Complacency is the kiss of death -By Harvey Mackay
MONDAYS • 5 PM
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A highly successful salesman had been at the top of his game for years. He had a loyal customer base, and his sales numbers were consistently high. Over time, he became comfortable and started relying on his past success to carry him forward. He stopped seeking new clients and neglected to follow up with existing ones, assuming they would always remain loyal.
One day, he noticed a decline in his sales figures. Puzzled, he reached out to a few former clients, only to discover they had moved on to competitors who offered more personalized service and innovative products. Realizing what his complacency had cost him, he decided to revamp his approach. He began actively seeking feedback, attending industry events and exploring new sales strategies. His renewed effort not only regained lost clients but also attracted new ones.
Complacency is a silent killer. It can cost you dearly. Stay proactive and continuously seek ways to improve and innovate.
Andy Grove, former CEO of Intel Corporation, said: “Success breeds complacency. Complacency breeds failure. Only the paranoid survive.”
It’s unbelievable how many companies disappeared just in the last decade, many because they were too complacent. Companies like Borders, Pier 1 Imports, Toys R Us, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Sports Authority, Gawker, Dressbarn, A&P Supermarket, Blockbuster and Lord & Taylor have all vanished.
Eastman Kodak once dominated in the photographic film industry with nearly 90 percent of the market, but it was too anchored in its success. Even though a young Kodak engineer invented the digital photographic process way back in 1975, the company bosses didn’t believe in the technical innovation that led to the company’s bankruptcy.
Are there areas where you are becoming complacent?
Dealing with complacency requires a proactive approach to keep yourself motivated and engaged. Here are some strategies you might find helpful:
Treat every day as a fresh start. Complacency can lead to stagnation or feeling stuck in the mud. It is so easy to get in a comfort zone and never get out. Occasionally time can wear you down. Keep working and preserve your motivation.
Set new SMART goals. As in Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Relevant and Time sensitive. Regularly update your personal and professional goals. Make sure they are challenging yet achievable to keep you striving for improvement.
Change your environment. Sometimes a change of scenery can spark creativity. Rearrange your workspace or try working in different locations. Reflect on your achievements. Take time to reflect on what you’ve accomplished and consider how you can build on those successes.
Embrace challenges. Step out of your comfort zone by taking on new projects or responsibilities. This can reignite your passion and drive.
Network with others. Surround yourself with motivated individuals. Networking can introduce you to new ideas and opportunities. Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness can help you stay present and focused, preventing the drift into complacency.
Personally, the one thing that has always kept me from being complacent is competition. Whether you welcome competition or try to avoid it, it makes you better and stronger. You should not only expect stiff competition, but you should also actively seek it. You’ll never realize your full potential in business or athletics unless you’re challenged.
Professional wrestler Chris Jericho said, “When you stop being nervous is when you
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Just look at the big-time companies that have gone out of business due to complacency – Sears, Kmart, Circuit City, Radio Shack, Compaq, Enron, BlackBerry, Pontiac, Woolworth’s, Arthur Anderson, Lehman Brothers, Polaroid, Eastman Chemical and Xerox.
THURSDAY, JUNE 11
Seek feedback. Request feedback from colleagues, mentors, or supervisors. Constructive criticism can provide new perspectives and areas for growth. And don’t forget to talk to your customers.
Learn continuously. Engage in lifelong learning. Attend workshops or webinars or take online courses to acquire new skills and knowledge.
Upcoming Events
• Magnifi Financial Member Appreciation Day from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in Grey Eagle.
THURSDAY, JUNE 18
• St. Cloud Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Fun-Food-Fund Day “Turn Back Thyme” starting at 9 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, Rice.
• Grey Eagle Senior Citizens Meeting at 4:30 p.m. Potluck & Bingo to follow at the center.
FRI. & SAT., JUNE 19-20
• Avon Area Chamber of Commerce Spunktacular Days. Parade: Sat. at 7 p.m., fireworks to follow.
SUNDAY, JUNE 21
• Annual Freeport Fire Department Ham Bar-B-Que from 4:30-8:30 p.m. at the Freeport Community Center. See ad on page 7.
SATURDAY, JUNE 27
• Avon Hills Lions Club Pollinator Open House from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. in Avon.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 1
• Folk & Old-Time Music & Potluck from 1-3 p.m. at the Village View Apartments, Grey Eagle.
TUESDAY, JULY 7
• Parkinson’s Support Group Meeting at 2 p.m. at CentraCare West Campus Board Room, Long Prairie.
AL-ANON • AVON
• Meets every Monday from 5-6 p.m. at the Avon City Hall.
ALBANY SENIORS
• Meets 1st Tuesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. at the Albany Community Center.
ALBANY TOWNSHIP
• Meets the 4th Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Albany City Hall.
• Planning Commission meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Albany City Hall.
BURNHAMVILLE TOWNSHIP
• Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Burtrum City Hall.
BURTRUM CITY COUNCIL
• Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.
CHAIR YOGA EXERCISES
• Meets Mondays & Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. at the Community Center, Upsala.
FEET FIRST CLINIC
• Freeport: Meets 1st Wednesday of the month at the Freeport Senior Center.
• Holdingford: Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Holdingford City Hall.
FREEPORT CITY COUNCIL
• Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.
FREEPORT LIONS CLUB
• Bingo every Saturday thru March at 1:30 p.m. at the Corner Pub, Freeport.
FREEPORT SENIOR MEETING
• Meets the 3rd Thursday of the month at 1 p.m. with cards/Bingo/coffee/dessert.
GREY EAGLE CITY COUNCIL
• Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.
GREY EAGLE TOWNSHIP
• Meets the 1st Monday of the month at 8 p.m.
LINE DANCING
• Meets Mondays at 4 p.m. & 5 p.m. al-
ternating Mondays at the Melrose American Legion.
MELROSE TOWNSHIP
• Meets the 1st Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the town hall.
MELROSE VFW #7050 POST/AUX.
• Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Melrose American Legion Clubrooms.
MELROSE LEGION #101 POST/AUX.
• Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Melrose American Legion. (Aux. Sept.-May.)
STEARNS CO. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
• Meets the 2nd Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Albany. SUNSHINE CLUB
• Meets every Monday, weigh in starts at 8; meeting at 8:30 a.m. at the Village View Apartments, Grey Eagle.
ST. ROSA CITY COUNCIL
• Meets the 3rd Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Community Park building.
SWANVILLE CITY COUNCIL
• 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday of the month at 7 p.m.
SWANVILLE TOWNSHIP
• Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Swanville Fire Hall.
UPSALA CITY COUNCIL
• Meets the 1st Monday of the month at 7 p.m.
