“The Good Old Days” -By Tom Kuehne

The 1930's I am not old enough to remember the 1930’s. I’ve been told that it was called the bad years.

The country was in a great recession and there was also a great drought that covered the western half of the U.S. Cropland blew away in great clouds of dust which almost turned day into darkness. Around here weeds and grasshoppers were about all that was in the fields.

No crops grew, so there was no feed for the farm animals. Farmers needed crops to feed the livestock and make the payments on their farm. Many farmers lost their farms and were forced to leave the area.

The depression caused the price of the farm animals at the markets to be extremely low. From our area it was not possible to send pigs to the St. Paul Market, because the money paid for the animals was less than the shipping cost. Many animals were shot and buried, due to the shortage of feed for them. At the same time, people living in the metropolitan areas were starving for lack of food and also money to

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buy food, if work could be found. Employment was extremely difficult to find and wages were very low.

Our farm made it through the bad years. The pigs were fenced in the wooded areas, where they were able to eat roots and other underground vegetation during the summer months. They also chewed bark off of the trees. The children gathered acorns from under the oak trees to feed the pigs in the winter. Pigs continued to multiply, although on a limited basis, so there was a lot of pork for the families to eat. Dad talked about Ma’s baked beans as being baked pork with a few beans in it.

The cows were also pastured in the woods. When the vegetation in the woods became scarce, basswood trees were cut, since they had more leaves than the other trees. Leaves probably were not the best feed, but it kept them alive during the summer. During the summer, slews, swamps and shallow lake areas were cut by long hours of hand cutting followed by dragging the meadow grass and cattails to higher ground so that it could dry. The dried plant material was then loaded on wagons and hauled to the barn for storage.

Chickens were more self sufficient in the summer months. They ate bugs, weed seeds and scratched under any shaded area to find worms. When winter came, chickens had to be fed grain, but the number of chickens were reduced

All

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Freeport 320-836-2135 www.hennenlumber.com to produce chicken for preservation by canning. Pa went to his spear-house on a daily basis and carried dogfish home to throw to the chickens. They loved fish. Any extra eggs produced were sold in town for as low as 2 cents a dozen.

My Grandmother said that during the 1930’s, there was one year which resulted in a gross income of less than $200.00 for the whole year. This included Pa and the team being hired to build road for $1.00 per day for him and $1.00 per day for the team of horses and a wagon with dump-planks.

The bad years lasted through most of the 1930’s. Government programs such as the WPA and the CCC’s put a lot of people to work and gave them the feeling of accomplishment for being able to work for their pay. The infusion of money from the government not only created many improvements in our infrastructure, but it put money in the workers pockets with which to buy food. This helped the farmers, which along with the return of the rain, helped them to recover financially. Life got better. For feedback or story ideas, email Tom at tom@swanvilleinsurance.com.

If you need help with Health or Life Insurance or for Senior Health Solutions Contact: Tom Kuehne 320-360-0343

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Tuesday: (5-9 pm) Choice of:

3 Chicken Strips w/Toast & Fries $7.50

6 Drummies w/Toast & Fries $7.50

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Saturday, June 17

June 18

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Fri., June 16: Cheeseburger w/Fries or Chili

Mon., June 19: Patty Melt w/Fries

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Wed., June 21: Rodeo Burger w/Fries

Thurs., June 22: Sausage & Kraut Dinner

Fri., June 23: Cheeseburger w/Fries

Friday: (5-9 pm) Choice of:

• 6 oz. Steak $12 • Add 3 Shrimp $15

• 6 oz. Butter/Garlic Steak $12

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THURSDAY: 5-9 PM Includes Salad Bar & Choice of Potato

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Henry M. Pohlmann

Henry M. Pohlmann, age 61 of Melrose, passed away unexpectedly from natural causes on Friday, June 9, 2023 at his home in Melrose, Minnesota. Private family services will be held.

