Sunday, March 20, 2005

A Tribute to Vern and Esther Baker

03/20/2005

A Tribute to Vern and Esther Baker
Written by Jennie K. (Dahlman) Hanson
March 20, 2004

As a young person is growing up and getting an education there are many people who are important in their lives and leave a great impression on them.
Your parents, Vern and Esther Baker, were some of those wonderful people in my life.  They were not only the ones who provided me with a wonderful home experience while living with them during my college years, but they became my friends then and for all the years since I graduated and moved on with my life.
They were there at my wedding to Bob Hanson and also made several visits to my classroom in Wright on their way to Brainard to visit Ester’s brother.
As my family grew, we would often stop in to their home on Kenwood Ave for visits and renewing our friendship.  Esther would always have some homemade goodies to serve with coffee and we would have to tour the gardens if it was summer.
I will always be grateful for the things your parents taught me.  First of all, your mom taught me to make my bed, everyday, and keep my room clean. Of course I knew these things, but she made sure I did them.  Clean up a mess as soon as possible, or don’t make that mess in the first place.  I think that was her motto.  She would also do my laundry, which to a college student was really appreciated.  I know she did this so I wouldn’t misuse her washer and dryer, but it sure was nice of her to do it.  When I would come home from classes on Mondays, there would be my clean clothes piled on the steps for me to take up and put away.
In the late 1980’s when I was having my class collect a million pop tabs, Esther would faithfully collect them for me.  She would even pick them up off the street if she saw any of them.  Vern would get a little disgusted with her for this because he thought they had too dirty.  But that didn’t stop her.  She told him that Jennie needed them!  By the way, my class did collect 1,000, 000 tabs by 1989.  It only took us 2 1/2 years with the help of many people like Esther.
The thing I loved about your dad was that he would always have time for a visit or to help me with anything.  I remember that we would watch the Channel 10 News and then the weather with Jack McKenna.  I don’t think your dad ever missed the weather report.  I guess that was because of his love of gardening.  He taught me things about that, too.  I even have a Hawaiian orchid plant that he gave me years ago and it blooms every summer with the most beautiful red blossoms. I also have a stained glass piece he made hanging in my living room window.  These reminders of your parents bring joy to my heart whenever I see them.
I also remember those faces of men and women that hung on the dining room wall.  They always fascinated me also.  It seems like you could look at them forever and still not see everything about them.  I sure hope they stay in the family as a wonderful reminder of your parents.

One of the funniest things that happened when I was living with your parents was the night I was asked to join them and Philip for a spaghetti supper.
Your mom had worked all day making her special spaghetti sauce.  She kept it simmering all during the day so that the flavor would be just right.  Then, around 5 or 6 o’clock, we all sat around that small kitchen table to eat.  Everyone started to eat. Then we all slowed down eating.  There was something so unusual about the flavor of the sauce.  We looked back and forth at each other, but didn’t want to say anything to Esther because she had worked so hard to make such a good meal.  Finally, Philip got brave and yelled out, “ Mom, this tastes like “Top Job” (a floor cleaner)!” Esther looked up and couldn’t believe what she had done.  After browning the hamburger early in the morning for the sauce, she had poured some Top Job in the frying pan to help loosen the stuck on meat.  Later on in the day she had forgotten about the Top Job and poured the juice from the frying pan into the sauce.  I guess she thought the juice from the fried meat would enhance the flavor.  Well, it did the job, only now we had to throw out all the sauce and eat just plain spaghetti noodles for supper.  I don’t think we ever let her forget that “Special Sauce.”
Now that they have both died and are flying with the angels, I only have great memories of your parents.  I am so thankful that I had them for all these past years and will miss them a lot.  I want to thank you all for sharing them with my family and me.
Now may God Bless you at this difficult time and may God always keep them in our hearts.
I loved them very, very much. JKH

Wednesday, March 09, 2005

Wright News

03/09/2005

by Jennie K. Hanson March 9, 2005

Boy, these sunny days sure have been a Godsend.  It seems that even if the weather is cold, the sunshine really helps lift ones spirits.

