Ecko Boelman Sr., 91, Hardwick, died Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2002, in Luverne Hospice Cottage.

Services were on Monday, Jan. 7, at Engebretson Funeral Chapel in Luverne. The Rev. John Pehrson officiated. Burial was in Memorial Gardens Cemetery, rural Luverne.

Ecko Boelman Sr. was born to William and Tillie (Mennen) Boelman on Aug. 4, 1910, in Aplington, Iowa. As a child he moved with his parents to a farm near Ash Creek where he was raised and attended country school.

He married Ruth Johnson on Sept. 29, 1932, in Sioux Falls, S.D. Following their marriage they lived and farmed near Ash Creek. In 1936 they moved to California where he drove a hay truck. He also worked for a rubber company making tires. In 1949 they moved back to Ellsworth where they farmed. In 1960 they purchased a cafŽ in Lismore which they owned and operated until 1963. They then moved to a farm near Hardwick where they farmed until his retirement. His wife, Ruth, died on Feb. 4, 1990. He continued living on the farm until 1995 when he moved to his home in Hardwick.

Mr. Boelman enjoyed camping, fishing and playing cards.

Survivors include his seven children, Beverly (Robert) Soladay, Donna Herman, all of Albuquerque, N.M., Delmer (Linda) Boelman, Ecko Boelman Jr., all of Hardwick, Wendell (Darla) Boelman, Holland, Lori Boelman, Luverne, and William (Gloria) Boelman, Aberdeen. S.D.; 17 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; one brother, Ray Boelman; one sister, Fannie Hisken; and many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Boelman was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, four brothers, one sister and one great-grandchild.

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

Rose Hocking, 99, Ellsworth, died Thursday, Jan. 3, 2002, at Parkview Manor Nursing Home in Ellsworth.

Services for Rose Hocking were Saturday, Jan. 5, at Zion Presbyterian Church in Ellsworth. The Rev. Robert Raedeke officiated. Burial was in Grand Prairie Cemetery, Ellsworth.

Rose Bush was born to Reinard and Foltje (Heikes) Bush on Feb. 29, 1902, in Graettinger, Iowa. She attended Ellsworth Public School.

She married Robert Hocking on Oct. 11, 1923, in Ellsworth. After their marriage the couple farmed north of Ellsworth until moving to Ellsworth in 1932. She was a homemaker. She moved to Parkview Manor Nursing Home in April 1992.

Mrs. Hocking was a member of Zion Presbyterian Church in Ellsworth for more than 50 years. She was the oldest living member of the church.

Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Ken and Dorothy Hocking, Ellsworth, and Milton "Bud" and Ruth Hocking, Rock Rapids, Iowa; five grandchildren, Sandy, Clay, Keith, Kent and Kevin; and three great-grandchildren, Ian, Tyler and Hendrene.

Mrs. Hocking was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Robert, in 1980, one daughter, Darlene Hocking, in 1993, four brothers and four sisters.

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

Lester G. Hocking, 62, Inverness, Fla., formerly of Ellsworth, died Thursday, Dec. 27, 2001, in Citrus Memorial Hospital.

Lester Hocking was born to George S. and Elvira Hocking on Dec. 20, 1939, in Ellsworth. He moved to Florida eight years ago from Sioux Falls, S.D.

Mr. Hocking logged more than 3 million miles driving as an owner and operator, and most recently leased to Dakota Carriers Inc. in Sioux Falls.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Inverness.

Survivors include his wife, Myrna Thiesse Hocking, Inverness; one son and daughter-in-law, Todd E. and Cindy Hocking, Chesapeake, Va.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Kim J. and Dallis Klosterboer, Bowie, Md., and Sally L. and William Morrison, Stafford, Va.; five grandchildren; his mother, Elvira Hocking, Luverne; and one sister, JoAnne Mueller, Long Prairie.

Mr. Hocking was preceded in death by his father, two brothers and one sister.

Ervin Andrew Henning, 84, Adrian, died Monday, Dec. 31, 2001, in Luverne Community Hospital, Luverne.

