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Friendship Days returns this weekend in Hills

Subhead
Longtime business owners Orv and Bonnie Sundem lead Saturday's parade
By
Mavis Fodness

Longtime business owners Orv and Bonnie Sundem will lead Saturday’s Friendship Days parade as a thank you for the community support they received operating their business
“We’ve served this community for quite a few years,” Orv said. “I would like to thank them for doing business with us all these years — they are the ones that held us together.”
For 57 years the Sundems operated a convenience store and gas station on First Street in Hills.
The Sundems closed their store in March 2020 out of concern for spreading the coronavirus. Orv’s station was a popular place for a morning coffee crowd to gather, he said.
A year later the couple decided to stay retired. The pumps remain open with fuel purchased by credit card.
The building is for sale.
“I would like to get a business back in there,” Orv said. “It could be an opportunity for someone.”
At age 83, Orv said it was time to retire. This spring the couple has taken a few trips.
“I wasn’t crazy about it (retiring),” he said. “We never had a chance to take off during the day. I should have done this a long time ago.”
Saturday’s parade begins at 10 a.m. and resumes an annual community celebration that was canceled last year.
A golf tournament and fast pitch softball game start the celebration Friday.
Saturday features a day of activities beginning with the FFA alumni pancake feed and ending with an evening street dance.
The majority of activities take place at Jacobson Park including a little league baseball tournament, vendor fair, noon beef meal, kids’ activities and a grave talk presentation.
Also taking place is a bean bag tournament and soap box derby. At dusk Saturday a movie will be shown at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
Saturday activities wrap up with a firewords display at The Rez beginning at dusk.
Sunday features a youth fishing tournament from 1 to 3 p.m. at The Rez.
A full listing of activities and start times is available in the June 5 Announcer and online at www.star-herald.com.

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