Alice Smit, 85, Luverne, died Thursday, April 18, 2002, at Arnold Memorial Health Care Center in Adrian.

Services were Saturday, April 20, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Luverne.

Alice Meyers was born to Ralph and Jennie (Meyer) Meyers on April 23, 1916, in Lennox, S.D. She was raised and educated in the same area.

She married Egbert Smit on March 10, 1936. In 1947 the couple bought a farm near Luverne. They retired from farming in 1975. After their retirement they enjoyed traveling in their motor home visiting all 50 states. She was a homemaker.

Mrs. Smit was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Luverne. She was active in Ladies Aid. She was also a member of the Farmers Union and DFL party. She enjoyed fishing, sewing and reading in her free time.

Survivors include one son, Virgil Smit, Minneapolis; one daughter, Mary (Karen) Donth, Magnolia; seven grandchildren, Lori Fletcher, Peggy Donth, David Donth, Troy Donth, Mark Donth, Paul Smit and David Smit; five great-grandchildren; one sister, Lila Day, Sioux Falls, S.D., and one sister-in-law, Leona Meyers, Worthing, S.D.

Mrs. Smit was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Egbert, one brother, Harry Meyers, and one brother-in-law, Oliver Day.

Memorials are preferred to the Arnold Memorial Health Care Center in Adrian.

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

Margaret Loger, 74, Luverne, died Sunday, May 26 at Mary Jane Brown Home. Visitation will be Tuesday, May 28 from 2 to 8 p.m. at Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne with family present from 6 to 8 p.m. Services will be Wednesday, May 29 at 10 a.m. at the First Prebyterian Church, Luverne, with Rev. John Pehrson officiating. Burial will be at Ebenezer State Line Cemetery in Kanaranzi Township.

Ray W. Swenson, 86, Luverne, died Wednesday, May 22 at Mary Jane Brown Home, Luverne. Services will be Saturday, May 25 at 2 p.m. at the Dingmann Funeral Chapel, Luverne, with Rev. Ron Moffitt officiating. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery. Visitation is one hour prior to services.

Services for Michael Ladd will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 24, at American Reformed Church in Luverne. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 23, at Engebretson Funeral Home, Luverne, and one hour prior to services on Friday at the church. Burial will be in Luverne Memorial Gardens, rural Luverne.

Michael Ladd, 45, Watertown, formerly of Luverne, died Monday, May 20, 2002, at Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown.

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

Gloria Elizabeth Johnson, 74, Luverne, died Monday, May 20, 2002, at Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in Luverne.

Services were Wednesday, May 26, at Dingmann Funeral Chapel in Luverne. The Rev. Bart Fletcher officiated. Burial was in Luverne Memorial Gardens, rural Luverne.

Gloria Hensger was born to Herman E. and Elizabeth (Hunter) Hensger on March 29, 1928, in Haledon, N.J. She graduated from Central High in Haledon. She worked at a telephone company in Patterson, N.J., from 1945 to 1953.

She married Arland M. Johnson on Nov. 7, 1953, at East Brooke Methodist Church in Haledon. After their marriage the couple moved to St. James where they lived until 1959 when they moved to Luverne. She became a resident of Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center on Aug. 13, 2001.

Mrs. Johnson was a member of United Methodist Church in Luverne where she taught Sunday School and served as president of United Methodist Women. She was also a member of Pink Ladies of Luverne Community Hospital. She was an avid Twins fan and enjoyed knitting.

Survivors include her son, Dave Johnson, Luverne.

Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Arland, on Nov. 28, 1992.

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

Services for Anna Van Marel will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, at Steen Reformed Church in Steen. The Rev. Dan Ramaker will officiate. Burial will follow at Eastside Cemetery in Steen.

Anna Van Marel, 88, Steen, died Monday, Feb. 18, 2002.

Anna Cleveringa was born to William and Altje (Cleveringa) Cleveringa on Jan. 18, 1914, on the family farm near Sioux Center, Iowa. She grew up on the family farm and attended Sioux Center Christian School. Upon completing her education she helped her parents and did some cleaning for area people.

She married Arie J. Van Marel on March 4, 1936, at the parsonage in Sioux Center. They first made their home on the Van Marel farm near Orange City, Iowa, and in 1942, moved to their farm near Steen where they farmed until retirement. In 1975 they moved to Steen. Mr. Van Marel died in 1985. She continued to live in their home. In January 2002 she had a heart attack and was hospitalized for a short while. She was admitted to Luverne Hospital on Feb. 11.

Mrs. Van Marel was active in Women's Circle and attended adult Sunday School at church. She also enjoyed crocheting, reading, playing piano, traveling and socializing.

Survivors include her seven children, Alvin (Clarella) Van Marel, Boyden, Iowa, Darlene (Vernon) Bolt, Bellflower, Calif., Evelyn (Gerhart) Van Dam, and Rosella (Arvin) Bleyenberg, all of Edgerton, Arnold (Rosetta) Van Marel, Beaver Creek, Luretta (Berwyn) Van Otterloo, Rock Rapids, Iowa, and Mary Ann (Don) Palmquist, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 30 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; and four sisters-in-law, Tena Van Marel, Anna Van Marel, Jen Van De Berg, all of Orange City, Iowa, and Cynthia Cleveringa, Sioux Center.

Mrs. Van Marel was preceded in death by her husband, Arie, two granddaughters, Leann Bleyenberg and Shannon Kollis, four brothers, Fred, Clarence "Nick," Bill and Louis Cleveringa, and three sisters, Ruth Wielenga, Wilhemina Rozeboom and Luwina Sneller.

Roste Funeral Home, Hills, is in charge of arrangements.

