By John Rittenhouse
Hills-Beaver Creek nearly pulled off a huge boys' basketball upset when the Patriots hosted Tri-County Conference rival Southwest Christian in Hills Friday.

The Patriots had the two-time defending state champions on the ropes as they opened a 16-point lead over the Eagles during the second quarter.

SWC, however, pulled to within 13 points of the Patriots by halftime before outscoring H-BC 38-19 in the second half while recording a 52-46 win.

The setback snapped what was a two-game winning streak for the 2-4 Patriots. SWC improved to 5-1 with the win.

It looked like it was going to be H-BC's night when the Patriots dominated play in the first half.

After SWC scored the first two points of the game, H-BC spent the rest of the first period outscoring the Eagles 16-2 while opening a 16-4 cushion.

The Patriots increased their lead to 17 points (23-16) during the second quarter, but the Eagles used an 8-4 surge late in the stanza to make the difference 27-14 at halftime.

H-BC scored the first two points of the third quarter to increase its lead to 15 points before the Eagles put together an 8-0 run to trail 29-21.

The Patriots recovered from SWC's run by padding their advantage to 13 points as the third quarter progressed, but SWC rallied late in the stanza and trailed 37-33 at period's end.

The Eagles outscored H-BC 13-3 in the first half of the fourth quarter to move in front 46-40. A pair of field goals by Matt Buck pulled the Patriots within two points of the Eagles twice in the final two minutes of play, but SWC fought off the challenge to win the game by six points.

In the end, poor shooting by the Patriots in the second half opened the door for SWCÕs late rally.

After their impressive first half, H-BC was limited to six of 28 (21 percent) shooting from the field in the third and fourth quarters. Making just three of eight free throws in the fourth quarter also hurt the Patriots.

"It was a hard-fought-game the whole way," said Patriot coach Steve Wiertzema. "That's just the way we play each other. We played good defense the whole game, and we really played well coming out of the box in the first half. We just had a little trouble scoring in the third and fourth quarters."

Brad Haak recorded a double-double for H-BC by leading the Patriots with 16 rebounds and 10 points. Darin and Lyle DeBoer charted six and five steals respectively for H-BC.

The Patriots play in Westbrook tomorrow.

Box score
D.DeBoer 2 0 0-2 4, Van Batavia 0 0 0-0 0, Van Maanen 1 0 0-0 2, Fransman 0 0 4-4 4, Haak 4 0 2-7 10, L.DeBoer 2 1 0-0 7, Top 1 0 3-3 5, Crawford 3 0 0-0 6, Buck 3 0 2-2 8.

Team statistics
H-BC: 17 of 58 field goals (29 percent), 11 of 18 free throws (61 percent), 36 rebounds, 22 turnovers.
SWC: 20 of 58 field goals (34 percent), nine of 15 free throws (60 percent), 24 rebounds, 22 turnovers.

The Hills-Beaver Creek girls fell one game off the pace in Tri-County Conference basketball play when they dropped a 54-28 decision to Southwest Christian in Hills Thursday.

H-BC, SWC and Ellsworth all were unbeaten in the loop entering ThursdayÕs play.
SWC and Ellsworth now share the top spot, while H-BC is in second place with a 1-1 mark.

The Patriots kept things close against SWC for two quarters, but the E-Gals used a 32-14 scoring cushion in the second half to win by 26 points in the end.

"It was a situation where we wanted to keep it close, and we hung in there with them in the first half," said Patriot coach Tom Goehle. "Then they just overpowered us. They have a lot of weapons."

The E-Gals led by five points (11-6) after eight minutes of play before extending the difference to eight counters (22-14) with an 11-8 scoring edge in the second period.

SWC padded the margin to 12 points (35-23) by the end of the third quarter of play before outscoring the Patriots 19-5 in the final eight minutes to put the game away.

The E-Gals outshot H-BC 43-26 percent from the field and 59-38 percent at the line. The Patriots turned the ball over seven more times (24-17) than SWC did at game's end.

Shanna Tilstra led H-BC in scoring with nine points.

Jamie Arp grabbed six rebounds and produced three steals for the Patriots. Jody Rentschler added three steals.

Box score
C.Tilstra 0 0 0-0 0, Olson 2 0 0-0 4, Sandstede 0 1 0-1 3, Brandt 0 0 0-0 0, Rentschler 0 0 0-0 0, S.Tilstra 4 0 1-4 9, Broesder 1 0 0-2 2, Rozeboom 0 0 0-0 0, Boeve 2 0 0-0 4, Arp 1 0 4-6 6.

