davis would report from then on to an area office out of Worthington. Between the additional distance and the cutting of reimbursement for mileage and expenses, the new system just wasn’t going to work for Davis.

He then began doing foster care licensure for Cottonwood County Family Services.

“I was more my own boss,” Davis said. This job required a lighter caseload and mainly consisted of home inspections to ensure families were qualified to provide foster care.

WITZEL

Corned Beef, Comedy and Cabbage Show slated at From Page G5 the Community Center.

“It’s very cool,” Ann said.

It’s a growing family.

Fulda has an indoor Ann’s life is also dedicated swimming pool and a 24– to helping her town grow. hour fitness center. Of She’s part of a group course, the town is known dedicated to making for its Wood Day Days Fulda better. celebration, an event that “It’s our version of a Ann’s group has helped Chamber (of Commerce),” expand throughout she said. “I kept hearing the years.

‘There’s nothing to do.’

“Our community,” she So our group got busy. said, “is fantastic. People We don’t want to see here are willing to give Fulda die. This group is fantastic. They picked up their time, their product the ball and ran with it, — anything you ask for. and now we have all kinds Because everybody here of things we didn’t have.” loves Fulda and they want They expanded the to see it grow.”

Ann has worn many December Parade of Lights celebration to hats since marrying Jim include a day of activities and moving from her that includes frozen native Heron Lake to turkey bowling and fun Fulda. For decades she’s things for each age group. worked at the Pronto, a There’s a prom for the business that’s been in youngsters, right after Jim’s family since 1952, the high school event, in and has also driven bus for the school district. These the spring. she volunteers And on March 21, days, there’s the second annual part-time at The Store, a

Leah Ward/The Globe

Howard Davis is often found in this easy chair with a good book.

During this time, Davis moonlighted one day a week as a guidance counselor in Fulda. He also served as the legal guardian for a couple of youths with nowhere to go, and as a conservator for a blind man.

The time Davis spent with the foster system taught him compassion for social services employees.

“It’s remarkably tough,” he said. Social workers not only manage large caseloads, but try to help each individual child find a safe home, all while managing not to crumble under the emotional weight of some of the cases.

Davis also began to see life through the eyes of the children he helped. In many cases, kids attended alternative learning centers after struggling to succeed in traditional schools.

“ALCs are important,” Davis said. For children

who didn’t take to school naturally, sitting in a classroom for eight hours a day could be particularly challenging.

“If I had a full-time job I didn’t like, that would be terrible,” Davis said. “But I’ve had some choices in life.”

Davis stopped working for Family Services in 2006. Since then, he has kept up a steady flow of community service projects.

He has been a member of the Board of Trustees for the Robert and Helen Remick Charitable Trust since 1999. The Remick Foundation helps fund projects mostly in Jackson and Cottonwood counties, with a special focus on youths and the arts.

“It’s been fun,” Davis said of his 20-year run on the board. He loves hearing pitches from organizations with a plan and a passion for improving the community.

“That makes my life a little bit better,” he said.

Davis’s favorite part of serving on the board is making site visits to see the projects the Remick Foundation has helped fund.

“Those are some of the best days of my year,” he said.

For example, the Remick Foundation contributed to the Jackson County Central Schools’ Read 180 program, which provided reading intervention for students districtwide.

At the site visit, Davis was able to hear the kids describe how they had benefited from the program.

“They shared heartfelt stories about how this affected them and their families,” Davis said. “It gave them self-worth.

“That was money well spent,” he reflected.

Beginning in 1998, Davis has been doing woodworking projects

for community members and organizations, at no cost to them — although, depending on the project, sometimes they must provide the wood or help work on the piece.

Frequent beneficiaries of Davis’s woodworking skills are his grandchildren and the Windom American Lutheran Church. Other organizations that he’s helped with woodwork include Windom Area Library and Red Rock Ridge Learning Center.

Davis has had a notable impact on the community of Windom, as shown by his receipt of the Mayor’s Medal of Honor for community service in 2014 and the Education Minnesota Windom 2015 Friend of Education award.

Davis said he plans to continue giving back for as long as he is able. He wouldn’t want to miss a chance to brighten his own day by helping someone else.

new gift shop on Fulda’s Main Street that is off to a promising start.

