donnelly news

Next edition Apr 24th –Apr 30th

Welcome to another edition of the Donnelly news.

Temps have remained mild during the past week but it is still very dry, some good rains would be very welcome. Many farmers are busy preparing their fields and putting in their crops although I suspect some are holding back waiting for some warmer weather. Most nights are still cool. I even saw a little snow in a ditch a few days ago. I also see there are still some corn fields that need to be picked esp. north of here.

STJ/KONG PARISH NEWS: On Apr. 25th there will be joint services at Kong at 11 am with the SS kids singing. Our services will also be broadcast on KMRS sponsored by Gary and Pat Smith. At 10 am in the church basement there will be cake and coffee in honor of Lou Eystad’s 75th birthday and Denny Bouressa’s 70th birthday served by Jim Eystad and René Thompson (Denny’s sister). Happy Birthday, Denny! We all hope and pray that you will able to celebrate many more.



May 23rd is baccalaureate Sun. Everyone who has a graduate(s) in the parish this yr is asked to submit their name(s) to the parish office. I also plan to recognize graduates in this column in late May/early June.

Our parish, in conjunction with Bethel Lutheran of Herman, will again be participating in a VBS day camp, led by counselors from Luther Crest on Aug 1-5th, from 9-4 pm. Registration forms were included in the Mar newsletter or may be obtained from either parish office.

WordAlone Ministries will meet on May 1st at Our Savior’s Lutheran church in Chokio on May 1st, coffee at 9:30 am; program at 10 am Prof. Jon Sorum will speak on "Why We Need a New Beginning". Everyone welcome





Correction: There will be citywide garage sales in Donnelly on May 21st & 22nd. If you are interested in having one that weekend please call Kathi Biesterfeld at 246-6271 or Kathy Eystad at 246-3262. If you are having one let me know and I will post it on my blog.



The red Hat society will meet on May 3rd at sax’s café. Those attending are asked to bring a small plant for exchange. The note in my box did not have a time on it but I recall from reading previous announcements it is usually at 9 am



Friday, April 30: Heritage Days program featuring Tim and Kathy Ray performing "Scenes and Songs of Minnesota." Morris Area Elementary Concert Hall, 2 p.m. Sponsored by Learning Unlimited.





Russ Stier of Hoffman formerly of the Donnelly area passed away on Apr 13th. Among his survivors is his brother Lloyd (Glenda) Stier of Donnelly. Many of you will remember that Russ was the owner of Vern’s produce and for many years he bought produce in the area. When we had chickens we sold him our eggs. On Apr 18th a big crowd of family and friends filled the Messiah Lutheran Church in Hoffman for his memorial service. Lloyd told me that between visitation and the funeral there were over 500 visitors, he was unable to attend as he was not feeling well that day.



Vigil Maus of Chokio passed away on Apr 14. Survivors include his wife Mildred (Lange) of Chokio formerly of Donnelly.



Mary A. Blair, age 61 of Mesa, Ariz. and formerly of Morris, died of Renal Cancer on April 17, 2010. Among her survivors are a nephew Casey (Danielle) Lesmeister and family of Donnelly. A memorial service will be held at the Old # 1 Southside on May 1st at 2 pm



The class of 1955 will be holding their 55th class reunion on July 17th at the Prairie Inn in Morris with a mini reunion of Donnelly classmates on July 16th at Sax’s café. Anyone who wishes to visit with the members of the class may do so at Sax’s café beginning at 4 pm on the 16th and/or poolside at the prairie Inn beginning at 7 pm on the 17th. For more info call Wally McCollar at 589-0127. I stopped in to see him again on the 21st he had gotten some nice pictures from Sonya Skyrdal for his reunion some taken at the all school reunion 20 yrs ago.



Congratulations to Bailey Armstrong (Jason and Niki) for winning a poster contest at the WCA elementary school.



Foley was the site of the recently held regional 4-h project bowl in general livestock. The sr red team won first place and will advance to the state competition. Jake Moser, Natalie Johnston and Kendra Speer are members of that team and they are coached by Lee Johnston. Jon Moser coached the sr green team which finished 4th, Mackenzie Smith is a member of that team. The Jr. Red team finished 5th, Jonna Moser is a member of that team.



Congratulations to the MAHS student council that was recently named masc student council of yr. Sydney Beyer and Kayleene Mecklenburg are members of the council



Congratulations to MAHS boys track team that recently won its own invite. Tyler Rouske is a member of that team and finished 5th in 400 sprints and long jump.



Congratulations to Rhoda (Mike) Smith who is one of the finalists for the St Co Coordinator position.



Kale Jon was born to Kevin and Michelle Kruize on 4/16/10 Grandfather is William (Billy) Kruize Jr. Congratulations.



Tate Jeffery Olson was born on Apr 11th to Scott and Stephanie Olson. Grandparents are Joyce and Allen Olson of Donnelly; Jeff and Kathy Wilcox of Morris; great grandparents are Sid and Carol Wilcox of Morris.



An open house Baby shower will be held for Trent and Robyn Grossman on May 1st from 2-4 pm at the Morris sr center. Trent is the son of Tim and Tammie Grossman and grandson of Bob and Myrna Tomalla.



A good crowd was on hand for MAP’s 16th aniv celebration on Apr 15th. Thanks to “Kopel’s Kooker” for the delicious meal they prepared and served.



On Apr 17th I attended the estate sale at the Lloyd Bendt farm. She informs me they are moving to Waseca. From there it was off to Donnelly where a good crowd attended the spring fling at St J. Judy Burner won the quilt other winners were gift set Peggy Wilke; gift cert hd & co ,Jeff Gibson; kitchen clock Peggy Wilke; snack set Bernice Eystad; gift cert sax’s colleen dogatch (2) Becky Diehl; tool box jerry itzen; gift cert willies & nature clock Karen Janachovsky; cook books Jim Gibson, Leroy Diehl; Janelle and kaylen vipond. In the aft I traveled to Morris stopping to visit with Wally McCollar for a while. Later I was part of the good crowd that helped Walt Hokanson celebrate his 100th birthday at the Sunrise Apts. Many of you will remember that he was a collector of cream separators for many years and we were among the many from who he bought some. Afterwards I visited Chuck Heinrich in his apt. In the eve I attended the St Co Humane Soc annual mtg.



On Apr 19th I attended the diabetes workshop at SCMC. The next one is scheduled for July.



Apr 21st I stopped in to the center for small towns to visit with David Flugel. He asked me to remind people about the symposium on small towns and rural urban gathering to be held on June 9 & 10th on the UMM campus and that there are scholarships available for the event.



Gail, Jenna, and Own Gibson of Avon and Donna Frank of Starbuck spent some at the same and Dorothy Jordheim home in Donnelly over the weekend attending the st J spring fling and visiting family and friends



Last wk I mentioned the story about the lookouts in the Donnelly school. I understand the same was true in Cyrus they actually built an observation room on top of school.