Services were Thursday, Jan. 3, 2002, at St. Adrian Catholic Church in Adrian. The Rev. Gerald Kosse officiated. Burial was in St. Anthony Cemetery, Lismore.

Ervin Henning was born to Herman and Catherine (Bullerman) Henning on Dec. 11, 1917, on a farm in Nobles County. He grew up on a farm near Lismore and attended country school. He worked as a farmhand besides farming with his family.

He married Marie Bruns on Sept. 21, 1943, in St. Kilian Church. They farmed in the Lismore and St. Kilian areas. They built a home in Adrian in 1977 and continued to help farm with his sons. Mrs. Henning died on July 6, 1985.

He married Louella Wieneke on July 12, 1986. They continued to live in Adrian.

Mr. Henning was a member of St. Adrian Catholic Church and belonged to the Catholic Order of Foresters and was a life member of the Knights of Columbus. Previously he had been a member of St. Anthony Church in Lismore and at St. Kilian Church where he had served as trustee for several years. He served on the Adrian School Board for several years and was a past member of Adrian Lions Club. Farming was his life, and he also enjoyed woodworking.

Survivors include his wife, Louella Henning, Adrian; three sons and daughters-in-law, David and Marge Henning, Cottage Grove, James and Connie Henning, and Alan and Ellen Henning, all of Lismore; nine grandchildren, Amy, Scott, Eric, Lora, Lisa, Jill, Ashley, Sarah and Joseph; three great-grandchildren, Takyah, Alex and Keegan; one stepdaughter, Marilyn, and her husband, Jay Ryan, Mankato; and one step-daughter-in-law, Diana Wieneke; five stepgrandchildren, Darwin, Dominic, Donna, Cory and Tosca; two brothers, Ted (Marge) Henning, Greenwood, S.C., and Cyril (Pat) Henning, Adrian; and two sisters, Veronica (Vic) McCann, and Delores Ashby, all of Adrian.

Mr. Henning was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Marie, one brother, Clarence, one sister, Irene Erpelding, and one stepson, Daryl Wieneke.

Totzke Funeral Home, Slayton, was in charge of arrangements.

Shirley A. Foight, 70, Piedmont, S.D., formerly of Luverne, died Sunday, Dec. 23, 2001, in Rapid City Regional Hospital, Rapid City, S.D.

Shirley Engel was born to Clarence and Orpha Engel on Feb. 24, 1931, at Clear Lake, S.D. She graduated from Luverne High School. She married Lloyd Foight. She lived in Luverne several years before moving to Deadwood, S.D.

Survivors include her husband, Lloyd Foight, Piedmont; two sons, Leslie Foight and Samuel Foight, both of Piedmont; two daughters, Catherine Frey, Piedmont, and Michelle Shuga, Henderson, Nev.; one brother, Larry Engel, Sioux Falls, S.D.; two sisters, Marilyn Rust, Rogers, Ark., and Arlene Bakalyar, Preston; two bothers-in-law, and one sister-in-law, Leroy Foight, Luverne, and Russell and Peg Foight, South Carolina; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Campbell, Paula and Quinn Funeral Chapel, Rapid City, was in charge of arrangements.

Bernard L. "Bernie" Dougherty, 76, Owatonna, formerly of Luverne, died unexpectedly Friday, Jan. 4, 2002, at his home.

Services were Tuesday, Jan. 8. The Rev. Tom Hargesheimer of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Owatonna, officiated. Burial, with full military honors rendered by the Steele County Funeral Detail, was at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Owatonna.

Bernie Dougherty was born to Pete and Leone (Bahnsen) Dougherty on July 5, 1925, in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. He was raised in Elkader, Iowa, where he graduated from high school. Following high school he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1942-46.

Following his discharge he married Jean Duffy on Sept. 4, 1948, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dorchester, Iowa. Following their marriage they made their home in Dubuque, Iowa. He graduated from Loras College in Dubuque in 1950 and served in the Navy during the Korean Conflict from 1950-52.