Our sympathy is extended to Gilbert (Dawn) Kinnunen on the recent death of his mother, Aili Kinnunen.  Aili just celebrated her 90th Birthday on November 19, in Moose Lake.  Her funeral was held at Bethany Lutheran Church on March 5, 2005 with Rev. Hal Kamppi officiating.

The elementary school is again collecting food for the local food shelf. Mrs. Koenig’s 2nd graders will be collecting food March 7-18th.  The class that donates the most items will win a prize.

Firearms Safety Classes will begin on Tuesday, March 29th at 6 PM at the school. Instructors this year are Pat and Tyrel Messer and Pete Koenig. Call the school for more information.  Students must have turned 12 years old to participate.

The Cromwell Community Arts group is looking for local artists to come and share their work on April 30th at the 1st Community Art Show at the school. The event is intended to introduce all forms of art to our community, including performing arts.  Call Jeanne Weimer at 644-3953 or Sam Clark at 390-2974 to sign up.  The deadline is April 15th.

Wade Schultz and Courtney Messer are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Ryanne Rose, 7 lbs, 9 oz. on March 2nd, 2005.  This is the first grandchild for Bob and Marilyn Schultz and also for Courtney’s parents.

The ladies of Bethlehem Lutheran Church have met for their WELCA Meeting. Plans are underway for their Annual Mother-Daughter Luncheon on May 7th at 1:30 PM.  The featured speaker will be The Rev. Christine Anttila from the Twin Ports Ministry to Seafarers, Inc.  Remember all women and girls are welcome to attend this special event.

The next Lenten Service at Bethany in Cromwell will feature Sharry Waldriff on March 16th.  Soup supper at 6 PM and program at 7 PM.

Then on Saturday, March 19th at 7 PM, the Accord Brass Quintet Concert will be at Bethany in Cromwell. They will also perform at both church services on Palm Sunday, March 20th.

There will be a Chinese Musical at the school on March 30 from 2 - 3 PM. This musical will be presented by the Ying Zhang’s Greater Minnesota tour. Ying Zhang is an award winning Chinese composer and woodwind performer.  He has just won a McKnight Composer’s Fellowship and as part of that grant will perform in schools in our area free of charge.  This program will tell about the 9,000 Years of Music and Stories from China and will last about 50 - 55 minutes.  Thousands of school children throughout Minnesota have enjoyed Ying’s music and his amazing and rare instruments.  This is a rare opportunity for our students and I’m sure it will be enjoyed by all that see it.

The next Dance at the Cromwell Park Pavilion will be on March 24th at 1 - 4 PM.  The Fat Dutchman will provide the dancing music.

Bonnie and Doug Suhonen have returned from a trip to Ireland with Bonnie’s mother.  They report having a wonderful time and the scenery was just fantastic.

Don’t forget that there will be NO SCHOOL on March 21- 28 for Spring Break. Graduation is scheduled for May 27th.

I’ll close this week with the names and addresses or some of our local serviceman serving in the Middle East. Spc. Larson Robert, or Spc. Mowers, Seth, D/Co. 1-172 AR, APO AE 09852 ; Spc. Mowers, Trace or Trent, E. 216 ADA 1-184 Inf., APO AE 09364’ Robert Kedrowski, 9582, 530 1 Ave., Box K 271, Shepherd, TX. 76311; and MA3 Thom, Michael S., PCS 451 SEC., FPO AE. 09834-2800 Be sure not to use your own return address on these letters but instead put the Army National Guard address of 801 S. Hwy 33, Cloquet, MN 55720.  This is for security reasons.

That’s all the news from Lake Godblessourtroops and Hello to all the Lind’s, especially Melvin who is in the Moose Lake Nursing Home.