Lloyd Kaplan of Ellendale and Merley Pfiefer of Owatonna have been named as the Steele County Senior Volunteers of the Year for 2009. They will be honored at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, on stage in Fair Square Park at the Steele County Free Fair.
Lloyd Kaplan
If there’s anything historical in Steele County to learn, you’ll find Lloyd there. He is a long time member of the Ellendale Area Heritage Society and also is active in the Steele County Historical Society. He is a great organizer and as Barb Mrotz from the Ellendale Area Heritage Society stated, “Lloyd has been instrumental in carrying out many projects, especially in digging for the information and finding the resources needed to accomplish them. He has recruited helpers, designed and built displays for hundreds of items and has overseen the protection of the items and returned items safely to its owner.”
Lloyd is a frequent visitor to our fair office. He has assisted in organizing the annual flag raising ceremony the first night of the fair since the event began. He is a member of the VFW Men’s Auxiliary in Ellendale. He especially enjoys working on projects that recognize our service men and women in showing our appreciation for their commitment. Lloyd also works in organizing the “Old Iron Show” at the fair.
Lloyd serves on the Board of Directors for the Steele County Historical Society. He arranges for entertainment to be featured on the newly introduced Village of Yesteryear stage. He has been very involved with the planning of the History Center and fund raising efforts for the project.
Elmer Reseland, Secretary/Manager of the fair said, “The most outstanding thing about Lloyd is that he is such a pleasure to work with. He is a calm deliberate man who is very conscientious and sets and example for the rest of us.”
Merley Pfiefer
You’ll find Merley working with the VFW Auxiliary is many of their projects. When dinners are served, you’ll find Merley. She also visits veterans in nursing homes, places flags at the cemetery for Memorial Day and works on many other VFW projects. She is an active member of SeniorPlace in Owatonna committing up to 200 hours a year to the organization. She was voted Volunteer of the Year to the VFW Auxiliary in Owatonna and took second place in the state. On the national level and through our local VFW, Merley continues to work countless hours finding, cutting and sorting outdated redemption coupons to support our country’s service people.
Her commitment to detail is what makes the SeniorPlace bingo a success. She also works in organizing the SeniorPlace library. She is a member of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). Merley also volunteered for the Steele County Food Shelf and was a working member for 17 years. She sorted thousands of pounds of food and trained community services workers and new volunteers. She retired from the Food Shelf in October of 2007.
Stormy Trom, Steele County Food Shelf Director said, “We have been so fortunate to have Merley as one of our valued SCFS volunteer team members. It is because of people like her that our community spirit is kept alive and our friends, families and neighbors are supported when hard times arise. Trudy Pierce, Owatonna VFW Ladies Auxiliary President said, “Merley is one of those valued volunteers who is always there. She is a quiet person who is doing whatever needs to be done. She is an excellent role model for others and has a very positive attitude. She is always there to help others who are in need. Merley has a “spirit” that can meet any challenge.”
Richardson honored
Owatonna’s Vic Richardson was recognized and honored by the State Agriculture Teachers recently with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was presented at the Ag Teacher’s convention. Over his 34 years of teaching agriculture, Vic has held every office in the organization, was president of the National Farm and Ranch Business Management Education Association and was named the Outstanding Vo Ag Teacher in the state in 1992-’93. He succeeded John Zwiebel as an Ag teacher at Owatonna High School where he taught for 15 years. Prior to coming to Owatonna he spent seven years in Jeffers, Minn., and wound up his teaching career at Riverland in Austin. Since he retired, Vic is busy assisting farmers during the tax season. There are few folks that I know that were as dedicated to teaching as Vic. For many years, we offered him weekly time on KRFO for a radio show directly aimed at the farming community. Congratulations Vic on a well deserved recognition.
Charissa Pettyjohn practicing in Boston
Dr. Charissa Pettyjohn, daughter of the Rev. Dennis and Dee Ann Pettyjohn, and a 1997 graduate of Owatonna High School, has completed her four-year Ob/Gyn residency at Tufts University Hospital in Boston. In mid-August, she joins Commonwealth Ob/Gyn PC, a group practice affiliated with Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
OHS class reunions fair week
The Owatonna High School Class of 1944 will meet at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Elks Club in Owatonna. Spouses and guests are welcome. For more information, call Jane Starks at 451-2925.
Other reunions coming up during this fair week include the OHS Class of 1948 meeting at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at Torrey’s; Class of 1955 will gather Friday, Aug. 21, at the Owatonna Country Club; Class of 1979 will meet for their 30th reunion Friday, Aug. 21, at the Eagles Club and Saturday, Aug. 22, at South Park Lanes for appetizers; Class of 1989 will gather for their 20th reunion Saturday, Aug. 22, at Dartt’s Park for a family picnic and then at the VFW Club for the evening social.