After his military service the family made their home in several locations prior to moving to Luverne in 1963. In addition to other work he worked for B.F. Goodrich for several years. He then began his career in sales with Red Wing Shoes in 1963 and retired in 1988. They moved to Owatonna in 1998.

Mr. Dougherty was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Owatonna. He was a past member of Luverne V.F.W. and was a member of Owatonna Elks Club. He enjoyed golf, singing, reading, writing and was a fantasy football commissioner.

Survivors include his wife, Jean Dougherty, Owatonna; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Dan Dougherty, Sioux Falls, S.D., Shawn and Tammie Dougherty, Red Wing, and Kelly and Lisa Dougherty, Sachse, Texas; three daughters and sons-in-law, Kim and Larry Larson, Shelly and Scott Golberg, all of Owatonna, and Amy and Jim Baldus, Mound; 11 grandchildren; two brothers, Jerry (Rose) Dougherty, Farmersburg, Iowa, and Jim (Louise) Dougherty, Des Moines, Iowa; six sisters, Jean (Jerry) Fassbinder, Postville, Iowa; Delores (Bob) Mangan, Darlene (Jack) Dittmer, all of Elkader, Janice (Junior) Hanson, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Jeanette (Tom) Prideaux, Marion, Iowa, and Pat Minehan, Canton, S.D.; and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Dougherty was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Marilyn.

Memorials may be made to the donor's choice.

Michaelson Funeral Homes Inc., Owatonna, was in charge of arrangements.

Elmer Gerhke, 87, died Wednesday, Aug. 22 at the Hospice Cottage in Luverne. Services will be Saturday, Aug. 25 at 10:30 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, Luverne. Visitation will be Friday, Aug. 24 from 2 to 8:30 p.m. with the family present from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Engebretson Funeral Home, Luverne.

John Van Ruler, 84, Luverne, died Sunday, Jan. 13 at Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center, Luverne. Services will be Wednesday, Jan. 16 10:30 a.m. at the American Reformed Church, Luverne. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, Edgerton. Visitation will be Tuesday, Jan. 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at the American Reformed Church.

By John Rittenhouse
Luverne-Hills-Beaver Creek evened its Southwest Conference gymnastics record at 2-2 with a 121.55-113.1 home win over Pipestone-Jasper Tuesday.

Competing for the first time since Dec. 18, the Cardinals showed no signs of being on an extended layoff when they bested the Arrows by 8.45 points.

Amanda Aning and Amanda Dooyema came up big for the Cardinals by winning three of the meet's four individual events.

Aning, who was the all-around champion with 31.2 points, won the vault and floor with 8.5 and 8.25 tallies respectively. She also placed third on the beam with a 7.75.

Dooyema, who was second on the beam with a 7.8 and fourth on the floor with a 7.3, won the bars with a 7.55.

Gabe Van Dyk and Callen Bosshart helped the cause by placing second and third all-around with 30.25 and 29.1 points respectively.

Van Dyk was second on the bars with a 7.5 and placed third on the vault and floor with respective 8.4 and 7.55 efforts. Bosshart, who was fourth on the bars with a 6.85, finished second on the vault and floor with 8.4 and 7.8 scores.

The 3-4 Cardinals will compete at the Martin County West Invitational in Welcome Saturday.

L-H-BC individual results
Bars: Dooyema, 7.55; Van Dyk, 7.5; Bosshart, 6.85; Aning, 6-7; Jessica Mann, 6.5.
Beam: Dooyema, 7.8; Aning, 7.75; Van Dyk, 6.95; Missy Boeve, 6.45; Bosshart, 6.05.
Floor: Aning, 8.25; Bosshart. 7.8; Van Dyk, 7.55; Dooyema, 7.3; Brittany Boeve, 7.1.
Vault: Aning, 8.5; Bosshart, 8.4; Van Dyk, 8.25; B.Boeve, 7.95; Morgan Bosshart, 7.75.