110 YEARS AGO

From Jan. 16, 1914

Mrs. Alfred Smedstad died at her home in the village Friday evening at the early age of 23. The cause of death was hemmorrhage at child birth. The little babe was dead when born and the mother died a couple of hours later. She is survived by her husband and two children, Anstes, 3 and Lester, 2. 

A couple was seen out for a moonlight stroll in Starbuck Sunday evening. Mighty cold, wasn’t it? 

A baby boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. Eilert Barsness Tuesday morning. Congratulations. 

Report of School District 92. Number of pupils: 18; Palmer Gorder received a certification of perfect attendance; Edgar and Ottar Flack, Rose Tessem and Paul Gorder attended 19 days. Constance Erickson, teacher. 

100 YEARS AGO

From Jan. 11, 1924

The Minnewaska Hospital Auxiliary, assisted by other generous organizations, will give a good, old-fashioned “Eatfest” at the Town Hall on Jan. 18. The menu includes Rommegrod and Rullepolse. The loyal and generous friends of the hospital have constantly shown their interest by cooperative participation in hospital activities for the betterment of service and equipment in this institution. 

High School notes by Thelma Sando: The High School Glee Club, under the direction of Esther Weikert will present an operetta “The Love Pirate of Hawaii.” The cast of characters include Cora Tollefson, Borghild Scheflo, Ruth Lee, Clarence Nelson, Irving Stenson, Grant Byhre, Orville Thompson, Sylvanus Tessem, Paul Gorder, Irving Helgeson, Erling Dyrstad, Clifford Schuetz, Albert Jackson, Lloyd Scheflo and Harold Walters.

A baby boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Torgerson on Dec. 28. 

A baby girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brandby on Jan. 6. 

90 YEARS AGO

From Jan. 11, 1934

Miss Ruth Berry, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Berry of Lowry, and Robert McMullen Jr. of Minneapolis, were united in marriage Dec. 30. Miss Myrtle Berry was her sister’s maid of honor, and the groom was attended by Douglas Kelly.

Arnold Dullum and crew are busy harvesting ice at the lake. Mr. Dullum is using a power ice saw this year, operated by an automobile engine. 

There are 547 C.W.A. workers employed in Pope County, happy in the opportunity to have a job to earn some real money for the first time in a long while for many of them. 

A baby girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Hans Mortenson on Jan. 4. 

A baby girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. John Lynch on Jan. 4. 

The Alexandria Red Birds defeated the Starbuck Vikings in the hockey game played last Sunday. Members of the Starbuck team are Goalie, C. Brevig; wings, L. Smedstad, Orv. Olson, L. Landmark, Harry Thorstad; Center, Short Aaberg; defense, C. Peterson and O. Thompson. Bob Thompson refereed the game. 

80 YEARS AGO

From Jan. 6, 1944

School notes, Dirstict 12. Six weeks period, Nov. 13 to Dec. 23. During the six weeks period, some of us have had the measles and some the flu. Allan Nygaard was the only pupil that had perfect attendance. Honor roll, all A’s Allan Nygaard. 4 A’s – Gladys Erickson, Casper Hegg, David Ranum, John Ranum. 3 A’s – Ralph Ranum, Ellsworth Erickson and Robert Kirkwold. Cora M. Brenden, teacher. 

Helen Lynch entertained 10 little girls after school Wednesday for her 10th birthday.  

Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Swensrud had their infant daughter baptized Sunday at Fron Church. She received the name Judith Ann. Sponsors were Mr. and Mrs. Hjalmer Hagen and Mr. and Mrs. Winfred Branch.

The Starbuck Bucks lost a basketball game to Morris Friday evening 28-21. Due to the tight defense that Morris employed, the Bucks could not work the ball in for close shots but missed many shots around the free throw line. Donny Hagen hit for two baskets from the corner to bring the Bucks within five points but we could not keep up the pace and Morris went on to win. 

Private Wallace K. Hoium, Starbuck, has arrived at the College Training Detachment of Davidson College, Davidson, NC for a course of instruction lasting approximately five months prior to his appointment as an Aviation Cadet in the Army Air Force Flying Training Command. 

70 YEARS AGO

From Jan. 14, 1954

Luverne Barsness is the new Starbuck salesman for Oldsmobile as announced by Rybak Motor Sales of Glenwood.

Miss Fay Ardith Zahrbok of Villard and Georde Hoium of Villard, were married Jan. 2 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Villard.

Linda Ilene Berge, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Berge, was baptized Sunday at the Berge home. She was carried by Mrs. Palvin Pederson, by proxy, for Godparents, Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Teigen of Seattle, WA. The sponsors were Mrs. Ella Gorder and Dr. and Mrs. John Merrill of Worthington.

Sally Louise, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Nordgren was baptized Jan. 3 at Fron Church. Sponsors were Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hawkinson and Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Nordgren.

Funeral services for Olney Christianson, 35, were held at Hoplin Funeral Home in Glenwood Dec. 18. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Pearl Thompson; five sisters, Myrtle, Deloris, Inez, Shirley and Gloria; and four brothers, Clarence, Wilfred, Junior and Harold. 