Team statistics
H-BC: 11 of 43 field goals, five of 13 free throws (38 percent), 23 rebounds, 24 turnovers.
SWC: 21 of 49 field goals (43 percent), 10 of 17 free throws (59 percent), 26 rebounds, 17 turnovers.

Every three seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. Traditionally blood supplies decrease at this time of year due to the holidays. Many donors are out of town or simply too busy to donate.

This fact hit close to home recently when a plea from the Sioux Falls Regional Blood Bank went out for O-positive blood for the Rev. Tom Mabe, Luverne.
Mabe remains in the intensive care unit of Sioux Valley Hospital after suffering a dissecting aortic aneurysm.

After the word got out, friends and neighbors willingly responded. The hospital was inundated with calls from more than 100 local people who volunteered to give blood.

Several donated at the Blood Bank itself; others waited until the Sioux Falls Regional Blood Bank traveled to Luverne.

Mabe is one of many whom blood donations can help. Each donation can help three different seriously ill patients.

According to the Sioux Falls Regional Blood Bank, a pint of blood is broken into three different components used differently by patients.

Blood is used for trauma patients, surgery patients and cancer victims. The Blood Bank currently needs all types of blood.

The Blood Bank hopes to increase area blood supplies by celebrating the 31st Anniversary of National Blood Month in January with the theme "Give Blood ... The Gift of Life."

When donations decrease, calls are made to potential donors to remind them to give blood.

Donors must be 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. The most common reason people cannot donate this time of year is antibiotics. A donor must be off medication for 24 hours before donating.

In 2000, around 21,000 pints of lifesaving blood were donated at the Sioux Falls Regional Blood Bank, with 182 donated at the blood drives held in Luverne. More is needed to help thousands of seriously ill patients in our region.

The Blood Bank is sponsoring another drive from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at Luverne Community Hospital on Jan. 19 to give people another chance to donate the gift of life.
Since the Sioux Falls Regional Blood Bank supplies Luverne Community Hospital with all its blood, blood collected from these drives is used to help our friends and neighbors.

For more information or to reserve a time to donate contact LaDell Petersen.

January
Jan. 5: Arnold Reese, 87, Luverne.
Jan. 9: Earl Thompson, 75, Seal Beach, Calif.
Jan. 13: Miranda Morris, infant, Eden Prairie.
Jan. 16: Jennie Harding, 95, Luverne.
Jan. 21: Landon Wulf, 11, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Jan. 28: Amy Nesheim, 24, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Jan. 31: Harry Anderson, 86, Mountain Home, Ark.

February
Feb. 2: Wilford Johnson, 72, New London.
Feb. 12: William Kuehl, 92, Luverne.
Feb. 17: Alice Eppenbaugh, 96, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Feb. 20: Elmer Nelson, 84, Hills; Ole Hommen, 77, Luverne.
Feb. 21: Johanna Bosch, 89, Luverne.
Feb. 26: Angie Veldkamp, 94, Luverne.
Feb. 27: William Ehde, 94, Hills.
Feb. 29: Anna Bartelmehs, 97, Janesville.

March
March 7: Lloyd Ellsworth, 88, Hills; Elizabeth Rauk, 82, Beaver Creek.
March 8: Gene Hoiland, 76, Jasper.
March 9: Dewey Hartsuiker, 83, Sioux Falls, S.D.
March 14: Robert Melton Jr. 74, Luverne; Edna Nerison, 94, Sioux Falls.
March 18: Lil Danielson, 85, Hills.
March 21: Edward Fransman, 73, Hills.

April
April 6: Charles "Chuck" Nelson, 77, Hills.
April 8: Myron Kruse, 59, Sacramento, Calif.
April 9: Elise Sundem, 92, Hills.
April 12: Edward Gehrke, 87, Hills.
April 26: Leola Resen, 83, Hills.
April 27: Ben Beyenhof, 93, Rock Rapids.

May
May 13: Anna Mae (Mazie) Boogard, 61, Grand Rapids, Mich.
May 22: Mable Thorin, 97, Hills.
May 29: Olga Danielson, 91, Cannon Falls.

June
June 4: Cathryn Vander Woude, 85, Hills.
June 7: Anna Gehrke, 82, Hills.
June 28: James Van Wyhe, 95, Hills.

