The following article is part of the Diamond Club Member group that began in the January 7, 1943, issue of the Rock County Star Herald. Members of this group consist of persons of age 75 and older.
The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on Nov. 4, 1943.
Thor Berg continues his life story from last week.
Mr. Berg was always fond of the out-of-doors and since his boyhood days, has been fond of hunting and fishing. In Norway, he often donned a pair of snow shoes and went hunting in winter for hours at a time. After coming to this country, he hunted ducks, geese and prairie chickens, all of which abounded in great numbers. Fish, too, were extremely plentiful in all the rivers and creeks, and he states he has caught many good sized pickerel in the Rock river. He still enjoys reading magazines dealing with outdoor sport.
He managed to escape harm in the blizzard of 1888, but he recalls how the day was as beautiful as it could be in the forenoon, with a genuine January thaw in progress. By five o’clock in the afternoon, however, the storm raged in blinding fury. He recalls how two men were frozen to death when they were unable to reach shelter.
Mr. Berg worked on farms north of Luverne in Mound and Vienna townships practically his entire life after coming to this country. He never married, and has only the one brother, Nels, with whom he resides here in Luverne.
Despite the fact that he is nearly 90, he is still active, can hear well, and can read without glasses. He often makes a trip down town, and he enjoys visiting with his older friends.
Mr. Berg is a member of Blue Mound Lutheran church, and for years served as janitor there.
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

10 years ago (2013)
•It takes dozens of involved staff and volunteers to run a county fair smoothly, but this year in Rock County, one loyal organizer will be absent.
Floral Hall superintendent Ida Reverts passed away last fall, so this year, her co-workers are learning to manage without her.
“I think anyone who has spent time at the fair in the past 50 years realizes that Ida was always there,” said Lynette Jauert, who is Open Class co-superintendent this year with Twila Walker.
“She was the first person to arrive in the morning and the last to leave at night.”
To recognize those contributions and Ida’s contributions to the fair through the years, the Rock County Fair Board renamed the Floral Hall the “Ida Reverts Memorial Hall.”
 
25 years ago (1998)
•Bill Nath, Luverne, will be 80 years old in February, and after more than 50 years of working with the Rock County Fair, he has decided to retire.
Nath began working with the Fair Board as groundskeeper back when ice cream cones were a nickel apiece and midway rides cost a dime. Of course, back then the main attractions were the Ferris wheel and merry-go-round, rather than the Zipper or the scrambler.
I used to come to the fair every year, even before I started working there,” he said. “It was a thrill when the fair was here and we’d get to go.”
 
50 years ago (1973)
•Brent Ross and Bob Vrtacnik added a new experience to their list of summer time involvements this month.
Sponsored by the Rock Soil and Water Conservation District, the boys spent two weeks studying environmental education at the Long Lake Conservation Center.
In addition to study with plants and work with visual projects, the boys participated in contour mapping, watershed, forestry, and wildlife management, aquatic biology, population dynamics, recreational skills and soils.
 
75 years ago (1948)
•John Reimer announced this week that his new laundry, to be known as the Luverne Laundry, will be open for business next Monday.
Installation of all the equipment has now been completed, and the plant is ready for operation. The laundry is located on the corner of Main and Oakley streets, across the street west from the Spease Tire Shop.
“Luverne has long felt the need of having its own modern laundry, and it is our aim to provide one,” Reimer said this week. “We will be using modern equipment and modern laundry methods to insure quick, reliable service at an economical price. We invite the public to try our service. We will call for and deliver all laundry, and we will endeavor in every way to make out business one which will answer a long felt need in Luverne.”
 
100 years ago (1923)
•Another big dance, of the kind for which Dell-Hogan Post, of the American Legion, of this city, has become noted during the past year, will be held at the Armory, in this city, Monday night, July 22.
The committee in charge has planned a big carnival dance on this date and it is a safe bet that the evening will be as entertaining and enjoyable as at any dance ever held in this city. Arrangements have been made to provide every dancer, both gentlemen and ladies, with carnival hats and caps. The hall will be attractively decorated in Legion colors. All carnival accessories will be supplied by the committee. Notice has been given out that there will be no confetti used at the hall, owing to numerous complaints against this practice.
Following the custom of the past year, the Legion will make a free distribution of prizes at the dance. Various assortments of staple and fancy groceries will be given away including fifty pounds of sugar, two baskets of assorted fancy groceries, a sack of flour, coffee and a box of fancy biscuits.

