MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE HILLS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITYAPRIL 28, 2004Dana Dahlquist, President of the Hills EDA called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. Board present: Dana Dahlquist, Arlen Leenderts, Jim Jellema, and Keith Elbers. Absent: Linus Svoboda. Employees present; Joanne Goehle, EDA Treasurer, and Connie Wiertzema, EDA Secretary. The purpose of this special meeting was to review a floor plan drawn by Dakota Land Surveying for Southern Hills Condominium, Common Interest Community Number 10. Motion by Elbers, seconded by Leenderts to approve of the floor plan, to be attached to the Declaration. Motion carried. The EDA Secretary was instructed to open a separate checking account for Southern Hills Condominium. Motion by Jellema, seconded by Leenderts to refund apartment deposits to Carol Ver Meer and Dave McGuire. Motion carried. The Board will insure the condo building for $300,000, excluding cabinets, bathroom fixtures and interior items. Renters insurance will be obtained on three units, and Carol Ver Meer is responsible for insuring her own unit. The closing date on Carol Ver Meer’s condo is scheduled for April 30th. No further business, meeting adjourned at 7:17 P.M.Connie J. WiertzemaEDA Secretary(5-6)

Village Voice:The Village Library has moved from the Garden Room to the exercise room on the lower level. The hours at the Tuff Village are from 9 to 11 a.m. the first and third Saturday morning of the month and from 6 to 7:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month. Come in and check out our selection of books available.Thursday, Sarah Feucht enjoyed her special meal. The menu consisted of barbecued ribs, peeled parsley potatoes, green beans, hot cinnamon applesauce and ice cream with strawberries.David Olson, 89, and a resident of Tuff Village died on Saturday. Funeral services were Wednesday at Beaver Valley Lutheran Church near Valley Springs with burial at the church cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Alta, who also lives at Tuff Village and one son, Miles, of Colorado and one daughter Linda Elliott of Savage. Our sincere sympathy is extended to his family and friends.Tuff Home News: Tuff Memorial Home and Tuff Village are planning to publish and sell a cookbook. Recipes are wanted for the cookbook which will be sold at our Fall Bazaar in November. Open submissions accepted from tenants, residents, staff, family members and former staff members. Label recipe with your name. Submissions need to be in by May 31 to allow time for proofing and printing. Sample contents to include: appetizers, sauces, beverages, breads, rolls, pastries, meat, main dishes, soup, salads, vegetables, bars, cookies, cakes, desserts, pies and misc.National Nursing Home Week will be observed May 9 to May 15. The theme for this year is "Embracing Our Heritage." Events planned throughout the week include: Monday, May 10, German Day, 2:30 p.m. crowning of 2004 king and queen. Music by Loren Galles from Adrian. The day is dedicated to administration and chaplain. Attire, hats and ties. Tuesday, May 11, Norwegian Day, 2:30 p.m. Bible Study. The day is dedicated to housekeeping, laundry and maintenance. Attire, bright colors. Wednesday, May 12, Dutch Day, 1:30 p.m. Release balloons with the Hills Christian School children. Special treat, Ollie Bollen doughnuts by Nancy Van Wyhe. Dedicated to the dietary department. Attire, wear aprons. Thursday, May 13, Belgium Day, waffles served for breakfast, Spelling Bee/H-BC 5th grade program. "Things From Yesteryear" by Betty Mann. Dedicated to social workers and activity department. Attire, T-shirts, blue jeans and suspenders. Friday, May 14, All American Day, grilled hamburgers and hot dogs. Dedicated to the nursing department. Special patriotic program.Wednesday afternoon residents enjoyed a hat style show. Residents found it amazing the different kinds of hats we wear from time to time. Resident’s took part by wearing a hat or cap. A word search puzzle entitled "Hats Of A Lifetime" was also done by the residents. We would like to thank everyone who brought in hats.Two of our residents enjoyed their birthdays this week. Thelma Davis celebrated her 92nd birthday on April 28. She has been a resident of Tuff since 1998. Several of her friends helped her enjoy her special day. Henrietta Wassenaar celebrated her 81st birthday on May 1. There was a party in the afternoon in the dining room with the residents, family and friends treated to yellow cake and soft-serve ice cream. She has been a resident of Tuff since May 5, 2003. We wish Thelma and Henrietta a very Happy Birthday and hope they enjoyed their special day.Friday afternoon residents enjoyed the movie, "Cheaper by the Dozen" along with popcorn and pop.May 6 to May 12 is National Nurses Week. We would like to thank our professional nursing staff for their dedicated service.Opal Swanson, 91, and a resident of Tuff, died last Monday evening. Funeral services were Friday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills. Several beautiful bouquets of flowers were shared in her memory. Our sincere sympathy is extended to her family and friends.Congratulations, along with our very best wishes, to Harvey and Mary Reinke who observed their 64th wedding anniversary on April 30.

