Leila Olson, 91, Adrian, died Saturday, Nov. 10, 2001, at Arnold Memorial Nursing Home in Adrian.

Memorial services were Wednesday, Nov. 14, at United Methodist Church in Adrian. The Rev. Chris Johnson officiated. Burial of the cremains will be at Oakmont Memorial Park in Lafayette, Calif.

Leila Ashby was born to Ira and Clara (Coss) Ashby on Aug. 14, 1910, in Arrowsmith, Ill. She attended country school near Magnolia prior to attending and graduating from Magnolia High School.

She married Almer N. Olson on March 10, 1935, in Sioux Falls, S.D. After their marriage they lived in Magnolia before moving to California in 1940. Mr. Olson worked on the Oakland Bay Bridge, and she worked as a salesperson in a dime store. During the war years she was a homemaker. In 1981 she moved to Adrian where she lived in the renovated Slade Hotel. She moved to Arnold Memorial Nursing Home in September 2001.

Mrs. Olson was a member of United Methodist Church in Adrian and also a member of the Royal Neighbors of America. She enjoyed playing cards and Senior Citizen activities. She also enjoyed receiving news and pictures of her great-grandchildren and traveling with her husband and friend while in California.

Survivors include her son, Wayne (Happy) Olson, El Cerrito Calif.; two grandsons, Jon (Christe) Olson and Mike Olson; two great-grandsons; one brother, Howard (Ruth) Ashby, Luverne; one sister, Helen Rogers, Golden, Colo.; sister-in-law, Delores Ashby, Adrian; and several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Olson was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Almer, three brothers and three sisters.

Dingmann Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Adrian, was in charge of arrangements.

By John Rittenhouse
The Luverne girls' hockey team stumbled out of the blocks to start the 2001-02 season by taking an 8-0 drubbing in New Ulm Tuesday.

Eagle goalie Jenny Neveln blanked the Cardinals by making 13 saves, and the New Ulm offense peppered LHS net-minder Bethany Rosenberg with 35 shots overall while scoring at least two goals in every period.

Ashley Dietz and Nikki Williams scored a combined six goals to lead the assault turned in by the Eagles.

Dietz found the net four times, including a three-goal effort in the second period. Williams scored goals in the game's first and third periods.

Dietz opened the scoring 1:41 into the game with an unassisted tally.

Williams scored her first goal at the 5:10 mark of the opening stanza, and New Ulm's Jocelyn Janni added a tally 25 seconds later to make it a 3-0 game.

With Dietz scoring three goals in a 10-minute span in the second period, New Ulm opened a commanding 6-0 advantage.

Eagle Angie Seifert found the net at the 11:03 mark of the third period before Williams ended the scoring with her second goal that came with 4:02 left to play.

Luverne, which had five shots in the first and third periods and two in the second, will open the home portion of its schedule at 2 p.m. Saturday against Mankato East. The Cards host Fairmont at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Some people are blessed with the knowledge that they are destined to follow a certain path in life. Luverne native Teri (Busse) Hady knew at a very young age what path she would choose. She was called to help people by becoming a nurse.

"I always wanted to be a surgical nurse. I had to take little tests to see what I wanted to do in the seventh grade. I knew right away I wanted to work in the operating room," said Teri.

She currently works as a cardiac surgical nurse for Dr. Dearani, M.D., a cardiac and transplant surgeon at Mayo Clinic, Rochester. In addition to her duties for Dr. Dearani, Teri assists in heart, lung, liver and kidney transplants.

Mayo Clinic, a renowned medical center, offers cutting edge medical treatments, including organ transplants.

Methodist and St. Mary's hospitals are both located in Rochester. Each hospital specializes in different areas, but both are under the canopy of the Mayo Clinic.
When Teri is on call for transplants she must be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For heart transplants she is on call one week out of five, for liver three weeks out of six. If her on call time overlaps she must find someone to cover for her.

