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.
Friendship Days returns this weekend in Hills
Subhead
Longtime business owners Orv and Bonnie Sundem lead Saturday's parade
By
Mavis Fodness