Generations (April 2023)

April 21, 2023

Willmar Civic Center FREE ADMISSION

Come make connections at Life Connections

Attendees mingle in the vendor booth area during

event will take place April 21 with vendors,

BY SHELBY LINDRUD West Central Tribune

WILLMAR — For its 22nd year, Life Connections will be taking over the Willmar Civic Center, providing seniors from the region a great place to meet up with friends and make connections with businesses and organizations geared toward their community.

Doors open at 8 a.m. April 21 to the general public. Attendees to the free event can begin the day with a hot breakfast from Chris Cakes Pancakes.

The Outstanding Senior Award will be given to Paul Hedin at 9:45 a.m.

KARE-11’s Boyd Huppert, of Land of 10,000 Stories fame, will be the featured guest speaker at the event. He will take the stage at 10:30 a.m.

respect and compassion. We provide a safe and nurturing environment because we know that we work where THEY live.

We provide RN services available 24 hours a day (onsite or on-call), homecooked meals, medication management, linen and laundry services, housekeeping, daily personcentered activities and so much more.

Photos by Macy Moore / West Central Tribune

the Life Connections event at the Willmar Civic Center on Friday, April 22, 2022. This year's

entertainment and guest speaker Boyd Huppert.

Tim Cook of Chris Cakes Catering out of Pocahontas, Iowa, flips a pancake to the plate of Jeff Asche during the Life Connections event at the Willmar Civic Center on Friday, April 22, 2022. Chris Cakes will again be serving pancakes at the 2023 event.

There will also be speakers at 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m.

There will also be plenty of opportunities for fun and entertainment. The Kingery Family will fill the arena with music at 11:30 a.m. Visitors will be able to test their luck during a game of BINGO at 1:30 p.m. Closing out the event at 2 p.m. will be the Larry Olson Band, a well-known regional Polka group.

Throughout the day, vendors from various businesses and organizations will be on hand to speak with attendees. In past years, vendors have come from senior housing facilities, health care providers, financial institutions and nonprofits.

Life Connections is put on by the West Central Tribune, Southwest Initiative Foundation and St. Cloud Surgical Center.

Generations is published alongside the West Central Tribune’s Life Connections event each April.

People ages 55 and older are invited to write stories and submit pictures or other artwork for publication in this yearly magazine.

We recognize that senior citizens have much knowledge and experience. What better way to share that with the community than by writing an article for publication?

We invite all interested senior citizens to contribute articles. They may deal with serious issues, or tell human interest stories.

Photos or other graphics may be included with the submission of your article to help illustrate the piece.

If you need a photo returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Try to keep articles to within 500 words. Articles may be sent to: Life Connections, West Central Tribune, Box 839, Willmar, MN 56201; or emailed to news@wctrib.com with Life Connections in the subject line. For additional information, email news@ wctrib.com.

Members of the Kingery Family perform during the Life Connections event at the Willmar Civic Center on Friday, April 22, 2022. The musical group have been a staple at Life Connections for several years and will be performing at the 2023 event as well.

Kingery Family, Larry Olson Band to strike up some tunes

WEST CENTRAL TRIBUNE

The Kingery Family and the Larry Olsen Band are ready to take the stage at the 2023 Life Connections event April 21 at the Willmar Civic Center.

The Kingery Family, of the Atwater-Grove City area, will begin their set at 11:30 a.m. Their musical presentation is sponsored by Whitney Music Center of Willmar.

The group began as a family of 10 — Mike, Chris and their eight children — singing and ministering together through music. It has grown to include three sons-in-law and seven grandchildren. They have enjoyed singing together for the past 19 years. They sing primarily gospel bluegrass music, while also incorporating fiddle,

The Kingery Family will once again take the stage at Life Connections, April 21, 2023, at the Willmar Civic Center. Contributed

patriotic, Americana and a capella styles. Their combination of tight harmonies, uplifting songs and family unity are sure to encourage all.

The Larry Olsen Band will entertain the afternoon crowd beginning at 2 p.m., following afternoon BINGO. The band’s appearance is sponsored by Pioneer Public TV.

The Larry Olsen Band — featuring Larry Olsen, Al Drage, Dale Tolk and Rich Roepke — is a four-man concertina group out of Lake Benton. The group was formed in 1982, and got its start as the Larry Olsen Show, performing polka favorites around Minnesota and the Dakotas. With toe-tapping rhythm ready and set, get your dancing shoes on.