Jim has always been impressed with Ann. “She puts 100 percent into whatever she does,” Jim said. “She’s been very good for this town. I’m real proud of her.”

Others here are, too.

“Ann Witzel has a real stake in this community,” said Brad Holinka, a

sports hometown hero who has never left his native Fulda. “She wants to see it thrive. And she’s not finished doing things for Fulda. She’s exactly the kind of people we need here. She’s made a huge difference in our town.”

Soon to be 57, it was suggested to Ann that slowing down might be enjoyable.

“No,” she said, smiling. “That’s not me.”

What is?

“I’m berserk on promoting Fulda,” she said. Minion maker?

Ann laughed.

“I’ve heard people call me lots of things, including crazy,” she said. “The one that really hits my heart is when folks call me ‘Mama Ann.’” Well, it’s said that a

mother’s love is forever.

Certainly Ann Witzel never plans to quit advocating for her community and its people.

“I think we’re unique in the sense that we understand if we don’t stick together we’ll fall apart,” Ann said. “People in Fulda are willing to stick together. Everyone has your back here, it’s a great thing.”

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Annual Report

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Saturday, March 28, 2020 H13

Wilmont’s Kremer retains passion for teaching WILMONT — Even though she retired two years ago, Roxanne Kremer’s love and enthusiasm for educating young people remains contagious.

Kremer, who grew up near Fulda and has lived in Wilmont for 30 years, was in the midst of a long-term substitute teaching assignment earlier this month in Olivia Salentiny’s kindergarten classroom at Worthington’s Prairie Elementary. Salentiny, on maternity leave, was ironically hired to replace Kremer when she retired in 2018.

“Teaching is a passion,” Kremer said in an interview shortly after students had departed for the day. “When people ask me ‘Why do you sub?,’ it’s because I’m very passionate about teaching. I love being able to still come into a classroom with the goal of hooking children into learning and seeing that sparkle in their eyes — seeing the excitement in their learning.”

Following her dream

Kremer, the daughter of Jim and Aletha Gerdes, was raised on a farm just outside of Fulda.

“We worked and did all the different farm chores back then,” she said. “We had pigs, cows, chickens, ducks, geese … it was a real old-time farm. “ She and her brother kept themselves busy at school as well as at home, though not exactly in the same activities.

“Of course there weren’t girls’ athletics at the time, so I was active in band, choir, marching band, concert band and speech, and I was in a musical,” Kremer shared.

She was also an officer in the Future Homemakers of America. “You just dived into these other areas because sports wasn’t an option.”

Kremer was one of 90 graduates of the Fulda High School Class of 1974. (The class of 2019, comparatively, had 23 graduates). She then attended Concordia College in Moorhead, earning a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education while pursuing a non-teaching joint history and political science major and a science teaching minor.

She did student-teaching in elementary grades before completing her undergraduate studies.

“Back then, you’ve got to keep in mind it was challenging to get a full-time teaching job,” Kremer said. “It was the late ’70s and teaching jobs were hard to come by, so it was good to be well-rounded.”

Kremer was hired as a third-grade teacher in Plummer, just south of

Thief River Falls. She had 33 students, but she had a job in education — that was all that mattered.

“I was seven hours away from Fulda, but I had a teaching job and that was my goal.” she said. “I loved teaching — that was my passion, and that was my goal since I was a little girl.”

Kremer did the gas station’s books for three years (“in long-hand … without QuickBooks,” she pointed out, laughing) and did substitute teaching in Adrian, Fulda and Worthington.

She still maintained a desire to teach fulltime, and she soon had another chance.

Moving around

Teaching in Worthington

Plummer was Kremer’s home for only a year. She met her future husband, Jim, back in southwest Minnesota through an acquaintance, and decided she should return as close to the area as possible.

She found work in Magnolia, teaching both second and third grade for one year and third grade in her second year.

Her husband then got a new job, and the couple moved to Hanska (near New UIm).

“I did subbing in Hanska and Madelia during that time,” Kremer remembered. “I did longterm subbing in Madelia for a teacher on maternity leave … but the gal I was subbing for came back the next fall.”

Meanwhile, Kremer furthered her education by attending Minnesota State University, Mankato and securing her kindergarten endorsement.