Class of ’85 reunion planning
The OHS Class of 1985 will hold a 25th reunion planning meeting at noon Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Owatonna Public Library in the Gainey Room. Any class member is welcome. There will be a live feed through Facebook at the meeting for those that want to participate from out of town. For more information, contact Quinn Meyer at qmeyer1967@yahoo.com.
Two more Jerry’s alumni
I received a note from Solveig Tharaldson informing me that in addition to her son Bruce, (whom I named in a prior column), her two other sons also worked at Jerry’s. Bob Tharaldson worked in the kitchen and Brian Tharaldson was a bus boy. So far, no news about the future of Jerry’s. The building looks lonely.
Deadline for applicants for Woman’s Club holiday proceeds
This coming Friday, Aug. 21, is the deadline date to apply for proceeds from the Owatonna Woman’s Club annual holiday dance. All proceeds from the dance, to be held Dec. 5 at the Eagles Club, are given to non-profit organizations or to benefit community projects in Steele County. Send written requests for funds to the Civic Contributions Committee, C/O Sylvia Dahle at 723 16th St. S.E. in Owatonna. Please indicate what the funds will be used for as well as the dollar amount needed.
More OHS grad ministers
Since last week’s column, several sent me notes about OHS grads who have entered the ministry. Nicole Jensen Schwalbe (Class of 1991, daughter of John and Bernice Jensen) is presently serving as a Chaplain for Columbia University and Queen’s College in New York City. The following grads who were members of St. John Lutheran Church in Owatonna entered the ministry and are now retired: Wayne Radke (Zumbrota), Bob Kriesel (Twin Cities), Arno Frerichs (Fredericksburg, Texas), and Norman Dornquist (Mt. Home, Ark.). David Fretham (Gordon) is head pastor of a Lutheran church in Silver Creek, Minn. Although not an OHS grad, Barb Streed is attending Bethel Seminary. Dale Hedstrom (Dennis and Gay) is the pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Oxford, Neb. He graduated from St. Olaf College with a math education degree, served in Thailand for three and a half years as a lay missionary and later graduated from seminary. Janice Brosen (Sid and Cornelia) is serving as Associate Pastor at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Sun City West, Ariz.
Lots of fair news
• When you take in the show by the Bluegrass Review led by Bruce Bernhart, you’ll enjoy the fiddle playing of guest fiddler Catie Jo Pidel. This 15-year-old started playing fiddle at the age of 9. She never studied violin, only fiddle. She loves bluegrass music so the fiddle was the obvious choice. She currently plays with the Whistlepig String Band and Raven Ridge. She has won several fiddle contests including a first place in the teen division at the Minnesota State Fair in 2007. A talent scout from Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” spotted her and she was invited to be a part of the “Best of Fair Show” from the grandstand. She’ll be a treat to watch. The Bluegrass Review plays in Fair Square Park Wednesday at 5 p.m. and at the KRFO Stage at 7 p.m. You won’t want to miss this show.
• Another reminder that for your convenience, the Merriam Midway Shows will open ticket offices on the fairgrounds at noon on Tuesday for sale of the 96 cent ride tickets for Tuesday night as well as for the redemption of Mega-Ride tickets for wrist bands. Come early and be ready when the midway opens at 5 p.m.
• A local entity, Sew n’ Tell, is making the dress for Stella, the companion fair mascot for Steely. You’ll see them both at the fair. A reminder that Steely and Stella will be located near the fair store in the Four Seasons Arena on both Kids Days from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. for photos so bring your cameras with you on those days. The photo would make a great holiday card for the upcoming Christmas season.
• This is the 15th year that Elmer Reseland has served as the secretary/manager of the SCFF. He began his work with the fair when he barkered at the motorcycle “Globe of Death” attraction in 1994.
• Holiday Inn in Owatonna has given two one night stay gift certificates for a drawing at the fair. Proceeds will go to the Hospice Patient Care Fund designed to assist those who need financial assistance with the daily room and board. You can sign up for the drawing at the Allina booth in the Four Seasons arena.
• The first-ever tractor parade will be held in front of the grandstand at 1 p.m. on Saturday of the fair. The event is courtesy of Ag Power and admission is free with a coupon from their store.
• The Owatonna Alumni Cheer Team will be performing at the cheerleading/football kick off event at the fair on Sunday, Aug. 23. Members of the team include Katey Butler, Ashley Hommedahl, Jenna Compton, Jamie Johnson, Samantha Spinler, Amanda Sellner, Katie Joenks, Tiffany Hansen, Kati Ringhofer, and Shelly Hensen. The performance will be in memory of Liz Wencl, a 2002 OHS grad and a former cheerleader. Suzy Hommedahl coaches the group.
Jottings
A new Web site has been established for Gospel Express. It’s www.gospelex.org.
Todd Hale can be reached at thalescff@ll.net or write him at 632 14th St. S.E., Owatonna, MN 55060.
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