Teri said she has seen many advances in transplant surgery. For example, in the past, a liver transplant patient would have been put on a bypass machine. Now the surgeons are more familiar with the operation so the surgery is performed without the by-pass. Bypass is used only in extremely complicated surgeries.

Living related donor liver transplants are also performed. Mayo Clinic is one of the few places in the United States approved for this procedure.

Teri has worked on both ends of the transplant procedure. She was a member of a retrieval team before she switched to the transplant team. Fear of flying was the reason for her switch.

Previously, she would have traveled anywhere in the transplant region of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota or Wisconsin with little notice.

A transplant team includes two surgical nurses, one surgical tech, a resident and surgeon.

Organs have maximum time limits between retrieval and transplant completion. Completion means in the patient and functioning normally.

Hearts must be transplanted within four hours, livers within 12 hours, lungs within eight hours and kidneys within 24 hours.

Teri has assisted on numerous surgeries, but recently she was on the team for Beaver Creek resident Ron RaukÕs liver transplant.

Teri said she talked with the family before the surgery to let them know she would be assisting. "The family of the patient is under so much stress with a million and one things happening. I just wanted to say it would be all right," Teri said.

"I know that I am helping someone live a longer life. I know that they are going to have a better life. Some are so sick before surgery they can hardly get out of bed. Liver surgeries are especially rewarding because the patient recovers so quickly. They can go back to living the life they used to live."

Teri encourages everyone to talk to their family members if they are interested in organ donation and have their wishes put on their driver's license.

"So many patients die daily that are waiting for an organ. They are the gift of life. It's the greatest gift you can give another person," she said.

Teri and her husband, Steve, live in Rochester. She is the daughter of Ken and Janice Busse, Luverne.

Bauer is easily recognizable as the owner of Luverne's Pizza Ranch.

Harrison said, "Lila has donated money toward Kids Teaching Kids. She is an ambassador of good will in our community. She is known for giving away free pizza coupons to anyone she discovers that has accomplished something that deserves recognition or reward."

Harrison said, "She has welcomed school children to come for a very special field trip experience where they make their own pizza, accompanied by the beverage of their choice and they leave with a free mini pizza coupon."

Harrison also pointed out that Bauer is a major employer of people with special needs.

Bauer said, "We hire a lot of kids with special needs to give them some kind of skill to use." She said some employees fold boxes and clean and aren't always seen by customers even though their work is valuable. Bauer said many of those workers take a real ownership in their duties and gain a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Marie Atkinson-Smeins said of Bauer in a nomination letter, "Lila is such a positive person. She is very supportive of the school. She has provided us with Student of the Week pizza coupons for the last few years. She has given the school a deal many times when we have ordered pizza."

Bauer said she enjoys the way her job connects her to the school, especially through the kindergarten tours. "It's their one big trip for the year," she said.

"This is just what we do. It's not an effort or anything," she said.

Friends of Education are nominated by LEA members and decided on by the past five Friends of Education.

Five nurses provide skilled care for Hospice of Luverne Community Hospital. They are (front row, from left) LPN Terri Steensma, RN Audrey DeBoer, (back) LPN Beth Duwenhoegger, RN Sara Lanoue and Hospice Clinical Director Linda Reisdorfer, RN.

By Lori Ehde
For terminally ill patients coming to terms with hopes and fears in their final days, hospice nurses are often more than the health care workers checking vital signs.

They become the patient's connection to an end-of-life system that includes doctors, social workers, chaplains, home health care aides and trained volunteers.

For these nurses, caring for hospice patients presents unique challenges and opportunities.

"I never thought I could do this," said LPN Terri Steensma. "I wondered, 'How could you do this - deal with dying people?"

Steensma, like the other four nurses involved with Hospice of Luverne Community Hospital, quickly learned the work has its rewards.

"I think we have a special place with our patients, their families and with our team," said RN Audrey DeBoer. "It's more than just nursing."

She said the rewards of endearing friendships balance the stresses of dealing with end-of-life issues.

"Do we shed tears? Yes we do," she said. "But you get a God-given grace to deal with that and get you through it."

