By Jolene Farley
At their meeting Thursday evening Hills-Beaver Creek School Board members narrowed their list of candidates for the superintendent position vacated by Tom Knoll.

The board selected five of 30 applicants to continue through the hiring process. Tentative plans are to interview candidates Saturday, depending on their availability, according to board member Ann Boeve.

She said the board is pleased with both the number and quality of applicants.

"The applicants we have selected are very qualified for the job," Boeve said. "We have to look at each one and see what they have to offer us."

The hiring process could end after one interview if there is one applicant that the board is comfortable with. If none of the candidates meets the board's expectations, the original 30 applications may be re-examined, according to Boeve.

"If one stands out we may offer; if not we will continue through the process to see exactly what direction we want to go," she said.

Ideally, the board would like to have a permanent superintendent in place by Jan. 1, but that may not be practical, she said.

"It all depends on where they are at and when they can come to us."

Educational consultant Darold Williams, Dell Rapids, S.D., stepped in as interim superintendent when Knoll left for the Hayfield school district in July.

Hills-Beaver Creek students crowned Becky Broesder and Brad Haak their 2001 Homecoming King and Queen during coronation activities Monday evening. Homecoming candidates for king and queen and M.C.'s for the festivities were (from left) Brad Haak, Becky Broesder, Lyle DeBoer, M.C. Jody DeNoble, Kevin VanBatavia, Tonya Leenderts, M.C. Paul Jess, Trisha Larson, Justin VanMaanen and Brittney Olson.

Ruth Jorgensen, 81, Tucson, Ariz. died Friday, Sept. 21, 2001, at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.

A memorial service will be in Tucson at a later date.

Mrs. Jorgensen was originally from Mt. Vernon, Ind. She was a childhood friend of Dr. Robert Keitel. The couple became reacquainted in 1998 after more than 50 years.

She was a frequent visitor in Luverne during the last three years.

Evelyn Broesder, 86, Rock Rapids, Iowa, formerly of the Magnolia and Ellsworth area, died Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2001, at Rock Rapids Health Care Centre in Rock Rapids.

Services were Friday, Sept. 21, at Roste Funeral Home in Rock Rapids. The Rev. Dan Haggar officiated. Burial was in Grand Prairie Cemetery, Ellsworth.

Evelyn Katherina Lange was born to August and Margaret (Frahm) Lange on March 27, 1915, at Westside Township, Nobles County, near Magnolia. She attended country school in Nobles and Rock counties in southwest Minnesota. She worked as a housekeeper for several people until her marriage.

She married John M. Broesder on May 27, 1939, in Rock Rapids. They farmed near Rock Rapids until 1968 when they moved to a farm near Ellsworth. In 1983 they retired from farming and moved to Rock Rapids. After her marriage she was a homemaker and helped with chores, especially taking care of her chickens. She also sewed. Mr. Broesder died on March 16, 1990. Due to her failing health she became a resident of Rock Rapids Health Care Centre on May 24, 2000.

Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Roger and Marilyn Broesder, Rock Rapids; one daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Klaas Nagel, Little Rock, Iowa; five grandchildren, Mark (Dana) Broesder, Spencer, Iowa, Kyle (Shari) Broesder, Rock Rapids, Brenda (Curtis) Jurrens, George, Iowa, Becky (Joel) Heidebrink and Bradley (Donell) Nagel, all of Little Rock; 12 great-grandchildren; four sisters, Edna Goembel, Luverne, Violet Cauwels, Verdi, Vivian Cauwels, Magnolia, and Florence Utley, La Harpe, Kan.; four brothers, Lloyd Lange, Fort Ripley, Robert Lange, Beaver Creek, Donald Lange, Adrian, and Rodney Lange, Luverne.

Mrs. Broesder was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, John, three sisters, Esther, Fern and Joyce, one brother, Raymond, and one great-granddaughter, Sarah Nagel.

Roste Funeral Home, Rock Rapids, was in charge of arrangements.

Lyle D. Authier Sr., 71, Buffalo, formerly of Luverne, died Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, in Buffalo Hospital.

Services were Saturday, Sept. 15, at United Methodist Church in Thompson, Iowa. The Rev. Wendy Trone officiated. Burial with military rites was in Rose Hill Cemetery.

Lyle Authier was born to Cyril and Goldie Authier on Nov. 28, 1929, in Pipestone. He graduated from high school in Thompson in 1947.

