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In the office of the late Alex Haley, author of “Roots,” hung a picture of a turtle sitting on a fence post. It reminded Haley of a lesson he learned from his friend John Gaines, “If you see a turtle on top of a fence post, you know he had some help.”
Haley said: “Any time I start thinking, ‘Wow, isn’t this marvelous what I’ve done!’ I look at that picture and remember how this turtle – me – got up on that post.”
Humility is becoming a lost art. It doesn’t involve downplaying your achievements. It doesn’t mean that you won’t be recognized for your contributions. It does mean that you realize that others have been involved in your success, and you are prepared to be involved in theirs.
You start by giving credit where credit is due. The co-workers who participated in the early stages of a project surely deserve some recognition, and the folks who mopped the floors and kept the lights on are team players too.
Have you ever noticed the long list of credits at the end of a movie? They identify everyone from the stars to the caterers to the pyrotechnical wizards. The project couldn’t be completed without them.
As long as we’re talking about movies, let me tell you about the well-known celebrity who was vacationing in a small town in Maine. One rainy day he decided to go to a movie. When he entered the theater, there was a huge round of applause. The celebrity turned to the person next to him and said, “For gosh sakes, I never thought anyone here in Maine would recognize me.”
The man smiled in a friendly way and said, “They don’t. The only reason they’re
FRIDAY, JUNE 6
cheering is that the owner said he wasn’t going to show us a movie unless 10 people showed up, and you’re the 10th.”
Humility in business is incredibly important, serving as a foundation for effective leadership and fostering a positive organizational culture. That’s why June is called humility month. Let’s break down why humility matters:
Builds trust and respect. Humble leaders are genuine and approachable, which builds trust among employees, clients and stakeholders. By acknowledging their own limitations and valuing others’ contributions, humble leaders earn respect and loyalty.
Encourages collaboration and innovation. Humility allows leaders to be open to new ideas and feedback, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. When leaders recognize and appreciate the skills and input of their team members, it empowers employees to contribute more effectively.
Facilitates learning and growth. Humble individuals are willing to learn from their mistakes and seek personal and professional growth. Humility enables leaders to mentor others, sharing knowledge and fostering a learning environment.
Enhances decision-making. Humble leaders are more likely to consider diverse viewpoints, leading to well-rounded and informed decision-making. By putting the organization’s needs above personal ego, humble leaders make decisions that benefit the greater good.
Strengthens organizational culture. Humility contributes to a supportive and inclusive workplace culture, where employees feel valued and motivated. Organizations led
Interiors, Exteriors, Staining, Varnishing Brian Middendorf 320-293-9939 40 Years Experience
by humble leaders are often more resilient, as they can adapt to change and navigate challenges with grace.
A great example is President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who used to have a little ritual with famous naturalist William Beebe. After an evening’s chat the two men would go outside and look into the night sky. Gazing at the stars they would find the lower left-hand corner of the big square of Pegasus. One of them would recite these words: “That is a spiral galaxy of Andromeda. It is as large as our Milky Way. It is one of a hundred million galaxies. It is 750,000 light years away. It consists of one hundred billion suns, each larger than our sun.”
They would then pause, and Roosevelt would finally say, “Now I think we feel small enough. Let us go to bed.”
I learned my lesson in humility from none other than my wife when I invited her to join me at a speaking engagement. I did all my usual homework and preparation, gave the speech, and was thrilled to receive a standing ovation from the audience.
Feeling rather smug in the car on the way home, I turned to her and asked, “Sweetheart, how many great speakers do you think there are in the world today?”
She smiled and said, “One fewer than you think, dear.”
Mackay’s Moral: Humility is like underwear. We should all have it but not let it show.
Reprinted with permission from nationally syndicated columnist Harvey Mackay, author of the New York Times #1 bestseller “Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive,” “We Got Fired!...And It’s the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Us,” “The Mackay MBA of Selling in the Real World,” and “Use Your Head To Get Your Foot In The Door.”
• Member Appreciation Day from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Magnifi Financial, Grey Eagle.
MONDAY, JUNE 9-AUGUST 9
• Summer Reading Challenge begins at Great River Regional Libraries for ages 0-18. See ad on page 5.
SUNDAY, JUNE 15
• Annual Freeport Fire Department Ham Bar-B-Que from 4:30-8:30 p.m. at the Freeport Community Center. See ad on page 7.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18
• Grey Eagle Senior Citizens Meeting at 4:30 p.m. Potluck & Bingo to follow at the Grey Eagle Senior Center.
FRIDAY, JUNE 27
• “Witness of the 1st Settlement to Present Time” Power Point & Lunch at 12-Noon at the Greenwald Pub.
FRI.-SUN, JUNE 27-29
• 62nd Annual Swanville Mid-Summer Carnival. Sunday Parade at 11:30 a.m.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 2
• Folk & Old-Time Music & Potluck from 1-3 p.m. at the Village View Apartments, Grey Eagle.
AL-ANON • AVON
• Meets every Monday from 5-6 p.m. at the Avon City Hall.
ALBANY SENIORS
• Meets 1st Tuesday of the month at 1:30
p.m. at the Albany Community Center.
ALBANY TOWNSHIP
• Meets the 4th Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Albany City Hall.
• Planning Commission meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Albany City Hall.
