By Jolene Farley
The home of Harlin and Yvonne Rozeboom, Steen, is one of five featured on the Holiday Tour of Homes from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7.

The tour, whose proceeds go to the Hills-Beaver Creek After Prom fund, also features the Beverly Wassenaar home, Hills, the Chris and Grace Van Wyhe home east of Hills, the Dave and Eunice Roozenboom home, rural Steen, and the Brad and Linda Bosch home, Steen.

The Rozeboom’s country-style house, complete with a large front porch, took 120 days to build and was completed seven years ago.

"Harlin helped build a lot of it," Yvonne said.

The main floor includes a spacious kitchen with custom cabinets and a breakfast nook, a family room with a fireplace, a dining room with period carpeting, an office and the master suite.

"One of the main things I always wanted was a big kitchen," said Yvonne. "It seems like everyone always gathers in the kitchen and we both have big families."

Many beautiful antiques are found throughout the house. A library chest, bought on an auction from Steen Reformed Church, is one of the couple’s favorite pieces. It was reportedly built by a former preacher more than 100 years ago.

The basement features another family room with a fireplace built by Harlin, two bedrooms, a bathroom and a laundry room.

The Rozeboom’s children, Brittney, 16, and Ethan, 12, chose the theme for their downstairs bedrooms and the bath. Minnesota Viking fans on the tour of homes will love Ethan’s purple and gold bedroom.

The family decorates two Christmas trees a year, one upstairs and one downstairs. Brittney and Ethan are in charge of decorating the tree on the lower level.

The siblings also collect Christmas Village pieces. They each add one piece a year to the collection.

The Rozebooms are proud of their landscaping, designed by Harlin. The family enjoys the pool and hot tub in their back yard.

"In the summer we spend all of our time out there," Yvonne said.

She is busy preparing for the tour, painting, wallpapering and deep-cleaning different areas of the home.
"I’m not nervous, it’s just you put all these things off you should have done before," she said.

Tickets and maps for the Holiday Tour of Homes are available at Hills-Beaver Creek High School and Steen Reformed Church on the day of the tour.

Tickets are $7 for ages 10 to adult.

Parents are asked to drop off children younger than 10 at the babysitting service sponsored by the Hills-Beaver Creek Spanish Club. To pre-register children, call Teri Richards at 962-3240.

Junior parents will serve lunch at Steen Reformed Church.

Country Flowers and Crafts will have a holiday open house from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. featuring Premier Jewelry.

Brittney, Ethan, Yvonne and Harlin Rozeboom gather in what they call their upstairs family room. The focal point of the room is the oak fireplace.

By Jolene Farley
The home of Harlin and Yvonne Rozeboom, Steen, is one of five featured on the Holiday Tour of Homes from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7.

Fred’s Body Shop to close
Luverne is losing one of its three body shops, with the closing of Fred’s Body Shop.

Fred Hendrickson started in the body shop business, in 1949, when he was a junior in high school in Mitchell, S. D.

In 1965, he moved to Luverne with his wife Deloris to become the manager of Don’s Body Shop, owned at the time by Don Wilcox.

Don decided to pursue other career opportunities and hired Fred to run the business on a day-to-day basis.

The business was located in what is now the Rock County Star Herald building, but in 1976, Fred bought the business from Wilcox and moved to a new building he had built on 303 W. Edgehill, where he has operated until today.

Fred’s current building has been purchased by Gene Aanenson, owner of Service Master in Luverne.

Check it out
Luverne’s newest city pocket park has an unusual new addition, a windmill.

I didn’t ask, but I believe it is for aesthetics, and probably will not be used to pump water.

The new windmill is located in Evergreen Park, on the site that used to be the home of Albert and Marge Christensen, on Blue Mound Avenue.

Dayton aide to discuss school funding
Jim Gelbmann, aide to Sen. Mark Dayton, will be in Luverne on Wednesday, Dec. 12, to hold a special forum on special education funding.