David Belmont Olson, 89, Valley Springs, S.D., died Saturday, May 1, 2004, at Tuff Village Apartments in Hills. Services were Wednesday, May 5, at Beaver Valley Lutheran Church near Valley Springs. Burial was in the church cemetery. David Olson was born to Elmer and Hulda (Paulson) Olson on Oct. 30, 1914, on the family farm near Valley Springs. He married Alta Larson on June 15, 1935. He was a farmer in the Valley Springs area for his entire life. Mr. Olson was a lifelong member of Beaver Valley Lutheran Church and was especially active in musical organizations of the church, as a soloist and member of the church choir, the men’s chorus and several quartets. He also served on various church boards. He was active in community affairs. He served 26 years on the boards of the Valley Springs and Brandon Valley school districts. He was a member of the Valley Springs Optimist Club and on the boards of Farmer’s Elevator Company and Tri-State Memorial Hospital. Survivors include his wife, Alta Olson Hills; one son, Miles (Arla) Olson, Erie, Colo.; one daughter, Linda (James) Elliott, Savage; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Iona (Dean) Hanson, Valley Springs, and LaVonne (Delmar) Johnson, Beresford, S.D.Mr. Olson was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Adolphus and Norman.Memorial contributions may be made to Beaver Valley Capital Fund.George Boom Funeral Home, Sioux Falls, S.D., was in charge of arrangements.

Jacob Boyenga, 101, Luverne, died Sunday, May 2, 2004, at his home. Services were Wednesday, May 5, at First Presbyterian Church in Beaver Creek. Burial was in Stateline Cemetery, near Ellsworth. Jacob Boyenga was born to Meinert and Reka (Schultz) Boyenga on Oct. 6, 1902, on a farm in Hardin County, near Ackley, Iowa, where he was raised. He moved with his parents to Minnesota when he was eight years old. They settled in Kanaranzi Township, near Ellsworth. He attended country school. Upon completion of his education, he farmed with his father. At the age of 21, he began farming on his own and farmed his entire life in Kanaranzi Township.He married Hazel (Braa) Schwartz on Jan. 6, 1969, at Stateline Church in rural Ellsworth. Following their marriage, they lived on the farm. After his retirement in 1974, they moved to Luverne. In November 1998, they sold their home and moved into the Damax Apartments in Luverne. Mr. Boyenga was a member of Stateline Church in rural Ellsworth and had been a member for more than 90 years. When the church closed in 2000, he became a member of First Presbyterian Church in Beaver Creek. He served on the Kanaranzi Township Board for many years and the Kanaranzi Elevator Board for 22 years. He loved to travel and had traveled throughout the United States during his bachelor years. He was an avid reader of history, geography and the Bible. Survivors include his wife, Hazel Boyenga, Luverne; eight nephews, Ronald (Anita) Boyenga, Maurice (Alice) Boyenga, Darrell (Gertrude) Boyenga, Paul (Diane) Boyenga, Dennis (Amy) Boyenga, all of Ellsworth, Mark Boyenga, Chandler, Ariz., David (Linda) Boyenga, Bloomington, and James Horn, Round Lake; one niece, Mary (Harlan) Beek, Paynesville; one sister-in-law, Beatrice Boyenga, Luverne; and many great-nieces and nephews. Mr. Boyenga was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Fred, Ernest and Calvin Boyenga, one sister, Bena Horn, and one infant sister, Anna Boyenga.Hartquist Funeral Home, Engebretson Chapel, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

