By Jolene Farley
The holiday season, a time to share with those less fortunate, is drawing near.

In Rock County, SHARE, Sharing Hearts Are Reaching Everyone, is working to provide a link between the generous and the needy.

Last year, SHARE provided 141 families (161 adults and 189 children) with groceries, clothing and toys. An undetermined number of people obtained goods from the tables of items set aside for last-minute requests.

Volunteering for SHARE is a rewarding experience, according to those who help with the program. Many volunteers collect goods, while others help sort and distribute the donated goods.

One of the many organizations that helps collect donations for SHARE is the Luverne Lions Club. Club member Oscar Helle, Luverne, collected food for the program outside LuverneÕs grocery stores last year.

He said it was rewarding "just to help people ... people who have need ... some of those less fortunate."

Eldon Gradert, Luverne, has helped for the last three years. He said many shoppers buy extra groceries and throw them in the basket for SHARE. "You are always happy to get what you get," he said.

Luverne resident Alyce McClure, a Retired Senior Volunteer Program member, sorted clothing donations for SHARE last year and is eager to help again this year. "I enjoy doing things for other people," she said. "It's interesting to see all the things they (SHARE) get."

Recipients of the donations remain anonymous to the volunteers, according to McClure. Most of the volunteers know only the age of the family members, the sizes they wear, and whether they are male or female. She stressed the fact there are no income guidelines for SHARE recipients.

Organizers hope to make this another successful year for SHARE. Many individuals, churches, organizations and businesses in Rock County help SHARE further its cause through their donations.

Items needed for SHARE are unwrapped new or used clothing (seasonal only), toys and household items. Cash donations are also accepted.

Donations may be dropped off at the Luverne Armory from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8.

Cash donations may be mailed to SHARE, PO Box 792, Luverne, MN 56156.

This year's distribution of collected goods will be from noon to 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10, at the Luverne Armory.

(Above) The Hills-Beaver Creek High School and seventh- and eighth-grade choir and band presented a holiday concert Monday evening. The choir practices for a "Holiday Celebration of Freedom."

Partner Delwyn Walraven "spruces up" another Christmas wreath Monday by adding more pine cones. Sales are brisk at Wally's Nursery west of Hills, according to Walraven. Christmas tree sales took off the week before Thanksgiving. "It was 70-degree weather and there was a storm coming," he said. "People got excited and got them early." In addition to Christmas trees and wreaths (green or flocked) the nursery also sells poinsettias and roping.

Photo by Jolene Farley

Funeral services for Geraldine Fonkert will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at American Reformed Church in Luverne with the Rev. David Sikkema officiating. Burial is in Luverne Memorial Gardens Cemetery, rural Luverne. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at Engebretson Funeral Home in Luverne.

Geraldine Fonkert, 88, died Saturday, Dec. 1, 2001, at Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in Luverne.

Geraldine Oolbekkink was born to Edward and Nancy (Korselman) Oolbekkink on April 17, 1913, in Sioux County, Iowa. She was raised on the family farm and attended country school.

She married Sylvan Fonkert on Feb. 25, 1937, in her parents' home near Newkirk, Iowa. They farmed in Iowa and Minnesota, ending up in Luverne. They retired and moved to town in 1973. Mr. Fonkert died on Dec. 6, 1984. She continued to live in her home in Luverne until she moved to Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center on Oct. 29, 1999.

Mrs. Fonkert was a member of American Reformed Church in Luverne where she was active in the church circles.

Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Dennis and Mary Sue Fonkert, Mobridge, S.D., and Edward and Lindy Fonkert, Luverne; three daughters and sons-in-law, Clarine and Donald Graham, Cupertino, Calif., Norma and John Puckett, St. Paul, and Sandra and Mark McHugh Fonkert, White Rock, N.M.; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one brother, John (Angeline) Oolbekkink; and one sister, Genera (Henry) Kramer; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Fonkert was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Sylvan, one brother, John, and four sisters, Gertrude, Ruth, Bernice and Edna.

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

Jaydon Lee Berndt, Brandon, S.D., was stillborn Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2001, at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.

A private family service was held.

Survivors include his parents, Heather Ault and Brandon Berndt, Brandon; maternal grandfather, Mark Ault, Renner, S.D.; paternal grandparents, Kurtis and Candace Berndt, Sioux Falls; great-grandparents, Verlyn and Ruby Enninga, Luverne, Merium and Don Hansen, Hardwick, Maynard Piper, Watertown, S.D., and Kenneth and Darlene Berndt, Garretson, S.D.; great-great-grandmothers, Virginia Rassmussen, Welcome, and Anna Marie Harkema, Ellsworth; aunt Carla and Tim Feucht and their daughter, Gabrielle; uncle Chris Ault and Misty Kolbrek and their daughter, Mekayla Kolbrek; and several great-aunts and uncles.

