By John RittenhouseWhile the Hills-Beaver Creek volleyball team put together a successful season under the leadership of coach Curt Doorneweerd, another H-BC coach was watching with interest from a distance.Although H-BC girls? basketball coach Goehle was busy with his cross country and football coaching duties at the time, he tried to keep a supportive eye on what was happening with the volleyball.Goehle believes success in one sport can lead to success in another, and he thinks the confidence the H-BC girls gained during a 20-6 volleyball season will help the Patriots on the hard court this winter."I feel we?re in really good shape right now," he said. "A number of these girls played volleyball this year, and winning can be contagious. Believing you can and believing that we?ll still be playing basketball in March can be half the battle."On paper, H-BC looked to field a strong basketball team this winter regardless of what happened during the volleyball season.The Patriots will return all but one player from a 2002-03 team that placed third in the Red Rock Conference with a 10-6 record.H-BC opened the South Section 3A Tournament with a 51-50 win over Red Rock Central in the quarterfinals, but its 15-10 season ended with a 63-40 loss to eventual runner-up Adrian in the semifinals.Although the leadership senior Sarah Rozeboom gave the Patriots as a starting wing last season will be missed, Goehle thinks the experience and talent his 2003-04 squad will take into the season will more than make up for the absence of one player."I think we will have a great year," Goehle said. "You can?t control how the other teams play against you, but I expect our girls to play as well as any team I?ve ever had. Whether that means we?ll win more games than last year, I don?t know. I just expect our girls to play at a higher level than we ever have before."The Patriots will open the season with an 11-player roster, and nine of the athletes received playing time at the varsity level last winter.Considering six of the players drew starting assignments during the course of last season, H-BC will be a battle-tested team in 2003-04."We have nine girls with a considerable amount of experience," Goehle said. "That is one of our greatest strengths. These girls have been playing together for quite a while, too. They are a close-knit group, and they work extremely hard."Goehle has what he calls a perfect senior class that consists of four players. Two of the seniors return as starters, and two more logged playing time last season.Erin Boeve and Amanda Olson are the seniors returning as starters. Boeve, a 6-1 post, led H-BC in scoring and rebounding while earning a spot on the All-RRC Team last season. Olson, a 5-10 post, is another strong player in the paint.Melinda Sandstede, a 5-7 guard, and 5-10 forward Alissa Hoyme are other senior members of the team."Our seniors have been with us (in the basketball program) all the way," Goehle said. "They have a lot of experience as a group, and they have seen lots of game and practice time. They are a close bunch and great leaders. It?s everything you want in a senior class."H-BC?s five-player junior class is talented and experienced, too. Four of the juniors started games for H-BC last year, while the other is a first-year player.Cassi Tilstra, a 5-8 guard, made the All-RRC Team as a sophomore.Brittney Rozeboom and Melinda Feucht are 5-6 and 5-8 guards with starting experience.Danielle Fransman, a 5-8 forward, has not played basketball since the eighth grade, but her athletic ability makes her an asset to the program."Our juniors have been with us a long time, too," Goehle said. "They have a considerable amount of experience, and they are very good athletes. They have been playing with the senior girls for quite a while."Rounding out H-BC?s preseason roster are sophomores Stacy Bush and Kari Roozenboom. Bush is a 5-6 guard with varsity experience. Roozenboom, a 5-8 forward, will be playing at the varsity level for the first time.When Goehle looks at his roster from top to bottom, he finds it difficult to pinpoint a weakness."I can honestly say I don?t have any concerns about this team," he said. "Our quickness on both ends of the court is an asset, and so is our experience. The big thing for us will be to keep everyone healthy. Having everyone healthy plays a big role in getting your timing down and developing team chemistry."The Patriot coach lists Adrian and Fulda as the favorites in the RRC this season, with Red Rock Central and Mountain Lake-Butterfield-Odin as being other teams to watch.With a mixture of talent and experience, there?s no reason why H-BC can?t knock off any of the RRC favorites and make a run at a postseason championship."We haven?t sat down and set our goals as a team yet," Goehle said. "One thing we?ll want to be doing is still playing basketball when March rolls around."H-BC opens the season by hosting Central Lyon Monday. H-BC plays in Adrian Friday.

