Peggy Sternburg, 58, Platte, S.D., died Tuesday, July 24, 2001, at Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell, S.D. She was the mother of Judy Chesley, Luverne.

Services were Friday, July 27, at Olive Presbyterian Church in Platte. Burial was in Platte City Cemetery.

Peggy Brumbaugh was born to Ray and Lucy (Teeslink) Brumbaugh on April 7, 1943, on the family farm north of Platte. She attended rural country school and graduated from Platte High School.

She married Ron Sternburg on Sept. 2, 1962, in Platte. She worked as a cook in several businesses around Platte. She also was a caretaker for the elderly.

Mrs. Sternburg liked playing cards and visiting with her friends at coffee shops.

Survivors include her husband, Ron Sternburg, Platte; one son and daughter-in-law, Rick and Jody Sternburg, Platte; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Ronda and Dan Haushild and Kerri Sternburg, all of Sioux Falls, and Judy and Stephan Chesley, Luverne; five grandchildren, Rachel and Richard Sternburg, Heather, Austin and Levi Haushild; and four sisters, Bertha (Dale) Franssens, Corky Brumbaugh, and Ruth (Marvin) Hiemstra, all of Platte, and Betty (Harry) Luurs, Yankton, S.D.

Mrs. Sternburg was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, Robert, James and Wayne, and two sisters, Edith DeJong and Noma Jean Cummings.

Platte Funeral Chapel, Platte, was in charge of arrangements.

Marcella Louise Untiedt, 91, Luverne, died Monday, Aug. 6, 2001, at Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in Luverne.

Services were Thursday, Aug. 9, at Engebretson Funeral Home in Luverne. The Rev. John Pehrson officiated. Burial was in Ashwood Cemetery, Kanaranzi.

Marcella Untiedt was born to Paul and Emma (Schwager) Untiedt on May 12, 1910, in Kanaranzi. She was a twin though her twin sister, Margaret, lived only a year. She grew up in Kanaranzi and graduated from Magnolia High School in 1928. She made her home with her parents until 1946 when she and her mother moved to Luverne. Her father died in 1941. She had been a part-time employee at the Kanaranzi Post Office, associated with Untiedt General Merchandise Store. After her mother's death in 1952 she lived with her sister and her husband, Harriet and Jack Boelman, until Mr. Boelman died in 1966. In 1994 Harriet and Marcella moved to Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in Luverne.

Miss Untiedt was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Luverne. Though she never married she had a great love for little children, especially her nephew, Jerry Untiedt, who spent a great deal of time at her home during his childhood. She enjoyed doing handwork.

Survivors include one brother and sister-in-law, Lloyd and Rachel Untiedt, Luverne; and several nieces and nephews.

Miss Untiedt was preceded in death by her parents and nine siblings, Henry, Clarence, Elmer, Harriet, Harry, Anna, Margaret, Lucille and Paul.

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

Virgil Marvin Oye, 81, Luverne, formerly of Hardwick, died Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2001, in Sioux Valley Hospital, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Services were Monday, Aug. 6, in Grace Lutheran Church, Luverne. The Rev. Maurice E. Hagen officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

Virgil Oye was born to Carl and Alma (Lorenzen) Oye on Nov. 26, 1919, in Denver Township, Rock County, where he was raised. He attended District 75 country school. Following his education he helped farm on the family farm near Hardwick.

He married Lucille Lauck on Aug. 8, 1941. Following their marriage they lived and farmed near Hardwick. On May 23, 1945, he entered the U.S. Army and was stationed at Ft. Bragg, N.C., and Ft. Benning, Ga., where he served as an instructor at the infantry school. He was honorably discharged with the rank of corporal on Aug. 14, 1946, and returned to Hardwick. He lived and farmed for 50 years on the farm on which he was born. He then did various jobs throughout the area.

In the early 1970s he moved to Westbrook. He married Grace Singsaas. In the mid-1970s he moved to Mankato where he owned and operated a cleaning business. In 1993 he moved to Belle Plaine where he lived until April 2001 when he entered the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in Luverne.

