Cardinal golfers shatter records

By Tom Obert
Cub Reporter

The boys golf team set all kinds of records by winning the Section 8AA championship. They shot a 589, the record 2-day low for any Alexandria golf team, with a 290 score on the second day, setting an all-time section record for one day (6 players compete for each team - the team score is based on the best 4 individual scores. That means on the day they shot a 290, the average score of the best 4 was 72.5 - UNBELIEVABLE! They didn't even have to use a 77!) The whole team (ranked No. 1 in the state) will play in the state tournament at Bunker Hills on June 6 & 7.

The girls softball team also had a fantastic week - they went to Brainerd and beat the conference champ Warriors TWICE to advance to the section championship this week against Willmar. The cub reporter and cub reporter-in-training are planning on providing on-site coverage. And the boys baseball team is at home the same day - we'll try to work all that in around the usual Thursday morning old farts golf league (where the cub reporter's game has gone in the proverbial toilet - meanwhile, long-time Alex golfing legend, Poik Weatherwax, has shot better than his age twice this year with rounds of 79 and 82, as reported by the Echo Press).

Finally, I am enclosing a photo of the cub reporter's all-time favorite team (the best team in the state that didn't recruit outside of its school district boundaries!) - with more individual photos to follow. Just to give some perspective - all-stater Abby Williams is the shortest player in the front row, one player to her right in the back row is 6' 1 1/2" Courtney Walsh.


 

Sidney Carlson, 87

(Sid Carlson's daughter, Kathy, was a member of the Class of 1965)

Sidney Carlson was born April 30, 1919 in St. Paul to Conrad and Agnes (Bergstrom) Carlson. The family moved to the Blackwell Lake area near Holmes City. Sid graduated from Alexandria High School and attended Bethel College in St. Paul. He transferred to the University of Minnesota where he earned his bachelor's degree in music education in 1943. Sid had the privilege of marching in General Prescott's University Marching Band.
Sid enlisted in the U.S. Air Corps in 1943. On March 19, 1944, Sid married Christina Evatz in Casper, Wyoming. Sid served in the European Theater during World War II, was shot down, and served almost a year as a POW in Germany.
Upon returning stateside in 1945 Sid became band director at New York Mills High School and later in Osakis and Barrett high schools. In 1948 he purchased and operated a small music shop in Alexandria while continuing to direct high school bands part-time. That shop would later become Carlson Music Center.
Sid had been a member of the Alexandria Kiwanis Club for more than 60 years. His first acquaintance with the service group was as a speaker as a returning POW. Sid was also a member of the First Baptist Church for many years and the Grace Baptist Church. He sang in the Runic Male Chorus, played trumpet with the Alexandria Civic Orchestra, and was a member of the American Legion post. He was a sports enthusiast and also held a private pilot's license.
Sid died May 23, 2006, at Douglas County Hospital at age 87.
He is survived by his son, Ron (Sara) Carlson of Alexandria; daughters, Kathy (Bruce) McCabe of Minneapolis and Sally (Chris) Malone of Minneapolis; nine grandchildren, Daren (Linette) Carlson of Eden Prairie, Matthew Carlson of Eden Prairie, Kristina Carlson of Alexandria, Katie Carlson of Alexandria, Casey Carlson of Alexandria, Daniel McCabe of Minneapolis, Michael McCabe of Minneapolis, Taylor Malone of Minneapolis and Evan Malone of Minneapolis.
Sid was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Chris, in 2002.
Funeral services were held May 26 at First Baptist Church in Alexandria with the Rev. Craig Dahl officiating. Music was provided by Marcia Peterson, Bruce McCabe, Bill Riggs and Randy Morken. Interment was at Kinkead Cemetery in Alexandria with Sid's grandchildren serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Clifford "Punt" Peterson, Ed Tanquist, George Battles, Jerry Tilleskjor, Dwayne Soderholm, David Heldt, J.T. King and Murrae Freng. The American Legion Post 87 accorded military honors.
Arrangements are with Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria.

