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 Sept. 9, 1943.
Looking back over the past half century, Mrs. August Hamann, Luverne, wonders sometimes if some of her experiences in early day Rock county aren’t just dreams.
Now living in her own home in Luverne, she has conveniences she never even thought were possible when she and her husband came to live northwest of here in the spring of 1891. Instead of going to the well pumping a pail of water, and bringing it inside, all she has to do now is to turn a faucet in her kitchen, and water streams out. Instead of carrying in baskets of cobs and wood, and virtually choking the kitchen stove to keep her home warm, she merely has to turn a thermostat dial on the wall, and an oil burning furnace keeps her rooms at the temperature she desires. Instead of the almost daily task of filling lamps with kerosene for light at night, she merely has to press a button on the wall and pay an electric light bill once each month.
But all the conveniences she enjoys today she greatly appreciates, because she worked hard under difficult circumstances during her younger days, and experienced many a hardship.
She was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, Sept. 25, 1867, as Emma Wieckman, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Wieckman. Her father worked in the country, and at an early age she learned to do many of the common everyday tasks. She attended school and even before she had completed the prescribed course of study, she had begun working away from home. At first, she received only her board and room. After she finished school, however, she was paid a salary of $12 per year.
Fortunately, she said, she did not have to do much outdoor work. Most of her duties had to do with housekeeping, but helping with the cooking, washing and baking and tending to the children, kept her plenty busy.
Relatives who had moved to the United States induced her to come to this country in 1883. She and her sister boarded a ship in Germany and landed in New York 14 days later. Although the trip was uneventful, the sight of land was a pleasant one, Mrs. Hamann states. They came directly to Benton county, where Mrs. Hamann immediately began working for her uncle at $2 a week. Truly she thought, America must be the land of promise if she could earn as much in six weeks here as she could in Germany in 52 weeks.
Continued in the April 6, 2023, edition of the Star Herald

10 years ago (2013)
•Rock County and one of its early pioneer families are featured in a current exhibit at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul.
Doreen Rollag of rural Beaver Creek learned that a replica of the sod house that was once on her current acreage is part of a display illustrating early prairie life.
“We were thrilled,” Doreen said about her recent visit to the History Center. “It was full of write-ups and pictures.”
The sod home had been built in 1873 by her husband Leonard’s grandparents, Gro and Ole Rollag. They settled there as newlyweds after they left Norway for a new life in Rock county.
The replica of a sod house in “Then Now Wow” is based on the Rollag home, and visitors are encouraged to explore the interior rooms, sit on the beds and try on the prairie clothing that was once worn by the settlers.
The Rollags lived in the 12-by-16 foot sod house for seven years before building the frame home that Doreen lives in now. “I’ve lived there for 60 years,” Doreen said. “We’ve added to the house, but it’s still on the old foundation of rocks.”
 
25 years ago (1998)
•Chuck Egland is settling into his duties as the new postmaster in Luverne. He became postmaster officially Feb. 14, but he’s been officer in charge since Oct. 23. His installation was Friday.
Egland comes to Luverne from Winona where he’s spent the past nine years. He started there as a postal carrier in 1987 and has been supervisor since 1993. Both he and his wife, Jean, also hail from Winona as their hometown.
He said the reason he came to Luverne was the opportunity for advancement in the postal service. Now that he’s here, Egland said Luverne seems like a town he could easily call home. “People are friendly here, and when you drive into this town, it’s a clean town,” he said. “It’s not somewhere where you’d be ashamed to live. It’s impressive when you get off the exit and drive through town.”
 
50 years ago (1973)
•Two South Dakota youths whose names were withheld until charges were officially filed, were apprehended at the Luverne Livestock Association Sale barn here Saturday, after two stolen calves were recovered at the barn.
Sheriff Ole Hommen said the Lake County sheriff, of Madison, S.D., came here to get the youths, one a juvenile and one just over 18. They were released on their own recognizance.
According to Sheriff Hommen, a Volga, S.D., farmer discovered the loss of the two calves Saturday morning. The calves were taken from a barn on his farm.
 
75 years ago (1948)
•Four teachers in the local school system have resigned their positions, and do not plan to teach here next year, Supt. M.C. Munson announced yesterday.
They are as follows:
Miss Joyce Hesla, instructor of vocal music; Miss Barbara Wangsness, English and dramatics; Miss Rubye Philipp, second grade; Miss Laila Leikvold, girls’ physical education and biology.
Clarence J. Ekeland, athletic coach, resigned from his coaching activities, but has been extended a contract for a “straight” teaching position.
 