Mr. Oye was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. He was a member of the American Legion Post 478 in Hardwick and the American Legion in Mankato. He also served as a director of the Rock County Fair Association. He enjoyed watching the Minnesota Twins, reading the newspaper, traveling and fishing.

Survivors include five children, Donna (Dale) Stoterau, Manley, Virginia (Sherwood) Peters, Jordan, Bruce (Marilyn) Oye, Hardwick, Rita Shirkey, Worthington, and Burdell (Barbara) Oye, Savage; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; special friend, Grace Singsaas; and several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Oye was preceded in death by his parents, an infant daughter, Rea Jo, one son-in-law, Timothy Shirkey, one grandchild, Jason Peters, one great-grandchild, Cole Pulse, one brother, Orville, and one sister, Evelyn Ladd.

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

By John Rittenhouse
The Rock County Fair was good to area drivers competing in the Enduro Race Saturday night.

Along with producing the event champion, drivers from the Star Herald coverage area captured seven of the top 10 finishing positions during the grandstand attraction.

In the end, Luverne's Nick Mann emerged as the race champion by completing 200 laps before the event's two-hour time limit was reached.

A total of 45 cars started the race and performed in front of a grandstand crowd of 645 people.

In this particular Enduro Race, the winner is the first driver to complete 200 laps, or the driver to complete the most laps in two hours of racing. In Mann’s case, he won the fair title by completing 200 laps.

Local drivers also secured the fourth through ninth positions at race's end.

Luverne entries Travis Van Santen, Joel Elbers and Jarod Rowden placed fourth, sixth and ninth respectively.

Edgerton's Owen Tinklenberg was fifth, Magnolia’s Jason DeBeer placed seventh, and Adrian's Chris Kruger placed eighth.

Rock Rapids, Iowa, driver Gary Dieren and Tea, S.D., entry Scott Voigt placed second and third respectively.

Canton, S.D., driver Jim Larson placed 10th.

By Katrina Vander Kooi
The Rev. Paul Fries, pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church, Luverne, is doing more than preaching this summer. One of his part-time "jobs" is to make films for missions around the world.

Each year he travels to a different country to make a video of a certain mission.

"I give them (congregations) information about what's going on in the missions," Fries said. That information, in turn, is used to promote funding for the missions.

Before Fries was a pastor, this used to be his livelihood. The camera he uses belongs to the church body, and his expenses are paid by the church. Fries volunteers his services. He films and edits the information himself and finds a volunteer to narrate it.

This year, he traveled to the Czech Republic. It was his third time visiting the country to breathe life back into the church.

Filming the mission
Fries filmed a video for a mission in the city of Plzen in the Czech Republic. The mission houses a church and a school. The school currently has about 140 students.

"They've already opened two other schools in surrounding areas," Fries said, remarking on the success of missions.

The school is kindergarten through eighth grade. "There is a self-study high school for the missionary kids," Fries said. The private school is attached to the public school. "The kids even eat in the public school cafeteria," he said.

The building used for the mission was the only building left standing after an air raid attack in World War II. "God must have had a plan for the building," Fries said.

Czech Republic
The Czech Republic has been a democratic nation since it was liberated by the Americans and the Russians in 1989. Before that, it was ruled by communists. "It is one of the wealthier communities in eastern Europe," Fries said. "Communists left them alone."

"I loved the country," Fries said. "People are very friendly." According to Fries, the citizens are very grateful to Americans for liberating their country.

"Each city has their own day when they were released," Fries said. Fries was there to celebrate Plzen's Liberation Day.

"There was a parade and American troops who were stationed in Germany were in the parade," Fries said.
"They also invite American veterans every year."

Differences around the world
The first time Fries went to the Czech Republic was in 1992, a few years after the government changed. "It was real interesting to see changes from then and now," Fries said.

"There are some good things like freedom of the press, but they are also losing some of their traditional culture," Fries said. "There is a lot of U.S. influence in the country."

Even though there is influence from the United States, the culture in the Czech Republic is still different.

"They have very heavy food," Fries said. "There is pork, potato dumplings, sauerkraut, and bread. You never leave a restaurant hungry."

Clothing is similar but not exact. "They have very similar outfits to the United States," Fries said, "but they dress more formal. Blue jeans are frowned upon by middle age or older. They are only meant for working."