10 years ago (1994)"Seven Hills-Beaver Creek fifth and sixth graders attended the Southwest Minnesota Regional Spelling Bee at Edgerton on Saturday. Eric Harnack finished third out of 56 contestants representing 11 area schools. The students advanced to the regional contest after winning the local competition. Advancing to the regional contest were Tom Bosch, Becky Mulder (alternate), Tony Nath, Eric Harnack, Chris Nelson and Brad Willers."25 years ago (1979)"Charlotte Roning, Donna Schellhouse and Bonnie Sundem joined a chartered bus load of bowlers from the area Saturday for a trip to Duluth. There they bowled in the State Bowling Tournament. Forty women from this area attended."50 years ago (1954)"A new Rock County Community Hospital at Luverne, 22 beds, will cost approximately $125,000. Slightly more than $50,000 is already available to the fund from county, city and hospital funds, so this leaves $75,000 needed to complete the project. An additional $12,700 has been contributed to the fund during this past week by a few individuals and firms. With slightly more than half the money in, the hospital is now assured." 75 years ago (1929)"As a result of funds appropriated to Minnesota through the Capper-Ketchum Bill, a year and a half ago, Rock County is fortunate in securing a full time Boys’ and Girls’ Club Leader for the months of June, July and August. The announcement was made through the Boys’ and Girls’ Club Department at University Farm the past week, stating that Muriel Hoyme, a daughter of H.T. Hoyme of Hills, and a former Rock County Club member, has been selected to fill this position for these three summer months." 100 years ago (1904)"The local insurance agents received notice last week to the effect that the rating on the row of buildings in which Skyberg’s store is located had been raised from $3.50 to $5 per hundred, being an increase of 30 percent. We have always maintained that the insurance rates in Hills are unfair and unjust, with this additional raise adding insult to injury and making insurance almost prohibitive."

Harriet Skattum and Ellie Sandager attended the Sioux Valley Alumni May Brunch at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls Saturday. Vi VanWyhe visited her brother, Mervin Warner, and wife at Larchwood, Iowa, Monday afternoon.Don and Edyth Briggs left April 11 for an extended trip. They first visited Edyth’s niece in Fayetteville, Ark., for two days. They journeyed to Gatlinburg, Tenn., for a three-day Powers’ family reunion. They saw several shows in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., then traveled over the Great Smokey Mountains and on to Chattanooga, Tenn., to visit several Civil War Battlefields. Then on to Kentucky to see where Pres. Abe Lincoln was born and his boyhood home. They stopped in St. Louis on the way home to see part of the St. Louis’ Zoo and returned home April 27.Marvin and Carole Gies, Gregory, S.D., spent Tuesday and Wednesday at the home of Carole’s sister, Joanne Goehle. Ellie and Sheldon Sandager met Milton and Evelyn Anderson of Sioux Falls and Ben and Caroline Howe, Thurman, Iowa, for noon lunch Sunday in Sioux Falls. Madison Elbers, Valley Springs, S.D., spent from Friday until Sunday in the home of her grandparents, Wilmer and Betty Elbers. Her brother, Mitchell, spent Saturday evening in the Elbers home here. Rita Bode, our local postmaster, is a western area QWL/EI trainer for the U.S. Postal Service. Last week she spent time in Kansas City and this week she will spend Wednesday through Friday in Denver, Colo., training postal employees. Bob and Twila Kirsch attended an open house confirmation party Sunday afternoon for Eric Kraetsch in Kanaranzi. Cliff and Vi VanWyhe attended the spring concert at Dordt College, Sioux Center, Iowa, Friday evening. Their granddaughter, Ashley DeWit, is a member of the chorus. Luella Schlueter went to the Cities Friday to visit the John Hynes family and Bonnie and Brian Olson. Saturday she accompanied Bonnie and Brian to the Festival of Nations held at the Roy Wilkens Auditorium at the River Centre where Ellen, 5-year-old daughter of Laurie and John, performed in the dance line with a routine of the Romanian culture. That afternoon they attended the wedding of Luella’s great-nephew, Tom Gropel, son of Gregg and Jane Gropel, Luverne, and Leah Veldhuisen at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mankato and the reception following. She returned home Sunday.Duane Wiese, Kanaranzi, and Don and Edyth Briggs attended the Parade of Music at the El Riad Center in Sioux Falls Friday evening.

