Luverne Mammenga, 91 of Menno, S.D., died Thursday, April 6, 2023 at the Tieszen Memorial Home in Marion, S.D. A mass of Christian burial was held Wednesday, April 12 at St. Boniface/Idylwilde Catholic Church, rural Freeman, S.D., followed by burial with military honors at the church cemetery. 

Barbara “Barb” Jean Olesen, 73, of Turkey Ridge, S.D., passed away peacefully surrounded by family at the Sanford Hospice Cottage on April 9, 2023 after a brief courageous journey with cancer. A funeral service was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on April 13 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Hurley, S.D. Visitation was scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. April 12, also at the church. Interment will be at Spring Valley Lutheran Church Cemetery of rural Viborg, S.D, which overlooks the Turkey Ridge Valley and the Olesen Farm.

Challenger Joel Rempfer was the top vote-getter with 108 ballots cast in his favor and incumbent and current board president Jon Schempp was second with 79 in a close election among four candidates for Menno School Board Tuesday, April 11. Rempfer and Schempp will begin a new term this year. Challenger Jackie Vaith was third in Tuesday's election with 77 votes and Molly Huber drew 66 votes. Voter turnout was 16.5%, with 176 of the 1,066 registered voters weighing in.

These four candidates are vying for two spots in today's Menno School Board Election. Registered voters are hitting the polling place located inside the Menno Fire Hall from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Jon Schempp is an incumbent and Jackie Vaith, Joel Rempfer and Molly Huber are challengers. Results will be posted when they are tallied and made available later tonight.

For those waiting for that perfect spring day to arrive, the wait is over. Monday, April 10 is producing ideal weather on the backside of an Easter weekend that — while nice — was somewhat marred by wind and overcast skies. Not today. The sun is shining, the winds are calm and highs are expected to reach the low- to mid-70s. While the weather stays warm the next couple of days, winds are expected to increase Tuesday and Wednesday, and there's a chance of moisture heading into the weekend. In other words, enjoy this picture perfect Monday!

Blue sky over Valley View Golf Course late last week and a significant reduction in the amount of snow on the ground suggest a corner has been turned when it comes to the weather. Indeed, weekend highs have been in the 60s and the temperatures are only expected to warm in the days to come.

This photo was taken by legendary Freeman photographer Willard Waltner sometime in the 1960s and shows the campus of Freeman Junior College in the foreground and a strikingly baron landscape beyond. It was taken looking to the southeast, with the South County Road running diagonally across the top of the image.

Some of the 60-plus members of the Freeman Public track team stand on the sidelines cheering on others running for Viborg-Hurley junior Kobee Sherman as part of a "Run for Kobee" fundraiser Thursday afternoon, April 5. It came just weeks after Kobee was diagnosed with bone cancer and was made possible thanks to the support of local residents, businesses and organizations who offered to pledge money based on the number of laps run during a one-hour period — from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

A pair of Canada geese are on the move on the edge of Spitzberger Lake located one mile south of Freeman on the eastern side of Valley View Golf Course.

Maurice Waltner, who began his first four-year term as Hutchinson County Sheriff in January, is pictured in the county police pickup on Tuesday. Waltner was in Freeman for The Courier's 5-Minute Interview, which is published in the April 6 edition. Below is a sampling. To read it in its entirety, check out this week's issue available online to subscribers later today and in print tomorrow. The first three months have been … Exciting. Not overwhelming, but busy. What’s your department’s primary focus?