The fifth annual Berkhof Bash was in Sioux Falls, July 31 through Aug. 3. Many activities were enjoyed including golfing, shopping and attending the Catfish Bay show, etc. Orv and Bonnie Sundem’s children were all home for the event including Charise Kneip, Scottsdale, Ariz., Chad, Tara, Cole and Carson, Sundem, Gilbert, Ariz., and Aric and Amy Sundem, Maple Grove. From the Sioux Falls area was the mother, Esther Berkhof, Don and Luann Berkhof, Callan and Cody Berkhof, Chris, Dawn and Sierra Haage, Dee and Lee Brooks, Leah Brooks and Nikki, Paul and Jordan Scott. From a distance were Arlon and Tara Berkhof, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Brett and Rachel Berkhof, Chicago, Ill., Gary and Marilyn Berkhof, Gilbert, Ariz., Mike and Marsha Farmer, Caledonia, Mich., aunt and uncle, Jake and Marian DeJong, Sioux Center, Iowa, Mitchell Hoffman, St. James, along with Orv and Bonnie Sundem and Ashley. Ray and Lois Nelson spent Tuesday afternoon at the Sioux Empire Fair. While there they heard an Air Force Combo and the 70-voice Sioux Empire youth choir perform. Janine Solberg came from Champaign, Ill., on July 31 to visit her parents, Ron and Jan Solberg, and to attend her 10th high school class reunion. The class of 1993 met at the park Saturday afternoon and had their dinner Saturday evening at the Magnolia Steak House in Luverne. On Sunday, Ron, Jan and Janine drove to Wheaton to visit her grandmother, Hattie Walz, and on Monday they went to Fosston to see grandparents, Orville and Violet Solberg. Jan then went to Minneapolis to visit a friend and from there returned to Champlain where she has a job on campus while also taking classes. Ron and Jan returned to Hills late Monday night. Harriet Skattum returned home last Monday after spending the weekend in the home of her daughter, Margo and Dewayne Edwards, at Forestburg, S.D., and while there, attended a wedding of friends. Vicki Nelson, Mankato, spent the weekend with parents, Ray and Lois. Friday they attended the 36th concert of the Sioux Falls Municipal Band at the Orpheum Theater in Sioux Falls. The final two concerts of the 2003 summer season were in McKennan and Terrace Park on the following Sunday. Lorraine Draper, Pipestone, came Wednesday, July 29, to take her mother, Loretta Boysen, to Watertown, S.D., where they attended funeral services for Loretta’s brother, Warren Johnson, 81. Wednesday evening, Betty Elbers traveled to Edgerton to visit her mother, Jessie Boeve, at the Edgebrook Health Center. The Sandager families enjoyed their annual week’s vacation last week at Lake Ida. Those present were John Sandager and Gaer and Leif, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Jim and Louisa Sandager, Philip and Molly, West Des Moines, Iowa; Jane Schubert, Clare and Isaac, Tanzania, Africa; Mark and Karen Sandager, Ian and Tom; and Vic and Fran Sandager. Also, a double cousin reunion was at Pilgrim Point with 150 in attendance. Guests during the week in the home of Evelyn Rogness were her nephew, Brian and Barb Thompson, James, Dawn, Jessica and Deniese, Wadena, Iowa, on Wednesday and her niece, Lynn Edruno and daughter, Brianna, San Gabriel, Calif., on Friday. Bernita Johnson, Russell, spent the weekend in the home of Bob and Twila Kirsch and together attended the wedding on Saturday of Chris and Jill Wulf at Ellsworth. Don and Edyth Briggs motored to Sioux City, Iowa, Saturday to attend the wedding of Edyth’s niece. They returned to Hills on Sunday. Saturday, Betty and Wilmer Elbers attended the wedding of Daniel Lee Ten Napel and Latricia Veldkamp at First Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Falls, S.D. She is the daughter of Ardean and Lori Veldkamp, former residents of Steen, and now living in Luverne. Riley Lentz, Windom, spent the weekend in the home of her grandparents, Bob and Twila Kirsch. Sheldon and Ellie Sandager, the Charles, Mike and Gene Sandager families, were at Lake Ida over the weekend to join other Sandager families. Harriet Skattum and Lois Hoyme attended the Sioux Valley Nurses’ Alumni meeting Saturday at the hospital in Sioux Falls and also at the Westward Ho Country Club. Krista, daughter of Anna and Mike Gilman, Eden Prairie, is spending this week in the home of her grandparents, Wendell and Kathryn Erickson. Thursday, Elliot and Allison Carmany, Tyler, came to visit grandmother, Joanne Goehle, and on Saturday Leanne and Andrew came and all returned home Saturday night. Margaret Baker has been hospitalized at Luverne Community Hospital. Friday Cari Skogberg, on the Augustana College faculty, visited her aunt, Shirley Olson. Saturday another niece, Sue Olson and children, Karin, Kallie and Aaron, Madison, Minn., were visitors. Home town special to former residentIn a recent Crescent was a letter to the editor from Cynthia Olmstead, nee Sundal, from Carbondale, Ill. Cynthia recalled as a girl growing up in Hills, the things she did. Her father, T.T. (Tom) Sundal, owned and operated the drug store in Hills. She said she was interested in making a trip to Hills to see the "old home town" if she were able. Bob Kirsch thoughtfully decided to respond to her and tell how the town had changed. This past week Bob got a response from Cynthia. She is 93 years old and had a friend write the letter from her dictation. We thought some of the "Oldies" still would like to share her thoughts and I quote, "I am one of those fortunate people who don’t seem to have anything special wrong with their bodies. I have been very bad about going to Hills as my husband liked to spend his time in semi-wild country. I had the good fortune to live in France a year and another in Mexico as well as times in many European countries. My husband, John, died in 1997, and I moved to a retirement home in this town. I had a very good life with my husband who was a mathematician at the University of Minnesota. I enjoyed hearing from you, to get the information about Hills. Give my regards to people who knew me."Cynthia Olmsted2950 Westridge Place #222, Carbondale, Ill. 62901