The climate is mild compared to Minnesota. "In the winter, they probably get as low as 30s and 40s," Fries said.

Religion is also different in the Czech Republic. During communist rule, church services were few and far between. "People would only be told maybe a day in advance if they could have a church service," Fries said.

Because of this, officially, the Czech Republic is 98 percent atheist. Before communism, it was made up of Catholic, Lutheran, and Hussitism, a form of Protestantism.

"The older generation is less interested in the church, and the young ones are more interested," Fries said. He pointed out how that seemed to be opposite in the United States.

The mission in Plzen is one of the many efforts to breathe life back into the church.

Sightseeing
Fries stayed with missionaries, who showed him around and also took him sightseeing. Even though his guide spoke Czech, Fries wasn't worried about the language barrier. "Most people can speak English," Fries said. "They have it in school."

Fries and his guides visited three other towns in the Czech Republic, Marianske Lazne, Tlucna, and Horni Briza.

Marianske Lazne is a spa town because it has all natural spas. "It was really popular in the 18th and 19th centuries," Fries said. "It's where all the Europeans came for a health resort." Fries said that even today, the government gives citizens health prescriptions to go and stay at the spa.

Fries visits the Czech Republic every two or three years. Next year his trip will either be to Peru or Ukraine

By Sara Quam
Rock County seniors who exemplify the spirit of volunteerism were honored Friday as part of the Rock County Fair.

Of the eight nominees, Victor Hoeck, Hardwick, and Joyce (Kitty) Helgeson, Beaver Creek, were chosen as the most outstanding seniors to represent Rock County at the state fair.

Both Helgeson and Hoeck said they were surprised by their special recognition. Hoeck said, "I was much surprised, didn't think I was worthy of it."

This was the first year Hoeck was nominated and the second year for Helgeson.

Helgeson said, "I thought there were more deserving people than me." She was nominated because of her years of work at the father-son pool tournament in Beaver Creek, her work with hospice and for helping at Palisade Lutheran Church whenever possible.

Joan Chesley nominated Helgeson and said, "She has been very active in the Father-Son Pool Tournament, Beaver Creek Memorial Day programs, Beaver Creek Senior Citizens, Advisory Board for hospice and donated trees to the Luverne Country Club.

"She and [her husband] Gordy were awarded the 1999 Friend of Hospice award for their financial contributions. I consider it a real privilege to nominate Kitty for Rock County's Outstanding Senior Citizen. She has done so much for her community and was of great support to her husband while he was serving his country in World War II."

Hoeck was also recognized for a variety of work. He was nominated by Ryan Limesand, Rock County 4-H and Rock County Agricultural Society, and by Ken Hoime.

Limesand said, "I believe that Victor Hoeck should be selected as the Outstanding Senior Citizen because of all the work he has done with the young people in Rock County through his involvement with the 4-H program. Vic was instrumental in getting my brother and me involved in the sheep program. He always offered advice when it was asked for and offered encouragement when our expectations fell short.

"Vic has demonstrated endless effort at promoting agricultural values in Rock County youth. I truly believe he serves because of his love of kids."

Hoime said, "The kids love him because he always cheers them on when things aren't going so great. He has helped many years with both FFA projects in Luverne and Hills. Wendell Erickson feels Vic deserves recognition for his involvement at Hills.

He spreads himself thin sometimes but loves working with people. "I think it started way back when I was working up at the school as a custodian," Hoeck said.

Since retiring there, he worked at the Beaver Creek rest area helping tourists get information about the area, helps with various charities and has been a fair board member who also keeps the grounds manicured during the summer.

Even so, Hoeck said, "I didn't expect anything like this."

Other nominees
Also nominated for Outstanding Senior was Darlene Anderson, Luverne. She was nominated by Judy Elbers, her daughter, who said, "If you know Darlene personally, you've probably received a greeting card from her. She sends out dozens of birthday, anniversary, get well and sympathy cards. She loves to brighten someone else's day. There isn't a week that goes by that doesn't find her visiting hospitals, nursing homes, or shut-ins. At 83, she still holds coffee klatches and dinner parties in her home."

