Living in a farming community, everyone is influenced by the weather and the farming of the land. Spring is a very special time in the heartland as most families depend on the land for their livelihood. When we have a spring like the one we are experiencing this year farming the land has had many more rainy days and they’ve had to wait for the weather to settle so they could get into their fields to get their crops planted. First of all, the soil has to be just right before they can plant, temperatures need to be stabilized, moisture needs to come at the right time and of course, they also need the sun to shine. It has been a long, slow process this year to get the crops in. They have worked long and even rather strange hours but I do believe they are nearly finished as I live on one of the wettest farms in the county and they planted my beans on Memorial Day — so that often means everyone has finished planting their crops.The next step is caring for them. Most of the corn is up. The hay should be ready to cut soon and from that time on all the farmers time and energy are used caring for the crops and their animals. To top it off the lawns need mowing, barns need cleaning, weeds need to be taken care of and the list goes on and on. However, it is all worth it when they survey the results of their labor.The green lawns where the golden dandelions were so pretty have now turned into fluffy little balls of nothing that are flying away into the wild blue yonder. Spring flowers are still blooming, tulips, iris, lilacs, as well as many others. The lawns provide us with a carpet of green and all is well in our world. The crops are in and all who live on the land are looking forward to summer and the maturing of the crops which is received for all of their labors. Pastor Dan Ramaker was honored at the Senior Citizen Center in Luverne on Thursday as Pastor of the Month. Those attending from Steen Reformed Church were Pastor Dan and Karen Ramaker, Dries and Laura May Bosch, Henrietta Boeve, Melba Boeve, Winnie Scholten, Henrietta Huenink, Bernice Bartels, Bernice Barstad, Bertha Bosch, Mildred Keunen, Jenny Schouwenburg, Betty Elbers and Jo Aykens. Brian Dengler was commissioned at the Sunday morning worship service as youth director for Steen Reformed Church. Brian was born in Rock Rapids, Iowa, and grew up on the family farm. He graduated from Western Christian High School, Hull, Iowa, and attended Iowa Lakes Community College, Emmetsburg, Iowa, as an ag business major. During the first semester he felt strongly a call to the ministry and transferred to Northwest Iowa Community College, Estherville, Iowa, where he finished the summer semester. The following fall he enrolled at Dordt College, Sioux Center, Iowa, and is currently studying there. He is majoring in theology with an education minor with an emphasis in youth ministries. Sunday evening supper guests in the Daryl and Marie Paulsen home were Fran and Jane Mainolfi, Sioux Falls, Sue Binder and friend, Lynn Wienger, from the Dallas, Texas, area, Steven and Sherry Paulsen, Brandon, S.D., and Mildred Paulsen. Henrietta Huenink, Winnie Scholten, Joan Hoogeveen and Norma VanWyhe attended Memorial Day services at the American Legion building in Valley Springs Memorial Day. A dinner was served following the service. Ascension Day services will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 29, in Steen Reformed Church. The offering will go to the support of Inspiration Hills. There will be an open house honoring Henry and Dorothy Van De Weerd in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 31, at the Fellowship Hall in Steen Reformed Church. Barb Bos was released from Sioux Valley Hospital on Monday. We wish her a speedy recovery. The primary department of Steen Reformed Church went to Tuff Home in Hills on Sunday, May 25, to sing and play their bells during their Sunday School time. Our deepest sympathy goes out to Trish Bartels and Mark Rayman on the death of their grandfather, Ted Dykstra, on Friday, May 16. The funeral was this past week on Tuesday at Netherlands Reformed Church in Rock Valley, Iowa. Bernice and Orrin Aukes visited in the Fred and Alice (Aukes) Keller home in Ash Creek Thursday. Alice’s daughter, Harriet, from Des Moines, Iowa, was also there. Nathan Arthur Kruid, son of Harold and Lori Kruid, was baptized during the Sunday morning worship service in Steen Reformed Church. He was born on March 24. Joan Hoogeveen attended graduation ceremonies for her granddaughter, Dana DeBoer, at Lennox High School Saturday morning. There were 110 graduates. A reception for her was at the home of her parents, Rick and Audrey DeBoer, following graduation. Those attending from other places were Harold Wissink, Steen, William and Mavis DeBeer, Ellsworth, Jerry and Janice Peters, Chandler. Congratulations to Dana!Melba Boeve attended the confirmation of her granddaughter, Megan Overlander, on Sunday at Faith Lutheran Church in Circle Pines. She is the daughter of Joel and Carla Overlander. Rick and Cheryl Hup, Hills, also attended. Melba returned home on Monday. Lisa and Taylor Telford, Sioux Falls, were Memorial Day guests in the Orrin and Bernice Aukes home. Joyce and Jo Aykens spent Memorial Day with Paul and Carole Aykens in Orange City, Iowa.Thursday Marie Paulsen’s sister, Sue Binder and her friend, Lynn Wiegner, from the Dallas, Texas, area came to spend several days visiting in the Daryl and Marie Paulsen home. They returned to their home on Tuesday. They also visited in the home of Sue’s parents, Fran and Jane Mainolfi of Sioux Falls. The last day of school in the Hills-Beaver Creek Schools will be on Friday. The last, and probably the most important day of the school year, is graduation. Students and parents alike look forward to this big event. However, the graduate is thinking about their future while the parents are having a trip down memory lane. They remember taking their child to school the first day and they also remember some of the promises they made to themselves when this precious little one was born. As they think about this, they review what they had hoped to do and I would like to share them with you at this time. "My child shall be my first concern in life.I shall see that they have plenty of good food, helpful exercise, recreation and sleep and opportunity to learn that which is worth learning. I shall raise them to be upright and honest, to be fair in their games, to be friendly with other children, and to be respectful to older people. I shall teach them that school is their way of life, that their teacher is their friend, and the lessons are their work.I shall teach them to live their own lives, sympathize with them in trouble, help them with their problems, and rejoice with them in their success. I shall teach them to love their flag and to be true to their country to promote the common good. I shall teach them that the sacred volume is the greatest book that has ever been written. I shall pray for them always — for I am their parent!"If every parent lived up to those promises what a wonderful world we would have. Getting back to reality the parent thinks about what can I give them today. They decided on these wishes."May all your hopes and dreams, and aspirations show forth and make your life anew. May all your patient anticipation reap joy, and peace and love inside of you.May time grant you the gift of understanding.May days show all that life has yet to unfold.May life spare you unnecessary suffering. May life be all your heart can hope to hold."Best wishes to all the 2003 graduates and I hope you will remember: To build a better world we must start at home. Mutual trust and peace cannot be shouted from the housetops. It must be taught and nurtured and valued at the doorstep where you live.
