Category Archives: Home Page

Buys Was in Vietnam During The Tet Offensive

Pictured: LeRoy received these three medals and a plaque for his service By Jill Fennema – LeRoy Buys enlisted in the United States Army when he was 20 years old. He signed up to be a clerk/typist in 1965, during the

2021 harvest: VARIABLE

Pictured: Todd Vis harvests downed corn west of Leota  last Friday. Farmers who have had to harvest flat corn have found it to be quite a challenge. Equipment is designed for straight stalks, not flat fields. Harvest is in full

Achterhoff Built Runways in England

James Achterhoff was drafted in the United States Army when he was just barely 20 years old. His parents farmed near Hardwick and he had graduated two years earlier from Luverne High School. He had three sisters and no one

Baker Follows Path to Germany

Gary Baker learned at a young age that sometimes we don’t get what we hope for, but in the end, what we do get is better for us in the long run. Gary graduated from high school in 1965. Early

Cornerstones of Edgerton – From Bowling Shoes To Spreading The News

A history of the building located at 804 Main Street, by Mike Drooger – The building on Edgerton’s Main Street that is now home to the Edgerton Enterprise, On the Farm, Main Street Printers, and Edgerton Electric, got its humble

Brands Built Roads In Thailand

Pictured: Ron Brands built roads in Thailand during the Vietnam War. He is pictured here at Main Street Printers where he is the manager and press operator. By Jill Fennema – Ron Brands was drafted at the age of 19.

Freedom Isn’t Free: Feikema Fought In Vietnam for Nearly a Year

John Brent Feikema was born to Frank and Irene Feikema in 1949. With several family members sharing the name John, he was known as Brent. Frank and Irene farmed near Leota. They had four children: Brent, Mary Beth, Milo, and

Ruiter Had 40-Year Military Career

By Jill Fennema – Dick Ruiter of Leota spent 40 years serving in the South Dakota Air National Guard (SDANG). He served from 1958 to 1999. He joined the SDANG in January 1958 with his friend, Ron Pronk.  They were

Drooger Retires From Summer Rec

Pictured: Gay Lynn Drooger sprays Pee Wee players on the afternoon of the end of the season tournament when everyone was getting hot! On Friday, July 23, GayLynn Drooger sat at a picnic table watching her last rec event of

Talsma Served in the Navy Seabees

Ray Talsma served in Vietnam as a member of the United States Naval Construction Battalion, or the Seabees. The name Seabees is a shortened form of “Construction Battalion” or “CB’s,” which became the Seabees. Ray’s draft number was 39, so