Card showers
Mel and Bev Viessman celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, May 24. Greetings may ber sent to them at 500 Phyleon Drive, Luverne, MN 56156.
 
Wilma Elbers will celebrate her 90th birthday on Wednesday, May 31. Greetings may be sent to her at Parkview Manor; 308 Sherman Ave.; Ellsworth, MN 56129

LSS meals at Generations
 
Monday, May 29: Memorial Day — Closed.
Tuesday, May 30: Pasta in meat sauce, romaine salad with dressing, pineapple chunks, bread stick, dessert.
Wednesday, May 31: Meatloaf, baked potato with sour cream, pears, bread, bar.
Thursday, June 1: Chicken a la king, brown rice, broccoli, fruit cocktail, cookie.
Friday, June 2: Roast turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, California Normandy vegetables, bread, fruit.
Half-Price Day in memory of Delores Dreesen.
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.

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 October 14, 1943.
 
John Welzenbach, Luverne…was Early Day Cigar Maker
     
         Old time cigar smokers well remember the famous “Brown Beauty” and “Speckled Trout” cigars, but it may be a surprise to many of them to know that a Luverne man, John Welzenbach, once helped make them in a Davenport, Iowa, cigar factory.
         A carpenter’s son, Mr. Welzenbach had little choice but to learn a trade of some kind. As there was an opening in the cigar factory, he served his apprenticeship, and continued in that line of work for 15 years. Then, his health was endangered so he quit and moved to Rock county where he started farming.
         Mr. Welzenbach was born in Bavaria, Germany, October 18, 1868, the son of Anton and Barbara Welzenbach. At the age of three, he came with them to the United States and grew to young manhood in Davenoort, Iowa. He attended the public schools, but because he belonged to what he terms the “proletariat,” he had to begin earning his own money early in life.
Weeded Onions
         One of his first salary jobs as a boy was weeding onions in the big onion fields near Davenport. He was about 12 or 13 years old at the time. Anyone who has done any weed pulling at all can well imagine how difficult a task he had. “We’d work on our hands and knees 10 hours a day for 25 cents a day,” Mr. Welzenbach states, “and man, would the backs of our ears be sunburned and blistered!” Later, he was promoted from weed pulling to “topping” the onions. This was a more specialized job, and carried with it a salary increase of 75 cents a day, boosting his total earnings to $1.00 a day.
         One summer, he hired out to a farmer to herd cows, and if he had his way about it, he’d have been a farmer from the start, because he always liked working in the open so well. But at the insistence of his parents, he began learning the cigar making trade, and although he didn’t make it his life’s work, it did provide him with experience that he perhaps never would have had otherwise.
         For instance, in the fall of 1895, when the work was slack, he together with his brother and a friend pooled their resources and bought a cabin boat and travelled down the Mississippi river from Davenport to St. Louis. “We had all the comforts of home,” Mr. Welzenbach states, “and as long as we were not pressed for time, we were in no hurry to reach our destination. The current of the river and the wind was all the power we had. All we had to do was to guide the boat to keep it in the center of the channel. Once in a while, we’d use our sweeps (a form of an oar) to go to shore where we would do a little hunting, we’d anchor occasionally if the weather was rough. It took us six weeks to get to St. Louis, and we really had a dandy trip. After we got there, we sold our boat and came back by train, just in time to go back to work again.”
Came Here in 1900
         When he was advised to get out of the cigar factory to protect his health, he immediately decided to begin farming. Being unable to rent a place in Iowa, he came to Minnesota, where his brother-in-law lived. Here, he found, he was able to buy a farm out of his savings, so he made a deal for the purchase of the southwest quarter of section 14 in Mound township. He moved there in March, 1900, and since then, has been a Rock county resident.
(Welzenbach's story continues next week.)

DSU announces honors students
Dakota State University, Madison, South Dakota, has released the Spring 2023 honors list. To be eligible, students must earn a GPA of 3.5 to 4.0. Named to the list were Ethan Teunissen, Cade Wenninger and Austin Winter, all of Luverne.
 