Anderson is patriotic, never missing a day at the polls and believes in supporting local merchants.

Cornelius Bosch, Steen, was nominated by Steen Senior Citizens. His nomination letter said, "His present activities are backed by a long history of service to others. Above all, he has a compassion and love for all people and their needs. HeÕs always ready to help and thatÕs why we want to nominate him."

Bosch served in the military, on the school board, as a church elder and deacon, was president of senior citizens and is currently vice president. He was a clerk for the city of Steen for 17 years and has been instrumental in getting grants for several projects for Steen such as sewer and water.

Fabian Deutsch, Magnolia, was nominated by Shelly Deutsch and Glenda Schomacker, who said, "Fabian is retired from the bulk gas delivery business. Fabian is serving his second term as mayor of Magnolia. During this time he has worked hard for the community. He donates much of his time for the city. He has gotten started and organized Santa Day in Magnolia. He also is willing to give of his time to work in the park, help residents with any problem they have and do any business items for the city that has to be taken care of.

"I think the most awesome benefit that he has gotten completed for the residents of the city is meals on wheels are now available. Fabian had to go through the different hoops of the state to get this done."

Tillie Clark, Luverne, was nominated by Bernard Morgan. Morgan said of Clark, "Tillie has been a person that works behind the scenes. She feels much better scrubbing a floor than receiving an award. If you need a volunteer, you can be sure she will be there. She gives unselfishly of her time, talent and treasures. Tillie is energetic, cheerful and can motivate others."

Tillie has worked with handicapped people for 18 years, at St. Catherine Church and visits shut-ins.

Alyce McClure, Luverne, is another nominee. She was named by Marian Vance, who said, "Whenever I would ask someone about Alyce, they'd all say she's the greatest - she does a wonderful job and is always willing to help."

McClure's activities include being president of Luverne Senior Citizens, organizing fund-raisers, judging spelling contest, summer camp, craft shows, Bethany Ladies' Aid, church librarian, janitor, member of VFW and American Legion auxiliaries and other activities.

Jake Boomgaarden, Luverne, got a nomination from Joan Chesley. Boomgaarden is known for officiating in five sports for 56 years. Chesley said, "He has devoted his life to the good of his country and community. He served his country in World War II in Europe for three years and has been a member of the VFW since 1944. He has served the VFW in many capacities.

"Sometimes when people retire, they 'retire' from organizations and volunteering, but not Jake."

In addition to the VFW, Boomgaarden is a member of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Cooties, Masons and volunteers at the Minnesota Veterans Home.

By Katrina Vander Kooi
"It's pretty much been a bachelor farm," Harley Christiansen, Beaver Creek, said about his farm. "During the 100 years there has never been a child born on this place," Christiansen said.

This year Christiansen's 159-acre farm, located a couple miles northwest of Beaver Creek, was designated a 2001 Century Farm by the Minnesota State Fair and Minnesota Farm Bureau.

To qualify for the award, families must have had continuous family ownership of a farm at least 100 years and the farm must be at least 50 acres in size.

Christiansen's farm was first bought on Sept. 1, 1900, by his grandfather, John Sandstede. Sandstede lived on the farm from 1900 to 1907, and after he passed on, his wife, Hannah, owned the farm until 1926.

In 1926 it changed hands again to Ida Sandstede, John's sister, and she owned the farm until 1959 when Christiansen bought it. "During the 100 years there have been more mortgages than you could shake a stick at," Christiansen said.

He still lives there today and rents out the farmland. "I have lived there longer than the rest of them and paid more than the rest of them," Christiansen said smiling.

Through 100 years of changes, there are still two historical buildings on the farm. "There were no buildings on the land when my grandfather got here, so he brought buildings over from Beaver Creek," Christiansen said.

The barn and house were moved onto the property. "The house used to be the judge's chamber in Beaver Creek," Christiansen said.

Even though the farm was 100 years old in September 2000, Christiansen couldn't apply for distinction last year. "I couldn't qualify last year because the application had to be in by July, and the farm wouldn't be a century farm until September," Christiansen said.

