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about our Rock County
service men and women

Star Herald also seeks help in sharing local spirit of giving

Three times last week readers shared information with me about people they knew who were serving interesting military purposes overseas.

That was in the grocery store and on the street. I lost count of how many tips we’ve received in the Star Herald office.

It’s becoming clear we’re at war, and it’s affecting all of us — particularly those of us with loved ones directly involved in the action.

We’ll continue to publish occasional feature stories on local military personnel, but as more and more of our local servicemen and women get involved, we’ll never keep up writing one or two stories at a time.

We can’t do the big features every week, but we can do lots of little ones. We’ve decided to publish a weekly column of military briefs, so that at least our readers can know who’s involved and what they’re doing.

Sometimes we get press releases from the various branches of the military, but we like to think our best sources for that information are right here in Rock County. Who can better explain the whereabouts and what-ups of our service people than families?

So, readers, we need your help. On the opposing page, page 5A, is a form you can fill out that will help us share information about your service person.

We’ll publish the information in the paper and on our Web site, www.star-herald.com.

If nothing else, it may be another way to support our troops and stay connected to each other.

Giving credit
where credit is due
While we’re presenting forms, we have another one for our readers to fill out and send in.

There are literally hundreds of service organizations in Rock County, in addition to countless generous businesses and individuals who deserve recognition for good deeds done.

It’s been our policy to not publish check-passing pictures, because, as a business that draws its revenue from advertising, we’ve generally felt that those seeking to improve a professional image through charity should pay for such advertising.

At the same time, we like to share good news like this, and we try to highlight these kind acts as often as possible … for free.

I am always tickled to hear about people doing good for the sake of doing good — not for public relations or personal recognition.

But in the interest of publicizing a broader range of benevolence that may otherwise go unrecognized, we’re starting a database of such activity in the community.

On the opposing page, you’ll find a form that asks for basic information, such as who donated what for what cause and what the donation will be used for.

We’ll publish the information periodically as the briefs accumulate.

In addition to our regular feature stories, we hope the tidbits will shed light on the spirit of the people in this area. We truly are blessed to live in Rock County.

Published April 3, 2003.

Sonntag and Hanson open financial services office
Jim Sonntag and Earl Hanson have joined forces to open a new financial services office in Luverne called Blue Mound Insurance and Financial Services.

Sonntag has been in the insurance business for 34 years, moving to Luverne to work for Tri-State Insurance in 1983.

In 1993, he left Tri-State and most recently, was affiliated with Lutheran Brotherhood, which is now known as Thrivent.

Hanson moved to Luverne in 1978 to manage the Hanson Silo business in Luverne. In 1995, he left there to become the Luverne representative for Edward Jones.

Blue Mound Insurance and Financial Services will offer a variety of life, disability and long-term care insurance products as well as annuities, variable annuities, mutual funds, bonds, stocks, CDs and retirement plans.

Sonntag and Hanson are registered representatives dealing with products supplied through First Heartland Capital.

The new company office will be located at 119 E. Main St. in Luverne.

Your ‘keepers’ could get smaller
The fish you get to keep, could get smaller if the DNR has its way.

A bill would limit anglers to one walleye longer than 20 inches and one northern longer than 24 inches.

In previous years, anglers were allowed to keep one walleye longer than 24 inches and one northern longer than 30 inches, as part of their three fish daily limit.

The proposal had its first committee hearing last Wednesday and was set aside for a vote this week.

According Ron Payer, director of the department’s fisheries program, the proposed size change would limit and spread the harvest of bigger fish on some lakes and probably increase the voluntary release of big fish.

Poaching gets a little more expensive
I know you’re an honest sportsman, but the other guy that likes to take a few over the limit might find himself facing tougher poaching penalties this year.

The new laws, which went into effect March 1, are based on established restitution values of the illegally taken game and fish. A walleye, for example, is valued at $30.