Thirty-four Luverne Middle School students, three school chaperones and nine adults traveled to Washington, D.C., July 7-11. The days were full for the group as they visited the Capitol, White House, Arlington National Cemetery, Gettysburg Battlefield, the Washington Monument, the Holocaust, American History and National Archives museums, and the Jefferson, Lincoln, FDR, MLK, World War II, Vietnam, and Korean memorials. Pictured are students (front, from left), Sophia Remme, Hazel Sailor, Rylee Kurtz, Macie Edstrom, Garret Cattnach, Ben Hartquist, Danny Aning, Cole Buss, (second) Kassidy Saarloos, Alexa Braun, Duncan Benjamin, Carter Como, Will Bergman, Colton Haubrich, Jackson VanMaanen, Collin Knips, Kelby Schomacker, Hudson Hough, Andrew Deutsch, Matthew Gangestad, Ashton Pick, Liam Brown, (third) Olivia Versteeg, Allyssa Evers, Marlee Nelson, Charlie Mostad, Logan Willi, (back) Olivia Lund, Aubrey Van Belle, Anna Reisdorfer, Haily Steele, Natt Hernandez, James Wendlandt and Ethan Van Batavia.

LSS meals at Generations
 
Monday, July 24: Goulash, corn, tropical fruit, bread.
Tuesday, July 25: Biscuit with sausage gravy, roasted potatoes, cinnamon apple slices, dessert.
Wednesday, July 26: Sloppy Joe on a bun, roasted potatoes, baked beans, fresh fruit.
Half-Price Day sponsored by Security Savings Bank.
Thursday, July 27: Ham and turkey chef salad, breadstick, fresh orange, dessert.
Friday, 28: Roasted turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, dessert.
LSS Dining offers well-balanced and affordable meals in a community atmosphere.
Call Pam Franken at 283-9846, extension 11 to reserve one day prior, to arrange to pick up a dinner or for home-delivered meals.
Gift certificates are available at the meal site or online at www.lssmn.org/nutrition.

Holthaus receives degree at St. Cloud State
Grace Holthaus, Hills, graduated following the Spring 2023 semester at St. Cloud State University with a Master of Science in Communications Sciences and Disorders.
 
Huisman makes dean’s list at Bemidji State
Anna Huisman, Luverne, was named to the Spring 2023 semester dean’s list at Bemidji State University. To be eligible, students must earn at least a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
 
Smith graduates from Drake
Jade Smith, Luverne, graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, following the Spring 2023 semester. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and actuarial science.
 
Area students graduate from SDSU

Several area students graduated from South Dakota State University in Brookings following the Spring 2023 semester.
Luke LaRock, Hills, graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in arts, humanities and social sciences.
Greta Ahrendt, Luverne, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in nursing.
Jacinda Hustoft, Luverne, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts and an undergraduate certificate in arts, humanities and social sciences.
Breanna Richters, Luverne, graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and an undergraduate certificate in arts, humanities and social sciences.
McCall Stegenga, Luverne, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy and allied health professions.
 
MSU Mankato releases dean’s list
Olivia Wieneke, Luverne, and Faith Mounce, Hills, were named to the high honors list for the Spring 2023 semester at Minnesota State University Mankato. Students with a 4.0 and at least 12 graded credits are recognized as  high honors recipients.

Chicken Little ran around the farmyard yelling, “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!” because an acorn dropped from a tree, hitting Chicken Little on the head.
I believe God’s judgment will come to America unless we repent!   Is this just the cry of “Chicken Little” or is it more than an acorn hitting me on the head? 
Paul, writing to the church in Rome some 2000 years ago, gave a warning for them that is just as applicable to us today. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of humanity, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” (Romans 1:18).  
In Noah’s time the people thought of Noah as a “Chicken Little.” They laughed at his warning on the coming flood until the water was at their ankles and rising to their heads.   Sodom and Gomorrah were filled with homosexuality and “the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave.” (Gen 18:20). They failed to heed God’s warning, and we see what happened to them.
God always gives a warning, but humanity is not good at listening. Romans 1:24 begins with four frightening words, “So God abandoned them.” Paul repeats these same words in verses 26 and 28.
The Bible describes Satan as a roaring lion seeking whom he can devour. What would happen to America if God said, “Okay, enough. You want it that way, so have it your way, but don’t complain about what happens.” God is at some level holding Satan back from destroying everything and everyone.
Paul has given the warning of God’s wrath and the subsequent abandonment of God, and then he explains why God abandoned them and why  God is going to pour out his wrath on them. We read the cause of God’s judgment in Romans 1:24-31. “Therefore, God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts … because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie. God gave them up to dishonorable passion. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature and men likewise. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
Does any of this sound like what is happening in America? I believe God is giving us a call to repent. We do not want to experience God’s wrath. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God.

