Paul Julius Nath was born on July 14, 1938, to Julius and Gertrude (Lohman) Nath in Luverne, Minnesota. Both his mother and father were immigrants from Germany. He was raised on a small family farm near Kanaranzi, Minnesota, with five brothers.

Adrianna Joan Sneller, age 87, of Kenneth, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 2, 2023, while at Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton, Minnesota.
A visitation was Monday, July 10, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at American Reformed Church in Luverne, Minnesota, with a funeral service beginning at 2 p.m. Burial followed at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.  To sign an online registry, please visit www.hartquistfuneral.com. 
Adrianna Joan Sneller was born June 20, 1936, to John and Maggie (Riemersma) Smit in Hull, Iowa. She was baptized in Hull First Reformed Church in Hull, Iowa, where she attended school through the eighth grade. After school, at 14 years of age, she accepted a job taking care of elderly residents, cleaning houses, and as a nanny.
In 1955 she was married to the love of her of life, William Sneller, in Hull, Iowa. The couple soon moved to a farm by Doon, Iowa, in 1956 and then to the farm they would call home by Kenneth, Minnesota, in 1958. For the next 41 years, Adrianna worked on the farm alongside William, helping with chores, butchering chickens, and raising their three children.
In 1999 the couple retired from the farm and moved to Luverne. Due to some mobility issues, Adrianna moved to Poplar Creek in 2014, then to the Mary Jane Brown Home and finally to Edgebrook Care Center in 2023.
On July 2, 2023, while residing at the Edgebrook Care Center, Adrianna joined her husband in the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, at the age of 87 years and 12 days.
Adrianna was actively involved in the church throughout her life, starting at Hull First Reformed Church, then at the First Reformed Church in Edgerton, and finally at American Reformed Church in Luverne. She had a passion for gardening throughout her life and was an excellent cook, preferring to use the vegetables she had grown. She enjoyed canning and preserving what she grew and canned hundreds of jars of garden produce and meat. She also loved fishing and was able to butcher 100 bullheads in under an hour. Her homemade root beer floats are fondly remembered by her family, as well as Sunday afternoons visiting and enjoying doughnuts. Adrianna especially loved playing cards and winning, and she left many quilts for her family to cherish.
Adrianna is survived by her children, Myron (friend Iva Akkerman) Sneller of Morris, Minnesota, Arlyn (Karen) Sneller of Kenneth, and Linda Cours of Gheen, Minnesota; six grandchildren, Robert (Angela), Steven (Lisa), Sara (Adam), Jason, Chad, and Angie (Eric);  15 great-grandchildren, Riley, Hannah, Nolan, Kayli, Rysley, Zackary, Kelsey, Johnny, Shelby, Tori, Logan, Amber (Todd), Sydney, Tyler, and Jordan; and three great-great-grandchildren, Emily, Ellie, Kaden; and sisters, Julia (John) VanderPloeg of Sioux Center, Iowa, and Marguerite Valentine of Artesia, California.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Sneller; parents John and Maggie Smit; brothers Anthony, John, and Donald Smit; and several other distant relatives.