If you haven’t been aware of the changing seasons, this week should be "Look Out Your Window Week." If you live in the country or take a drive in the country you will find the fields are no longer covered with dried cornstalks and other debris. The fields have been changed, it seems, like overnight, but I know it takes longer than that. The fields have been turned into a beautifully tilled farm. The farmers are all anxious to get into their fields and to get this year’s crop planted. If you live on a country road all you have to do is to look out the window and see that automobiles and other forms of transportation have been replaced with tractors, wagons, and many more pieces of machinery that I no longer recognize. However, as it’s planting season you had better watch where you are driving. The farmers are moving their machinery from farm to farm and all of us need to be careful.The Steen Senior Citizens had their May meeting at the Steen community building on Monday, May 3. Cards and games were played. Lunch was served by Bill and Bertha Bosch. Congratulations to Michelle and Tim Baker on the birth of a daughter, Karlee Daniele, on Wednesday, April 26, in Luverne Community Hospital. She joins one sister at home. A Bosch family 1 p.m. dinner was at the home of Dries and Laura May Bosch on Sunday in honor of the family birthdays. Those helping to celebrate were Tom and Amy Bosch, Emma and Isabel, Sioux Falls, Paul and Diane Bosch and Eric, Brandon, and Nathan Bosch, Sioux Falls. The family celebrated Tom and his daughter Emma’s birthday and Laura May’s birthday also. Last Monday morning Mildred Paulsen and Julie Schurr, Luverne, attended a meeting of the Southwest Regional Development Committee in regard to the medical supplement plan for the coming year at Luverne Pizza Ranch.Those from the Steen area who attended the Union Gospel Mission Prayer Breakfast Saturday morning were Malena Boeve, Karen Ramaker, Glenda Bonnema, JoAnn Paulsen, Joyce Aykens, Mildred Keunen, Jo Aykens, Cena Mae Tilstra and Millie Klarenbeek. It was at The Oaks in Sioux Falls. The speakers were Walter and Elizabeth Handford. The Girls’ League of Steen Reformed Church hosted a Mother/Daughter Banquet Wednesday, May 5, in Fellowship Hall.Sid Berghorst was admitted to Luverne Community Hospital on Sunday. He was transferred to Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls on Monday and was able to return to his home on Wednesday. Laura May Bosch hosted a birthday party Friday afternoon in her home. Those attending were Gert Hup, Hills, Anna Elbers, Betty Boeve and Darlene Bosch, all from Luverne, Henrietta Boeve, JoAnn Paulsen and Melba Boeve. Monday morning coffee guests in the Jo Aykens home were Gertie Ann Van Batavia, Mildred Keunen and Joyce Aykens of Worthington. Thursday noon Laura May Bosch and her sister, Kay Cox of Adrian, enjoyed noon lunch together at the Coffey Haus in Luverne. Sunday has been designated as "Mothers Day," a day when we have the opportunity to let our mothers know how much they mean and have meant to us all through the years. They are always ready and willing to listen to our problems. They were, and still are, ready and willing to share our good times as well as our bad times. So, this week I would like to share this article titled, "A Birthday Tribute to Mothers.""A lot of things in life are taken for granted. The food we eat, the homes we live in, the cars we drive. The greatest treasure we have are people. Of these, our greatest value is our loved ones. Through the years you have been, not only a Mother but also a friend … not overlooking the roles you have filled as a cook, nurse, housekeeper, and a lot of others that we cannot list for lack of space. All the goodness, compassion, learned in our lives, came from a home where these things were taught and practiced. The love that was given so freely, although at times, we didn’t know it, was still appreciated and cherished.It is only fitting that on this day — your special day, you are surrounded by those who wish to give you, what you have always given to us … LOVE!"Let us remember these words as we wish each and every one of our mothers all of our love and the best of everything for her in days to come.Happy Mothers Day!