BURNHAMVILLE TOWNSHIP
• Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Burtrum City Hall.
BURTRUM CITY COUNCIL
• Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.
FEET FIRST CLINIC
• Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Holdingford City Hall.
FOOD DISTRIBUTION
• Ruby’s Pantry Food Distribution 1st Saturday of the Month from 10-11 a.m. at River of Live Church, Sauk Centre.
FREEPORT CITY COUNCIL
• Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.
FREEPORT SENIOR MEETING
• Meets the 3rd Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. with cards/Bingo/coffee/dessert.
GREY EAGLE CITY COUNCIL
• Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.
GREY EAGLE TOWNSHIP
• Meets the 1st Monday of the month at 8 p.m.
LINE DANCING
• Meets Mondays at 4 p.m. & 5 p.m. alternating Mondays at the Melrose American Legion.
MELROSE TOWNSHIP
• Meets the 1st Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the town hall.
MELROSE VFW #7050 POST/AUX.
• Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Melrose American Legion Clubrooms.
MELROSE LEGION #101 POST/AUX.
• Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Melrose American Legion. (Aux. Sept.-May.)
STEARNS CO. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
• Meets the 2nd Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Albany SUNSHINE CLUB
• Meets every Monday, weigh in starts at 8; meeting at 8:30 a.m. at the Village View Apartments, Grey Eagle.
ST. ROSA CITY COUNCIL
• Meets the 3rd Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Community Park building.
SWANVILLE CITY COUNCIL
• 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday of the month at 7 p.m.
SWANVILLE TOWNSHIP
• Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 8:30 p.m. at the Swanville Fire Hall.
UPSALA CITY COUNCIL
• Meets the 1st Monday of the month at 7 p.m.
I’m sure that some of those that read this story think that they can’t imagine a goose that gallops. Other readers probably have the Galloping Goose way back in their memory, but havn’t thought about it for so long that it almost seems like trying to recover a dream. Yes there was a thing called a Galloping Goose. It may have appeared somewhere near you.
In 1882 a railroad was built from Little Falls to Morris. This set of tracks were originally built for steam-engine powered trains that had a large freight carrying capacity. Since the late 1800’s was a time when many immigrants were creating new homesteads in this area, the train was the most efficient way to transport goods. Because of the creation of the railroad, the cost of the train, labor and maintainance, the cost of hauling mail and passengers, the revenue to the railroads began to decrease. Something needed to be done to offer reduced rates, which would increase the use of the railroad.
The Galloping Goose was created. It originally consisted of a semi tractor that had been converted to travel on steel wheels on
a steel track. On it’s back end a trailer was attached that today we would recognize as a full-sized camoer trailer, that was used to haul mail and passengers. This new aparadus appeared in about 1938. The Galoping Goose was powered by a 6 cylinder, 140 HP engine with a 5 speed manual transmission, which was much more economical to operate than a steam engine. Some of these mini trains that were used in mountinous states out west, had snow plows attached to the front.
The Galloping Goose aquired it’s name from the swaying motion that seemed to occurr while traveling down the tracks and the honking sound of it’s air horn.
It is said that there were only 7 Galloping Geese created, but many more than 7 have appeared in photographs. New or replacement units began to appear more stylish, when compared to the very rough-looking originals. Newer models were converted conventional busses, with rounded front and back ends. The one that was most remembered in this area was built by Northern Pacific. It had the bus appearance and was gray.
When our local tracks were abandoned in 1972, the Galloping Goose desappeared, but continued to exist in the west. Hm Hm. I hope it didn’t fly there.
For feedback or story ideas, email Tom at kuehneins@gmail.com.
If you need help with Health or Life Insurance or for Senior Health Solutions Contact: Tom Kuehne 320-360-0343
I love it when I find a new truth in Scripture. I have been preaching through Hebrews 11 (the Faith Chapter) for a couple of weeks. Hebrews 11:7 has challenged me beyond words. “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.”
The one word that challenged me was “condemned.” What was so intriguing to me was the fact that Noah had a choice to make, to accept God’s calling on his life or refuse. If he refused, he and the rest of his family would be condemned along with the rest of all living things and his story would not be in the faith hall of fame. It was a monumental decision. Hebrews 11:7 says that by his faith… he condemned all living things. I use Newtons Cradle in my office sometimes in counseling. All of us make decisions, all the time, some are small and insignificant, and others are life changing. Newton said, “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” So, the “Cradle” has 5 ball bearings and if you bring one back and let it go, it has a reaction of the fifth ball bearing, being hit in the opposite direction.
We all have a choice about how we are going to treat people. If we get mistreated, are we going to retaliate? Remember, “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” I had a dad at one of my churches tell me about
I would like to thank Tom Kuehne for the great story he did on my father, Ray. He did what lots of others did back then, he got drafted and went off to fight the war, tho he was drafted one year before the war started. Lots of young men were 16, 17 years old and joined the service. What dad got mad about was he was in the war from the very beginning to the end, and when Germany surrendered, his unit was going home and he was told to go stand with that group of people. He told the officer that his unit was going home and his response was that you and those others were going to fight Japan. He was not happy. Japan surrendered and he did not have to go. Thanks again Tom for the story.