UPSALA FARMERS MARKET
• Meets every Saturday, June 6-Sept. 26 from 8-11 a.m. at Buffy’s parking lot.
“The Good Old Days” -By Tom Kuehne
Horses - Part 2
From the early 1500’s, due to the European interest in our new land, the horse population increased.
Explorers from lower Europe began to investigate the newly discovered land. They weren’t accustomed to walking, so they brought their horses. Rather than sending the horses back to Europe when they returned, they just left the horses here. Soon more explorers came and brought their horses. Someone must have decided that horses were needed here, so ships were sent here for the sole purpose of delivering horses. Now the immigrants coming from Europe didn’t have to share their ship with horses. Since there were already horses here, it made the trip much easier.
Some of the horses escaped from their pens, some became unable to do work and they were released to care for themselves. Herds of wild horses soon developed and the plains Native Americans captured some of them for
Harvey Mackay continued from pg 2
should retire. I’m always a little nervous for anything I do because when complacency sets in, that’s when I feel it’s time to move on to something else.”
There is an old saying in Africa that goes like this: Every morning a gazelle gets up and knows that it must outrun the fastest lion or it will get eaten alive. And every morning, a lion gets up and knows that it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. So, whether you are a gazelle or a lion, every morning when you get up, you’d better be running.
Mackay’s Moral: Complacency is the enemy of progress. Stay curious, stay challenged and keep moving forward.
Reprinted with permission from nationally syndicated columnist Harvey Mackay, author of the New York Times #1 bestseller “Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive,” “We Got Fired!...And It’s the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Us,” “The Mackay MBA of Selling in the Real World,” and “Use Your Head To Get Your Foot In The Door.”
their own use. They pulled and carried loads, but their primary use was harvesting buffalo and improving the tribe’s ability to raid other tribes who had fewer horses. Since the plains Native Americans were constantly moving to be near their primary food source, buffalo, horses were a great help. Many of the wagon trains were pulled by oxen, since they were easier to control than horses and they were also an emergency food source. They were much slower than horses, so when the Native Americans attacked on horses, the settlers were at a disadvantage. The settlers responded with repeating rifles, which many of the Native Americans did not have. The following years found the Native Americans with more horses and repeating rifles. The number of settlers increased rapidly, which was to the Native Americans disadvantage.
We still use the term, “horsepower”, which evidently is related to the horse’s ability to do a job. There was a period of 100 years when a majority of the heavy work on a farm was done by horses. They were responsible for much of the travel. Everybody seemed to have a team whether they lived on a farm or in town. Evidently man decided it was easier to chase a cattle herd with horses, rather than try to run fast enough to catch them. Men also found that riding in a buggy or wagon was easier than walking. Maybe through the years we have developed laziness.
As gasoline engines began to replace horses, people discovered that they didn’t need to feed the engine if it wasn’t working. The result was horse numbers decreased. In 1910, the US had about 27 million horses, by 1940 the numbers dropped to 14 million and today the number of wild and domesticated horses is between 6 and 9 million. Most of the remaining numbers are pets and not used for work. The Amish still have their horses work and it is a pleasure to view farming done as it was done 100 years ago.
One could almost say that if there hadn’t been horses, we would be living as they did 100 years ago.
For feedback or story ideas, email Tom at kuehneins@gmail.com.
From the Desk of Pastor Bruce
This article might be full of theology! I am not apologizing for this but simply asking you to hang on and look at the Truth of the gospel. I have been thinking of the word Justification lately and thought about “why would a righteous and holy God forgive sinners, making them also holy?”
From the website Gotquestions.Org I was able to get some insight on how this really works. First, “Justification is an act of God whereby He pronounces a sinner to be righteous because of the sinner’s faith in God.” In other words, we are still sinners, but we are declared “not guilty”! The question is still, “Why would a righteous God forgive us?” Especially since the penalty for sin is death! Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Justification declares us holy, even if we still sin. And our holiness is not contingent on the law or anything we can “do” to make us holy, only our faith in Jesus. 1Peter 3:18 “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.”
“Justification does not excuse our sin, ignore our sin, or endorse our sin. Rather, our sin is fully punished!” Listen now, Jesus became our substitute! Jesus paid our debt! We are sinners, yes, and yet forgiven because of our faith, but we do not need to pay that debt because Jesus has already paid it for us.
To put this in a more practical way let’s say that you had committed a crime, maybe speeding, or theft, and you went through a trial
and were found guilty (which you were). After the sentence was pronounced, someone in the back of the room stood up and told the judge that he was there to pay your fine. Now I know this isn’t exactly, the same thing, however, it’s the same result. Your fine was paid by someone else, and your account was paid in full. Consider faith in Jesus, so that you can enjoy eternal life in its fullness, debt free!
-Pastor Bruce Miller from Swanville Bible Church, 320-547-2916
Pep's Pork
Mass of Christian Burial celebrating the life of Janice L. Paggen, age 80, of Holdingford, was held Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Church of All Saints Catholic Church–St. Mary in Holdingford. Burial took place in the St. Hedwig Parish Cemetery following the Mass. Janice passed away on June 4, 2026, at the St. Cloud Hospital. Arrangements are being made with Miller-Carlin Funeral Homes.
Janice was born on August 31, 1945, to Paul and Delores (Ohotto) Kuklok. She was united in marriage to James “Jim” D. Paggen on September 2, 1964, in Opole. Together they built a life centered on faith, family, hard work, and service to their community. For more than 49 years, Janice and Jim shared a loving marriage until his passing in 2013.
Janice was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She took great pride in her family and was a constant source of love, encouragement, and support. Whether helping alongside Jim in their family business, caring for her home, or spending time with those she loved, Janice’s quiet strength and caring nature touched everyone around her.
Her Catholic faith remained an important part of her life, and she was a faithful member of All Saints Catholic Church–St. Mary. Janice enjoyed visiting with family and friends, attending community gatherings, and cherishing the simple moments spent with her loved ones. She especially treasured the time she shared with her children and granddaughters.
Janice will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, strong faith, and unwavering devotion to her family. Her warm smile and gentle spirit will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Janice is survived by her son, Scott Paggen of Holdingford; daughter, Kelly Paggen of Gary, Indiana; granddaughters, Kyra Steele and Kara Paggen; sisters, Helaine Waletski of Royalton, LuAnn (Peter) Gregoire of Fargo, and Johnita (Bob) Dombrovski; along with many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
John Heisick
John Heisick passed away on June 2, at the age of 83, at his home with his children by his side. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 11:00 AM, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 23845 Co Rd 40, Albany, MN, with visitation starting at 9:00 AM at the church. Caring for John and his family is the LeMieur Funeral Home in Little Falls, MN.
