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Beaver Creek Lumber family venture

By Jolene Farley
When Rick and Lila Tatge purchased Beaver Creek Lumber in June 1995, neither was a stranger to the lumber business.

Rick graduated from Hills-Beaver Creek High School on a Friday evening in 1971 and began working at Beaver Creek Lumber the next morning.

Lila worked as an employee at the lumber yard.

Rick managed the lumberyard for 25 years before the couple decided to buy the business from a cooperative ownership.

The Tatges' sons are carrying on the family tradition by also working at Beaver Creek Lumber. Shannon works full-time and Jeff part-time, while he attends college.

The business has one employee besides family members. It is "truthfully a family business.

Besides selling construction materials through the lumberyard, the Tatges do all types of construction work, new or remodeling.

According to Rick, remodeling is more of a challenge than new construction. "You go on your reputation," he said.

The couple eventually hopes to purchase another storage building in Beaver Creek, but there isn't a lot of property for sale near them.

"You keep accumulating but donÕt have a place to put things," said Lila. "There are always more products to have."

Both Rick and Lila (Doorneweerd) were born and raised in Beaver Creek and graduated from Hills-Beaver Creek High School. "We are very proud of our community and our school district," said Rick. "You should be if you live in a community."

Beaver Creek Lumber is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to noon.

Hills-Beaver Creek welcomes teachers

Jolene Hannett (left), Brent Steinert and Marie LaRock are new faces around the Hills-Beaver Creek School.

By Jolene Farley
The Hills-Beaver Creek School System hired three new teachers this year.

New speech/language teacher Marie LaRock is a familiar face in the H-BC halls. The daughter of Duane and Marilyn Nelson, LaRock is an alumnus of the district.

She received her bachelor of arts in psychology and master of science in speech/language pathology at Moorhead State University.

LaRock was previously employed at the Children's Care Hospital and School in Sioux Falls.

LaRock and her husband, Dan, have a 1-year-old son, Luke.

LaRock's goal for the upcoming school year is to become more acquainted with the students, families and staff.

New school psychologist Jolene Hannett graduated from the University of South Dakota with a bachelor of science in psychology and a specialist degree in education in school psychology.

Her goal is to work closely with students, staff and families to ensure a successful school year.

Hannett is a resident of Sioux Falls, S.D.

Brent Steinert will begin duties as music instructor for Hills-Beaver Creek Schools this fall. He will be responsible for all instrumental music venues and secondary vocal music.

Steinert graduated from Northern State University, Aberdeen, S.D. He was previously the instrumental music director at Avon High School in Avon, S.D.

His goal is to promote "students in music."

Steinert and his wife, Sarah, live in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Clearing the remains

(Above) A backhoe stirs a fire intentionally set Monday to burn the remains of Doug and Marci Bork's house north of Beaver Creek. The home was destroyed Tuesday, June 26, by a fire of undetermined cause. On the evening of the blaze, Marci Bork went to bed at around 10 p.m. and slept soundly while flames spread through her home. The family cat, Luna, awakened Marci at around 11:20 p.m. to a smoke-filled house. "It (Luna) actually got in her face and started clawing at her face to wake her up," said Doug Bork. Thanks to Luna, Marci was able to crawl out a window and call for help with her cell phone. Doug arrived home from a meeting at about 11:30 p.m. and the fire department arrived soon after, but the structure could not be saved.

Luckily, the couple's two children, James, 15, and Eric, 13, were away vacationing with their grandparents. The Borks are moving a spec home from Edgerton onto the same site as their old house. They hope to move into their new home within a month.

Old Fashioned Saturday Night in Hills

Old Fashioned Saturday night, sponsored by the Hills Community Club, was an excellent time to visit with friends and neighbors. Diane Greenfield (left), Grace Wassenaar, Carole Lonkey, and Martha Lindrud enjoy the meal served by the Community Club.

Photo by Jolene Farley

Clara Cleppe

Services for Clara Cleppe will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. The Rev. Andrew Beerman will officiate. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Jasper. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne with a rosary service at 6 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m. Visitation is also from 12 to 1 p.m. Friday at the church.

Clara Facile Cleppe, 90, Luverne, died Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2001, at Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in Luverne.

Timothy Cashin

Timothy John Cashin, 20, Orono, died in a boating accident on Bay Lake, Sunday, Aug. 19, 2001. He was the grandson of Don and Betty Cashin of Luverne.

