Dorothy and Arnold Thorin of Hills helped celebrate the 80th birthday of their cousin, John Severson, on Saturday, July 23, at Sertoma Park in Sioux Falls, S.D.On Saturday, July 30, Pete Hoff, Hills, joined his sister and her husband, Gladys and Otto Van Wettering, their seven children, spouses and their families at the Adrian campground for a reunion of Gladys and Otto’s family. Pete’s nieces and nephews came from all over the Midwestern states for the reunion. Larry Albers, son of Marvin and June Albers of Hills, arrived Saturday, July 30, with his two daughters, Abby and Lucinda, for a weekend visit with Marvin and June, brother, Lonnie Albers, and sister, Cheryl Pavel and Cheyenne, all of Hills. Larry and Abby are from Ft. Pierre, S.D., and Lucinda is a journalism student at South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D. On Sunday, July 31, everyone gathered at Marvin and June’s home for dinner. On Saturday, July 30, Loy and Sharon Schildhauer, Sioux Falls, paid a surprise visit to Marvin and June Albers. Marvin and Loy worked together at Morrell’s in Sioux Falls for many years. Don and Darrell Swan visited with Kathryn and Wendell Erickson of Hills on Sunday, July 24, at the Erickson’s home. Darrell lives in Balaton while brother Don now lives in Illinois. In 1959 Don was a student teacher at H-BC in the agriculture field. Tuesday, July 26, Wendell and Kathryn Erickson joined their daughter, Dr. Kirsten Erickson, and her husband, Patrick Anderson, of Sioux Falls for supper. Wendell and Kathryn’s granddaughter, Arika Anderson, was home from California visiting her parents, Kirsten and Patrick. Many Hills residents were able to visit with Pat and Erwin Klawitter on Saturday, July 30, while attending the Hills Volunteer Fire Department hog roast at Rez Park. They now reside in Tucson, Ariz.On Saturday, July 30, Wendell and Kathryn Erickson celebrated the birthday of their daughter, Margaret Erickson, of Worthington. Also, guests at Wendell and Kathryn’s home to help celebrate were daughter, Dr. Kirsten Erickson and husband Patrick Anderson of Sioux Falls. Coryn Iverson, Charlotte, N.C., is here in the Hills area visiting grandparents Betty and Wilmer Elbers and family and friends for a month.On Monday, July 25, Twila Kirsch accompanied Cindy Pohlman, Breann and Riley of Lakefield, on a trip to Minneapolis. They all returned on Tuesday, the 26th.Twila and Bob Kirsch attended a reunion of the children of George and Emmy Kraetsch at Heron Lake on Saturday, July 30. Those attending from a distance came from Washington, Wisconsin and Nebraska. Grandsons Josiah, 4, and Micah, 2, spent last week with grandma and grandpa, Rheta and Chuck DeBoer, while their father, the Rev. Jeff DeBoer, took a group of young people to a conference in Missouri. The Rev. Jeff and Karen DeBoer and kids are from Garner, Iowa. On Friday, July 29, Chuck and Rheta’s daughter and family, Susan and Seth Hoffman and children, David, 3, and Grace, 1, from Melvin, Iowa, spent the day visiting in Hills with Chuck and Rheta. I’m sure it was a lively group with grandchildren ages one, two, three and four!Audrey and Dick Heidenson spent the weekend at Battle Lake celebrating a family reunion. Their son and his family, Steve, wife Deb, and kids, own the Battle View Landing Resort. Also attending the reunion were son Ray and his wife Lyn, with their two sons, from Brandon, S.D., and daughter, Jan (Heidenson) and Mark Ausland and their three kids from Apple Valley. They all enjoyed boating, swimming and barbecuing. A great time was had by all. Some of the grandkids were even able to attend the Battle Lake street dance. On Sunday, July 31, Rheta and Chuck DeBoer traveled to Garner for the baptism of their granddaughter, Anna Marie. Also attending the baptism were their daughters, Susan (DeBoer) Hoffman and children from Melvin, and Rachel (DeBoer) and Jeremy Van Beek, Doon, Iowa. The baptism was at Peace Reformed Church in Garner with Anna Marie’s father, the Rev. Jeff DeBoer and grandfather, the Rev. Mark Zylstra, Allendale, Mich., performing the baptism and grandfather Chuck DeBoer reading the baptism vows. Anna Marie’s parents are the Rev. Jeff and Karen DeBoer.Mike Ziegahn from St. Paul came Saturday, July 30, to spend the weekend with his twin aunts, Mae Top, Hills, and Fae Aukes, Mesa, Ariz., at Mae’s home. Later that afternoon, Judy and Bill Top of Sibley, Iowa, came with supper to Mae’s home and to visit with Mae, Fae, and Mike. A very enjoyable day was had by all. On Sunday, July 31, there was a Ziegahn family reunion at Mae Top’s home in Hills. Family members who attended the reunion were Mike Ziegahn, St. Paul, Joe Ziegahn, New Cannon, Conn., Margaret Ziegahn, Kenneth and Francis Lutz, all of Sioux Falls, Charney (Ziegahn) Gonnerman, Montana, Carina Wilmont and son of W. Va., Judy and Allan Top, Hills, Gerry and Jim Sandstede, Luverne, and Mae’s twin sister, Fae Aukes of Mesa. The family all had a great time visiting and spending the day together.