John was born in Little Falls, MN, to Bernice (Booth) and Raymond Heisick, Sr. He graduated from Upsala High School in 1960. In 1962, he married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Baggenstoss, and they were married for 62 years until her death in January 2025. They resided in St. Paul until moving back to the Upsala area to his family farm in 1966, where they raised their two children, Joe and Anne, and resided there until his death. John worked at Electrolux in St. Cloud for 42 years, retiring in 2006. He and Ruth enjoyed traveling together, especially to Lake Superior and the North Shore, and their many trips to Colorado, visiting family. He enjoyed spending time at the family cabin that he built alongside his dad near Akeley and attending car shows with the Lone Eagle Car Club in their 1950 Ford, “Baby Doll II.” He also enjoyed deer hunting, snowmobiling, fishing, building and tinkering in his shop, and spending time with family and friends. He especially adored his three grandchildren and three greatgranddaughters. John lived a humble life that included lifelong friendships an ability to have conversations with anyone he met. His faith in God was important to him, and he showed his faith by the way he lived; kindness, forgiveness and compassion.
John is survived by his son, Joe (Maureen), Pillager; daughter, Anne Elliott (Doug), Elbow Lake; three grandchildren, Ashley Houle (Mitch), Alex and Adam, and three greatgrandchildren, Eden, Emberlee and Lillian; Brother, Tim (Arlene) Colorado, and sister, Jacqueline (Sheldon) Sauer, Sauk Rapids; stepsister, Debbie (Koehn) Baldwin, New Hope; step-brother, Danny Koehn, Swanville.
Adeline A. Silbernick
Adeline A. Silbernick, age 96 of Sauk Centre, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at the Cura Care Center in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 19 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Kevin Soenneker officiating. Inurnment will be in the parish cemetery.
Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Friday at the church.
Adeline Anna Silbernick was born December 22, 1929 in Melrose, Minnesota to William and Frances (Macke) Otte. On September 5, 1949 she was united in marriage to Virgil Silbernick at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. Adeline worked side by side with her husband, Virgil, as owners/ operators of Silbernick Hardware and Mercantile in Greenwald, Minnesota. The couple moved to Sauk Centre and Adeline worked as a clerk at J.C. Penny for 11 years. She was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre, Christian Mothers, and the Sauk Center American Legion Auxiliary Post 67. Adeline enjoyed crocheting, ceramics, bowling, playing cards, and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
Survivors include her children, Mary Schendel of Prairie City, Iowa, Michael (Melinda) Silbernick of Maple Grove, Mark (Margaret) Silbernick of Greenwald, Matthew (Joy) Silbernick of Meire Grove, Jane (Brian) Hines of Maple Grove, and Donna (Floyd) Abraham of St. Cloud; 16 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter.
Adeline was preceded in death by her husband, Virgil Silbernick on July 13, 2002; brothers and sisters, Josephine Haskamp, Rose Bromen, Eleanore Rae, Bertilla Powell, Olivia Moser, Norbert Otte, Marcella Marthaler, Joseph Otte, and Rita Hesse; and son-in-law, Al Schendel.
Arrangements were made with PattonSchad Funeral & Cremation Services of Sauk Centre.
Lawrence F. “Max” Sand
Lawrence F.
“Max” Sand, age 98 of Freeport, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at the VA Medical Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota. A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, June 11 at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls, Minnesota. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Lawrence Frank Sand was born on November 24, 1927 in St. Anthony, Minnesota to Nicholas and Anna (Olberding) Sand. He grew up on the family farm near St. Anthony and served in the United States Army from 1951 to 1953. Following his military service, Max worked for the Freeport Creamery, hauling milk for 32 years.
An avid traveler, he visited Europe five times, China twice, and traveled throughout all 50 states and many other parts of the world. Max had a lifelong love of music and played accordion in a band for 40 years. He also volunteered five weeks each year at the Medora Music Festival for a total of 20 years. Lawrence could be seen every May at Charlie’s Café in Freeport distributing the VFW Buddy Poppy for donations. In his free time, he enjoyed bicycling around Freeport and collecting aluminum cans, often gathering as many as 10,000 cans each summer. He also enjoyed playing cards with many groups and family, especially Cribbage and Skat.
He was a devoted member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport and a member of the Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050 in Melrose serving as Chaplain.
Max is survived by his sister, Vera Ritter of Melrose; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Henry, Alfred, Richard, and Victor Sand; sisters, Alma Pundsack, Helen Sand, Alvina Koglin, Loretta Petermeier, Alfrida Kerfeld, Monica Ritter, Theresa Goebel, and infant sister, Mary Sand.
Arrangements were made with PattonSchad Funeral & Cremation Services of Melrose.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James “Jim” D. Paggen; her parents, Paul and Delores Kuklok; and her brother, Mike Kuklok. 320-547-6112
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John was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ruth; sister, Dana Heisick, and stepmother, Judy (Koehn) Heisick.
Albany Senior Dining
Volunteers Needed! Call 320-845-4070
Mon., June15: Turkey burger on bun, sweet potatoes, coleslaw, dessert..
Tues., June 16: Chicken alfredo, noodles, Scandinavia vegetables, cake.
Wed., June 17: Hamburger steak w/sauteed onions, oven roasted potatoes, creamed peas, bread.
Thurs., June 18: Sausage, egg & cheese burrito, hashbrowns, fruit cocktail, pastry. Fri., June 19: Baked potato w/cheese, diced ham, broccoli, dessert, bread. Pre-registration requested to dine daily. For more info. call 320-845-4070.
Avon Hills Lions Club Interstate 94 Pollinator Project Open House June 27
By Mike Appel
The Avon Hills Lions Club are inviting the public to join them in an Open House celebrating the establishment of a pollinator planting on I-94 adjacent to Avon on Saturday, June 27th from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The planting is in its 3rd year of growth. It was the first pollinator planting created by any organization in the State of Minnesota on a Federal Highway.
The Avon Hills Lions were chartered in December 2018 and this was their first Signature Project. A plan was drawn up and submitted to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) in March of 2019. Covid hit and put the project in jeopardy. For nearly 2 years the club worked to iron out rules & regulations with the MNDOT. New rules and interpretations had to be resolved as this type of project had not been attempted on an Interstate corridor. The club also received help and assistance from the Stearns County Pheasants Forever, Stearns Soil & Water Conservation District and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
A contract was finally drawn up and signed in the fall of 2024. The site is about 4.5 acres in size and runs east of the exit to Avon on both sides of the Interstate 94 for about a
Natures View Tree & Yard Care
mile on each side. A herbicide was applied to kill the existing vegetation in the spring of 2024 and a seed mixture of 34 flowers and Forbs with 10 grasses were no-tilled into the existing sod in May.