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE HILLS CITY COUNCILNOVEMBER 11, 2003 ? 6:00 P.M.The following Council members were present at the opening of the meeting: Mayor Jim Jellema, Councilmen-Linus Svoboda, Keith Elbers and Arlen Leenderts. Absent: Councilman Dana Dahlquist. Employees present: Joanne Goehle, City Treasurer; Connie Wiertzema, City Clerk; and Wayne Ward, City Maintenance. Guests present: Eugene, Diane and Carmine Immediato; Kelly Demuth; and Brenda Winter-Hills Crescent. Motion by Svoboda, seconded by Elbers to approve of the minutes of October 14th and 23rd. Motion carried. TREASURER?S REPORT: Motion by Leenderts, seconded by Svoboda to approve payment of the October expenditures: General $7,058.99; Park $1,829.57; Fire $12,503.53; Street $5,694.73; Legion $1,607.30; Barbershop $194.82; Sewer $3,025.06; Garbage $4,046.33; Recycling $472.05; Water $6,137.96; Baseball $142.68; Softball $417.97; Civil Defense $124.00. Motion carried. Motion by Leenderts, seconded by Elbers to renew general fund CD#17947 for one year. Motion carried. General Checking 40,595.51General Fund CD#17947, 2.5%, 12/2/03 234,392.53General Fund CD#17760, 2.5%, 3/15/05 20,477.61Sewer Fund CD#17877, 2.5%, 10/18/03 21,000.00Sewer Fund CD#18171, 1.0%, 1/18/04 30,070.57Fire Truck Replacement Fund CD#17710, 1.75%, 1/13/04 20,051.31Hills EDA Security Deposit Account 2,466.56Hills EDA Checking 4,188.15Southern Hills Apts. Account 4,989.94Southern Hills CD#17759, 2.5%, 3/15/05 5,056.71EDA CD#17850, 2.5%, 5/7/05 27,963.43EDA CD#17268, 1.75%, 1/26/04 10,538.57EDA CD#18160, 1.5%, 10/17/04 20,000.00TOTAL 441,790.89Motion by Svoboda, seconded by Elbers to approve of the Treasurer?s report. Motion carried. Ward confirmed to the Council that a small number of outside water meters have been installed. The Council agreed to continue with installing outside meters on a gradual basis. Outside meters will be installed on all new homes at the time of construction. The Council instructed city maintenance to begin inspecting all water meters for current readings, proper installation, and for sump pumps running into floor drains. The Council felt that these items should be inspected on a routine basis. Motion by Leenderts, seconded by Svoboda to approve of a two-year Refuse Contract with Town & County Disposal, with a 3% increase in garbage and recycling rates. Motion carried. Motion by Leenderts, seconded by Elbers to adopt a Resolution to revise the Municipal Utilities Ordinance, Chapter 3, Section 3.13, Subd. 3 pertaining to delinquent accounts, that charges for city utilities shall be due on the date specified by the City and shall be delinquent 15 days thereafter, rather than 30 days. Motion carried. Motion by Svoboda, seconded by Elbers to approve of the Notices to Hills City Residents, which will be inserted with the 2004 utility billing books, and mailed to customers in January. Motion carried. The Council continued discussion regarding Ryan Burgers trailer house, which is located on City property at 120 West North 2nd Street. The Council is not in favor of deeding the property to the owner of the trailer; have no interest in purchasing the trailer house; and beginning January 2004 the City will begin charging a fee to the owner of the trailer house. Eugene, Diane and Carmine Immediato, and Kelly Demuth appeared at the meeting to discuss the pending sale of the depot building, and easement to Kelly?s Roadhouse Bar. Eugene Immediato informed the Council that he would agree to allow Kelly an easement, but felt that he was entitled to compensation by reducing the amount of his bid by $3,000 for the purchase of the depot building. Immediato and Demuth agreed to a 15? wide easement from the southwest corner of Kelly?s back entrance proceeding west to the alley, at an angle in order to avoid a utility pole. Leenderts made a motion, seconded by Svoboda, to reduce the sale of the depot building to $8,000, and that a check for the entire amount be delivered to the City of Hills within 24 hours. Immediato agreed to the $2,000 reduction and payment deadline. The Warranty Deed will include the easement as stated above. Motion carried. Motion by Elbers, seconded by Leenderts to grant renewal of on-sale and off-sale liquor licenses to Kelly?s Roadhouse Bar for 2004. Motion carried. Motion by Leenderts, seconded by Elbers to adopt a resolution to participate in a hazardous mitigation planning process proposed by Rock County. Motion carried. The Clerk was instructed to contact the Home Center for the purchase of new oven for the American Legion kitchen. Discussed special assessments for Park View 2nd, 3rd and 4th Additions. The Council agreed, in accordance with City Ordinance, Chapter 10, Subd. 4, that initial water and sewer