She’d previously had a license for first through sixth grade.

“I just wanted to open every door that I could to make myself marketable,” she said, Still, Kremer didn’t latch onto another fulltime teaching position for a few years. Her husband lost his job as a relief hog buyer with Armour’s when the company sold out. In need of additional income, she sold insurance for Bankers Life and Casualty Co., for which she “was on the road and did a lot of cold calling” because “it was just something I had to do.” Then, she stayed home while she and her husband started their family.

The couple’s first child, Andrew, was born in 1985, and a daughter, Abby, followed in 1987.

They had been living in Corning, Iowa, but then a new opportunity arose.

“We heard about a gas station that was for sale in Wilmont,” Kremer said. “Jim’s brother was a gas station owner in Iona, and Jim had always said that he wanted to have his own business. He had moved around so much ... and he had worked for so many people and wanted to be his own boss.”

The Kremers bought the Wilmont gas station in March 1990, and owned and operated the business until selling it in 2013.

“Our kids learned a lot from the business — things that you just don’t learn out of a book,” said Kremer, adding that their third child, Steven, was born in 1991.

Kremer recalled subbing frequently for Sandy Ahlberg, Bev Meyer and Beth Westra, who were team teaching in a multi-age setting at West Elementary in Worthington.

“Bev called me up one day and she goes, ‘I’m going into retirement,” Kremer said. “My first reaction was, I was devastated. I was feeling bad, but then she said, ‘You need to apply for this job.”’

Meyer — who Kremer fondly remembers as saying of her retirement, “I came in with a ditto and out with a fax” — ended her full-time teaching career in 1993, and Kremer was indeed hired to take her place.

“God works in mysterious ways,” Kremer marveled.

Her first few years as a Worthington Independent School District 518 employee were spent in a multi-age setting, teaching fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders at West Elementary with Sandy Ahlberg and Beth Westra. Then, her last year at West she taught kindergarten with Connie Tinklenberg before the opening of the new Prairie Elementary building in fall 2001.

Kremer went on to tackle that “challenge” for 16 years. She taught in Worthington fulltime for 25 years before becoming eligible to retire via the “Rule of 90” (age combined with years of service) in 2018. Among the accolades she received during that service were District 518 Teacher of the Year in 2012, as well as Minnesota Veterans of Foreign Wars Teacher of the Year for kindergarten through fifth grade in 2016.

“I also received my master’s degree from SMSU (Southwest Minnesota State University, in Marshall) in 2000,” Kremer added.

“Sandy Ahlberg, Judy Heitkamp and I were team teaching at West Elementary in the 4-5-6 multi age setting. The three of us decided to pursue our master’s together, so for one weekend a month for two years we studied, researched and proudly graduated with our master’s degree in educational leadership.”

After many years in the classroom and prestigious recognition, Kremer is

Cassie J Photography

Roxanne and Jim Kremer stand in front of their Wilmont home in this September 2019 photo.

Cassie J Photography

Roxanne Kremer poses with then-kindergarten student Will Brandner, a member of the Worthington High School Class of 2020. still rewarded by being a long-term sub — although she noted now that she “came in with a ditto, and now students are using iPads and smart boards.”

“I love coming in and love teaching … and I get a little bit of a paycheck,” she said with a smile.

Retirement, though, allows her the time for such activities as taking care of her granddaughter for three months last year and doing some traveling (she and her husband are soon going on a cruise).

Jim, who now drives the Heartland Express bus around Nobles County during afternoons, grew up in Iona and is a U.S. Navy and Vietnam veteran who has long been involved with the Wilmont VFW — as she has, too.

“I’ve been secretary (for the Wilmont VFW)

001839041r1

By Ryan McGaughey rmcgaughey@dglobe.com

for many years, and it’s a big part of our community with the activities and dances that go on there,” Kremer said.

“I’m also the organist at Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Fulda.

I was confirmed and married in that church, and I never dreamed that my kids would come back and get confirmed in that church. I’ve also been heavily involved in many church activities and committees.”

Kremer is particularly thankful for the support she’s received through the years from her husband.

“It’s very important when you’re a teacher to have a supportive spouse,” she said. “We really want to give kudos to our spouses. Jim was just tremendous during my teaching career.”

