By Jolene Farley
Hills-Beaver Creek third- and fifth-graders turned in a "very solid" performance on the Minnesota Comprehensive Test administered in March, according to Superintendent Dave Deragisch.

"ItÕs not just good teaching," said Superintendent Dave Deragisch at the Oct. 14 school board meeting. "It's good teaching and good learning."

Of 26 fifth-grade students taking the reading portion of the test, 92 percent received a Level III or above.

Students at Level III demonstrate solid performance and competence in the knowledge and skills necessary for satisfactory work in the state's content standards.

Students scoring in Level IV demonstrate advanced academic performance, knowledge and skills that exceed the level necessary for satisfactory work in the state's content standards.

Across the state in the reading portion of the test, only 64 percent of students scored a Level III or better, according to the Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning website.

Of 27 Hills-Beaver Creek third-graders taking the reading portion of the test, 63 percent received a Level III or above. Statewide, 49 percent achieved a Level III or better.

In the math portion of the test, 92 percent of 26 fifth-graders taking the test achieved a Level III or better. The state average is 53 percent.

While 70 percent of Hills-Beaver Creek third-graders received a Level III or better in mathematics, 48 percent reached that level statewide.

Scores for the writing portion of the test for fifth-graders weren't available on the website as of this writing.

Statewide, public school third- and fifth-graders who took the tests in 2002 achieved similar results to last year.

Despite improvement in narrative and problem-solving writing assignments, about the same percentages of students fell into the same achievement levels in 2002 as 2001.

Evelyn Rognley, 93, Hills, died Friday, Oct. 25 at Tuff Memorial Home, Hills. Services will be Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 10:30 a.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Hills, with Rev. Lowell Berg officiating. Roste Funeral Home of Hills is in charge of arrangements.

Lauretta Emma Tobiason, 81, Magnolia, died Thursday, Oct. 17, 2002, in Luverne Community Hospital.

Services were Monday, Oct. 21, at Kenneth Lutheran Church in Kenneth. The Rev. Mike Zaske officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

Lauretta Pank was born to Edward and Emma (Hindt) Pank on Dec. 5, 1920, in Luverne. She graduated from Luverne High School and attended Nettleton Business College, graduating in 1942. She worked for a public accounting firm in Luverne and at a grocery store.

She married Gordon Tobiason on June 16, 1947. After their marriage, they moved to a farm near Magnolia. She worked at Safeway Egg Plant in Adrian and sold Fuller Brush products for more than 20 years.

Mrs. Tobiason was a member of Kenneth Lutheran Church. She enjoyed fishing, camping, her dogs and making woodcarving name signs.

Survivors include her husband, Gordon Tobiason, one son, Lyle Tobiason, Magnolia; two daughters, Linda (Doug) Broich, Montevideo, and Laurie (Jeff) Deutsch, Ellsworth; six grandchildren, Michael (Julie) Broich, Todd Broich, Ryan Broich, Jennifer Deutsch, Tiffany Deutsch and Nicholas Deutsch; two great-grandchildren, Staci and Cathi Broich; one sister, Luella Woodley, Pipestone; one brother Marvin (Charlotte) Pank, Flandreau, S.D.; one sister-in-law, Helen Kruger, Luverne; and many nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Tobiason was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Freddie Pank.

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

Jason Oden, 26, Hills, died at his home. Visitation will be Thursday, Oct. 24 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Roste Funeral Home of Hills. Memorial services will be Friday, Oct. 25 at 1:30 p.m. at Roste Funeral Home of Hills with Don Nelson and Dan Smith officiating. Burial of cremains will be in Maplewood Cemetery.

Native Americans and local residents gather around a bonfire on Touch the Sky Prairie northwest of Luverne during dedication ceremonies last summer.

Three additional land acquisitions will more than double the size of Touch the Sky Prairie northwest of Luverne.Story inside.

Photo by Lori Ehde

By John Rittenhouse
Hills-Beaver Creek became a victim in an upset to open the South Section 3A Volleyball Tournament in Luverne Friday.

The third-seeded Patriots had to be considered the favorites when they took on No. 6 Edgerton in a quarterfinal-round match in Luverne High School.

Edgerton, however, threw a wrench in the tournament's seedings by nipping H-BC 3-2 in a tightly-contested, five-game match.

The win sent Edgerton to Tuesday's semifinals in Luverne. The loss capped H-BC’s 10-12-3 season.

Although the teams were separated by three seeds for the tournament, the H-BC and Edgerton coaching staffs anticipated a close contest based on prior results.

H-BC swept a three-game match from the Flying Dutchmen in Edgerton on Oct. 1, but Edgerton received some revenge when it topped the Patriots 2-1 during the Subway Tournament in Marshall two weeks later.

Friday's tilt proved to be the rubber match of the season series, and Edgerton battled back from a 2-1 deficit in games to come out on top.

"It probably was the closest match we played all year," said Patriot coach Curt Doorneweerd. "As is always the case, someone had to lose. Unfortunately, it was us."

H-BC got off to a good start in Game 1 by building an early lead and turning it into a 15-13 victory.

Edgerton evened the match at one game each with a 15-6 win in Game 2, but the Patriots regained the upper hand by strolling to a 15-9 victory in Game 3.

