University of Minnesota Extension Southwest RegionalSustainable Development Partnership (Southwest RSDP) is seeking applicants for membershipon the board of directors and work groups.
Southwest RSDP is one of five regional partnerships that connect local communities withUniversity of Minnesota resources to support sustainable development in Greater Minnesota.
RSDP focuses on natural resources, sustainable agriculture and local food systems, resilient communities and clean energy.
The Southwest RSDP board is composed of community volunteers from the region, along with representation from University of Minnesota faculty and staff. Board members work together to make decisions about how to invest resources in community-driven projects.
Successful candidates for the Southwest RSDP board and work groups will:
•Contribute diverse backgrounds, identities, experiences and viewpoints.
•Operate with integrity in making decisions.
•Embrace complexity and innovation.
•Be committed to building resilience and sustainability in Southwest Minnesota communities –economically, socially and environmentally.
In particular, Southwest RSDP is currently seeking those with an interest in natural resources and clean energy.
For more information and to apply, please see z.umn.edu/rsdpboard.
Applications are preferred by Aug. 11, 2022.
 
Anne Dybsetter, Executive Director, Southwest Regional Sustainable Development Partnership, adybsett@umn.edu, 320-235-0726 x 2012.

Card showers
Art and Bev Fleseland will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary on Monday, Aug. 15. Greetings may be sent to them at 313 State St., Magnolia, MN 56158.

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.
This article appeared in the April 15, 1943 edition of The Rock County Star Herald.
         Skiing, now a popular winter sport in Minnesota, served a practical purpose as well as being a form of recreation for Tom Knudtson, Luverne, when he was a boy.
Living on a farm at Bjolland, near Christiansand, in Norway, Mr. Knudtson would strap on his skis and speed down a mountainside to school about a mile away. The place where he was born was about five miles from the sea and in the timber country. Although the surroundings were beautiful, Mr. Knudtson felt that an opportunity for a successful future could be found only in America, so he left home at the age of 22.
Mr. Knudtson was one of seven children and was born March 22, 1865. He was christened Torkel, but after coming to this country he has used the name Tom.
He had hardly reached school age before he was put to work, helping with the wood cutting, cattle herding and other tasks. The first money he ever earned that he could call his own was a small amount which he received from a neighbor for helping to plant potatoes. Later, he received the income that was produced by two of the cows in the herd which he watched while they grazed on the mountainside.
A sister who lived in Sioux City induced him to make his decision to leave the land of his birth. With another young man, he set out for the United States, and one day in the spring of 1887, they stepped off the train at the Rock Island depot here. Mr. Knudtson distinctly remembers that they had no one here to meet them and that they made two trips from the depot to the business district, carrying their trunks.
Mr. Knudtson had $10 in his pocket—more than his companion had. “You’ll get along right with that much more,” his companion stated, and Mrs. Knudtson agrees that the prediction came true.
The first year he was in Rock county, he worked at several different jobs. He recalls how Ole Iveland at one time took him in an oxcart to the brick yard to get a job. He didn’t get one, and in walking back to Luverne, he took the wrong railroad track. When he realized the fact, he was almost to Kanaranzi, so had to walk back.
He worked first for Jens Haugetum, on a farm about two miles south of Luverne. It was there he milked his first cow. In Norway it was always the custom that the women folk did the milking, and for that reason, he had no training along that line endeavor.
Later, he obtained a job on the Ole Hanson farm near Ashcreek. When asked what wages he wanted, he said $25 a month.
“To my surprise,” Mr. Knudtson said, “I got it.” As a matter of fact, I was so ashamed when I asked for that much, that I looked down on the ground instead of at Mr. Hanson.
“I worked there until fall, then got a job helping build the railroad into Steen. That winter, the winter of the big blizzard, I lived with Mr. and Mrs. Knute Aanenson in their dugout. I saved $100 during the summer so I felt pretty good about my first year in this country.”
Mr. Knudtson then obtained a job working for T. P. Grout in Beaver Creek township. Up until that time, whenever he wanted to go to town, he would have to walk. Mr. Grout, however, permitted him to use one of his horses to ride, and that pleased him as much as it would a farm hand today if his employer would give him his gasoline coupon book and tell him to use the new car whenever he wanted it.
“Even though I had a horse to ride, I didn’t go very much,” Mr. Knudtson states. “In those early days, about the only time a young fellow would ever go to town would be on the Fourth of July.”
After working for Mr. Grout, he went to work for LaDues, near Luverne, who had many cattle. For six years, he did the milking on the La Due farm, then he bought a quarter section in Vienna township. Five years later, he lost his property in the Depression, and after that came to Luverne where he worked at several jobs before going back to farming, this time in Clinton township. After 10 years, he bought a farm there and lived there until 1935 when he retired and moved to Luverne.
Mr. Knudtson was married to Anna Hollekim in Luverne on Nov. 15, 1900. They became the parents of five children, three of whom are living. Thy are Mrs. Alvin Olson, Luverne; Mrs. Ragnvald Nelson, Clinton township and Mrs. Olivia Moldenhauer, Chicago. They have five grandchildren.
Mr. Knudtson is a member of the Lutheran Free church and helped organize the Zion Lutheran congregation in Luverne.
Thinking back over the years which have come and gone since his friend told him, “You’ll get along here all right,” Mr. Knudtson declared, “God has been good to me all these years, and I’m thankful for it.”
One year, he went back to Norway, but was glad to return to the United States. “I think this is the best country in the world,” he said, “and when I went back to Norway, I realized it all the more. I never had any desire to return to Norway to live, even if it was my motherland.”
One of a family of seven children, Mr. Knudtson has two sisters, Mrs. Esther Chesley of Denver and Mrs. Anna Haugen, who lives in Canada. Before the outbreak of the war, he had a brother still living in Norway.
 
