Donna Schellhouse, 62, Sturgis, S.D., formerly of Hills, died Friday, Feb. 18, 2005, at her residence in Sturgis. Funeral services were Wednesday, Feb. 23, at Grace Lutheran Church in Sturgis. The Rev. David Baer officiated. Burial followed at Bear Butte Cemetery. Donna Reining was born to George and Mable Louise (Heise) Reining on Feb. 11, 1943, at Tabor, S.D. She attended country school near Tabor with her siblings. She left Tabor and moved to a suburb of Denver, Colo. She moved back to Tabor where she graduated from high school. She worked at Yankton, S.D. She then attended beauty school at the South Dakota Hair Styling Academy in Sioux Falls, S.D.She married Don Schellhouse on July 13, 1963, in Hills. They lived in Hills. They moved to the Black Hills in 1989 where they both worked for Black Hills Special Services. They were foster parents for four handicapped/disabled boys.While living in Hills she enjoyed writing poetry, riding horse, gardening, bowling square dancing, camping, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling and hiking. She was a member of the PTA, 4-H, church circle, Pasque Petals Poetry Society and the Tri-State Dance Club. She also collected antique jewelry and china, miniature lamps and antique elephants. Survivors include her husband, Don Schellhouse, Sturgis; one son, Jason Schellhouse, Sturgis; one daughter, Ginger Niemann, Pierre S.D.; one grandchild, Carly; her mother, Mable Reining, Sioux Falls; four brothers, George Reining Jr., Hills, Patrick Reining, Strasburg, Colo., Jerry Reining, Sioux City, Iowa, and Larry Reining, Tabor; and two sisters, Jan Jacob, Golden, Colo., and Delphine Wurtz, Sioux Falls. Mrs. Schellhouse was preceded in death by her father and one sister, Darlene Bame.A memorial has been established in memory of Donna Schellhouse. Kinkade Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

Opal Nelson, 86, Hills, died Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2005, at Tuff Memorial Home in Hills. Services were Friday, Feb. 18, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills. The Rev. Lowell Berg officiated. Burial was in Bethlehem Church Cemetery, Hills.Opal Iola Rye was born to Gullick and Emma (Thompson) Rye on Aug. 13, 1918, in Porter. When she was eight years old, her family moved to the Valley Springs, S.D., area where she attended grade school. Later they moved to a farm west of Hills. She graduated from Hills High School in 1936. After graduation she stayed home to help farm and care for her father and younger siblings. She married Elmer F. Nelson on June 15, 1950, at the Rye farm. They lived on the Nelson home farm near Valley Springs for a year before moving to a farm near Hills. They purchased their own farm in 1959 and lived there until moving to Hills in 1979. Mr. Nelson died Feb. 20, 2000. She moved to Tuff Village in September 2001 and to Tuff Memorial Home in November 2002.Mrs. Nelson was a long-time member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills. She was involved with the church women’s group and various church circles. She loved gardening and growing flowers, especially roses and African violets. She enjoyed knitting and sewing, word search activities, picture puzzles, reading and playing cards with her family. She also enjoyed the outdoors and family gatherings. Survivors include two children, Roger (Barbara) Nelson, Mankato, and Carol (Art) Ehde, Luverne; one daughter-in-law, Marilyn Nelson, Hills; five grandchildren, Scott (Lori) Ehde, Luverne, Mark (Michele) Nelson, Marie (Dan) LaRock, all of Hills, Ryan Nelson and Todd Nelson, both of Mankato; six great-grandchildren; two brothers, Glen Rye, Sun City, Ariz., and Ray (Sandy) Rye, Eau Claire, Wis.; one sister, Vivian (Donald) Helgeson, Hines; and many nieces and nephews. Mrs. Nelson was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one son, Duane Nelson, one granddaughter, Pamela Lais, one brother, Norris Rye, two sisters, Eldora Bakk and Beverly Nerison, and three siblings in infancy. Roste Funeral Home, Hills, was in charge of arrangements.