expenses for Lots 2-6 in Park View 4th Addition, and Lots 1 and 2 in Block 1 of Park View Third Addition, will not be assessed to the properties, but paid by the Hills EDA as the developer. Special assessments will be applied to Lots 1-5 in Block 2 of Park View Second Addition, and Lots 1-4 in Block 2 of Park View Third Addition, per the January 14, 2003 minutes. Motion by Leenderts, seconded by Elbers to apply special assessments to three properties for the removal of garbage, mowing, and fill for an abandoned cistern. Motion carried. The Council discussed whether to reconsider the waiver of water and sewer tapping fees. In accordance with a Resolution adopted in 1994, water and sewer tapping fees were waived to encourage the construction of new homes. No changes were made, but the Council will refer to item three of Resolution 94-4, "That waiver of these tapping fees must be pre-approved by the City Council at the time a building permit is requested."The Council was informed that Sue Stueven, leader of a local 4-H club has applied for a 4-H Community Pride grant for playground equipment for Rez Park. The Thunder Baseball Association has agreed to work the Sunday Open Gym program from December through March. The regular December City Council meeting will be rescheduled and notification will be published. The Council discussed two properties in which the owners were notified for the removal of junk vehicles and completion of a fence. One property owner has removed and/or licensed their junk vehicles, and is currently working on completion of a fence. The second property owner is in total compliance by having removed a junk vehicle from their property. The Clerk was instructed to send a letter to a property owner regarding the City?s burning restriction ordinance. Motion by Leenderts, seconded by Elbers to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 7:45 P.M.Connie J. WiertzemaCity Clerk(11-27)

Sunday morning we awoke to a snowy white winter wonderland. It didn?t take long to realize how beautiful this winter wonderland was as well as truthful, as I am wondering, "Where did I put all of the snow removal equipment?" When I was growing up we learned a poem that I can still remember. Perhaps you remember it also. I think it relates rather well to our winter weather. "The north wind doth blow, and we shall have snow and what will poor robin do then?" Well, I am not going to worry about the robin. He just flies away and leaves all of the severe weather to us, saying, "See you in the spring!" However, I am still wondering where I did put that snow scoop!Steen Opportunity Extension Club met Tuesday afternoon at the JoAnn Paulsen home. The lesson on "Collectables" was presented by Melba Boeve and Marlene DeYager. Refreshments were served by Etta DeJongh.The Baker-Bosch families enjoyed their Thanksgiving together on Sunday at the Steen Community building. Dries and Laura May Bosch visited in the home of her sister, Margaret and Harold Schlimgen, Luverne, on Saturday. The Hills-Beaver Creek adult education program will sponsor a bus trip to Luverne on Saturday, Dec. 6, where they will enjoy many Christmas activities. They will drive the school bus for those going. Pick up will be at 4:15 p.m. in Steen. There is no charge for the trip as it is in appreciation for those who have traveled with them on the school bus with Melvin and JoAnn as the host and hostess. For more information or reservations call Marilyn at 962-3240 at the Hills-Beaver Creek High School or JoAnn Paulsen at 855-2317.Winnie Scholten visited her brother, George Feekes, who makes his home in Sioux City, Iowa, this past week. He had undergone heart surgery recently and was recuperating in a nursing home there. There will be a Thanksgiving worship service at 9:30 a.m. Thanksgiving Day at Steen Reformed Church. Jackets and warm winter clothing are still needed at the Center of Hope in Sioux Falls. If you have any warm winter clothing that you are not using, contact Steen Reformed Church as there are many families in need of them. Our deepest sympathy goes out to the Rozeboom family on the death of Kathy Rozeboom. She was the daughter of Joe and Grace Van Hill who were residents of Steen when she was growing up. Thee will be no school in the Hills-Beaver Creek schools, Thursday and Friday, Nov. 27-28, in observance of the Thanksgiving Day Holiday. This week we will observe Thanksgiving. There are many in our world today who seem to think they have nothing to be thankful for. There are times when we have become so accustomed to what we have that we forget we should be thankful for them. I want to share this list of things nearly all of us have and it would be appropriate to be thankful for. It is titled "Truly Great Treasures." I do not