Carol Ruth Nicholson Ohlsen, 102, passed away peacefully at Evans Nursing Home in Cresco, Iowa, on Thursday, June 22, 2023.
Carol was a Christmas baby, born on December 25, 1920, to Richard and Helen Nicholson in Lynd, Minnesota.
After she graduated from high school in Lynd, Carol went on to St. Olaf College for a year and then transferred to Hamline University, St. Paul, to major in music.
While there, she met her husband, Roger. To this union were born three children, Gretchen, Bruce and Terry. They made their home in Lynd where Roger and Carol’s dad owned a hardware store/ lumber yard. After selling their business in 1962 they moved their family to Luverne, Minnesota, where Carol made her home until 2013 when she moved to Cresco. She lived at Evans Nursing Home her last three years.
Carol was a lifelong musician, spending over 60 years playing organ for various churches in Sioux Falls, Brookings, South Dakota, and Luverne.
Throughout her life she had a variety of occupations. She worked for the Rock County Highway Department, State Farm Insurance, Creeger’s Clothing Store and many years as administrator for the Blue Mound Towers Apts. where she received many state awards.  She was a social butterfly playing many games of 500 and bridge with friends and family and enjoying events with Red Hat Society, the Tourist Club and RSVP. She loved to travel and to spend winters in Texas and summer vacations at lakes in northern Minnesota. She especially enjoyed attending symphony concerts in Sioux Falls.
In her 102 years of life, Carol witnessed more history than most ever will: 19 presidents, 22 Minnesota governors, Great Depression, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, the worst act of terrorism on Sept. 11, 2001, and survived Covid 19 twice. She experienced inventions that we take for granted today: Band-Aids, TV, traffic lights, microwaves, Velcro, and numerous others.
Preceding her in death were her parents and two sisters, her husband, Roger, son Terry, son-in-law Ken Becker, grandson Brice, and longtime family friend Jack Dainsburg.
She is survived by Gretchen, Bruce, grandchildren Kimberly (Aaron Johnson) Becker, Todd (Holly) Becker, Amberlee (Eric) Shervin, Bryan Ohlsen, Aaron Ohlsen, Jarod Ohlsen, great-grandchildren Gabriel (Gabby) Becker, Isabella Lehmkuhl, Chloe Becker, Finnley Bonfig, Esmee Ohlsen, Dalton Ohlsen, Freya and Burke Shervin, one great-great grandchild, Aspyn Becker, and many special nieces and nephews.
Carol will be remembered for her wit, sense of humor, classiness, and her love of coffee and chocolate. Her spirit shone brightly to those around her, and everyone who knew her loved her.
The Ohlsen and Becker families would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the staff at Evans Nursing Home for the loving and attentive care Carol received while she was a resident there.
A memorial service will be held in the Chapel of Luverne United Methodist Church on Monday, July 24, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. with burial at Maplewood Cemetery following. The family will be there at 1:00 p.m. to welcome guests.

Heather Zinns, age 35, died Wednesday, July 5, 2023, at her home in Canton, South Dakota, after a courageous battle with brain cancer.
Visitation and funeral service was Monday, July 10, 2023, at Good News Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
In lieu of flowers, a fund has been established for Heather’s children at Security Savings Bank in Canton.
Heather Beth Dragstra was born on April 8, 1988, in Luverne, Minnesota, to Warren and Avis (Olson) Dragstra.
She was baptized at the Chandler Christian Reformed Church. She attended Chandler Christian School and graduated in 2006 from Southwest Minnesota Christian High School in Edgerton.
In 2012 she obtained a degree in hospitality from the Minnesota School of Business
Heather married Israel Zinns on September 21, 2013, in Chandler.
Heather was a selfless, strong, independent woman who enjoyed the great outdoors, working out, and her horses, Stormy and Simon.
She loved her family deeply and often told her children, Ava and Aidyn, that she loved them “to the moon and back.”
She will be remembered for her strong faith, her smile, her energy and her love of talking.
Heather is survived by her husband of nearly 10 years, Israel of Canton; daughter, Ava; son, Aidyn; father, Warren Dragstra of Chandler; brother, Joshua Dragstra of Hartford, South Dakota; sister, Susan (Kent) Sime of Milbank, South Dakota; niece, Cailey; nephew, Brock; grandmother, Betty Olson of Luverne; along with aunts, uncles, numerous cousins, extended family, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Avis, and grandparents, Alvin Olson and Joe and Jennie Dragstra.
Anderson and Sons Funeral Home, www.andersonandsonsfh.com, Canton, was in charge of arrangements.