Since the seeding, the club has observed 23 of the flowers, forbs, and 7 native grasses growing. In additions, the club has annually conducted a roadside clean-up and has attempted to stay ahead of the noxious weeds such as Canadian thistle, bull thistle, leafy spurge and spotted knapweed to name a few.
Now in our 3rd year we invite the public to join us on Saturday, June 27th on the northside of the interstate for our Open House. You must be 18 & older to wear a reflective vest and enter the pollinator area. Information booths and refreshments will be served. We hope to see you there. Watch for signs as you enter Avon.
Willard L. “Bill” Burlet
Willard L. “Bill” Burlet, age 85 of Sauk Centre, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Friday, June 5, 2026 at his home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 11 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Kevin Soenneker officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Thursday at the church.
Willard Llewellyn Burlet was born December 3, 1940 in St. Cloud, Minnesota to Milo and Pearl (Brandsma) Burlet. He graduated from Tech High School in St. Cloud in 1959. On January 2, 1965 he was united in marriage to Janice Korte at St. Augustine Catholic Church in St, Cloud, Minnesota. Bill worked for the Minnesota Highway Department and the Minnesota Department of Corrections until his retirement in 2003. Bill and Jan have been residents of Sauk Centre for the last 58 years. He was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre since 1968 and the Light of Christ Community since 1975. Bill was an avid reader and a handyman and loved taking family trips to Leech Lake. Bill worked as pit crew at Golden Spike Speedway in St. Cloud where he met his future wife, Jan.
Survivors include his loving wife of 61 years, Jan Burlet of Sauk Centre; children, Jennifer (Steve) Wordekemper of Nebraska, Andrew (Teresa) Burlet of Sauk Centre, Christine Line of Rockford, and Dayna (Chad) Kluver of Lake Lillian; 12 grandchildren and 12 greatgrandchildren; and sister-in-law, Carol Burlet of Elk River.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; infant sister, Vicky Burlet; sister, Marilyn Hughes; and brother, Robert Burlet.
Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Sauk Centre.
Peter P. “Pete” Angell Sr.
Peter P. “Pete” Angell, Sr., age 79 of Sauk Centre, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Friday, June 5, 2026 at his home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, June 14 at Twisted Oaks Events, 41582 393rd Ave, Sauk Centre, MN 56378. Visitation will be from 3 to 4 p.m., with a service beginning at 4:15 p.m. Friends and family are invited to stay for a light meal following the service. The family will depart at 7:00 pm for a private inurnment at Greenwood Cemetery in Sauk Centre. Come as you are or wear your favorite plaid in honor of him.
Peter Paul Angell was born on April 19, 1947 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Peter Jennis and Evelyn (Lund) Angell. He grew up in the St. Cloud area and was united in marriage to Lucille Erpelding on October 29, 1966. The couple later divorced. On June 18, 1994 he married Margaret “Peggy” Westphal in Richmond, Minnesota. Pete worked at DeZurik Foundry from 1973 through 2002. Pete and Peggy have resided in the Sauk Centre area for the last 23 years where Pete worked at John Wiese Ford from 2004 through 2018. He was fond of the outdoors and enjoyed camping, fishing, campfires, and feeding the birds. Pete loved to make people laugh. He enjoyed listening to music, dancing and watching Westerns on TV. Pete loved to travel and was looking forward to spending winters in Arizona.
Survivors include his loving wife of 31 years, Peggy Angell of Sauk Centre; children, Peter Angell, Jr. of St. Cloud, Sherry (Paul) Jensen of Avon, Deborah Angell of Rogers, Denise (Brian Beam) Severson of St. Michael, and Jason Angell of Waite Park; and four grandchildren, Joshua Angell, Sydney Jensen, Elin Severson, and Allie Severson.
Peter was preceded in death by his parents, Peter Jennis and Evelyn Angell.
Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Sauk Centre.
Annette T. Blonigen
Annette T. Blonigen, age 84 of St. Martin, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 7, 2026 at the Tree of Life Assisted Living in New Munich, Minnesota.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 15 at St. Martin Catholic Church in St. Martin with Rev. Edward Vebelun, O.S.B officiating. A family inurnment will be in the parish cemetery at a later date.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Monday at the St. Martin Parish Center in St. Martin. Parish prayers will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday evening at the parish center.
Annette Theresa Gertken was born July 22, 1941 in Avon, Minnesota to Henry and Rosalia (Fischer) Gertken. She was united in marriage to Leander Blonigen on May 15, 1962 at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Avon. Annette raised nine children on the family farm near St. Martin and also worked off the farm at Jennie-O Foods in Melrose. Prior to her retirement, she worked as a cook at the Albany Elementary School. She was a mother figure to many people throughout her life and she was an amazing cook. She was a member of St. Martin Catholic Church in St. Martin and the Christian Mothers. Annette enjoyed going to the casino, playing cards and BINGO, and loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include her children, Theresa (Jerome) Eichers of Avon, Michael (Marsha) Blonigen of Albany, James (Kimberly) Blonigen of Fort Meyers, Florida, Thomas (Judy) Blonigen of Paynesville, Lori Rose (Brian) Mackedanz of Paynesville, Andrew (Leigh Ahles) Blonigen of St. Martin, Martin (Jessica) Blonigen of St. Martin, and Jeremiah (Carene) Blonigen of Freeport; son-in-law, William Smith of Albany; 23 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren with one on the way; brothers and sisters, Lloyd (Jenny) Gertken, Eugene (Sharon) Gertken, Donna Mae Poepping, and Rosie Ehlinger; sister-in-law, Kathy Gertken, Vera Lou Gertken, Tillie (Bernard) Bussmann, Penny Blonigen, and Annella Blonigen; and brother-in-law, Richard (Linda) Klaphake.
Annette was preceded in death by her husband, Leander Blonigen on January 9, 2020; daughter, Sue Smith on December 1, 2022; parents; brothers, Ambrose, Elmer, Donald, and Larry; and sister, Bernice Klaphake; brothers-inlaw, Wilbert Poepping and John Ehlinger; sisterin-law, Dorothy Gertken.
Memorials are preferred to the Tree of Life Assisted Living in New Munich.
Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Melrose.
Dennis A. Danzl
A private graveside service was held Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at St. Joseph’s Parish Cemetery in St. Joseph for Dennis A. Danzl, age 86, of Bowlus.
Denny passed away on Thursday, June 4, 2026 at his home after a brief illness.