Elmer "Knute" Kruger, 77, Luverne, died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2005, at Luverne Community Hospital. Services were Thursday, Feb. 24, at American Reformed Church in Luverne. The Rev. David Sikkema officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery. Elmer Kruger was born to William and Ida (Hendricks) Kruger on Dec. 6, 1927, in Lyon County, Iowa. He attended country school. He married Maxine Graphenteen on June 6, 1946, at the First Baptist Church parsonage. After their marriage the couple lived in Luverne. In 1968 they moved to the farm southwest of Luverne. He worked at Hanson Silo in Luverne for more than 30 years before retiring in 1982. He later helped his son, Don, with his sandblasting business. Mr. Kruger was a member of Luverne Eagles Club and the Rock River Wranglers. He enjoyed billiards and raising and riding horses. Survivors include five children, JoAnne "Puddy" (Jack) Maras, Denny (Rita) Kruger, Donnie (Deb) Kruger, and Sheri (Robin) Stratton, all of Luverne, and Daniel "Sam" (Deb) Kruger, Beaver Creek; 15 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Anna Harms, Ellsworth. Mr. Kruger was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Maxine, on Feb. 27, 1995, an infant son, Dean, a daughter, Diane Kunkel, in 2003, and a grandson, Travis, in June 1988. Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

Frances Anina Clercx, 86, Sioux Falls, S.D., formerly of Larchwood, Iowa, died Thursday, Feb. 17, 2005, at Avera-McKennan Hospice Unit in Sioux Falls. She was the former mother-in-law of Sharyn Klatt, Luverne. Services were Monday, Feb. 21, at the Church of St. Mary in Larchwood, The Rev. Jeff Schleisman and Sister Marla Clercx concelebrated. Burial followed in Larchwood Cemetery. Francis Clercx was born to Walter and Kamilla (Pedersen) Jensen on Aug. 7, 1918, in rural Inwood, Iowa. She was raised on the family farm near Larchwood and attended Larchwood community schools. She graduated from Larchwood High School in 1936. She continued to live in rural Larchwood, helping on the family farm. She married Albert Francis Clercx on May 19, 1938, at the St. Mary Catholic Church Rectory in Larchwood. The couple lived on a farm southwest of Larchwood for the next 50 years. She was a homemaker. She also enjoyed going on bus tours with her husband throughout the U.S. They moved to Sioux Falls in 1983. They later moved to a duplex in the Good Samaritan complex in Sioux Falls in April 2000. Mrs. Clercx was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church of Larchwood, St. Margaret Circle and Altar Society. She was also a member of the Arkota Dance Club. She enjoyed gardening, quilting, sewing and cooking.Survivors include her husband, Albert Clercx, Sioux Falls; one son, Arlen (Donna) Clercx, Tea, S.D.; one former daughter-in-law, Sharyn (Rev. Gary) Klatt, Luverne; four grandchildren, Michelle (Cletus) Riedel, Albuquerque, N.M., Nathan (Angie) Clercx, Yankton, S.D., Justin Clercx (fiancé Jennifer Dodd), Elk Point, S.D., and Chris (Angie) Clercx, Troy, Mo.; and two brothers, Lyle (Dorothy) Jensen, Inwood, Iowa, and James (Stacy) Jensen, Palm Desert, Calif. Mrs. Clercx was preceded in death by her parents and one son, Ronald Clercx in 1980.Roste Funeral Home, Larchwood, was in charge of arrangements.