Henry Marcellus Pohlmann was born January 2, 1962 in Melrose, Minnesota to Francis “Lawrence” and Irene (Koopmeiners) Pohlmann. He was raised on the family farm where he enjoyed helping out doing fieldwork and chores. During high school, Henry worked at Kraft Foods. He graduated from Melrose High School in 1980 and in 1981, he purchased a milk truck route from Mel Roering which owned and operated as Pohlmann Trucking.

He was united in marriage to Mary Rieland on October 20, 1984. The couple purchased the family farm and had three daughters. In 2009, Henry sold the dairy cows and started raising beef cows and crop farming. He started working at Rahn’s Propane and Oil in June of 2009 until April of 2021 when he started working at Land O’ Lakes.

Henry enjoyed bowling, playing softball, and snowmobiling, especially in his younger years. He enjoyed riding his four-wheeler after work checking the beef cows along the creek he truly loved. Henry had a big heart and would always help out whoever needed help fixing things.

Survivors include his daughters, Kali (Tyler) Schmiesing of New Munich and Micki (Joe) Orbeck of New Munich; grandchildren, Beckett Schmiesing, Paiten and Ellie Bushman, and Hazel Orbeck; brothers, Fred Pohlmann and Danny (Ruth) Pohlmann; sisters, Kathy (Dave) Welle, Rita (James) Geehan, Patty Ahrens, Eileen (Butch) Schneider, Teresa (Bill) LeClaire, and Carla Hinnenkamp (Dave Anderson); many loving relatives and friends.

Henry was preceded in death by his daughter, Tara Pohlmann; parents; brother, Bernard Pohlmann; and sister, Mary Ann Vener.

Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral and Cremation Services of Melrose.

Betty Jane Koehn

Betty Jane “Janie” Koehn, born September 15, 1937, went to her heavenly home on January 19, 2023. Proceeded in death by parents, Erick and Cecilia Koehn and survived by her loving sister, Carol Ann. A funeral service was held on February 03, 2023, at Woodbury Lutheran Church in Woodbury, Minnesota. Her private inurnment was held on May 20, 2023, at Saint John’s Cemetery in Stearns County, Minnesota.

Janie was born at home in Stearns County, Krain Township near Holdingford, Minnesota. She was lovingly welcomed into the family by parents Erick and Cecilia and older sister Carol Ann. As a child she was her mom’s best helper, enjoying baking the most. Over the years, many of her family and friends enjoyed Janie’s delicious cookies, which were her specialty. As a young child, Janie survived polio and even through this difficult challenge, she was always full of joy and loved life. After graduating from Upsala High School, Janie moved to Saint Paul to live with her sister Carol Ann. When she moved to Saint Paul Janie worked at Farwell, Ozmun, Kirk & Company for sixteen years. After FOK she was employed by 3M and retired from 3M after twenty-five years of service.

In her spare time, in addition to baking, Janie loved to travel with her sister and long-time friend Anna Mae Nelson. Janie visited Alaska, Hawaii, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Norway, Sweden; and her favorite destinations were Germany and Hawaii. Janie was loved by her family and friends because of her wonderful demeaner, always positive and calm, quick to show her sweet smile, and full of laughter and love. Janie will be deeply missed by all who knew her!

Edwin Conrad Duclos

Edwin Conrad Duclos, age 97, passed away comfortably and peacefully at home with family April 18, 2023.

A funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 24, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Grey Eagle, with visitation one hour before Mass. Luncheon will follow at the church. Inurnment will be at Fort Snelling Cemetery at 1:45 p.m., Monday, June 26, arriving 1:30 for staging.