Hospice nurses most commonly work with family members to help patients, but sometimes their work is solo.

"There have been times when we're the only ones there for them," said RN Sara Lanoue. "We're happy we can do it. We're happy to have the hospice concept that allows us to do that."

The nurses all know about each others' patients and work together to provide the care best suited for each patient.

The goal of hospice is to keep patients as pain-free as possible, with loved ones nearby, until death arrives.

During regular visits, hospice nurses assess patients' pain, as well as other symptoms, check vital signs, make necessary changes in medication or treatment, and communicate with the patients' doctors.

At the same time, hospice nurses work closely with the patients' families - especially primary care givers - to teach them how to care for patients at home and keep them updated on the patients' conditions and what to expect.

These skilled visits can be in patients' homes, nursing homes, hospitals or in the hospice Cottage. A hospice nurse is on call 24 hours a day for all hospice patients and their families.

In the process of caring for dying patients, nurses are often the ones who deal with patient concerns on all topics ' not just health-related.

Most commonly, hospice patients express fear of how severe their pain will be and if it will be manageable. Other concerns deal with becoming a burden to others, losing control, losing dignity and choice and finding meaning in their lives.

The hospice program provides spiritual counseling, helps work out arrangements for dependents, answers caregivers' questions and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Hospice nurses and team members get brief glimpses at the inner souls of their patients, and the result is often lifelong relationships with family members after the patient dies.

"You can go for years and the family will still recognize you," said Beth Duwenhoegger, who said she often receives Christmas cards from the families of her former patients. "That's rewarding."

Hospice of Luverne Community Hospital serves patients within a 30-mile radius of Luverne and made 706 skilled nursing visits.

Last year, 76 people were admitted to hospice and spent an average of 24 days in the program.

Forty-nine patients utilized the hospice Cottage in Luverne.

In Minnesota, the majority of hospice patients have cancer - more than 60 percent. Others commonly come to hospice with heart and lung problems, AIDS and Alzheimer's disease.

Although Medicare covers hospice care, reimbursement is often inadequate. The local hospice program is generously supported by the community through donations and volunteer labor.

For example, Sioux Valley Southwestern Electric recently donated $2,000 through its Operation Roundup program to the Cottage to install new carpet.

Also, the annual Hospice Banquet and Charity Auction typically brings in $15,000 to $20,000.

First-grade teacher Lundgren spends part of her day outside of the regular classroom to work one-on-one with struggling readers.

By Sara Quam
Lisa Lundgren has enjoyed the rewards of teaching during her 16 years in the profession.
She now has the award of Luverne Teacher of the Year to go along with all her personal rewards.
"ItÕs really an award that belongs to so many teachers at our school Ñ they all come to school every day and work hard to do the best job they can," she said.
A Harrisburg, S.D., native, Lundgren has taught first grade in Luverne for 13 years. For the past five years, sheÕs taught the class half days and spent the other half in Reading Recovery.
"Reading Recovery is a one-to-one program that helps children make sense of the process of learning to read," Lundgren said.
Reading Recovery is essentially a tutoring model that provides daily 30-minute lessons for beginning readers in first grade. It focuses on early intervention, identifying children before problems begin.
"I love what I do. I like the challenge of working with struggling readers. ItÕs so rewarding to see kids make sense of the process of learning to read," she said. "To see it all come together in a childÕs eyes is truly rewarding."
She started preparing for her career as a student at Augustana College where she graduated with a double major in elementary education and special education in 1984. She went on to get her masterÕs degree in curriculum and instruction in 1993. The Reading Recovery training is ongoing but was first completed in 1998.
Lundgren's specialized training is something thatÕs benefited the entire elementary school, according to Shirley Harrison, past Teacher of the Year winner and award committee member.
"SheÕs a mentor to her fellow teachers," Harrison said. "SheÕs also always looking for new ideas on how to help children really understand."
"She is so good with the reading program and just has a calm presence and gentle manner in the classroom," Harrison said.
Training for Reading Recovery is extensive and high pressure, Harrison said, because teachers have to be evaluated and must demonstrate their teaching from behind a two-way mirror to keep their accreditation.
Even though Lundgren spends part of her day outside of the regular classroom setting for Reading Recovery, she said she enjoys the things first-graders learn.
"ItÕs kind of like life," she said. "You work hard, take time to have fun and try to do whatÕs right. ItÕs not that simple, of course, but itÕs a start."
Nominations for Teacher of the Year are invited from all LEA members, and the new Teacher of the Year is decided by the past five Teachers of the Year.