Jaydon was preceded in death by his brother, Derek Gunderson, grandmother, Debra Otten, maternal great-grandfather, Bob Ault, and paternal great-grandmothers, Stella Piper and Wilba Berndt.

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

Edward Sundem, 90, Hills, died Tuesday, Dec. 4 at Sioux Valley Hospital, Sioux Falls. Services will be Friday, Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Hills, with Rev. Lowell Berg officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, Dec. 6 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Roste Funeral Home, Hills.

Anna Marie Tofteland, 74, Luverne, died Friday, Nov. 30, 2001, in the Luverne Hospice Cottage.

Services were Monday, Dec. 3, at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. The Revs. Maurice E. Hagen and Dell B. Sanderson officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

Anna Johnson was born to Ole and Oline (Gunderson) Johnson on Sept. 6, 1927, in Vienna Township, rural Kenneth. She attended eight grades in Kenneth Elementary School and graduated from Luverne High School in 1945. She worked as a secretary at Tri-State Insurance in Luverne.

She married Erling Tofteland on Dec. 18, 1947, at the parsonage of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Luverne. After their marriage the couple farmed southwest of Magnolia. In February 1956 they moved to the family farm southwest of Luverne. They moved to Luverne in November 1989. She and her husband enjoyed extensive traveling, especially throughout Europe. She was a homemaker.

Mrs. Tofteland was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne, GLCW and Circle. She was also active in Sons of Norway for more than 30 years. She enjoyed bowling and playing bridge.

Survivors include her husband, Erling Tofteland, Luverne; four children and their spouses, Steve and Julie Tofteland, rural Luverne, Stanley and Joy Tofteland, Waukee, Iowa, Debra and Kevin Corey, Andover, and Andrew and Sally Tofteland, Ramsey; 12 grandchildren, Ryan, Jason, Rachel, John, Barry, Emily, Bradley, Sandra, Gretchen, Benjamin, Chad and Matthew; three brothers, John (Rosa) Johnson, Luverne, Olaf Johnson, San Diego, Calif., and Lloyd (Jean) Johnson, Albert Lea; a brother-in-law, Lawrence Steiner, Luverne; and two sisters-in-law, Betty Johnson, Luverne, and Jeanette Johnson, Lancaster, Calif.

Mrs. Tofteland was preceded in death by her parents, one grandson, Brian Conrad Tofteland, in 1976, two brothers, George Johnson and Kenny Johnson, and one sister, Ida Steiner.

Holm Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Funeral services for Earl Scott will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 7, at Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick with the Rev. Mark Mumme officiating. Burial is in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at Engebretson Funeral Home in Luverne.

Earl Dayton Scott, 80, Hardwick, died suddenly Monday, Dec. 3, 2001.

Earl Scott was born to Byron and Levia Scott on Jan. 19, 1921, in Denver Township near Hardwick. He attended and graduated from Luverne High School in Luverne. Following high school he enlisted in the National Guard and became active in 1941. He was stationed in Alaska and Europe during World War II. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 14, 1945.

He married Marcella Scheerhorn on Aug. 17, 1947. They lived in Hardwick where he owned Hardwick Farmers Exchange Elevator. In 1957 he sold the elevator and started a family farm operation. In 1984 they purchased a bar named Scotty's in Luverne. In 1996 he sold the bar. They continued to live in their home in Hardwick.

Mr. Scott was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick. He was active on the Hardwick City Council, Hardwick Fire Department and past Commander of Arthur Moeller Post 478 in Hardwick. He enjoyed farming, fishing, playing softball, bowling, and playing cards and pool.

Survivors include his wife, Marcella Scott, Hardwick; two children, Randy Scott, Hardwick, and Jerilyn (Dale) Kille, Brandon, S.D.; four grandchildren, Jesse Kille, Jonathan Kille, J.R. Scott and Brandee Scott; and two sisters, Marion Birkeland, Luverne, and Ginny Bird, Mankato.

Mr. Scott was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Dale Scott, and two sisters, Luetta Arp and Eva Agnitsch.

Engebretson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Neil B. Jensen, 84, Richfield, died Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2001.

Memorial services were Saturday, Dec. 1, at Cremation Society of Minnesota, Edina.

Neil Jensen was born in Rock County on Dec. 22, 1916. He was a successful insurance salesman for 35 years.

Mr. Jensen was a member of Richfield Optimists Club. He loved fishing.

Survivors are his wife, Jane Jensen, children, Michael (Joannice) Jensen, Craig (Christine) Jensen, Sally (Brian) Dutcher, Andrea Jensen and Jennifer Jensen; seven grandchildren; two brothers, Bertel (Irene) Jensen, Luverne, and Roger (Gerrie) Jensen, Slayton; and three sisters, Winifred Wessels, Luverne, Lucinda Ecker, Duluth, and Alice (Webster) Hurst, Mesa, Ariz.

Cremation Society of Minnesota was in charge of arrangements.