John Tchida
To Submit a Card of Thanks the cost is $5.00 for the first 50 words, 10¢ for each additional word. MUST BE PREPAID. Mail to: Hometown News, 29442 120th St., Grey Eagle, MN 56336.
his son. He was constantly getting into trouble at school. The other kids knew how to set him off, and then he would retaliate. His dad told him to count to 10 the next time he got mad at one of his classmates. The next time he got into trouble, his dad said, “I thought I told you to count to 10?” The boy said, “I did count to 10. Then how come you got into trouble?” The boy said “I thought I was supposed to count to 10 to give him a head start.” So, dad tried! Please consider how you treat others, the opposite reaction will come, either good or bad.
-Pastor Bruce Miller from Swanville Bible Church, 320-547-2916
THURSDAY: 5-9
SATURDAY:
George J. Bieniek, age 91 of Holdingford, passed away peacefully after a long battle with dementia on Monday, June 2, 2025 at The Willows Memory Care Center at Vernon Terrance in Edina, Minnesota.
The Mass of Christian Burial, celebrating the life of George, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 6 at the Church of All Saints, St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church in Holdingford. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.
There will be a visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Friday at the church in Holdingford. Parish prayers will be held at 4 p.m. followed by a rosary from the Knights of Columbus at 6:30 p.m. Thursday evening. Military honors will be by the Albany American Legion Post 482.
George was born April 26, 1934 in Holding Township to John Jr. and Victoria (Kociemba) Bieniek. He grew up on a farm near Holdingford. George earned money with his first job by picking milkweed which was used to make life jackets for Navy soldiers during World War II. During his 4 years of high school, George set bowling pins at the Fun Center (currently Redneck Roost) in Holdingford. He graduated from Holdingford High School in 1952. George had a part time construction job building dormitories at St. John’s University. He volunteered tearing down old steps at St. Hedwig’s Church and repairing gravestones and fence gates at the church cemetery. He moved to Minneapolis and worked various jobs including Minnesota Wrecking Company, Milrights Equipment Salvage Company, Ry-Krisp Cracker Company, Schaefer Freezer/Refrigerator Company, and worked as a dishwasher and janitor at a restaurant operated by his brother, Andrew. He served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957. It was in Minneapolis where he met the love of his life, Hildegard Smude, at the Marigold Ballroom. They were married on September
23, 1959 at St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church in Holdingford. The couple moved to George’s family dairy farm where the couple farmed together for over 40 years.
George was a member of St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church where he joined the Knights of Columbus in 1963 and sang in the choir for many years. In his spare time, George enjoyed leather/ wood crafting, gardening, camping, collecting antiques, landscaping, decorating, creating his own outdoor decorations from farm equipment/ antiques, and purchasing unique indoor Christmas decorations. George always took time away from the farm to travel by car. His most memorable vacations were to San Francisco to visit his sister, Leona, the Badlands, Black Hills of South Dakota, Smoky Mountains, Minnesota North Shore, Duluth Harbor to watch the ships, and camping trips to the campsite owned by his brother, Blase, near Battle Lake. He loved listening to music, dancing, playing cards, entertaining, celebrating birthdays, special events, telling stories, jokes, and pulling pranks with family and friends, especially spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
After they retired and sold the farm, George fulfilled his dream of building a home and shop in the woods off the farm where he spent his time planting flowers, growing a vegetable garden, bird/animal watching, mushroom picking, deer hunting, fishing, tinkering, and fixing and creating many unique projects. George even became a celebrity when he was featured in the documentary Minnesota 13 From Grain to Glass where he shared personal family experiences and antiques used at the Bieniek Family farm during the Prohibition Era.
George is survived by his children, Brenda (Allan) Dobis, Avon MN and Steven (Shannon) Bieniek, Park Rapids MN; six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother and sisters-in-law, John Bieniek Jr., Avon, Delores (Ebnet) Bieniek, Vadnais Heights and Marie (Ertl) Bieniek, Fergus Falls.
George was preceded in death by his wife, Hildegard (Smude) Bieniek; parents, John Sr. and Victoria Bieniek; brothers, Andrew, Alois, Blase, and Thomas; sisters, Leona Pizziconi, Elenor Budde, and Florence Voss; siblings that died in infancy, Mary, Simon and Joseph (twins), Peter and Valeria; brother and sisters in-law, Paul Pizziconi, Mary Alice Bieniek, Cyril Budde, Theresa (Klimek) Bieniek, Phyllis (Litchy) Bieniek.
Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral and Cremation Services of Melrose.
The wildlife of the world breathed a collective sigh of relief when Ronald Stanley Schmidt, 77, squeezed the very last drop of life from his mortal body on May 30th, 2025 after a long battle with Parkinsons disease, dementia, neuropathy and male pattern baldness.
Ron was born in Sauk Center, Minnesota on January 23rd, 1948 and grew up in Holdingford where he was a star athlete in football, basketball, track, baseball and illegal sucker netting in the Two Rivers Creek. He earned a scholarship to play football at the University of North Dakota where he was a three-year starter at free safety, earned all-conference honors and was invited to NFL training camps with the Chiefs and Cowboys. Ron, who could clearly ascertain that he was a white defensive back, skipped NFL training camp and instead took the safer route by joining the Army at the height of the Vietnam war, which likely saved him from a life of drugs and ladies of ill-refute.