Practicing for Emily

Hoover and the Trailboss spent the weekend reading children's books, polishing their skills for the new grandchild. This is the "Magical, Mystical, Marvelous Coat." What is your favorite book for reading to your grandchild? The Trailboss wants to know: Trailboss@swpub.com 

Cardinals continue to build golf dynasty

By Tom Obert
Cub Reporter
The dynasties continue for the Cardinal boys and girls golf teams. The boys won their 7th straight Central Lakes Conference (CLC) championship and the girls won their 5th straight CLC title.
The boys are still the No. 1 ranked team in the state and Bryce Hanstad is still the No. 1 ranked individual in the state.
The boys tennis team is 16-1 and seeded No. 1 in the sectional tournament.
It's hard to keep up with everything, but the girls softball team is 17-5 and at last check was going to Brainerd to play for the section championship against the No. 1 seeded Warriors.
On a personal note, the cub reporter missed an opportunity to golf with classmate Dave Serie this weekend when he was out on a lake cruise - later that day, he won closest to the pin on 7th hole during an Alexandria Golf Club couples event - he then went home and had a nap.

Have I ever mentioned that Sue [Graves] Seltz's son, Jake, is on the golf team? And as Brittney Bruzek's Cardinal career winds down with the softball team, there will be more Bruzeks to follow. Bud said his 8th grade daughter, Grace, should be the point guard on the basketball team in the very near future.

And finally, for those who fled Alex for warmer climes, Ruthie just pointed out that our deck thermometer currently reads 100 DEGREES, and that the official high for tomorrow is projected to be 95!

The good word comes to Cardinals from Pope

Two pieces of correspondence concerning southern neighbors in Glenwood:

Monday morning

Hi, Stan!
In a recent Echo, there was an article on "Princess Kay of the Milky Way." Pope County is represented by Elizabeth Thurk, the daughter of Ken and Jackie (Kalina '65) Thurk.

Keep up the good work....
Pat (Kuhl) Cain

Thanks, Pat. They're finally getting some great representation in Pope County, it sounds like.
Later today comes this:

Hi, Stan.
Nope. I'm not from your class, but we have a mutual friend. I sit "down the hall" from Rick Beresford. We were having a cup of coffee and our usual brags and gags conversation when he mentioned his years at Alexandria. I stated in my subject line that I am the competition, and that's because I'm a graduate of Glenwood High School. I've been tracking your blog ever since and have to say I really enjoy the pictures and conversations. Since I have a fair amount of relatives in the Alexandria area, I'll catch a few tidbits of family and friends that I would never find in any other way.
Well, to get to the point, you have inspired me and I am considering a similar endeavor for the class of '69 at good old Glenwood High. Can you give me a couple pointers on getting started? We have some tech folks who will be able to get me out to the tough places, but just curious of any insights you can provide.
Keep it up. Your site is great and even though I'm from the enemy camp, I do enjoy it!
Jerry Martinek

(Thanks Jerry. Always enjoy alien visits to the Cardinal site. Don't know if that makes you an illegal immigrant, but you're welcome nonetheless. I sent you some tips under separate cover. Good luck. -- Trailboss)

We have a winner!

Hey, Stan:
Did you ever wonder who wins those big sweepstakes prizes?!! Well, now you do.

About 10 days ago, the UPS man stopped at my house, saying he needed a signature on this mailer envelope he was carrying. I signed for it, and in looking at it, had no idea who the return sender was. Upon opening and reading the papers inside, my legs started to shake and I thought I was seeing things.
The letter was from the accounting agency with HGTV (Home and Garden Television), saying that I had won the grand prize (in fact, the only prize in the sweepstakes) of $25,000 in cash, along with a year’s supply of Pepperidge Farms frozen foods.

Publicity, liability, IRS papers
The sweepstakes was named The Great Taste Giveaway. When I sorted thru the papers enclosed, I was sure it was the real deal since there were release forms for publicity, liability, and of course, IRS papers. Just to make sure, I did call the number in the letter and the woman assured me I was in fact the winner.
I had to have the papers notarized and then faxed to the agency as well as send the original papers back to them, which I did last week, so now I’m just waiting for my check to come!! I still can’t believe it’s really me. This is truly a once in a lifetime gift!!

Oh yeah, and the luck continued….within days I also got notice from Anoka County that I was selected for jury duty. How lucky can a person get?