Denny was born on October 6, 1949 to Willard and Rose (Qunicy) Danzl in Collegeville, Minnesota. He honorably served his country in the United States Army while stationed in Korea for three years. He was married to Kay Stotko on June 20, 1963 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud. They were married for 63 years. Denny was a barber in St. Joseph until his retirement in 2014 after 45 years of service. He enjoyed camping, fishing and hunting.
He is survived by his loving wife, Kay; three children, Brian (Jodi) of Northwood, ND, Steven (Lisa) of Melrose, Lisa (Brian) of Avon; nine grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren; sister, Rosemary Schneider of Eagen; brothers, Jerry (Judy) of St. Cloud, and Richard (Ruth Ann) of Republic, MO and his step siblings.
Denny was preceded in death by his parents; sister-in-law, Bev Danzl, brother-in-law, Dave Schleicher; nephew, Craig Danzl; brother-in-law, Jerry Stotko; sister-in-law, Marilyn Morretti.
Linda S. Crowe
Funeral Services will at 11:00 AM on Friday, June 12, 2026 at St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Long Prairie for Linda S. Crowe 77, of Long Prairie who passed away on June 3, 2026 at the CentraCare Hospital in Long Prairie. Visitation will be from 4-7 PM, Thursday, June 11, 2026 at the Williams Dingmann Stein Chapel in Long Prairie. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior the funeral on Friday. Rev. Gabriel Walz will officiate. Burial will be at the St. Michael’s Cemetery in Sioux Falls, SD at a later date.
Linda born on January 13, 1949 to Harold and Lillian (Cook) Proell in Deer River, MN. She married John Ness on September 2nd, in Long Prairie. Together they had three children. Sadly, John passed away February 18, 1974. Linda married James “Jim” Crowe on October 11, 1975 in Monroe, SD. In 1976 they moved to Long Prairie.
Linda was great in her role as a mother and homemaker. With Jim, who also had children, her family grew instantly and continued to grow. Somehow Linda always found the time to make dolls for her girls. She stayed active with her kids by taking walks to the park or to go swimming at Lake Charlotte . She lovingly brought her family together for homemade meals. Her soups and bread were especially good. Her family always looked forward to all of the treats she made at Christmas. Linda also touched the lives of several by providing daycare for children. After completing the dietary training at the Alexandria Technical School, she was hired as a dietician at the Sauk Centre Home School. She really liked working with the kids there as well. Staying active in the lives of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren was always important to her but when she found some quiet time, Linda enjoyed a good romance novel.
She is survived by her sons Stephan (Carmen) of Sioux Falls, SD, Gregory (Lila) of Slayton, Alan of Jasper, Steven “Butch” Ness of Long Prairie; daughters, Brenda (Mike) Sauer of Palm Coast, FL, Jennifer (Bob) Zamecnik of Alexandria, Anne (Chad) Ouelette of Fulda, Billie James of St. Cloud, Jamie (Eldon) Davis of Rice, Nancy (Scott) Kuhlmann of Long Prairie and Heather (Tim) Thayer of Long Prairie; her brother, Lowell Dugan of Prescott AZ, sisters Penny Bongers of Pelican Rapids, Lorri Centers of Goodyear, AZ and Becky (Dennis) Borucki of Burlington, WI; 27 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband James; son, Eddie; granddaughter Sammi Bakker; brothers Dennis and James Proell; sisters Sharon Wait and Mary Braaten and grandson, Christopher Graves.
THE JUNCTION
Convenience Store • Bait
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
Hours: 6 AM to 10 PM
Pizzas • Cold Spring Bakery
Schaefer’s Meats • T-Shirts
Leanin’ Tree Gift Cards
320-285-2383 • Grey Eagle
Gaylord A Saetre Jr.
An open house to celebrate the life of Gaylord A. Saetre Jr. will be held from 1:00-3:00 PM, Sunday June 14, 2026, at the Long Prairie Country Club, 406 6th St. SE, Long Prairie, MN. Gaylord passed away on May 31, 2026, at the Edgewood Vista in Brainerd. Burial will be at the United Lutheran Cemetery in Henning on a later date.
Gaylord was born on October 30, 1944 to Gaylord and Mary (Bennet) Saetre Sr. in Cleveland, OH. At a young age, the family moved to Moorhead, MN where his father began his legal career. Gaylord graduated from Moorhead High School and went on to complete his undergraduate degree at the University of North Dakota. Following the footsteps of his father and uncles, he went on to complete his law degree at William Mitchell Law School in St. Paul. He met the love of his life, Mary Conaway in Richfield, MN. On June 27, 1970 the couple married at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Richfield. A Todd County Attorney position inspired the couple to move to Long Prairie. What began as a part-time position became a near 40+ year career dedicated to serving as the Todd County Attorney, retiring in 2007. Gaylord was a hard worker who valued serving his community. He was active in the Long Prairie Lions Club and Long Prairie Jaycees; he also served on the Todd County Fair Board and was very involved with the Long Prairie Hockey Association along with numerous other organizations throughout Todd County.
Gaylord voraciously read newspapers and was always up on current events. Playing poker at the Country Cub was always a highlight along with fishing, shooting prairie dogs and snowmobiling were some of his favorite outdoor activities. He always enjoyed traveling with his family and after retirement, he and Mary traveled more extensively. Gaylord and Mary loved their winters in Lake Havasu, AZ. Above all though, Gaylord loved his family. He was a dedicated husband whose heart was broken by Mary’s death in 2020. He was a proud father who loved to stay active in the lives of his children and his grandchildren each had a special place in his heart.
He is survived by his son, Eric (Lindsey) of Holyoke, MN; his daughter, Sarah (Loren) Urbach of Vergas, MN; grandchildren, Seth and Leah Urbach; sister, Susan Saetre of Minneapolis and brother, Jon Saetre of Perham. He is preceded in death by his parents and his wife Mary.
Memorials to be sent to the Long Prairie Hockey Association, PO BOX 103, Long Prairie, MN 56347.
Sudoku
Sudoku is one of the most popular puzzle games of all time. The goal of Sudoku is to fill a 9×9 grid with numbers so that each row, column and 3×3 section contain all of the digits between 1 and 9. As a logic puzzle, Sudoku is also an excellent brain game.
Dave Says -By Dave Ramsey
Dear Dave, I’m 26, and I graduated from college a few months ago. I was fortunate enough to have a job making $70,000 annually waiting for me.
I don’t have any other debt, so my only real problem right now is about $5,000 in credit card debt. It doesn’t seem like a huge amount, but I don’t want to fall into the trap of relying on debt throughout my life. Do you have any suggestions for remaining motivated to stay out of debt in the years ahead?
-Emil
Dear Emil,
Congratulations, young man! Aside from the credit card debt, it sounds like you’re off to a good start in life.
