By Lori Ehde
It was a Christmas homecoming like no other for Brian and Maria (Harrison) Kremin last week.

Their dog, Montana, a 140-pound mastiff, had been missing for months, and they were starting to wonder if they'd ever see her again.

The couple lives in Kansas City but had the dog with them in September for a visit to Brian's family near Kanaranzi. During that visit, Montana got lost after Brian took her for a walk near the river.

In the weeks and months since then, the Kremins have been beside themselves looking for 3-year-old Montana.

"She's our baby," Maria explained in a phone call from Kansas City. "Every single weekend we came back to look for her. We put over 20,000 miles on our cars."

They also aired regular radio announcements about the lost dog, Dave Paquette flew them in his plane to see if they could spot her from the air, and they offered a $200 reward for Montana's safe return.

Every week, they'd hear from residents between Rock Rapids and Kanaranzi that they'd spotted the dog but couldn't get their hands on her.

"She's very skittish," Maria said. "One time, we got a call from a guy who said, 'I'm standing here looking at your dog. What can I do to get her in my garage?'"

She said when time passed without sightings, they feared Montana was dead.

Then, on Christmas day when the couple was back home for the holidays, another call came in about Montana.

Several Rock Rapids area residents, plus the Kremins in their two cars and Maria's parents, Lowell and Shirley Harrison, all drove to the area where Montana had been seen.

"When I saw her, I started to bawl, because she was just skin and bones," Maria said.

After roaming for months with little nourishment the dog had lost 40 pounds.

"She was just wild," Maria said. "But once I got her collar, she sat down and kind of melted into me."

The dog had been shot with a tranquilizer dart, but Maria said Montana still managed to wag her tail.

"I was totally bawling, Brian was bawling, and people stood around and just looked at us," she said. "All I wanted for Christmas is to have Montana back."

She said she and Brian are grateful for all the help they had finding Montana, who appears to be recovering well from the trauma.

"People were so wonderful - all of them," she said. "These were strangers that we didn't even know."

Luverne-Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth wrestler Chris Tiesler, pictured during an early-season match in Luverne, went 2-1 and placed second at 119 pounds during the Dave Roder Memorial Tournament in Montevideo Friday. During a home triangular Dec. 20, Tiesl er became the fifth Cardinal to reach the 100-win plateau for his career.

By John Rittenhouse
A short-handed Luverne-Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth wrestling team competed at the Dave Roder Memorial Tournament in Montevideo Friday.

With six varsity wrest l ers on hand, L-H-BC-E was unable to keep up with the seven-squad field in team competition.

Two Cardinals, however, placed in the top three individually in their respective weight classes to make the trip a good one.

L-H-BC-E rounded out the team sta n di ngs with 30 points.

Canby (185.5), Windom (161), Willmar (143), West Central Area (94), Montevideo (94) and MACCRAY (55) also competed in the tournament.

Chris Tiesler turned in the top performance by a Cardinal in individual competition by going 2-1 an d placing second at 119 pounds.

Tiesler reached the finals by posting a technical fall win over Canby's Andrew Full in the quarterfinals before topping Windom's Nick Kulseth 9-5 in the semifinals.

Willmar's Leo Ballesteras nipped Tiesler 5-3 in th e cham pionship match.

L-H-BC-E's Joel Evans went 3-1 to place third at 189 pounds.

Evans got off to a poor start when he was pinned by Canby's Ross Kockelman, who eventually placed second, in 2:53 during the quarterfinals.

Evans regrouped to record cons ecutive pins over MACCRAY's Ross Janeisch (:58), WCA's Tom Lohse (1:27) and Montevideo's Pat Huber (1:21) to place third.

Cardinals Dustin Donth, Dusty Seachris, Justin Mann and Cody Jagow all went 0-2 at 130, 135, 140 and heavyweight respectively.

The L-H-BC-E grapplers will compete at the Deuel Tournament in Clear Lake, S.D., Saturday.
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Alice Halverson, 94, Hills, formerly of Kenneth, died Thursday, Dec. 27, 2001, at Tuff Memorial Home in Hills.