By Lori EhdeWith all the information and consumer warnings about identity fraud, people should know better than to provide personal information to strangers.But fraud artists are getting more creative with their schemes, and two Luverne women thought the Star Herald should be contacted to make people aware of messages they received at their homes.Diane Sherwood and Tammy Makram work together at Cragoe Realty and happened to both receive e-mails from TCF Bank within a few days of each other.The message warned them about identity fraud, and to protect their information, they should log on to the TCF Web site to confirm information."Neither Diane nor I have accounts with TCF, so I called the bank’s 800 number to tell them about it," Makram said."They said they’re having a real problem with it right now."Makram said the e-mail links potential victims to a Web site that looks like an official TCF Bank site, and prompts them to enter their name and password."For the safety and integrity of the TCF Online Banking Community, we have issued this warning message," the e-mail reads. "It has come to our attention that your account information needs to be updated due to frauds and spoof reports Failure to update your records will result in account suspension. This notification expires on 30 February 2005. Once you have updated your account records, your TCF account will not be interrupted and will continue as normal."Please follow the link below and renew your account information."Users who need "help" remembering their passwords are prompted to enter their Social Security numbers, and their user names and "secret bank codes" are their TCF bank account numbers and their ATM access codes.Makram said she didn’t know how widespread the scam was, or if local residents would be fooled by it, but felt compelled to tell someone.According to the Better Business Bureau and Federal Trade Commission, Makram did the right thing."The public needs to be aware of the lengths scammers will go to obtain a consumer’s personal information," said Jane Driggs, President of the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota. "These e-mails look very real and official — it's easy to see how a person could get duped."Known as "phishing," the e-mail fraudsters attempt to convince consumers to reveal personal information – such as their credit or debit account numbers, checking account information, Social Security numbers and banking account passwords."Unfortunately, we hear from many consumers who report that they have already responded to an official-looking e-mail and are having second thoughts," Driggs said. "We are eager to reach them before they are lured by cyber-thieves into transmitting personal financial information."Many financial institutions use e-mail to communicate with customers and direct them to their Web sites where the customers may be asked to enter personal information as part of registering for a service, such as online banking or accessing account information. However, if the e-mail wasn’t initiated in response to an action by the consumer, it’s a good idea to go directly to the organization’s Web site by entering the Web site’s address (URL) rather than linking to it from an e-mail.What to do:The Better Business Bureau and its partners recommend consumers protect themselves by doing the following:oTreat unsolicited e-mail requests for financial information or other personal data with suspicion. Unsolicited means the e-mail wasn’t initiated in response to an action by the consumer. Do not reply to the unsolicited e-mail or respond by clicking on a link within the unsolicited e-mail message. oContact the actual business that supposedly sent the e-mail to verify if it is genuine. Visit a secure Web site or call a phone number that you know to be legitimate.oOnly enter personal information on a secure Web site that you know to be legitimate. Visa or your card issuer would never ask you to send Social Security numbers, account numbers, passwords or PINs within an e-mail message. When entering personal data at a Web site, look for a "locked padlock" in the browser or "https" at the beginning of the Web site address to make sure the site is secure.oUpdate anti-virus software and security patches to system software regularly. Phishing e-mails can contain viruses that may harm your computer if opened.oBe cautious. Check your monthly statements to verify all transactions. Notify your bank immediately of any erroneous or suspicious transactions.oForward any suspicious e-mails to the Federal Trade Commission at uce@ftc.gov or file a complaint with the FTC at www.ftc.gov. You can also forward unsolicited e-mails claiming to be from Visa or your Visa card issuer to phishing@visa.com.

By Sara QuamParents going through a divorce may focus more on the legalities of the split than their most important assets — their children. A program through the University of Minnesota Extension Service offers helpful information to parents who want to make divorce as easy as possible for their children.Marie Atkinson-Smeins is one of the presenters. As a school counselor, she sees the effects of divorce on children and offers advice to help parents do their best through the process and after. Atkinson-Smeins said, "One thing I see a lot is kids hoping their parents will get back together. When I meet with children, we talk about changes and how they don’t have to all be bad. … For one thing, they can see that mom and dad aren’t always fighting anymore."She tells parents not to talk negatively about one another and not to put children in the middle of fights or to act as go betweens."I also think it’s important for parents to find an adult friend to talk to because they shouldn’t be telling their kids about their adult emotions and feelings," Atkinson-Smeins said.She also said children can feel as if decisions of where they’re going to live or visitation schedules are up to them. It’s important to make guidelines clear and let them know they don’t have the burden to decide details that come after a split.Various community professionals will teach sessions on these topics: Impact of Divorce on Adults, Money Issues, Impact of Divorce on Children, Child Support and the Minnesota Family Investment Program, Legal Issues, Role of Mediation and Pathways to a New Life.Program gets resultsPeople who have completed the program were asked to evaluate the program six to 12 months afterward.The Family Relations division of the University of Minnesota Extension reported that 75 percent of Parents Forever participants reported that the course helped them eliminate conflict situations in front of their children.It also convinced them that providing access to both parents and putting their children’s interests first as critical.Nearly 90 percent of the participants who said they had occasionally put their children in the middle of the parental issues reported that they learned not to criticize the other parent in front of the children.Almost 90 percent also said they seldom or never use their children to carry messages to their ex-partner.Between one-third and one-half of participants said Parents Forever made them more aware of such community resources as parenting classes, school counselors, financial services and mental health providers.