Besides the aluminum building sign and a commemorative certificate signed by the president of the State Fair and governor of Minnesota, one of Christiansen's relatives built him a large sign out of wood that reads "Century Farm" and it has the dates, Sept. 1, 1900, to Sept. 1, 2000.

Christiansen hopes to keep the farm in the family after he is gone. He is a bachelor, but his sisters have children who could carry on ownership of the family farm.

Under previous LEDA policy, residential blight could be removed with financial support of up to $3,000 from the LEDA only if another home was moved to or built on the same lot.

Tuesday the LEDA decided to change that slightly. The maximum cost is the same, but the LEDA will now pay for half of the demolition costs as a blighted home is removed and pay the other half when another home replaces it. The landowner has two years to replace the home or relinquishes rights to collect the second half.

This will help the city get rid of substantial blight, and landowners have incentive to replace the torn-down home, yet are not required to do so immediately.

The new policy could also be used, Mayor Glen Gust said, in cases where an old home was on a small lot and new zoning regulations make it impossible to fit another home on the property. In these cases, owners would at least get reimbursed partially for the costs of demolition.

Netbriefings
The LEDA gave Gust, LEDA Secretary Matt Hylen and LEDA member Mike Engesser approval to continue developing an agreement with Netbriefings to locate in Luverne.

The LEDA has a new revolving loan fund that it can use to loan the firm $250,000 at a low interest rate.

Netbriefings is an Internet Webcasting services company that announced June 21 it intends to expand in Luverne. The expansion will be in the form of a new customer and product service center if the final deal goes through.

Gary Anderson, CEO of Netbriefings, is the son of Wayne and LaVonne Anderson, rural Luverne.

Netbriefings is working on raising money through local investors and reportedly has about $100,000 with more meetings scheduled this week.

Any LEDA members who want to invest must abstain from voting on the loan.

NxLeveL business class
The LEDA is once again sponsoring NxLeveL, a business class. LEDA Director Tony Chladek was co-teacher last year.

Steve Goedtke taught the class last year with Chladek and will again this year from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays Sept. 4 through Dec. 4.

Registration and payment deadline is Aug. 30 to receive course material on the first night of class, but the class will accept last-minute participants.

Last year, Goedtke said the class included 10 students, and he has already heard from 10 more who are interested this year. He said the class is special because it covers a variety of topics delivered by experts over a 12-week period.

The class is appropriate for people wanting to start a business, better manage or reorganize an existing business, market their business, get financials in order or get funding for the business. As part of the class, students must write a detailed business plan.

Mark and Annie Opitz, owners of Quality Printing, Luverne, had just opened their business when they signed up for the class. Although Mark had management experience, they wanted a better grasp on how to best operate their own company.

Mark said, "It was very valuable. We've never owned a business before and it was definitely full of information."

By Lori Ehde
Members of the Pool Commission agreed Tuesday to a 20-percent hike in membership rates at the Rock County Community Pool and Fitness Center.

Their decision serves as a recommendation to the Rock County Board and Luverne City Council, which will take action on the proposal at a joint meeting scheduled for Tuesday.

The recommendation comes in response to a widening gap between expenses and revenues at the facility, which is subsidized equally by city and county tax dollars.

The facility currently receives more than $61,000 from city taxes and $61,000 from county taxes. That subsidy is expected to be more than $72,000 from each taxing entity next year.

Members of the Pool Commission found themselves in hot water earlier this spring when they approved a 50-percent rate hike to try to close the gap.

That decision, which met with 32 canceled memberships, was rescinded when City Council and County Board members didn't approve it.

Tuesday's action followed figures submitted by pool manager Carol Wessels.

She was asked to estimate the outcome of a 20-percent rate hike.

In a letter to the commission, Wessels said the rate increase would result in canceled memberships and ultimately a greater deficit, and she advised against it.

While many of the Pool Commission members said they felt the estimates bordered on a "worst-case scenario," they decided to recommend the increase and hope for the best.

As part of their recommendation, Pool Commission members also agreed that current members locked into year-long contracts would be notified of the upcoming rate hike and would be given 30 days to opt out of their contracts if they opposed the increase.

Meanwhile, commission members agreed to roll up their sleeves at their next meeting and brainstorm for ideas to increase memberships and raise revenue.