St. Catherine Catholic Church
203 E. Brown St., Luverne
St. Catherine Ph. 283-8502; www.stscl.org
Monsignor Gerald Kosse, Pastor
Sunday: 8:30 a.m. Mass. Masses: 9 a.m. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. Friday at the nursing homes – check the bulletin. All Sunday masses will be live streamed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/stccluverne/videos/. Visit www.stscl.org for more information.
 
Luverne Christian Reformed Church
605 N. Estey St., Luverne
Office Ph. 283-8482; Prayer Line Ph. 449-5982
www.luvernecrc.com — office@luvernecrc.com
Joe Steenholdt, Pastor
Sunday: 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 6:30 p.m. Evening worship service. We are streaming Sunday services live on YouTube at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Send him a friend request if you’re not connected. You may also visit our website for delayed broadcasts. Also our services are on local cable TV at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays. In all circumstances, may we joyfully declare: “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8.
 
First Baptist Church
103 N. Jackson St., P.O. Box 975, Luverne
Ph. 283-4091; email: fbcluv@iw.net — www.fbcluverne.org
Walt Moser, Pastor
Sundays: 10:30 a.m. In-person worship service. Service is also on Facebook Live at 10:30 a.m.
 
Grace Lutheran Church
500 N. Kniss Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-4431; www.graceluverne.org — graceluverne@iw.net
Thursday, July 20: 8:30 a.m. Missions in Action. Saturday, July 22: No activities. Sunday, July 23: 9 a.m. Worship Service. Monday, July 24: Youth to Valley Fair. Tuesday, July 25: 8:30 a.m. Grace Notes assembly. 9 a.m. Staff meeting. Wednesday, July 26: 7 a.m. Men’s Bible Study. Online, TV and Radio Worship options are available. Online worship: Sundays 9 a.m. at www.graceluverne.org, click Worship tab; or Facebook page at Grace Lutheran ELCA, Luverne. TV: Vast Channel 3 Mondays at 4:30 p.m. and Fridays at 10 a.m. Radio: KQAD-AM Radio Sundays at 8:15 a.m.
 
Bethany Lutheran Church
720 N. Kniss Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-4571 or 605-215-9834
Andrew Palmquist, Pastor
Sundays: 9 a.m. Sunday School and Bible class. 10:15 a.m. Worship service; worship online as well (at els.org). Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. Zoom Bible study. See our Facebook page, Bethany Lutheran Church (Luverne) for other classes and events.
 
American Reformed Church
304 N. Fairview Dr., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-8600; email: office@arcluverne.org
Friday, July 21: 6:30 a.m. Community Men’s Bible Study. Sunday, July 23: 9:30 a.m. Worship Service. CommServices are also broadcast on Vast Channel 3 on Mondays at 6 p.m. and Wednesdays at 4 p.m. DVD’s available upon request. To stay up to date on announcements, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @arcluverne.
 
Rock River Community Church
1075 110th Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-9070; email: info@rockrivercommunity.church
Bob Junak, Pastor
Come as you are—Sundays @ 10 a.m.: Main Service. Kids church age 3-6th grade—Nursery. Wednesdays @ 6:30 p.m. Midweek Service—Kids age 3-6th grade.
 
United Methodist Church
109 N. Freeman Ave., Luverne
Ph. 283-4529
Wednesday, July 19: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Open Prayer chapel. 8 p.m. AA meeting. Saturday, July 22: 8 p.m. AA meeting. Sunday, July 23: 9:30 a.m. FUEL/Adult Sunday School. 9:45 a.m. Coffee. 10:30 a.m. Worship service. Live streamed on Facebook and radio. 4:30 p.m. Genesis/Revelation Bible study. Monday, July 24: 6:30 p.m. Genesis to Revelation Bible Study. Tuesday, July 25: 6:30 p.m. M&M meeting. 7 p.m. Scouts. Wednesday, July 26: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Prayer Chapel. 5:30 p.m. Community Meal. 8 p.m. Meeting.
 
