10 years ago (2011)
•A 9-foot grand piano will permanently grace the stage of Luverne’s Palace Theatre, compliments of Gary and Janine Papik.
Janine Papik said the piano’s history began in the old Luverne High School building sometime in the 1920s or 1930s where it stood on the stage in the school’s theatre and was featured in the school’s music programs.
When the high school building was remodeled into an elementary school in the 1960s, the grand piano was stood on end and placed in storage.
It was rediscovered by high school music instructor Tom Haugen who bought it and moved it to his home.
When Haugen left Luverne in 1971, Bonnie and Harold Jordahl bought the piano for their daughter, Janine (Papik), as a wedding gift.
Papik said the piano stayed in the Jordahl home at 211 West Dodge until it was donated to the Papik Motors car dealership, where it stood in the showroom until January.
Papik said, “It was probably the only car dealership in the country with a grand piano.”
A few months ago, salesmen at the car dealership noticed a wobbly leg on the piano and worried the piano could fall and hurt someone or be ruined.
Gary decided the piano should be refurbished and donated for community use.
Janine said, “You can’t just repair a leg on a piano like this. The more you look, the more repairs it needs.” To say the piano has been refurbished would be an understatement.
It’s been undergoing a complete transformation at Bob’s Piano in Sioux Falls, where thousands of parts have been cleaned, repaired and replaced.
At 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, the piano will make its debut during “A Grand Celebration of Music” at the Palace Theatre.
Papik said part of the motivation behind donating their grand piano to the Palace was to help reduce piano rental costs.
 
25 years ago (1996)
•City boundaries may extend farther west to include IBP. The push behind annexation is the company’s need for extra wastewater treatment. The plant used a temporary line to the city treatment plant during spring 1996.
To connect to the city’s wastewater system, the plant must be part of the city, according to city policy. The plant already purchases city power and water. …
Under the current proposals, IBP would pay for installing the line and the city would maintain it with the understanding it could tap into the line and use it for future expansion in the area.
IBP’s wastewater treatment system uses four lagoons before direct discharge to the Rock River and irrigation.
 
50 years ago (1971)
•Robert Artley’s cartoon, “The setting may be different – but the mood is the same,” was singled out by the Minnesota Education Association for a merit award in the 10th annual Minnesota School Bell Awards competition.
The cartoon, drawn by the Star-Herald’s staff cartoonist, was published in the Sept. 2, 1970 issue.
The award was one of 21 given by the MEA this year. It was one of three entries in all categories which were accorded honors in the Southwest district of the MEA.
 
75 years ago (1946)
•Cedric Adams has consented to return to Magnolia for its school carnival again this year.
Superintendent Brynelson announced Monday that arrangements have been made to hold the carnival and program either the night of November 6 or November 14, and that Adams, who claims Magnolia as his home town, has consented to present his night news broadcast from the stage of the high school auditorium. The exact date, however, will be announced as soon as arrangements have been completed.
 
100 years ago (1921)
•Under a new ruling by the postoffice department  at Washington, all patrons of rural mail delivery routes must, on or before November 1st, have their mail boxes erected on the ride side of the road, according to the direction from which the mail carrier arrives. …
The order further specifies that patrons must place the boxes so that the carriers can reach them without driving over ditches, or through places where there is danger of their vehicles becoming mired or lodged in wet weather. …
All mail boxes must have lids on them so they can be closed easily in order to protect the mail matter against inclement weather, the order provides. Failure to comply with these requirements lays the patroon liable to discontinuance of mail delivery service.