The Larry Olsen Band - clockwise, from top left: Larry Olsen, Al Drage, Dale Tolk, and Rich Roepke

WEST CENTRAL TRIBUNE

WILLMAR — The selection of an outstanding senior for the year is a favorite feature of Life Connections. This year will be the 13th year of the award. The award will be presented at 9:45 a.m. Friday, April 21.

The Outstanding Senior Award is given to an individual age 50 or older who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment that benefits the community and its citizens.

Leadership qualities include creativity, volunteerism, responsibility, problem-solving, respectfulness, cooperation and organizational skills.

Nominees must live in Kandiyohi, Swift, Chippewa, Renville, Meeker, Pope or Stearns counties.

The winner will receive a $100 award, plus $100 donated to the charity of his or her choice. In addition, the person providing the nomination will receive $50. Nominations must include a description of the projects, activities and/or volunteerism the person has been involved in; the end results and benefits of the individual’s efforts and contributions; and comments as to how this person’s efforts have helped to make their community a better place. For more information, call 320-214-4317 or email csteffel@wctrib.com. Sponsor of the award is West Central Sanitation of Willmar.

2022 RECIPIENT

Larry Cain was named the 2022 Outstanding Senior after more than 30 years of work in the community to help people nearing the end of their lives and help to their families.

In 1994, Cain took a 16-hour hospice volunteer training course and became a patient volunteer, in addition to remaining an advocate for the program.

In the award nomination submitted by Deb Van Buren, volunteer services manager of Carris Health — Rice Hospice, she said Cain went above and beyond, visiting patients every day and offering respite care to caregivers, donating nearly 2,000 hours of his time and driving more than 3,000 miles in his service to the hospice program.

“During the COVID pandemic, when most volunteers were not willing to make visits, our vaccinated friend was willing to mask up and make visits, donating over 400 hours during a time of pandemic,” Van Buren said.

Van Buren called Cain a community hero, sharing stories of Cain’s generosity, whether it was purchasing fast food or donating an electric wheelchair or even purchasing the gravestone for a patient who died because the family couldn’t afford to do so.

“He has touched the lives of hundreds of people and continues to look for opportunities to bless others with his generous heart,” Van Buren said.

- Deb Van Buren

[Larry Cain] has touched the lives of hundreds of people and continues to look for opportunities to bless others with his generous heart

Boyd Huppert has 10,000 stories to tell, including his own

Contributed / Craig Dirkes, Salvation Army Boyd Huppert, broadcast journalist with KARE-11, has been telling stories under the Land of 10,000 Stories for nearly 19 years. On April 21, he will be sharing some of those stories on the Life Connections stage at the Willmar Civic Center. He has shared nearly 500 stories, such as the one with Mickey Nelson, left, who at 100 walked as a fundraiser for the Salvation Army. Pictured is Nelson, KARE-11 photographer Chad Nelson and Huppert.

BY SHELBY LINDRUD West Central Tribune

WILLMAR — The featured speaker at the 2020 Life Connections event in Willmar was intended to be KARE-11’s Boyd Huppert, bestknown for his Land of 10,000 Stories news series. The coronavirus pandemic put a stop to that, causing the cancellation of the event for both 2020 and 2021.

Huppert was asked back in 2022, but he had to decline. He was undergoing treatment for multiple myloma, a type of blood cancer. Due to his treatments, Huppert couldn’t be around large crowds.

Every family is unique and special. We are committed to providing a variety of options such as Aqua Green Cremation. The eco-friendly gentle alternative to flame cremation.

Now, three years after he was suppose to take the stage, Huppert is coming to Life Connections.

“Here we are, finally,” Huppert said. Huppert will speak at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 21, at the Willmar Civic Center. He said he plans to speak about his career, the interesting people he has met and the stories behind the stories he has been able to tell.

“Not all the interesting things make it on the air,” Huppert said.

While he is now a well-known broadcast journalist, Huppert started life on a dairy farm in Wisconsin.

Contributed / Boyd Huppert

After receiving treatment for cancer, Boyd Huppert, left, was able to return to what he loved, telling stories at KARE-11 in September 2022. He has worked for the station for more than 26 years.