She’s also happy that her kids are on strong

career paths. Andrew now works for Garney Constru ction in Texas, Abby is a nurse practitioner with Mayo in Rochester and Steven is an operational manager with US Autoforce in Sioux Falls.

“It’s because of the good education that they got in District 518,” she said. “That prepared them to continue on and get their college degrees, and now they’re doing very well professionally.”

Finally, Kremer is grateful for the life she and her family have enjoyed in Wilmont.

“The community supported us in our business, and everyone knows each other. My kids loved growing up in Wilmont — it was small enough that everyone was a parent to everyone. It has been a great place to call home.”

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Annual Report

H14 Saturday, March 28, 2020

FAITH

just being kind and gentle to one another.”

Bailey’s Lodge falls From Page H11 under the umbrella of “We talk about, ‘Who do The Lantern Ministries, you look up to and why?’ as does the coffeehouse.

You can be like that person, As a non-profit, the you can be that positive organization also has influence.’ We talk about a board of directors. It what smiling and laughing additionally has about do to our chemistry … and 10 part-time employees,

including volunteers who simply want to play their small parts in forwarding The Lantern’s positive mission. Brenda is also excited about a new assistant manager (Frances Wiese) who’s about to graduate college and is getting married in June before coming on

The Globe

board in May and moving back to Sibley.

One of the Hoyers’ two daughters is also one of their customers. Natasha, 36, resides in Waverly, Nebraska, and operates Patina Joe, a boutique/ coffee shop in Eagle, Nebraska, that buys its coffee beans from The

Lantern. Kelsey, another daughter, lives in Canada.

Brenda and Gene now have five grandchildren.

Though the Hoyers have continued to reach out within their community, they’re also grateful for the support they’ve received along the way.

“The whole community

has just been amazing, honestly,” Brenda said.

“They’ve supported Gene and I through this tragedy, and they’ve supported The Lantern.

“Sibley feels like home.

We’ve been here long enough where we’ve fallen in love with the community and the people.”

Changing of the guard, but experience still rules Steinle, Johnson succeeded Hubbard at local Schwalbach Ace Hardware

Tim Middagh/The Globe

Dean Johnson (from left) Deb Steinle and Gaylen Hubbard, managers of Worthington’s Schwalbach Ace Hardware store in recent years, present a united front.

Hubbard managed what was then True Value Hardware from 1998 to 2003, when the store became Schwalbach Ace. Hubbard continued to direct the store until October 2017, when Johnson took the reins. Steinle assumed the title of manager in October 2019.

By Jane Turpin Moore The Globe WORTHINGTON — The hardware business isn’t easy, but despite a relatively recent change in management, Schwalbach Ace Hardware of Worthington remains in capable hands.

Following the October 2017 retirement of hardware stalwart Gaylen Hubbard, longtime employee Dean Johnson managed the store for over a year until he, too, retired from full-time work.

And on Oct. 1, 2019, sixyear Ace employee Deb Steinle became the store’s newest manager.

New view

Steinle is a local retail veteran. She and her husband John have lived in Brewster for 40 years.

After devoting herself to helping raise the Steinles’ three children (they now have 11 grandchildren), Steinle was the youth director at First United Methodist Church for four years. She then worked at the Worthington JC Penney store for 15 years before joining the Ace staff.

“There is so much to learn in hardware, but that’s one of the challenges I like about it; it forces me to constantly learn and grow,” said Steinle.

She credits the Ace employees — there are 14 full- and part-time staff at the Oxford Avenue store — for having helpful, hardworking attitudes.

“We try and be supportive of each other,” said Steinle, “and of the new people coming up because there is such a broad range of areas to become knowledgeable about in order to best serve our customers.”

Steinle cited hardware, ele ct ric al, pai n t , plumbing, tools, kitchen and bath fixtures, lighting, automotive, RV/boating, pet supply, seasonal items and giftware as several — but not all — of the item categories for which Ace stocks multiple products.

She says she enjoys meeting new people

and greeting returning customers, and she is also grateful that both Johnson and Hubbard continue in part-time positions at Ace. “I appreciate that both Dean [Johnson] and Gaylen [Hubbard] are still here,” said Steinle. “If questions come along, they’re always helpful and offer support.