Ed was born Dec. 30, 1925, to John and Catherine (Hoffmann) Duclos in Freeport, Minnesota. He was the 11th of 13 siblings and would proudly tell you that he had eight brothers and four sisters. The drought years of the early 30s hit family farms especially hard so Ed and his brothers had to leave school to help support their family. He had numerous jobs giving him a broad variety of skills. In 1944, when his country called, although not quite 18, Ed joined the Seabees. Because of his work experience, which included driving truck, Ed was pulled from boot camp to head up a truck battalion. He shipped to Okinawa and ran supplies to the frontline at night. At the end of the war, he moved to Minneapolis to find work. He had several jobs, landing one at which he could work double shifts. He was thrilled and grateful as it enabled him to get himself firmly established. He eventually took a job with Industrial Lumber and Plywood where he began as a truck driver and within four years became the yard foreman until he retired. In 1950 Ed married the love of his life Verina “LaVerne” Bergmann. They settled in Minneapolis to raise their three daughters. Ed and LaVerne had an indefatigable partnership. They shared common values and visions for their family and each worked and sacrificed equally to make them a reality. Supporting their daughters’ education was of highest priority. Besides his work at the lumberyard, Ed always owned a business on the side – often piece work he could do in his garage. He had the opportunity to purchase a semitractor and three trailers to haul the sawdust from the lumberyard to turkey farms in the Owatonna area. He unloaded the sawdust by hand with a grain shovel year-round. Imagine 100-degree weather, inside a turkey barn, inside a semi-trailer shoveling sawdust by hand. Now that’s sacrifice in pursuit of a vision: his family. And never did you hear him complain. Ed was able to hold his long vision and not let the bumps and detours along the way derail him. He always had an attitude of gratitude.

In 1962, Ed and LaVerne purchased a lot on Big Birch Lake, starting with a small trailer house. At his girls’ insistence, they and LaVerne headed to the lake the day after school let out and did not return till the night before school began, with Ed joining them on weekends. In 1982, Ed and LaVerne built a home on the lake and eventually retired there. They were introduced to Las Vegas by LaVerne’s brother Mel who taught school there for 32 years. They purchased a home in Vegas and spent their winters there enjoying fishing, the beautiful environment that surrounds Las Vegas and of course some gambling.

While work was Ed’s MO, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and was strongly connected to nature. He loved just observing what was around him. He enjoyed building and repairing things and could truly make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. He a real eye for detail. But what he enjoyed most was being with family. Cutting the grass on his riding lawn mower, work by some people’s estimation, gave him the perfect position from which to watch his family enjoying themselves.

Ed was impeccably honest, always standing in integrity: what you saw is what you got. He listened more than he spoke. Commitment and loyalty were in his DNA. He was kind and generous, always ready to help friends and family. He was compassionate, wearing his heart on his sleeve. Ed had a soft spot for women, children, animals and anyone in need. It pained him to see any sentient being in distress or pain. And he rounded all this out with a great sense of humor.

Ed had a very strong faith which carried him through the tough times. He carried a rosary in his hunting jacket: after all, he said, there is a lot of time spent waiting, plenty of time to pray a rosary or two. He was a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus.

Ed is survived by his three daughters Sandy Duclos Field of Minneapolis, Linda (Dan) Barnier of Rogers and Kim Duclos of Las Vegas; grandchildren Rick (Patty) Barnier of Rogers and Eddie Barnier of Montana; granddaughter Blendy Orellana Andrade (Jamil Orfali) of Austin, Texas; sister Leona Wiehoff of St. Cloud, brothers inlaw Kenny (Marilyn) Bergmann, Don (Joan)

Lambrecht; sisters in-law Marie Duclos, Audrey Westbrook, Joanie (Mac) Haws, Janet Gibbons; and nieces and nephews too numerous to mention here. He was preceded in death by his wife LaVerne; parents; son-in-law Charles W. Field; sisters Barb (John) Thelen, Marie (Joseph) Zwilling and Sister (Francis) Gudilia, OSB; brothers Anthony (Eileen) Duclos, Alois (Loraine) Duclos, Hubert (Donna Mae) Duclos, John (Alice) Duclos, Joseph (Edna) Duclos, William (Regina) Duclos, Henry (Margie) Duclos and Lawrence Duclos; motherand father in-law John and Hilda Bergmann; sisters and brothers in-law Irene (Kermit) Lee, Ellen Lambrecht, Darlene (Erv) Schiffler, David (Blanche) Bergmann, Eugene (Regina) Bergmann, Duane (Anna Marie) Bergmann, Melvin Bergmann, Loren (Sally) Bergmann, Charles Wiehoff, Thomas Haws, Anthony Westbrook and George Gibbons; and to Ed’s great sadness, too many nieces and nephews to mention. Donations can be made at https://www. smiletrain.org.

