Open House
Angela Vortherms will celebrate her 50th birthday at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at Take 16 in Luverne. Come in your ’50s or ’70s attire! Food with dance to follow. Shhhh! This is a surprise!
 
Card Shower
Ron and Anita Boyenga will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary Thursday, Nov. 18. Greetings can be sent to 1665 31st Street, Ellsworth, MN 56129.
 
Stan and Connie Olson will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary Thursday, Nov. 25. Greetings can be sent to 406 Elizabeth Ave., Apt. 4, Hills, MN 56138.

LSS meals at Generations
Monday, Nov. 22: Salisbury steak with gravy, mashed potatoes, carrots, dinner roll, dessert.
Tuesday, Nov. 23: Beef chili with beans, romaine salad with dressing, corn muffin, blushing pears.
Wednesday, Nov. 24: Baked chicken, au gratin potatoes, broccoli florets, bread, dessert.
Half-Price Day sponsored by Ken and Phyllis Vos
 Thursday, Nov. 25: Happy Thanksgiving—Closed!
Friday, Nov. 26: Closed!
LSS Dining offers well-balanced and affordable meals in a community atmosphere.
Call Lynette Hoiland at 283-9846 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.

The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on Feb. 3, 1905.
Day for Farmers
Important Meeting at Luverne Feb. 11
Three Sessions to be Held
Four Speakers from State Institutions Will Discuss Questions of Interest to Farmers and Stock Breeders—Interesting Program Prepared for the Occasion
All arrangements for the “Farmers’ Day” which, as announced in these columns last week, is to be held in this city under the auspices of the State Farmers’ club on Friday, February 17, have been completed and the assignment of speakers and their topics has been made. The speakers and the subjects on which they will address the meeting are as follows: L. B. Bassett, foreman of the State Experiment Station, on “Rotation of Crops,” E. K. Slater, member of the State Dairy commission, on “Dairying on the Grain Farm,” D. A. Gaunmitz, professor in Animal Industry at the State Agricultural school, on “The Profitable Hogs,” A. K. Bush, who is a former institute lecturer, on “Silo and Corn as Forage Crops.” In addition to the above the following local speakers will give short addresses; C. E. Older, on “Managing Farm Horses;” L. C. Hodgson, on “Rock County Breeders’ Association; “S. B. Nelson, on “Commercial Interests.” The meetings will be held in the Opera house and will be divided into three sessions, the first being at 10 o’clock a.m., the second at 1:30 p.m., and the evening session at 7:30. The committee in charge of the affair is now busy making arrangements for a musical program to be given at each session.
         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 (2011)
•The record price paid for Rock County agricultural land at a public auction jumped to $12,4000 Thursday, Nov. 10, as land owned by Robert Kitchenmaster was offered for sale.
The sale broke the $9,050-per-acre record paid for 160 acres in Mound Township Aug. 24.
Ron Van Ruler was the successful bidder, buying 150 acres of prime farmland three miles east of Hills that had been in the Kitchenmaster family for 70 years.
This is exactly why auctioneer Chuck Sutton told the 50-some bidders, neighbors and onlookers that purchasing land is a chance buyers shouldn’t miss.
“If land sells today, they’ll tell you it won’t be back on the market for 40 or 50 years.”
 
25 years ago (1996)
•Rock County, frozen under several layers of ice, could use a little sunshine.
After nearly a week of gray skies, freezing rain and a dusting of the white stuff, area residents are hoping to see sunshine soon.
According to Cliff Millsapps, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, this is the worst ice storm the area has seen for two decades. “Basically, I’ve been here for 15 years, and this is the worst I’ve seen since I’ve been here,” Millsapps said. “If you talk to the old-timers, they’ll tell you it’s been longer than that.”
Area schools have closed and run late starts since the weather turned ugly Friday. School buses and cars in ditches were good indicators of the wisdom of those cancellations.
 
50 years ago (1971)
•Two hundred dressed turkeys, weighing about 8-10 pounds each, will be given away by Luverne business firms this week in one of the biggest pre-Thanksgiving promotions ever conducted by the Luverne Chamber of Commerce.
Registration will be conducted at 50 Luverne business firms Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Each firm will be giving away from one to 10 birds. Drawing will be held at each individual store or business late Saturday afternoon, winners will be notified.
 
75 years ago (1946)
•D. W. Danforth, Luverne, is the new president of the Rock County Fair Association. He was elected at the annual meeting of the organization’s directors Monday night of this week. He succeeds L. D. Long who has held the position for the past several years.
Officers re-elected were F. F. Michael, vice president; H. R. Cleland, treasurer, and Herbert Moeller, secretary.
It was reported at the meeting that the new grandstand built this year is valued at $9,500. This includes the $1,000 worth of salvage lumber used from the grandstand which blew down in the storm a year ago this past spring.
Despite the fact that no fair was held this year, the debt of the fair association has been reduced from $9,000 to $6,500.
This year, checks issued for prizes to 4-H club members amounted to $247.50. This amount will be returned to the association from state appropriations for this purpose.
 
