Influence of grandma
reaches all aspects of life

Even though my grandmother is 90 years old, and understandably having health problems, it's still sad to see the family's iron matriarch showing some rust. (Rust other than in her well-maintained red hair color, that is.)

Her heart is just wearing out, even after all her years of clean living. She's recovering from a triple bypass Sunday and the family waits minute-to-minute for a definitive prognosis. As a nurse who worked into her 70s, Grandma needs medical care for the first time in decades.

Most people easily list their grandparents among the most influential people in their lives, and that includes me.

Grandma's influence on me was huge, not only because I spent some summers and most Sundays at her farm, but because she was a woman holding her own in an era when meekness was expected.

My friends had grandmas with names like Millie encouraging them to get married, scatter doilies throughout their home and, for God's sake, start making babies. My grandma, whose name is Dorcas, doesn't believe in decorating her home (except for family pictures), thought men got in the way of careers and said having babies was just hard on the body.

While other grandmas were pouring sweets down children's throats (and she did that, too) she taught me to like green beans by feeding them to me like a baby bird getting worms from the mother.

Then she got me to eat hot cereal by playing "The Three Bears."

She's a woman of constant unique ideals that continue to fascinate me even though I should be used to them. She certainly doesn't follow one school of thought.

For example, she's a sweet, dainty woman in most of her mannerisms, but throws out a few curse words when political conservatives are on CNN.

She tends to assume people dying before the age of 90 were heavy drinkers or smokers. "You never know how people live," she'll say while paging through the obits. But at the same time, she frowns upon those who openly gossip.

She totes feministic ideals like Gloria Steinem, but talks about "family values" like Pat Robertson.

Growing up, I saw how she respected the printed word by saving books and papers and reciting verses she learned as a grade school student.

Always with an eye to health information, she kept me apprised of the benefits of soy and flaxseed before they made their way to store shelves.

"The baked potato has more potassium than a banana," sheÕd say every time I wanted seconds on fried chicken instead of potatoes.

She talked about how women get the short end of the stick, having to give to husbands in more ways than they receive. But she willingly cared for a bedridden husband with Alzheimer's for years after she could have put him in a home.

I don't know how I'd handle a traditional granny. Dorcas' strange and beautiful ways enter my mind daily and her presence is constant.

We're not sure how she's going to come out health-wise. But I know that influence from the four-foot-nine, 89-pound force will always be larger than life.

And I will continue to sing a little bird chirp inside when I eat my green beans.

Send Sara an e-mail

Relay for Life looks forward to second big year
After a phenomenal first year, committee members are preparing for their second Rock County Relay for Life.

In their inaugural year, participants raised more than $49,000.

Last year 41 teams and 535 walkers were registered, but many more decided to walk at the last minute.

This year the event will be June 14 and 15, at the Luverne High School track.

The ceremonies will begin the 14th, with supper starting at 5:30 p.m.

Booths will open between 6 and 7 p.m. for hair cutting, massages, pies and other fund-raising.

At 7 p.m. the opening ceremonies will start, to honor local cancer survivors.

From 6 to 9 p.m. several local and area groups will provide entertainment.

At dusk, the luminary ceremony will take place, and from midnight to 6 a.m. the team games and fun will continue.

Last year there were more than 1,700 luminaries.

Sunrise services and closing ceremonies will begin at 6 a.m.

A breakfast will be open to the public, beginning at 7 a.m.

Rock CountyÕs Relay for Life is one of more than 3,000 Relay for Life ceremonies that take place throughout the country.

The event was started in 1985 by Dr. Gordon Klatt, a colorectal surgeon from Tacoma, Wash.

Tidbits from the Capitol in St. Paul
A few bills made their way into law this session that may affect you.

Increase earnings at farmer's markets
Minnesotan's who sell homemade goods at Farmer's Markets will be allowed to pocket up to $5,000 per year, up from $1,000 under a new law.

The law became effective May 21.