He married Norma Pierce on Aug. 8, 1949, in the Little Brown Church, Nashua, Iowa. He served with the U.S. Air Force followed by a career in law enforcement which he dearly loved. He began his career with the Tucson Police Department, Tucson, Ariz., served as chief of police in Luverne and retired with the Winnebago County Sheriff Department in 1991.

Survivors include his wife, Norma Authier, Buffalo; four children and their spouses, Kathy and David Noll, Alexandria, Diane and Kevin Mulligan, Delano, Kirk and Brenda Authier, Vinton, Iowa, and Lyle Jr. and Jamie Authier, Highlands Ranch, Colo.; 12 grandchildren, Christopher, Justin, Matthew, Adam and Steven Noll, Keely and Chelsey Mulligan, Philip, Andrew and Allison, Authier, and Travis and Shelby Authier.

Peterson Chapel, Buffalo, was in charge of arrangements.

Vernon "Pete" Pedersen, 72, died Saturday, Sept. 29 at his home. Memorial services will be Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 10 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, Luverne, with Rev. Paul Fries officiating. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to services. Engebretson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Fannie Van Maanen, 89, Beaver Creek, died Saturday, Sept. 29 at the Luverne Community Hospital. Services will be Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 2 p.m. at the Reformed Church of Steen with burial at East Side Cemetery, rural Steen. Visitation will be Tuesday, Oct. 2 from 2 to 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at Engebretson Funeral Home.

Mary Patricia Soyer, 77, Sioux Falls, S.D., formerly of Luverne, died Thursday, Sept. 20, 2001.

Services were Saturday, Sept. 22, at Christ the King Catholic Church in Sioux Falls.

Mary Patricia Corbett was born to Lloyd and Margaret (Stewart) Corbett on Sept. 26, 1923, in Fargo, N.D. She grew up in Luverne, graduating from high school in 1941. After high school she began working for Northwestern Bell.

She married Johnny Soyer on July 23, 1946, in Luverne. For several years she traveled with her husband and his band throughout the country, and in 1961 they made their home in Sioux Falls. She went to work for Westward Ho Country Club and later at Irv's and the Elks Club before returning to Westward Ho, retiring in 1988.

Mrs. Soyer was a longtime member of Christ the King Catholic Church, St. Joseph Church Guild, Catholic Daughters, Ladies of the Moose and the Elks.

Survivors include her husband, Johnny Soyer, Sioux Falls; two sons and daughters-in-law, Jim and Yolonda Soyer, Pierre, S.D., and Tim and Kim Soyer, Sioux Falls; one daughter, Sandi Ragels, Sioux Falls; five grandchildren, Gina Ragels Penisten and her husband, Jim, Nicole Cholik, Jordan Soyer, Tyler Soyer and Heidi Soyer; one sister, Audrey Walgrave and her husband, Ardean, Luverne, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Miller Funeral Home, Sioux Falls, was in charge of arrangements.

Lucille Smith, 86, Luverne, died Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2001, at Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in Luverne.

Services were Saturday, Sept. 22, at First Presbyterian Church in Beaver Creek. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

Lucille Nuffer was born to Alfred and Elizabeth (Taubert) Nuffer on Dec. 5, 1914, on the family farm in Martin Township near Hills. She attended Luverne High School and graduated in 1931. She continued her education at Westmar College in Le Mars, Iowa. Upon completion of her education she worked in the office of Nelson Brothers Department Store in Luverne until 1939. She then moved to Washington, D.C., where she was employed as a senior typist in the Civil Service for the U.S. Housing Authority. She returned to Luverne in 1941 and worked at First National Bank in Luverne for a number of years.

She married Henry Smith on Feb. 12, 1949. Following their marriage they lived and farmed near Hills for 33 years. Mr. Smith died Feb. 28, 1982, in Mesa, Ariz. In June 1985 she moved to Luverne. She entered Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center Feb. 5, 1999.

Mrs. Smith was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Beaver Creek where she held offices in Sunday School, Presbyterian Church Women and served as an elder. She enjoyed singing, traveling and keeping scrapbooks.

Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Rhonda Smith, Luverne; three grandchildren, Laurie Dahlquist and her husband Adam, Erica Smith and Chad Smith, all of Luverne; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Gerrit and Inez Smith, Luverne, Marvin and Charlotte Park, Flandreau, S.D., and Frances Caulde, Healdsburg, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Henry, an infant daughter, Grace, one sister, Lillian Kongslie, and one brother-in-law, Ben Smith.

Engebretson Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.