Friend of education
Along with the Teacher of the Year award, Luverne Schools announced that Lila Bauer is the new Friend of Education.

By Sara Quam
Pool Commission members aren't making any recommendations on the future of the Pool and Fitness Center until the first part of next year.

At its Tuesday meeting, they looked at a draft of a letter to facility members and suggested changes. Basically, the letter will inform members of the 20-percent rate increase and give them 30 days to opt out of their contract.

As far as changing management or ownership, the commission felt it would be wise to wait until reaction from the rate increase is felt.

Pool and Fitness Center Director Darrell Huiskes suggested that the joint owners of the facility, the city of Luverne and Rock County, approve spending $110,000 from a trust fund to go toward weight room and fitness equipment.

The commission said it would be better to see what future ownership will be before extra money is spent.

Pool Commission member Laurie Ketterling said, "I think it's jumping the gun. I don't think we should put $110,000 into it just because the possibility of proposals came about."

County Commissioner Ken Hoime said that in his conversations with other facility managers, they've said customer service and program development retain and attract more members than equipment.

Damon Eisma, Pool Commission member said, "In my mind, if we do a capital expenditure, that's saying no to any other ideas."

The county and city would have to jointly approve the spending, but the commission won't recommend it at this time. The trust fund was started to go toward major expenses like new pool liners or roof work.

So far, the commission has heard opinions on all options for the facility. Some favor new management. Others would like to rid the city and county of the taxpayer contribution ($72,000 this year each) by selling it. And some people have said they'd like to keep the asset under government ownership but privately lease it.

Commission adviser Ed Bouwman said, "Whatever we do, we have to provide the best for the community, and that has two sides - saving tax money and providing a service."

After a few meetings of talking in circles Bouwman said it is time to start forming definite opinions. "Talking about employees and the future of the facility, it's easy to start worrying about being politically correct. It's a very delicate issue, and itÕs not easy to discuss, but we're not facing it."

Bouwman said that generating ideas and working with a cooperative group of employees is important if a sale or other agreement is turned down in favor of keeping the facility government-run.

The January meeting will restart discussions of whether the commission will recommend that the city and county get proposals for sale, lease or new management.

By Lori Ehde
Luverne's reputation for its strong special education department is bringing more special needs students into the district.

At the same time, the district is better equipped to recognize special needs, which is also raising the number of students in Luverne schools.

While Luverne's total student enrollment has steadily declined through the years, the number of special needs children has increased, due in part to referrals from South Dakota hospitals.

At last count, on Oct. 29, there were 182 students in Luverne who met criteria for individual education plans. That compares with 177 in December 2000.

District Psychologist Renee (Breuer) Guy updated Luverne School Board members on the status of special needs programs in the district.

"I do think people have heard about Luverne and know that Luverne is a great place to be, especially if you have children with special needs," she said.

Guy said administration requested Luverne's special education department be evaluated by the Pipestone Special Education Cooperative, of which Luverne is a member.

"We have some concerns in our department with our case loads," Guy said. "We have more children with more severe needs, and there's a concern we may not be providing the best quality program. We're doing our best, but that's why we requested the evaluation."

Child Study Coordinator Carol Svingen, Luverne, is conducting the evaluation for the co-op. She has requested detailed information from special education staff and is interviewing each staff member individually.

"I wouldn't doubt there will be some recommendations," Guy said.

Specifically, she's worried about the ratio of professional special needs teachers to students. She said Luverne's response to increasing student numbers has so far been to increase the number of teachersÕ aides.

