Melvin "Barney" Kruger, 59, Ash Creek, died Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2002, at his home in Ash Creek.

Services were Saturday, Feb. 9, at Assembly of God Church in rural Luverne. The Rev. David Jahn officiated. Burial was at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.

"Barney" Kruger was born to Martin and Elizabeth (Giessen) Kruger on May 25, 1942, in Luverne. He attended school in Luverne. He joined the U.S. Army in 1964 and served through 1966. He worked for Hanson Silo from 1962 to 1985.

He married Carolyn Kuhnert on March 9, 1966, at Beaver Valley Church in Valley Springs, S.D. He then started Kruger Salvage where he was known as the car undertaker. Mrs. Kruger died on June 13, 1996.

He married Donna Olson on Jan. 27, 2001, at Assembly of God Church in Luverne.

Mr. Kruger was a member of Assembly of God Church in rural Luverne. He loved to watch his brother, daughter, nephews and all the Kracht boys race cars.

Survivors include his wife, Donna Kruger, Ash Creek; four children and their spouses, Brenda and Vance Johanning, Heron Lake, Gary and Teresa Kruger, Luverne, Jeff Kruger and Tammy and Pete Kracht, all of Ash Creek; one stepson, Tom; one stepdaughter, April; eight grandchildren, Joey, Alex, Thomas, Katlyn, Allison, Taylor, Madison and Dylan; one brother, David Kruger, Sioux Falls, S.D.; and two sisters, Alberta (Darrell) Kremin, Ash Creek, and Viola (Ordell) Swenson, Sioux Falls.

Mr. Kruger was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Carolyn, one sister-in-law, Linda Kruger, one nephew, Jared Kremin, and one niece, Kim Kremin.

A tree will be planted in memory of Melvin Kruger by Hospice of Luverne Community Hospital.

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

Elloise A. Klaassen, 79, Luverne, formerly of Ellsworth, died Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2002, at Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne.

Services were Tuesday, Feb. 12, at Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock, Iowa. The Rev. Brian Hellenga officiated. Burial was in Pleasant View Cemetery, Little Rock.

Elloise Larson was born to Reuben and Frances (Christensen) Larson on Dec. 7, 1922, in Viborg, S.D. She attended school in Viborg until her senior year and graduated from Canton High School, Canton, S.D., in 1940.

She married Raymond C. Klaassen on Oct. 16, 1947, at Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock. After their marriage the couple made their home near Ellsworth. She worked at Parkview Manor Nursing Home, Ellsworth, as a dietitian for 17 years until she retired in 1993. They moved to Minnesota Veterans Home in 2001.

Mrs. Klaassen was a member of Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock. She enjoyed sewing, quilting and crocheting.

Survivors include her husband, Raymond Klaassen, Luverne; six children and their spouses, Dorothy and Roger Shepherd, Sioux Falls, S.D., David and Margaret Klaassen, Marquette, Kan., Daniel and Ann Klaassen, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Donald and Kathy Klaassen, Ellsworth, Jane and Frank Bernstein, Palo Alto, Calif., and Joan Klaassen, Belmont, Calif.; and 21 grandchildren.

Mrs. Klaassen was preceded in death by her parents, and two grandsons, Benjamin Klaassen and Nathaniel Klaassen.

Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements

Lena Jouwstra, 89, Luverne, died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002, in Luverne Community Hospital.

Services were Monday, Feb. 11, in Luverne Christian Reformed Church, The Revs. George Koopmans and Bert Den Herder officiated. Burial was in Valley View Cemetery, Rock Valley, Iowa.

Lena Stegenga was born to Peter and Tryntje (Ploegstra) Stegenga on Feb. 6, 1913, in Hull, Iowa. They lived on a farm near Rock Valley where she attended Rock Valley Christian School.

She married Shirk Jouwstra on Jan. 15, 1937, in Rock Valley. Following their marriage they lived and farmed near Inwood, Iowa. Later they moved to a farm near Rock Valley. In 1947 they moved to a farm near Tyler. In 1961 they moved to Ontario, Calif. In 1973 they moved back to a farm near Luverne. They retired in 1981 and moved to Luverne. They spent their winters in Mesa, Ariz. She entered Luverne Community Hospital on Feb. 6.

Mrs. Jouwstra was a member of Luverne Christian Reformed Church where she was active in the church circles and Christian School circle. She enjoyed crocheting.

