Christmas tree pickup
As you return your home to its normal state after the Christmas holidays, don’t forget to put your tree out on time.

The city trucks will be around to pick up both Christmas trees and wreaths on Monday, Jan. 6.

Since the pickup will begin at 7 a.m. you may want to take care of it the night before.

Did Norwalk visit your house?
The Norwalk virus, made famous by recent cruise ship episodes, is making its presence known in Minnesota as well as Luverne.

During the six-week period that began on Nov. 1, the Minnesota Department of Health has received reports of 25 separate outbreaks of Norwalk-like illnesses, involving a thousand or more people.

Outbreaks have been reported in a variety of settings this year, including restaurants, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, catered events, private social gatherings (which would include my home on Christmas day), and work sites.

It runs its course in a day or two, but can last as little as 12 hours and as long as two and a half days.

Aid may be coming to local responders
The government recently announced that Minnesota will receive a $2.1 million grant for state and local responders and emergency management to better equip them for acts of terrorism and other emergencies and disasters.

According to Senator Mark Dayton, 75 percent of the grant, which will be administered by the FEMA Office of National Preparedness, is required to go to local government, such as Luverne or Rock County.

Did you borrow interest free money?
Were you one of the 47who took advantage of interest free loans this year in Luverne?

Luverne’s three financial institutions loaned $21,720 in the form of 47 loans for this year’s Christmas shopping.

Participants have six months to pay the money back, interest free.

In 2001, Luverne shoppers borrowed $31,800 interest-free dollars .

How’s your credit card debt
Although the number of credit cards has remained constant over the past year, the amount of debt on those cards has gone up 35 percent.

According to a recent credit card survey, conducted by Myvesta, the average American individual has a total balance of $3,250, on 2.5 credit cards.

That dollar amount is up from $2,411.

With the average shopper spending $722 for their Christmas shopping this year, that number could go to nearly $4,000, if people haven’t been planning and saving for their Christmas purchases.

Other results from the Myvesta Credit Card Survey include:

Males have an average of $3,932 of credit card debt; females have $2,584.

Married individuals carry an average of $4,436 on their cards; singles carry an average of $1,651.

People aged 18-24 have an average of $849 of credit card debt. Those in the 25-34 age bracket average $3,110; 35-44 average $3,011; 45-54 average $5,276; 55-64 average $6,911 and those aged 65 and older have an average balance of $433.

People in the Midwest carry the largest balances on their cards with an average of $5,140 each. Those in the west carry the smallest average balances with $2,077. Individuals in the South have an average of $2,795 on their cards and those in the Northeast carry an average of $3,333 on their credit cards.

Publisher Roger Tollefson can be contacted by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com

Margaret M. Hatting, 87, Luverne, died Sunday, Dec. 29, 2002, in Luverne Community Hospital.

Services were Thursday, Jan. 2, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. The Rev. Andrew Beerman officiated. Burial was in the parish cemetery.

Margaret Roth was born to Joseph A. and Catherine M. (Winkle) Roth on Sept. 20, 1915, in Granville, Iowa. She grew up in Granville and attended school there.

She married Clem Hatting on Jan 28, 1936, in Ashton. After their marriage, the couple lived in Ashton. In 1939, they moved to Luverne. She helped, at times, when her husband started C.H. Hatting Gravel Co. in Luverne.

Mrs. Hatting was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church. She enjoyed traveling, especially spending the winter months in Arizona.

Survivors include three sons and daughters-in-law, Bob and Lois Hatting, Butch and Vicki Hatting and Jim and Carol Hatting, all of Luverne; four daughters and sons-in-law, Marilyn Holland, Pat and Jim Phillips, all of Tempe, Ariz., Sandy and Steve Heck, Luverne, and Joni and Tony Farmer, Tyler, Texas; 23 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Jim (Lucille) Roth, Omaha, Neb., and Francis (Darlene) Roth, California; three sisters-in-law, Annie Roth, California, Jan Roth, Omaha, and Vonnie Hatting, Rochester; and many nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Hatting was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Clem, in 1975, one daughter, Loni Batcheller, in 1995, one granddaughter, Tami Hatting, in 1998, four brothers, Verne, Bob, Kenny and Merle Roth, and one sister, Gloria Kruger.

A tree will be planted in memory of Margaret Hatting by Hospice of Luverne Community Hospital.

Dingmann Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Lyle Martin Carlson, 63, Lake Wilson, died Monday, Dec. 23, 2002, at Murray County Memorial Hospital in Slayton.

Services were Thursday, Dec. 26, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lake Wilson. The Rev. Jon Skaar officiated. Military honors were accorded by Lake Wilson Legion Post. Burial was in Hillside Cemetery, Lake Wilson.

Lyle Carlson was born to Martin and Gladys (Thompson) Carlson on Sept. 19, 1939, in Cameron Township, Murray County. He grew up on the family farm and graduated from Lake Wilson High School in 1958. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1959.

He married Marilyn Kiebach on Sept. 9, 1959, at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. They lived in Aberdeen, Md., and in Alaska. Following his discharge in 1962, they moved to a farm north of Lake Wilson. In 1984, they retired from farming and moved to an acreage near Chandler. In 1998, they moved to Lake Wilson.