After proudly serving his country, Ron returned to Central Minnesota, became an insurance agent for Northwestern Mutual and met the love of his life, Irene (Thull), with whom he had four children that were spoiled rotten with love, attention and all the wild game meat their little hearts desired.
Ron was heavily involved in the community and in various philanthropic efforts. Over the years he was chairman of the Holdingford School Board, President of the Lions Club, and Opole Parish council president, to highlight a tiny fraction of his civic involvement. Besides all of his volunteer time and working 80 hours a week to build his insurance business he coached little league and never missed one of his kid’s sporting events or nightly family dinners.
Ron’s true passion, besides his family, was the outdoors. He spent 60 years trying to pull off a “reverse-Noah” where he set out to kill two of every animal on earth, which he nearly succeeded at. He hunted every species in North America and went on 8 safaris to Africa. His prowess as a hunter can be viewed at his “Museum of Death” in the family home.
Ron also loved world travel, from the streets of Beijing to the plains of Africa, the Pyramids of Giza to the brewhouses of Germany, but he was never too worldly to turn down a few crappy light beers at a local dive bar. He was a lover of good food, good drink, good friends and good times.
Ron was preceded in death by his daughter, Amanda and his parents, Elmer and Armela. He leaves behind his wife of 51 years, 3 kids, (Luke, Karyn and Lindsey), 5 grandkids (Adalyn, Niah, Asher, Gunnar and Lola), 4 siblings (Richard, Renee, Robert and Randy), 2 grand-dogs (Chi-Chi and Harley) and more real friends than anyone ever claimed to have on Facebook.
Ron’s wake will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 5th with Parish Prayers at 4:00 p.m. and a revelry of life held the following day at 11am. Both services will take place at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Opole with a luncheon of the finest funeral hotdish man has ever known to follow. Arrangements are with the Daniel Funeral Home in St. Cloud.
Donations can be made in Ron’s honor to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research (www.michaeljfox.org) and/or the Holdingford Scholarship Endowment (funds.ifound.org/hse).
Arnold E.
“Arnie” Wenning, age 84 of St. Joseph, MN, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday, May 30, 2025 at the Mother of Mercy Nursing Home in Albany, Minnesota. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 10 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in St. Joseph with Rev. Brad Jenniges, O.S.B. officiating. Entombment will be in the columbarium in the parish cemetery.
A visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Heritage Hall at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
Arnold Ervin Wenning was born January 25, 1941 in Albany, Minnesota, to Alois and Genevieve (Zenzen) Wenning. Arnie enjoyed spending time with family and friends, tractors, puzzles, and fixing things.
He was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
Survivors include the mother of his children, Ellen Wenning; children, Carla (Brad) Walz of Andover, Michael Wenning of St. Cloud, and Kimberly Larson of Andover; 9 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; sisters and brothers, Marlene Maus, Betty Baggenstoss, Kenny Wenning, David Wenning, and Diann Shabel. Arnie was preceded in death by his parents; two grandchildren; and brothers, Jerome and Allen Wenning.
Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral and Cremation Services of Melrose.
Shirley Mae (Donner) Wensman, of Sauk Centre, Minnesota, died peacefully in her sleep on the morning of May 31, 2025, at the age of 91. A private ceremony will be held at a later date.
Shirley was born to Francis and Alma (Wagner) Donner on May 31, 1934, in Lucan, Minnesota. After graduating from Belgrade High School in 1953, she met and married Robert Wensman, with whom she raised three children. She went to work for Land O’ Lakes in Minneapolis and later worked for many years as a Title 1 secretary for Sauk Centre Public Schools. Shirley was a longtime member of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church and enjoyed singing in their choir. In her free time, Shirley could be found knitting, reading, and watching Little House on the Prairie.
Shirley is survived by her three children, Debra (Steve Schmidgall) Wensman, Steven (Gretchen) Wensman, and Tamara (David) Marthaler; 6 grandchildren and 9 greatgrandchildren; brother, Darvin Donner, and sister, Frances Hollen.
Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and her sister Jean Vegdahl. Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral and Cremation Services of Sauk Centre.
The Stearns History Museum Board of Directors has chosen Roger and Jean Paschke as the Zapp Historian Award winners for 2024. The Zapp Historian Award is presented annually in recognition of significant contributions to the preservation, interpretation, or promotion of Stearns County history. The contribution can be broad, including leadership, preservation, financial contribution, interpretation, and/or other substantial actions and efforts. It can be a single or lifetime contribution. The award is named in honor of the Zapp family.The Paschke’s are being recognized for their long-term involvement, organization, and contribution to the preservation of history in the Melrose area and their role in the establishment of the Melrose Area Historical Society and Museum. With an active Board of Directors, a desire for continuing education to meet museum standards, and personal connection to the area, the Paschke’s have ensured that future generations of Melrose area residents will have access to their shared past. The conscious collection of both two- and three-dimensional objects, photos, and documents also shows their
desire to preserve history as it is happening. Additionally, Roger and Jean are both gifted storytellers and help connect people to history no matter where they go. The Stearns History Museum is proud to recognize Roger and Jean for their work and appreciate their long partnership and commitment to the history of Stearns County.The award was presented in Melrose on Thursday May 22, 2025 at True North Marketplace by SHM board members JoAnn Evenson and Dan Rea. The Melrose Historical Society Board of Directors and other community members also joined the celebration. Following the luncheon, SHM staff and board were given a tour of the Melrose Area Museum.