It was a chance weekend job at the local radio station when he was 16 that set him on the journalism career path. He was hired to man the board on Sunday afternoons, between innings and quarters of Milwaukee Brewers and Green Bay Packer games. He ended up going to the University of Wisconsin River Falls and interned at a few television stations, including KTSP in the Twin Cities.

“There was so much energy and excitement in that room,” Huppert said of the station newsroom. “ I just loved that environment the moment I walked in.”

Huppert worked at television stations in Wausau, Wisconsin; Omaha, Nebraska; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin before joining

KARE-11 in 1996. Both Huppert and his wife, Shari, wanted to live in the Twin Cities, so they and their children would be close to family. It was also a good place for a TV journalist to settle down.

“The Twin Cities is a great TV market with really good, nationally recognized TV stations,” Huppert said.

In 2004, while driving to an assignment with KARE-11 photographer Jonathan Malat, he and Huppert brainstormed the idea that would become Boyd Huppert’s Land of 10,000 Stories. It would

See HUPPERT, Page 13

Some teeth take their time

MARY LOU PEDERSON Willmar

My dad was having pain under his upper denture.

He had been wearing dentures for several years by this time and had never had pain like that before. He tried this and that, but nothing relieved the pain. He just couldn’t figure it out. Eating anything definitely made the pain worse. He complained of this pain for a while, but was determined to wait it out.

After some time had gone by, he decided to go and see the dentist. The situation was not getting any better. This was his very last resort.

The dentist was normally the serious type, but I am sure that he just had to smile when he told my Dad that he was cutting a tooth.

My father had a hard time believing this, especially at his age. He was somewhere around 50, minus or plus a year or two.

Well, it made no sense for him to toss out the denture and try

CaregiverSupport Groups

to get by on one brand new, perfectly good tooth, so the dentist yanked it out.

We all had a good laugh when my Dad came home with this story. My Dad was cutting a tooth in his fifties. Who had ever heard of this? The permanent tooth had never come in, in that spot, after he lost his baby tooth eons before. Why that tooth had decided to emerge after all of this time was a mystery, but it did give us all a really good laugh.

This tells me that I have to be on the lookout. That very same tooth never emerged for me either. Oh, for the love of genes! Well, so far so good! It is still stuck up there in the gums somewhere. If I ever start complaining of mouth pain, I best purchase a teething ring!

Oh, by the way, I am 74 years old now. As far as I am concerned, it can just stay where it is.

Senior Transportation Program

• Uses volunteer drivers who use their personal vehicle to transport seniors to various appointments; medical, hair, dental, shopping, etc. up to 3 times per week.

Groupsare hostedatBethesdacampuses in: Willmar,New London,and Olivia

Bringing Natures Healing and Well-being to Seniors, Veterans, and the Disabled

Let’s Go Fishing has always had at its core the desire to serve older adults in our community. Veterans of all ages, from young men and women who have recently returned from overseas conflicts to those in our greatest generation, deserve our support, appreciation, and help. Often, disabled adults are not able to take advantage of all that nature has to offer. Let’s Go Fishing is committed to making our fishing and boating trips are accessible to all.

• Available Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm to residents of Kandiyohi, Renville & Meeker counties who are at least 60 years of age and register with Central Community Transit.

• The Fare/Cost is based on your income in the form of Cost-Share Contributions.

• This Program will provide transportation in Kandiyohi, Renville, and Meeker counties as well as outside the service area. Hours may vary slightly for medical purposes or long distance trips.

Public Bus Transportation

• Safe

• Reliable

• Cost Effective

• Discount Punch Passes Available

CALL

Volunteer Driver Programs Willmar Office (320) 235-8413

Olivia Office (320) 523-3589

Litchfield Office (320) 693-2718

Public Bus Transportation Willmar Office (320) 214-7433

Olivia Office (320) 523-3589

Litchfield Office (320) 693-7794

HUPPERT,

give Huppert the opportunity to tell interesting, heartwarming and unique feature stories from across the state. At first, it was just a once-in-a-while segment. Then, in 2011, the station made it a weekly feature.

So far, Huppert has told more than 500 stories. Luckily he is at no risk of ever reaching 10,000, so there are plenty of stories to continue to find.

To celebrate the segment’s 15th anniversary in 2019, KARE had every single story put on YouTube. Some of those first stories were still on video tapes, stored at the KARE-11 station. They were digitized and joined the more recent clips on the channel.