Mr. Carlson was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lake Wilson. He was a member of Lake Wilson American Legion and was a past commander. He also was a 4-H leader. He enjoyed fishing, baseball and playing cards.

Survivors include his wife, Marilyn Carlson, Lake Wilson, three children and their spouses, Valinda and Brian Aubert, Pipestone, Jeffrey and Tammy Carlson, Cannon Falls, and Lennie and Lisa Carlson, Lake Wilson; eight grandchildren, Ashley and Aaron Aubert, Jessica, Joshua and Janelle Carlson, and Kyle, Natasha and Hunter Carlson; one great-grandson, Colton Jay Mitchell; his mother, Gladys Carlson, Fulda; two sisters, Jeanne (Gene) Zimmerman, Chico, Calif., and Audrey (Gerald) Voss, Hadley; one brother, Darrell (Sheila) Carlson, Tracy; and one brother-in-law, Stanley Suedkamp, St. Paul.

Mr. Carlson was preceded in death by his father and one sister, Shirley Suedkamp.

Totzke Funeral Home, Slayton, was in charge of arrangements.

Howard Crawford, 86, rural Beaver Creek, died Monday, Dec. 30 at Tuff Memorial Home, Hills. Visitation will be Thursday, Jan. 2 from 5 to 8 p.m. with the family present. Services will be Friday, Jan. 3 at 10 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, Beaver Creek, with Rev. Connie Stone Officiating. Burial will be at Beaver Creek Cemetery.

Harlold Carlson, 80, Luverne, died Monday, Dec. 30 at his son's home in Dawson. Visitation will be Thursday, Jan. 2 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne. Memorial services will be Friday, Jan. 3 at 11 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, Luverne, with Rev. Paul Fries officiating. Burial of cremains will be at Maplewood Cemetery with military honors by the Luverne American Legion and VFW.

Albert B. Pierson, 91, Circle Pines, formerly of Hardwick, died Monday, Dec. 30, 2002, at Unity Hospital in Fridley.

Services will be Friday, Jan. 3, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Circle Pines.

Cards may sent to 72 W. Road, Circle Pines, MN 55014.

Irene C. Schlapkohl, 97, Luverne, died Friday, Dec. 27, 2002, at Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in Luverne.

Graveside services were Tuesday, Dec. 31, at Maplewood Cemetery. The Rev. Bart Fletcher officiated.

Irene Hoime was born to Andrew and Cora (Loeffler) Hoime on Jan. 17, 1905, in Springwater Township, rural Rock County. She attended country school in Rock County.

She married Edwin Schlapkohl on Nov. 27, 1938, in Luverne. After their marriage, the couple farmed in Springwater Township. They retired and moved to Luverne in 1988. She was a homemaker.

Mrs. Schlapkohl was a member of Springwater Methodist Church. She enjoyed baking, gardening and reading.

Survivors include one daughter, Marcia Williams, Sioux City, Iowa; two grandchildren, Rick Schlapkohl, Sioux Falls, S.D., and Mark Schlapkohl, Yankton, S.D.; five great-grandchildren, Kristina, Aaron, Jenna, Christopher and Kaylie; and one sister, Esther (George) Micheal, Elkhart, Ind.

Mrs. Schlapkohl was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Edwin, in 1976; one son, Willis, one grandson, Kent, one brother, Archie Hoime, and four sisters, Iola Hauglid, Florence McDowell, Neva Olson and LaVera Parks.

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

Lorraine Overgaard, 83, Luverne, died Saturday, Dec. 28, 2002, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Services were Tuesday, Dec. 31, at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. The Rev. Dell Sanderson officiated. Burial was in Luverne Memorial Gardens, rural Luverne.

Lorraine Carlson was born to David and Hulda (Sandgren) Carlson on July 22, 1919, in Magnolia Township, Rock County. She spent her childhood on her parents’ farm and attended public schools. She was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church on Nov. 30, 1919, and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Immanuel Lutheran Church on Aug. 11, 1935.

She married Oscar Torlief Overgaard on Dec. 10, 1939, in Luverne. They lived on a farm in Kanaranzi Township. She moved to Luverne in 1994.

Mrs. Overgaard was a member of Grace Lutheran Church. She was a member of Lydia Circle and Grace Lutheran Church Woman. She also was a member of the Pinochle Marathon Group.

Survivors include two sons, Norman (Nancy) Overgaard and Larry Overgaard, both of Luverne; two daughters, Loretta (Merlyn) Flom, Sartell, and Carol (Dick) Richters, Luverne; 15 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Howard Carlson, Harold Carlson and Warren (Joan) Carlson; and three sisters, LuVerna Hilliard, Mable Bakke and Florence (Jim) Connell.

Mrs. Overgaard was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Oscar, Oct. 23, 1992, her twin brother, Lawrence, Dec. 24, 1944, and brother, Harvey, Feb. 19, 2001.

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

Ardella Johnson, 62, Magnolia, died Sunday, Jan. 5 at Luverne Community Hospital. Visitation will be Tuesday, Jan. 7 from 2 to 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne. Services will be Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 10:30 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, Luverne, with Rev. Dell Sanderson and Rev. Maurice Hagen officiating. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery.