The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on April 6, 1923.
 
Beaver Creek Leads in Alfalfa Acreage
 
County Agent Roske Finds That Acreage in County is 1560 Acres, With 350 Acres in Beaver Creek
 
“Rock county doubled its acreage in alfalfa the last two years. In 1920 there were but 850 acres in the county. In 1922 there were 1560 acres in the county,” contends county agent Roske.
“The largest acreage of alfalfa is in the southwest part of the county. Beaver Creek leads in this with 350 acres; Martin township follows with 255 acres and Springwater with 181 acres; Luverne township also has 181 acres and Clinton township has 160 acres. It is expected that this average will be doubled again by the end of this year.
“Farmers have left orders at the Farm Bureau office for 3000 pounds of this seed already this spring. This seed is being secured from farmers in other parts of the county that have state inspected fields and the seed is known to be pure as to the particular kind, either grim or South Dakota, No. 12.
“We would like very much to keep a check on the alfalfa planted this year so as to determine the increase in the county. We know that five acres of good alfalfa is the most valuable five acres in crop that can be planted. Five acres of alfalfa will take care of 100 swine from May through the season. If five acres will take care of 100 to 150 swine one can readily figure up what that five acres is worth by comparing it to the amount of feed necessary to grow the amount of swine out during the same period.
“Besides the feed item, the condition of hogs that are grown on alfalfa should never be lost sight of. It produces the bone and stretch and that thrifty condition of swine that the farmer most desires when he places his swine in the feed lot in the fall.”
         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)
•Judge Timothy Connell wears a black robe over a white collar, but he said ruling from the bench is rarely as simple as black and white.
“It’s not a one-size-fits-all sort of thing that comes with experience.”
After 35 years of practicing law, Connell has acquired a voice of experience.
He’ll retire next week after 24 years as Rock County’s Fifth Judicial judge, but his roots in Luverne go deeper than that.
 
25 years ago (1996)
•New homes are going up. Luverne contractor Okie Honken started work Friday on the first house planned for the Sybesma Subdivision, located on the west side of Luverne. He has signed an agreement with the Luverne Economic Development Authority to build three homes on the lots before Dec. 31, 1998.
Two other area contractors, Bruce Dysthe and Darrel Van Aartsen have also each committed to build houses on three lots in the area. If grants are awarded, four additional lots are spoken for, and another was sold Monday.
Of the 35 lots available in the area, 14 were spoken for, as of Tuesday.
 
50 years ago (1971)
•A small “twister” is reported to have been the cause of between $500-1,000 damage on the north edge of Luverne last Thursday evening.
A small hog confinement area owned jointly by Bob Juhl and George Edmonds received considerable damage between 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. during a period of wind and rain last Thursday evening.
Most of the damage was to an open barn-type building used to house livestock.
Edmonds had been working close to the vicinity at the time of the “touchdown.” He had heard a strange noise, but never suspected anything until he came upon the damaged area.
The location of the damaged property is just south of the Catholic Cemetery.
 
75 years ago (1946)
•The Frederick Kahl estate farm in Springwater township, sold at auction Friday, brought $151.50 per acre. Successful bidder was Edwin Swanson, Springwater township farmer. Despite the rainy weather, about 150 persons were present and there were a number of bidders. Opening bid was $125 per acre.
 
100 years ago (1921)
•At the Methodist Episcopal conference held at Waseca last week, Rev. H. Hugh Gower, of this city, was assigned to the M. E. church of Tracy. He and his family expect to leave next week for their new home, and Rev. Gower will deliver his farewell sermon next Sunday.
Mr. Gower has been pastor of the Luverne church for the last three years, and from the outset has taken an active interest in public affairs, and has been prominently identified with practically all reform movements. He is one of the city’s most energetic opponents of Sunday amusements.

