DONNELLY NEWS

Welcome to another edition of the Donnelly news. As I begin my third year of writing this column I want to say Mange Takk to all my loyal readers who have made it a successful year.

Temperatures have remained above normal during the past week. However it has been rather cool, especially in the evenings due to some strong winds and cloudy days. I have not seen anybody out in the field yet. I suspect it is a little bit too cold and wet.

In St. John’s/Kongsvinger parish news: St. John’s spring from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. fling will be held on April 17 at the church,

The West Central Area WordAlone chapter will meet today (Saturday) at Fron Church in Starbuck. Coffee fellowship begins at 9:30 a.m. and the program is at 10 a.m.

There will be an area Lutheran worship service at the community center in Hancock on April 11 at 10 a.m. Please note the change of location.

The Donnelly Community Club will meet on April 12 at 7 p.m. at the hall in Donnelly.

The Donnelly Rod & Gun Club annual meeting will be held on April 13 at the Donnelly Hall. A meal will be served at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow.

I need to clarify an item from last week’s column regarding the reunion of the class of 1955. Spouses are invited to the reunion too. If anybody has any questions or needs more info about it, please call Wally at (320) 589-0127. I will have more details in a later column and on my blog.

Lyle Hanson of Cyrus passed away March 31. His survivors include his granddaughter, Kayla, (Aaron) Erdahl of Donnelly.

Violet DeRung passed away March 31. Her survivors include her daughter Jane (Jack) Ascheman. Jack is a former Donnelly resident. Wally McCollar and I attended her visitation on April 4. Her son, Dale, is a classmate of mine. En route home I stopped by to visit my aunt Pearl A. Anderson.

Sgt. Kurt Kruize of St. Cloud died on April 11 of non-combat related injuries in Iraq. Among his survivors are his parents Lyle and Bev Kruize of Hancock and grandfather Vernon Kruize of Donnelly.

Jim and Julie Busse and family of Appleton attended the visitation for Cleone Brustuen on April 4. Her daughter-in-law is Jim’s sister.

Again this week I have a long list of accomplishments to report.

Paige Strand earned a trip to the section meet in Morris on April 21st with a fifth place finish at the sub section meet.

Hannah and Samantha Larson who as members of the Herman-Norcross FLCA earned a trip to the state STAR events in Bloomington.

West Central Area Little Knight wrestler Keaton Long won second place at a meet held in New-London-Spicer recently.

Makayla Mau (Maynard and Lori) and Mason Dunn (Lowell and Sandy) received their first communion during Maundy Thursday services at St. John’s.

Cammi Aanerud received honorable mention all conference in the West Central Conference in gymnastics.

The following students placed in the science and math challenge held on March 30 at Morris Area High School: Adam Uphoff (first, 6th grade) and Sydney Speer (second, 4th grade).

The youth Tiger wrestlers placed third at the WCC meet on March 20. Several Donnelly area kids are members of the team and earned some individual trophies. They include Tyler Athey (pre-k, fourth); Austin Raths (K, first) and Tristan Raths (first grade, second).

The Kopacek family and I attended the Stevens County Genealogical Society meeting in Morris on April 1. That evening, after attending Maundy Thursday services at St. John’s, I visited with my aunt Pearl (Albert) Anderson at her home in Donnelly.

On April 3, Jim and Lou Eystad and I joined the crowd that lined the main street in Morris for the Charlie Co. homecoming parade. Later a good crowd was on hand at the UMM P.E. Center for the welcome home ceremony. After the ceremony, I had a chance to say “welcome home” to Andrew Loher.

The Stevens County Republican central committee had a meeting on April 5 in Morris. Those attending had the opportunity to hear Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen of Alexandria and Dr. Karen Nelson of Spicer, who is seeking the party endorsement for the 7th district congressional seat. The district endorsing convention will be held in Moorhead today (Saturday).

On April 4, Verle and Della Dunn and Lyle were Easter dinner guests of Jim and Julie Busse of Appleton.

On April 2, Sam and Dorothy Jordheim traveled to Avon for their grandson‚ Owen Gibson’s, first communion at Bethlehem Lutheran in St. Cloud. They returned home the next day. On April 4, they joined other family members for Easter dinner with the Gibson family in Avon. They also celebrated Owen’s 10th birthday.

The Kopacek family enjoyed a phone call from their cousin Norvald Røneied in Gaupne Norway. Cousin Gjerturd will be 100 years old this month.