Services were Wednesday, Aug. 29, at Woodridge Church, Medina. Burial was at German Liberal Cemetery in Hamel.

Tim was an exuberant young man, a lover of life with the unique ability to fill each day beyond its capacity. He especially loved people, golf, Bob Dylan and The Big Wu. He graduated from Orono High School in 1999 where he was a student leader and athlete. He was the student body president during his junior year and the following year was captain of the football and tennis teams. He placed nationally in the 1999 DECA competition. He was a junior at St. Olaf College in Northfield and was about to embark on a five-month term in Asia Study Adventure. He loved his life "on the hill" at St. Olaf where he was a student activities coordinator.

Survivors include his parents, Tim and Holly Cashin; two brothers, Andy and Teddy; grandparents, Don and Betty Cashin; numerous aunts; uncles; cousins; and countless friends.

Tim was preceded in death by maternal grandparents Sam and Shirley Hobbs.

Memorials are preferred to the Orono Alliance for Education, Box 211, Long Lake, MN 55366.

David Lee Funeral Home, Wayzata, was in charge of arrangements.

Harry Jannsen

Harry Jannsen, 89, Luverne, died Sunday, Sept. 2 at Mary Jane Brown Home, Luverne. Services will be Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 1:30 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church, Luverne, with Rev. Charles Boeder officiating. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, Sept. 4 from 2 to 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne.

Russell Hoiland

Russell Hoiland, 84, Magnolia, died Thursday, Aug. 30 at Sioux Valley Hospital, Sioux Falls. Services will be Thursday, Sept. 4 at 10:30 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, Luverne, with Rev. Paul Fries officiating. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday, Sept. 3 from 2 to 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne.

John Wolfswinkel

John Wolfswinkel, 97, Albert Lea, formerly of Luverne, died Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2001, at Good Samaritan Center in Albert Lea.

Services were Monday, Aug. 27, at American Reformed Church in Luverne. Burial was in Hope Cemetery, Hull, Iowa.

John Wolfswinkel was born to Albert and Jennie (Bartels) Wolfswinkel on Aug. 21, 1904, in Carmel, Iowa. He was raised on the family farm near Carmel.

He married Agnes DeJongh on June 24, 1927, in Hull. He farmed near Hull for several years after their marriage. He lived in California for 18 years, Edgerton for 12 years and Luverne for four years. His employment varied from farmer to trucker to grinder to car sales. Mrs. Wolfswinkel died on Dec. 31, 1987. Upon retirement he enjoyed helping his family run various businesses.

Mr. Wolfswinkel was a member of American Reformed Church in Luverne.

Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Morene Wolfswinkel, Mesa, Ariz.; two daughters and one son-in-law, Reva Jackson, Luverne, and Lorna and Charles Meister, Albert Lea; 12 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren; four brothers, Ben Wolfswinkel, Joe Wolfswinkel, Jim (Alta) Wolfswinkel, and Elmer (Marge) Wolfswinkel; two sisters, Jennie Brustring and Nellie Bullock; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mr. Wolfswinkel was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Agnes, one son, Ceaver, one son-in-law, John Jackson, three brothers, Peter, Clarence and Henry, and four sisters, Jennie, Margaret, Grace and Albertha.

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

John Petersen

John August Petersen, 79, Bruce, Wis., formerly of the Luverne area, died Thursday, Aug. 23, 2001, in his home.

Private family services were held.

John Petersen was born to Charles and Eva Petersen on Dec. 4, 1921, in Barron, Wis. He worked for Abbots Dairy in Wisconsin. He was also a farm hand for various farms in Minnesota. He worked for the Beaver Creek School District as a bus driver and also the Beaver Creek Co-op Elevator.

He married Eustacia Sabala.

Mr. Petersen was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne.

Survivors include three daughters and one son-in-law, Twylla Marie Petersen, Treva Layne Petersen, both of Bruce, and Debbie LaRae and David Fitzgerald, Springfield; one granddaughter, Carly Rose Fitzgerald; one brother and sister-in-law, Fritz and Esther Petersen, Stanger, Calif.; and six sisters, Alice Florke, Edna Florke, both of Sutherland, Iowa, Carol Abiehl, Sheldon, Wis., Mary Titus, Eunice Zeitler, both of Sioux City, Iowa, and Mildred Petersen, Ladysmith, Wis.

Mr. Petersen was preceded in death by his parents and his wife.

Nash-Jackson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

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