Brake earns PhD at U of Nebraska
Joseph Brake, son of Curtis and Theresa Brake of Northfield and grandson of Ivan and Betty Brake of Luverne, received his PhD in biochemistry from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln on May 19, 2023.
His dissertation is titled “Copper in Hepatocyte Functions and Fat Metabolism:  Protection from Hepatic Lipid Toxicity by Copper Homeostasis.”
A graduate of Northfield High School, he earned his BS degree in biochemistry from Winona State University.

10 years ago (2013)
•The new Luverne logo that was unveiled April 16 is showing up on city vehicles, stationery and now on colorful banners that started going up on Main Street light poles Tuesday afternoon. There are 55 light poles between Highway 75 and the Rock River Bridge.
The 18-by-40-inch panels on each side of the light poles carry the various messages about Luverne. One panel has the Luverne logo, and the other says, “Love the life,” or “Love the charm,” or “Love the arts,” and so on, incorporating different aspects that have been identified as sources of local pride.
The bottoms of the banners are 10 feet from the ground, and the tops are just under the street lamps. The Main Street banners cost roughly $15,000, which is covered by Luverne’s contingency fund.
 
25 years ago (1998)
•George Bonnema is retiring from his job as a business education teacher at Luverne High School. As a native of the county, his ties to the community are long, strong and deep. He grew up just eight miles south of Luverne and graduated from Hills High School before going on to Northwestern College, Orange City.
When he graduated from college and got married in 1964, his first job was at Magnolia High School. Four years later, when Louise Berg took the library job at the high school, Bonnema applied for her business education position in Luverne. …
In the next phase of his life, he’s planning to use his time to volunteer and work part time. He also plans to continue duties as a referee at school.
 
50 years ago (1973)
•There will be three Co-Valedictorians and four Co-Salutatorians in the Luverne High School graduating Class of 1973, school officials announced last week.
Named to Valedictorian honors were Susan Den Herder, Deborah Kirby and Debra Tofteland. Co-Salutatorians this year are Jane Estenson, Narcy Recker, Susan Toms and Ann VanderKooi.
The seven young ladies head a list of 44 Luverne seniors this year who attained a 3.0 or above average.
 
75 years ago (1948)
•Orville Ohlen is now sole owner of The Grill café, having purchased Karl Heiden’s interest in the business. He had previously purchased Arnold Ormseth’s interest, with whom Heiden was associated when the business  was bought from Marvel Roberts. The café will be closed today to install air conditioning equipment and for a general “spring housecleaning,” Ohlen announced, but will re-open tomorrow for business. The Grill Room, in the basement is open every Saturday and Sunday night, and available for private parties on other nights.
 
100 years ago (1923)
•With afternoon and evening sessions being held each day, the Rock County Sunday School association will hold their annual convention tomorrow and Sunday in this city.
Two state representatives will be here for the two days of the convention. They are Rev. P. A. Lang, field worker, and Miss Mabel Bailey, of Minneapolis, state primary worker. Both of these are said to be wonderful speakers, and great things are expected of them.
At the sessions tomorrow afternoon and evening, Rev. H. J. Meinders, of Beaver Creek, president of the association, will preside. The program will consist of worship and song, and addresses by the state representatives and by Rev. H.F. Rieke, of Pleasant View. An election of officers will be held in the evening.