“Helping people fill their hardware needs is what we’re all about.”

Hubbard’s hardware legacy

While Steinle’s hardware knowledge stretches back slightly less than a decade, Hubbard was born to the business and can’t remember ever not being in a hardware store.

“I grew up in Bigelow, and my dad owned Hubbard Hardware there,” said Hubbard.

In fact, Hubbard’s greatgrandfather, M.J. Hubbard, first arrived in Alcester, S.D., from the Lake Erie area via prairie schooner (prior to 1900).

“Things weren’t going well there, so he moved to Bigelow and opened a hardware and general store there,” said Hubbard.

By the time Hubbard himself was a little shaver, Hubbard Hardware was a third-generation store, having transferred first to Hubbard’s grandpa Ralph and then to his dad, Ronald.

“When I was old enough to push a broom — about 5 or 6 years old — my dad put me to work,” said Hubbard. “I liked to hang around there, and if there was nothing else for me to do, I’d stack washers or straighten out bolt bins, things that didn’t really need doing but kept me busy.”

Hubbard, who admits he’s always felt comfortable in the hardware environment, has historically noteworthy memories of Hubbard Hardware.

“When television first came out in the ’50s, my dad started selling TVs, and that involved putting antennae up on people’s roofs,” said Hubbard. “He was a pretty good climber.

“And with all the TVs going in the store, Saturday night wrestling or boxing matches were popular,” Hubbard continued.

“Dad couldn’t come home right at closing time because all the guys were at the store watching the fights.”

Hubbard also remembers his father and grandfather repairing horse harnesses and canvases that were used with combines.

“But that was all in the ’50s and very early ’60s,” said Hubbard. “So many things over the years have come and gone.”

Enter: Coast to Coast, preceding Ace

Hubbard Hardware itself landed in the “come and gone” column when it closed in 1967 as business gravitated toward larger towns. Hubbard did so, too; he began working for Don Motl at Worthington’s Coast to Coast hardware on 10th Street in 1969.

“And around 1978 we moved into the former Woolworth building, which is now Top Asian Foods,” said Hubbard.

“The store was purchased by Schwalbach Ace in 2002 or 2003, and we moved to the Oxford Street location in 2005.”

Hubbard lends both continuity and experience to Schwalbach Ace, where he continues working 12 to 13 hours each week.

“Way back in the ’50s and ’60s, every ticket was handwritten so you had to add up everything,” said Hubbard.

“Even into the ’80s we had to write out each individual pipe fitting.”

And speaking of pipes, Hubbard observes that while “in the old days” they were usually iron or copper, today they aren’t.

“Everything’s going to plastic,” said Hubbard.

“There’s some galvanized pipe, but it’s mainly plastic.

“And light bulbs… there’s no such thing as a 100-watt bulb anymore,” he noted. “And nobody seems to use oil-based paint now; everything is latex, and we even use a computer to help mix the paint.”

Hardware specialist at rest

Walking around with his head full of knowledge tidbits regarding thousands of different things, Hubbard has found ways to unwind from hardware.

With his wife (the former Janice Ling, whom he married in 1971), Hubbard particularly enjoys biking and baseball.

“We try to get on the bikes and ride whenever it’s nice out,” he said.

“We like riding around Worthington, but we also take our bikes and go to Sioux Falls, Okoboji, Lanesboro, Mankato or the Twin Cities.

“Sometimes we’ll go up to see a Twins game and ride bikes the next day.”

One advantage Hubbard has over many other recreational bicycling enthusiasts: He also knows how to fix bikes.

“I’ve done a lot of bike repair,” he chuckled.

The Hubbards have three grown children — a daughter and two sons — and 12 grandchildren.

In addition, Hubbard’s 91-year-old mother, June, continues to thrive, so a broad range of family events keeps him occupied.

“And I also refurbish pool tables,” said Hubbard, not one to let much grass grow under his feet.

Hubbard has plenty of incentive to stay active and keep a hand in hardware for the indefinite future.

“I’ve been in the hardware business for over 50 years,” he confirmed, “and I’m still going.”