(Congratulations, Bev. We will await news of the arrival of the big check. And then announcement of the party featuring all Pepperidge Farm products! -- Trailboss)

Bonesteel China: 3 sets await future guest events

Sandi Pennar Bonesteel reports:

Family Heirlooms and Stuff
My own family has been involved in way too many moves over the years, and each time I vow it will be the last. Sometimes I can part with things never used, or of no use, but it is usually such a stressful, hectic time, and in the end it’s just easier to pack it all up and say you’ll deal with it later. But I find it’s just a matter of good intentions, and I hang onto it and just keeping adding more "stuff".
(I can relate to George Carlin’s "stuff" routine).
I have a hard time getting rid of things sometimes. In addition to my own stuff, I have accumulated much of my family’s stuff. Here’s the saga of how I came to accumulate all my stuff over the years:
When my grandma moved into Knute Nelson, most of her stuff went into my aunt’s house, upstairs, attic and basement (from the looks of it, nothing was thrown or given away).
When my aunt went into Knute Nelson, in ‘91, I had the task to sort it all out, both her stuff and Grandma's.
This ideally would have required a couple of weeks, but unfortunately I had just started a new job and had only a 3-day weekend. So I flew to Minnesota and my cousin and a friend came from Minneapolis to help. I had very little sleep, but managed to get things sorted, and marked. Some was thrown of course, some would go to the church "rummage sale" (does anyone use that term anymore?), and then the rest was to be split between my sisters, cousins, and another niece on my uncle’s side, who lives in Alexandria.

Truck and U-Haul
I also had to arrange to have some stuff shipped to a sister in New Jersey after a few phone calls discussing what she wanted. I then flew back to Arizona, and my husband went up the following weekend, got a truck and U-Haul, hauled some stuff to various places in Alex, and then hauled home the stuff I wanted.
A lot of it went straight into the garage and storage, as I didn’t have time to deal with it then. Among all of this stuff were both sets of china and silverware belonging to my aunt and grandma, as well as a lot of crystal and fancy glassware. All of this stuff remained in boxes for 12 years When we moved to southern Arizona in ’93, we hauled it along with the rest of our belongings and put it into storage, as we were living in a rental until our home was built.
When we moved to our home, the boxes of stuff went into the garage, where it remained until my last move in 2003. Here I finally had tons of cupboard space, so I finally unpacked (and hand-washed) every piece after all those years.
In the meantime, I had also gotten my mother’s good china when she had moved into Assisted Living in 2001. So I now have 3 complete sets of china (one is my Grandma’s Bavarian china). It is all "good china" so we don’t use it for everyday---it doesn’t seem right somehow. Not to mention that it is not what you could use in the microwave, and if it went into the dishwasher, it might get chipped. Unfortunately I don’t do much entertaining, so there it sits. I inspect it from time to time. I guess maybe one of these days I will use it, as it seems a shame to have it just sitting there.

No desire
Both of my daughters have their own china and have no desire to "inherit" any of this, so I suppose one day they will be hauling it all off to an antique shop. And of course they’ll have to deal with all the rest of the stuff I have accumulated over the years. I’m sure it will bring back lots of memories (along with the cursing).
After my Mom died, my sisters and I went through her apartment. By then there wasn’t that much to deal with, fortunately, so it wasn’t that much trouble to handle. Much went to the thrift shop in town, and some mementos to her friends. We had already gotten various keepsakes over the years before she moved there, so most of what was left of any value was photos and journals.
Those things are the most precious.

The grandparent parade continues: Lynn Dietz

Here's Lynn Dietz Jorgenson's sixth grandchild. Welcome Mitchell! Below, grandma appears with two of her four daughters, Nancy, left and Cindy, Mitchell's mom. (Photos courtesy K. Skadsberg.)

Moving Dad to Windmill Ponds

Hi Stan,
I check in on the blog each week and enjoy reading everything. Thanks for keeping it going.