“If it aired under the 10,000 Stories banner, it is on that YouTube page,” Huppert said.

In addition to his on-air job, Huppert has also started teaching and mentoring the upcoming generations of reporter. He believes it better serves the audience when the reporters are well-trained and able to do their jobs at a high level.

“That is how I learned, I had some great mentors growing up,” and now it is his turn to be the mentor, Huppert said. “I am passing along the things they taught me.”

Huppert has definitely had a successful career.

He has collected 20 National Edward R. Murrow Awards, a national Emmy for feature reporting, 128 regional Emmys, the Scripps Howard Award, multiple Sigma Delta Chi and National Headliner

Awards and is in the Emmy Silver Circle for career contributions to the television industry, according to his KARE-11 bio page.

Just this past January, Huppert received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Radio Television Digital News Association. Other recipients have included Tom Brokaw, Andy Rooney, Robin Roberts and Bob Simon.

“I look at that list of names and I don’t even consider myself in the same ballpark, much less the same section, as people like that,” Huppert said.

While Huppert loves his job on TV, it doesn’t give him a lot of chances to speak with viewers. This is why he enjoys attending events such as Life Connections as it gives him a chance to meet viewers face to face.

“People are just so nice,” Huppert said, adding the best compliment he can get is someone telling him they love his stories. Being a journalist, and specifically the Land of 10,000 Stories, has given Huppert the chance to tell stories and experiences things most people don’t. It is a duty he is honored to have.

“Journalism is a front row seat to all sorts of interesting things. I love the notion of going out and making something and sharing it,” Huppert said. “I get to try and bring that sense of wonder or surprise or learning something. I get to take that and share it with other people. That is the greatest privilege we have as a journalist.”

Upcoming Day Trips:

May 10th - June 14th-July 12th - Mystic Lake Casino - Prior Lake

Monday, May 22nd - Gerten’s and Time at Eden Prairie Mall

Wednesday, May 24th - Chanhassen - “The Prom”

July 20th - Mystery Trip (wait list only)

July 26th - Minnesota Twins vs Seattle Mariners

September 14th - The Old Theatre - Million Dollar Quartet

September 28th Stillwater - Cruising the St. Croix River

Upcoming Cruises:

Highlighting Alaska - and 12 night Australia and New Zealand Cruise

• Join us on our upcoming Alaska/Kenai Peninsula AdventureInside Passage Cruise and Vancouver - our dates are

August 24th - September 5th

• Our Australia and New Zealand Cruise will be from January 25th-

February 11th

Christmas 2023 Nashville Dollywood and Biltmore

- Boyd Huppert

Journalism is a front row seat to all sorts of interesting things. [...] I get to try and bring that sense of wonder or surprise or learning something [...] and share it with other people. That is the greatest privilege we have as a journalist.

SAVE THE DATE

Friday, April 21, 2023

8:00 am - 2:00 pm

Willmar Civic Center 2707 Arena DR, Willmar, MN 56201

Life Connections Schedule of Events:

FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2023

8 AM-2 PM

• Pancakes | 8-9:30 AM

SPONSORED BY: HERITAGE BANK

• Outstanding Senior Award | 9:45 AM

SPONSORED BY: WEST CENTRAL SANITATION

GUEST SPEAKER:

• Boyd Huppert

10:30 AM

• Kingery Family

11:30 AM

• Bingo | 1:30 PM

SPONSORED BY: THRIFTY WHITE

PHARMACY

• The Larry Olsen Band

2 PM

SPONSORED BY: PIONEER PUBLIC TELEVISION

Annual wellness exam is key to a healthy year for older adults

STATEPOINT

You’ve selected your insurance plan for the year. Now, it’s time to start using your benefits, beginning with an annual wellness exam.

An annual wellness exam with a health care provider is important for everyone, but especially for older adults. As we age, we are more likely to develop chronic health conditions, according to Dr. J.B. Sobel, chief medical officer for Cigna Medicare, which serves hundreds of thousands of older adults through its products. An annual wellness exam can help detect potential health issues early so they can be addressed before they worsen, he added.

“By meeting with your primary care provider early in the year, you can highlight the things that are important to you, and work together to develop a plan for your care for the year ahead,” Sobel said. “This will ensure you live each day with vitality, happiness and improved health.”