know who wrote it. "He who is young can be thankful that he still has all the exciting experiences of life before him. He who is old can be thankful he has attained judgment and understanding and has learned to be tranquil about his problems which once troubled him."He who has good health can be thankful for a treasure greater than gold. He who is ill or physically disabled can be thankful for the loving care of family and friends, and a chance to be an example of patience and fortitude. He who dwells in the country can be thankful for the wide open beauty of God?s handiwork, where nature?s art is manifest on every hand.He who resides in the city can be thankful for the warmth of human relationships and the opportunity to serve one?s fellowman at every turn. He who has riches of gold and silver can be thankful for life?s bounty has given him the privilege and joy of sharing with the less fortunate. He who is without worldly goods can be thankful that the truly great treasures of life are free ? kindness, friendship, love, appreciation.He who worships can be thankful that he lives in a country where he may worship according to the dictates of his own conscience. He who lives in a free country can be thankful that his opportunities are many, and that his chance of success is not hampered by regeneration but is unlimited.For all these things we should be thankful."Have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!

Like beauty, chocolate has much to do with the eye of its beholder. Based on taste alone, chocolate is readily accepted by millions of people from all walks of life. We don?t have to be reminded that it?s a vegetable (a cocoa bean is a vegetable, isn?t it?) or that its countless devotees consider it to be a basic food group. Many of us were understandably pleased, but not surprised, when researchers at the University of Cologne, Germany, recently announced that three ounces of dark chocolate a day for two weeks lowers high blood pressure in adults. That pleasure soon turned to downright smugness when The Week magazine also revealed that Italian and Scottish researchers found that chocolate significantly raises levels of antioxidants, "chemicals that mop up heart-damaging molecules called free radicals." What should trouble any chocolate lover, however, is the news that came out of Paris, site of the European Chocolate Trade Fair earlier this month. Apparently, Europe?s chocolate makers are now using words to describe their products that are normally reserved for fine wines. The words tossed around the fair included fermentation, fragrance, bouquet and palate. "Wine and chocolate terms are getting closer and closer," a French "chocolatier" told Reuters. "In chocolate as in wine you can find different flavors depending on the soil in which the cocoa beans were grown, how much rain they received and the fermentation process." This is more information than chocolate lovers need to know. We can?t adequately put into words why we even love people in our lives, so we most certainly can?t be expected to explain our love for chocolate with words normally reserved for vintage wines. We only know we love it. Using descriptive adjectives tends to take the fun out of chocolate and it also cuts into chocolate eating time. There is an element of danger in treating chocolate like wine, another product attributed with addictive powers. All sorts of problems could arise when chocolate becomes more than a comfort food or a daily staple in our diets. From the masses of chocolate lovers ? basically gregarious, happy, outgoing people ? chocolate elitists will surely arise and they will nibble, as opposed to gorge, on tiny pieces of chocolate with their pinky fingers extended. They will utter statements such as, "This Belgian chocolate is long on the palate" or "A bit musty and mushroomy, wouldn?t you say?" Because of its addictive attributes, chocolate will no longer be available to people of all ages. Some over-zealous government agency, such as ATFC (Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Chocolate) will subject us to random breathalyser tests as we step from our cars or as we walk down sidewalks. "Sorry, lady, but you register at a four-candy bar level. You will have to come down to the station with us." As the addictive qualities and weight issues associated with chocolate become government concerns, prohibition could be a definite possibility. Few of us would be ready for a world where huge batches of chocolate are mixed in bathtubs and banned chocolate is sold behind the peep-holed alley doors of "melt-easies." At the very least, the consumption of chocolate will be banned in public places. Because of these reasons and many more, comparing chocolate with wine should be discouraged.