Just about a year ago my Dad sold his house and moved into Windmill Ponds (assisted living). My step-mother had to go into Knute Nelson three years earlier and Dad had been alone in the house. As you probably know, I have seven brothers and sisters and we planned two weekends to all go to Alex. The first time was a Saturday only and we moved Dad to his new place and did some preliminary sorting of all the stuff. Then a month later we all came up, including the out-laws (that is how our spouses refer to themselves) to Alex and stayed in a motel.
As usual, we turned this 'event' into a good time (lots of laughing and food). We had a 20 yard dumpster (which we filled to the brim), we took several pickup loads to a community garage sale, and we each took a few mementos home (be careful - the tendency is to take too much home with you and then someone else will have to sort through it in another 30 years).
It was a long weekend and lots of work but we were lucky to have so many to help.

Giving up the tools
The week before we came up we had Dad go through the house and decide what he wanted to keep and then moved those things to his new place first. We had Dad stay at his new place so he did not have to watch all of his stuff being given away or thrown away. It was hard for him to give up the house, but necessary. The hardest part for Dad was giving up all his tools. He has always had a work shop in his garage and did a lot of wood working projects over the years.
This is probably something we will all have to do sooner or later and it can be a lot of work but can also be a good time filled with memories.
As we were sorting through Dad's stuff we found lots of pictures and other things that brought back lots of memories and stories and comments like "hey, do you remember ...........", "look at this!"
If any of you are looking for a good assisted living place in Alex for your parents, check out Windmill Ponds, it is a good place.
Paula (Widstrom) Hanson

Now this is the Paul Strandberg I remember

I got this email from Paul Strandberg today. A nostalgic note, I believe Paul has a number of similar tales. - Trailboss

Emptying the house
Stan,
When we sold the farm, all four of us kids and my older son got together to clean out Mom's house. While Mom wasn't much for collecting things, we managed to fill a dumpster. Like every member of my family, she had lived in the first house she had ever bought so there were memories and stuff for 60 years.
The time with my siblings was good, and we knew that we wouldn't have the farm as our home any more. While that was sad, it provided a clear end. When the rest of the family had gone, I stayed one last night by myself. In the morning, I threw the bed in the dumpster (something that should have been done 25 years ago), showered, loaded my old Civic, locked the house and got ready to go, only to discover that I had put my keys in the pants that I had put in the car trunk.
A locksmith came, worked for two hours and failed to gain entry.
Fortunately, I still had the house key, and the phone was still hooked up. I was forced to call and ask my wife to send me the extra key by express mail.
I also got my brother, who still lives in the area, to come and pick me up and put me up for the night.

Obert got an email

Cub Reporter Tom Obert writes:
I received an e-mail this week from an old friend from D.C. days - he retired about 10 years ago to one of the Sun Cities. [He was originally from New England, the most beautiful part of the country . . . and yet he retired to a place where THERE IS NO WATER! (See past references about Harlan Hoffland.) Of course, all future wars will be fought over, not oil, but . . . water! We're keeping Lake Superior - and the 15,000+ other lakes all to ourselves, thank you very much. But I digress.]

Anyway, friend Bob wrote that his optician in the land of NO WATER is Tom Tessmer, a fellow orginally from Alexandria, Minnesota. Bob said Tom remembered me as a little league pitcher of some repute (my athletic flame burned brightly but expired early), and I remembered Tom as a classmate but knew he didn't graduate with us? Fortunately, cub reporter-in-LosAltos, Sara Sevey, reported that Tom moved to Phoenix when we were in high school.

It's "Up North" for Karen Schjei Benson

Stan,

It seems the computer crashed and I lost the blog address and some other things. However, the lost is found.

I am about to embark on the next stage of life - retirement. My last day of work is Friday (May 12). After about 25 years working as a medical social worker/manager, the call of a simpler "up north" life has won out.

My cleaning experience is not for my parents, but cleaning my office, which was full of paper and memorabilia from 25 years. Hopefully, my kids will apreciate what I have tossed and not wonder why I have kept some of the things that I did not throw!

It is hard to believe that it is a year since the reunion. Congratulations on your new granddaughter, she's beautiful. Congratulations on cleaning out your parents house!

Hope all is well. Thanks for keeping the blog running.