Many providers will reach out to schedule an annual wellness exam. If your provider doesn’t contact you, make sure to call them.

A number of annual check-ups are available at no extra cost to those with Medicare. They include a “Welcome to Medicare” visit for customers who have just reached Medicare eligibility and an “Annual Wellness Exam” for existing customers. Many Medicare Advantage (MA) plans offer more extensive annual visits at no extra cost. Some even offer incentives for completing a visit. Talk with your provider and Medicare insurer about your benefits. Each annual exam may be a little different. Regardless of the type, Sobel offers the following tips to ensure you get the most from your visit.

Prepare. Before you go, write down anything you’d like to discuss with your health care provider, including changes to your health over the past year. Bring your prescription and over-thecounter medications with you. Ask plenty of questions and take notes. You might even want to take along a family member, trusted

friend or caregiver to ensure you understand everything your provider has shared.

Be open and honest. It’s tempting to make things look rosier than they are when talking to your health care provider, but minimizing what you are feeling can lead to an incorrect diagnosis or prescription. Speak openly about unhealthy habits, like smoking or lack of exercise. Your provider won’t judge you. Being honest is the only way your health care provider can help you reach your goals.

Mind mental health. Your emotional health impacts your physical health. Many people think depression is a natural part of aging, but it doesn’t have to be. Talk to your doctor if you are feeling sad, anxious or hopeless. Treatments, such as talk therapy, medication or both, may be covered by Medicare.

Monitor medications. Adults age 65 and older tend to take more medications than other age groups, increasing the risk for adverse reactions, such as cognitive impairment and falls. It’s a good idea to take your medications to your annual wellness exam and discuss any potential problems or side effects you’re experiencing. Don’t forget about over-the-counter drugs, vitamins or nutritional supplements you take.

Schedule screenings and get vaccines. There are a number of important health screenings and vaccines that you may need depending on your age and gender, such as colon cancer screening, bone density test, mammogram, flu shot or COVID-19 immunization. Ask your provider about the screenings and vaccines you’ve had already and schedule any you need as soon as possible. You may even be able to do that before you leave the office. Also, don’t forget to visit your eye doctor and dentist. These visits are covered by many MA plans as well. Find out more at www.cignamedicare.com.

“You wouldn’t drive your vehicle without proper preventive maintenance, so please don’t ignore preventive maintenance for your most prized possession – your health,” Sobel said. “An annual wellness exam is a great place to start!”

Firstinthe Region to UtilizeMako® Robotic-Arm

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Mako robotic-armassisted technologyenablesoursurgeons at AlomereHealth to provide totalknee replacement, totalhip replacement,orpartialknee replacementpatientswithapersonalizedsurgical experiencebasedonhisorherspecificdiagnosisandanatomy.

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PeopleImages / iStock via Getty Images Plus

The Mid-Minnesota Regional Transportation Coordination Council (MMRTCC)

is searching for Volunteer Drivers to assist our seniors, people with disabilities and other non-drivers. These essential individuals use their own vehicles to drive our neighbors to their medical appointments, work, the grocery store, social events and other engagements when the transit bus cannot help them. Each weekday, between 20 and 40 people receive a ride from a volunteer driver in this region. Each ride helps a parent, child, sibling, neighbor or friend remain in their own home, despite their inability to drive.

There are currently more than 50 volunteer drivers serving our region, but many more are needed to meet the need. Benefits of volunteer driving include:

• Giving back to your community

• Meeting and learning about interesting people

• Extremely flexible scheduling

• Mileage reimbursement

While some drivers have some initial hesitation, most quickly find their volunteer work quite enjoyable. They love what they do!

To learn more about how you can fill this essential role, contact Terry Smith at 320-262-5859 or visit MMRDC.org.

Paid in part by the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

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How the right pair of shoes can support your wellness, hobbies and goals

STATEPOINT

Looking to stay motivated and achieve your personal goals? New shoes might just be the answer. Not only can they update your wardrobe, helping you look and feel your best, but they can also support your physical and mental wellness, help you try out new hobbies, and even take small steps towards a more sustainable lifestyle.

It’s important to replace old, worn-out sneakers before embarking on a new exercise routine. When gearing up, check out brands like Nike, New Balance and Asics for athletic footwear that combines style, comfort and performance.