The Patriots were on the verge of putting the Flying Dutchmen away when they sported a 13-9 cushion in Game 4, but H-BC didn’t get the job done.

Edgerton reeled off six straight points to steal a 15-13 win, and the momentum it gained with the rally carried over into a 15-5 victory in Game 5.

"We had a 13-9 lead in the fourth game, and we couldn't finish it off. That was the turning point because it gave them momentum," Doorneweerd said.

Erin Boeve had 21 kills and 10 blocks at the net to pace the Patriots. Sarah Rozeboom added 10 kills, Kelly Mulder had four kills and five blocks, Angie Sjaarda had three kills and one block, and Amanda Olson added one block.

Sjaarda and Melissa Fagerness served three and one aces respectively for H-BC.

Services for Anna Kitchenmaster will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 1, at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. The Rev. Gary Klatt will officiate. Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Steen. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m at Dingmann Funeral Home in Luverne, and continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.

Anna Adele Wilma Kitchenmaster, 91, Luverne, formerly of Steen, died Monday, Oct. 28, 2002, at Rock Rapids Health Centre in Rock Rapids, Iowa.

Anna Lauck was born to Henry and Alvina (Kruger) Lauck on Nov. 6, 1910, in Clinton Township, Rock County. She was baptized on Nov. 24, 1910, and later confirmed on March 28, 1926, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Steen. She attended school in Ash Creek.

She married William Kitchenmaster Jr. on Oct. 10, 1934, in Trinity Lutheran Church. The couple made their home on a farm west of Steen until 1970, when they retired and moved to Luverne. She lived in Luverne until July 1995, when she moved to Tuff Memorial Home in Hills.

Mrs. Kitchenmaster was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. She enjoyed crocheting, crafts, cooking and baking.

Survivor include three sons, James (Carolyn) Kitchenmaster, Luverne, Arvin (Janice) Kitchenmaster, Hawarden, Iowa, and Loren (Deborah) Kitchenmaster, Spicer; six grandchildren, Paul (Sherri) Kitchenmaster, Kristi (Tim) Matus, Bill (Dawn) Kitchenmaster, Lori (Terry) Glade, Marnie (Dan) Johnson and Mike Kitchenmaster; 11 great-grandchildren; one sister, Ida Strecker, Wittemore, Iowa; two brothers-in-law, Wesley (Mary) Kitchenmaster, and Bill (Esther) Kitchenmaster Weber, all of Luverne; and many nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Kitchenmaster was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, William "Bill" Kitchenmaster on Aug. 31, 1989, four brothers, William, Henry, Fred and Armin Lauck, and five sisters, Emma Kitchenmaster, Bertha Beckman, Frieda Steucker, Venna "Alvina" Kitchenmaster and an infant sister, Amanda.

Dingmann Funeral Home in Luverne is in charge of arrangements.

Jason R. Oden, 26, Hills, died in his home.

Memorial services were Friday, Oct. 25, at Roste Funeral Home in Hills. Don Nelson and Dan Smith officiated. Burial of the cremains was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

Jason Robert Oden was born to James and Rebecca (Aanenson) Oden on April 29, 1976, in Marion, Ind. He attended school at Hills-Beaver Creek High school and graduated in 1994. While in high school, he participated in football track and softball. He was confirmed at First Presbyterian Church in Beaver Creek. After high school, he attended Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls, S.D., for cabinet making.

He married Jennifer Smith on Dec. 29, 1996, at First Presbyterian Church in Luverne. The marriage later ended in divorce. He worked for Xerox Corporation in Sioux Falls, where he managed the Xerox accounts of the Sioux Falls schools and later managed all of the Xerox accounts within Sioux Falls. Later, he worked as a sheetrock installer within the Sioux Falls area.

Mr. Oden was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Luverne. His many talents included restoring and showing vehicles, working with auto stereo equipment, building furniture and drawing. He also helped his parents with their new home construction.

Survivors include his parents, Becky and Dan Anderson, Hills, Jim Oden, Jonesboro, Ind.; one brother, Stephen (Cristina) Oden, Hawaii, and son, Tristin John Wilshaw, Sioux Falls; his maternal grandmother, Naidine Aanenson, Luverne; step-grandparents, Ted Anderson, Luverne, and Dorothea Goembel, Magnolia; stepsister, Christine Guzman; and stepbrother, Kyle Anderson, Oak Harbor, Wash.

Mr. Oden was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Edwin Aanenson and paternal grandfather, James Oden Sr.

Roste Funeral Home, Hills, was in charge of arrangements.

Solar Dome
Luverne fourth graders Joey Sleiter (left) Dylan Stokes and Matthew Engesser prepare to lead the next group of students through the Solar Dome, an oversized plastic bubble that was on display last week in the elementary school multi-purpose area. Fourth-grade teachers Tim Christensen and Randa Gangestad developed the Solar Dome idea seven years ago as a science project that encourages students to research space facts and develop a Solar Dome based on their findings. Various fourth-grade students took turns serving as flashlight tour guides to show off the air-filled space system to fellow elementary school students in all grades.

Photo by Lori Ehde