The Bensons

Charlotte Olson, Marilyn Olson McPhee's mother

Charlotte Olson, 90

Charlotte Grace (Erenberg) Olson was born September 17, 1915 in Tunsberg, Township, Chippewa County, to Gotfred and Clara (Golie) Ehrenberg. She attended school in Watson through the 8th grade.
Charlotte attended high school in Montevideo where she graduated in 1933.
In 1935, she moved to Minneapolis and attended Brady and Rogers University of Beauty Culture. Charlotte spent three years after graduation working in salons in Minneapolis. She then moved back to Watson where she opened her own beauty shop, which she operated for 15 years.
Charlotte married Sydney J. Olson on December 7, 1939 at Watson Lutheran Church in Watson. In 1947, the couple moved to Alexandria where they were blessed with a daughter, Marilyn. Charlotte worked at Sears and Roebuck for several years. She was also a busy housewife, taking care of their daughter at home and helping at church, teaching Sunday School and Summer Vacation Bible School.
Charlotte was a member at First Lutheran Church, Eastern Stars and the Sons of Norway. She enjoyed bowling, planting flowers, cooking, knitting, crocheting, hardanger, playing bridge and bingo. Charlotte loved spending time with her family by going camping, spending a day in the boat fishing, golfing and taking family vacations.
Charlotte is survived by her daughter, Marilyn McPhee and husband, Gerard Hoffarth of St. Cloud; grandchildren, Julie and husband, Richard Caplinger of Dallas, TX and Jeffrey and wife, Jennifer McPhee of Minneapolis; great-grandchildren, Sophia and Madeline, Laci and Luke; sister, Avis Kittleson of Concord, CA.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Gottfried and Clara; husband, Sydney; and sister, Ruth.
A funeral service was held May 4 at First Lutheran Church in Alexandria with the Rev. Greg Billberg officiating. Pianist was Randy Morken with soloist, Jody Sundlee. Interment was at Kinkead Cemetery. Charlotte's card playing friends were the honorary casketbearers.

(Thanks to Paul Strandberg for getting this to the blog.)

Moving Dad, and other stories

Pat A. Cain writes:
I can't pass up the opportunity to share some stories I have of moving my dad.
He had sold his farm south of Carlos and moved to California in 1969, just before I graduated from college. He'd put most everything in storage in Alexandria so, over the next year, that was all moved to my first "apartment," which was the upstairs of a house in Chaska.
He took his truck and whatever he could fit in it and took off for California. He stayed there until 1981 when the doctors felt he was in his last days.
Boy did he fool them! He lived another 14 years (five years living with us -- which is another whole saga). He then moved to Hopkins and was active in the "seniors" there, serving at their noon lunches until he was about 94 years old.
He was a king candidate in the Hopkins Raspberry Festival and participated regularly in square dancing.

A California surprise
However, about Dad's move from California to Minnesota: He flew here while my husband, Larry, flew to California to pack everything up! Little did Larry know what he would encounter. My Dad had lived in a mobile home, so there was not a lot of knick knacks and that sort of accumulation. He was never a pack rat like me!
However, Larry found jars and the old metal band-aid boxes full of old nuts, bolts, screws, nails, etc.....probably originally moved from Minnesota!!! So back to Minnesota they came!!!

Saved the boxes
Dad has also saved every box from anything he had ever purchased. But that was helpful when it came time to pack the TV. However, the 3-4 older gentleman that were there to "help pack" held the box over the TV (about a 19" portable), but could not figure out how to get the TV into the box! Finally, they just put the box over the TV and tipped the whole thing upside down!
It traveled well and is still around yet today.

High winds
Larry drove through high wind warnings in the desert on the way back, with an old Plymouth and pulling a medium sized U-Haul. When dropping it off at the dealership in Minnesota, they asked, "Who hooked this up to the car?" The dealer in California had. The guy just touched the hitch with his foot and the whole thing disconnected! There were definitely many angels watching over him during his whole trip!

There are many other stories from the years when Dad was living with us....but that's for another time.