The thrust of the discussion will be the federal government’s failure to fully fund its share of special education costs and how it has harmed Minnesota schools and students.

Gelbmann will meet with teachers, parents, administrators and school board members to update them on upcoming efforts in Congress to improve special education programs and funding.

The next bill the Senate is expected to address on this issue is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

IDEA is expected to determine future funding and implementation of special education services.

Currently, there is a $242 million annual shortfall in Minnesota.

Ice is forming but it’s not very thick
I went for a cruise around our fair city on Tuesday after Rotary.

While passing the Vets Home pond, Ben Vander Kooi noted that the pond was frozen over.

That site of the thin layer of ice on the Vets Home pond quickly brought to mind the recent tragedy of the three young drowning victims in Anoka County, near Minneapolis.

Three boys, Shawn, Cody and Mark Ostendorf were playing in the back yard of their rural home.

When their mother turned her back briefly, they walked on a slightly frozen pond that could not hold their weight.

The two older boys, Shawn and Mark were pronounced dead shortly after recovery.

The youngest, 2-year-old Mark lived until Tuesday, when efforts to keep him alive were ended.

The sight of that slightly frozen Vets pond reminded me that at this time of the year, how dangerous ponds and creeks as well as the Rock River can be.

According to a recent graphic in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, these are the thickness needed for safe ice.

12 inches: Cars and light Trucks
8 inches: Compact cars
5 inches: Snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles
4 inches: Person can walk safely
Less than 4 inches: Unsafe

Also remember that snow acts as an insulation and can prevent the ice from hardening as fast as if it were exposed.

Publisher Roger Tollefson can be contacted by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com

Jeffrey Michael Colby, 45, rural Brewster, died Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2002, at Worthington Regional Hospital in Worthington.

Services were Saturday, Nov. 23, at American Lutheran Church in Worthington. The Revs. Bill Blundell and Mike Zaske officiated. Burial was in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Brewster.

Jeffrey Colby was born to Junior and Bonita "Deeda" (Datzman) Colby on June 27, 1957, in Worthington. He graduated from Brewster High School in 1975.

He married Janet Brua on July 31, 1983, at Bethel Presbyterian Church in Reading. After their marriage, the couple lived in rural Brewster. He worked for Hawke Harvester & Co. and at Ag County Enterprises. He later became self-employed as a building contractor.

Mr. Colby was a member of American Lutheran Church in Worthington. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, volleyball, golfing and especially loved the Fourth of July family campouts. He was an inventor at heart and enjoyed creating things.

Survivors include his wife, Janet Colby, rural Brewster, two sons, Justin and Jason Colby, rural Brewster; one daughter, Jennifer Colby, rural Brewster; his parents, Junior and Deeda Colby, rural Brewster, two brothers, Mark (Jolene) Colby, Alto Loma, Calif., and Rob (Shana) Colby, rural Brewster; four sisters, Juanita Colby, Janine (Randy) Harvey, all of Sioux Falls, S.D., Pamela (Kip) Brettingen, Minneapolis; and Renee (Mike) Baerenwald, Fulda; two uncles, Joe Datzman, Remer, and Dan (Beth) Colby, Verndale; two aunts, Elaine (John) Wasem, Hamilton, Mont., and Elaine (Ned) Valentine, Ohio; his mother-in-law, Gerry Brua, Worthington; three brothers-in-law, Jack (Dee) Brua, Eau Claire, Wis., Mike (Sharon) Brua, Brandon, S.D., and Todd (Kim) Brua, Sioux Falls; one sister-in-law, Lisa (Todd) Bahnub, La Crosse, Wis., 30 nieces and nephews, one great-niece; many cousins; and three close friends, Clair VanGrouw, Steve Naumann and Earl Thurston.

