Norman A. Aanenson, 81, Luverne, died Friday, March 7, 2003, at Luverne Community Hospital.

Services were Tuesday, March 11, at Grace Lutheran Church. The Revs. Maurice E. Hagen and Dell B. Sanderson officiated.

Norman Aanenson was born to Ole and Otelia (Olson) Aanenson on Oct. 30, 1921, in Luverne. He attended school in Magnolia. At the age of 13 he went to live with his oldest sister, Thelma, where he helped on the farm near Magnolia. When he was 18 he began working at Christenson Trucking in Kanaranzi.

He married Ellen M. Aanenson on Feb. 14, 1948, in Luverne. After their marriage, they farmed near Ellsworth. They moved to the Currie farm northwest of Kanaranzi in 1949. They retired and moved to Luverne in 1985.

Mr. Aanenson was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. He enjoyed farming and took great pride in his farm and livestock.

Survivors include his wife, Ellen Aanenson, Luverne; five children and their spouses, Jane (Jim) Nelson, Magnolia, Jean (Neil) Hoven, Luverne, Bob (Kaylene) Aanenson, Cokato, Sharlene Tutsch and her friend, Wayne Hillestad, Brookings, S.D., and Marlene (Tom) Kopp, Luverne; 11 grandchildren, Chad, Corey and Susan Nelson, Perry, Staci and Stephani Hoven, Jade and Lyndsay Aanenson, Jonathon Tutsch, and Matthew and Melissa Kopp; two great-grandchildren, Taylor and Jaxon Nelson, two brothers, Gordie (Gloria) Aanenson, Kanaranzi, and Howard (Lavanelle) Aanenson, Pipestone; and five sisters, Alfie Brandenburg, Alma Ellsworth, both of Hills, Monie (Bill) Skidmore, Anoka, Orla (Bill) Powell, Virginia, and Joann (Gary) Barmore, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Mr. Aanenson was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Orville Aanenson, three sisters, Thelma Bonnett, Olga Brandenburg and Norma Zimmerman, and an infant sister.

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

Etta Plucker, 93, Luverne, formerly of Adrian, died Sunday, March 9, 2003, at Luverne Community Hospital.

Services were Wednesday, March 12, at Engebretson Funeral Chapel in Luverne. The Revs. Gordon Johnson and John Strunk officiated. Burial was at Ebenezer State Line Cemetery near Ellsworth.

Etta Klosterbuer was born to Rudolf and Lena (Ubben) Klosterbuer on June 7, 1909, in Kanaranzi Township, Rock County. She attended country school through the eighth grade.

She married Albert W. Plucker on March 3, 1936, in Sioux Falls, S.D. The couple farmed in various places and last lived in Magnolia before moving to Adrian in 1971. She was a homemaker. Mr. Plucker died on Aug. 17, 1975. She moved to Luverne in 1997 and then to Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in 2001.

Mrs. Plucker was a member of United Methodist Church in Adrian. She enjoyed sewing and crocheting. She was also an avid gardener and enjoyed canning.

Survivors include two sisters-in-law, Mildred Klosterbuer, Luverne, and Bertha Plucker, Sioux Falls; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, great-nieces and great- nephews.

Mrs. Plucker was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Albert, five brothers, Henry, Onno, Walter, John, an infant brother, also named Walter, and one sister, Grace Moeller.

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

Mary E. McPherson, 90, Luverne, died Wednesday, March 5, 2003, at Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in Luverne.

Services were Saturday, March 8, at United Methodist Church in Luverne. The Rev. Bart Fletcher officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

Mary Nelson was born to Victor and Nellie (Weldy) Nelson on May 12, 1912, in Hamlin, Iowa. She received her education in rural Audubon County, Iowa, and graduated from Audubon High School in 1931.

She married Oliver McPherson on Oct. 17, 1941, in Des Moines, Iowa. She worked at the Ankeny Ordinance Plant in Ankeny, Iowa, during World War II. Later, she worked in the diet department at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. The family moved to Pipestone in 1960 and to Luverne in 1968.

Mrs. McPherson was a member of United Methodist Church in Luverne, the Luverne Ladies Legion Auxiliary and Luverne VFW.

Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Ruth and Anthony Spera, Staten Island, N.Y.; one grandson, Michael (Joey Lynn) Spera, Middletown, N.J.; one granddaughter, Donna (Michael) Mazzarisi, Boca Raton Fla.; two great-grandchildren, Lauren Mazzarisi and Casey Spera.

Mrs. McPherson was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Oliver, in September 1993, and one sister, Mildred Keith.

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

Alice J. Heffele, 75, Adrian, died Saturday, March 8, 2003, at her daughter’s home in Randolph, Neb.
Services were Tuesday, March 11, at St. Adrian Catholic Church in Adrian. The Rev. Gerald Kosse officiated. Burial was in the Parish Cemetery.

Alice Johannes was born to Jake P. and Mary (Seivert) Johannes on Jan. 3, 1928, in rural Ashton, Iowa. She graduated from St. Joseph’s School in Ashton. She later attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

She married Alban Heffele on Sept. 24, 1946, in Ashton. After their marriage, the couple lived in Adrian. She did bookkeeping for Becker Lumber Co., Adrian Lumber Co., and Ellsworth Lumber Mart. She also worked 26 years at Adrian Co-op Oil. She and her husband also owned and operated Adrian Variety from 1960 to 1980.

Mrs. Heffele was a member of St. Adrian Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters of America, the Council of Catholic Women and Christian Mothers.

Survivors include three children and their spouses, Mary Jo (James) Kilburn, Randolph, James Heffele, Oaks, N.D., and Ann (Steve) Schiedel, Yankton, S.D.; three grandchildren, Jeremy Kilburn, Julie (Josh) Schreiber and Jennifer Kilburn; one great-grandchild, Joelie Schreiber; one brother, Laurence (Joan) Johannes, Sibley, Iowa; and three sisters, Zita Thiele, Sibley, Iowa, Helen Swanson, Minneapolis, and Rosemary Seivert, Sheldon, Iowa.

Mrs. Heffele was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Alban, in 2002, two brothers, Martin and John Johannes, and two sisters, Viola Trei and Laura Jungers.

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

Frank Dieren, 91, Rock Rapids, formerly of Steen, died Tuesday, March 4, 2003, at Lyon Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rock Rapids.

Services were Saturday, March 8, at Peace Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids. The Rev. George Clausen officiated. Burial was in Riverview Cemetery, Rock Rapids.

Frank Xavier Dieren was born to Theophiel and Marie (Oosterlynck) Van Dierendonck on Aug. 11, 1911, at Heyst Aan Zee, Belgium. At the age of seven, he came to the United States. He and his family arrived in New York on July 4, 1920, and had to wait until July 5 to pass through Ellis Island to enter the U.S. As a young boy, he came to northwest Iowa where he was raised and educated.

He married Alma Winter on Aug. 23, 1936, at Sioux Falls, S.D. Following their marriage, they farmed at Lester, Iowa, and Larchwood, Iowa, before retiring to a farm near Steen. Mrs. Dieren died on March 16, 1991. He moved to Rosewood Heights at Rock Rapids in the fall of 1991. He moved to Premier Estates Assisted Living at Rock Rapids in 2001. He moved to Lyon Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rock Rapids on March 19, 2002.

Mr. Dieren was an active member of Peace Lutheran Church where he served as a trustee for many years. He and his wife enjoyed traveling to many parts of the country. One of his true passions was music, especially playing the harmonica. He had more than 70 harmonicas and gave many of them away over the years. He also liked playing the piano and accordion.

Survivors include four sons, Laurence (Darlene) Dieren, Millersville, Md., Dean Dieren International Falls, Gary (Kathleen) Dieren, Rock Rapids, and David (Kay) Dieren, Brandon, S.D., two daughters, Sheri (Gary) Radtke, Littleton, Colo., and Lana (Ernie) Pink, Apache Junction, Ariz.; 18 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and one sister-in-law, Catherine Van Dierendonck, Sioux Falls.

Mr. Dieren was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Alma Dieren, two brothers, Paul Dieren and Louis Van Dierendonck, and two sisters, Emily Van Dierendonck and Elsie Van DeVoorde.

Roste Funeral Home, Rock Rapids, was in charge of arrangements.

Ellsworth junior Curt Schilling (11) weaves his way through a trio of Adrian defenders including Kyle Knips (33) and Brett Block (bottom, left) during the second half of Thursday’s South Section 3A Boys’ Basketball Tournament game in Worthington. Ellsworth defeated the Dragons 70-56 to earn a berth in the event’s championship game for the second straight year.

