By Jolene Farley
High winds fanned the flames of a fire that destroyed a calf barn, granary, two garages and a milking barn on a farm east of Valley Springs Saturday.

The blaze broke out on the Vis "home place," owned by Minnie Vis. Her son, Alan, lives on the premises, and another son, Norman Vis, uses the farm buildings for his farming operation, according to Valley Springs Fire Chief Don Johnson.

A small fire, which the Vises put out, developed in a silage and wood chip pile a few days prior to the blaze on Saturday. Norman Vis figures high winds on Saturday blew a spark onto the calf shed causing it to ignite.

The Valley Springs Fire Department responded at approximately 4 p.m., but much of the damage was already in progress by then.

"When we pulled on the yard, the four buildings were totally engulfed," said Johnson. "The wind just fanned that fire. It was just going like crazy."

The Hills, Beaver Creek, Brandon and Garretson Fire Departments were called in to help battle the blaze.

"The most dangerous part was the propane tank that was burning," said Johnson. "They are very dangerous when they get hot."

The tank was sprayed with water to cool it down, but the valve popped continuously and one end of the tank bubbled up from the intense heat.

Vinyl siding on the south side of the house melted from heat thrown off the burning buildings.

The fire was under control by about 7:30 p.m., and firemen left the scene at about 8:30 p.m. Johnson said he checked the site again around midnight and brought a firetruck to extinguish more hot spots.

The Vises had recently added on to the dairy barn and purchased some new equipment. They were able to get all the cattle out of the dairy barn except 10 cows that refused to leave because it was milking time.

"Holsteins are ornery critters," said Johnson. "If it's time to milk they are going to the barn no matter what." Seven calves were also lost, according to Johnson.

The cattle saved from the flames are now milked in a barn owned by Norman's son and nephew.

All buildings and animals destroyed by the fire were insured, according to Norman Vis.

In another stroke of bad luck, Sunday the roof of a hog barn on Norman's place blew off in the high winds.

By Jolene Farley
Hills native Wendell Bengtson and his wife, Wilma, traveled to San Antonio, Texas, April 11-15 to reminisce with some of the many veterans who, like Wendell, served in the Korean War.

Bengtson and his wife met more than 490 veterans and their spouses at the Korean War Veterans Reunion.

Most of the vets served in the Army, but the only qualification to attend the reunion was service time during the months of the Korean War or immediately afterward.

The Wednesday through Sunday event was pulled together by the effort of many people. The veterans reminisced about their days in Korea, and pictures were taken of all who attended the reunion.

This year's Korean War Veterans Reunion was the third such event the veterans organized. The reunions are usually planned for every five years.

"We had a great reunion," Bengtson said. "It brought back to mind some of the things we experienced, both pleasant and not so pleasant."

The accommodations at the Adams Mark Hotel in San Antonio were vastly different from accommodations in Korea. Bengtson remembers living in a tent during his 14-month stint in Korea.

Wendell was drafted into the Army's 3rd Infantry Division Medical Battalion, Clearing Company, in May 1951. He served very close to the front line.

An ambulance platoon brought wounded soldiers back to Bengtson's battalion, and doctors made the decision whether they would stay at the battalion or be sent to a MASH Unit or Evac Hospital for more extensive medical services.

As an enlisted man, Bengtson's duties included loading and unloading the wounded and he also served as clerk for a psychiatric unit.

"It was nothing like you would see if you were on the line, but you saw the end result of it," said Bengtson about the fighting.

During the last four or five months of his tour, Bengtson said his unit performed more difficult surgeries because the front line didn't move, making his unit more stable.

Korea is a mountainous country, and Bengtson clearly remembers craters in the terrain from bombings and bare areas where trees were blasted away.

"We could hear the artillery going in and coming out," said Bengtson. "We could tell whose it was by the sound."

Bengtson said the Korean War was devastating for him and the Korean people, but he thinks the war was a necessity to protect the Korean people from Communist takeover. "I am not a promoter of war," said Bengtson. "Those poor people didnÕt need to be overrun."

Bengtson knows civilians were killed during the conflict, but he said anyone who saw combat would understand how it could happen.

"War is war, and war is hell. There is no question about that," he said.

Bengtson said attending the reunion was therapeutic for him and other veterans. They were invited to share their experiences with each other. Anyone could go up to the microphones and say anything they wanted.

There were several veterans who stood at the microphone and shared things even their spouses hadn't heard before, Bengtson said.

A milking barn and several other buildings on the Minnie Vis farm are a total loss after a fire Saturday. The buildings were engulfed in flames when firemen arrived on the scene. See page three in the Crescent for more photos. Story and more photos in News section.