Alison L. Baker was born Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, to Jesse and Alissa Baker of Hardwick at the Avera-McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and then received into the open arms of Jesus a short time later.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 6, at Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick. A funeral service will be at 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7, at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. Burial will be Friday, Oct. 8, at St. John Lutheran - Twin Lakes Cemetery near Nowthen, Minnesota.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.
Arrangements are provided by Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. The service will be live-streamed at www.hartquistfuneral.com
(1007 DN)

Dennis Smook, 67, Luverne, died Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021, at the Sanford Hospice Cottage in Luverne.
A memorial service was Friday, Oct. 8, at the Magnolia United Methodist Church in Magnolia.
Dennis Smook was born March 16, 1954, to Harold and Marjorie (Donth) Smook in Luverne. He graduated from Magnolia High School in 1972.
He married Arlene McCollum on June 12, 1979. Dennis has been an over-the-road trucker for his entire working career. Through the years Arlene was his co-pilot on trucking adventures and in their lives. He always kept the truck and his vehicles at home clean and in tip-top shape.
In his free time, he enjoyed collecting guns, tools (at least four of every kind), and spending time with his family.  He was very self-sufficient and was a whiz in the kitchen.  He was known as dependable and quick with a sarcastic quip.
He is survived by his wife, Arlene, of Luverne; a son, Chris (Lexy) Smook of Hills; three daughters, Sarah (Andy) Paul of Eagan, Kelli (Zach) Swenson of Sherman, South Dakota, and Kacee (Joey) Knap of Luverne; grandchildren Charlee, Otto, Madi, Jason, Ford, and Cole; brothers Curtis (Mary) Smook of Magnolia, Randy (Vicky) Smook of rural Kenneth, and Kevin Smook of Magnolia; sister Jenalee (Allen) Klein of Fort Myers, Florida; and many nieces, nephews, and other extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Myron Smook.
Arrangements were provided by George Boom Funeral Home of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, www.georgeboom.com.
(1007 F)

James A. Klein, 94, Luverne, died Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne.
A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 6, at the American Reformed Church in Luverne. Burial with military honors will follow at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.
James Klein was born on July 10, 1927, to Arthur and Susie (Altena) Klein in Sioux County, Iowa. He spent his childhood on the family farm and attended Sioux County country school through the eighth grade. After school, Jim helped his dad on the farm. He loved to farm and that passion never waned.
On Nov. 27, 1945, James enlisted in the United States Army. He served his country, ranked as corporal, until his honorable discharge on Feb. 15, 1947.
Jim married Geraldine Smits on Dec. 8, 1950, in Maurice, Iowa. The couple made their home on the farm in Springwater Township in Rock County. While remaining active in farming, Jim started Klein Tractor Salvage in Pipestone in 1965. Jim worked hard at his business and farming and took pride in a job well done. He continued to farm and work at the store until his formal retirement in 1993.
Geraldine preceded him in death on Sept. 22, 1998. In January 2020 Jim became a resident at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne.
Jim was a member of the American Reformed Church in Luverne. He enjoyed traveling with Geraldine in their motor home, especially their winters spent in Texas. He enjoyed coffee with his “education class” and John Deere tractors. He loved his time spent with family, and he will be remembered for his honesty and hard work ethic as well as being a sweet man who enjoyed telling stories.
He is survived by his children, Stanley (Sandra “Cookie”) Klein of Waukee, Iowa, Glenda (Mark) Schneekloth of Luverne, and Donna Klein of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; four grandchildren, Jared Scheekloth, Melissa (Rick) Westberg, Amy (Shane) Wright and Ann (Nick) Jaques; and three great-grandchildren, Sommer Schneekloth, Bryson Wright and Garrett Wright; and a brother, Adrian Klein of Pipestone.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Geraldine; his parents; and his siblings and their spouses, Clarence (Bertha) Klein, Alice (Fred) Langstraat and Sam (Dorothy) Klein; and sister-in-law Albertha Klein.
Arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, hartquistfuneral.com.
(1007 F)

Local students participate in FFA Greenhand, officer activities
The Luverne-Adrian FFA Chapter participated in the Region 6 FFA Greenhand and Chapter Officer Day at Windom on Sept. 29.
 First-year members, known as Greenhands, participated in mini-contests, learned about FFA and listened to messages from state FFA officers and Region 6 FFA officers.
Greenhands who attended include Jaden Reisch, Maren Stegenga, Landon Ahrendt, Layke Miller, Tucker Remme, Jesse Aning, Andrea Luitjens, Emma Deutsch and Layne Sasker 
Chapter officers set goals and learned how to map out their program of activities for this year.
Officers attending were sentinel A.J. Ossefoort, reporter Morgan Bonnett, treasurer Morgan Ahrendt, secretary Macie Swenson, vice-president Lacey Sasker, and president J.T. Remme.