Kenneth John Hopperstad of Luverne, Minnesota, peacefully entered the Kingdom of God on the afternoon of May 20, 2023, with his wife, Hazel, at his side. He was 88 yeas old.
Kenny, as he was known to his friends, was born August 31, 1934, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, to Edwin Kenneth (“EK”) Hopperstad and Sarah (Kinden) Hopperstad. He had an older sister, Ann Iris, and two younger sisters, Frances and Marilyn. EK owned the Touristville Service Station in Mason City for a couple years before buying the Ford garage in Emmons, Minnesota. At the start of World War II, the family moved to Long Beach, California, where Kenny grew up.
After his discharge from the United States Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict, Kenny settled in Albert Lea and worked at the Wilson and Company packing plant where he met the love of his life and his wife of almost 67 years, Hazel Marie Christensen.
They began farming south of Emmons, Minnesota, then west of Emmons, and finally buying the Kinden family farm from his uncles and aunts north of Lake Mills, Iowa. Their family grew by four sons, Kenneth, James, John and Robert during that time. After John graduated from high school, Kenny and Hazel bought a farm outside of Pigeon Falls, Wisconsin, and stayed in that area until Robert graduated from high school. He then accepted a position as a USDA Food Safety inspector and they moved to Luverne, Minnesota.
He was outgoing and made friends easily. Kenny was a millwright at the Wilson’s packing plant and could fix almost anything. He was an expert welder and a voracious reader and enjoyed making people laugh.
Survivors include his loving wife, Hazel, sons Kenneth, James and his wife Grace, and John and his wife Nina; sisters Ann Iris White and Frances Ranelli; grandsons Mark and Jacob Hopperstad; wonderful neighbors Jolene and Mike Cronin; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Joining Kenny in heaven are his father and mother, EK and Sarah Hopperstad; son Robert Hopperstad; daughter-in-law Lucy Hopperstad; sister Marilyn Skinner; brothers-in-law Bob White and Gino Ranelli; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Frances and Phillip Teetzel.
Kenny's memorial service will be 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at the Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne, officiated by Monsignor Gerald Kosse. A time of fellowship will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Thursday. Inurnment will be a private family gathering at a future date.

Private family services for John C. Rodgers, age 68, of Fairmont, Minnesota, will be held at a later date. John passed away from metastatic prostate cancer on Thursday, May 18, 2023. He was surrounded by his loving family at his home in Fairmont. Memorials collected will be donated to the Lutz Cancer Center in Fairmont for the garden. John and Mary spent hours enjoying this thoughtful addition to the treatment center and would like to help contribute to the continuation of the joy it brought to them both. The Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.
John Calvin Rodgers was born on June 6, 1954, in Sac City, Iowa. He was the beloved son of Everett and Ruth (Decker) Rodgers. John graduated from Luverne High School in 1972, where he was an all-state baseball player for the Luverne Cardinals. He played French horn in the high school band, where he met Mary VandenHoek, the love of his life. He furthered his education at Augustana College where he also played baseball at the collegiate level. John completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and then completed pre-requisite work for the veterinarian program at the University of Minnesota ̶ Morris. He obtained his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities in 1983. Later in life, he received his master’s degree in beef cattle reproduction from the University of Minnesota. John was an enthusiastic lifelong learner and avid reader.
On August 9, 1975, John was united in marriage to Mary at the United Methodist Church in Luverne. They had four daughters: Molly, Ingrid, Sarah and Emily. The couple spent most of their married life in Fairmont. John and Mary were blessed to have over 47 years together. They spent their favorite moments drinking coffee, bird watching, planting flowers, mowing the lawn, reading up on horticulture and native plants, watching sunsets, enjoying happy hour, pontoon cruises, trips to the cabin on Roy Lake and traveling to visit children and grandchildren.
John worked as a large animal veterinarian at the Fairmont Veterinary Clinic for 13 years, where he enjoyed caring for local farms. He then became a beef cattle reproductionist and consultant with Pfizer Animal Health. This gave him and Mary the opportunity to travel together.
He loved being outside; he often stated that there was “no bad weather, just bad gear.”  With his young family, he enjoyed many hours on Leech Lake and the Missouri River walleye fishing, tent camping adventures and biking trips with six bikes on top of the suburban and a boat behind. Later he trained and ran marathons and was able to complete a full marathon with each daughter.  He even participated in an Ironman Triathlon during his cancer treatment. He also completed several triathlons with his daughters and sons-in-law. He cherished annual turkey hunting trips to Nebraska with his good friend, Dennis Katzer, where he enjoyed being close to nature on the prairie. Annual summer trips to Grandview Lodge were spent fishing with grandchildren, large family dinners, and nightly sunset boat rides. He was always up for an adventure with his sons-in-law including summer and winter trips in the BWCA, hiking on the Superior Hiking Trail and watching baseball games to cheer on the Minnesota Twins. He was an aspiring cowboy at heart, riding horses with the girls and cattle drives out west. Most recently he found joy in water aerobics at the Fairmont Aquatic park and every morning and night like clockwork he would take his dog on a 0.5 mile walk.
Left to cherish his memory include his beautiful wife, Mary Rodgers; daughters Molly (Phil) Brummond, Ingrid (Darin) Bjerknes, Sarah (Jacob) Clements, and Emily (Joseph) Trindal; grandchildren (nicknames given by their granddad) Ava "Aviator" (11) and Brynlee "Brynzilator" (8) Brummond, Capri "Caprister" (12) and Beckham "Beckabooster" (11) Bjerknes, Layla "Layla Louster" (7), Calvin "Calvinator" (5), and Betsy "Betsyboo" (2) Clements, and Elenor "Ellie-ooper" (3) and identical twin girls, Hazel "Hazy-Daisy" (1), and Aila "Aila-Bella" (1) Trindal; sister Julie (Scott) Rosin; mother-in-law Mildred VandenHoek; black lab companion and friend Jack Rodgers; and other relatives and friends.
Along with his parents Everett and Ruth Rodgers, John was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Calvin VandenHoek; brothers-in-law Bob VandenHoek, Jon VandenHoek, and Terry Ohlsen; and sister-in-law Julie Ohlsen.
He will be cherished in the hearts of his loved ones.
www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net