100 years ago (1923)
•A new business enterprise in Luverne, the Associated Dollar Tire store, will formally open tomorrow morning at eight o’clock. The company has leased the store building in the McGrath block, recently occupied by the Downs bowling alleys, and the business will be managed by J.A. Jacobson, of Sioux Falls, a former resident of this county.
The Associated Dollar Tire Company, with headquarters at Kansas City, Mo., operates an extensive line of chain stores throughout the country, and conducts its places of business on what is termed “the associated dollar plan.” By this is meant that any customer who purchases one of their pneumatic tires or tubes at their list price, can secure a similar tire or tube at the additional price of only $1.00.
Mr. Jacobson, manager of the store, invites all motor owners in the county to call the store tomorrow, if possible.

Two longtime Clinton Township officials were recently recognized for their years of service on the township board. Henry Zwaan (pictured at left with board chairman Kurt Elbers) was honored for 40 years of leadership, and Steve Top (pictured at right with Elbers) was honored for 20 years on the Clinton Township Board. The photographs were taken Sunday, March 12, at Poplar Creek in Luverne.

Moore attends 4-H leadership workshop
Mazzi Moore, a member of the Blue Ribbon 4-H Club, attended the Southwest TEEL leadership workshop Feb. 18 at Southwest State University in Marshall.
Moore joined 58 youth for the Teens Engaging in Emerging Leadership (TEEL) workshop led by older 4-H youth leaders and 4-H alumni.
This year’s theme focuses on “Seasons of Growth.” Youth learned about leadership while connecting to their own personal story and experiences through hands-on activities. They also learned about the Crayon Initiative, which takes used crayons, melts them into new crayons for distribution to kids in the hospital. The initiative helps bring joy to children who are ill and keeps millions of crayons out of the landfills.
“TEEL gave me the opportunity to meet amazing leaders from throughout southwest Minnesota,” Moore said. “By way of fun, small group activities and enlightening TEEL talks, I was able to grow in my 4-H journey.”
Moore is a sophomore at Brandon-Valley High School in Brandon.
 
Holthaus named administrator of excellence
 
Todd Holthaus, Hills-Beaver Creek School District superintendent, is the Region 3 Administrator of Excellence award winner for 2023.
Holthaus is one of nine regional award winners selected through the Minnesota Association of School Administrators.
Each recipient was recognized for their leadership, concern for students, and active involvement in professional and community affairs.
Holthaus received the award at the MASA spring conference on March 9-10.

Knips selected as College of Business coach at Lincoln
Sara Knips of Magnolia is one of 38 University of Nebraska-Lincoln students selected as new strengths coaches in the College of Business Clifton Strengths Institute. Knips is a junior majoring in Clifton Builders management.
Representing a variety of majors across the university, strengths coaches mentor about 1,000 first-year business students in Professional Enhancement I: Investing in Strengths (BSAD 111).
 
U of M Twin Cities names honor students

Several local students at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have been named to the dean’s list for the Fall 2022 semester. To be eligible, students must have at least 12 graded credits with a 3.66 GPA or higher.
Named to the list from Luverne were Billi Connell, freshman, education/human development; Grace Sweeney, senior, liberal arts; Solveig Tofteland, junior, nursing; Jordan Winter, junior, Carlson School of Management; and from Magnolia, Jaxon Nelson, senior, food, agriculture and natural resources science.

