Category Archives: Home Page

Arp Joined Air Guard Right Out Of High School

By Jill Fennema – Greg Arp made the decision to join the military when he was still a young man, before he even graduated high school.  His grandpa, Dick Ruiter had served in the Air Guard for 41 years. He was

Abbink worked on HAWK missiles in Vietnam

Pictured: Former Edgerton resident and Vietnam veteran Ron Abbink. By Jill Fennema – Ron Abbink received his draft notice in September 1965. He was dating Gail Ebsen, whom he had met at the Hiawatha Roller Rink in Pipestone.  After graduating

After A year In Vietnam, Vander Lugt suffered with Bubonic Plague

On February 5, 1969, Les Vander Lugt enlisted in the United States Army. He was 20 years old, one of six children born to Pete and Margaret Vander Lugt of rural Chandler. Les enlisted after going to Dordt College for

Vis Farms Embraces Three Generations

Pictured: Jared, Cole, Todd, and Garv Vis, with Cole’s German Shepherd, Rip. They are pictured here with one of their trucks, in the shop on Highway 75. By Jill Fennema – Farming is more than a job. Farming is a

It’s National Ag Week!

Pictured: Some students from Southwest Christian High School took their tractors to school last week Wednesday. Town was rumbling with the sound of a tractor parade from 7:45 to 8:15. A photo of the students who participated is on Page

Suffering Through The Navy Helps Pastor Atsma Serve His Flock

Pictured: Pastor Seth Atsma and his wife Jennifer and daughter Anika. Seth served in the United States Navy for 8 years. Pastor Seth Atsma, who has been serving the Chandler Reformed Church for the past 3 years, is also a

Busman Studied Everything From The Ocean Floor To Solar Storms

By Jill Fennema – John Busman’s military experience really had nothing to do with war and everything to do with engineering and data collection. John graduated from the Chandler High School in 1965. He went on to South Dakota State

Menning Saw The World From A Navy Destroyer

By Jill Fennema – Victor Menning graduated from Edgerton Public School in 1980. “Everyone said I should go to college, so I did,” he said. He really didn’t like school, but he went to college at Northwestern College in Orange

Van Dam Served At Naval Base In California

Pictured: Marv Van Dam worked in the bake shop and the yeoman’s office while in the navy. By Jill Fennema – Marv Van Dam, the son of Henry and Eva (Van Ruler) Van Dam, received his draft notice in October

DeJongh Served At Sea

Pictured: LaVonne and Virg De Jongh were married in the midst of Virg’s years in the navy. They are pictured here at their graddaughter’s wedding. By Jill Fennema – We have told our readers about a group of young boys