         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 (2012)
•Luverne native Anthony Nelson has published a name for himself on Mars, literally.
Nelson, a 1993 Luverne High School graduate, is a member of the team of scientists and engineers who worked on the space rover, “Curiosity,” that landed on Mars Monday.
Nelson’s name appears on an instrument panel on the rover that is now crawling over the planet’s surface.
His parents, Lyle and Gloria Nelson, Luverne, traveled to Cape Canaveral, Fla., last fall when the rover was launched into space.
“The launch was exciting in itself,” she said, “But to have a successful landing is even more exciting.”
Footage broadcast on television networks around the world showed scientists and engineers celebrating Curiosity’s landing in the wee hours of Monday morning.
 
25 years ago (1997)
•Luverne Go-Kart driver Brett DeJager will bring an impressive tag with him into Friday’s grandstand show at the Rock County Fair.
DeJager, an 11-year-old Junior One competitor, earned the nickname national champion during the Go-Kart Nationals staged at Thunder Hills Speedway Mayetta, Kan., last week.
One of 40 entries in his class, DeJager earned the pole position for a 30-kart feature race for the national title staged Wednesday, July 29, and DeJager completed the run without losing the lead.
DeJager is expected to compete on his home track during the fair races tomorrow night.
 
50 years ago (1972)
•Larry Rolfs has been appointed mayor of the village of Hardwick to serve until the next village election. The village council made the appointment following the resignation of William DeBates who resigned when he was elected to the school board of District 671 One year of his term still remains, so the person elected in November will be elected for the unexpired portion of that term.
 
75 years ago (1947)
•Youngsters taking part in the summer recreation program will hold a “soap box derby” tomorrow afternoon on Lincoln street, in front of the grade school building. The races will begin at 2 o’clock, and all children are urged to have their racers in readiness, according to James Reinertson, who directs the program.
In last Friday’s pet parade, John and Billy Martin won first prize for having the most unusual pets. They displayed three ducks. Scott Reinertson won second with his white dog, “Keeno,” which he had in a cage. Roger Van Roekel, who had a dog on a leash, won third for having the best trained pet.
 
100 years ago (1922)
•Eleven Rock county farmers and one school district have agreed to co-operate with the forestry division of the University of Minnesota in the establishment of demonstration windbreak plantings of trees.
Trees for this purpose are furnished by the forestry division and those upon whose farms the windbreaks are being located are O. I. Godfrey, and Roy Cummings, of Beaver Creek township; O. L. Sexe and Schellhouse Brothers, of Martin township; Wm. Soutar and Ole Gabrielson, of Luverne township; Ole Gysland, F. A. Turner and Rudolph Dirkson, of Magnolia township; Wm. Perkins, of Vienna township; Hoime Bros. of Battle Plain, and the Magnolia consolidated schools.