By John Rittenhouse
A rematch of last season’s South Section 3A Boys’ Basketball Tournament championship emerged out of Thursday’s semifinal-round games in Worthington.

Top-seeded Ellsworth earned its second consecutive berth in the title tilt by besting Adrian 70-56 in a physical battle between a pair of teams representing the Star Herald coverage area.

When third-seeded Southwest Christian beat Edgerton 67-49 in Thursday’s second semifinal game, the rematch of last year’s championship game was on.

Look for the game story of Ellsworth’s clash with SWC at Southwest State University in Marshall on the front page of the sports section.

Adrian, the tournament’s fifth seed, gave the Panthers a run for their money during Thursday’s battle in Worthington.

The Dragons stunned EHS by opening a pair of 10-point leads in the final stages of the first quarter, but Ellsworth met the challenge by outscoring Adrian 56-32 in the final three periods to prevail by 14 points.

The win upped Ellsworth’s season record to 25-2 heading into the championship game. Adrian’s 15-9 campaign came to an end.

With Pete Hohn, Brandon Wolf and Casey Knips scoring six points each to lead the way, Adrian shocked the fans in the packed WHS gym by rolling to a 24-14 lead in the first quarter.

Ellsworth led 6-4 when Adrian put together an 18-6 run capped by a pair of free throws from Wolf with 36.4 seconds remaining in the period to give the Dragons a 22-12 lead.

Both teams scored two points in the final 30 seconds of the stanza.

The game’s momentum favored Adrian heading into the second period, but that changed quickly as senior guard Dylan Kvaale scored eight points to help the Panthers gain a 31-30 halftime lead with a 17-6 scoring cushion in the quarter.

Ellsworth blanked the Dragons for the first 4:38 of the second stanza while putting together a 13-0 run capped by a layup from Kvaale at the 4:13 mark of the quarter to give the Panthers a 27-24 lead.

Kyle Knips recorded Adrian’s first points of the period with a field goal with 3:22 remaining to make it a 27-26 game. Each team scored five points before the first half was complete.

Dragon Dusty Spieker gave his team a 32-31 edge with an early basket in the third quarter, but that proved to be the last time AHS would sport a lead in the game.

Curt Schilling, who scored 21 of his game-high 31 points in the second half, hit a pair of field goals to put the Panthers in front to stay.

Adrian did battle back to tie the game at 37 and 39 as the period progressed, but the Panthers ended the period with an 8-2 run capped by a three-point play from Schilling with 51 seconds left to give EHS a 47-41 advantage.

The Dragons were unable to close the gap in the early stages of the fourth quarter, and Ellsworth led 57-45 when Schilling converted a field goal with 2:38 left to play.

Adrian trimmed the difference to eight points three times late in the period, but Ellsworth met the challenge each time before winning the game by 14 points in the end.

Along with scoring 31 points, Schilling pulled down 10 rebounds, passed for six assists and blocked two shots for the winners.

Kvaale scored 15 points, grabbed eight rebounds and charted seven assists, while Brant Deutsch added 14 points and nine rebounds to the winning cause. Travis Jenniges recorded four steals and four assists for EHS.

Wolf scored a team-high 13 points and passed for five assists during a solid performance for Adrian.

Casey Knips scored 12 points, collected eight rebounds and blocked three shots for the Dragons, while Pete Hohn added 10 points and five rebounds. Brett Block charted six assists for AHS.

Box score
Adrian
Hohn 1 2 2-2 10, Wolf 4 1 2-2 13, Henning 1 0 0-0 2, Klingenberg 0 0 0-0 0, Spieker 1 0 0-0 2, Block 3 1 0-0 9, K.Knips 2 0 0-0 4, Brake 2 0 0-2 4, C.Knips 6 0 0-0 12.
Ellsworth
Schilling 11 0 9-9 31, Jenniges 3 0 2-2 8, Janssen 0 0 0-0 0, Kvaale 5 1 2-2 15, Deutsch 4 1 3-5 14, Brommer 1 0 0-0 2.

Team statistics
Adrian: 24 of 58 field goals (41 percent), four of six free throws (67 percent), 25 rebounds, 11 turnovers.
Ellsworth: 26 of 62 field goals (42 percent), 16 of 18 free throws (89 percent), 30 rebounds, 12 turnovers.