Mr. Colby was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Roy and Vida Colby, maternal grandparents, Maynard and Agnes Datzman, his father-in-law, Jack Brua Sr., and an aunt, JoAnn Datzman,

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

Helen Louise (Whitaker) Wiese, 93, Rapid City, S.D, formerly of Luverne, died Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2002, at Wesleyan Health Care Center in Rapid City.

Services were Saturday, Nov. 23, at First United Methodist Church, Rapid City. The Rev. Doug Diehl officiated. Burial was in Mt. View Cemetery.

Helen Bachman was born to George and Anna (Plautz) Bachman on Sept. 12, 1909, in Odebolt, Iowa. She grew up on a farm near Beresford, S.D., and graduated from Beresford High School in 1926. She received her teaching certificate from Eastern State Teacher’s College, Madison, S.D., in 1927, and taught in a country school for two years. She attended Nettleton Commercial College in Sioux Falls, S.D., from 1929 to 1931. She then worked for three companies with adjoining offices doing bookkeeping and secretarial work.

She married Harold Whitaker on Aug. 20, 1934. They moved to Rapid City and began a heating, air conditioning and roofing contracting business known as Whitaker & Mattson. Mr. Whitaker died in 1966. She went back to work in the office of Whitaker & Mattson.

She married Emil Wiese on Feb. 14, 1973, and moved to Luverne. Mr. Wiese died in 1986. She returned to Rapid City to be near her family in 1996.

Mrs. Wiese was active in church work, Eastern Star and the United Commercial Travelers Auxiliary.

Survivors include one son, Dr. Ren (Beverly) Whitaker, Prairie du Chien, Wis.; one daughter, Janice (David) Grow, Rapid City; one stepson, James (Gail) Wiese, Brooklyn, N.Y.; grandchildren, Janna and James Morris, Blackhawk, S.D., Jodi and Reese Kor, Piedmont, S.D., Jeff and Jenny Grow, Hillsboro, Ore., Jay Grow and special friend Linda Bruss, Lake Crystal, Rohm and Debbie Whitaker, Casper, Wyo., Jody and Monte Stull, Lees Summit, Mo., Jill and Michael Koch, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; stepgrandchildren, Anna and Ben Miller, Brooklyn, and Allison Wiese, Houston, Texas; 12 great-grandchildren; four stepgreat-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mrs. Wiese was preceded in death by her first husband, Harold Whitaker, second husband, Emil Wiese, one brother, Albert Bachman, and one sister, Margaret Young.

Memorials have been established for the Methodist Church and the Grow Family Scholarship fund at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Osheim-Catron Funeral Home, Rapid City, was in charge of arrangements.

Food Drive 2002
Luverne members of Future Leaders of America collected 733 food items for the Rock County Emergency Food Shelf at their Halloween party. The middle school and high school students took stock of their food collection Friday before delivering items to the food shelf.

Photo by Lori Ehde

Rod Viland, 52, Florissant, Colo., formerly of Luverne, died Saturday, Nov. 16, 2002, in a motor vehicle accident near Cripple Creek, Colo.

Services were Wednesday, Nov. 20, at Our Lady of the Woods Catholic Church.

Rod Viland was born to Larry and Ruby (Thompson) Viland on June 23, 1950, in Luverne. He graduated from Luverne High School. He served in the U.S. Army.

He married Martha DiMercurio on May 22, 1988. He was self-employed as a building designer.

Survivors include his wife, Martha Viland, his parents, Larry and Ruby Viland, Luverne, one brother, Jim Viland, Luverne; and one sister, Jeanie (Steve) Ellsworth, Rock Rapids, Iowa.

Mountain Memorial Funeral Home, Divide, Colo., was in charge of arrangements.

Orey D. Gehrke, 82, Luverne, died Saturday, Nov. 23, 2002, at Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in Luverne.

Services were Tuesday, Nov. 26, at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. The Rev. Gary Klatt officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.