Photo by Jolene Farley

By John Rittenhouse
The Luverne boys' golf team split four matches during three outings this week.

The Cardinals went 1-1 during a triangular in Redwood Falls Thursday before posting their first Southwest Conference victory of the season at home against Pipestone-Jasper Friday. Luverne dropped a five-stroke decision in Canton, S.D., Tuesday.

Luverne, 3-5 overall, hosts Red Rock Central tomorrow before playing at the Worthington Invitational Saturday and in Jackson Tuesday.

Canton 164,
Luverne 169
The Cardinals came up five strokes short of making it a three-win week when they traveled to Canton Tuesday.

Canton players Ben Burgess and Phil Andela played big roles in denying LHS a win by shooting three-over-par 39s to share the meet's medalist honor.

Kelsey Anderson led Luverne with a four-over-par 40.

Colby Anderson, Pete Connell and Tony Smedsrud contributed 41-, 42- and 46-stroke scores to Luverne's team effort.

Steve Berghorst and Chris Morgan shot 48- and 49-stroke rounds without padding the team tally.

With Dan Park shooting a four-over-par 40 to lead the way, LuverneÕs B team posted a 172-200 win over Canton.

Luverne 189, P-J 189
The Cardinals picked up their first Southwest Conference win of the season when they bested the Arrows at the Luverne Country Club Friday.

Exactly one week after losing a match by a tie-breaker in Westbrook, the Cardinal boys prevailed by a tie-breaker against the Arrows.

The low four scorers for both teams turned in identical combined totals of 189 strokes. Match rules call for the tie to be broken by the fifth low-scorer for each team, and Cardinal Pete Connell outshot his Arrow counterpart 50-55 to clinch the victory for LHS.

Kelsey Anderson shot a 46 to lead the Cardinals. Colby Anderson and Chris Morgan shot 47s, while Tony Smedsrud added a 49 to Luverne's team tally.

Dan Park shot a 55 without contributing to Luverne's team effort.

P-J's Brian Kvamme shot an eight-over-par 44 to claim the medalist honor.

RWV triangular
The Luverne boys went 1-1 during Thursday's triangular in Redwood Falls.

Redwood Valley beat the Cardinals 167-180 in what was a SWC match.

Luverne nipped P-J 180-181 in a non-conference contest.

John Green and Tim Madson shared the medalist honor for RWV by shooting five-over-par 41s.

Colby Anderson led the Cardinals with a six-over-par 42.

Pete Connell, Kelsey Anderson and Tony Smedsrud shot 43-, 47- and 48-stroke rounds to pad Luverne's team tally.

Dan Park and Chris Morgan shot 49- and 50-stroke scores without influencing the scoring.

Brian Kvamme led the Arrows with a 44.

The post-holiday hush may be felt more by Margaret Gonnerman than most of us. Friday marks her last day of providing day care - and considering she started 41 1/2 years ago, her home will seem pretty quiet after Christmas.

Gonnerman estimates about 160 children have been in her care since 1959. In 1977 she became licensed, but before that she took in as many as 20.

The decision hasn't been easy for Gonnerman to make, she said with tears in her eyes. "I wonder if it's the right thing to do, but pretty soon your body tells you to give it up."

She stopped accepting infants four years ago and now only takes children after school.

At one time, day care was a new concept in Luverne.

She started the work almost by accident. She worked at the local J.C. Penney store and when her husband, Marv, had to move for the military, she went with him. When they returned to Luverne, a coworker at Penney's asked if she'd be returning to work. Margaret had a daughter by then and wanted to stay home, so the coworker suggested Margaret take her two children as well.

Soon Margaret was known as one of only two women in town who would baby-sit, and her numbers increased.

"I loved it," Margaret said. "I liked being home with my own kids, too. But every child has its own personality, and I like knowing them as individuals."

When her current group of after-school kids found out she was quitting, they were disappointed. "One of the older ones was upset, ... so another one said we'd always be their grandma and grandpa. ... I know I'm going to miss them."

Part of the family
Margaret has been in the day-care business so long in the same town that she's actually changed diapers on two generations of some families.

Erma Hilbrands brought her son and daughter to Margaret and over the years became her friend. "Oh, she's the tops," Hilbrands said. "It was hard to get the kids away from there (at the end of the day)."

Margaret also watched Hilbrands' grandson. "She did crafts with them, and I know it was hard to get kids in there because she was full - because she was the best," Hilbrands said. "She's like a second mom to the kids." And now a second grandma in some cases.

Feeling like part of the family is something Margaret tried to impart to all the children in her home. They read books, got creative with colors and markers, played dress-up and built structures with Legos. The dress-up clothes are pretty tattered now, but Margaret said the years of wear were worth it.