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Duane Robert Byers passed away Sunday, June 1, 2025, at CentraCare Hospital in Long Prairie, MN. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Long Prairie on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 11:00 AM with visitation one hour before. Burial will be held at the Minnesota Veterans Cemetery of Little Falls, MN at a later date.
Born the oldest of five boys to Robert (Bob) and Ida Byers, Duane grew up on a farm outside Colwell, Iowa. Times were lean, and his early life was colored by hard work on the farm as well as card games, and laughter at the local bar his grandmother owned. He and his high school sweetheart, Sharon graduated from the small Colwell High School, later marrying and building a life rooted in devotion and perseverance.
At just 22, Duane lost his father in a car accident. As the eldest son, he stepped up, helping his mother and younger brothers navigate overwhelming grief. Shortly thereafter, Duane was drafted and served honorably in Vietnam—a war that took its toll in more ways than one. He returned in 1969, welcomed his first child, Bob and then suffered further loss when his younger brother Dennis died tragically in a car accident. At Dennis’ funeral, their mother Ida passed away from a heart attack—a devastating chapter in Duane’s life that he endured with stoic strength, offering no complaints and asking for no sympathy. He and his wife Sharon took in his youngest brother Tony and moved forward as a family after also welcoming a daughter, Andrea. Through it all, Duane remained grounded, in part thanks to his Uncle Laverne, a father figure who helped fill the immense void and was a well-loved man by the whole family.
Duane was a smart man and also surprising. He enrolled the family in Taekwondo in rural Iowa, went to night school, and had a passion for reading and documentaries. He swore colorfully, enjoyed hunting and fishing, loved a good beer with a bump, and was known for his zucchini
bread and sharp skills in cribbage.
Duane survived not just personal tragedy, but also the economic upheaval of the 1980s farm crisis. He had worked for Oliver/White Farm tractors and upon the closing of their plant in Charles City he relocated his family to Minnesota in 1986 and began a new chapter as HR Director at Hart Press/Banta. He had an eye for talent and a gift for building teams that felt more like families. Colleagues like Mark Deterding, Jay Abraham, Barb Bense, Warren Weber, Cindy Wojtkiewicz, Dawn Sparby, Andy Johnson, Judy Zastrow, and many others became lifelong friends. Vince and Roy were among those who stood by him like family.
A consummate professional by day, Duane was a no-nonsense dad by night. He valued respect, held clear boundaries, and didn’t tolerate nonsense—but he also had a razor-sharp sense of humor, a soft spot for his grandkids, and for scaring his nephews with spooky stories. His deep, quiet love for family was best seen in his relationship with his grandchildren, whom he adored with a patience and gentleness that surprised those who remembered his stricter parenting style.
Later in life, Duane found peace in returning to the Catholic faith. He served on the church board and attended weekly mass, finding solace and community in his faith.
He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Sharon; his children Bob (Carrie) Byers, Andrea (Jeff) Turner, and brother Tony (Chris) Byers; grandchildren; Sam, Nick, Kiera, and Gage Hanson, Alice Foote, Nick and Ryan Turner; and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents Bob and Ida, and his brothers Dennis, Mike, and Roger.
Sudoku is one of the most popular puzzle games of all time. The goal of Sudoku is to fill a 9×9 grid with numbers so that each row, column and 3×3 section contain all of the digits between 1 and 9. As a logic puzzle, Sudoku is also an excellent brain game.
Dear Dave, What do you think about the idea of taking money out of your emergency fund in order to pay off your home early?
-Evans
Dear Evans, Trust me, I understand how it can be very tempting to throw a bunch of money at your house, get rid of the mortgage payments and own it outright. Especially if you’re plowing through the Baby Steps, and you feel like you’re making great progress in terms of gaining control of your money.
But, I wouldn’t drain my emergency fund to make it happen—even if it meant being completely debt-free sooner. To be honest, I wouldn’t even deplete it to pay off the house. You know how life always seems to throw a curveball at you when you least expect it? The moment you write that big check and weaken your emergency fund, your car will develop transmission issues, the central unit will go out and your roof will spring a leak.
Okay, so maybe I’m having a little fun with you in order to make a point. But the truth is the only time I would even consider dipping into your emergency fund—for anything that isn’t an actual emergency—is if
your emergency fund has become way too big, and you have a very small amount left to pay on the house. Keep in mind, your emergency fund should be three to six months of total household expenses, not three to six months of income. Besides, paying off the house is nothing even close to an emergency. The fact that you have to make payments on your home every month doesn’t catch anyone with a mortgage by surprise.
Remember Murphy’s Law, and how it says if something can go wrong it will go wrong? Evans, when you do things like your suggesting, you’re just begging for Murphy to come visit for long, long time. And buddy, that’s not my definition of financial peace!
-Dave
* Leadership and small-business expert Dave Ramsey is the CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored eight national bestselling books, including “EntreLeadership,” and he’s a host of “The Ramsey Show” and “The EntreLeadership Podcast.”
Volunteers Needed! Call 320-845-4070
Mon., June 9: Salisbury steak, paprika potatoes, peas, bread.
Tues., June 10: Chicken rice casserole, green beans, cake, bread.