By Sara QuamBased on a request from a concerned citizen, Luverne City Councilman Maynard Lafrenz brought the issue of smoke-free restaurants and bars to the Tuesday meeting.The legislature is considering making all restaurants smoke free, but some people think bars should be smoke free, too.Lafrenz said he didn’t want to be in the position to change the city ordinance, but said it may be something the City Council could put on a ballot.Council member Esther Frakes said she thought it was worth looking into as well. "However," she said, "I don’t want this to be something to further drive customers to Sioux Falls for leisure activities."Nobles Rock Public Health Educator Paula Anderson said that before it goes to a vote, more groundwork should be done to educate the public.She said times are changing and so are attitudes, so finding smoke-free places to eat or socialize might become easier."Even smokers are recognizing that it’s not about their rights, but it’s about other people’s health," she said.Businesses typically put up a fight to the smoke-free change. A few cities in the state have passed smoke-free ordinances for both restaurants, and the industry still thrives in those towns.More recently, cities and counties have been passing smoke-free ordinances in bars as well as restaurants: Ramsey County, Hennepin County, Bloomington and Minneapolis.A recent survey of Rock County people had a 66 percent response rate and a 6 percent margin of error.Some key findings of that survey were:
82 percent of smokers and 96 percent of non-smokers find secondhand smoke annoying.
74 percent of residents believe that restrictions on smoking in public places do not discriminate against smokers.
92 percent of residents believe that smoking should be limited around the entrances to stores and public buildings.
80 percent of residents believe that smoking should be limited at outdoor recreation areas, like parks or fairgrounds.

By Sara QuamLogistical problems prevented Rock County and the city of Luverne from signing a new law enforcement contract by the Feb. 15 deadline.Three county commissioners — because of vacation, family emergency and medical problems — were absent from the meeting, so there wasn’t a quorum to vote.Also, the commissioners and Luverne City Council members weren’t comfortable voting on a contract they had just received for review Tuesday.Some last-minute additions to the contract language put off county commissioners and attorney as well.The city added a clause to the contract that would have the city claiming ownership to half the law enforcement center assets. But the county says that’s impossible to assume since the relationship between the city of Luverne and Rock County is contractual.County Commissioner Jane Wildung said, "That’s like me going to the dentist, and because I pay for a service, I say I own the drill."The contract didn’t say the city of Luverne would have to pay for maintenance and replacement of assets, such as vehicles, 911 equipment and the structure itself.Wildung suggested both city and county attorneys and two members from each body meet in a liaison committee to discuss details of the contract that both sides want to iron out.That couldn’t happen Tuesday night when she suggested it because there wasn’t time for proper public notice.County Attorney Don Klosterbuer said the penalty for violating the meeting law would be a fine if someone pursued it.Instead of a committee meeting, Wildung, as a county representative, and Luverne Alderman Bob Kaczrowski met with County Attorney Don Klosterbuer and City Attorney Ben Vander Kooi in an informal, non-public review of the contract after the meeting Tuesday.From there, both sides should be closer to agreeing on the particulars of the law enforcement contract, which has the city of Luverne paying the county $604,000 for 2005. After this year, through 2010, the city will pay 5 percent more per year. Both the city and the county have scheduled meetings Tuesday, Feb. 22. They will have the contract updated by the attorneys, based on input from Wildung and Kaczrowski, to review before then.As full boards, they will discuss the contract and then vote on its approval in a special joint meeting Thursday, Feb. 24.