July
July 9: Herman Kroon, 76, Steen; Jay Aykens, 83, Steen.
July 12 John Walz, 95, Wheaton.
July 14: Nickolas Van Iperen, 82, Luverne.
July 20: Jennie Hoogeveen, 87, Steen.
July 29: Helen Forrest, 90, Luverne.

August
Aug. 18: Lois Kelly, 73, South Sioux City, Neb.
Aug. 21: Gladys Gudmundson Stordahl, 90, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Aug. 26: Rose Ann Skattum, 86, Luverne; Donald DeJong, 64, Leota.

September
Sept. 1: William Hiney Sr., 81, Luverne.
Sept. 7: Viola (Sandstede) Lutz, 81, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Sept. 8: Gilbert Berkhof, 72, Lakewood, Calif.; Carl Groen, 76, Rock Rapids, Iowa.
Sept. 10: Ruth Kallsen, 87, Hills.
Sept. 22: Kim Kremin, 33, Luverne; Anna Mae Opland, 79, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Sept. 29: Ruth Olson, 80, Luverne; Wayne Pieper, 84, Sioux Falls, S.D.

October
Oct. 21: Everett Van Ginkel, 74, Inwood, Iowa.
Oct. 27: Clara Rentschler, 82, Hills.

November
Nov. 3: Ruth Hengeveld, 87, Luverne; Herman Josendahl, 88, Luverne.
Nov. 5: Elizabeth Wulf, 84, Larchwood, Iowa.
Nov. 11: Ronald Marr, 40, Tea, S.D.
Nov. 13: Helen James, 92, Hills.
Nov. 19: Richard Davis, 66, Minneapolis.
Nov. 20: Ella Wissink, 89, Steen.
Nov. 22: Henry Blom, 74, Luverne; Anna Knobloch, 88, Larchwood, Iowa.
Nov. 23: Matilda Gebhart, 83, Elkton, S.D.
Nov. 24: Anna Finke, 90, Luverne; Mildred Rozeboom, 75, Luverne.
Nov. 26: Hattie Hoff, 94, Rock Rapids, Iowa.

December
Dec. 2: Betty Larson, 71, Hills; Ella Metzger, 86, Lester, Iowa.
Dec. 5: Floyd Vanden Bosch, 61, Worthington; Conley Helgeson, 74, Hills.
Dec. 8: Darrah "Pat" Sammons, 88, Danube.
Dec. 11: John Arends, 93, Luverne.
Dec. 19: Mary Anne Navara, 70, Hills.
Dec. 24: Helen Wallin, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Dec. 25: Edwin Aanenson, 75, Luverne.

By Jolene Farley
After 47 years in the banking industry, Wendell Bengtson will retire on at the end of the year as executive vice president of Exchange State Bank, Hills.

Wendell began his career in the fall of 1953 after returning from Korea where he served as a medic in the 3rd Infantry Division for the U.S. Army.

His first banking job was at the State Bank & Trust Company, Nevada, Iowa. He began as a teller and soon moved up to manager of a branch bank.

Bengtson lived in his home town of Colo, Iowa, until he married his wife, Wilma, on Aug. 3, 1957, in Osceola, Iowa. They purchased a home in McCallsburg, Iowa. The Bengtsons have two children, Noreen and Brian.

In 1961 Bengtson returned to Colo as manager of the bank. The Colo bank sold insurance products, so this offered Bengtson experience in this area. It soon became apparent that there were no opportunities for advancement at the Colo State Bank and Trust. So Bengtson accepted the position of cashier at the Farmers State Bank of Delavan, Minn. He also served on the board of directors.

His hopes to purchase the Delavan bank never materialized, so Bengtson again began looking for a different position. The spring of 1971 saw Bengtson move to Norway, Iowa, to become the cashier and director of the Benton County Savings Bank.

After the bank in Delavan was repeatedly sold throughout the seven years he worked there, Bengtson decided it was time to move on again.

This time he and his family moved to Hills. In May 1978, he arrived at the Exchange State Bank. This was shortly after the Bonanders purchased the bank from D.A. Roning.

Bengtson was cashier, sold insurance, prepared taxes and served on the board of directors.

The bank was located on the corner of Main Street where the little park is now, according to Bengtson. Other employees when he started work were Rodney Bonander, Gene Sundem, Dorothy Thorin, and Carol Nelson.

The bank built at its current location in 1980.

Bengtson has seen many changes in the financial industry. "Back yonder everything was done with posting machines like adding machines," he said. "Now everything is computerized."