Charlotte E. Kuechenmeister, age 94, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, at Good Samaritan –Luther Manor in Sioux Falls.
Her funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 16, 2021, at Hope Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, with graveside services to follow at Hills of Rest Cemetery, Sioux Falls. Visitation will be on Friday, October 15, 2021, at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory, Sioux Falls, from 5:00-7:00 PM. Visit www.georgeboom.com for an online guest book and a link to live stream the funeral.
Charlotte Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Harry Smith and Margaret (Dohlmann) Smith, was born on June 17, 1927, in Steen (Rock County), Minnesota. She grew up farming with her family and attended country school.
She was united in marriage to Orville Kuechenmeister on September 8, 1949, at Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick, Minnesota.  Her daughters remember her saying they were the first couple married in the newly built church.  After they were married, they made their home in Sioux Falls, where Orville worked as a laborer and Charlotte spent most of their married life as a homemaker. They were blessed with three daughters, Alvina, Debra and Gail. In later years she held jobs at Harold's Photography and in the housekeeping departments of both McKennan and Sioux Valley hospitals.  
At the age of 80 she sold her house in Sioux Falls and moved to a townhome in Brandon, South Dakota. In 2019 she returned to Sioux Falls to live at Luther Manor.
Charlotte enjoyed crocheting and embroidery and inspired in her daughters a passion for the same. Through the years she loved having rummage sales where she also sold her doilies and homemade banana bread. Someone told her once that she was known as “the doily lady on 26th Street.” She always had her radio tuned to KXRB listening to her favorite disc jockeys and old time country music. And she never missed watching episodes of "Polka Time" on PBS.
Grateful for sharing her life are her daughters, Alvina Knode and her husband, Stan, of Sioux Falls, Debra Tangeman of Sioux Falls, and Gail Boever and her husband, Kevin, of Sioux Falls; her granddaughter, Beth Regener and her husband, Scott, of Mantorville, Minnesota; great-grandchildren Ben and Joel Regener; sister Margaret Swenson and her husband, Robert, of Luverne, Minnesota; brother Harry Smith and his wife, Carol, of Slayton, Minnesota; many nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Charlotte was preceded in death by her husband, Orville Kuechenmeister; her parents, Harry and Margaret (Dohlmann) Smith; sister Ann Hoven; and her son-in-law, Kenny Tangeman.  
The family would like to express a special thank you to the wonderful staff of Luther Manor nursing home for the loving care they provided to Charlotte, especially during this time of COVID.

Joyce Elizabeth Sandbo, 79, Luverne, died Sunday, Oct. 13, 2021.
A celebration to remember Joyce’s life will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, at The Lake in Luverne. A private burial will be at a later date.
Joyce Sarvela was born March 7, 1942, to Theodore and Henrietta Sarvela.
Following high school graduation in Barnum, Joyce married Jerry Peterson. Together they had three daughters, Sharon, Donna, and Lisa.
In 1994 Joyce married Kim (Sam) Sandbo in Luverne, where they made their home.
Joyce is survived by her children, Sharon Engen (Ken Lade), East Bethel, Donna Peterson (Larry Rix), Lake View, Iowa, and Lisa Hieronimus (Dan Probst), Adrian; her grandchildren, Matthew, Stephanie, Eric, Marc, Ethan, Kyle, Houston and Cole; her great-grandchildren, Austin, Tanner, Brayden, Connor, Mya, Clayton James, Haidyn, Josie and Anessa; and her siblings, Darlene, Linda, Dorothy, Wally and Bonnie.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings Georgieann and Kenneth; and a great-grandson, Cayden.
Arrangements are provided by Dingmann Funeral Home in Luverne, dingmannandsons.com.
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John Allen “Jack” Anderson, 83, Nevis, died at home on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov, 6, at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Park Rapids. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.
John was born on July 13, 1938, to Elmer and Darlene (Moon) Anderson in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He grew up and attended country school near Steen and then in Hills, where he graduated from high school in 1956.  He attended college at Augsburg where he earned his education degree in 1960.
He married Doris Hengeveld on June 19, 1959, in Hills. He taught biology and physical education and coached at Atwater Schools for two years. He then took a position at Willmar Junior High School for 30 years, serving mostly as the school principal. He later worked at the Prairie Lakes Detention Center in Willmar prior to his retirement. In 2003 the couple moved to Lake Belle Taine near Nevis, where they have resided since.
Jack was a member of the Calvary Lutheran Church in Park Rapids. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling, reading and nature. He had a lifelong love of nature and could name just about any bird he saw. He loved to read the daily newspaper. His greatest joy was time spent with family. He loved to cook as well. He and Doris enjoyed wintering in Rockport, Texas.
He is survived by his wife, Doris Anderson, of Nevis; son John Anderson of Eden Prairie; two daughters, Laura (Todd) Erickson of Milwaukie, Oregon, and Christine (Arthur Curren) of St. Anthony Village; two sisters, Judy (Melvin) Elbers of Round Rock, Texas, and Victoria Troop of Homer, Alaska; his grandchildren, Dylan (Ashlee) Erickson, Noah Erickson, Chloe Erickson, Liam Erickson and Hayes Anderson Unze; his sister-in-law, Bonnie Hengeveld of Sioux Falls; and his brother- and sister-in-law Les and Linda Hengeveld of Valley Springs, South Dakota.
He was preceded in death by his parents and many aunts and uncles.
Arrangements are provided by Cease Family Funeral Home of Park Rapids, ceasefuneralhome.com
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DFL volunteers gathered on Saturday, Oct. 16, to complete a local Adopt-a-Highway service project. Pictured are Barb Antoine in front, (middle, from left) Carol McDonald, Carol Serie, Suanne Ohme, Lona Klosterbuer, Shirley Klosterbuer, Rhonna Jarchow, Pam Hommen, (back) Al Stoakes, Keith Erickson, Greg Antoine, Larry Nelson, Rich Morgan and Dave Svingen. Not pictured is Carol Svingen.