Memorial services were Saturday, Dec. 29, at Kenneth Lutheran Church in Kenneth. The Rev. Kermit Rye officiated. Burial was in Kenneth Lutheran Cemetery.

Alice Henrietta Halverson was born to Bert and Anna (Nelson) Halverson on June 14, 1907, in Vienna Township, Rock County. She was baptized and confirmed at Kenneth Lutheran Church in Kenneth. She attended District #72 grade school and Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D., studying business.

She worked as a bookkeeper for KresgeÕs Dime Store in Sioux Falls for about eight years. She then worked for KresgeÕs Store in Minneapolis. After working for them for several years she went to work for a realty company in Minneapolis, She retired in the 1970s. Following illness in 1991 she moved to a Good Samaritan Home in Minneapolis. In March 1999 she moved to Tuff Memorial Home in Hills.

Survivors include several nieces and nephews.

Ms. Halverson was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and three sisters.

Roste Funeral Home, Hills, was in charge of arrangements.

Willis James (Bill) Brakke, 79, died on January 1, 2002 at the Luverne Hospice Cottage. He was born on the family farm in Delafield Township, Jackson County, MN, on April 26, 1922 to Gustav and Christina (Pohlman) Brakke. He graduated from high school in Lakefield, MN in 1939, and attended Worthington Junior College prior to his enlistment in the Naval Air Corps. After flight training, he transferred to the Marine Air Corps, piloted B-25 Mitchell aircraft in the South Pacific during World War II, and attained the rank of captain. He was recalled to active duty in Korea during the conflict there.

Bill graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1948, and married Delphine (Del) Undem on July 16, 1949 in Sioux Falls, SD. They lived in Luverne, MN, where he was a zone and district manager for Investors Diversified Services (IDS) for 35 years. After retirement, he served for eighteen years as a Rock County commissioner. One of Bill's most gratifying achievements was being instrumental in the preservation and restoration of the historic Rock County Courthouse.

Bill was very active in community affairs. Among other activities, he was the charter president of the Luverne Jaycees, was president of Rotary and was a founder and charter board member of the Southwestern Mental Health Center, which he served for 37 years. He also was on a number of regional, state, and national boards and committees. He received many public service awards, including ones from the Association of MN Counties, the MN Department of Health, the MN Public Health Association, and the National Council of Community Mental Health Centers.

He was a member of St. CatherineÕs Catholic Church, the VFW, the Luverne Country Club, and many other community organizations.

Bill is survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters and 10 grandchildren: David Brakke, Harrisonburg, VA; Susan (Bill) Jeska, Minnetonka, MN; Tom (Sue) Brakke, Deephaven, MN; Linda (John) Zimmerman, Eden Prairie, MN; grandchildren Kristin (Chris) Horton, Martin and Peder Brakke; Anna Jeska; Crystal, Michael and Daniel Brakke; and Ryan, Kate and Abby Zimmerman. His sister, Edith (Russ) Nesseth Buhler, and nieces and nephews also survive him. His parents preceded him in death.

Visitation will be at the Dingman Funeral Home in Luverne on Thursday from 2:00 to 8:00, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00, and a prayer service at 7:30. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. CatherineÕs Catholic Church on Friday at 10:30, with visitation beforehand starting at 9:30. Memorials are preferred to the Luverne Hospice Cottage or a charity of choice.

Ila Slagel, 90, Luverne, died Friday, Dec. 7 at Mary Jane Brown HOme, Luverne. Memorial Service will be Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 10:30 a.m. at United Methodist Chruch, Luverne, with Rev. Bart Fletcher officiating. Burial of cremains will be at Luverne Memorial Gardens. Dingmann Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Luverne, is in charge arrangements.

Ecko Boelman, 91, Hardwick, died Wednesday, Jan. 2 at the Luverne Hospice Cottage. Services will be Monday, Jan. 7 at 10:30 a.m. at Engebretson Funeral Home, Luverne, with Rev. John Pehrson officiating. Burial will be in Luverne Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Sunday, Jan. 6 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Engebretson Funeral Home.

Jennie Renken, 73, George, Iowa, formerly of Luverne, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2001, in Merrill Pioneer Community Hospital, Rock Rapids, Iowa.