Bengtson said demand for financial services has changed, with all kinds of avenues for people to invest money.

In agriculture, the number of farmers has decreased drastically. "Farmers are a lot bigger, and it takes more money to keep going," he said.

Regulation and competition have both increased in the banking industry.

Bengtson is quick to say he has many good memories and would love to do it all over again. He thanks the Exchange State Bank for being a good employer for 22 years, all the people he has worked with and all his loyal customers.

He and Wilma plan to remain in Hills after he retires.

Jeff Johnson has put more consideration into his faith than most people put into their chosen professions. Along the way, his quest for spirituality has led him down many different paths.

Although born Lutheran, Johnson later joined the Catholic faith. After realizing in the fall of 1999 that his beliefs leaned more toward Greek Orthodox doctrine, he began attending services at the Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, Sioux Falls.

It was his attempt to convert to Greek Orthodox that led Johnson to spend a week in St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery near Florence, Ariz., in November.

The pastor of his church, Fr. Benjamin Hendersen, suggested that before Johnson was baptized, he should see a monastery.

He flew into Phoenix, Ariz., then traveled into the desert about an hour to the monastery.
The first thing he noticed when they approached the grounds was the beautiful onion-shaped domes on top of the churches.

The monastery grounds were magnificent; mazes of walking trails led through gardens of palm trees, cactuses, and rose bushes. Several little chapels and shrines dotted the paths.

The monks work very hard to keep up the gardens, the grape trees, the churches and several residential houses on the property.

Their way of life is simple. Vanity about physical appearance is foreign to the monastics. There are no mirrors, even in the bathrooms.

When Jeff arrived, he was wearing a short sleeved T-shirt. He was immediately asked to change to long sleeves. Everyone on the grounds was asked to dress very modestly with as little skin showing as possible.
It took Johnson a few days to grow accustomed to the appearance of the monks, who were all clothed in black and wore long beards.

Everyone spoke almost exclusively Greek. Monks from Mount Orthos, Greece, carried their language and religion along with them to America when they founded the monastery.

There were approximately 50 monks and 10 to 20 nuns at the monastery. The majority of the monks were very young. Johnson said the fact that these men could have had successful lives in the world but gave it all up for God really impressed him.

"The most poignant moment of my trip was when I got to speak to an older monk who was just sitting in the guest house," said Johnson. "We talked about my struggles and about faith in general. A strong sense of holiness came from this man. He had the kindest eyes."

Johnson said the church on the grounds was lovely. Orthodox churches are uniquely designed; the architecture is done in Byzantine fashion, the inside of the church was decorated with icons of Christ, the Mother of God, biblical events, and the saints. The smell of incense filled the air.

Stepping into the church was like stepping back in time 2,000 years, according to Johnson. Services, exclusively in Greek, were reverent and beautiful.

The very heart of monasticism is prayer. Monks do not just pray on Sundays. They pray 24 hours a day, as they work, as they eat - whatever they do throughout each day, they do it with prayer.

Monasticism is as old as Christianity itself and has a very important place in the Eastern Orthodox faith.

Unlike Catholic monks and nuns, who sometimes teach in schools and do social work, Orthodox monastics dedicate their lives to prayer. They spend every moment of their existence in prayer.

Johnson said he left Arizona with a much deeper understanding of his new faith. He plans to return sometime after his baptism.

"I miss the peace, quiet and sanity," he said.

To the Editor:
'Twas the night before Christmas
And throughout the Midwest
Soybean farmers were reeling
They had done their best.

So many soybeans!
What are we to do?
Increase demand and
Find new uses, too!

"Dear Santa," wrote farmers
"We work hard and toil -
Can't you please help us
Use up our soy oil?"

And golly, that Santa!
That crafty old weasel -
Said, "I'll power my sleigh
With a blend of biodiesel!"

"It's environmentally friendly
So good for the earth
I'm happy to use it
I know what it's worth."

"I'll set the example -
Help farmers and friends
I'll clean up the air,
The ozone, I'll mend."

So Santa fueled up
As proud as could be,
With a blend of biodiesel
As easy as could be!

No exhaust could be seen
As he drove out of sight
"Soy to the World
On this soy-charged flight!"

Submitted by Jim Willers
Rock County Soybean Growers

By Sara Quam
Construction plans were discussed at Tuesday's Rock County Board meeting, presided over by new chair Ken Hoime.