Norman Wessels, age 94, of Luverne, Minnesota, died peacefully on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at Country View Manor in Sibley, Iowa.
Visitation will be Sunday, May 21, beginning at noon and followed by a funeral service at 1 p.m., all at the First Presbyterian Church in Luverne. Burial will be held Monday at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne. Arrangements are under the care of Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. To sign an online registry, please visit www.hartquistfuneral.com.
Norman Wessels was born August 28, 1928, to Frederick and Jennie (Bergman) Wessels in Nobles County, Minnesota. He was the second of twelve children. He grew up in the Ash Creek and Hardwick areas. The Wessels family moved to their family farm south of Ash Creek in 1942. He was baptized and confirmed at the State Line Ebenezer Church. He attended school in Rock County.
Following school, he lived on the farm. He first crossed paths with his future bride while attending first grade in country school. Norman’s family moved for a short time and they were reacquainted at Sunday School a few years later.
He was united in marriage to his childhood sweetheart, Joyce Reemts on January 14, 1949, at the Presbyterian Manse at the State Line Ebenezer Church. The couple lived for a short time in Rock Rapids, Iowa, and then Ash Creek before settling into their home in Luverne in 1954. Norman worked in manufacturing for his whole career. He was the plant and production manager at A.R. Wood Manufacturing Company for 29 years and then 11 years in that same position at Luverne Truck Equipment Company.
Following retirement, Norman and Joyce enjoyed spending more time at their lake home on Lake Shetek and their winter home in Texas.
On May 23, 2020, Joyce preceded Norman in death. Norman joined her in heaven on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, while under hospice care at the Country View Manor in Sibley Iowa.
Norman was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Luverne where he served as a deacon, trustee and also on various committees throughout the years. He was a member of the Rock County Historical Society. He was a Jaycee and past member of the Masonic Lodge and El Riad Shrine. He served as director of the board for the Pine to Palm Resort Park.
He enjoyed fishing, hunting, pitching softball for many summers, bowling, and a game of horse shoes. He loved spending time with Joyce, his wife of 71 years, and working on her “honey do” lists. His family and friends knew him well for his skill as a handyman.
Norman is lovingly remembered by his children, Linda (Dick Knapper) Schoon of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Mark (Lin) Wessels of Rock Rapids; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; brothers Lowell Wessels of Steen, Minnesota, Harold Wessels of Luverne, Douglas Wessels of Hardwick, and David (Beverly) Wessels of Steen; sister Enore Boelman of Luverne; daughter-in-law, Linda Wessels of Rock Rapids; sisters-in-law Gladys (Herman) Walker of Sioux Falls, Theresa Wessels of Luverne, and Gertrude Wessels of Luverne; brother-in-law Ed Elbers of Luverne; other family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce; son Michael Wessels; grandson Andy Wessels; great-granddaughter, Lucille Sailor; siblings Vernice Wessels, Dale Wessels, Darrel Wessels, Stanley Wessels, Phyllis Schouwenberg, and Iva Elbers; sisters-in-law Dorothy Johnson, Sharon Wessels, Jolene Wessels, and Ginny Wessels; brothers-in-law Edwin Boelman, and Donald Schouwenberg; and parents Fred and Jennie Wessels.
(Lovingly written by Joyce Wessels)