First Presbyterian Church
302 Central Lane, Luverne
Ph. 283-4787; email: fpcemilie@gmail.com
Wednesday, July 19: 9 a.m. Kitchen cleaning (All members are invited to help).4 p.m. Music staff. NO deacons meeting. Thursday, July 20: Visitor deadline. Friday, July 21: 2:30-3:45 p.m. Getting to Know Dementia. Session 3, by Alzheimer’s Alliance LLC. Sunday, July 23: 9:30 a.m. In-person Worship service. (View on Facebook under First Presbyterian Church of Luverne, City of Luverne's LUV TV or on the local Luverne cable station at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and 10 a.m. on Thursdays). 10:30 a.m. Fellowship coffee hour.
 
St. John Lutheran Church
803 N. Cedar St., Luverne
Ph. 283-2316; email: stjohn@iw.net
www.stjohnlutheranluverne.org
Saturdays: 5:30 p.m. Worship Service. Sundays: 9 a.m. Worship Service. 10 a.m. Fellowship Time. 10:15 a.m. Sunday School. 10:15 a.m. Adult Bible Study. Wednesdays: 9 a.m. Bible Study. 6:30 p.m. Catechesis Class. 6:30 p.m. Kids for Christ. 7:30 p.m. Youth Group. Services will be available on the Vast Channel 3 Sunday and online at the city website, cityofluverne.org. Holy Communion is offered on 2nd and 4th weekends and Liturgical Feasts.
 
Living Rock Church
500 E. Main St., Luverne
Ph. 449-0057; www.livingrockswmn.org
Josh Hayden, Pastor
 
New Life Celebration Church
101 W. Maple, Luverne
Ph. (605) 368-1924; email: newlifecelebration@gmail.com
 
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
305 E. 2nd St., P.O. Box 36, Hardwick
Ph. (507) 669-2855; zionoffice@alliancecom.net
Jesse Baker, Pastor
Sundays: 9 a.m. Worship service. 10:15 a.m. Sunday School. 10:30 a.m. Bible study. Worship service on Luverne cable at 3:30 p.m. every Thursday and Friday.
 
Ben Clare United Methodist Church
26762 Ben Clare Ave., Valley Springs, S.D.
igtwlb@WOW.net
Bill Bates, Pastor
 
First Lutheran Church
300 Maple St., Valley Springs, S.D.
Ph. (605) 757-6662 – firstpalisade@alliancecom.net
Mark Eliason, Pastor
Sunday, July 23: 10 a.m. JOINT Worship at First Lutheran Church. All are welcome. We Are ONLINE! Facebook: @FirstLutheranValley Springs; YouTube: FirstPalisadeLutheranParish.
 
Palisade Lutheran Church
211 121st St., Garretson, S.D.
Ph. (507) 597-6257 — palisadechurch@alliancecom.net
www.palisadelutheran.org
Sunday, July 23: 10 a.m. JOINT Worship at First Lutheran. All are welcome. We Are ONLINE! Facebook: @PalisadeLC; YouTube: FirstPalisadeLutheranParish.
 
First Presbyterian Church
201 S. 3rd St., P.O Box 73, Beaver Creek
Ph. 507-935-5025
email: lori.firstpres@gmail.com
Sundays: 9:30 a.m. Worship Service. Second Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. Session meeting.
 
Magnolia United Methodist Church
501 E. Luverne St., Magnolia
Ph. 605-215-3429
email: magnoliamnumc@gmail.com
Nancy Manning, Pastor
Sundays: 9 a.m. Worship Service in-person with livestream available on the church’s Facebook site.
 
Steen Reformed Church
112 W. Church Ave., Steen
Ph. 855-2336
Jeremy Wiersema, Pastor
Sundays: 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Worship service in-person with livestream available on Facebook and YouTube. Radio worship on KQAD Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
 
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
112 N. Main St., Hills
Ph. 962-3270 / bethlehemofhills@gmail.com
Nita Parker, Pastor
Sundays: 9 a.m. Worship at Tuff Chapel. 9 a.m. Sunday school. 10 a.m. Worship Service. Worship will be streamed live to Facebook at Bethlehem of Hills. You can find more info on our website blchills.org.
 
Hills United Reformed Church
410 S. Central Ave., Hills
Office Ph. 962-3254
hillsurc@alliancecom.net
Praveen Muthasamy, Pastor
Sundays, 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 5 p.m. Evening worship service.

Following are the racing results for local drivers competing in Rock Rapids, Hartford, Slayton, Worthington and Brandon for the week of July 11-17.
 