Under the new law, the higher the restitution value, the longer the suspension of hunting or fishing privileges is.

For instance, a poacher would lose his fishing license for three years if he had 18 walleye over the limit.

The bill also allows for a gross misdemeanor penalty when the value of illegally taken game and fish exceeds $1,000.

Violators will also find themselves in trouble elsewhere if they run afoul of the new restrictions.

The state has come up with reciprocity agreements with Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

One recent example of a fragrant violation occurred in August 2002 when conservation officers raided an illegal fish fry.

Upon investigation, the officers discovered 61 bags of fish with 10 to 12 fish per bag, totaling 1,700 perch, sunfish and crappies.

Further searching, officers found several freezers containing fish. Each package was labeled with the date, lake, amount and species of fish in the bag.

Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com

Samuel Preston VerMeer, 28 days, Brandon, S.D., died Wednesday, March 26, 2003, at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Services were Monday, March 31, at St. Therese Catholic Church in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Rev. Charles Cimpl officiated. Burial was in Brandon Cemetery, Brandon.

Samuel VerMeer was born Feb. 26, 2003, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D. to Michael and Robin VerMeer. He was baptized the following day by Father Chuck Cimpl at the hospital. He was then airlifted to the Michigan Congenital Heart Center at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor to undergo stage one of a three phase surgical procedure to reconstruct his heart. He died from post surgical complications.

Survivors include his parents, Michael and Robin VerMeer, Brandon; one brother, Caden VerMeer, Brandon; grandparents, Carol VerMeer, Hills, Preston VerMeer, Luverne, Les and Della Dutenhoffer, Ipswich, S.D., Michael Shann, Orlando, Fla.; aunts and uncles, Renae and Dean Knobloch, Rachele and Chad Carver, all of Hills, Ralinda VerMeer, Taos, N.M., Danielle and Chad Simes, Aberdeen S.D., Tanya and Ryan Snover, Mitchell, S.D., Alyssa and Jeff Hall, Lakeville, Taylor Shann, Orlando; and a host of other relatives and friends.

George Boom Funeral Home, Sioux Falls, handled the arrangements.

Sam J. Ruiter, 76, Yankton, S.D., died Sunday, March 30, 2003, at Avera Yankton Care Center in Yankton.

Services were Thursday, April 3, at Riverview Park Reformed Church in Yankton. The Rev. Rodney Veldhuisen officiated. Burial was in Leota Community Cemetery, Leota.

Sam Ruiter was born on July 24, 1926, in Valley Springs, S.D.

He married Angeline Dooyema on Nov. 13, 1945, in Edgerton. He drove transport for Dan Dugan in Sioux Falls, S.D., and in Yankton for 36 years.

He will be remembered for being awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor on behalf of the President of the United States on Sept. 13, 1985, for his extraordinary act of courage in saving the lives of seven children from an exploding propane storage tank in Santee, Neb.

In retirement, Mr. Ruiter enjoyed camping, fishing, enjoying nature, driving bus part-time and daily coffee with his friends.

Survivors include his wife, Angeline Ruiter, Yankton; one son, Larry (Vernette) Ruiter, Springdale, Ark.; one daughter, Sandra (Richard) Schaefer, Eagan; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three sisters; and two brothers.

Mr. Ruiter was preceded in death by his parents, an infant daughter, two sisters and three brothers.

Kostel Funeral Home, Yankton, was in charge of arrangements.

Peggy Rieck, 72, Jasper, died Tuesday, March 25, 2003, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Services were Sunday, March 30, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jasper. Burial was in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

Survivors include her husband, Marvin Rieck, Jasper; one son, Barton Rieck, Jasper; one daughter, Rita Severson, Oshkosh, Wis.; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; four sisters; and one brother.

Foster-Hartquist Funeral Home, Jasper, was in charge of arrangements.

Jerry Dean Nohl, 31, Morris, died Friday, March 28, 2003, in Delaware County, Iowa, from injuries sustained in an airplane crash.