Ready to try out a new hobby or get back into an old one? Nike Signature Basketball styles from Lebron are on-trend and are great choices for running, jumping and playing, while Brooks Ghost running shoes feature a cushioned insole and lightweight rubber outsole in fun, vibrant colors to help you push your limits.

Perhaps you’re looking to carve out more time for relaxation and quiet activities. You can get cozy and comfortable with the right footwear. The HEYDUDE soft, comfortable

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slip-on styles are perfect for lounging at home or enjoying some self-care.

And if your goals include adopting more sustainable practices and reducing your impact on the environment, consider selecting footwear that incorporates eco-friendly features, like the Nike Court Vision sneaker, which contains at least 20% recycled content by weight.

For more footwear inspiration to fuel your lifestyle, visit Rack Room Shoes in-store or online at www.rackroomshoes.com.

Whether it’s for fitness, self-care, trying out a new hobby or making a difference, there’s a pair of shoes to meet your needs.

2023 Outstanding seniOr award

SPONSORED BY: “Good Neighbors You’ve Come to Trust” 320.235.7630 • www.wcsanitation.com

The Outstanding Senior award is awarded to an individual 50 years of age or older who resides in Kandiyohi, Swift, Chippewa, Renville, Meeker, Pope, or Stearns County. This individual demonstrates outstanding leadership and commitment that benefits the community and its citizens. Leadership qualities include creativity, volunteerism, responsibility, problem-solving, respectfulness, cooperation, and organizational skills.

Expertcare close to home for you

We encourageandinspirehealthandwell-being. Andwe careforyouthroughalloflife’sstages.

Learnmoreaboutourphysicians,specialists,and comprehensiveservicesatCentraCare.com.

Congratulations to the 2023 Outstanding Senior Award Paul Hedin! Thank you for your leadership, volunteerism and responsibility you show to your community!

NOMINATED BY

Deb Van Buren Volunteer Services Manager Carris Health Rice Hospice Carris Health Rice Memorial Hospital

Paul Hedin on the right along with a Veteran patient on the left

MARY LOU PEDERSON Willmar

You are shining in the world through my eyes, Lord. How they sparkle! How they shine! What a beautiful blessing to be the bearer of Your Light, a light that shines for all the world to see! Although my optic nerve is weak And my eyesight is dimming, this is the most important thing to me. As you look into my eyes, that is not me. It is the beauty of Christ shining through me. When I gaze into my own eyes, I see You there. What inexplicable beauty! I worship and adore you. For these are the eyes of my soul, speaking to a lost world.

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Got milk?

BY TONY TEXLEY

That simple phrase used by the American Dairy Association advertising department back in 1996 turned out to be one of their most popular promotions in history. It seemed every famous person was now sporting a milk moustache as part of this dairy campaign.

“Got Milk” was not a new phrase; just used in a new way. Almost every family in recent history used this phrase several times a week before planning a trip to their local grocery store.

This was a time when almost all your grocery shopping was done at a grocery store instead of the mini mart gas stations that are now so popular. When I was growing up, the trip wasn’t made to the grocery store for milk but to a local dairy farm.

Once again my story takes place in Pipestone, Minnesota, home of the Pipestone National Monument.

Around 1965, my dad (Ed) took a job at the local PV elevator in Pipestone. The assistant manager at the time was Jack Mathine. Jack was married to Jo Ann, and they had five girls — Diane, Chris, Deb, Barb and Linda.

My folks, of course, had five boys — Terry, Tom, Tim, Todd and Tony. (Everyone always said I was the best looking! Hey, it’s my story so I can say what I want).

Jack told my dad about a local farmer where you could buy milk cheaper than going to the store. With a large family and young ones at that, you could save a lot of money.

My dad went out and visited the farmer and a deal was struck. We were soon getting our milk direct from the farm, cream and all.

Henry Farwick was the farmer, and their farm was located 2 ½ miles south of Pipestone on Highway 75, on the east side of the

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road. Henry had about 100 Holstein cows and also crop farmed. Henry’s wife’s name was Merle, and they had two boys — Dave and Bruce.

Their boys became friends of my oldest brother, Terry.

THE SCHEDULE WENT LIKE THIS

We would get milk twice a week. We shared pick-up duties with the Mathine family.

The first pickup was Tuesday evening around 6 p.m. We would pick up seven gallons of milk — four gallons for us and three gallons for Mathines.

Now, we had to supply our own containers for milk.