100 years ago (1921)
•R. P. Chase, state auditor, this week distributed $3,387,129.75, the largest amount of special pubic school aid ever appropriated by a Minnesota legislature. The distribution is in accordance with Chapter 473 of the laws enacted by the last legislature.
The money is in aid of the various public schools and is distributed on certification of the state board of education under provisions of Chapter 467, Laws 1921. Every county in the state is participating, 242 high schools and special departments receiving $1,334,566 while 269 graded schools receive $440,301, consolidated school districts $756,294, and rural schools $855,968.75.

Last week’s weather convinced me that I am finished with my garden for the 2021 season.
I managed to get 225 new tulip bulbs planted in areas where I wanted more early spring color. I used my cell phone camera to make a video of my flower beds early last spring so when I was ready to plant this fall, I knew exactly where the open spaces were. It will be fun to see that effort rewarded next spring.
As our season moves into winter mode, let me remind you to wrap the stems of newly planted trees, particularly smooth bark trees like maples and lindens.
The bark on these trees is very easily damaged by sun scald during the winter. That problem is caused by the sun reflecting off the snow during cold weather and warming the bark enough to allow moisture to “transpire” out of the tissue. The roots cannot replace that moisture because the ground is frozen. The affected bark tissue dries out and dies. In spring, when the tree begins to grow, the dead bark cannot expand to accommodate that growth and it splits open, exposing the heartwood beneath.
This damage always shows up on the south or southwest side of the tree.
Wrapping the trunk with paper tree wrap or spiral tree protectors from the ground up to where the branches start will prevent the problem. This protection is necessary particularly for maples until the bark matures enough to develop furrows.
If you have a tree that has experienced this damage, it is especially important to protect the new bark that is trying to close that wound. The tree has an amazing ability to heal itself but will need your help for a few years to avoid the new bark getting sun scald just as happed before.
Another young tree to protect for winter is a flowering crab or apple tree.  These trees have bark that is a favorite for rabbits when we have a heavy snow cover and their food options are limited. They will strip the bark off the trunk without asking permission. That is called girdling and is a death sentence.
Girdling can also be caused by male deer polishing the velvet off their antlers. Their activity shreds the bark and the result is the same. I prefer the plastic or vinyl spiral tree wraps because they are inexpensive, super easy to put on, and can be reused for many years.

Robert D. Veldkamp, 49, Edgerton, died Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage in Luverne.
Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17, at the Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Edgerton. A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, at the Southwest Christian High School in Edgerton. Interment will be at the Hillside Cemetery in Edgerton.
Arrangements are with the Edgerton Burial Association.
(1118 DN)

Tanya Lynn Fey, 38, rural Woodstock, died Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, as the result of a horse accident on the farm.
A funeral service was at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17, at the Peace United Methodist Church in Pipestone. Interment will be in the Woodstock Cemetery.
Tanya Lynn Fey was born on Aug. 30, 1983, to Alan and Kelly (Kepler) Jones in Pipestone. She was baptized and confirmed at Peace United Methodist Church in Pipestone where she was a member throughout her life. She grew up in Pipestone and had a love for animals. At the age of 10 years old, Tanya started showing horses in 4-H. Tanya graduated from Pipestone High School in 2001 with a 4.0 GPA.
Tanya attended Minnesota West Community and Technical College in Worthington, where she studied to become a medical lab technician. She did her internship at Tyler Health Care Center until 2005 when she went to work at Pipestone County Medical Center.
Tanya married Wyatt Fey on June 9, 2007, at the Peace United Methodist Church in Pipestone. They made their home in rural Woodstock and were blessed with three children. In 2013 Tanya started her own home day care and continued it for seven years before beginning to work at Farm Service Agency in Pipestone on March 1, 2020.
Tanya had a passion for horses. She was involved in the Pipestone 4-H, ranch rodeo and in the Pipestone Saddle Club. Tanya was an avid barrel racer and had countless wins and achievements. She also helped with 4-H horse training, taught kids how to rope and ride, and made beautiful tack for horses and for others. She enjoyed life on the farm whether it was doing chores, branding or cleaning the stalls. Tanya taught her children and friends her love of horses and life. She loved spending time with her family and friends. Tanya was a very proud mother and loved her family.
Tanya is survived by her husband, Wyatt; her children, Josey, Hatty and Wiley; her parents, Alan and Kelly Jones of Pipestone; brother Matt Jones of Flandreau, South Dakota; grandparents Marlis Jones and Judy and Les Hakeneis; parents-in-law Sue and Bernie Uilk; sister-in-law Laisha (Matt) Winter; brothers-in-law Brett Westley, Troy (Jessica) Westley, Brian (Jessica) Uilk, Kevin (Kim) Uilk, Dan (Casey) Uilk, Tony (Chrystine) Uilk, and all of their families; nine nieces and nephews; many aunts and uncles from the Jones and Fey families; her day care family; and many cousins, other family, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Don Jones, Robert Kepler, and Max and Lloyd Bunker; and her father-in-law, Don Fey.
Arrangements were provided by the Hartquist Funeral Home - Pipestone Chapel, hartquistfuneral.com.
(1118 F)