Margaret Kuiken, age 96, of Luverne, Minnesota, went to be with her Lord on Monday, May 15, 2023, while at the Pipestone County Hospice House in Pipestone, Minnesota. Visitation will be Tuesday, May 23, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. Funeral service will be Wednesday, May 24, at 10:30 a.m. at the American Reformed Church in Luverne. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery near Luverne. To view Margaret’s LifeTribute video or sign an online registry, please visit www.hartquistfuneral.com.
Margaret Kuiken was born on September 24, 1926, to Marinus and Jenny Louise (VerMeer) Intveld in Hull, Iowa. She grew up on the family farm, attending school at Lincoln Township No. 14 near Hull. She developed a good work ethic by helping in the home and on the farm.
On December 18, 1946, Margaret was united in marriage to Donald Kuiken. Throughout her life, she was a homemaker and helped with farm work when and where needed. Margaret and Don started farming north of Hull, then near Luverne, Minnesota, and also Montevideo, Minnesota. In 1957 they returned to Luverne, moving to their farm south of Luverne where they raised their family and farmed for the next 38 years. They retired in 1995 and built a new home in Luverne. Don passed to glory in 2007.
In 2015 Margaret moved into The Oaks, assisted living in Luverne. In June of 2022 she entered hospice care.
Margaret was a faithful member of American Reformed Church in Luverne where she was involved in teaching Sunday school and Bible school. She was also active in a Bible study group, Circle, and Guild. She loved the Lord and doing the service she was called to do. She was a member of the clintonaires extension club and an avid Twins fan, attending many games. She enjoyed playing cards, serving, yard work, reading, and cryptogram puzzles.
During their retirement years, Don and Margaret enjoyed spending their winters in California and Arizona. They also did a lot of traveling during the summer. One of her greatest joys was her family.
Margaret is lovingly remembered by her son, Leslie (Linda) Kuiken of Kingsville, Texas; daughter Virginia (Henry) Sandbulte of Luverne; daughter-in-law Verla Kuiken of Big Bear City, California; eight grandchildren, Tammy (Angie) Whitiken, Matt Kuiken, Aaron Kuiken, Arlin Sandbulte, David (Amy) Sandbulte, Tim Kuiken, Todd (Kari) Kuiken, and Jeremy Kuiken; five great-grandsons, Quinn and Micah Sandbulte, Nixon and Carter Kuiken, and Kollyn Kuiken; and brother Leroy (Wanda) Intveld of Sioux Center, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Don; daughter Carol Mae Kuiken; son Eddy Kuiken; granddaughter Ranae Sandbulte; sisters Elizabeth (Case) Boeve, Cynthia (Albert) Boeve, and Thelma (Arnold) Menning; and brother James (Gert) Intveld.
To God be the Glory.