Former school principal Jim Harner celebrated his 50th year as a member of the Luverne Rotary club on Tuesday, Oct. 19. He joins two other 50-year members who have attained Rotary’s golden anniversary status: Walter Tofteland and George McDonald.
Jim was proposed for membership by the late postmaster Arlo Bierkamp in 1971 and became a member of the club on Oct. 16, 1971.
Jim hails from Kossuth County, Iowa, graduating from Swea City High School. Upon high school graduation Jim entered the Army. Later, he returned to Iowa where he continued his education in Fayette, Iowa, graduating from Upper Iowa University.
With his degree in education, he landed his first teaching job in Grundy Center, Iowa.
During the next three summers Jim attended school in Greeley, Colorado, where he earned a master’s degree from Colorado State University.
While in Grundy Center, Jim married college sweetheart Delores Schultz, a Mason City, Iowa, native.
With his master’s degree in school administration, Jim and his family left Grundy Center and moved into Minnesota where Jim served as school principal in Wycoff.
After four years in Wycoff, the Harner family moved to Zumbrota. In 1971 the Harner family moved for the last time to Luverne, where Jim served 22 years as middle school principal before retiring from the local school system.
As Jim slowly approaches the celebration of his 89th November birthday, he remains active in the Rotary Club.
For many years Jim was the leader in the club’s Rotary International Youth Exchange Program, navigating young Luverne school students safely into a foreign land for a year of education and cultural awareness, as well as finding caring host families to open their loving hearts and warm home to a foreign exchange student to attend school in Luverne.

Christian Jepperson, a Brandon Valley High School senior, is among the 16,000 semifinalists in the 67th annual National Merit Scholarship program.
He is now eligible for the finalist portion of the program, where 7,500 students will be selected as finalists next spring.
The ranking is based on scores from the 2020 preliminary scholastic aptitude test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test that measures literacy, numeracy and writing skills needed for academic success in college.
Jepperson is the son of Ryan and Gretchen (Papik) Jepperson of Sioux Falls, and the grandson of Gary and Janine Papik, Luverne.