Survivors include her husband, Shirk Jouwstra, Luverne; six children and their spouses, Franklin (Shirley) Jouwstra, Edgerton, Theresa (Berton) Tinklenberg, Woodstock, Peter (Sharlene) Jouwstra, Grandville, Mich., Janice (Clarence) Doornbos, Caledonia, Mich., James (Carole) Jouwstra, Broadview Heights, Ohio, and Glenda (Roger) Beukelman, Lake Elsinore, Calif.; 17 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; one sister, Gertrude Vander Ploeg, Sioux Center, Iowa; and one sister-in-law, Wilmina Winterswyk, Luverne.

Mrs. Jouwstra was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Otto and Richard Stegenga, and one sister, Jesse Mulder.

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

Marian Boom, 77, Luverne, died Friday, Feb. 8, 2002, at Parkview Manor Nursing Home in Ellsworth.

Services were Tuesday, Feb. 12, at American Reformed Church in Luverne. The Rev. David Sikkema officiated. Burial was in Beaver Creek Cemetery.

Marian Dodeward was born to Cornelius and Alice (VanWyhe) Dodeward on Dec. 9, 1924, in Rock Valley, Iowa. She attended and graduated from Lester High School in Lester, Iowa.

She married Paul Boom on Aug. 5, 1942, in Lester. After their marriage they farmed near Lester for six years. They moved to a farm near Beaver Creek where they lived until they retired. After they retired from farming they moved to Luverne. In December 2001 they moved to Parkview Manor Nursing Home in Ellsworth.

Survivors include her husband, Paul Boom, Ellsworth; three children and their spouses, Marlin (Mary) Boom, Ellsworth, Cheryl (George) Krumholz, Richfield, and Connie (Robert) Melton, Worthington; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Francis VerBurg, Rock Valley, and Dorothy Larson, Madison, S.D.; and many other family and friends.

Mrs. Boom was preceded in death by her parents, one son, Paul Jr., three brothers and one sister.

A tree will be planted in memory of Marian Boom by Hospice of Luverne Community Hospital.

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

Arthur "Pat" Patterson, 69, Hills, died Friday, Feb. 8 at Parkview Manor Nursing Home, Ellsworth. Services will be Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 10:30 a.m. at Engebretson Funeral Home, Luverne. Interment will be in Hills Christian Reformed Cemetery, Hills. Visitation will be one hour prior to services on Tuesday.

Services for Louie Heitman will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne with the Rev. Andrew Beerman officiating. Burial will be in St. Catherine Cemetery, Luverne. Visitation is from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at Engebretson Funeral Home in Luverne. There will be a prayer service at 7:30 p.m.

Louie Heitman, 85, Hardwick, died Monday, Feb. 11, 2002, at the Hospice Cottage in Luverne.

Patricia K. Van Wyhe, 51, Sioux Falls, S.D., formerly of Beaver Creek, died Friday, Feb. 8, 2002, as the result of an auto accident near Presho, S.D.

Memorial services will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, at First United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls. Private family interment will be at Hills of Rest Memorial Park in Sioux Falls.

Patricia Gibson was born to Marshall E. and Gerone Gibson on May 25, 1950, in Sioux Falls. She grew up in Beaver Creek where she received her education. Following her graduation from Hills-Beaver Creek High School, she attended the Sioux Valley Hospital School of Nursing where she received her RN degree in 1971.

She married Thomas VanWyhe on Aug. 14, 1971, in Luverne. Following their marriage, the couple lived in Rapid City, S.D., where she worked as a nurse while her husband completed his education. They also lived in LaCrosse, Wis., for a short time where she continued her nursing career. They moved to Sioux Falls in July 1973 where she became employed with Sioux Valley Hospital. She worked at Sioux Valley for the past 28 years, and was the director of surgery and anesthesia. She was in the process of retiring from that position at the time of her death.

Mrs. VanWyhe was very committed to her nursing career and had a passion for the medical field. She was a member of the Association of Operating Room Nurses. She was also a member of First United Methodist Church where she served on Altar Guild and was a past Sunday School teacher. She was also active in the Brandon Valley High School Booster Club.