My mom, Ardith, worked at the Highway Café owned by Art and Ruth Hasch, which was also conveniently located directly across the road to the west of the Farwicks’ farm.

Mom saved the glass gallon containers of Miracle Whip from the cafe to put the milk in. Now I know where my thriftiness in later life came from.

HERE’S HOW IT WORKED

Usually two of us would go along with mom or dad to get the milk.

We would pull up to the barn, bring our

Photos Contributed / Tony Texley Jack and Jo Ann Mathine, of Pipestone, had five daughters. The Mathines split a milk collection duty with the Texley family in the 1960s.

empty glass gallon jars into the milk house and set them on the table next to the bulk tank. There was a jar on the table to put your payment for the milk. It was an honor system. The Farwicks weren’t standing there watching how many you got and paid for.

The price per gallon out of the bulk tank at this time was $0.50, compared to around $0.95 at a grocery store. The Farwicks adjusted the price through the years, and at the end we were paying $0.75 a gallon.

We filled our jars right out of the bulk tank spigot and it was warm. After we filled the seven jars, we put our money in the collection jar and carried the gallons of milk out to the car. The jars were put into boxes on the floor — four gallons to a box — in the back seat on top of old newspapers in case one dripped or possibly broke. The glass jars were separated from one another by layers of newspapers to prevent breakage.

The Mathines’ share of the milk was dropped off on the way home and then it was on to our house.

On Saturday, the role was reversed and it was the Mathines’ turn to get the milk.

An issue that did occur with the farm milk versus store milk is when Farwicks switched the herd from one pasture to another for grazing and when they switched from silage in the winter and then back to pasture later; the milk would taste different during the transition and sometimes even stink for a while.

My mom says, as far as she remembers, we never broke a gallon of milk in all those trips, even in the winter.

Our two families enjoyed this milk buying arrangement until the Farwicks quit milking after they decided not to go from Grade B milk to Grade A. This was sometime in the mid-70s.

After that, we bought from another dairy farm right across the road to the north of the Farwicks — the Corny Toering family. We bought milk from them for a short period of time, and then we switched to the local Juba’s Super Valu store in Pipestone and purchased our milk there.

So there you have it, another story of the Texley boys growing up in the 60s. Our folks didn’t have much, but sure provided us with a lifetime of memories.

RICE PUDDING

• ½ cup rice

• 1 quart milk

• Pinch of salt

• 2 eggs, beaten

• A touch of milk

• ½ cup sugar

• A little vanilla extract

Combine rice, milk and salt, and stir until boiling and thick. Then reduce heat to low. Add tje eggs, touch of milk, sugar and vanilla extract. Keep stirring until well heated. The final touch included sprinkling cinnamon on top.

ARDITH’S HOMEMADE ICE CREAM

• 6 large rggs

• 2 ½ cups of sugar

• 1 quart cream

• 1 quart milk

• 2 tablespoons vanilla

• ½ teaspoon salt

Mix all the ingredients together, pour into the round metal canister. Insert the metal paddle in the middle and put the cover on the canister. Put the canister into the ice maker. Fill around that canister with snow, ice and ice cream salt. Attach the hand crank assembly and start cranking.

The Texley family made their ice cream by hand in a handcranked ice cream maker similar to the one pictured above.

About Chris Cakes

A Pancake Grill is Born!

During the 1960’s, the local Kiwanis Club in Pocahontas, Iowa, was preparing for their annual pancake supper. Since the preparation and presentation of the meal was labor intensive, requiring a large group of men, the idea of building a portable grill capable of serving large groups of people in a short span of time was con-

trived by Mr. Lorin Christiansen. His idea was to build the grill and reduce the workload at the pancake event and, occasionally, lease the grill to other groups. However, since Lorin was the primary cook and always the entertainment it was natural that he and his grill become a team. Thus, Chris Cakes Pancake Catering was founded.

The business catered to civic organizations initially but soon the agricultural implement dealers, tire manufacturers and other businesses in the area were calling to have Lorin provide the food and entertainment for their customer appreciation days, grand openings and employee appreciation days. The serving area soon expanded to include Iowa, Minnesota, North and South Dakota and a small portion of Nebraska. During the ensuing years, churches, schools and more civic organizations were looking upon the pancake feeds as a great fundraising idea. The name Chris Cakes was becoming well known throughout the area and soon the Des Moines Register–who sponsors the

The Catering Business Grows Event Game Plan

bike ride across Iowa called “RAGBRAI”–was interested in the catering service. Soon, other bike rides, fishing tournaments and additional fundraising organizations were calling regarding the catering service that provides a great meal prepared fast, efficient and reasonably priced with a fun time for all who attend.

