More details revealed from 50-year cold case By Jillian Kellerman A story was published in the March Runestone edition of Senior Perspective about Mortician Mark Lindsey of Alexandria and his part in solving a 50-year-old cold case in Page, ND. The original story can be found at www.srperspective.com/post/unidentified-body-found This photo was attached to the death certificate, showing the unknown man being buried in 1970. It was learned last year that the man was William H

By Carol Stender Fort Juelson was never tested in battle, but the ingenuity and pioneer spirit of those who built the sod structure draws visitors to the site, located two miles east of Underwood. This year Underwood celebrates the fort’s 150th anniversary with a one-day celebration on June 26. Delores Peterson, vice president of the Friends of Fort Juelson, calls the fort a “testament to the courage of those who constructed it.” Hans Juelson. From the collections of the Otte

Alex man has won multiple competitions across the US By Rita Kostreba Bill Johnson of Alexandria grew up on a farm in Carpio, N.D. He threw hay bales as part of his regular farming chores. Turns out, those heavy bales were nothing compared to what he would be lifting the rest of his days. Lifting weights has been a big part of Bill’s life and, lately, has even led him to national competition and recognition. Bill Johnson of Alexandria works out at Grand Arbor weight room seve

Ten of 20 siblings recount their bustling childhood By Julie Parent Maurine Mongeau met the love of her life, Francis Bleess, at a church in Blue Earth, Minn. Her father thought she was too young to get married. After finishing high school, he sent Maurine to a relative’s home in the state of New York where she lived and enrolled in secretarial school. When Maurine returned, she and Francis got married. Chuck Bleess, surrounded by nine of his siblings, holds a photo of his pa

WWII Navy pilot shot down days after his 24th birthday By John "Jack" Scott Haack Reprinted with permission from the Wright County Journal-Press and the Maple Lake Messenger Submitted by Maple Lake resident John “Jack” Scott Haack, nephew of United States Navy Pilot Ensign Jack Carl Fuller, and tells the story of Fuller’s arrival in March of 1945 on the USS Bennington, an aircraft carrier used by the US Navy during WWII. Fuller served on the front line during the Okinawa Camp

WWII nurse received Bronze Star, witnessed surrender ceremony By Faith Anderson Born on the Lee family farm north of Starbuck, Minn., Ruth (Lee) Veum grew up with the values of hard work and compassion woven into everyday life. Driven by a calling to care for others, she became a nurse, and during World War II joined the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. Deploying to the front lines in the Pacific Theater, Ruth provided care in the chaos of battle. Her bravery earned her a Bronze Star,

Life stories of Murray County Korean War Veterans By Gary Kass After The Allies complete victory in World War II, America arguably became the primary power in the free world and the only nation to have nuclear armaments. The nation shifted its focus from war to peace, growth, and the pursuit of prosperity. The armed forces were largely demobilized and all matter of military equipment was put in storage, sold, or just scrapped. Even as the Iron Curtain descended across Europe,

Willmar artist honored to create art to recognize vets By Scott Thoma As you enter the Willmar VFW along Highway 12, you are immediately taken in by a four-wall entryway mural, the work of Willmar artist Eva Margaret. The work to honor veterans was completed in May of 2021 and still is talked about frequently by veterans and patrons of the establishment. Former Legion members Herb Sharstrom, left, and Frank Wilkins, right, both since deceased, pose with artist Eva Margaret in

'Everyone had thought I was dead.' By Jennie Zeitler There are certain experiences that dramatically alter a person’s path. That is the case for Gary Mitchell of Breezy Point. Nearly 60 years ago, at the age of 27, he entered the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) with a friend and walked out alone a week later as someone entirely changed. “I went on a late-season fishing trip with a friend,” he said. “Our canoe capsized.” What followed was a week of survival that

'I love my country so much that I'll even die for her.' By Patricia Buschette Kenny Goodman of Stewart, Minn., tries to fit into his father’s WWII Marine Corps uniform with help from his fiance, Eileen McGraw, a day before Kenny left for boot camp. He was killed by a mortar attack months later while serving in Khe Sonh. Contributed photo On June 28, 1967, 150 young men and women were sworn in to the U.S. Marine Corps. The unlikely setting of the event, a televised pre-game ce