Mary Anderson, 84, Rock Rapids, Iowa, died Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, at Rock Rapids Health Centre in Rock Rapids.
Funeral service is at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids. Burial is at Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids. Visitation is one hour prior to the funeral service.
Mary Peterson was born July 8, 1937, in Rock Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Bernice (Brown) Peterson. She attended country school in Lyon County, Iowa. She then graduated from Rock Rapids High School in 1956.
Mary married John Anderson in Luverne on June 8, 1956. They lived on the Anderson family farm for a short time and moved to Sibley, Iowa. Mary went back to school and obtained her nursing certificate. They moved back to Rock Rapids and Mary began working at Restmore Nursing Home until she became ill with tuberculosis. She spent a year hospitalized while recovering. She then worked at Super Valu Grocery until it was sold many years later. She kept the books for John’s Plumbing & Heating and did various other jobs such as Casey’s Pizza and Hope Haven. She also cleaned for Alta Stobener for many years.
Mary and John enjoyed square dancing and were involved with the square dancing club.  Mary enjoyed baking, cleaning, crocheting, knitting, sewing and helping others whenever she could. Mary also enjoyed collecting things like Precious Moments, Beanie Babies, Boyds Bears and chickens.
Mary was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, active with the funeral committees, QuarterLion’s Club Luncheons and circle.
When Alzheimer’s struck, she lived at Lyon Manor, Keelson Harbor before entering Rock Rapids Health Centre.
She is survived by her children, Rhonda (Lyle) Olson of Steen and Tamara (Mark) Dillingham of Spirit Lake, Iowa; eight grandchildren, Jeremy (Stacy) Olson and their children, Ashley (Eric) Tieszen, Jakob, Rylee and Carly, Erika (Brad) Thedens and their children, Clay, Zack and Zoe, Hailey Olson, Heather Anderson and her children, Devin and Ryan, Meghan (Dave) Sierck and their children, Dawson and Gabrielle, Rachel Anderson, Landon Dillingham and Dylan (Danika) Anderson;  a great-great granddaughter, Oaklee Tieszen; brother, Marvin Peterson of Rock Rapids; sister-in-law Lillian Peterson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John Anderson; son Randy Anderson; three sisters, Inez Korthals, Audrey Timmerman and Alice Buss; and brothers Alvin and Lee Peterson.
Arrangements are provided by Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids, www.jurrensfuneralhome.com.
(1111 F)

Gerald Allen Wikstrom, 85, Coon Rapids, died Friday, Nov. 12, 2021.
A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, at Gearhart Funeral Home (11275 Foley Blvd. NW., Coon Rapids) Visitation will start at 11 a.m. Interment with military honors will be at Morningside Memorial Gardens.
Gerald Wikstrom was born on March 11, 1936, to Julius and Evelyn Wikstrom.
He served in the Army and Army reserves from 1953 until his honorable discharge in 1961.
In 1954 he married Barbara Ann Crocker in Massachusetts and returned to Minnesota, landing first in Minneapolis and later moving his family to Coon Rapids. He worked at Durke Atwood in Redwing for many years and retired in 2002.
He was treasured by family and friends and will be missed by all. His family was very important to him and this was shown by all the “kids” who were “adopted” into the family.
He is survived by his daughters, Evelyn (Danny) Kephart of Luverne, Deanna Gutzmer of Coon Rapids, and Lynn Marie Wikstrom of Madison, South Dakota; son Jerry (Nan) Wikstrom of Blaine; son-in-law Alan VonBehrens; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Julius and Evelyn Wikstrom; six brothers; his wife, Barbara, in 2002; son Bobby in 1965; daughter Patricia Avey in 2014; and daughter Debra VonBehrens in 2021.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to his family.
Arrangements are provided by Gearhart Funeral Home of Coon Rapids, www.GearhartFuneralHome.com.
 (1118 F)