Services were Tuesday, April 1, at Apostolic Christian Church in rural Morris. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Jerry Nohl was born to Larry and Bonnie (Moser) Nohl on Jan. 13, 1972, in Morris. He grew up in the Morris area and graduated from Morris Area High School in 1990. He graduated from South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D. with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1994. He did summer work for Superior Industries during his sophomore year of college. After graduation, he moved back to Morris and worked full-time at Superior Industries.

He married Kristi Kellenberger on Jan. 4, 1998, in Lester, Iowa.

Mr. Nohl was an active member of Apostolic Christian Church since his baptism in September 1991. He loved airplanes and enjoyed flying remote controlled airplanes. He also was an inventor.

Survivors include his wife, Kristi Nohl, Morris; two children, Ted Nohl and Staci Nohl, both of Morris; his parents, Larry and Bonnie Nohl, Morris; two brothers, Doug (Amber) Nohl and Todd Nohl, all of Morris; one sister, Sheila Nohl, Morris; grandmothers, Sophie Nohl, Hancock, Esther Koehl, Morris, and Elaine Kellenberger, Lester; his mother and father-in-law, Dennis and Shirley Kellenberger Steen, two sisters-in-law, Paula (Craig) Feuchtenberger, Hancock, and Tara Kellenberger, Sioux Falls, S.D; one brother-in-law, Benji (Leah) Kellenberger, Steen, nieces and nephews, Crystal Nohl, Max, Alex and Ty Feuchtenberger and Larinda Kellenberger; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Mr. Nohl was preceded in death by his grandparents, Lawrence Nohl and Ervin and Madonna Moser.

Pedersen Funeral Home, Morris, was in charge of arrangements.

Cornelia "Sis" Gretta Menning, 85, Edgerton, died Wednesday, March 26, 2003, in Luverne Hospice Cottage.

Services were Saturday, March 29, at First Reformed Church in Edgerton. Burial was in Hillside Cemetery, Edgerton.

Cornelia Schuld was born to John and Lydia (Vos) Schuld on Dec. 3, 1917, on the family farm in Osborne Township, Pipestone County. She was raised on the farm and received her education from The Double School House through the eighth grade. Following her education, she remained at home helping her parents on the farm.

She married John L. Menning on Feb. 12, 1937, in Sioux Falls, S.D. Following their marriage, they moved to California for awhile before returning to Minnesota to live and farm on the Menning Homestead. They retired from farming in 1986 and moved to Edgerton.

Mrs. Menning was a member of First Reformed Church in Edgerton where she was active in the church circle. She loved to quilt, sew, crochet and play cards.

Survivors include three sons, Merlin (Marlys) Menning, Edgerton, Clyde (Ginny) Menning, Luverne, and Tom (Joan) Menning, Albert Lea; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; four brothers, Fred Schuld, Nick (Helen) Schuld, Virgil (Nina) Schuld, all of Edgerton, and Robert (Kay) Schuld, Mesa, Ariz.; five sisters, Gladys (Willard) Zwart, Chaska, Marguerite Smith, Luverne, Elaine (George) Ressmeyer, Perham, Arma Belle Stoel, and Gale (James) Achterhoff, all of Edgerton.

Mrs. Menning was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, John L., and an infant great-granddaughter.

Colonial Funeral Chapel, Edgerton, was in charge of arrangements.

Norman Oldre, 83, died Wednesday, April 2 at his home. Visitation will be Friday, April 4 from 2 to 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne. Services will be Saturday, April 5 at 10:30 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, Luverne, with Rev. Paul Fries officiating. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery.

Dr. Robert Keitel, 84, died Friday, April 4 at the Hospice Cottage, Luverne. Services wil be Saturday, April 12 at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Luverne. Burial and military honors will be at 10 a.m. at Maplewood Cemetery. Engebretson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.