Who doesn’t love a good story? We resonate with stories we tell and share and those described well by a good book or movie.
Summer is when there can be an opportunity to dig into a good book again. Some flexibility might come with the summer schedule or extra leisure time outside or on vacation, and you take it as a chance to catch up on your reading list.
If you lost track of your Bible reading plan for 2023, summer could be a time to read whole books of the Bible and appreciate the author’s organization of the narrative.
Often Christians are used to hearing a few verses at a time in church services or memorizing a favorite verse. Still, one can appreciate those favorite passages’ larger picture when reading the broader context.
The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are a great place to start to enjoy the narrative quality of the Bible. Of course, the Gospels are more than a story, but they are also not less than a story.
A narrative arc is used uniquely in the four perspectives of Jesus’ earthly life. Matthew includes the most references to the Old Testament and Jewish customs and laws. He focuses on Jesus’ fulfillment as the Messiah (the long-awaited promised king of Israel in David’s line), a call to discipleship, and inaugurating the Kingdom of Heaven.
Mark keeps the story going rather quickly, focusing on “Who is Jesus?”
Luke paints the broadest history, starting before the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. Luke’s approach centers around the mission Jesus has to fulfill. (Luke continues the story after Jesus’ ascension in the book of Acts and the beginnings of the New Testament church – one could call Acts “Luke II”.)
Then John labeled the “Book of Signs,” with the first half focused on Jesus’ public ministry and the second half on quality time spent with his disciples and the events preceding and following the cross. John is most concerned with answering the question, “Where does Jesus come from?”
So I encourage you to read one of the Gospels in its entirety (or listen to an audio version — which is how the first audiences would have received the message).
It might be easiest to start with Mark since it is just over an hour to get through. Like any good story, pay attention to the settings, characters, and plot development. You may get more insight into the purpose of particular parables or miracles by knowing where the author placed them between other scenes.
Then afterward you can ask yourself, “Did anything new stand out after reading it as a whole? How do you learn or change from reading the story? What do you believe or do as a consequence of the story?”
I hope you have a renewed appreciation for the historical narratives of the person, work, and teachings of Jesus Christ in these gospel accounts. Happy summer reading!

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 13: 8:30 a.m. Missions in Action. Saturday, July 15: No activities. Sunday, July 16: 9 a.m. Worship Service with Holy Communion. Monday, July 17: Grace notes deadline. Tuesday, July 18: 9 a.m. Staff meeting. Wednesday, July 19: 7 a.m. Men’s Bible Study. 8:15 a.m. Caring Visitors. 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Amazing Grays Loop Tours. 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 14: 6:30 a.m. Community Men’s Bible Study. Sunday, July 9: 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 12: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Open Prayer chapel. 6:15-7:30 p.m. VBS. 8 p.m. AA meeting. Thursday, July 13: 6:15-7:30 p.m. VBS. Saturday, July 15: 8 p.m. AA meeting. Sunday, July 16: 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 17: 6:30 p.m. Genesis to Revelation Bible Study. Tuesday, July 18: 10 a.m. Shut-in visits. 6 p.m. Trustee meeting. 6:30 p.m. Church council meeting. Wednesday, July 19: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Prayer Chapel. 8 p.m. Meeting.
 
First Presbyterian Church
302 Central Lane, Luverne
Ph. 283-4787; email: fpcemilie@gmail.com
Wednesday, July 12: 7 p.m. Session meeting. Saturday, July 15: Christian Ed. Work Day. Sunday, July 16: 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 16: 10 a.m. Community Worship at Valley Springs ballpark. Bring lawn chair. In case of inclement weather, worship will be held at Reformed Church in Valley Springs. All are welcome. We Are ONLINE! Facebook: @FirstLutheranValley Springs; YouTube: FirstPalisadeLutheranParish. Sunday, July 16-Thursday, July 20: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Meet at Reformed Church in Valley Springs. Tuesday, July 18: 7 p.m. First Lutheran council meeting.
 
Palisade Lutheran Church
211 121st St., Garretson, S.D.
Ph. (507) 597-6257 — palisadechurch@alliancecom.net
www.palisadelutheran.org
Sunday, July 16: 10 a.m. Community Worship at Valley Springs ballpark. Bring lawn chair. In case of inclement weather, worship will be held at Reformed Church in Valley Springs. All are welcome. We Are ONLINE! Facebook: @PalisadeLC; YouTube: FirstPalisadeLutheranParish. Thursday, July 13: 1:30 p.m. Palisade WELCA meeting. 7 p.m. Palisade Lutheran Council meeting.
 
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.