By Lori EhdeHe bears the physical scars of combat, but Marine Lance Cpl. Kevin Miller is at home now in Luverne, and he says he’s fine.Son of Steve and Kari Schultz, Kevin just completed a dangerous tour of duty in Iraq, where he was injured by enemy fire in the war-torn city of Falluja.For his parents, Kevin’s arrival home represented permission to finally exhale.Miraculous survivalAK-47 bullets pierced Kevin’s right arm and grenade shrapnel peppered his left leg during a Nov. 27 ambush that he miraculously survived."Looking back on that whole incident, I really did witness a miracle," Kevin said. "My angels were there, blocking the bullets."Kevin is a member of Bravo Company of the First Battalion, Eighth Marines, which saw some of the worst infantry fighting so far in the war.He was injured in a follow-up mission after more than a week of heavy combat in the streets of Falluja. Kevin was the lead Marine in his unit, kicking in doors one house at a time. In one of the houses, Kevin’s group was ambushed. When he kicked in a door, he found himself face-to-face with an enemy AK-47 which started spraying ammunition.Kevin’s flak jacket absorbed most of the hits, but one bullet found his right arm and he dropped his weapon to the floor.His friend, Lance Cpl. Joshua Lucero, lay dead in the middle of the room while Kevin fled to a small bathroom near an exit. Part of the miracle, Kevin said, is that when a grenade detonated nearby, it blew an aluminum door off the wall, allowing him to escape from the house alive.Out of harm’s wayKevin’s injuries meant he’d spend the rest of his active duty recuperating in a military hospital, which relieved his parents."I’m just so elated, I can’t even describe it," Kari told the Star Herald in December. "I know for a fact that he’s safe and well-cared for. … For the first time we’re certain of something."On the morning of Jan. 26, the day that they were to leave for North Carolina for Kevin’s unit’s homecoming, a news flash came on CNN that 31 Marines were killed in a transport helicopter crash in the area of Iraq where he would have been leaving that day. "I could feel the blood just leave my face," Steve said. "Here we were packing for a trip to pick him up, and we didn’t know if he was going to be there." Steve said that day was like many others in the past several months. "I would read the online papers in the morning and some days there would be headlines that Marines were killed," Steve said. "I would then tab down slowly, fearfully, hoping that there was information to indicate that it did not involve Kevin’s unit."As it turned out, Kevin’s unit arrived safely and on time at Camp Lejeune, N.C., on Jan. 30.Seeing Kevin that day was overwhelming in itself, but while searching for him in the crowd, Steve looked around in the predawn darkness and noticed all the other heart-wrenching reunions happening at once."It was almost surreal," he said. "People were crying, some screaming hysterically, and others were holding each other silently. … Some were seeing their babies for the first time."‘Death doesn’t really bother me anymore’Kevin arrived back in Luverne last week and is adjusting to civilian life.In the quiet comforts of home, the battlefields of Iraq are half a world away, but the not-so-distant memories still occupy his mind.Just a few short months ago, Kevin witnessed death and dismemberment on a regular basis. "I lost lots of friends over there," he said. "I’ll miss them."Kevin knows his long-term emotional health could be affected by the traumatic images of war, but he said he’s found a way to cope."Death doesn’t really bother me anymore. It’s going to happen to everyone eventually," he said. "I can remember thinking when I was over there that no matter what happens, you win. If you come back alive, you can use those experiences to live a better life."If you’re wounded, you get out of Falluja, which is what everybody wanted — to chill out in a military hospital."If you die, that’s better than what we were going through. The ones who died, they had it the best. They’re in a better place."… That’s what I told myself in my head to help me deal with it."Life with a purposeKevin said he not only views death differently, he views his purpose in life from a new perspective."All you can do is use this life in preparation for eternity," he said."It was a miracle that I survived that day, so I figure God has some purpose for my life."Kevin said he doesn’t know what that means long-term, but his plans for civilian life include moving to southern California this fall to get a degree in nursing.Kevin will receive a Purple Heart for the injuries he incurred while serving his country, but he said the intangible effects of war are more meaningful."I think the things I experienced in Iraq will help me later in life," Kevin said. "Sometimes when you’re down and out, God uses those times to strengthen you."If I’m a nurse helping other people who have experienced something traumatic or witnessed something terrible, I use my own experiences to help them."In the short-term, though, Kevin said his military experiences have simply taught him to appreciate simple freedoms."I’m enjoying lots of stuff I took for granted before — small stuff, like talking in the kitchen to Mom while she’s cooking or watching Seinfeld with Dad."Kevin’s tour in Iraq is complete, but he returns to Camp Lejeune Feb. 25 to fill out his remaining six-months of active duty. He still has a three-year inactive commitment remaining with the Marines.