Friends for decades — and now neighbors
Ryan McGaughey / The Globe
Neighbors Bruce Lease (left) and Martin Aaser sit together in front of Aaser’s apartment at Worthington’s Ecumen Meadows.
Martin Aaser, Bruce Lease still spend time together at Worthington assisted living facility By Ryan McGaughey rmcgaughey@dglobe.com Worthington
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he friendship between Martin Aaser and Bruce Lease of Worthington has spanned roughly 50 years. Together, they were involved in local fraternal organizations, and they were a part of a group of men that had coffee regularly at the Blue Line Travel Center. Now, the two are unlikely neighbors. Aaser took up residence in the south building at Ecumen Meadows one year ago this September, while Lease moved into an apartment directly next to him in June. “Denise (Erwin, Ecumen Meadows Marketing Manager) came over one day and said, ‘Bruce is going to move in,’� Martin remembered. “I said, ‘great,’and then it turned out he was going to be right next door in an identical apartment.� “Every day we see each other, and we eat dinner together,� added Bruce.
How they got here
Aaser arrived in Worthington in 1968, relocating
from the small community of Lakota, N.D. “One day I came home from work and told my wife ‘I think we should move,’ and she didn’t object,� he said. “I called a friend in Minnesota and asked if he knew of any teaching openings, and he said he thought there was one at Worthington. I called Worthington, and the rest is history.� That job was teaching agriculture at Worthington High School, where Aaser was joined by three other ag instructors — Walt Larson, John Wright and Ken Johnson. A portion of Aaser’s job involved teaching at what’s now known as Minnesota West Community and Technical College, and Aaser eventually became employed fulltime there. Lease, meanwhile, came to Worthington the day after his 1959 graduation from Iowa State University. Employed by Farmers National Co., he opened a farm insurance office in Worthington. “I managed the farms for 10 years and I had 70
“Where you’re in the same profession, it’s natural that you meet,� Aaser said, with Lease noting that the work of each (Aaser teaching, Lease broadcasting) involved agriculture. The friends agree that they became most acquainted through their membership in the Shriner Cycle Patrol, through which they rode in parades at Worthington’s King Turkey Day and other locales for at least 25 years. “I always say that I entertained more than a million people,� Aaser said of the parades. “Bruce and I did some things together, but a lot of our time with each other was through the organizations.� Aaser and Lease each served as officers in Masons and Shriners. Aaser is also a longtime Lions Club member, while Lease was involved with Worthington Kiwanis for ‘It’s natural that many years. you meet’ “Of course, when you Aaser and Lease were both members of belong to these organizathe Masons and Shri- tions, you end up in some ners organizations for kind of leadership role,� many years. Aaser said.
farms I was managing at a time,â€? Lease said. “Then, I actually thought I could be better myself by moving to San Antonio.â€? Lease’s wife, Dorothy, had grown up in that Texas city, but after a short time the couple opted to return to southwest Minnesota. “I missed agriculture ‌ and the radio station approached me, as my old job had been filled by someone else in the meantime,â€? Lease explained. “I was offered a job as a farm broadcaster, and I took that job in 1969.â€? Lease — who later became well recognized locally for his frequent on-air proclamation, “It’s a beautiful day in Worthington, Minnesotaâ€? — would eventually mount a run for the Minnesota Legislature, but “got my butt beatâ€? and was soon offered a new position at KQAD at Luverne, also as a farm broadcaster.
“I also belonged to the Chamber of Commerce from 1959 to a year ago in one form or another,� Lease said of his community involvement, recalling such efforts as creation of the former Pork Bowl and a onetime golf tournament in which businessmen invited farmers to participate with them. (“Both died a natural death eventually,� Lease said of those events).
to marry wife Dorothy (“a farmer’s daughter from North Dakota�) while living there. Dorothy died six years ago; the couple enjoyed nearly 60 years of wedded bliss. Lease, for his part, had grown up on a farm near Galva, Iowa. He began farming with his dad after graduating from high school and soon became eligible for the draft. “Rather than become a soldier, I enlisted in the Air Force, and that took Life during wartime me to Omaha,� Lease (and after) Aaser had graduated said. “I spent four years from what’s now known in the Air Force — two as North Dakota State years in San Antonio, University in 1951 and where I met Dorothy, who was prepared to enter the would become my wife, Army, but instead wound and then Fairbanks, Alasup staying in that state ka, to which Dorothy got while teaching agriculture to go with me. “When I got out of the under the GI Bill to farm... my dad, in ers who had previously service his wisdom, said ‘Why served in the military. “I was a 21-year-old don’t you try something punk and those guys were else?’ Lease continued. 40 years old,� Aaser stat- “So that’s when I went ed with a laugh. to college.� Eventually, Aaser That, of course, led had to fulfill his mili- Lease to Worthington tary obligations, but was — and Lease and Aaser, given a 4F classification ultimately — to their and declared unfit to go. long friendship. That’s when he ended up at Lakota, and he went on FRIENDS: Page H3