Bonnie L. Schloegl

Bonnie L. Schloegl, age 73 of Sauk Centre, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at her home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday, June 13 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Jeremy Theis officiating. Interment was in the parish cemetery.

Bonnie Louise Henry was born November 25, 1949 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota to George and Erma (Klein) Henry. She grew up in Sauk Centre and attended Sauk Centre High School. Bonnie met her life partner, Art, and was united in marriage on March 9, 1968. Together they raised three children on a dairy farm southeast of Grey Eagle. They then moved and traveled while Art was working construction and later settled in Buffalo Lake. They moved back to Sauk Centre to be closer to family and friends. She was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Bonnie loved spending time out west, especially in Montana. She lived to enjoy caring for her family and grandchildren and was known as the best cook, from turtle to her bean casserole.

Survivors include her children, Tammy Bruder, Jason Schloegl, and Jamie Schloegl, all of Sauk Centre; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; sisters, Nona (Romie) Klaphake of Spring Hill, Rita (Duane) Frieler of Elrosa, and Ann (Ray) Hendershot of Long Prairie; brother, Dick (Nancy) Henry of Avon; and many loving relatives and friends.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Schloegl on February 18, 2022; daughter, Nicole Schloegl on March 12, 2020; and parents.

Arrangements were made with PattonSchad Funeral and Cremation Services of Sauk Centre.

Steven J. Stoermann

Steven J.

“Steve” Stoermann, age 56 of Holdingford, died peacefully with his wife by his side Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, June 12 at Church of All Saints -St. Mary’s in Holdingford with Rev. Gregory Mastey officiating. Interment followed in the parish cemetery.

Steven Joseph Stoermann was born August 13, 1966 in Melrose, Minnesota to Robert and Sylvia (Fink) Stoermann. He graduated from Holdingford High School in 1985. On November 26, 2011 he was united in marriage to Terri Dingmann at Church of All Saints - St. Mary’s in Holdingford. Steve worked at Polar Tank Trailer in Holdingford as a welder for 26 years before the plant closed. He worked various jobs after that until his illness took over.

Steve was a family man. He enjoyed spending time with his wife and two girls. They went on many camping trips with friends and family. Steve also enjoyed riding his Harley as well as snowmobiling.

He was a member of the Holdingford Fire Department for 26 years and served on the Parish Building Planning Committee for the Holdingford cluster.

Survivors include his wife, Terri Stoermann; daughters, Audra and Greta Stoermann; brother and sisters, Sharon Stanoch, Sandy Kierzek, Tom Stoermann, Nancy Paggen, and Julie (Steve) Notsch; parents-in-law, Marvin and Audrey Dingmann; brothers-in-law and sisters-in law, Craig Dingmann, Troy (Laurie) Dingmann, and Kristi (Ronnie) Carlbom; nieces and nephews, Leann (Eli) Prottengeier, Nick (Angie) Stanoch and their children, Blake, Nolan, and Evalyn, Emily Stanoch, Katelyn Stanoch, Ben Stanoch, Kayla (Nick) Richards and their children, Sage, Lincoln, and Scarlett, Drew (Mia) Kierzek, and their son, Jack, Grant (Brittany) Kierzek, Brayden Kierzek, Kyle Stoermann, Taylor Notsch, Tanner Notsch, Jase Dingmann, Jackson Dingmann, Tucker Dingmann, Peyton Dingmann, Camille Dingmann, Caleb Carlbom, Brady Carlbom, and Ashton Carlbom

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Sylvia Stoermann and unborn child in 2014.

Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Melrose.

Matthew Alejandro Rodriguez Pacheco

Jesus Rodriguez and Vianey Pacheco of Sartell are proud to announce the birth of their son, Matthew Alejandro Rodriguez Pacheco, born on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 3:33 p.m. at CentraCare – Melrose Hospital.

Matthew weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces and measured 20.5 inches long.

He has a big brother Gael, 11 years old at home.