Paying off the credit card debt should be
no problem with the income you mentioned. You can knock that out in two or three months just by living on a strict, written budget. Now, how do you stay motivated after that? I think it comes down to having a specific reason, something meaningful in your life that makes you never want to be a slave to debt again.
In my case, it was simple: We went broke and filed bankruptcy the year our second daughter was born. So, my reason for getting out of debt - and staying away from debt after that - was to be able to feed our kids and take care of our family the way a man should. My wife and I also didn’t want to feel the kind of pain that comes from losing everything again. But here’s the thing, Emil. Everyone’s different. Your situation isn’t the same as mine was, so you’ll probably have different motivations for staying away from debt and building wealth by managing your money wisely. Maybe you want to be outrageously generous to churches, civic groups and nonprofits. Or maybe you want to bless your future family members with an inheritance somewhere down the road.
If you have a good reason for doing something - one that’s meaningful to youit’ll make all the discipline and scratching and clawing to win worth it. I want you to read a book by Simon Sinek called “Start with Why.” In it, Sinek explains how an extremely personal reason for doing something can help you get up in the morning inspired to make it happen.
Remember, the enemy of excellence isn’t laziness. It’s the attitude of being okay with mediocre and the mindset of “Thank God, it’s Friday. Oh God, it’s Monday.” Ironically, it’s easy in America today to have a high-quality life while being mediocre. But who wants to be mediocre? Why not strive to be all you can be?
If you’ve got a good why, it’ll get you moving in a positive direction with a positive attitude every morning, every day for the rest of your life!
-Dave
* Leadership and small-business expert Dave Ramsey is the CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored eight national bestselling books, including “EntreLeadership,” and he’s a host of “The Ramsey Show” and “The EntreLeadership Podcast.”
Ask The Motor Medics®
From the Hosts of the Under The Hood radio show.
Dear Motor Medics,
I have been looking at trucks to be used as both primary transportation and for pulling a camper in the summer. I have a half ton gas powered truck now that is used for about 20,000 miles per year but after upgrading my camper to a larger size this past summer, I don’t feel it is safe to use as a pull truck any longer. I am a Ford guy and want to go with a diesel truck in a 3/4 or 1-ton model 4x4 but hear that most of the trucks in my price range are equipped with a 6.0 engine and that they have some inherent problems. What kind of things go wrong with the engine and what can be done to fix them? I may be willing to buy one and make the repairs.
-Doug in Kalamazoo, Michigan Dear Doug, It is smart of you to think safely. You should never pull with a truck that is too small for the job or safety will be compromised. The issues we see with the 6.0 are usually the egr cooler and the engine oil cooler. There are some strong aftermarket parts available to update the engine and once done we have seen greatly improved strength and little repeat failures so far. There are some great deals to be had on the 6.0 and if you find one budget for the upgrades to help prevent major future breakdowns.
-Take care, the Motor Medics Dear Motor Medics, My car is dying. I have been told that it is unsafe to drive due to rust but on the outside, it looks fine. I have a 2005 Grand Prix, and they have shown me major rust in the rocker panel area that is covered up by the plastic ground effects. The rocker is actually gone but it doesn’t seem to be supporting anything. I want
to drive the car for a few more years, but they tell me the rust has severely compromised the structural integrity, and the main support structure is weakening so it will be very unsafe in a collision. Are there any repairs that I can make to help get it by for a couple of years until I’m ready for a new car?
-Martin in Lincoln, Nebraska Dear Martin,
We own one of these cars and I am in your exact situation now. The rockers were a concern a few years ago and I suspect yours were too. I’m afraid our few years have passed and with structural safety compromised the safest thing for us is to replace the car. Once rust has become this bad the cost of repairing it usually exceeds the economic value of the vehicle and replacement is a better choice. Daily driving may get us around but if a collision should occur our lives could be at risk, with rust there really is no temporary structural strengthening you can do to get by.
-Take care, the Motor Medics For entertainment only. Always consult your local shop and follow all safety procedures before repairs. Come visit the Motor Medics® online at Underthehoodshow. com.
Sudoku Answers from June 4
Local Municipality Minutes
Email Minutes to htnews@icloud.com gle map on line for North Berkey 1st Addition.
Swanville City • May 5, 2026
Minutes of the Swanville City Council meeting held in the Swanville Center on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. with the following members present: Sandy Lange, Norm Carlson, Jim Molitor, and Carter Loven. Also present: Aaron Gapinski, Lonny Hutchins, reporter Sheila McCoy.
Minutes of the Swanville City Council meeting held Tuesday, April 7, 2026 and Board of Equalization meeting held Wednesday, April 22, 2026 were reviewed. A motion was made by Jim Molitor to approve the minutes. Norm Carlson seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, motion carried.
The treasures report was given. A motion was made by Jim Molitor and seconded Carter Loven to approve the treasurer’s report. All members voted in favor, motion carried.
Floor was opened for public comment-no comments.
Aaron Gapinski, representing Swanville School was present to ask permission to move a portion of the walking trail by the softball field. The trail is straight now and with the field turning into a baseball field which needs a bigger outfield, the trail would have a curve around the field. There was discussion about the city gifting the land to the school. With that the school would maintain that part of the property as well. The Clerk will contact the city attorney about gifting the land to the school and the costs involved with the transition. A decision will be made at next month’s meeting.
The water storage tank project was discussed. City maintenance man and Tony Maciej met with a representative from Eagle Construction and Moore Engineering at the well site. A change order to put vfds on the well pumps was discussed. The change would be approx. $14,000.00. There is still funding left from Rural Development which could be possibly used for this expense. This will be checked out further. A change order was presented for Eagle Construction which was lower than previously presented. With that, pay application #14 was presented for payment. Jim Molitor made a motion to pay application #14 in the amount of $33,588.82. Carter Loven seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, motion carried. No final payment received from Land Pride as of today. There are 10 to 13 water meters to be installed or looked at.
City maintenance reported there is a pump out at the lift station. It’s not sure if the pump can be fixed or a new one will have to be bought.
North Berkey 1st Addition land was discussed. If land is purchased and then it is not built in a year for some reason, council was in agreement that the purchase price for the land would be refunded minus any expenses incurred from the city in the transfer of land.
The clerk applied for a grant to fund new playground equipment at the park through Sourcwell. The grant was a lottery drawing from Soucewell and the city did not get pulled.
City wide clean-up day is set for Saturday, May 9th from 9:00-11:00 am taking place by the city park.
The speed signs are in and ready to be installed. Morrison County will be putting up the signs and need the work order signed by the city. Norm Carlson made a motion to sign the work order. Carter Loven seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, motion carried.