Services were Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2002, at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church of George in George. The Rev. Dale Lint officiated. Burial was in Evergreen Lawn Cemetery, George.

Jennie Van Engelenhoven was born to Cornelius and Gertrude (Post) Van Englenhoven on July 13, 1928, in Luverne. She attended school and spent most of her childhood in Luverne. As an adult she took nursing jobs at local hospitals and also in California.

She married Fred Renken on Jan. 15, 1953, in the Zoar Presbyterian Manse on Jan. 15, 1953. They lived and worked in George. Mr. Renken died Jan. 13, 1986. She worked as a caregiver in people's homes, did housecleaning and was a janitor at the Post Office. She moved to George Community Good Samaritan Center in George on Jan. 27, 2000.

Mrs. Renken was a member of Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in George. She enjoyed refinishing old furniture, embroidery and bird watching.

Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Daniel and Vickie Renken, Sioux Falls, S.D., two daughters and sons-in-law, Margene and Harold Behrens and Patty and Merle Gronewold, all of George; four granddaughters, Jennifer (Brad) Dumke, Holly Quitten, all of Sioux Falls, Emily Gronewold, Brookings, S.D., and Abbie Gronewold, George; three brothers, Gerrit (JoAnn) Van Engelenhoven, Tony (Loretta) Van Engelenhoven, all of Luverne, and Evert (Judy) Van Engelenhoven, West Fargo, N.D.; one sister, Marjorie (Richard) Prigge, Prescott, Wis.; and one sister-in-law, Viola Harms, George.

Mrs. Renken was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Fred, one infant sister, four brothers-in-law, Alvin, Harry, John and Floyd Renken, and three sisters-in-law, Anna Wieman, Rose Heronemus and Lillian Hargens.

Roste Funeral Home, Rock Rapids, was in charge of arrangements.

Martha M. Piepgras, 93, Rochester, formerly of Luverne, died Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2001, in Rochester.
Memorial services were Saturday, Dec. 29, at Madonna Towers in Rochester. A memorial service will be later at First Presbyterian Church in Luverne. Burial of cremains will be in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

Martha Warkentin was born to Jacob and Agatha (Wiens) Warkentin on Jan. 27, 1908, in Mountain Lake. She graduated from Mountain Lake High School and Mankato State Teachers College, Mankato, in 1929. After graduation she taught first grade in Comfrey. She moved to Luverne three years later, taking a position teaching second grade.

She married Elmer P. Piepgras on June 9, 1936. They made their home in Luverne. Mr. Piepgras died in June 1984. She continued to live in Luverne until 1996 when she moved to a retirement home in Rochester.

Mrs. Piepgras was a lifetime member of First Presbyterian Church in Luverne where she was active in choir, circle and a variety of other activities. She became active in volunteer work with the elderly, an interest and commitment that she pursued to her death. She was named Rock County Senior Citizen of the Year.

Survivors include four children, John, David, Jim and Donna; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Piepgras was preceded in death by her parents, 12 brothers and sisters, and her husband.

Memorials are preferred to First Presbyterian Church, Luverne, Dollars for Scholars, Luverne, or Madonna Towers Foundation, Rochester.

Dingmann Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

Otto J. Ketelboeter, 94, Ellsworth, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2001, at Luverne Community Hospital in Luverne.

Services were Monday, Dec. 31, at Zion Presbyterian Church in Ellsworth. The Revs. Robert Raedeke and Jim Rongstad officiated. Burial was in Ellsworth Cemetery.

Otto Ketelboeter was born to August and Emma (Mawinkel) Ketelboeter on Jan. 7, 1907, in Flandreau, S.D. He graduated from Currie High School in Currie in 1924. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army as a radar repairman.

He married Gertrude Rosenberg on Sept. 4, 1944, in Ellsworth. He worked at Wiese Blacksmith Shop in Kanaranzi from 1960 to 1985. He was also a custodian for Ellsworth Public School until he retired in 1985.

Mr. Ketelboeter was a member of Zion Presbyterian Church in Ellsworth, Ellsworth American Legion and Ellsworth Senior Citizens.

Survivors include nieces and nephews.

Mr. Ketelboeter was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Gertrude in 1989, seven brothers and one sister.

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