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Annual Report

The Globe

Saturday, March 28, 2020 H15

Finding joy during the tough times of ag Edwards encourages balance with work and family

By Julie Buntjer jbuntjer@dglobe.com WORTHINGTON — The youngest of five girls to be raised on a multigenerational dairy farm in Bigelow Township, DiDi Edwards had never really planned to return to that very homestead to begin a career in farming, but she did.

Now, as she and her husband, Jason, raise their two children just across the state line south of Bigelow, they can’t see raising their family anywhere else.

“When you have the kids riding in the tractor or taking them out to see the calves, and nieces and nephews enjoying the farm — doing things they don’t get to do at home — you realize how great you have it,” said Edwards.

It’s the little things — the joy and smile of a child — that can make all the difference to farming families who have been hampered by the weather, markets and politics these past few years.

Edwards recently wrote an article for Minnesota Farm Bureau’s monthly publication about the importance of finding balance at a time when agriculture can leave one feeling tired and frustrated. Times have changed from the days when her grandpa was farming — when social interaction with neighbors was commonplace. Now, people are more apt to connect through social media and less in faceto-face conversation in the farmyard.

Her message to farmers was of encouragement — to put a concerted effort into more socialization with their neighbors and quality time with family.

“Our children can reignite the spark we may have lost or we can ignite a spark in them to get started in an industry that we love,” Edwards wrote.

Season of discovery

When Edwards graduated from Worthington High School in 2002, her plan was to study biology in college with thoughts of pursuing a career in either the medical field or veterinary science.

She started out at Minnesota West Community & Technical College in Worthington, but after transferring to the University of Minnesota, she saw the cutthroat attitude of students pursuing medical careers and decided that wasn’t her kind of crowd.

“I got involved in the Gopher Dairy Club and started taking classes with dairy production,” she said. “That was what I knew and what I was good at. I felt comfortable.”

Through her coursework, Edwards would join her classmates on visits to dairy farms, where they would evaluate the farms and offer ideas on ways they could improve their operation.

“Some asked if I wanted to come and work on their farm, and that makes you feel good as a person,” Edwards said.

When she graduated in 2007 with a degree in biology with an emphasis in dairy production science and pre-veterinary science, she knew she wanted to return to the family farm in southwest Minnesota.

“I think when I came back, you’re somewhat naive — you don’t understand the full business of farming,” she said. “Some kids love driving the tractor or working with livestock and you don’t realize the pressure of farming.

You don’t understand the pressure of the markets.

“In agriculture, you have very uncontrollable things — you have weather, you have markets,” she added. “It’s challenging.

It’s not always fun, but

Tim Middagh/The Globe

DiDi Edwards stands with some of the calves on her family’s farm south of Worthington.

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yet it’s enjoyable — it’s something new every day.”

Edwards said that after college, people say you should always work for other farmers or in a different job before returning to the family farm. For her, though, she feared the farm might not be there to come back to someday if she didn’t do so right away.

“At that time, it was questionable whether we were going to stay farming or not because it was difficult to find help,” she said. “I came back because I didn’t want that opportunity to be lost — of not being able to come back.”

Season of learning

When Edwards returned to the farm after college, it wasn’t with the idea that she was going to take over the operation.

Rather, she viewed it as a learning opportunity.

“I didn’t necessarily have a job description,” she recalled. “It was do anything and everything, kind of what needed to be done.”

That meant feeding cows and calves, milking cows, picking rock, doing the artificial insemination work, keeping records and scraping manure.

She also helped with hay baling, though she wasn’t much involved with the rest of field work and crop production.

“Driving tractor was kind of the guys’ club — that’s what hired hands wanted to do, and the women did the livestock stuff,” she said. “Now I’m starting to have to learn more of everything — planting and combining, all of it.

“The other day I was scooping out the front of our calf barn and taking it out one shovel at a time,” she added.

Farming is a profession filled with physical labor, seven days a week and every holiday, through winter snowstorms and summer rains.

“When you have nice days your hours are way, way longer, and when it’s 20-below, you try to do the work you need to do and then get inside,” Edwards said. “That’s sometimes hard for people to understand — outside of those who aren’t on the farm.”

The physically demanding labor of a farmer has led to an epidemic of opioid use — an issue that was brought to the light within the past couple of years and one Minnesota Farm

Tim Middagh/The Globe

DiDi and her husband, Jason Edwards are shown here with their two children, 11-month-old Easton and 2-year-old Josie.

Bureau is working to address.

Mental health among farmers has also been one of the focal points of Minnesota Farm Bureau within the past year.

“Farmers and farm families feel the weight of farm pressure,” said Edwards, who serves on the state’s Promotion and Education Committee for Farm Bureau. “It’s hard for (farmers) to ask for help.

“If farmers are feeling burdened, we have a farm hotline now,” she said.

“It’s OK to ask for help — it’s OK to say that you’re struggling.”

Edwards said what gets her through the struggles of farming are prayer, being a mom and being a wife.

She and Jason married in 2016, and are parents to 2-year-old Josie and 11-month-old Easton. Jason works for O’Brien County Implement in Sheldon and grows crops on his family farm, in addition to helping DiDi’s parents, Dean and Carol Christopherson, with field work. He also serves as secretarytreasurer for Nobles County Farm Bureau.

Season of renewal

Edwards, and all of her sisters before her, served as a Nobles County Dairy Princess. She held the title for four years, and in 2006 was a finalist for Princess Kay of the Milky Way. She still works to promote the dairy industry by serving on the Nobles County Dairy Association board and managing the malt stand during the Nobles County Fair.

“Any time you go anywhere, sit at a table and tell people you are in the dairy industry and was a dairy princess,” Edwards said. “That just opens up all kinds of questions.”

The public is interested in learning about agriculture — about where their food comes from — and Edwards said it’s up to farmers to tell their story. If they don’t, the story might be told for them.

“That’s where a lot of misperceptions come from,” she said. “We need to be the face for agriculture and not let other industries put faces out there.”

Edwards sees this as important not only for

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her future in agriculture, but for the future of her children.

“I want to have my kids involved in agriculture somehow,” she said.

“I think growing up in agriculture instilled a lot of good things in me. I just pray the agriculture industry can stay moving forward and growing instead of shrinking and shrinking.”

Edwards recently did a project for Midwest Dairy and Minnesota Milk in which she called dairies across southwest Minnesota to see if they were still in business.

What she found was that at least four dairy farms in Nobles County got out of the business within the last couple of years.

“I don’t really know how big some of the dairies were,” she said, noting they were all family farms.

It has been a tough few years for agriculture, and for dairy farmers in particular, but as all farmers know, the business of agriculture operates on a cycle of highs and lows.

This season of challenges will one day turn into a season of renewal.

Annual Report

H16 Saturday, March 28, 2020

The Globe

Moreno overcomes tragedy to forge a new path in Minnesota Multiple jobs are all for the love of family

By Jane Turpin Moore The Globe WORTHINGTON — Experts say it’s healthiest for adults to sleep at least seven hours nightly, but try telling that to David Moreno.

“My record for going without sleep is seven days,” grinned Moreno, although the memory isn’t necessarily a pleasant one.

“When I finally had time to sleep, I slept 18 hours straight.”

Moreno, 26, is either a born hustler or one of the most determined, hard-working young men you’ll ever meet — not to mention one whose keen sense of familial duty drives him.

A native of the south Texas town of Edinburg, Moreno is an older brother to three younger siblings.

His parents valued both education and family cooperation and involved the Moreno kids in the family’s (vehicle) windshield replacement business.

“I studied French in high school and college,” said Moreno, who is also completely fluent in English and Spanish.

“French isn’t too useful around here,” he jokingly observed.

David was in his second year as a scholarship student at Texas Tech University when an unthinkable, life-altering tragedy struck.

“My parents died together in a car accident,” he reported soberly. “I had

to leave college to help take care of my siblings.”

His younger brother, Alejandro, was then 12, and his sisters (Camelia and Alejandara) were still in high school.

Not only did Moreno have to abandon college (he was maintaining a 3.8 GPA at the time), but he was also required to pay back portions of his scholarship due to his premature departure.

In order to support his siblings and himself, retain the family business and meet his other financial obligations, Moreno began working practically non-stop.

“I had five jobs,” he tallied, again flashing a good-natured grin.