Luverne’s Erika Egdorf poses for this picture with her custom-made skates, some of her skating medals and the Team USA jacket she wore during the 2001 Special Olympic World Games in Anchorage, Alaska. Egdorf will perform a solo number and with the Junior Synchronized Skating Team during the Blue Mound Figure Skating Club’s annual Ice Show at the Blue Mound Ice Arena Saturday.

By John Rittenhouse
Many of the approximately 130 skaters participating in Saturday’s 12th annual Ice Show have been through the routine before.

They started practice in late October to prepare for different skating events the club participates in around the Twin Cities area from November through March.

When February rolls around, the local skaters switch their focus to the Blue Mound Figure Skating Club’s annual program, which serves as the grand finale to the club’s winter season.

There will, however, be at least one skater making her first appearance in BMFSC’s Ice Show, "Skating Through TV-Land."

Erika Egdorf, 23, will perform a solo number along with taking the ice with the Junior Synchronized Skating Team.

It will be the first time Egdorf has performed at the Blue Mound Ice Arena, and she’s looking forward to the opportunity to entertain a local crowd.

"I’m excited about the show," Egdorf said. "Today (Monday) is my last day of practice before the show, and I like to skate. I just like everything about skating."

Egdorf shares the same passion for the sport as many skaters in the club, but she is a unique member.

With Downs Syndrome, she will be the first skater with the disability to participate in the annual Ice Show.

"She skates very well," said Mary Tilstra, director of the BMFSC. "Erika will show more than just the basic skills in our show. She skates with our JSST, and she does her own program with jumps and spins."

"She does well," added Jolene Henning, a coach for the BMFSC. "She takes lessons at the Freestyle 2 level, and she’s always smiling. She really hams it up on the ice."

Egdorf is an experienced skater with a successful background in the sport.

Erika’s mother, Signe Underwood, a nurse at the Worthington Hospital who moved to Luverne with her daughter in September, said Egdorf has been skating for 10 years.

Egdorf took up skating while in school in Wenatchee, Wash., where she eventually joined a club much like Luverne’s BMFSC.

When she won a Gold Medal at the Minnesota 2003 Special Olympic Winter Games in Chaska for her performance Feb. 28, it was Egdorf’s latest of many triumphs on the ice.

"Erika has won many, many, many medals," said Underwood, who was born and raised in Worthington. "She absolutely loves skating, and she has won medals every year since she started skating 10 years ago. She has competed against non-disabled kids and has taken home first-place trophies."

While past success has fueled Egdorf’s passion for skating, Underwood feels the sport has helped her daughter overcome insecurities that can limit people with Downs Syndrome.

"A person with Downs Syndrome can have a wide range of disabilities. Erika’s is considered to be mild. She’s very high functioning, and she lives with two other girls in their own apartment. They do have a helper who comes in to check on them, but they live independently," Underwood said.

"Skating has been a big part of her life, and it has helped her tremendously. Skating has absolutely transformed her personality and confidence over the years."

Skating will be a big part of her future, too.

Egdorf received a taste of national competition when she skated at the Special Olympic 2001 Winter World Games in Anchorage, Alaska, placing fifth at the event.

Next year will be a qualifying year for the 2005 Games in Nagano, Japan.

"That’s the one we’ll be working on next," Underwood said.

By John Rittenhouse
Three members of the Blue Mound Figure Skating Club won event titles at the Blades of March competition staged at the Parade Ice Garden in Minneapolis Friday and Saturday.

Stacy Burmeister, Katie Dooyema and Shelby Kingery, three of BMFSC members to compete individually in Mineapolis, secured event titles.

Burmeister, an entry in the Freestyle 5 division, took top honors in compulsory and the couples spotlight high event with teammate Katie Dooyema.

Burmeister also placed second in free style program, third in footwork program and fourth in jump and spin with teammate Dooyema.

Along with the places she earned with Burmeister, Dooyema won the freestyle program in the Freestyle 4 division.

Dooyema also placed second in compulsory and third in character spotlight.

Kingery, a Pre-Alpha entry, finished first in stroking competition. She also placed fourth in light entertainment spotlight.