Evelyn Katherine Harmsen, 95, Luverne, died Thursday, March 23, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Society – Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 22, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 22, at St. Catherine. Memorials may be directed to the Luverne Hospice Cottage.
Evelyn Voss was born on April 13, 1927, near Wilmont to Joseph and Josephine (Wiltgen) Voss. The family later moved north of Adrian until 1943 when they moved to a farm northeast of Woodstock when Evelyn was 16 years old.
On May 9, 1944, Evelyn married William Krell Jr. at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Woodstock. Evelyn and Bill ran the Woodstock Café for a time after moving into town. Due to Bill’s health issues, Evelyn began waitressing at Sid and Min’s Café in Pipestone. Bill passed away on May 25, 1957, due to brain cancer. After Bill’s death Evelyn began working at the Flame Room bar also in Pipestone.
On Sept. 2, 1958, Evelyn married Russ Harmsen. They moved to Ihlen two months later. Russ and Evelyn bought into the Glass House Steak House with Dale and LeeAnn Hess in March 1959. Russ and Evelyn had three children together. They owned and operated the business for 25 years until 1984. Evelyn began working at the Country Club in Pipestone along with volunteering her services for seniors. She was active at the Senior Center at Ihlen, volunteering and playing cards with friends. Evelyn celebrated her 80th birthday at the Country Club after which she retired. That summer she and Russ moved to St. Cloud.
They enjoyed spending time at their lake home at Pickerel Lake for 60 years along with traveling in their early years with friends and with daughter Joyce and husband Carl in their later years. Evelyn enjoyed being with people and made many friends in her years of working. She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren.
In August of 2018 they moved to Luverne where Russ was admitted to the Minnesota Veterans Home and Evelyn lived with her daughter Deanna. Evelyn visited Russ daily at the Veterans Home until his death on Oct. 26, 2018. She moved to Poplar Creek in Luverne a month later. In May of 2020 she moved to the Good Samaritan Society – Mary Jane Brown Home.
Evelyn is survived by her six children, Bev York of Columbia Falls, Montana, Joyce (Carl) Pierret of Blaine, Vicki (Brad) Quist of Pickerel Lake, Deanna “Dee” Scott of Luverne, Mike (Karen) Harmsen of Clearwater, and Kim Harmsen; daughter-in-law Dolly Krell of Coon Rapids; 20 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Lois Voss of Maple Grove and Jean Voss of Canby; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Russ, of 60 years; three children, Randy Krell, Gene Krell and Terry Harmsen; sister Dorothy Jackson; and brothers Virgil Voss and Marvin (Bob) Voss.
Arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, hartquistfuneral.com.
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Bruner Keesey, age 2 months, Luverne, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at the Sanford Luverne Medical Center.
Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. Friday, March 31, at Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. A private funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 1, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Caledonia. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Caledonia.
Bruner Keesey was born Jan. 8, 2023, to Zachary Keesey and Madison Zehnder at Sanford Health, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He joined his big sister, Kinnsley, who welcomed him with love and protection. He was the “Most Handsome Boy” and he touched many lives with his precious smile and cute dimples. He will be forever remembered and loved.
He is survived by his parents, Zachary Keesey and Madison Zehnder; sister Kinnsley Dols; grandparents Kurt and Emily Zehnder, Jeff Keesey and Julie Keesey; great-grandparents Dorsey and Sherry Keesey, Bill and Linda Zehner; aunts, uncles and cousins Dan Keesey and Ashley Werner and their children, Mya Keesey and Brennan Thomas, Uncle Nick Keesey, Aunt Ashley Bohn and children Ben and Savannah Bohn, Aunt Jamie Bohn and children Rion, Alex, Nathan Becher, Aunt Payton Zehnder, Aunt Jadah Zehnder and Marty Koenig, Uncle Cody Zehnder and Danika Albert; godparents Storm Davis and Maddie Strub; Jamie Fritz and Derek Anderson, and Josh Vaubel.
He was preceded in death by great-grandparents Reynolds; great-grandparents Klatt; and aunt Stephanie Ellingson.
Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne and McCormick Funeral Home in Caledonia are assisting the family. www.hartquistfuneral.com
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Michael David Hagemann, 81, of Glen Carbon, Illinois, passed away at 1:48 p.m. on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at his home in Meridian Village.
He was born January 2, 1942, in Luverne, Minnesota, a son of the late Andrew and Anna (Smook) Hagemann Sr.
He married Joyce Elaine (Achterhoff) Hagemann on October 21, 1960, in Edgerton, Minnesota, and she survives.
He retired from the Teamsters Local #600 after many years of dedicated service as a truck driver with Consolidated Freightways.
Michael was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Edwardsville for 35 years and had served as an usher. He was very active with many events at Meridian Village and was known for his role with the water volleyball team. He had a love for cars and was always proud of his clean cars as well as his manicured yard. He will be remembered for the love and special times shared with his family and friends.
In addition to his beloved wife, he is survived by three daughters and a son-in-law, Kimberly Boldt of Ruskin, Florida, Kelli and Ed Mientkewicz of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Kristi Breck of St. Charles, Missouri; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Kent and Lori Hagemann of Collinsville, Illinois, and Kory Hagemann of St. Louis, Missouri; former daughter-in-law Janet Frasher of O’Fallon, Illinois; eleven grandchildren, Nicholas, Samantha, Britanee, Ashleigh, Allyson, Alex, Lacie, Kayla, Libby, Lucas and Aiden; six great grandchildren, Nicholas, Dallas, Liam, Lucy, Layla and Oakley; a brother and sister-in-law, Andrew and Dorothy Hagemann Jr. of Prior Lake, Minnesota; nieces; nephews; other extended family and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Terry Breck; a sister, Patricia Ann Snitselaar and a brother, Robert Hagemann.
In celebration of his life, a memorial visitation will be held at the First Baptist Church, 534 St. Louis Street in Edwardsville on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. until time of memorial service at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Drew Patton officiating.  A private burial will be at Glen Carbon City Cemetery in Glen Carbon.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Edwardsville.  Irwin Chapel of Glen Carbon in charge of arrangements. www.irwinchapel.com
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Lavonne K. Otten, 83, Luverne, died Thursday, March 23, 2023, at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage.
Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday, April 6, at the Christian Reformed Church in Luverne. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church, with burial to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Luverne. 
Arrangements are provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, hartquistfuneral.com.
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