The LHS girls’ tennis team competed in the first two rounds of the Section 3A individual tournament in Sioux Falls Thursday, Oct. 14.
Luverne had two individuals playing singles and two doubles teams competing for the right to move on to semi-finals and finals that were scheduled to be played Tuesday, Oct. 19, in St. Peter.
In singles competition Thursday, Mia Wenzel, the No. 1 section seed, defeated Malinda Peterson from MACCRAY COOP 6-1, 6-0 in the first round and Cameron Myers of Montevideo 6-2, 6-1 in the second round. 
The second singles player for Luverne was Sarah Stegenga, who lost to Madelyn Matthies of Lac Qui Parle Valley 6-1, 6-3 in the first round. 
“Mia played great in both of her matches, and I think she has a great shot at making it to the state tournament,” said LHS coach Jon Beers.
In doubles play, Kristin Rud and Olivia Wieneke beat Annie Marquardt and Brooke Hilden from Montevideo 6-1, 6-2 in the first round and lost to Elise Duncan and Hannah Helms of Benson 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-2 in the second round.
Hope Thorson and Katharine Kelm also competed in doubles for LHS and were beaten by Eleanor Habben and Bella Quisberg of Benson 6-3, 7-5.
“Kristin and Olivia lost a heartbreaker in their second match of the day, but I could not be more pleased with how they played,” Beers said. “The first two sets of the match were some of the best tennis they have played this year.”
Wenzel will continue her season on Tuesday in St. Peter with a chance to represent LHS in the State Tournament in Minneapolis on Oct. 28 and 29.

A highly attended competitive match between the Luverne Cardinals and Adrian Dragons did not disappoint as both teams went to battle Friday night. 
The Cardinals got down to business right away, putting the first two points on the board.  
The Dragons soon caught up, but their momentum was cut short when Anja Jarchow passed to Reghan Bork who set it back to her for the kill, giving Luverne the serve. 
Luverne entered a 10-point lead when Macy Stratton executed a dig to Bork who set it to Elise Ferrell for the point. 
Adrian tried to come back, but after an extended volley between the two teams, Van Batavia passed to Bork for a set to Ferrell to get the point. 
Ferrell helped seal the deal with an ace serve and a back-row attack followed by a Stratton dig to Bork to Van Batavia for a kill. Luverne won the first game on an Adrian net serve with a score of 25-16.
Adrian scored first in Game 2 after some Luverne errors, but the Cardinals offense when to work when an Adrian error gave Luverne the serve.
 At one point, Luverne was ahead by eight points after a Christina Wagner dig to Trista Baustian who set to Morgan Ahrendt for the kill.
Adrian came back on a series of kills, blocking Luverne, and getting through some tough Luverne blocks to come within a point of the Cardinals, prompting a Luverne time-out with the score at 23-22. 
The game resumed with an Adrian error that gave the Cardinals control of the serve. A great volley and an outstanding save by Adrian put the score at 24 to 23. 
Luverne got the winning point when Van Batavia executed a dig to Bork who set to Ferrell for the kill. The final Game 2 score was 25-23.
The first six points of Game 3 were a series of alternating points on the scoreboard. 
The Dragons powered through some Luverne blocks after a long volley to pull ahead by four points.
Down by five after a Luverne time-out, the Cardinals got to work with Ferrell and Wagner delivering attacks to narrow the Dragons’ lead to two points.
 Adrian responded with a couple of kills and ball placements into the holes on the Cardinal side along with some Luverne errors. Adrian won Game 3 with a score of 25-19.
Luverne was in the lead most of Game 4, but it became a nail biter at the end. 
The Cardinals let an 8-point lead slip away with a series of Adrian kills and blocks that tied the game at 22.
When play resumed after a Luverne time-out, Stratton executed a dig to Baustian who set to Ahrendt who put it over the net, and Adrian touched the ball before it went out of bounds.
Soon thereafter, Van Batavia passed to Baustian for a set to Ferrell for a kill to put the score at 24-22.
 Adrian called a time-out to regroup, and the Dragons returned to play by delivering a hit. Luverne responded with a hit out of bounds, and the score was tied at 24. 
With Luverne on the defense, Ahrendt put up a block that prompted a “carrying” call on Adrian to give the serve back to Luverne. A steady serve by Bork was returned by Adrian, but Ahrendt and Baustian teamed up on the block to stop the Dragons and Luverne won Game 4 with a score of 26-24.
The Cardinals’ overall record is 16-6, with their last regular season match on Thursday in Hills-Beaver Creek.
 
Stat highlights:
Serves:  Macy Stratton 17/17, Reghan Bork 18/19
Set assists:  Reghan Bork 30, Trista Baustian 20
Blocks:  Morgan Ahrendt 5 assists; Christina Wagner 1 solo & 4 assists
Attacks:  Elise Ferrell 22, Kamryn Van Batavia 19