St. John Lutheran Church was turned into the Land Down Under for its “Zoomerang” Vacation Bible School August 1-4. With the help of 45 volunteers, 74 area children attended and learned what the Bible says about the value of human life. As it turned out to be one of the hottest weeks of the summer, VBS participants felt like they were in Australia. Through games, crafts, music and more, children discovered how precious each and every person is to God. From the tiniest to the oldest, each person is made in the image of God. The VBS theme verse was Psalm 139:14, “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

Marvelous rain this weekend, and I am so very grateful! I’ve been able to water enough to keep my gardens producing quality produce, but that seems such a futile effort considering the size of the gardens coupled with heat … rain changes the whole picture!
It is August, and if you have fern leaf peonies, you’ll notice they are turning yellow because they have finished their growing cycle for the season. That means if you want to divide them or move them to a different location, this is the time to tackle that project.
Dig the entire clump and wash the soil off the tuber mass so you can see what you are doing to separate them. You will notice the pink-colored eyes for next year’s growth on the stem above the tuber, and every division needs at least one but preferably three of those eyes. The tubers tend to grow as a tangled mass, but with the soil washed away they can be separated fairly easily.
When you get to replanting, be sure that eye is within one inch of the soil surface. If planted too deep, they absolutely will not bloom. Also, plant them in an area that gets sun for most of the day.
Last week I encouraged you to cut the spent flower stems out of the re-blooming daylilies.
If you daylilies have not been blooming well, it is because they are not getting enough direct sun or the clumps have become root-bound in which case they need to be divided. Now is a good time to do that. It seems that if they have been left to their own for five to six years or more, the blooming capacity is diminished by at least half.
Dig the entire clump, and using your spade, cut the clump into at least four sections and replant one of those sections back in the same spot. Water well to settle the soil around the root mass and you’re good to go.
Depending on how long they have been ignored, it may take a couple of years for them to regain their best bloom capacity.
August is also the time to divide or move German bearded iris. When you dig the rhizomes, the end with the leaves indicates the direction it will grow. Clean off any dead or dying leaves and cut the remaining leaves to an 8” tall fan. Replant, making sure the rhizome sits at soil level. It cannot be covered with soil. Again, water well to settle soil around the roots.
This summer has been brutal for our annual flowers in pots or hanging baskets. Be faithful with watering and feeding, and as the temperatures moderate, the plants will respond with renewed vigor and give a great show before frost ends the season.

LSS meals at Generations
 
Monday, Aug. 15: Chicken-fried steak with gravy, mashed potatoes with gravy, Italian blend, dinner roll, dessert.
Half-Price Day sponsored by Sanford.
Tuesday, Aug. 16: Ham, baked potato with sour cream, carrots, dinner roll, dessert.
Wednesday, Aug. 17: Tuna pasta salad, tomato wedges, pears, dessert.
Thursday, Aug. 18: Meatloaf, au gratin potatoes, Italian blend, dessert.
Friday, Aug. 19: Turkey and cheese sandwich, lettuce salad with dressing, peaches, cake.
LSS Dining offers well-balanced and affordable meals in a community atmosphere.
Call Lynette Hoiland 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.

Naidine B. Aanenson, 93, Luverne, died Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, at the Sanford Luverne Medical Center.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12, at Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. Burial will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne with a memorial service to follow at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Luverne.
Arrangements are provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, hartquistfuneral.com.
(0811 DN)

June Irene Polzin, 89, Luverne, died peacefully on Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022, while at the Sanford Luverne Medical Center.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, at Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. A memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 12, at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. Burial will follow at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.
June Buckley was born on Feb. 5, 1933, to Alfred and Irene (Abbott) Buckley in Rake, Iowa. She was raised in Forest City, Iowa, where she was baptized in 1942 and confirmed in 1948. June graduated from Forest City High School in 1951. She attended Waldorf College.
On Feb. 12, 1953, June married LaMoyne (Sam) Polzin at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City. The couple resided in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, for two years and then relocated to Mankato in 1955. In 1957 the couple moved to Luverne. June worked at Minnegasco in Luverne for a time and then took a position as deputy auditor with the Rock County Auditor’s office where she remained employed until her retirement. Sam preceded her in death on Nov. 30, 2017. June made her home at the Good Samaritan Society – Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne. At the Mary Jane Brown Home, June enjoyed the caring staff and many of the activities, such as resident council and the newsletter committee.
June was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. She had a lifelong passion for music and was the student choir director at her college choir, taught piano lessons for many years, and participated in countless musical church activities during her life. She was also a member of PEO.
June is survived by her three children, Patti (Jerry) Jondahl of Fargo, North Dakota, Tim (Jackie) Polzin of Rapid City, South Dakota, and Jenny Polzin of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; four grandchildren, Dan (Steph), Lyndsay, Samantha (Paul), and TJ; and two great-grandchildren, Henry and Benjamin.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Sam; her parents; two brothers, Bob and Ray Buckley; and two sisters-in-law.
Arrangements are provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, hartquistfuneral.com.
(0811 F)