Now is the time for Thanksgiving.Once a year we gather together to eat and share in the bounty of the harvest and the beauty of the season. That?s Thanksgiving. The tradition of giving thanks for blessings we?ve prayed about all year. For now is the time for Thanksgiving.We?re all grateful for the Village, it?s comfortable apartments and the service helpers provide, but each of us has a special blessing we are thankful for.Among the staff:Grace has two nephews in Iraq and so far, they are safe. Now is the time for Thanksgiving.Bernice is thankful for the support of family and friends following the sudden death of her husband just a few months ago. Now is the time for Thanksgiving.Stan is thankful for his 3-year-old grandson who, together, are looking forward to a new brother or sister. Now is the time for Thanksgiving.Ed is grateful for the long stretch of nice weather we?ve been having allowing him to put up outside lights without freezing his hands. Now is the time for Thanksgiving.Rose is thankful no member of her family is in the service and peace will come soon. Now is the time for Thanksgiving.Jim is thankful that after having a heart attack seven years ago he had a stress test and learned all is well. He is also especially thankful to help the Village people shop. It?s a service he enjoys. Now is the time for Thanksgiving.Jason is thankful he can be a part of the F.C.A. and have the opportunity to secure a good education at H-BC. Now is the time for Thanksgiving.Mary is thankful for running water. Now is the time for Thanksgiving.Deb is thankful she has a good job and one she enjoys. Now is the time for Thanksgiving.Among the Village people:Earl is thankful his daughter is safe from the California fires. Now is the time for Thanksgiving.Shorty is the last member of his family and he?s thankful for the family he?s made at the Tuff Village. Now is the time for Thanksgiving.Alice is thankful she has good grandchildren, are successful, who have a good job, are respectable individuals and show respect for others. For now is the time for Thanksgiving.Alta thinks she should have a list for she has many things to be thankful for. She wishes she could walk but is thankful she and Dave can be together. Now is the time for Thanksgiving.Vic is thankful for a good wife, for being married to the same woman for 61 years and Fran said comparatively good health. For now is the time for Thanksgiving.Palma is thankful to have lived a good Scandinavian community. People came from miles around, for she lived at the Klondike. Grains and wheat were brought from miles around to be made into flour. Now is the time for Thanksgiving.Caroline has always been thankful that she could sew when she found she needed to make money to care for her family. She was glad she could quilt. She made more than 300 quilts. Now is the time for Thanksgiving.Martha is thankful to be living in the present for she?s also lived in the past and she compares. Now is the time for Thanksgiving.Signe is thankful that she can continue to remember the names of her family of 54 members, and know what they do as well. Now is the time for Thanksgiving.Marcella is thankful war has not been fought on our side of the ocean. For now is the time for Thanksgiving.Ione?s thankful for her neighbor, Arnold T. who looks out for her by pushing her wherever she wishes to go at the Village and Gary at dialysis who always looks out for her. Now is the time for Thanksgiving.Bud is thankful for the years he?s been on the council in running the business of the town.Donna was the beautician and she is thankful for her faith.Opal Swanson comes for dinner on Friday and she?s thankful for her memories. Of working on the farm and as she gathered eggs or milked cows her children sat on the wall and watched her. Now is the time of Thanksgiving.Sarah is thankful for the friendship she?s developed with ladies at her table enjoying their daily visits.Ruby is thankful to be living here now that her husband died this year and she is not alone.Today aunts, uncles, grandparents and others gather together to enjoy the food and give thanks. A good football game or Macy?s parade doesn?t hurt the tradition. The holiday continues.Now is the time for Thanksgiving.I?ll keep you posted.