Status report on Sean
I do have one more comment. I've been following the news coming in from those having children/grandchildren etc. suffering with illness/diseases etc. I think I had written last October that our son, Sean, was in a terrible motorcyle accident.
He was released on Thanksgiving Day after numerous surgeries. He stayed with us until Dec. 14 when he was back at North Memorial with Staph and Ecoli Infections, all of which had started before he left the hospital in November. We could smell that foul odor and no one would listen to us about it being anything other than "the lambs wool in the vest smells like that!!!" Wrong!!!!
We got him out the second time on Dec. 26. We had to take him to the Glenwood hospital daily through the end of January for an I.V. of powerful antibiotics. He was on oral antibiotics (10/day) through the end of March.
He (and his dog) lived with us until the end of Jan. He has been discharged by the back surgeon who told him he'd healed ten times faster than he'd ever imagined!! I took him to his home the end of January, and he's been back at work full time. He is truly a miracle. We have witnessed the power of prayer.
We had friends and relatives from Canada to Texas and from California to Michigan or farther east perhaps praying for him. There was a large color picture of Sean and his dog, Coalie, on the front page of the Brainerd Dispatch on March 28.
A photographer was at the park where Sean was and wanted pictures showing "signs of spring" or something like that.....what a difference 6 months can make!!! But for those of you having trials and concerns, never give up.....prayer is powerful!!!!

Charlotte Olson, Marilyn's mother

Our thoughts are with Marilyn Olson today. Her mother passed away April 28. We don't have an obituary yet, just the notice below:

Charlotte Olson, 90
Charlotte Olson, 90, Alexandria, died April 28, 2006 at Doctor’s Hospital in Dallas, Texas.
A funeral service will be held Thursday, May 4 at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Alexandria.
Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. prior to the service at the church.
Arrangements are with Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria; www.andersonfuneral.net.

+++++++++++++++++

Paul Strandberg sent me Rose Olson's obituary today. Thank you, Paul. She is Bonita Olson Gilbertson's mother.

Rosa (Rose) Othelia Olson was born on November 5, 1923 in Spruce Hill Township to Gottlieb and Pauline (Gesell) Rieder. Rose was baptized at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Parkers Prairie and confirmed on April 10, 1938 at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. Paul.
On August 28, 1943 Rose married Arthur W. Olson at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. Paul. The couple was blessed with six children. Rose and Art moved 13 different times working in different jobs and communities. In 1983, the couple retired and moved to Alexandria, where they were members at Calvary Lutheran Church. Rose was also a member of the VFW Ladies Auxilliary.
Rose enjoyed dancing, baking goodies and having people over to their home. She loved playing games, with Yahtzee being her favorite, and shopping for the best bargains. Rose also loved being with people, especially her family.
Rose died on Friday, April 7, 2006 at Bethany Home in Alexandria at the age of 82. She is survived by her husband, Arthur; sons, Douglas (Carol) of Sioux Falls, SD, Randall (Rochelle) of St. Cloud, and Shawn (significant other, Liz) of Anchorage, AK; daughters, Bonita (David) Gilbertson of Alexandria and Virginia Olson of St. Cloud; 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; brothers, Emil (Treva) Rieder of Mesa, AZ and Arnold (Goergette) Rieder of Glenwood; sisters Olga (Art) Affeldt of Alexandria and Marie Kliche of Howard Lake. Rose is preceded in death by her son, Ricky; brothers, Bill Gesell and Carl Rieder; sister, Carol Johnson and brother-in-law, Donald Kliche.
Funeral service was held on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 at Calvary Lutheran Church with the Reverend Mark Astrup officiating with music provided by Kim Byrne. Casket bearers were David Kliche, Mark Affeldt, Jamey Olson, Grant Olson, Garth Olson and Scott Gilbertson. Interment was held in the Ft. Snelling Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Move over, Grandpa John. Grandpa Stan has news:

The trailboss proudly annouces the birth of his granddaughter, Emily Kathleen. Born this morning at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park to his stepdaughter, the beautiful girl is 6 pounds, seven ounces and already has more hair than her grandpa. Mom is doing great. More photos are available by special request at trailboss@swpub.com

Push me up higher, Grandpa!

Hey Stan,
Just a quick note to give you our new email address. We finally got wireless out here on the island between Lakes Ida, Carlos, Miltona, and Darling.
Carol and I are doing great. I only have 12 days left of school this year and then I retire after next year, so life is good. We spent spring break in New York with our daughters and also took a little history tour of Kingston, NY, where our youngest lives. The attached picture is Siri, our 21-month-old granddaughter and our pride and joy (of course). I hope everyone is doing great and that you have a wonderful summer.
John & Carol (Martinson) Seim