Luverne senior named ‘commended student’
Burke Johnson, a senior at Luverne High School, was named a “Commended Student” for the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program.
LHS Principal Ryan Johnson presented Johnson with a Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the annual scholarship program.
Johnson was one of 50,000 high school students across the U.S. who scored high on the 2020 preliminary scholastic aptitude test PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test taken as high school juniors.
According to the NMSC press release, “Those being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success. These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in the academic development.”
The honor is based on the index scores in the reading, writing and language, and math tests.
Of the 50,000 students recognized by NMSC, about 34,000 students are named “Commended Students,” while the other 16,000 move on to the semi-final and final competition to be named Merit Scholarship winners.
Johnson is the son of Jim and Heather Johnson of Luverne.

I think we can all agree that we are living in some difficult times. Whether we are facing personal tragedy or national crisis, difficult times are painful to live through.
So how do we cope through difficult times? I can’t give us an easy-to-remember formula or a twelve-step program for coping with difficult times, but I can give us a biblical example of someone living in extremely difficult times.
Job was a man who was blameless and upright. He feared God and shunned evil. Job sounds like a good person who was someone we could all look up to. Not only was Job a good person, he was also extremely wealthy and successful. He had ten adult children who all enjoyed each other’s company. It seemed like Job led a charmed life.
As wonderful of a person as Job was and as charmed of a life he seemed to be living, his life got extremely difficult in a single day. Job’s difficult day began by his finding out that everything he owned had been stolen from him or destroyed.
That would make any wealthy person have a bad day, but the day wasn’t done. Job soon found out that all his children had been killed when the home they were in was destroyed by a violent wind. There were no survivors except for a single servant who came to give him the devastating news.
Imagine how Job felt. If there is anyone we can relate to living in difficult times, it would be Job. So how did he respond to this? How would you or I respond to something like this? How have we been responding to our own difficult times?
Job got up and tore his clothes in anguish and pain, shaved his head, and fell to the ground. This is exactly what we would expect from someone going through difficult times.
What Job does next is a lesson for all of us as we live in difficult times. Job falls to the ground and he worships God. Job doesn’t get angry and bitter. He doesn’t look for a human solution to his problem. Instead Job turns to God.
Are we turning to God in difficult times? Or have we been looking to other human beings like ourselves for answers?
Maybe like Job we should be trusting God in our time of greatest need instead of trusting in the human solution.

St. Catherine Catholic Church
203 E. Brown St., Luverne
St. Catherine Ph. 283-8502; www.stscl.org
Monsignor Gerald Kosse, Pastor
Sundays 8:30 a.m. Mass. Public Mass will be celebrated at FULL capacity in the church. Masses: 9 a.m. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. Friday at the nursing homes – check the bulletin. All Sunday masses will be live streamed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/stccluverne/videos/. Visit www.stscl.org for more information.
 
Luverne Christian Reformed Church
605 N. Estey St., Luverne
Office Ph. 283-8482; Prayer Line Ph. 449-5982
www.luvernecrc.com — office@luvernecrc.com
Sundays 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 6:30 p.m. Evening worship service. We are streaming Sunday services live on YouTube at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Send him a friend request if you’re not connected. You may also visit our website for delayed broadcasts. Also our services are on local cable TV at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays. In all circumstances, may we joyfully declare: “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8.
 
First Baptist Church
103 N. Jackson St., P.O. Box 975, Luverne
Ph. 283-4091; email: fbcluv@iw.net — www.fbcluverne.org
Walt Moser, Pastor
Sundays, 10:30 a.m. In-person worship service. Service is also on Facebook Live at 10:30 a.m.
 