Wed., June 11: Liver & onions, whipped potatoes, gravy, corn, bread.
Thurs., June 12: Tater tot hotdish, mandarin oranges, cookie, bread.
Fri., June 13: Tilapia, rice pilaf, strawberries, bread.
Pre-registration requested to dine daily. For more info. call 320-845-4070.
From the Hosts of the Under The Hood radio show.
Dear Motor Medics,
I took my 2012 GMC Yukon into my local mechanic because the brake pedal had become lower to the floor over a week’s time. Eventually it ended up on the floor and the red brake warning light came on and the ABS warning light. After they looked it over, I was told that every brake line on the vehicle made of steel needs to be replaced due to the rust. The total cost of replacing all these brake lines is over $2000 and I also need front and rear brakes which will add another $600 or so. Is this a common failure? The vehicle has absolutely no rust anywhere on it and I can’t understand why the brake lines rust so badly.
-Jerry in Trent, South Dakota Dear Jerry,
This is a very common problem for many cars and trucks. More so with GM vehicles, at least in our area of the country. The metals used to make the brake lines have been reacting in a bad way to the new chemicals on the roads to treat ice in the winter months. This reaction has caused brake lines to be completely rusted away to the point of failure while other body parts are not nearly as affected. The line sets are not too spendy but the labor to install them is intense, taking an entire day. It is a safety concern and should not be patched. Do it right.
-Take care, the Motor Medics Dear Motor Medics,
I have a 2015 Jeep Patriot that my daughter uses to drive back and forth to school with. The vehicle has 70k miles on it and seems to be in great shape other than a transmission hot warning light that comes on only when the vehicle has been driving on the highway for more than 30 minutes. If she slows down or stops for a few minutes the light goes off until she gets going again for a few miles. We assume since there are no other issues aside from the light that it must be a false light. What do you think?
-Patricia in Branson, MO
damage which will result in a complete rebuild or replacement with a certified used unit and a new cooler. Have your mechanic verify the actual temperature of the transmission after it has been on the highway and make repairs.
-Take care, The Motor Medics
For entertainment only. Always consult your local shop and follow all safety procedures before repairs. Come visit the Motor Medics® online at Underthehoodshow.com.
A guy walks into a doctor’s office. He has a sausage coming out of his ear, a waffle coming out of his nose, and bacon coming out of his other ear.
He says worriedly, “Doc, what’s wrong with me?!?”
The doctor replies, “You’re not eating properly.”
Dear Patricia,
Stop driving this on the highway until you get this sorted out. Based on what we see in our shop alone our suspicion is that it is getting hot and if it is there is damage being done each time. What we see is that the transmission cooler becomes restricted either due to clutch material from the transmission normal wear or an internal failure in the cooler. When this happens, the cooler can no longer keep the fluid cool when the loads are high such as on the highway. The side effect of the excessive heat is transmission
Email Minutes to htnews@icloud.com
Burnhamville Township • April 29, 2025
The regular meeting of the Town Board of Burnhamville was held April 29, 2025 at the Burtrum Community Center. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Mike Berscheit. Members present include Supervisors Mike Berscheit, Joe Muellner and Bruce Johnson; Clerk Shirley Hulinsky and Treasurer Pam Throener. Also present was Erv Herdering.
The minutes from the regular meeting of March 25, 2025 were approved on a motion by Sup. Johnson and second by Sup. Muellner. Motion passed.
For correspondence the township received email that Planning and Zoning denied the two requests from township land owners. Jasen Braun would like to try again with a revised plan he worked with county officials on a new design and he was requesting township approval for this modified plan. The supervisors reviewed plan. Sup. Berscheit moved a motion to approve this new design and Sup. Muellner seconded the motion. Motion passed. Clerk will pass approval notice along to county planning and zoning. There was a phone request for reduced price on dust control spraying and a request for signs marking where creek goes under the road. The supervisors discussed and decided to not start offering reduced prices on spray areas because of natural land formations and not to mark creek. As the township is spraying some large areas the board would like more residents to pay for the spraying in their area.
A motion was moved by Sup. Berscheit to pay all bills numbered 6812 through 6828 totaling $20,643.05. Sup. Johnson seconded the motion. Motion passed.
The supervisors would like to get another trailer to use for cleaning up debris along roads. Sup. Berscheit received a quote for a trailer. After discussion that this was a good price, Sup. Johnson moved a motion to use savings to purchase the trailer from The Trailer Center. Sup. Muellner seconded the motion and upon vote motion passed.
The board was presented with a ditch mowing contract. Sup. Muellner moved a motion to accept the contract from KB Specialities and Sup. Johnson seconded the motion. Sup. Berscheit abstained from vote because of being involved. Motion passed.
Annual road inspection was held and the board reviewed list. Contractor will start on improvements.
With township clean-up day set for May 17 at 9-11 am in Burtrum the board reviewed prices and will include computer towers in the $10 TV/ monitor fee. Two supervisors and clerk will be there to assist residents.
Sup. Johnson reviewed the county weed inspection meeting and shared weed id flyers.
The Treasurer’s report shows balance of $117,360.70. Report approved on a motion by Sup. Berscheit and second by Sup. Muellner. Motion passed.