County Engineer Mark Sehr proposed a five-year road construction plan, which was approved, and Glenda Bremer, librarian, and Virgil Christensen, consultant, showed plans for updating the library.

Sehr's five-year plan addresses about 50 road and bridge construction sites. He said, "By 2005, we should be pretty well caught up."

The county has been working on almost 10 projects a year, and after 2005, should be down to two or three. Construction during 2001 could be as costly as $3.9 million, but state and federal funding will pay for the majority of costs.

The 2001 construction plans call for work on the following:
¥County State Aid Highway 2, from CSAH 7 to CSAH 10
¥CSAH 33 (Lincoln Street in Luverne) from Cedar Street to Blue Mound Avenue
¥CSAH 6 from Highway 270 to CSAH 4
¥CSAH 7 from Highway 75 to South Dakota
¥CSAH 5 from Highway 23 to South Dakota
¥CSAH 17 100 feet south of CSAH 4
¥CSAH 15 Bridge 9416 1.7 miles west of CSAH 3
¥Township 89 .75 miles south of CSAH 16 in Magnolia Township
¥Various township road bridge replacements.

Library gets updates
The library received $93,000 from Florence Sodeman's estate after her death in 1999. She had earmarked the money for basement renovations, something the Library Board also named as a priority.

The facelift will include improving the rest rooms, general appearance of the lower level and work on the meeting room - which is used about 40 to 50 times a month.

The building itself is handicap accessible and includes an elevator, but the rest rooms will be updated to meet codes. Diaper changing tables will be added to the women's and possibly men's bathrooms as well.

If there is money left over, the library's entrance may get an automatic door opener for those in wheelchairs. Although the entrances are handicap accessible, the convenience could improve the entrances and exits for library patrons.

The project is expected to cost less than $75,000, and bids will be advertised in February.

By Lori Ehde
Woodley Auto Service was open for its last day of business Saturday, Dec. 30.
After more than 15 years of operating as a father-son repair shop, Ed and Keith Woodley decided it was time to close the shop and move on to other things.

"We've had some very good times together and met a lot of people as father and son," Keith said.

"I've been an auto mechanic all my life, and I've learned a lot in the past 15 years. It's been fun and challenging. Every day was a learning experience."

A few factors played a role in the seemingly abrupt decision. For one thing, Ed's health has been fragile since his stroke two years ago. At age 69, he said he's ready to slow down some.

Changes in the industry have also influenced their decision.

"It's tough for a small business to stay current with the changes in the auto mechanic industry," Keith said. "It's to the point where I'm spending more on the tools of the trade than I'm bringing in."

He said new vehicles are more expensive to service because they're computer-driven.

"Now, we're spending more time diagnosing computer problems than we are repairing vehicles," he said.

Keith said he's always enjoyed the personal contact with his customers, but he won't miss the skinned knuckles and explaining unplanned car expenses.

"I don't always get a lot of people who are real happy to see me, because they're going to have to spend some money."

They'll miss the rewards and flexibility of owning their own business, but both men look forward to pursuing other interests.

For Ed, that will include more retirement-like activities such as working on his wooden bowls, a hobby he's enjoyed for years.

He'll also stay busy with a side business at the shop, assembling and testing small water softeners for Frakco. The units are used in motor homes and other recreational vehicles. This year alone, he and his wife, Jeanne, who kept books for Woodley Auto Service, assembled nearly 1,300 units.

For Keith, not owning and operating the business will free him to spend more time on Woodley Family Racing. Since their three boys were little, Keith and his wife, Laura, who works at Berkley Information Services, have been involved with go-kart racing.

The boys are now 19, 14 and 10. The entire family last year earned the prestigious "Sportsman of the Year Family" award from the Dakota Kart Club.

They build their own engines and with three mechanically-inclined boys in the family, the go-kart business has taken over the Woodleys' three-stall garage and basement.

Now that Woodley Auto Service is closed, Keith has purchased his father's share of the business, and his family will use the shop for their racing needs and tinkering projects.

Keith immediately started considering other employment in auto repair.

"I'll be 45 years old, and my New Year's resolution is to clean up my act, get a haircut and get a real job," he said Friday.

The job search didn't last long. Dick Herman has already offered him a job as shop foreman at Herman Motors. Keith was honored.

"It's the first time in my life I've had someone offer me a job," he said. "To have someone recognize you and approach you - that means a lot."

His first day on the new job was Wednesday.