If you are a regular reader of my columns, you will certainly know by now just how much of a public lands advocate I am.
When I was 11 and my parents got me a new bike, I was a roving fisherman. I rode that bike all over my neck of the woods trying to find and catch whatever kind of fish I could. 
When I got a car and could then drive to a fishing or hunting spot, I was sure that my desire to hunt would overshadow my fishing desire. This did not become a reality for almost 20 more years.
There was almost no place in my county at the time where you could hunt without permission. I get that private lands are private and permission is required. 
My problem was that the very few spots that did exist were all tied up with people that had more money than this 16-year-old. 
I must have heard “this spot is leased by so and so” at least 150 times over the years. So, fishing I went because all the lakes were public waters and anyone could fish there without having to get permission or pay a fee.
Up pops a new organization called Pheasants Forever. They started in 1982, with my county’s chapter starting in 1984. Today there are over 750 chapters associated with this organization. My chapter number is 14. Boy, were we the new kids on the block!
Nobles County PF made the very first land purchase in the history of the organization. This property was then turned over to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and became the Wachter Slough Wildlife Management Area.
Since that monumental first step, the Nobles County chapter has purchased 44 additional parcels totaling over 3,600 acres in our 40-year existence. There is a sign erected on each of these sites identifying it as a Pheasant Run One, Pheasant Run Two and so on. My 90-year-old father started making these signs almost 30 years ago. 
Adding to the public land opportunities so many hunters rely on has become my life’s mission.
You can start hunting on PF Run 1 and hunt a different pheasant run each day for the entire season and you will not be able to hunt each one twice before you run out of season hunting days. 
Oh, what a change from when I was 16! Even seeing a rooster during an entire day’s hunt was at one time called a complete success.
As with any success, there are those who try to find as much downside as they can, take the negative take, or just badmouth you because they can. 
I often get asked how much land Pheasants Forever wants to purchase. Just how much public land is enough? You are competing with young farmers; you are running up the price of land! Public lands pay no taxes, so that means the rest of us have to pay more.
I always start to answer these questions with, “Just how much land do you think there is in Nobles County that is in public ownership?” 
I just love the answers. They will with great confidence and in a loud voice say that it is at least 10-15 percent. 
Others will guess even higher. The fact of the matter is that after 40 years as one of the most successful land acquisition chapters in the nation, we have affected .7 of 1 percent of the land in Nobles County.
If you take all the public lands (citizen-owned lands) including state managed, federally managed and county managed in Nobles County, they account for less than 2 percent of the total land base. 
This percentage holds true for almost every county making up the 12 counties of southwest Minnesota. If we were to magically double the current acres under habitat management, that total would still be 60-80 percent less than many folks think exists now. 
If we could keep acquiring public lands habitats at our current pace, it would take an additional 50 years to affect an additional 1 percent of the land base.
In the last research I did a few years back, there were 43 land sales in the county for that year. PF purchased only one of them. PF was involved with only 3 percent of all the land that changed hands that year. 
Of the land that was sold, the parcel PF purchased was the lowest cost per acre of all of them. 
This factual information pretty much dispels all the coffee shop talk about how public lands are just exploding.
For those who have the wherewithal to own their own private land for hunting, I tip my hat to you. You’re in the fortunate few. 
Most hunters in the state rely to some degree on public lands to recreate/hunt. Many hunters only hunt on citizen-owned Wildlife Management Areas.
I learned a long time ago that there is room for conservation on every section. Farm the best and conserve the rest, they say. Economics and conservation can survive and thrive together. 
Each has a place on the landscape. Hunting is a tradition passed down for generations. 
I have made it my life’s mission to be sure that my great-great-grandkids can say to their dad or mom that their first rooster, clutching it tightly around the neck with a huge smile on their face, is something that they will never forget. 
The only way to guarantee this moment is to ensure they have a place to go. Public lands, citizen-owned lands, and enough of them, managed by the Department of Natural Resources are the best guarantee that this promise can be kept.
Scott Rall, Worthington, is a habitat conservationist, avid hunting and fishing enthusiast and is president of Nobles County Pheasants Forever. He can be reached at scottarall@gmail.com. 

Local racers’ results for Rapid Speedway, Murray County Speedway, Hartford Speedway, Worthington Speedway and Huset’s Speedway are as follows for the week of July 4-10.
 
Rapid Speedway 
July 7 Rock Rapids, IA
Rain Out
 
Murray County Speedway
July 7 Slayton, MN
Rain Out
 
Hartford Speedway
July 8 Hartford, SD
Street Stock
16th - #4D Cory Kelderman, Hills
 
Worthington Speedway
July 8 Worthington, MN
IMCA Stock
9th - #20K Spencer Kalass, Luverne
 
Huset’s Speedway
July 9 Brandon, SD
No local drivers

The Luverne Country Club hosted its 2023 Member-Guest Golf Tournament Friday, July 7, and Saturday, July 8.
There were 53 two-man teams participating in the 36-hole tournament.
Jeremy and Jason Sudenga took top honors this year with the highest total quota score of 9.5.
Ryan Goebel and Tony Sandbulte came in second with a score of 7.
Chris Denhoed and Robert Louisiana placed third with a score of 6.5.