Leona Goehle came from Tyler and joined Sheldon and Ellie Sandager to go to the ranch at Herrick, S.D. They returned to Hills Saturday of last week and Leone returned to her home. Don and Edyth Briggs joined the P.T. group last Wednesday to travel to Chanhassen to attend the dinner theatre and production of the "Cats."Ray and Lois Nelson attended the Green Earth Players? production of "Steel Magnolias" in Luverne last week and the Sioux Falls Community Concert Association?s presentation featuring the Diaz/Kim/Schub Trio, cello, violin and piano, last Friday at the Washington Pavilion. Mae Top visited her friend, Jennie Nieuwboer, in Luverne Thursday morning. Luella Schlueter attended memorial services Thursday for Dorothy (Eitreim) Oien at our Savior?s Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, S.D. Dorothy Eitreim grew up in the Palisade area. Her husband made many acquaintances in Hills when he spent time here working on home-built airplanes. Last Tuesday evening, Cliff and Vi Van Wyhe met Earl and Laura Warner for dinner in Sioux Falls and later visited in their home. Mark and Karen Sandager, Ein and Tom, spent the weekend with Jo and Floyd Wulf at the Sandager ranch at Herrick, S.D.Herb Sundem entered Luverne Hospital Nov. 16. He hopes to return home this week. Vermayne and wife, Dee, were here from Minneapolis. Another son, Terry, came from Sherman, Ill., and Terry?s son, Scott, was here, too, from Saratoga Springs, N.Y.Cliff and Vi Van Wyhe visited with Uncle Elmer and Aunt Leona Van Wyhe Thursday afternoon in their home in Rock Rapids. Vi also visited in the home of Ryan and Melanie Van Wyhe and daughters. Melanie is recovering from injuries received in an accident seven weeks ago. Jack and Pat Paulsen traveled to Le Center to spend the weekend with their son, Todd and family. Wendell and Kathryn Erickson attended the supper Friday night at the Nordic Hall in Sioux Falls, Last Monday night Bob and Twila Kirsch were supper guests in the home of Floyd and Mary Kraetsch in Luverne. Coming from a distance to attend the Rochelle Top/Cody Statema wedding Saturday afternoon at Hills United Reformed Church were the Rev. Don Porter, Byron Center, Mich., who performed the ceremony; Leo and Cherie Statema, Iola Statema, Cornie and Doretta Boukamp, Dale and Sandy Kas and boys, Harold and JoAnn Miersma, all of Michigan; Jake Slegers of Slovakia, and uncles, aunts, cousins and friends. Also traveling here to attend the ceremony were the Rev. Keith and Laura Davis and children, Lansing, Ill. He was the former pastor of the HUR Church. The couple will be at Wyoming, Mich., after a honeymoon in Cancun, Mexico. Chuck and Rheta DeBoer attended the Doon, Iowa, Christian School Thanksgiving program Tuesday evening. Their daughter, Rachel, teaches at the school.

10 years ago (1993)"Brian Sudenga was a member of the South Dakota men?s baseball team which won the Men?s Senior Baseball League World Series recently. Sudenga, who lives near Manley, was also named this year?s "Comeback Player of the Year" in the state of South Dakota, because of his bout with Hodgkin?s disease. 25 years ago (1978)"Farmers from throughout the area gathered Friday and Saturday to haul corn that has been stored outdoors to the new grain bins at Hills Co-op Farm Service. By Saturday afternoon 42,000 bushels had been transferred. Co-op manager Jim Best estimated that 100,000 more would be hauled before the project is completed at the end of this week."50 years ago (1953)"Marinus Top, 25, son of Mrs. Jennie Top, Hills, recently was promoted to sergeant while serving with the 40h Infantry Division in Korea.The former California National Guard division, which arrived in Korea during early 1952, is undergoing intensive post-truce training."75 years ago (1928)"One of the corn pickers working for Nels Kolsrud found an Indian arrowhead on the east forty, near the state road. This is quite a relic as it?s the first of its kind that has been found around Hills. Nels brought it to the Crescent office yesterday."100 years ago (1903)"The little slough east of town called Mud Creek never amounts to much as a summer attraction, but at this time of year when it is covered with a fine, fresh sheet of glary ice, it is more thought of by our lusty youth, than were in Central Park. All day Sunday it was covered by young and old, out for amusement and recreation. Skating parties are organized nearly every evening."