"I always felt satisfied that I was able to help kids and give them something to remember me by," she said. "Some still stop by when they’re home visiting."

Margaret's impression is apparently a lasting one because a couple of young men have brought home college girlfriends for her approval.

"I never felt that one was better than the other. They all need the special love you can give them," she said.

"I hope that as they grow up, they feel like this was home."

Margaret plans to catch up on craft projects during her free time. She enjoys cross-stitching, crocheting, knitting and decorating in general. And now when her friends ask her to join them for an afternoon of shopping, she won’t have to turn them down.

Members of Luverne's Beta Sigma Phi sorority gathered for a 50th anniversary celebration of the group's founding Monday at the Luverne Country Club. Pictured are (seated, from left) Florence Helle, Bonnie Jordahl, Ellamae Josendahl, Vangie Golla, Bernadine Merrill, (standing, from left) Penny Cattnach, Darlene Boisen, Bev Mann, Joyce Herreid, Barb Carrigan, Evelyn Reyne, Ellen Cinkle, Jean Knips, Kay Franklin, Marcia Moeller, Mary Keck and Fran Appelt.

By Lori Ehde
Luverne's Vangie Golla enjoyed warm recognition Monday by her fellow Beta Sigma Phi members during their celebration of the local group's 50th anniversary.

The national sorority is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, but the local chapter started in Luverne 50 years ago.

Golla, who spoke at the Beta Sigma Phi luncheon at the Luverne Country Club, said the group was started in Luverne by Dorothy McIntyre, who moved here from Jamestown, N.D.

For 31-year-old Golla and many other young homemakers in Luverne, the timing was perfect for such a group to start here.

"It just came at such an opportune time. The Mrs. Jaycees were also starting at that time, but we had to be 35 to join," Golla recalled.

"We were looking for a place for fellowship and friendship, and there was a national outreach for service projects."

Not only did the group provide a social outlet for the young women - most of whom didn't work outside the home - but they agreed with goals of the organization.

The national organization of Beta Sigma Phi was founded in 1931 during the depths of the Great Depression. It was created for women in search of cultural and social activity.

According to their own printed information, "Beta Sigma Phis are doers. Their great strength comes from thousands of projects of helpfulness to others."

Golla, a charter member, said the group has held true to those values since she joined 50 years ago.

She remembers her group doing things in the community that the Rock County Emergency Food Shelf and the holiday SHARE program do today.

For example, they adopted needy families at Christmastime, and Golla recalls making seasonal favors for trays for rooms at the County Farm, also known as the Poor Farm.

Golla said she's pleased with how Beta Sigma Phi has evolved through the years.

"We started out with 22 members, and that's about what we have today. And I do believe in its ideals," she said Tuesday. "It was just so nice to be recognized yesterday. I appreciated that. I'm just realizing today how nice that was."

Vinyl siding on the south side of the house melted from heat thrown off the burning buildings.

The fire was under control by about 7:30 p.m., and firemen left the scene at about 8:30 p.m. Johnson said he checked the site again around midnight and brought a firetruck to extinguish more hot spots.

The Vises had recently added on to the dairy barn and purchased some new equipment. They were able to get all the cattle out of the dairy barn except 10 cows that refused to leave because it was milking time.

"Holsteins are ornery critters," said Johnson. "If it's time to milk they are going to the barn no matter what." Seven calves were also lost, according to Johnson.

The cattle saved from the flames are now milked in a barn owned by NormanÕs son and nephew.

All buildings and animals destroyed by the fire were insured, according to Norman Vis.

In another stroke of bad luck, Sunday the roof of a hog barn on Norman's place blew off in the high winds.

The Valley Springs Fire Department responded at approximately 4 p.m., but much of the damage was already in progress by then.

"When we pulled on the yard, the four buildings were totally engulfed," said Johnson. "The wind just fanned that fire. It was just going like crazy."

The Hills, Beaver Creek, Brandon and Garretson Fire Departments were called in to help battle the blaze.

"The most dangerous part was the propane tank that was burning," said Johnson. "They are very dangerous when they get hot."

The tank was sprayed with water to cool it down, but the valve popped continuously and one end of the tank bubbled up from the intense heat.

High winds fanned the flames of a fire that destroyed a calf barn, granary, two garages and a milking barn on a farm east of Valley Springs Saturday.

The blaze broke out on the Vis "home place," owned by Minnie Vis. Her son, Alan, lives on the premises, and another son, Norman Vis, uses the farm buildings for his farming operation, according to Valley Springs Fire Chief Don Johnson.

A small fire, which the Vises put out, developed in a silage and wood chip pile a few days prior to the blaze on Saturday. Norman Vis figures high winds on Saturday blew a spark onto the calf shed causing it to ignite.