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, Moreno worked at an O’Reilly’s Auto Parts store in Edinburg; from 11 p.m. to 6 or 7 a.m., he was on the clock at a convenience store. On Wednesday and Saturday evenings, he put in time selling concessions at a local soccer stadium.

“And I replaced glass and windshields on the weekends,” Moreno said.

Other available evenings were spent working as a nightclub bouncer.

“That’s where I got this,” he said, pointing to a scar on his forehead.

“It was from a Corona bottle.”

With a schedule like that, when could he possibly sleep?

“I slept two hours every two days,” said Moreno.

Coca-Cola was his caffeinated lifeline of choice.

But clearly such a pace couldn’t be maintained forever, and when Moreno learned from friends that wages were higher in certain northern states, he put his oldest sister, Camelia, in charge at home and prepared for a change.

“I decided to buy a bus ticket to New York,” said Moreno.

On Dec. 1, 2018, the guy who’d grown up mere miles from Mexico’s northern border was about to encounter winter.

“The bus had a six-hour layover in Omaha because of a blizzard,” said Moreno, who had never before even seen snow.

During the long layover, the diehard New England Patriots fan heard from other travelers that the Patriots would be playing the Vikings in the Twin Cities.

“That turned out to be wrong,” he smiled. “They were actually going to be playing in Boston.”

But Moreno, thinking “What the heck,” changed his ticket to accommodate a stop in Minneapolis.

Mother Nature — and fate — had a different idea.

“We got as far as Albert Lea when the snow was so bad that the driver told us he wasn’t going any further,” said Moreno.

After sitting at a frozen truck stop for over an hour, an older couple talked with him, learned how

he happened to become stranded in a snowstorm, and offered to drive him — with great care and well-honed Minnesota winter road skills— to their Worthington home.

“They gave me a ride to Worthington and put me up at the Day’s Inn for a night,” said Moreno.

He knows his Good Samaritans’ first names were Jan and Thomas, but despite being very grateful for their assistance, he failed to get their last name.

“They had also told me there were good-paying jobs in Worthington,” he added.

When the weather cleared the following day, Moreno visited the local Workforce office and was hired on the spot for a job at JBS. “I started right away, working full-time on the loading dock.”

Moreno rented a room in a house on Diagonal Road from Alfredo Vasquez — “a fantastic landlord,” according to Moreno — and that connection led to his second local gig.

“Alfredo had a medical appointment and I went along to help interpret for him,” said Moreno.

The clinic receptionist, immediately impressed with Moreno’s calm demeanor and bilingual abilities, suggested he become a medical interpreter. She handed him papers with the necessary information.

Moreno followed

JBS is the world’s largest producer of animal protein with beef, pork, poultry & lamb operations around the globe. The facility in Worthington produces fresh pork and employs over 2,200 team members with an annual payroll of more than 100 million dollars.

JBS takes pride in its local impact on Worthington & its surrounding communities, with over 1 billion dollars paid annually to local farmers for hog procurement and giving back to the communities in which its team members live and work.

Worthington, Minnesota

Jane Turpin Moore/The Globe

David Moreno is always on the move as he strives to support his younger sisters and their quest for college degrees, even as he defers completing his own education while working multiple jobs. through, earning his certification for interpreting a few months later and thus adding “part-time medical interpreter” to the everexpanding list of jobs on his resume.

Currently, Moreno’s two sisters are attending college at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; his brother Alejandro is now 16. Moreno hustles to help pay his sisters’ college and living expenses, and through cooperative effort they’ve to date been able to hang on to the family’s windshield repair business (his oldest sister now handles the business operations).

While Moreno has recently transitioned to different positions — he is working a day shift at Highland Manufacturing and an evening shift at

Hy-Vee, while still fitting in occasional medical interpreting appointments on his off-days — he found time this winter to craft a few snowmen and snow sculptures, proudly sending the photos home to his marveling siblings in snow-free south Texas.

“I’d like to return to college and eventually become a lawyer,” said Moreno, who has two years of undergraduate education in political science and paralegal studies yet to complete.

“My goal is to finish once my sisters earn their college degrees.”

With a work ethic like Moreno’s, gambling that he’ll someday achieve his dream — with or without adequate sleep — is as safe as a bet on his beloved New England Patriots.

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