Dorothy L. Oien, 80, Sioux Falls, S.D., died Monday, Nov. 17, 2003, at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls. Memorial services were Thursday, Nov. 20, at Our Savior?s Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls. Private burial services were at East Nidaros Lutheran Cemetery. Dorothy Eitreim was born to Willie and Julia (Edmundson) Eitreim on May 18, 1923, on the family farm in rural Rock County. She graduated from Beaver Creek High School and earned her nursing degree from Sioux Valley School of Nursing in Sioux Falls. She married Hemming Oien on Nov. 8, 1952, at Palisade Lutheran Church, rural Garretson, S.D. She served as a 2nd Lt. in the Army Nursing Corps during World War II. After the war, she worked as a night supervisor at Sioux Valley Hospital. She later served as Director of Nursing at Good Samaritan Center in Sioux Falls. Mrs. Oien participated in numerous circle Bible study groups. She was an active member of the Sioux Valley Nurses Alumni Association.Survivors include her husband, Hemming Oien, Sioux Falls; five children, Juli (Jeff) Myers, Loveland, Colo., Barb (Bill) Mast, Oakdale, Jon (Julie) Oien, Bruce Oien and Janet Oien, all of Sioux Falls; six grandchildren, Peter Myers, Josiah, Jesse and Zachary Mast, and Peter and Rachel Oien; three brothers, Warren Eitreim, Parker, S.D., Milton Eitreim, Sun Lakes, Ariz., and Don Eitreim, Lady Lake, Fla.; three sisters, Bernice Miller, Sioux Falls, Mildred Larson, Armour, S.D., Shirley Knowlton, Austin; and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials may be directed to Augustana College in care of the Nursing Scholarship Fund.Heritage Funeral Home, Sioux Falls, was in charge of arrangements.

By Lori EhdeThis week, Nov. 16-22, is American Education Week, and it’s a time when schools across the nation take time to recognize accomplishments and honor individuals who contribute to excellence.In Luverne, it means a new Teacher of the Year and Friend of Education are named, and this year those individuals are school volunteer Dianne Ossenfort and first-grade teacher Sandy Klosterbuer.Ossenfort isFriend of EducationEducator Diane Robinson introduced Ossenfort as a person with a “wide-eyed smile and a contagious laugh that could sweeten even the most sour of grapes.”She described Ossenfort’s volunteerism as the key reason for being named Friend of Education.“She delights in people and shares in any way imaginable,” Robinson said. “One cannot out-give Dianne. She’s the best cheerleader our school could hope to have.”She listed Ossenfort's efforts with peer helpers, Blandin Luverne Youth, Green Earth Players, Tri-State Band Festival, Music Boosters, high school talent contest, Winter Fest parade, Dollars for Scholars, Bookin’ Buddies, Family Reading Night, high school band trip and playing Mrs. Claus in Hardwick as valuable contributions to both the community and the school system.“We appreciate who you are, Dianne, and what you do,” Robinson said Monday.Ossenfort accepted the award with teary eyes. “The reason for the volunteerism is a way to say thank you for all you have done for Rodger and myself and our boys,” she said.“I think our boys are where they are today because of you educators. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”She described an earlier conversation when she was told of her new title.“It is such an honor,” she said. “When I got the phone call — if you can believe this — I was speechless.”Klosterbuer is Teacher of the YearElementary teacher Shirley Harrison introduced Klosterbuer as Teacher of the Year.“This year’s recipient has made it her mission to be a good writing teacher and has spent hours researching, reading and trying different approaches in her teaching of writing,” Harrison said.She said Klosterbuer has been involved in the community and church, and has taught in Luverne for 20 years, earning her master’s degree a few years ago.Teacher of the Year is named each year by peers in the Luverne Education Association.Fellow first-grade teacher Lisa Lundgren said Klosterbuer is a valuable team player.“Sandy continually tries to improve her teaching and is always searching for a creative and effective way to reach the students in her classroom,” Lundgren said.“She is willing to share ideas with her colleagues and is … definitely a team player, working effectively with children and adults alike.” One of the nomination letters said Klosterbuer is “always willing to share ideas, brainstorm and work on a better approach to something. She is not afraid to speak up for the educational issues she feels strongly about.”Another wrote, “she is a dedicated, creative teacher. She is willing to put in many extra hours to help our school and its children.”Accepting the award Monday, Klosterbuer thanked educators who worked with her growing up in Luverne.“I’m so proud to be a teacher here, as most of you know,” she said. “I grew up in Luverne and feel I’ve had the best education possible here. We have a team of wonderful educators here. … Thank you for this honor. It means so much to me.”Ossenfort and Klosterbuer were recognized in an American Education Week program at 3:30 p.m. Monday in the elementary school commons.It’s sponsored by Luverne Education Association, Luverne Public Schools and the Luverne High School Student Council.