Grace Lutheran Church
500 N. Kniss Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-4431; www.graceluverne.org — graceluverne@iw.net
Ann Zastrow, Pastor
Dave Christenson, Interim Pastor
Thursday, Oct. 7: 8:30 a.m. Missions in Action. Saturday, Oct. 9: 3:30 p.m. Hamann wedding. 5:30 p.m. Worship service. Sunday, Oct. 10: 9 a.m. Worship service. 10 a.m. Fellowship Coffee. 10:15 a.m. 10th grade confirmation. 2:15 p.m. Worship at Poplar Creek. 6:30 p.m. Worship practice. 6:45 p.m. Jr. High corn maze. Tuesday, Oct. 12: 9 a.m. Staff meeting. 6:45 p.m. Ministry meetings. 8 p.m. PPC meeting. Wednesday, Oct. 13: 7 a.m. Men’s Bible study. 3:15 p.m. Faithweavers. 5 p.m. Youth supper. 6:15 p.m. 6th-7th grade Confirmation. 6:30 p.m. Voices of Grace rehearsal. 7:15 p.m. 8th grade Confirmation. 8:15 p.m. 9th grade Confirmation. Thursday, Oct. 14: 8:30 a.m. Missions in Action. Online, TV and Radio Worship options are available. Online: Sundays 9 a.m. on the church website www.graceluverne.org, click Worship tab or go directly to our Facebook page at Grace Lutheran ELCA, Luverne. TV: Vast Channel 3 will air our worship service Mondays at 4:30 p.m. and Fridays at 10 a.m. Radio: KQAD-AM Radio will air our worship service on Sundays at 8:15 a.m.
 
Bethany Lutheran Church
720 N. Kniss Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-4571 or 605-215-9834
pastorapalmquist67@yahoo.com
Andrew Palmquist, Pastor
Sundays, 10:15 a.m. Worship service; worship online as well (at els.org). Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. Zoom Bible study. See our Facebook page, Bethany Lutheran Church (Luverne) for other classes and events.
 
American Reformed Church
304 N. Fairview Dr., Luverne
Ph. 283-8600; email: office@arcluverne.org
Friday, Oct. 8: 6:30 a.m. Community men’s Bible study. Sunday, Oct. 10: 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 10:50 a.m. Sunday School. 12 p.m. Fellowship hall reserved. Youth room reserved. 3 p.m. Community Food Drive. Monday, Oct. 11: 6 p.m. Fellowship hall reserved. Tuesday, Oct. 12: 12 p.m. Staff meeting. 7 p.m. Consistory meeting. Youth room reserved. Wednesday, Oct. 13: 5:30 p.m. Midweek Meal. 6:30 p.m. Pioneer Club and youth groups. 7:30 p.m. Awards night. 8:15 p.m. Cantata Rehearsal. Thursday, Oct. 14: 5:30 p.m. Tumbling Tikes. Services are also broadcast on Vast Channel 3 on Mondays at 6 p.m. and Wednesdays at 4 p.m. DVD’s available upon request. To stay up to date on announcements, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @arcluverne.
 
Rock River Community Church (formerly First Assembly of God)
1075 110th Ave., 2 miles west of Luverne on County Rd. 4
Ph. 612-800-1255; email info@rockrivercommunity.church
Bob Junak, Pastor; Annette Junak, Assistant Pastor
Sundays, 9 a.m. Sunday school; 10 a.m. Worship service. Children’s church for ages 3-6th grade and nursery for ages 0-3 provided during our services. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Worship service. All services are in-person and all are welcome.
 
United Methodist Church
109 N. Freeman Ave., Luverne
Ph. 283-4529
Dorrie Hall, Pastor
Saturday, Oct. 9: 8 p.m. AA meeting. Sunday, Sept. Oct. 10: 9:30 a.m. Adult Sunday school. 9:45 a.m. Coffee hour. 10:30 a.m. Worship Service with Communion. Prayer Warriors following service. 4:30 p.m. Genesis/Revelation Bible study. 3 p.m. Ecumenical Food Drive. Live streamed on Facebook and radio. Wednesday, Oct. 13: 6:15 p.m. FUEL. 6:30 p.m. Confirmation with PPR. Pizza Ranch tip night.
 
First Presbyterian Church
302 Central Lane, Luverne
Ph. 283-4787; email: Firstpc@iw.net— www.fpcluverne.com
Jason Cunningham, Pastor
Thursday, Oct. 7: 9 a.m. PW executive meeting. Sunday, Oct. 10: 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 10:30 a.m. Sunday school. Wednesday, Oct. 13: 5:30 p.m. Bell choir. 6:15 p.m. Chancel choir. 7:15 p.m. Session. In-person Worship service and live on Facebook. Our Facebook page can be found under First Presbyterian Church of Luverne. We are also on the local Luverne cable station at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and 10 a.m. on Thursdays.
 