Homemade goods, sold at farmerÕs markets, will not have to have a state health inspection but will need a label indicating the name and address of the person who prepared and sold the items.

The bill passed both houses unanimously.

Biodiesel mandate enacted
Minnesota will become the first state in the nation to mandate that all diesel fuel sold contains a vegetable oil or animal fat additive.

The new law requires that all diesel fuel contains the biodiesel blend by March 1, 2005.

Soybean producers had urged the passage of the bill as a way to boost the crop's lagging prices.

The additive is expected to tack on a few cents to the cost of diesel fuel. Opponents had argued the bill would hurt MinnesotaÕs truck stop operators because truckers will refuel in other states.

The law also calls for at least 50 percent of the biodiesel to be produced in the state.

The United States Senate is also considering including biodiesel incentives in its energy bill.

Labeling e-mail messages
A bill attempting to limit unsolicited commercial messages, commonly known as "spam," was signed into law May 22.

The law will require certain unsolicited commercial e-mail messages to be labeled as "ADV" for advertisements and "ADV: Adult" for those containing adult material.

The new law will also protect the privacy of consumers by preventing Internet service providers from distributing personal information, except as needed to conduct business or with the consent of the consumer.

The measure will also require all unsolicited commercial messages to contain a return e-mail address or toll-free telephone number so recipients can request to be removed from the company's list.

It also bans false or misleading e-mail commercial messages.

Violators who send misleading messages could be fined $25 for each message, or $35,000 per day.

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

Earl Stanley Crowder, 71, Jefferson, Iowa, formerly of Luverne, died Sunday, May 12, 2002, in his home from cancer.
Memorial services were Thursday, May 16, at Slininger-Rossow Chapel in Jefferson. Pastor Tom Hinote, First Assembly of God Church, Jefferson, officiated.
Earl Crowder was born to Raymond L. and Leora (Guess Wilson) Crowder on Dec. 26, 1930, in Dayton, Iowa. He graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1948. He was manager of Dayton Light and Power in Dayton, an electrical lineman in Luverne, and an electrical engineer for Longmont Foods in Longmont, Colo., for 13 years.
He married his high school sweetheart, Phylis Morgan, on Nov. 6, 1949. Upon retirement they moved to Jefferson.
Mr. Crowder’s favorite past-times were hunting, fishing and friends.
Survivors include his wife, Phylis Crowder, Jefferson; three daughters, Angela Guinta, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Susan Scanlan-Morgan, Hugo, and JeriAnn (Robert) Rowe, Marine On St. Croix.; three grandchildren; and one uncle, Earl Wilson, Jefferson.
Mr. Crowder was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorials may be given in his name.
Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home, Jefferson, were in charge of arrangements.

John Jacob Bode, 77, Luverne, died Friday, May 31, 2002, at Luverne Community Hospital in Luverne.
Services were Monday, June 3, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. The Rev. Andrew Beerman officiated. Burial was in St. Catherine Catholic Cemetery.
John Bode was born to Edward and Bessie (Carlton) Bode on Feb. 9, 1925, in Luverne. He attended school in Luverne. He helped his father with farm work in Cazenovia, rural Pipestone.
He married Virginia DeMunck on June 29, 1950, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jasper. After their marriage the couple lived on the farm for two years before moving to Luverne. He worked at A.R. Wood Manufacturing and Paulson Dehydrating Plant in Luverne until retiring in 1979.
Mr. Bode was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. He enjoyed fishing, playing cards and visiting with people.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia Bode, Luverne; one son, Michael (Rita) Bode, Brandon, S.D., three daughters, Mary (Leon) Arp Pick, Pam (Gary) Bode Abell, all of Luverne, and Pat (Ron) Raabe, Hartford, S.D.; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; six stepgreat-grandchildren; three sisters, Liz Schadwinkel, Wanda (Alfred) Briggs, both of Luverne, and Margaret Nieuwboer, Hancock; and special relative, Vern Carton, Pipestone.
Mr. Bode was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Dean.
Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

Leonard B. Pick, 88, Lismore, died Tuesday, May 21, 2002, at McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D. He was the father of Leon Pick, Luverne.

