Wright/Cromwell News

02/11/2008

Wright/Cromwell News by Jennie K. Hanson February 11, 2008

I didn’t know if I would get any news to the papers this week as I just got back from a 7-day cruise on the Mexican Riviera.  I left last Saturday, the 1st, and flew to Los Angeles, California.  From there I went to Long Beach for an overnight in a motel and then onto the ship, the Carnival Pride, on Sunday the 2nd.  I was with a group of 24 women called the Cruisettes, which Bonnie Suhonen and her 3 sisters formed several years ago.  They go on a one week cruise every 4 years and this year I was lucky enough to be invited.  We spent the first 2½ days on the ship and then made one-day stops in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas.  Each of these cities were very interesting and different from each other.  The highlight of Cabo was the whale watching tour that I took with several others.  We got to see whales up close and got many photos of the gray whales.  These whales migrate from Alaska to the Mexican Riviera every year to have their calves.  We also saw some of the calves, too.

I was pretty anxious (worried) about going on a cruise, but it was really great and I would do it again in a flash.  Oh, I did get a little “seasick” on the first day, but the pills took care of that and then I was fine.

Those from this area that went on this cruise were Bonnie Suhonen, and her two daughters, Crystal Jordan and Erin Johnson, Mindy Hoover, Marion Larsen and myself.  It sure was great to meet all the others from the cities, too.  Now I have to come back to reality and face the weather here.  It was over 80 degrees when I left Long Beach and it was 25 below when I landed in Duluth.  That means that the temperature dropped 110 degrees in less than 8 hours for me.  But, Bob and Leo came to pick me up so the car was all warmed up, so that was great!  The only thing that’s really weird is that as I sit here typing, I feel like I’m still rocking on the water.  That should stop soon, I hope.

While I was gone, two of our long time residents passed away.

Nina Hart, 78, died on February 5, 2008 at the Villa Vista Care Center in Cromwell, Mn.  Nina had been very active in the community over her lifetime.  She had worked at the Co-op Store, the Lincoln Elementary School as a cook, and also volunteered many, many hours in her church, St. John’s Lutheran and helping with Wrong Days events, and many other community activities, etc.

Nina will be dearly missed by her loving children: son; Tim and his wife Gail of Floodwood, daughters; Victoria Addison of Colorado, Wanda and husband Dan Karppinen, Pamela and husband Bob Rahja of Floodwood, and 12 grandchildren and 10 Great – Grandchildren.  Her funeral was held at St. John’s Lutheran in Wright, MN on February 9, 2008 with burial at Lakeview Cemetery in Wright.

Richard Paul “Dick” Hotchkiss, 79, of Cromwell, MN, died on February 10, 2008 at Bayshore Health Care Center in Duluth, MN.  Dick will be missed by his wife, Betty of Cromwell; children, Kim (Phil) Bush of Newaygo, Mich., Sharon (Les) Houck of Cromwell, David Hotchkiss of Nashville, IN, Richard Hotchkiss, Jr, of Cromwell, Jamie (Dale) Palmer of Twin Lake, Mich., Carla (Mark) Hyrns of White Cloud, Mich., Robin (Chuck) Hill, of Muskegon, Mich., a brother; Jim (Teake) Hotchkiss of Apache Junction, Ariz., 25 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren.  His Memorial Service was held at Bethany Lutheran Church in Cromwell on Tuesday, February 12, 2008.

There will be NO SCHOOL on February 18th for President’s Day!  But if you are planning an extended Easter vacation, there WILL BE school on March 21st Good Friday.  This will be the make-up day for the severe cold weather day we had last month.

The next JUBILENT Service will be on February 20th at the United Methodist Church in Cromwell with Diane Hansen, Deb Switzer and Kathleen Entner.  Remember Soup Supper at 6 PM and services at 7 PM.

That’s all the news from Lake It’ssocoldhere (-30 Feb. 11th) and “Hello” to all the descendents of Nina Hart and Dick Hotchkiss.  Keep your memories of your loved one near and dear to you.  Take Care!