South Haven carver creates art whittle by whittle By Karen Flaten “It’s like a gift shop,” said Nancy, Wayne Nicoloff’s wife, pointing to the living room area of their South Haven house. She was not wrong. The living room and adjacent areas of the house were filled with carved wooden figures – on shelves, on side tables, coffee tables, and – especially the larger carvings – hanging on the walls as one might hang a painting. Wayne Nicoloff of South Haven with a few of his carv

Ex-Olympic biathlon athlete giving back to help kids find their (ski) paths By Carol Stender Battle Lake native Wynn Roberts is a helicopter pilot flying for both the ND National Guard and for Life Link III of Detroit Lakes, but there was another time he was flying high... with competitive energy and excitement. Roberts was an Olympian representing the U.S. in the biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. Battle Lake native Wynn Roberts is an Olympian. He rep

Accidental call leads to ‘unlikely beautiful relationship’ Submitted by Addy Wolfe of Moorhead Written by Den Bolda of Casselton If you’ve never heard about people who’ve met by accident, let me tell you how I made friends with a man in his final stages of life. You see, I live near the state line, and that means that people sometimes dial the wrong area code when making phone calls. It was just such an error that introduced me to Bob. As it turns out, I have the same telepho

Arlington woman, 89, started twirling in 1952; still twirls flaming baton every winter By Jillian Kellerman Marge Kloeckl of Arlington twirls a fire baton at Arli-Dazzle 2025. Marge was a majorette in the Winthrop High School band from 1952 to 1954. She started with the basic baton, and then introduced the hoop baton, flag baton, and later the fire baton. She taught baton twirling for over 20 years and still twirls the fire baton at Arli-Dazzle every year in Arlington, making

Redwood Falls official has been making calls for 50 years By Larry Magrath Wayne Cook of Redwood Falls has found his own particular season the last three years. As a sports journalist, umpire and referee, accumulating accolades have graced the life of Cook, a fixture of the state’s baseball diamonds, basketball courts, and gridiron. Wayne Cook of Redwood Falls with a plaque inducting him in the 2024 Minnesota Softball Hall of Fame. Cook has received recognition from multiple

Osakis man has been priest for 65 years By Joe Korkowski , The Church of St. Mary, Alexandria; published in The Central Minnesota Catholic; republished with permission Retired New Ulm priest Father Fink makes his home near Osakis. Fink is still serving in the area at age 90. Contributed photo Father Fred Fink is a thoughtful, kind, caring man who has put in countless hours in an effort to help his fellow man. As of Feb. 25, he has been a Catholic priest for 65 years! When loo

Long Prairie Post Office mural commissioned in 1939 during Great Depression By Tim King For the last nine decades, visitors to the Long Prairie Post Office wishing to do the common task of mailing an envelope have had the uncommon opportunity to view a large mural called “Gathering Wild Rice.” Lucia Wiley paints the 1939 mural “Gathering Wild Rice” at the Long Prairie Post Office. Contributed photo The large mural covers the entire wall above the door labeled POSTMASTER. It p

Boys & men come together for Christian camaraderie By Rachel Barduson A couple of the dad volunteers play guitars as some of the boys listen at a recent Dads and Lads event, held at Jerry McCrery’s woods near Henning. Men have been planning and holding it for 33 years. Contributed photos For 33 years, men in the area have been coming together to plan a unique event called “Dads and Lads,” designed to promote Christian camaraderie among men and boys of all ages. “Dads and La

Waite Park man has an eclectic collection by Bill Vossler Al Barth of Waite Park once bought several books from a cat in Massachusetts. “That was an odd place, a little garage in a small town in Western Massachusetts, where you enter, look at the books, and the proprietor was a cat. If you wanted a book, you put money in a slot in a box. Totally on your honor,” he said. Several collections are shown here, with Al sitting in front of Twins baseball caps, Twins paraphernalia, a

Fargo man, 91, finishes writing book a year after suffering a heart attack By Carol Stender Harold “Hal” Hase of Fargo wrote a book at 90. He had actually started it a few years before, but, when he suffered a heart attack, he was spurred to complete the book, “Wartime Soul Sisters: Anne Frank and Audrey Hepburn.” It’s not the first time he has authored a piece. Hase wrote for his college newspaper and book reviews for the Bismarck Tribune. He also authored “Who You Are: A Pe