As well as individual entries, the BMFSC was represented by Silver Spirit Senior Synchronized Skating Team in the teen division, and the Freestyle 5 Team Compulsories.

Sarah Ailts, Marissa Biever, Callen Bosshart, Morgan Bosshart, Burmeister, Dooyema, Valerie Eitreim, Krissy Eitreim, Sandy Gertz, Jamie Hamilton, Sabrina Kingery, Kim Rockman, Lindsay Rust, Jessica Willers, Nicole Willers and Gina Wolf placed fourth in the synchronized team event.

Ailts, Biever, Burmeister, Dooyema, Krissy Eitreim and Nicole Willers placed sixth in the team compulsories.
Here is a look at the rest of the individual performances turned in by BMFSC members at last weekend’s competition.

Freestyle 6
Val Eitreim, fifth in compulsory and freestyle program.
Sabrina Kingery, third in footwork, and fifth in compulsory and freestyle program.

Freestyle 5
Krissy Eitreim, second in compulsory, third in dramatic spotlight and sixth in freestyle program.
Nicole Willers, fifth in free style program, sixth in footwork program and light entertainment spotlight program.

Freestyle 4
Kim Rockman, second in compulsory and fifth in freestyle program.
Jessica Willers, second in light entertainment spotlight program and fifth in compulsory.
Marissa Biever, third in free style program, fourth in footwork program, fifth in dramatic spotlight program, sixth in compulsory.
Sarah Ailts, fourth in spotlight light entertainment.
Alicia Kuhle, third in compulsory and fourth in freestyle program.

Freestyle 1
Gretchen Schneekloth, second in footwork program and couples spotlight with Brianna McCarthy, third in character spotlight program, fourth in freestyle program, fifth place compulsory and fifth in jump and spin with McCarthy.

Delta
Brianna McCarthy, second in couples spotlight low program with Gretchen Schneekloth, fourth in light entertainment spotlight program, fifth in jump and spin with Schneekloth.

Alpha
Tommy McCarthy, third in light entertainment spotlight program.
Katelyn Breen, second in program.

The Senior Synchronized Skating Team will perform during Saturday’s Blue Mound Figure Skating Club’s Ice Show at the Blue Mound Ice Arena. Team members are (front) Sabrina Kingery, (Row 2, from left) Stacy Burmeister, Katie Dooyema, Jamie Hamilton, Nicole Willers, (Row 3) Val Eitreim, Callen Bosshart, Krissy Eitreim, Marissa Biever, Morgan Bosshart, (Row 4) Jessica Willers, Lindsay Rust, Kim Rockman, Sarah Ailts, Sandy Gertz and Gina Wolf.

By John Rittenhouse
What has become a March ritual will resurface at the Blue Mound Ice Arena in Luverne Saturday.

The Blue Mound Figure Skating Club will present its 12th annual Ice Show at 1:30 and 7 p.m.

According to Jolene Henning, one of the club’s instructors, this year’s program is called "Skating Through TV-Land."

Henning estimates there will be nearly 125 different skaters participating in the show, which consists of 35 different numbers.

The Blue Mound Figure Skating Club begins its season in October, and some of the skaters perform at different competitions starting in November and ending in March.

Club members, who range in age from 5 to 18, begin their preparation for Skating Through TV-Land in February.

They hail from towns representing the surrounding tri-state region.

Minnesota members come from Luverne, Adrian, Hills, Beaver Creek, Ellsworth, Magnolia, Hardwick, Lismore, Worthington, Reading and Edgerton. South Dakota club members come from Garretson, Valley Springs, Brandon, Humboldt, Hartford and Sioux Falls. Skaters from Rock Rapids represent Iowa.

Club members skate in 16 different groups, which are based on the skill level of the individuals. Each group performs one number during the show. Local skaters will perform five solo numbers and four duets.

Other fan favorites in past years, a father-daughter number and a number featuring hockey players and BMFSC members, will be a part of the show. The Senior and Junior Synchronized Skating Teams also will perform.

As in past years, the Ice Show has attracted a Special Guest Skater.

Ashley Pralutsky, a junior at Fridley High School, will appear in Saturday’s shows.

Pralutsky, who has been skating since age 3, skates at the Freestyle 8 level. She will perform two numbers for each show.

Tickets for the show can be purchased at the door. Prices are $6 for adults and $3 for students between the ages of 3-18.