Orey Donald Gehrke was born to Gust and Minnie (Wallenburg) Gehrke on Oct. 18, 1920, in Beaver Creek. Growing up he helped his parents on the farm near Beaver Creek. The family then moved to a farm south of Luverne. He worked as a truck driver for E.A. Hermann for four years and then worked for Bert Lease at his gas station for a couple of years before returning to work for his parents on the farm.

He married Myrtle Ross on May 20, 1943, at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. They lived and farmed in Mound Township for a few years before moving to a farm in Luverne Township in 1951. They relocated to Denver Township near Hardwick in 1966, and farmed until 1976 when he sold the farm. They moved to Luverne and purchased a café. He retired in 1993.

Mr. Gehrke was a life long member of St. John Lutheran Church, serving as an elder and an usher. He loved playing cards, especially pinochle. He was an avid collector of clocks and enjoyed an occasional trip to Flandreau.

Survivors include his wife, Myrtle Gehrke, Luverne; one son, Gene (Ruth) Gehrke Jasper; three grandchildren, Larry Gehrke, Donald (Nancy) Gehrke, and Vikkijean (Scott) Kessler; three great-grandchildren, Brandie Leigh Gehrke, Orvil John Swenson, and Dyllon Wyatt Gehrke; one sister, Effie Gertz, Appleton, Wis., numerous nieces, nephews, cousins; and his 13-year-old Pomeranian, Sandy.

Mr. Gehrke was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Alvin, Harvey and Willie, two sisters, Liddy and Esther, and one grandson, David Gehrke.

The Luverne Hospice Program will plant a tree in Orey Gehrke’s memory.

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

Luverne goalie Alyssa Wieneke stops a shot by a Marshall player during Thursday’s home game against the Tigers. Wieneke made 22 saves in a 5-4 overtime loss to Marshall.

By John Rittenhouse
Luverne girls’ hockey team experienced a first when they entertained Marshall at the Blue Mound Ice Arena Thursday.

After winning a pair of Southwest Conference championships without losing a game in two years of competition, the Cardinals found out how it feels to lose a league game.

With 6:55 remaining in overtime, Marshall’s Ashley Verdeck netted her second goal of the game to clinch a 5-4 victory for the Tigers.

Luverne, which lost two games prior to Thursday’s league opener, looked on in shock as the Tigers celebrated in a pile near the net they scored in to win the game.

Although the Cards lost in overtime, the game did not lack in entertainment value.

Luverne sported 1-0 and 3-2 advantages during the contest that featured a wild second period of seven combined scores by the two teams. Five of the seven goals in the period came in a span of 2:13.

The Cardinals received goals from four different players and took a 1-0 edge into the second period.

Marshall moved in front 2-1 with counters from Kayla Kaas and Sasha Sook at the 14:14 and 9:38 marks of the stanza, but Luverne’s Stephanie Morgan knotted the score at two after being set up by Jenny Braa with 6:05 remaining in the period.

It was Morgan’s goal that ignited the second-period scoring surge.

Suzanne Gluf put the Cards in front with an unassisted goal with 5:24 remaining in the stanza, but the Tigers countered with goals 12 seconds apart by Verdeck (4:40) and Sook (4:28) to regain a 4-3 advantage.

Luverne’s Taylor Nelson scored 30 seconds later at 3:58 to tie the game at four.

The teams were unable to produce a goal while registering a combined 17 shots in the third period, setting up a 10-minute overtime session.

Luverne directed two shots on net in the early stages of the overtime period. Marshall’s first shot on goal in overtime, an unassisted goal by Verdeck, settled the issue.

Luverne’s first-period goal came off the stick of Natalie Domagala. Maggie Vanden Hoek received an assist for the counter, which came at the 10:18 mark of the stanza.

The Cardinals outshot the Tigers 39-27 in the game.

Alyssa Wieneke stopped 22 of 27 shots in net for LHS.

The 0-3 Cardinals played in Fairmont last night. Luverne hosts Albert Lea Tuesday.