The result has been that the teachers are spending more time managing their aides than seeing students.

For example, middle school special needs instructor Lucinda Rofshus oversees 15 students and eight aides. "We have students with a lot more special needs," she said. "I've seen a real increase in the severity of those needs."

Special needs costs are reimbursed by state and federal sources, and services for open-enrolled students are billed to home districts. Slightly more than 6 percent of Luverne's special needs students are open-enrolled here from other districts.

Guy said she didn't want to leave the board with the impression that special needs students have not been served; rather she said evaluating the department will help her determine how best to serve them.

Svingen started the evaluation late in October and will likely conclude in the first week of December. There is no charge to the Luverne district for the evaluation.

By Lori Ehde
The jury trial for Rock County Feedlot Officer John Burgers, charged on multiple counts of soliciting and accepting bribes from Global Ventures Inc., is so far scheduled for Dec. 10 in federal court.

That date may be extended, however, because the prosecution has indicated it will seek additional charges against Burgers which will allege more specific illegal acts.

Burgers, 48, of Hills, was indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday, Sept. 20, on charges that he accepted money from the Pipestone hog operation Global Ventures Inc. to overlook mismanagement of potentially hazardous waste.

He was placed on paid administrative leave from his duties as director of the Rock County Land Management Office pending an internal investigation of allegations contained in the indictment.

Meanwhile, Burgers' attorney has filed a motion to suppress statements Burgers made Sept. 18 to FBI Special Agent Michael Dudley.

In those statements, handwritten by Burgers, he said he received roughly $200,000 in loans from Global Ventures.

He admitted receiving loans on June 18, 1996, of $89,797.55, on Dec. 19, 1996, of $3,000, on March 26, 1997, of $103,000 and on Dec. 4, 1997, $5,000.

"I asked for these loans initially from Dave Logan, who sent me to Mike Morgan," Burgers wrote in his statement. "The loans constituted preferential treatment because I knew I could not get these loans anywhere else."

Alleged illegal activity dates back to early 1996 when Burgers learned of a potentially hazardous chemical spill being dumped at a Global Ventures hog facility.

Instead of notifying the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Burgers advised Global Ventures to take care of the problem.

"...I heard rumors the bank and Global Ventures were involved in suspicious money transactions. I knew Dave Logan would see me as something of value and that he would know that I could make it tough or make it easy on Global Ventures. I expected for that reason Logan could help me get loans at Pipestone Bank," Burgers wrote.

"Dave Logan used me as his heads-up guy to tell him of potential problems."

Burgers said he always paid back or made payments on the loans, except the $5,000 loan. "I told Logan I needed $5,000 dollars. He said don't worry, we'll just get a little loan at the bank. One week later, Logan called and said the $5,000 was in my account and not to worry about the payments. I thought I would be paying the loan back later," Burgers wrote.

"Around a year later, Dave called and said Mike would meet me. Mike Morgan and I met at the Hardwick Corners. He gave me cash to pay on the $5,000 loan. Mike Morgan gave me cash two more times until the $5,000 loan was paid off."

Burgers' statement is marked by frequent expressions of remorse. "I knew at the time I should not have taken these monies. I knew these monies was for something job-related that I had done in the past for Global or for something they may want me to do in the future," he wrote.

"I took it anyway because I was in such a terrible financial position. I have never attempted to pay back the monies, nor has anyone asked me for the monies."

In filing the motion to suppress Burgers' statements, his attorney questions the "voluntariness" of his statements.

At the start of Burgers' written statement, however, he asserts, "I, John Burgers, make this statement freely and voluntarily with no threats or promises of any kind."

He also writes, "I regret very much that I got involved in the whole thing. My conscience and sleep have been very difficult ever since I received the preferential loans and the $5,000 cash. I know I did not have to make this statement, however, I wanted to clear the air and get all this off my chest."

Global Ventures was also charged with offering bribes, and both Burgers and Global Ventures entered not guilty pleas in October.