Services were Friday, May 24, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Lismore. The Revs. Andrew Beerman and Gerald Kosse, Roxanne Lisnak, and Deacon Fred Reker officiated. Burial was in the parish cemetery.
Leonard Pick was born to Joseph and Elizabeth (Reker) Pick on July 9, 1913, in Granville, Iowa. He attended school at St. Kilian.

He married Arlene Kettler Fath on Feb. 16, 1942, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Lismore. After their marriage the couple farmed north of Lismore. In February 1948 they moved west of Lismore where they farmed until retiring in 1975. They continued to live on the farm until moving to Lismore.

Mr. Pick was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Lismore and a charter member of St. Anthony Knights of Columbus for 46 years. He was a 4-H leader for 16 years, a former mayor of Lismore, a manager of the Lismore Park for the past 12 years and a member of Lismore Senior Citizens. He enjoyed bullhead fishing, playing pinochle and baseball.

Survivors include his wife, Arlene Pick, Lismore; two sons, Leon (Mary) Pick, Luverne, and Duane (Jana) Pick, Edgerton; three grandchildren, Dan (Diane) Pick, Luverne, Julie (Craig) Becker, Sioux Falls, S.D., and Jackie Pick, Luverne, Two great-grandchildren, Thomas and Sydney Becker, Sioux Falls; four stepgrandchildren, Alissa (Eric) Petterson, Madison, S.D., Chris Ailts, Sioux Falls, Rob (Holli) Arp, Lake Benton, and Jodi (Jason) Bosch, Hills; four stepgreat-grandchildren, Cole and Gracie Bosch and Nick and Kayla Arp; and one brother, Raphael (Margaret) Pick, Kenneth.

Mr. Pick was preceded in death by is parents, seven brothers, Michael, Arnold, Frank "Ernest," Isadore, Urban, Angus and Joseph Jr., and four sisters, Cecilia Eleanora, Lucy and Mildred.
Dingmann Funeral Home, Adrian, was in charge of arrangements

Linda Hurd, 53, Sioux Falls, formerly of Luverne, died Sunday, June 10 at her home. Visitation will be Tuesday, June 11 from 4 to 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at Engebretson Funeral Home, Luverne. Services will be Wednesday, June 12 at 1 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Luverne. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery.

Rose Radermacher, 90, Hardwick, died Wednesday, June 5 at the Parkview Manor Nursing Home, Ellsworth. Visitation will be Friday, June 7 from 5 to 8 p.m. with parish prayers at 7:30 p.m. at the Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne. Funeral services will be Saturday, June 8 at 9 a.m. at St. Catherine Catholic Church, Luverne, with Fr. Andrew Beerman officiating. Burial will be at the parish cemetery.

Elizabeth Ruth Eberlein, 76, Redwood Falls, formerly of Luverne, died Wednesday, May 29, 2002.
Services were Saturday, June 1, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Redwood Falls. Burial was in St. Catherine Catholic Cemetery in Luverne.
Elizabeth Utter was born to Ralph and Clare (Estle) Utter on July 31, 1925, on the family farm in Columbus Junction, Louisa County, Iowa. She attended business school in Chillicothe, Mo. She began working in Minneapolis.
She married Vernon Eberlein on July 26, 1946. They moved to Luverne after their marriage. She worked for Selective Service for many years. Later, she worked for Tri-State Insurance Company until she retired. Mr. Eberlein died in 1967. She moved to Redwood Falls in 1995.
Mrs. Eberlein was an active member of St. Catherine Catholic Church since moving to Redwood Falls. She enjoyed daily mass, playing bridge and was an avid golfer.
Survivors include seven children, Steven (Dorothy) Eberlein, Anoka, Susan (Jim) Brown, Billings, Mont., John Eberlein, Plymouth, Ann (David) Thiry, Livingston Mont., Nancy (Denny) Stoterau, Redwood Falls, and Peter (Mary) Eberlein, Red Wing; 23 grandchildren; Ann Marie (Dan) Busack, Mike (Jean) Eberlein, Matthew (Beth) Brown, Katie (Steve) Johnson, Peter, Clare and Joseph (Mary) Brown, Claire Eberlein, Jeremy, Brian, Luke, Beth and Lydia Thiry, Andrew (Katie), Ben, Sarah and Nick Stoterau, and Lee (Joe) Stoffel, Lindsay, Katelyn, Adam and Joe Eberlein; six great-grandchildren, Kelsey Talbot, Nick Johnson, Katelyn and Jacob Brown, Hailey Jorgenson and Ella Marie Buscack; one brother, Richard (Phyllis) Utter; two sisters, Jean (Morrie) Smith and Mary (Gene) Hafner; many nieces and nephews, and friends.
Mrs. Eberlein was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon.
Redwood Valley Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