Survivors include her husband, Tom VanWyhe, Sioux Falls; one son, Matthew VanWyhe, Sioux Falls; one daughter, Teri VanWyhe, Omaha, Neb.; her father, Marshall E. Gibson, and his wife, Mavis, Canton, S.D.; one brother, Dale L. (Rhonda) Gibson, Renner, S.D.; and one sister, Gayle L. Franchere, Ellington, Conn.; and several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. VanWyhe was preceded in death by her mother, Gerone Gibson, and a brother-in-law, Jim Franchere.

Memorials may be directed to First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund or to a charity of the donor's choice.

Miller Funeral Home, Sioux Falls, is in charge of arrangements.

Adrian freshman post Casey Knips takes a shot in front of Minneota's Jon Buysee during Tuesday's boys' basketball game in Adrian. Knips scored six points during an 85-74 AHS victory.

By John Rittenhouse
The Adrian boys' basketball team turned a strong second half into an 85-74 home win over Minneota Tuesday.

After playing less than solid defense in a first half that ended in a deadlock at 38, the Dragons picked up intensity on both ends of the floor in the second half. The end result was a 47-36 scoring run that clinched an 11-point win for AHS.

"We just started running with the ball better," said Adrian mentor Chris Rozell, about the second half. "We scored a lot of points off fast-breaks, and we also started to play a little defense."

Adrian moved in front 61-55 after three quarters of play before outscoring the Vikings 24-19 in the fourth period.

Minneota led 21-18 after the first eight minutes of play.

Kyle Knips, who led Adrian with 10 rebounds and four blocked shots, netted a career-high 37 points. He burned the nets for 23 points in the decisive second half. Bryce Block contributed 18 points and Brandon Wolf gave eight assists to the winning cause.

Adrian, 6-12 overall, hosts Southwest Christian tomorrow before playing at Edgerton Public Tuesday.

Box score
Hohn 2 0 2-2 6, Wolf 1 1 4-6 9, Block 3 4 0-1 18, Lynn 1 2 1-2 9, Knips 14 o 9-10 37, C.Knips 2 0 2-2 6.

Team statistics
Adrian: 30 of 53 field goals (57 percent), 18 of 23 free throws (78 percent), 29 rebounds, 20 turnovers.
Minneota: 15 of 24 field goals (63 percent), 24 of 79 field goals (34 percent), 21 rebounds.

Luverne senior Jessica Mann helped make history in her final home match as a member of the Cardinal gymnastics program Friday. Mann scored a 7.5 on the bars when Luverne set a school record in total points during a 127.35-125.05 win over Martin County West.

By John Rittenhouse
The one-two scoring punch of Amanda Aning and Callen Bosshart led the Luverne-Hills-Beaver Creek gymnastics team to a regular-season-ending victory over Martin County West in Luverne Friday.

Aning, a senior, won the all-around and beam championships during the duel. Bosshart, who won the vault competition, placed in all four individual events for an L-H-BC team that established a new program scoring record during a 127.35-125.05 win over the Mavericks.

L-H-BC's point total of 127.35 eclipsed the old program standard of 126.85 set last season by six-tenths of one point.

Aning's final home performance was highlighted by a 33.2 all-around effort and a title-earning 8.3 score on the beam. She also placed second on the bars with an 8.0.

Bosshart, who was second all-around with 32.55 points, won the vault crown with an 8.55.

Bosshart also placed second on the beam (7.5), third on the bars (7.9) and fourth on the floor (8.3).

Cardinals Danielle Cook and Amanda Dooyema shared second place with MCW athletes on the vault and floor respectively.

Cook and MCW's Jill Wagenman recorded 8.8s on the vault. Dooyema and Lisa Burmeister registered 8.4s on the floor.

Mavericks Lacy Abel and Kelly Wagenman won the floor and bar competitions with respective 8.6 and 8.25 efforts.

Luverne, which ends the regular season with a 7-9 record, will compete at the Section 3A Gymnastics Championships at noon Saturday in Windom.

Individual results
Bars: Aning, 8.0; Bosshart, 7.9; Gabe Van Dyk, 7.75; Cook, 7.75; Dooyema, 7.65.
Beam: Aning, 8.3; Bosshart, 7.5; Dooyema, 6.65; Van Dyk, 6.4; Brittany Boeve, 6.4.
Floor: Dooyema, 8.4; Bosshart, 8.3; Aning, 8.25; Brittany Mulder, 7.45; Morgan Bosshart, 7.4.
Vault: C.Bosshart, 8.85; Cook, 8.8; Aning, 8.65; Van Dyk, 8.4; Boeve, 8.1.