In January, 1992, the business was sold to Coterie Enterprises, Inc. a Missouri based Corporation that is family owned. The owners, Gregg, Donna, Darren, Evonne and Ted White continue to operate the business as Chris Cakes and have expanded the original five states to eight by including the states of Illinois, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Chris Cakes provides its own blend of pancake mix – which is sold in over 200 specialty shops and supermarkets –maple syrup, sausage, margarine, orange drink, coffee and all tableware at each of its pancake feeds. It takes approximately one and one half hours to set up and one hour to break down and only requires their host to provide the place, table and chairs, and four to eight people to help serve, depending on the number of to be served. There is no charge for the fun and entertainment

Handle With Care

From a very young age Herold was known for working alongside his father in the fields, always full of dirt from head to toe and never afraid of working hard. His father use to call him Ox- because he was as strong as one.

Herold would grow up to take over his family’s farm and soon he would be raising his children with his wife Mary on that same farm site.

Herold and his wife were blessed with three children two girls and their son. Just like Herold’s relationship with his Father, his son Jeremiah and himself worked side by side, from sun up to sun down, in the fields, in the barns and on their machinery.

There was nothing those two couldn’t fix or do. Some folks say it was pure stubbornness the two men had, never taking anyone up on their offering for help but always willing to lend a helping hand themselves, Mary said it was not stubbornness, it was pure enjoyment and pride the two men did everything themselves.

It had been a very wet and cold spring that year, and Herold and Jeremiah were both starting to feel the anxiousness and stress of needing to get everything planted and ready before it was too late.

When the rain finally quit and the fields finally dried up, the Father and Son duo would

work 22 hours straight, only taking two hour naps, to ensure they would get everything planted in their 600 acres, while still completely their daily chores taking care of livestock.

It was a cold, spring night and Herold and Jeremiah, like every Spring ended up having the same argument they would have every year, mostly due to lack of sleep and losing patients even for each other.

Jeremiah, like always stormed out of the barn, got into his truck and left his father standing there, by the time Jeremiah got home from the farm he was exhausted and felt awful about the words he said to his 77 year old father, but he would apologize in the morning.

An hour later Mary had walked out to bring Harold something

to eat, he hadn’t come in yet even after Jeremiah squealed out of the driveway.

As she walked into the barn she first smiled as she shook her head, there her husband of 55 years sat slouched over a bale of straw, as she went over to wake him she thought “if only he would make sure to get his rest”, but Harold did not respond to Mary, he did not wake.

He had past away in his barn that cold spring night.

Jeremiah, his two sisters and his mother sat in the Funeral Home, grief had taken over all of them, except Jeremiah he felt more guilt than anything. Why didn’t he just go along with his father that night instead of arguing or why didn’t he turn around or if he hadn’t left… thoughts were running through his head,

the last thing he wanted to be doing was sitting in the funeral home planning his Father’s funeral, he had work that needed to be done. He would grieve later and in his own way.

“Would dad want to be cremated you think? What hymns do you think would be best? Should the wake be before the funeral service and the night before or just one or the other? “ These were the last questions Jeremiah had on his mind, his father and himself never discussed death unless it involved livestock. He worked alongside his father ever since he could remember, he knew him better than anyone but these were questions he could not even begin to answer.

Herold and Mary never took the time to preplan their funerals. Every spring they would plan for the planting season, every fall they would plan for harvest but never had they discussed their funerals. Death is not a topic many people prefer to discuss. But by discussing funeral planning and making arrangements can be a smart financial move and one that limits large decisions at a time of heightened emotions. Every year millions of people in North America make the decision to preplan a funeral. The process is also known as pre-need planning.

Our Funeral Director(s) can help you through the process of pre-planning your funeral, so your loved ones do not have to stress about it at a time they should be grieving and remembering you, not worrying about if you would like the type of flowers they have chosen, if they have chosen the correct hymns and so forth. For more information on how we can help you with your pre planning needs contact us at (320) 235-1651 or visit www.petersonbrothers.com

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