By John Rittenhouse
The Luverne girls track team placed third in a 26-team field at the Section 3A Track and Field Championships in Pipestone Thursday.

The Cardinals compiled 58 points during the event, finishing behind champion Tracy-Milroy-Balaton (85.5 points) and runner-up Pipestone-Jasper (71.5). Jackson County Central (52) and BOLD (46.5) round out the top-five teams at the meet.

Berths in the state meet were on the line for the top relay teams, the top-two finishers in individual events and any relay or individual who met a state-qualifying standard that was implemented for the section meet.

Four Luverne girls extended their seasons by placing second in individual events.

Competing at the Minnesota State Class A Track and Field Championships at the National Sports Center in Blaine tomorrow and Saturday will be senior Amanda Aning, sophomores Danielle Cook and Jenni Christensen and eighth-grader Victoria Arends.

Aning placed second and surpassed her old school record of 10-6 in the pole vault by clearing a height of 10-9 in Pipestone.

Cook, who set a school record in the 300-meter hurdles during the sub-section meet in Luverne seven days earlier, tied the mark by placing second in the event with a 47.8 time.

Christensen placed second in the 200-meter dash with a 26.85 effort, and Arends was second in the 800-meter run in 2:27.81.

Cook and Christensen will be running in the preliminaries that start at 4 p.m. tomorrow in Blaine.

The girls' 300-meter preliminaries will be the 13th event on the track, and the finals are set for 1:55 p.m.

The 200-meter dash preliminaries will be the 17th event on the track tomorrow. The finals are set for 2:50 p.m. Saturday.

The girls' pole vault competition begins at noon Saturday.

The girls' 1,600-meter run is set for 12:18 p.m.
Cook made a bid to advance to state in two events Thursday, but she ended up finishing third in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.6.

Luverne's 800-meter relay team of Aning, Cook Christensen and Callen Bosshart finished third with a time of 1:49.79.

Adria Sherwood placed fourth as an individual with a toss of 100-4 in the discus.
Sadie Dietrich earned a medal in the 400-meter dash by placing fifth in 1:02.95, and the 1,600-meter relay team received medals for placing sixth in 4:20.35. Christensen, Amanda Dooyema, Dietrich and Patricia Willers formed the team.

Making a contribution to the team tally are Willers, Maggie Kuhlman, Dietrich and Arends, who placed seventh in the 3,200-meter relay with time of 10:51.41.

Luverne's 400-meter relay team of Bosshart, Nicole Willers, Christina Smidstra and Cassie Pap placed ninth in the section field.

Amanda Dooyema and Amanda Saum placed 10th in the 400-meter dash and 3,200-meter runs with respective 1:04.9 and 13:04.22 times, while Kuhlman was 10th in the pole vault after clearing 4-8.

Kelsey Dooyema came in 11th in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 6:03.8.

Bosshart (100), Lexi Peterson (pole vault), Pap (long jump) and Marissa Stewart (discus) didn’t place in their respective events.