Douglas "Doc" Swenson, 75, Luverne, died Sunday, April 7, 2002, at the Hospice Cottage in Luverne.

Services were Wednesday, April 10, at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

Douglas "Doc" Swenson was born to Charles H. and Rose A. (Olson) Swenson on Jan. 28, 1927, in Springwater Township, Rock County, where he was raised and attended country school. Following his education he lived and worked on the family farm. Later he moved to Luverne but continued to work on his farm until his death. He entered Luverne Hospice Cottage on March 8.

Mr. Swenson was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne.

Survivors include one sister, Evelyn Thode, Luverne; an aunt, Gladys Christensen, Luverne; one sister-in-law, Virgene Bullis, Luverne; 18 nieces and nephews, Michael, Curtis, Joseph and Vincent Swenson, Barbara Hall, Patricia Kerr, Monica Hintze, Rose Gebhart, Virginia Moore, Charlotte Taylor, Anita Hume, Gerald, James and Brian Thode, Pamela Schmidt, Joyce Thode, Rodney and Thomas Swenson.
Mr. Swenson was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Charles and Robert, a sister-in-law, Cecilia Swenson, and a brother-in-law, Clarence Thode.

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

Luverne's Tom Bouwman reacts to a high shot by his opponent during Monday's Section 3A Team Tennis Tournament quarterfinal-round match against Redwood Valley in Luverne. The Cards beat RWV and Montevideo in Tuesday's semifinals before falling to Yellow Medicine East in the section title tilt.

By John Rittenhouse
Luverne completed its team version of the 2002 season by playing three matches during the Section 3A Team Tournament Monday and Tuesday.

The third-seeded Cardinals defeated No. 6 Redwood Valley in the quarterfinals Monday in Luverne before nipping No. 2 Montevideo by one point in TuesdayÕs semifinals in Redwood Falls. No. 1-seeded Yellow Medicine East then bested the Cards by three points in TuesdayÕs championship match.

Luverne, which ends the team campaign with a 9-8 record, will play in the Section 3A Individual Tournament today and Tuesday in Redwood Falls.

YME 5, Luverne 2
Luverne's bid for a section team championship came up short when it lost a three-point decision to YME during Tuesday's championship match in Redwood Falls.

The top-seeded Sting swept the four singles matches and went 1-2 in doubles to win the section crown.

Luverne's wins came at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. Dusty Antoine and Pat Bennett secured a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 win over Nathan Morland and Andrew Hewitt at the No. 2 slot. Trevor Maine and Chris Vickery topped Andrew Albin and Jeff Ford by 6-3 and 6-4 tallies at No. 3.

YME's No. 1 team of Phil Erickson and Aaron Smith claimed 6-0 and 6-1 wins against Dan Voigt and Tom Bouwman to avoid being swept in doubles.

All of YMEÕs singles wins came in straight sets.

Jason Ford notched 6-3 and 6-4 wins over Barry Hoogland at No. 1, Mark Sheggeby downed Kyle Fletcher by 6-1 and 6-0 scores at No. 2, Derrick Kvendru posted 6-1 and 6-0 victories against Steve Althoff at No. 3, and Erik Cherveny prevailed by 6-2 an 6-3 counts against Dan Boen at No. 4.

Luverne 4,
Montevideo 3
The Cardinals earned a berth in the championship match by defeating Montevideo in TuesdayÕs semifinals.

Luverne won three of four singles matches and sewed up the win by taking one of three doubles battles.

Hoogland edged Brock Lauritson by 7-5 scores at No. 1 singles, Voigt posted 7-6 and 6-1 wins over Eli Briones at No. 2, and Boen recorded a 6-1, 6-0 win over Joe Landman at No. 4.

Montevideo's Matt Flaharty prevailed at No. 3 singles with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Bouwman.

Luverne's doubles win came from Maine and Vickery in the No. 3 slot. The Cards bested Kris Hobbie and Ryan Aeikens by 6-3 and 6-4 tallies.

Montevideo's Ben Tokheim and Pat Huber secured a 7-5, 6-7, 6-4 win over Antoine and Bennett at No. 1 doubles, while Sal Horn and Matt Johnson nipped Fletcher and Althoff in a 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 match.

Luverne 4, RWV 3
The Cardinals opened tournament play by posting a one-point win over Redwood Valley in Luverne Monday.

Luverne was unable to post a win in doubles, but it recorded four straight victories in singles to advance to Tuesday's semifinals.

All of the singles wins came in straight sets.

Hoogland topped Mike Alexander by 6-1 and 6-0 scores at No. 1, Voigt bested Devan Blaine by 6-2 and 6-0 scores at No. 2, Bouwman toppled Justin Thiel by 6-1 and 6-0 counts at No. 3, and Antoine secured 6-0 and 6-1 wins over Sam Ferguson at No. 4.

RWV took all three doubles matches in straight sets.

Aaron Busack and Drew Tribble upended Boen and Bennett by 6-2 and 6-3 scores at No. 1, Paul Erickson and James Lidbeck outplayed Althoff and Fletcher by 6-1 and 6-4 tallies at No. 2, and LaRon Schottenbauer and Reed Larson posted 6-3 and 6-2 wins against Vickery and Maine at No. 3.

Cecilia Swenson, 80, Luverne, died Monday, March 25 at the Heart Hospital of South Dakota, Sioux Falls. Services will be Thursday, March 28 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Catherine Catholic Church, Luverne, with Fr. Andrew Beerman officiating. Burial will be in St. Catherine's Cemetery, Luverne. Visitation will be Wednesday, March 27 from 2 to 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m., rosary at 6 p.m. and prayer service at 7:30 p.m. at Engebretson Funeral Home, Luverne.