Rapid Speedway 
July 14 Rock Rapids, IA
Sportsman’s
6th - #17 Brandon Boeve, Beaver Creek
10th - #24H Brock Harnack, Hills
Hobby Stocks
2nd - #22E Eric Gaul, Luverne
5th - #14K Bryant Klaassen, Adrian
12th - #15X Kaden Kracht, Steen
B-Modifieds
3rd - #52 Trevor Kracht, Luverne
Stock Cars
2nd - #46 Colton Arends, Luverne
5th - #4D Cory Kelderman, Hills
8th - #5X Kevin Kremin, Kenneth
DNF- #15 Thomas Kracht, Luverne
DNF-#117L Chad Lonnerman, Adrian
DNF-#21 Larry Kracht, Magnolia
 
Murray County Speedway
July 14 Slayton, MN
Bombers
4th - #22H Cody Hansen, Edgerton
Hobby Stocks
1st - #17 Evan Schüttler, Adrian
7th -#16B Zachary Bierman, Adrian
 
I-90 Speedway
July 15 Hartford, SD
No local drivers
 
Worthington Speedway
July 15 Worthington, MN
Bombers
DNF-#22H Cody Hansen, Edgerton
Hobby Stocks
1st - #17 Evan Schüttler, Adrian
2nd - #16B Zachary Bierman, Adrian
DNF-#15B Isaac Bullerman, Adrian
 
Huset’s Speedway
July 16 Brandon, SD
Sprint Car
5th - #4D Logan Domagala, Brandon
14th - #96 Blaine Stegenga, Valley Springs
17th - #18D Dalton Domagala, Brandon
Street Stock
2nd - #20K Spencer Kalass, Luverne
13th - #46 Colton Arends, Luverne

The Luverne Post 123 Jr. Legion baseball team won the 2023 Southwest Sub-Sub State bracket July 11, beating Windom 11-6.
Luverne won its first two sub-state games against St. James, 4-0, and Madelia, 9-8, on July 16.
Luverne is scheduled to take on Slayton Tuesday, July 18, in Sleepy Eye at 5 p.m.
 
Luverne 11, Windom 6
Luverne took down Windom 11-6 at home July 11.
Blake Sauer led Luverne with three runs on four hits and one RBI.
Alex Schlosser and Landon Ahrendt both added two runs while Carter Sehr, Layke Miller, Josh Hansen and Landon Lais each had one run in the game.
 
BOX Score
BATTING
Luverne       AB R H  RBI
Sauer             4   3   4   1
Schlosser       4   2   2   1
Sehr               4   1   2   1
Miller             3   1   0   1
Ahrendt         3   2   3   2
Hansen          3   1   1   1
J. Lais             3   0   0   1
L. Lais            3   1   0   0
Vortherms      3   0   0   0
2B: Ahrendt 2, Schlosser, Hansen
3B: Sauer
 
Luverne 4, St. James 0
Luverne sent St. James packing July 16 with a 4-0 win in the first round of sub-state play.
Luverne’s Sauer pitched a no-hitter, striking out 12 batters along the way with no walks. 
One batter for St. James did reach base on an error.
Scoring for Luverne were Sauer, Schlosser, Sehr and Landon Lais.
 
BOX Score
BATTING
Luverne     AB R H  RBI
Sauer          4   1   0   0
Schlosser    3   1   2   1
Sehr            3   1   2   1
Miller          3   0   2   1
Ahrendt      3   0   1   0
J. Lais          3   0   1   0
Hansen       3   0   0   0
L. Lais         2   1   0   1
Domagala.  2   0   0   0
2B: Schlosser
 
Luverne 9, Madelia 8
In the second round of sub-state action, Luverne beat Madelia 9-8 in a July 16 evening game.
Luverne was down 6-8 going into the bottom of the seventh inning and scored two runs to tie the game.
Maddux Domagala bunted into a suicide squeeze, scoring Lais from third base by beating the tag at home.
Johnson, Hansen and Ahrendt pitched in the game. 
Ahrendt got the win, throwing a scoreless last three innings.
 
BOX Score
BATTING
Luverne      AB R H  RBI
Sauer            4   1   2   1
Schlosser      4   2   2   0
Sehr              4   1   1   1
Miller            4   0   2   2
Ahrendt        4   1   2   1
J. Lais           4   1   1   0
L. Lais          4   1   1   1
Hansen         4   1   2   0
Domagala     3   1   3   0
2B: Sauer, Schlosser, Sehr, Ahrendt, L. Lais