60 YEARS AGO

From Jan. 16, 1964

Dewey Barsness, who has been employed at the Starbuck Creamery for 19 years, retired Dec. 31. Mr. Barsness said he plans to continue to live on his small farm southeast of Starbuck, sit in his rocking chair, collect his social security and watch his crops grow. 

Friends and relatives visited at the Lloyd Olson home this past week and helped Marlyn celebrate his 4th birthday. 

The Ralph Henderickson and Clayton Erickson families were guests at James Halvorsons Saturday evening in honor of Sarah’s 4th birthday.

Funeral services for Rev. Gilman Lien, 77, of Minneapolis, were held at Barsness Lutheran Church Wednesday, Dec. 4. He is survived by his wife , Milla; a son, Leland, of Long Island, NY; and a daughter, Marilyn Wylie of Hutchinson.  

50 YEARS AGO

From Jan. 10, 1974

State lawmakers who convene in St. Paul next Tuesday for the 1974 “last half” session of the 68th Minnesota Legislature will find waiting for them a 64-page analysis of what they did, money-wise, in 1973’s “first half” session. 

The general economic conditions of this part of the county reached an all-time high during 1973 when figures released by the First National Bank in Starbuck revealed that deposits were up nearly $1-1/2 million dollars from a year ago. 

Construction is presently underway at the Mid-America Dairymen, Inc. plant in Fergus Falls for an overall conversion program into cheese manufacturing. Several months ago they were considering building in Starbuck. The local Business Development Committee was working hard to get it here and nearly did so. It would have been a big economic boost for this area. 

40 YEARS AGO

From Jan. 11, 1984

Funeral services for George Dahlquist, 80, were held at the Minnewaska Lutheran Church Dec. 23. He is survived by one brother, Eugene Dahlquist of Starbuck and two sisters, Hazel Dahlquist of Starbuck and Esther Person of Minneapolis. 

Ralph Ranum of Starbuck was named the chairman of the Pope County Board of Commissioners at the board meeting Jan. 3. Other county commissioners include Palmer Arsness, Granville Walburn, Arne Stoen and Arleigh Lund. 

Mr. and Mrs. Darrel Fredrickson of Lakeville are the parents of a son, Preston Scott born Dec. 20. Mr. and Mrs. Thorwald Johnshoy of Starbuck are the great-grandparents.

Funeral services for Francis Berhow, 66, were held from the Westside Wesleyan Church in Bristol, SD on Dec. 23. He is survived by his wife, Loretta; three sons, Bennett, Dick and Bruce; and one daughter, Judy.  

30 YEARS AGO

From Jan. 12, 1994

David Troen was honored by the Pope County Board of Commissioners at the monthly meeting in honor of his retirement after 34 years of service to the county as treasurer.

Funeral services for Lillian Norby, 70, of Keizer, Oregon, were held Jan. 12 in Keizer. She is survived by her husband, Sidney; one daughter, Bonnie Fallen of Salem, Oregon; and three sons, Allen of Albany, Oregon and David and Curtis of Keizer. 

Nathan Watson, a 6th grade student at the Starbuck Elementary School won the school level competition of the National Geography Bee held recently.

Kay Andrea Amundson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Amundson of Starbuck and Derek Peterson, son of Dr. Judd and Kaye Peterson of Glenwood were married Aug. 21 at Fron Lutheran Church. The couple will make their home in St. Cloud. 

20 YEARS AGO

From Jan. 14, 2004

Dr. Robert Bösl is spending a lot of time these days cleaning up around his yard and cutting down trees in the forest behind his house. He said it’s good emotional and physical therapy now that he’s not practicing medicine in Starbuck. Bösl’s contract to work for the Minnewaska Regional Health System expired Dec. 31, 2003, and was not renewed.

Commissioner Keith Naig was elected as the new Chairman of the County Board. Naig has been a county commissioner since 2001 and resides near Clontarf. 

About 15 people gathered during Monday night’s Starbuck City Council meeting with interest in the council’s comments on the future of local police protection. A proposal was made by councilman Steve Dinsmore late last year to disband the Starbuck Police Department and rely only on Pope County Sheriff’s Department for local police protection.  

10 YEARS AGO

From Jan. 15, 2014

Starbuck’s own Dr. Robert Bösl received the Country Doctor of the Year award presented by Staff Care, an AMN Healthcare company at an awards ceremony on Thursday, Jan. 9 at the Starbuck Community Center. Bösl was recognized during the ceremony for his dedication and commitment to medicine over the years. Coworkers and friends told stories of Bösl over the years and offered their congratulations. In his speech Bösl thanked everyone he’s worked with over the years, his family for their support and others. 

As one of its first orders of business for 2014, the Pope County Board of Commissioners unanimously elected Cody Rogahn, representative of District 5, as board chair. Larry Kittelson, District 1, was unanimously elected as vice chair. After the vote, Rogahn told the board. “Thank you for your trust.”

The Lowry City Council approved official business for 2014 at the meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Council member Virgil Coziahr was selected as acting Mayor in the absence of Mayor Dan Sutton. Lowry State Bank was selected as the official bank. Pope County Tribune as the official newspaper. Official insurance agency is Lowry Insurance. Jan Nordmeyer was selected as the city attorney. The mileage rate was set at 56¢ per mile for 2014.