Resolution #26-0505 was presented for the donation of $6,500.00 from the Swanville Lions to be used toward the purchase of the lighted speed signs. Jim Molitor made a motion to accept Resolution #26-0505. Carter Loven seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, motion carried. City Council appreciates the Swanville Lions for the many donations they make to the City of Swanville.
Mayor Lange is working on updating the goo-
The following claims were presented for payment. Members of the council were furnished with a listing. Jim Molitor made a motion to approve the claims. Carter Loven seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, motion carried.
The next regular monthly meeting will be held Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at 7:00 pm in the Swanville Center.
There being no further business, a motion was made by Norm Carlson and seconded by Jim Molitor to adjourn. All members voted in favor, motion carried. Meeting adjourned 7:55 pm.
Julie Hollermann, City Clerk/Treasurer
Grey Eagle Township • June 1, 2026
Call to Order: Mike Rohe called the meeting to order at 8:00 pm. The pledge of allegiance was recited.
Present Board: Mike Rohe, John Young, Alan Roering and Christine Gagne. Also Present: Erv Herdering, Bob Lanners, Jenny Kerzman, Jeff and Tami Nieland, and Glen Bushman.
Agenda Approval: Mike presented a preliminary agenda and asked for additions or corrections. Alan moved to approve the agenda, with the following additions and changes: 6(b) Discussion regarding usage and maintenance of Ascot Road, be moved to 3a. Change 6(b) to: Discussion regarding the condition of the South East Ditch on 130th Street, 2nd by John. Mike called for a vote. Motion carried.
Discussion of Maintenance and Usage of Ascot Road: Residents provided comments and concerns regarding conditions on Ascot Road, including increased traffic volume, speeding, roadside litter, hill safety, school bus safety, wash boarding, gravel loss, low areas with poor drainage, and the theft of a school bus warning sign. The Board, residents, and the Township’s road maintenance contractor discussed the concerns and potential corrective measures. The Board agreed to evaluate and implement certain measures on a trial basis in an effort to address and improve identified issues. The effectiveness of these measures will be monitored and reviewed as needed.
Approval of Minutes: Mike presented the minutes from May 4th Monthly meeting and asked if any corrections. John moved to approve the May 4th Monthly meeting minutes as presented, 2nd by Alan. Mike called for a vote. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report: Christine reported the financials for the month of May, 2026:
-Beginning balance: $69,732.17
-Receipts: $7,863.03
-Disbursements: $19,043.28
-Ending Balance: $58,551.92
-Investment Balance: $190,487.42
Alan moved to accept the Treasurer’s report/ Cash Control Stmt, 2nd by John. Mike called for a vote. Motion carried.
Motion by John to approve a payment of $100,000.00 from the Money Market Account to Magnifi Financial to reduce the outstanding loan balance at Magnifi Financial, Alan 2nd it, Mike called for a vote. Motion passed.
Town Clerk Report: Christine presented May claims totaling $91,205.24. John moved to ap prove the payment of the claims, 2nd by Alan. Mike called for a vote. Motion carried. Correspon dence (mail and emails) were reviewed.
Road and Bridge: The board reviewed three submitted bids for Ditch Mowing. Alan made a motion to approve the hiring of Mike Berscheit for this season’s Ditch Mowing, 2nd by John. Mike called for a vote. Motion passed.
Discussion of condition of the South East Ditch on 130th Street: Bob Lanners described the declining condition. The board acknowledged that the condition has been noted in the road inspection and will be addressed.
Erv Herdering reported the ongoing mainte nance of the township roads with the board.
Public Comments: Mike asked for public comments. There were none.
Adjournment: Alan moved to adjourn, 2nd by John, Mike called for a vote. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:22 PM.
Minutes pending approval as of June 1st, 2026. Christine Gagne, Clerk/Treasurer
Dad Doesn’t Want Another Tie for Father’s Day
By Rachel Cruze
Every year around Father’s Day, millions of dads brace themselves for another #1 Dad coffee mug, grilling apron or necktie they’ll probably never wear.
Let’s be honest: Most dads don’t need more stuff. What they really want is time with the people they love. That’s why experiences make some of the best Father’s Day gifts.
Years from now, your dad probably won’t remember the golf shirt you bought him in 2026, but he’ll remember the road trip you took together or the concert you surprised him with.
So this year, instead of buying more stuff, think about giving Dad a day (or even just a few hours) he’ll never forget.
Take Him to See His Favorite Team
Listen, sports may not be your thing. (I’m definitely not the person memorizing player stats or spending all day watching highlights.) But if your dad loves sports, taking him to see his favorite team play can be an incredibly meaningful gift.
Whether it’s baseball, football or soccer, cheering on his favorite team with the people he loves will create memories that last a whole lot longer than another generic Father’s Day gadget.
You don’t have to spend a fortune on tickets either. Grab some ballpark food, wear the team colors and just enjoy the time together.
Surprise Him with a Concert Night
Maybe your house was filled with Bruce Springsteen or Fleetwood Mac on Saturday mornings while your dad cleaned the garage. Maybe he still talks about the concert he almost went to in college or the band he’s always wanted to see live.
Music has a way of bringing people back to specific moments in life, which is why a concert can make such a meaningful Father’s Day gift.
And it doesn’t have to be some huge, expensive arena show either. Local concerts, tribute bands or outdoor music festivals can still make for such a fun time together. Grab dinner beforehand and laugh about your dad knowing every single lyric at the concert.
Plan an Outdoor Adventure
On the other hand, not every dad wants crowds and stadiums. Some dads are happiest with a fishing pole in their hand, a steak grilling in the backyard, or an entire afternoon outside with their family.
If that sounds like your dad, plan a day around the things he already loves. You could organize: a fishing trip, a family camping weekend, a hike at a nearby state park, a golf outing, a backyard cookout with all his favorite foods or a day at the lake.
The beauty of outdoor experiences is that they slow everyone down for a little while. There’s more time for conversation and fewer
distractions competing for everyone’s attention. For a lot of dads, a perfect day really is that simple.
Revisit a Dream From His Childhood
Think about your dad before he became Dad. What hobbies did he love? What did he always talk about wanting to do someday?
Maybe he dreamed about visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame. Maybe he was obsessed with classic cars as a kid. Maybe he loved history, aviation or trains and still lights up talking about them. Plan a trip to a museum or a car or train show.
Lot of dads spend years putting themselves last while they take care of everyone else. So Father’s Day is a great opportunity to help him experience something he’s talked about for years but never actually planned for himself.
Focus on Time Together
Life gets busy fast, especially when kids are involved. Can I get an amen? Between work schedules, sports practices, errands and constant phone notifications, quality time can feel rare. That’s why sometimes the best gift is just creating space to be together.
