Looking Back: 1962 - Grandmother earns college diploma

Talk about it

One year ago

Tony Thompson of Windom was presented with the Siehl Prize for Excellence in Agriculture during a special ceremony at McNamara Alumni Center at the University of Minnesota. Thompson owned Willow Lake Farm and was a fifth-generation farmer.

The National Guard soldiers of Alpha Battery 1st Battalion 125th Field Artillery, Luverne-Pipestone Unit, were deployed and drove through Worthington on their way to Fort McCoy, Wis., in preparation for a one-year deployment in Kuwait.

A groundbreaking ceremony took place in Luverne for the Gevo ethanol facility’s conversion to isobutanol production.

The Pipestone County Sheriff’s Office arrested two women on unrelated drug charges.

The sun shone on the Car Show & Shine at Spomer Classics & Museum in Worthington. The event had become a traditional part of the local Memorial Day weekend activity lineup.

Five years ago

Worthington dedicated Nobles County Freedom Veterans’ Memorial Park, formerly known as Freedom Shore Park, on Memorial Day, with hundreds of people in attendance. The Rock County Veterans Memorial was also dedicated on Monday.

Dave Hartzler recently began work as manager of the Worthington Pizza Ranch.

At Worthington High School, 132 seniors graduated in the Class of 2007.

A Brazilian firm announced it would acquire Swift and Co. in a $225 million cash deal that would give the combined company greater access to expanding markets and operations on three continents.

Almer Kruse, a former mayor of Pipestone and a dedicated community supporter, died at the age of 86.

The First Covenant Church Youth Mission Group cleaned up 400 pounds of debris around Worthington’s Lake Okabena, mostly along the grade.

10 years ago

At the 115th commencement of Worthington High School, 178 seniors graduated as part of the Class of 2002.

Fran Dieber, a 98-year-old Worthington resident, continued to share her expertise in crocheting, knitting and delicate tatting work.

Phuong Tran and Hieu Lee recently won the first two rounds of competition for the McDonald’s All-American Crew Competition for their region. The couple, of Worthington, planned to be married in June.

The nine members of Prairie Discovery Inc. sought public input on ideas for uses of the defunct Prairie Expo facility.

Allan Ritter, Worthington, retired after 38 years of teaching (36 in District 518 schools) math, earth science and astronomy. Ritter hadn’t missed a day of school since 1977.

25 years ago

Worthington’s A & T Tap & Lounge advertised “homemade daily noon specials,” including turkey, roast beef, ham and meatloaf dinners with potatoes and gravy, vegetable, bread, and salad with choice of dressing for $2.95. Also, “Try our huge chef salad for $2.50.”

Playing this week at Worthington’s Northland Cinema were “Beverly Hills Cop II” starring Eddie Murphy and “Ernest Goes to Camp.”

Chandler native Laurie Tengwall was the manager of Vanity, a fashion store that opened recently at Worthington’s Northland Mall.

Richard Stewart of Rickers Studio, Worthington, recently received the Kodak Gallery Award for his winning entry in the wedding category. His image was titled “This is the Day.”

A fishing clinic for area youngsters was scheduled for June 10 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Worthington’s Chautauqua Park. The fishing clinic was sponsored by the local ShopKo store in conjunction with Ray-O-Vac Corporation, Coca-Cola and two fishing supply companies.

The Boy Scouts hosted their 21 annual pancake feed (benefiting Kiwanis Troop 121) at Chautauqua Park’s shelterhouse. The first pancake supper in 1966 was the idea of longtime Scout associate Bob Pederson. Pederson began scouting in 1937 and had worked with the local troop for more than half of its existence.

50 years ago

Mrs. Victor Fleace of Okabena, a mother of 13 children and grandmother of 20, received her diploma as one of 90 graduates participating in commencement exercises at Worthington Junior College. As the 25th graduating class in the college’s history, the Silver Anniversary Class was also the college’s largest to date.

Advertised specials this week at the Worthington Red Owl included a two-pound package of ground beef for 89 cents, a two-pound package of bacon for 89 cents, a 10-pound bag of white potatoes for 59 cents, a large tube of Crest toothpaste for 35 cents, and boneless chuck roast for 65 cents a pound.

Worthington’s Superintendent of Schools E. A. Durbahn, retiring this spring after 25 years with the school district, was appointed public relations director for the Crippled Children’s School in Worthington.

Sherrill Hakes, 3, miraculously survived after accidentally becoming buried in a five-foot-deep septic tank ditch being dug on the Arden Hakes farm six miles south of Jackson. Despite appearing lifeless when discovered, Sherrill revived after more than 10 minutes of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

A three-day Second District American Legion convention took place in Jackson.

75 years ago

Nobles County attained the “ripe age of 80 years” this past week. On May 23, 1857, an act was passed that created the county of Nobles and eight others in southwestern Minnesota. Nobles County was named in honor of Col. W. H. Nobles of St. Paul, a man noted as the discoverer of a pass in the Rocky Mountains through which the Union Pacific Railway now passes. Col. Nobles was never a resident of this county; in fact, it wasn’t clear if he ever saw his namesake.

Four Wilmont establishments were broken into late Friday night or early Saturday morning, by persons pronounced “youthful amateurs” by Deputy Sheriff Albert Levine and Ole J. Lee, special agent of the Minnesota department of criminal apprehension. Businesses hit were the Matt Michel liquor store, the Hub Slater garage, the Anton Broich harness shop and Driessen hardware.

The 14 month-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Van Horssen was hurried to a local hospital Friday evening for treatment after drinking a quantity of kerosene. Physicians worked at top speed to wash out the infant’s stomach. Doctors believed treatment was applied in ample time, but given kerosene’s “considerable toxic effect,” a definite verdict on the baby’s future health was not yet delivered.

An ad for Worthington Creamery & Produce Co. urged growers to “Feed Your Baby Chicks ‘Worthmore’ All Mash for starting and growing. Proper feeding means more poultry profits.”

Tags: looking back, lifestyle, reminiscing, columns