Meeting was adjourned at 7:41 p.m. on a motion by Sup. Berscheit and a second by Sup. Muellner. Next regular meeting will be on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 7 pm in the Burtrum Community Center.
Shirley Hulinsky, Burnhamville Township Clerk
Burtrum City • May 6, 2025
Call to Order/Roll Call: The Mayor called the meeting order at 7:03 P.M.
Attendance: Mayor Romie Gessell Jr., Sara Macho, Bobby Veldkamp Jr., Irene Ehlert, Juli Schpering, and City Clerk Brooke Thieschafer.
The Pledge of Allegiance resided.
Agenda: Macho made a motion to approve. Seconded by Ehlert. All in favor, motion carried. Mayor amended the agenda to add under the old business Park Discussion. Scherping supported. All in favor, motion carried.
Minutes: Macho made a motion to approve the April minutes. Supported by Scherping. All in favor, motion carried.
Bills: Ehlert made a motion to approve the bills from April 2025. Seconded by Scherping. All in favor, motion carried.
Todd County Sheriff’s Report City Clerk went over the calls for the month
Permits: None - Question asked about moving a fence line. No permit needed.
Old Business Sign Location, Mayor Gessell measured out a new spot to move the sign across the road to the Ehlert property. There will be a contract drafted with all parties to be newed after 5 years. The City Clerk will arrange for the installers to get the city sign moved to the new location.
City wide clean-up. Looking for volunteers to help. The City Clerk will post something on Facebook.
Memorial Day Parade, Bobby Veldkamp Jr will lead the parade. Starts at 11AM. Line up on Wilson Street. Potluck is unknown at this time.
Ordinances - will stay tabled for now. Mayor Gessell finally heard back from the City Attorney. More to come on decisions to be made. Discussion was had on poultry and livestocks. Tabled for now.
Painting of the Community Center - Veldkamp made a motion to approve the project. Scherping supported. All in favor, motion carried.
Park Discussion - Craig Hoppy - Map out some areas that you could let grow. There would be a lot of wildlife and wildflowers. Hoppy already has prairie grass on his property, but is looking to expand into the city’s property. There was a discussion on allowing prairie grass. At this time the city is not going to move forward with allowing prairie grass beds on the city property.
New Business: Grade streets and dust control: Would like to have the roads done before Memorial Day. The usual time frame to do a project is usually June. Terri Veldkamp will reach out to Big Stone Excavating for a quote. Council decided to look around for new quotes for maintenance of our roads.
City Equipment, a discussion was had. No decisions were made at this time.
Open Floor:
Note for the record-Bean Bake paid for their bill in full for items they purchased from the city. Craig Hoppy, a City Resident, was wondering if the city could let the grass grow by the Lions Park. Proposing to adjust the city ordinances cur rently in place. He would like wildlife to live. Butterflies, bees, etc. There is a creek that runs nearby, and proposing to have a rock garden near the creek to slow it down. The Mayor stated it is something to consider and no decisions were made at this time.
Cabooze- would like to extend their deck. No
Motorists can expect lane closures and short-term delays as crews begin a project to improve one mile of Highway 287 in Long Prairie, Todd County, on Monday, June 9.
MnDOT will resurface Highway 287 from Highway 71 to Todd County Road 12 and update storm drainage. Crews will also upgrade sidewalks and approaches, which includes new pedestrian flasher signals at First Street South and Second Street South, east and west of the elementary school.
Motorists will encounter lane or shoulder closures, lane shifts and use of flaggers. Highway 287 will remain open to two-way traffic; however, expect changes to access, gravel
permit needed.
Announcements: Clean-Up Day is May 17th from 9AM to 11AM, Memorial Day Parade May 26th at 11AM
Adjournment: Macho made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 PM. Veldkamp support-
ed. All in favor, motion carried. Next City Council meeting is scheduled for June 3rd, 2024 at the Burtrum Community Center.
Brooke Thieschafer, City Clerk
A second detour segment on Highway 238 in Morrison County begins Monday, June 9, impacting travelers between Upsala and Little Falls. The two-month, $6.3 million roadwork project began June 2 in Upsala. Crews will resurface and update 19 miles of Highway 238 between Morrison County Road 19 in Upsala and Highway 27 west of Little Falls.
Motorists should be aware of these current and upcoming closures and detours:
June 2-23: Highway 238 remains closed to through traffic from north of County Road 19 to County Road 227 in Upsala to realign and add a turn lane at County Road 228. Detour uses County Road 21 and County Road 227.
June 9 to mid-July: Highway 238 closed to through traffic from 80th Avenue south of Elmdale to County Road 12 southwest of Little Falls to repair or replace 14 underground drainage structures, includes a box bridge at Hay Creek. Detour via County Road 1 and County Road 12 through Sobieski. Detour map available on the Hwy 238 project web page.
Mid-July to early August: Highway 238 will have segments of one-lane traffic with flaggers and a pilot car to pave the road surface between Upsala and Little Falls. Crews
will work weekdays, sunrise to sunset on good weather days.
Local access will be open and maintained with temporary traffic changes, including hard closures for drainage work; enter/exit nearest to destination. Motorists should plan for delays and watch for changes when traveling through the work zone.
When complete, the project will improve the road surface, drainage and safety on Highway 238.
