Lea Christine, infant daughter of Chris and Joy Birens, was baptized Sunday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Her sponsors were Colleen and Phillip McCollan, Iona. The Birens hosted a dinner in their home for relatives and friends as well.Brenda and Tim Plimpton, Jayme and Stuart, gathered on Thanksgiving Day with members of the McCormick families in Lennox, S.D.Cyndi and Gregg Ebert had their first Thanksgiving dinner in their new home on Lake Abert in South Dakota. Also present were Matt Ebert, a student at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and Scott and Kristin Ebert, Hannah and Molly of Harrisburg, S.D.Cheryl Elbers and family, Valley Springs, S.D., and Tom and Twila Walker, Luverne, were Thanksgiving dinner guests in the home of Betty and Wilmer Elbers. Darwin and Kim Elbers, Sioux Falls, were evening guests.Spending Thanksgiving with Dennis Roning were Denise and Bill Swanson and Lucy, Big Fork, Paul and Gina Swanson and Sadie, and Dennis Swanson, all of Plymouth, and Matt Swanson and boys, Duluth. Deb, Luke, Dylan and Alisia, Heron Lake, Lindy and Ted Pulman, Riley and Jessica, Lakefield, were Thanksgiving Day guests in the Bob Kirsch home. Mark, Karen, Ian and Tom Sandager and Fran Sandager were Thanksgiving guests at the Homer Prunty home in Brookings, S.D.Enjoying dinner Thanksgiving Day in the Wendell Erickson home were Margaret Erickson, the Charles Erickson family, Kirsten Anderson and family, Anna Gilman and family and Hans Erickson and family. Ericka and Nicole Anderson have returned to the West Coast for their studies. The Gerald Haak families had their Thanksgiving gathering at the home of Brian and Darla Kraayenhof. Friday night the families were entertained by Henrietta Vander Kooi in Worthington. Brad and Jil Vaughn and children spent from Thursday until Sunday in the home of his parents, Don and Lou Vaughn at Colome, S.D., along with his brother and family from Mitchell, S.D.Guests in the home of Jack and Pat Paulsen were Lloyd and Ruth Anderson, Belview.Jan Solberg visited her mother, Hattie Walz in Wheaton Saturday and Ron visited his mother at Fosston. Pastor Lowell and Sonja Berg and Amy were present at the home of Sonja’s sister, Kristie and Brian Hoelker, in Sioux Falls for Thanksgiving along with other family members. Guests in the home of Dana and Kay Dahlquist for Thanksgiving were Kay’s mother, Luella Lewellen and Dick, Wessington Springs, S.D., Kim Dahlquist and Tim Hansen, Tea, S.D., and Adam Dahlquist and son Avery, Luverne.Rick and Michele Nester and family, Winona, Mark and Brenda Hadler and family, Edgerton, and Tom Goehle came to the home of Joanne Goehle on Wednesday evening. On Thursday Steve and Leanne Carmany and family, Tyler, and Dorothea Hamann and Vivian Holst, Luverne, also joined Joanne Goehle for Thanksgiving Day. The Nesters, Carmanys and Hadlers spent until Friday afternoon, when they all returned to their respective homes. Harriet Skattum spent from Friday until Saturday in the home of her daughter, Margo and Dewayne Edwards at Forestburg, S.D.John and Tamme Berdahl came from Scottsdale, Ariz., to spend Thanksgiving in the home of his parents, Al and Joan Berdahl. All attended a gathering at Al’s sister, Mary and Bruce Boyd in Sioux Falls. Lee Jackson came Wednesday from the University of Minnesota to spend until Sunday morning in the home of his parents, Roger and Ruth Jackson. Carole Lonkey came Thursday morning from Brooklyn Center to spend until Sunday morning with her mother, Martha Lindrud. There was a Thanksgiving gathering at the Gene and Carol Scheerhorn home. Present were Jeff and Lori Enger and family, Jasper, Steve and Patti Vugteveen and Kristine, Valley Springs, Austin Cragoe, Brookings, S.D., and the Doug and Sheri Scheerhorn family. Luella Schlueter spent Thanksgiving with her family, the Gerry Schlueter family, Lake Park, Brian and Bonnie Olson and Laurie and John Hynes and family in the Cities. Erma Schubbe spent over Thanksgiving with the Tom Schubbe family and the Carolyn and Paul Randall family in the Cities area.Friday evening the Dick Boeve family who live in the area had a gathering at Steen Reformed Church Fellowship Hall. Karen DeBoer, Mathias and Micah, Garner, Iowa, spent Thanksgiving weekend in the Chuck DeBoer home. Dick and Audrey Heidenson took a bus tour sponsored by South Dakota Public Television to Branson, Mo. They were gone four days. Mary Carter spent from Thursday until Saturday in the home of Marilyn and Alf Metzger at Alcester, Iowa. The Berents had a family gathering Thanksgiving in Orange City, Iowa. Attending were Marie Walraven and Del, Bob and Shirley Walraven and Sarah and Mark Dodge and baby Bryce, Hartley, Iowa. Ray and Lois Nelson and daughter, Vicki, Mankato, spent Wednesday through Friday with Lois’ brother Bob and Bonnie Oleson in Waconia for Thanksgiving. Vicki returned to Hills to spend the weekend, leaving by bus on Monday for Mankato. Camella Astrup Bourquin left Chicago O’Hare Airport on Wednesday for her home in Howick, Natal, South Africa.