St. John Lutheran Church
803 N. Cedar St., Luverne
Ph. 283-2316; email: stjohn@iw.net
www.stjohnlutheranluverne.org
Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, Pastor
Saturday, Oct. 9: 5:30 p.m. Worship. Sunday, Oct. 10: 9 a.m. Worship service. 10:15 a.m. Adult Bible study. Wednesday, Sept. Oct. 13: 6:30 p.m. Confirmation. 6:30 p.m. Kids for Christ. 7:30 p.m. Youth group. Services will be available on the Vast Channel 3 Sunday and online at the city website, cityofluverne.org.
 
Living Rock Church
500 E. Main St., Luverne
Ph. 449-0057; www.livingrockswmn.org
Billy Skaggs, Pastor
 
New Life Celebration Church
101 W. Maple, Luverne
Ph. 449-6522; email: newlifecelebration@gmail.com
Food mission every third Thursday.
 
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
305 E. 2nd St., P.O. Box 36, Hardwick
Ph. (507) 669-2855; zionoffice@alliancecom.net
Jesse Baker, Pastor
 
Ben Clare United Methodist Church
26762 Ben Clare Ave., Valley Springs, S.D.
igtwlb@WOW.net
Bill Bates, Pastor
 
 
 
 
 
 
First Lutheran Church
300 Maple St., Valley Springs, S.D.
Ph. (605) 757-6662
Mark Eliason, Pastor
Sunday, Oct. 10: 9 a.m. Worship service. 10 a.m. Sunday school. Masks are strongly recommended, but not required, even if fully vaccinated. Worship will be streamed live on Facebook Video worship via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHdQwVxFcU4
 
Palisade Lutheran Church
211 121st St., Garretson, S.D.
Ph. (507) 597-6257 — firstpalisade@alliancecom.net
Mark Eliason, Pastor
Sunday, Oct. 10: 9:30 a.m. Sunday school at Palisade Lutheran Church. 10:30 a.m. Worship service. Wednesday, Oct. 13: 6:30 p.m. Palisade Lutheran Women will meet for a brainstorming session. ALL members of Palisade are welcome to provide input during this meeting. Thursday, Oct. 14: 7 p.m. Palisade Council meeting. Masks are strongly recommended, but not required, even if fully vaccinated. Worship will be streamed live on Facebook. Video worship via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHdQwVxFcU4
 
First Presbyterian Church
201 S. 3rd St., P.O Box 73, Beaver Creek
Ph. 507-935-5025
email: lori.firstpres@gmail.com
Sundays, 9:30 a.m. Worship Service. Second Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. Session meeting.
 
Magnolia United Methodist Church
501 E. Luverne St., Magnolia
Ph. 605-215-3429
email: magnoliamnumc@gmail.com
Nancy Manning, Pastor
Sunday, 9 a.m., in-person with livestream available on the church’s Facebook site.
 
Steen Reformed Church
112 W. Church Ave., Steen
Ph. 855-2336
Jeremy Wiersema, Pastor
Sunday, 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Worship service in-person with livestream available on Facebook and YouTube. Radio worship on KQAD Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
112 N. Main St., Hills
Ph. 962-3270
Nita Parker, Pastor
Sunday, Oct. 10: 9 a.m. Worship at Tuff Home. 9:30 a.m. Sunday school. 10 a.m. Worship service with Holy Communion. 7-8:30 p.m. Youth group meets. Worship will be streamed live to Facebook at Bethlehem of Hills. You can find more info on our website blchills.org. Tuesday, Oct. 12: 2 p.m. Tuff Home Bible study. 3 p.m. Tuff Village Bible study. Wednesday, Oct. 13: 9 a.m. Quilting. 6 p.m. Confirmation class. 7:15 p.m. Wednesday night worship.
 
Hills United Reformed Church
410 S. Central Ave., Hills
Office Ph. 962-3254
hillsurc@alliancecom.net
Alan Camarigg, Pastor