Overloaded planes continue to be a weighty problem in Hawaii. "Hawaii residents love Krispy Kreme Doughnuts so much," reports Reuters, "that they often stock up at a new store in Maui before boarding inter-island flights back home, overloading airline luggage bins along the way." According to the news service, islanders carry as many as five or six boxes of doughnuts aboard planes at the Maui airport and the overhead bins are filled to overflowing. The latest threat to airline safety has even been given a name — commuter doughnuts. The very real possibility of having a cholesterol-caused air mishap in Hawaii is compounded by filling planes not only with doughnuts, but with overweight doughnut eaters as well. My first introduction to the dangerous combination of overloaded planes and island-hopping in Hawaii occurred many years ago, when my husband and I were vacationing there. At one point we were scheduled to fly from Oahu to Molokai to Maui. The brief stopover at the tiny airport on Molokai provided an opportunity to stretch our legs and take photos of a dense jungle on three sides of the airport’s main runway. One end of the runway didn’t have trees because it stopped just short of a precipitous cliff edge, high above the sounds of surf crashing on rocks below. We could see nothing but brilliant blue sky with fluffy white clouds at that end of the runway. We realized something unusual was happening when all of the checked-in luggage was removed from the plane’s cargo hold and each suitcase and bag was weighed on a large scale outside the airport terminal door. The luggage was then returned to the plane. As we lined up in the terminal with our fellow passengers and waited to reboard the plane, there was another indication this would not be a routine flight. After each carry-on bag was inspected and each boarding pass was thoroughly scrutinized, passengers were asked, "How much do you weigh?" The line ahead of us moved slowly as the numbers were called off — 145, 270, 165, 230. Numbers were automatically recited in what appeared to be a surreal version of Bingo or Lotto. An overweight woman directly in front of us responded with a straight face, "100." Oh yeah, I remember thinking, and Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis will team up again. Then came our turn. "How much do you weigh?" The dark, piercing eyes of the female employee were fixed on mine. "Why do you have to know?" I responded, rather defensively. Apparently, she had fielded similar questions from weight-conscious mainlanders before. "See that runway out there?" I glanced out the window and saw the huge expanse of blue at the end of the concrete." If we don’t figure out the total weight of the passengers and their luggage, your plane might not take off before it reaches the end of that runway. It’s as simple as that. So, how much do you weigh?" I gulped before giving her my answer. Recalling that the woman in front of me had claimed she only weighed 100 pounds, I tried to imagine how many other passengers might have shaved several pounds off their actual weights. The word "plummet" seemed to be foremost in my thoughts. Drastic times often call for drastic measures. "I weigh 600 pounds", I answered. It wasn’t the first nor last time I would lie about my weight.

By Lori EhdeJeff Hartquist is now officially in charge at Hartquist Funeral Home, Engebretson Chapel, Luverne.His father, Randy Hartquist, Pipestone, bought Engebretson Funeral Home from Vertin Company in January. The eventual plan was to have Jeff, a mortician in Minneapolis, move to Luverne to head up operations here.Those plans were fast-forwarded, however, when then director Dave Anderson left Luverne to pursue a professional opportunity in northern Minnesota.That absence starting Feb. 5 left Randy scrambling to fill the void in Luverne at a time when local obituary pages were filled top to bottom. "They were really accommodating," said Lois Nath, who works at the Engebretson Chapel. "You called and they were here. "He was devoted to serving those families."Jeff said those two months clearly illustrated the importance of area chapels being able to draw on each other’s staff.He said night and weekend hours can take their toll on funeral directors and their families, so clusters of funeral homes under the same ownership can provide a leadership pool to spread the work.In addition to Pipestone and Luverne, the Hartquist father-son team now own chapels in Jasper, Lake Benton and Tyler."The nice thing about the scheme of this is by owning the different chapels, it allows the directors to share locations and ultimately have some time off," Jeff said.While he didn’t plan to come to Luverne until later this year, Jeff started instead on April 4."I’m just excited about being here, and hopefully we can be an asset to the community," he said.Jeff graduated from Pipestone High School in 1997.He has a business degree from Concordia College, Moorhead, and studied mortuary science at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.He’s spent the past few years gaining experience with Washburn McReavy, which owns a dozen chapels in Minneapolis and handles about 2,700 funerals each year."I definitely had ample opportunity to get experience working with them," Jeff said.His wife, Sara, is finishing out the school year with Hugo Elementary in St. Paul, where she’s a school psychologist."She has fun telling people that we’ve been married only four months and we’re already separated," Jeff said.Sara plans to join Jeff in Luverne after June 11.He said people in the community have been pleasant, and he’s glad to be living in a city that takes pride in appearances."The houses are kept up, the streets are clean and the parks are nice," he said, describing Luverne as progressive. "It’s impressive for a small town."