Visit MnDOT’s Highway 238 project web page for details and to sign up for project email updates. Check real-time road conditions on 511mn.org.
surfaces and no shoulders. Watch for pedestrians crossing Highway 287, as both sides have homes, churches and parks.
In mid-June, Highway 287 will close between Highway 71 and Eighth Street South for approximately two weeks as crews replace pipes and work beneath the road. Motorists will follow a detour along Highway 71, First Avenue Northeast and Eighth Street South. When complete in mid-August, the project will result in a smoother road surface, updated storm water drainage, and improved motorist and pedestrian safety. For more information, including maps and contacts, visit the project web page: www. mndot.gov /d3/projects/longprairie/.
ACIDS ANCHORED APRON BOUND CONTAINED CRACK DEALS DECAY DENTIST EATEN EXIST FIRES FLOAT FLUNG
HANDS HELPERS HIDING HOPELESS INDIA INDUSTRIAL INTENT LEDGE LEVER LINES LUNAR MANUFACTURED MEATS METRE NAVAL NO-ONE OCEAN OPENED ORANGE PATCH RATES REALLY RIDES ROBOT SCARY SHEDS SHELF SIRUP
*Excludes: lawn mowers, gas, diesel, kerosene, heating wood pellets, tobacco,hunting/fishing licenses, no pallet quantity discounts, snowblowers & sale items. See store for additional exclusions.
SAUK CENTRE 1050 Centre St. 320-352-5261
GLENWOOD Hwy. 28 & 55 • 320-634-5209
LONG PRAIRIE Hwy. 71 South 320-732-6195 LITTLE FALLS 1800 1st Ave. N.E. 320-632-9240 PAYNESVILLE Hwy. 55 West 320-243-3556
GLENCOE Hwy 212- 3105 10th St. E. • 320-864-4304
FARIBAULT 80 Western Ave. • 507-334-3232
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00am-7:00pm; Saturday 8:00am-6:00pm; Sunday 10:00am-4:00pm Little Falls: Monday-Saturday 8:00am-8:00pm; Sunday 9:00am-5:00pm Faribault: Monday-Friday 7:00am-7:00pm;
RUMMAGE/BAKE SALE: Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Upsala, Saturday, June 7: 8:00-11:30; bag sale 11:30-12:00. Coffee, caramel rolls for sale.
GARAGE SALE: Adult, childrens clothing, miscellaneous items, childrens bikes. Thurs.-Fri., June 5-6: 7-4; Sat., June 7: 7-12. 38606 King Lake Road, Freeport.
MOVING SALE: South end of Big Birch, County Road 127 & 440th. Saturday, June 14: 9am.
WANTED TO BUY: Dairy Heifers and Cows. 320-894-7175. SC-evB
WANTED: Cars and pickups from the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s, in your weeds or sheds. 218-640-3807 or 218-756-2257.
WANTED: 1995 Dodge 1/2 ton pickup, cheap with clear title. Call 320-267-5632. RB-tfn
WANTED: Geo Tracker, good shape, reasonable price. Call 320-267-5632. RB-tfn
FOR SALE: 1984 red Corvette, top comes off, 105,000 miles, automatic, $10,500 or B/O. Call 320-267-5632. RB-tfn
SNAILS SNEEZED SPAIN STALK TEASE THERE TRAIN TWINS VARIOUS WEIGHED WRONG
FOR SALE: Craftsman 6” jointer with cabinet, excellent condition, Model #10320620, $400. Call 320-766-3119. DC-tfn
FOR SALE: 1983 Ford Mustang GLX convertible, 60,000 miles, automatic, white w/ white leather interior, 3.8L, V6, kept in garage, excellent, $9,000. Call 320-766-5119. DC-tfn
FOR SALE: Vibo boat lift, canopy cover needs replacement, $750. Call 320-7663119. DC-tfn
FOR SALE: Zero turn lawn mower. 18 speed bike. Clean golf balls 50¢ each. Solar radio. Keyboard. Call 320-251-3133. 6/5
LAKE PLACE FOR SALE: On Bass Lake, partially furnished, septic compliant, water, electric, roughly 171 ft. lake shore, dock stays. 320-293-1567 6/12
FOR SALE: Metal wall cars. School desk. Wooden swing set. Call 320-251-3133. 6/5
FOR SALE: Eldorado stone, style-Vintage Ranch, color-saddlewood.Text for pictures 320-815-1768.
FOR SALE: 3 old Children’s dish sets, Smurfs and Looney Tunes, $20. Text for pictures 320-894-9118.
FOR SALE: Aluminum boat lift, Big Birch lake; used, good condition, $600. Call 507261-8074.
FOR SALE: 2 - 55 gallon fuel barrels with hand pumps, one with fuel, one empty. Call 320-352-6976.
FOR SALE: 6x6x12 chain link dog kennel and dog house. Call 320-293-7819.
FOR SALE: 367 small square bales orchard grass hay, second crop. Call 630-5128, evenings.
FOR SALE: All new camping equipment: camp stove, sleeping bag, FS air mattress, folding table, folding chair, all for $125. Call 320-845-2266.
FOR SALE: Taurus 357 mag. stainless, ammo, carry case, $500. Call 320-845-2266.
FOR SALE: Ruger 10/22 carbine 18” barrel, strap, 25 clip, carry case, ammo, $390. Call 320-845-2266.