Maybe that looks like: a family movie marathon, cooking his favorite meal together, looking through old family photos, playing board games, spending an unplugged afternoon together, or taking over his usual responsibilities for the day so he can truly relax.
You could even make the whole day centered around the things he loves most - his favorite breakfast, his favorite music playing in the house, his favorite dessert after dinner or his favorite place to dine. Sometimes making someone feel celebrated is less about spending a lot of money and more about being intentional.
Memories Last Longer Than Stuff
The truth is, most Father’s Day gifts eventually get forgotten. The shirts wear out, and the mugs end up in the back of the cabinet.
But experiences stay with us. Years from now, your family will still laugh about the camping trip where it rained the entire weekend, or the concert where Dad sang every lyric louder than everyone else. Those moments become part of your family story.
And the good news is, creating meaningful memories doesn’t have to blow your budget. Some of the best Father’s Day experiences are also some of the simplest.
So this Father’s Day, skip the predictable gifts and give Dad something he’ll actually remember: quality time and memories that’ll last longer than another tie ever will!
* Rachel Cruze is a two-time #1 national bestselling author, financial expert and co-host of “The Ramsey Show” and “Smart Money Happy Hour.” Since 2010, Rachel has served at Ramsey Solutions, where she teaches people how to avoid debt, budget and win with money at any stage in life.
GREAT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY!
CLASSIFIED ADS
FOUND: Blue/brown tarp along County Rd #33, Grey Eagle, May 9. Call 320-285-3261.
UPSALA FARMERS MARKET: Sat., June 6-Sept. 26: 8-11 a.m. at Buffy’s parking lot. Sellers welcome. Call 320-573-2798. 6/11
GETHSEMANE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Rummage and bake sale June 13th from 8:00-11:30. $1 bag sale from 11:30-12:00.
GARAGE SALE: June 17, 18, 19: 9-5. 324 State St. W., Grey Eagle.
WANTED TO BUY: Dairy Heifers and Cows. 320-894-7175. SC-evB
WANTED: Cars and pickups from the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s, in your weeds or sheds. 218-640-3807 or 218-756-2257.
WANTED: 25-30 hp outboard motor. Call 320-260-4551 6/11
FOR SALE: 1991 Dodge van, has bed, TV, 318 engine, $6,800. Call 320-267-5632. RB-tfn
FOR SALE: Hewitt boat lift and green canopy, 1800 pound, 110x20 foot. Co Rd 104, passed the Hub, $1500. Call 612-554-2932.
FOR SALE: 1994 Corvette, loaded, black, 60,000 miles, new tires, $9,500. Call 320290-0924. 6/11
Swanville Junior High Student of the Month
FOR SALE: 1 & 2 inch Aromatic Red Cedar; plus 8 & 10 ft. logs. Call Ron Moening 320-429-0149, Melrose. 6/11
FOR SALE: Minn Kota Terrova, 36v. 80 lb. thrust. I Pilot, GPS system, 60” shaft, foot & hand remote, $1,700 OBO. 320-232-0211
FOR SALE: Steel boat or pontoon lift $250. 2 kayaks with paddles both $225. 2 - 5’ diameter steel wheels $100 pair. 320630-4409
VIGOROUS
WIRED
WORSE
YOUNGER
YOUNGSTERS
ZEBRA
Swanville Public School is pleased to announce the April Junior High Student of the Month, eighth grade student Guadalupe Lopez-Ojeda. Lupe, as she is known by in school, is the daughter of Marisela Ojeda and Pedro Lopez. When she has time for herself, she enjoys playing sports, especially softball, volleyball and basketball. She also spends time baking, shopping and watching Aubree’s vlogs. In the future she plans to attend college and but is unsure what field she is going to go into. One unique thing about Lupe is that she is very determined to get what she really wants. Since early in her school career, she has participated in basketball, volleyball and softball, adding student council and theatre in seventh grade. She volunteers her time working during the Swanville carnival and in general helping where she is needed. Lupe is on the honor roll each semester. One special achievement is reaching 100 strikeouts during her softball season. Her favorite thing about school is being able to see her friends and playing sports. Her advice to other students is “it’s ok to make mistakes-they can help you grow and learn.”
Math teacher Liza Hasse says, “Lupe is very deserving of being selected as Student of the Month. She works hard in class to fully understand the material and consistently turns in high quality work on time. Lupe is kind, welcoming, and respectful to everyone around her. She always has a warm smile and kind words to share with others. Lupe has also developed strong study habits and learning skills that will continue to help her succeed throughout her education.”
Swanville Junior High Student of the Month
Swanville
Public School is pleased to announce the May grades seven through nine Student of the Month, seventh grade student Crosby Peterson. Crosby is the son of Luke and Kim Peterson. He enjoys sports of all kinds, hunting, fishing and work. His future plans are to try his hand at professional sports and if that doesn’t work out, to farm. One thing that makes him unique is his sportsmanship. Crosby participates in football, basketball, baseball and the trap team while in school.
Outside of school, Crosby donates his time by working with Swanville Athletic Boosters and umping 12U Baseball. His advice to other students is to” be nice and help
FOR SALE: Tonneau roll up cover, like new for 5’ 7” ram box, from 2019-2026, asking $225. Call 320-232-0211.
FOR SALE: (8) 55 gallon white plastic drum barrels. Schedule 40 PVC pipe, 85’x4” and 40’x2”. Call 320-493-6387.
FOR SALE: Round hay bales, 318 twine wrapped bales, 5x5 in size, 2 years old. Call 218-485-4187.
FOR SALE: 1995 Ford Explorer, $900. Call 320-267-5632. RB-tfn
FOR SALE: Chain saw, Stihl MS180C, 14 inch bar, runs great, $150. Call 612-7166978.
others.” One thing he is particularly proud of is going to state for baseball. His favorite thing about school is having physical education classes.
Gracie Schultz, Ag and Science instructor says of Crosby, “Crosby is a student who brings a positive attitude to class every day! He always walks in with a smile on his face, willing to volunteer and help out whenever needed, and contributes to creating a welcoming environment for his classmates. His sense of humor, kindness, energy, and willingness to participate make him a valued member of the class. He works hard in everything he does and takes pride in completing quality work. Congratulations and keep up the great work Crosby!”
Local Library Events
Melrose Library • 320-256-3885
Game Night: Come to the library for an evening of friendly competition and fun. You can play the games we have or bring your own favorite game to share. For all ages. Limit 30. Registration required. Monday, June 22: 5:30- 7:30 p.m.
FOR SALE: Vintage Americana furniture. Gossip bench, oak side table, small bench, oak swivel mirror. Text for photos & pricing 612-716-4427.
