Staples Motley Area Community Foundation
IF/Staples Motley Area Community Foundation
​PO Box 101
​Staples, MN  56479
​smacf@ifound.org
​
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Profiles for 2010 Winners

Duane R. Lund Award for Lifetime Achievement

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Stan Carlson
There is not enough space allowed in the Staples World and the Awards Banquet Program to adequately describe why Stanley Carlson has been chosen this year’s Duane R. Lund Award for Lifetime Achievement recipient by the Staples Community Foundation.

Stan was born in St. Paul in 1942, to Clarence and Elizabeth Carlson.  Stan credits his work ethic and passion for music to his parents. However, there  just was not enough money for piano lessons. One of his favorite memories was  going along to square dances where his dad was a square dance caller. Stan relates that his dad was musical and played the harmonica. Stan’s bucket list includes learning to play that harmonica.

Stan studied music at Hamline University including beginning piano lessons. To this writer, that is awesome. He later earned his Master of Music at  Minnesota State University in Moorhead.

Stan came to Staples as a young choral music director in the fall of 1965, intending to teach here for a couple of years, then, move to another location.   Fortunately for Staples, Stan fell in love with and married the young business teacher, Diane Krumwiede. Together they decided Staples was the place they wanted to live and raise their two children, Lisa and David.
 
Stan was the Director of Choral Music at Staples and Staples Motley High schools from 1965 - 1999; the Director of the St. Cloud State University Men’s  Choir from 2006 - 2009; and has been the Director of the Staples Area Men’s Chorus since 1971, finally retiring from that position this spring following the  BIG SING.

He has been active in the cultural life of this community. He has served the Staples Motley Area Arts Council in various capacities for nearly 40  years, most recently as their concert programming chair. He leveraged his membership with the Arts Council and the Staples Host Lions Club to provide the  summer “Music in the Park” concert series. He was a member of Staples Community Foundation Board and is currently a member of the Staples City Council and president of Staples Host Lions’ Club.

Stan was recently inducted into the Minnesota Music Educators  Association (MMEA) Hall of Fame, being recognized for his incredible career contributions to music education in Minnesota. His accomplishments for this recognition are too numerous to list. The reader is referred to the archives of  the Staples World for a complete listing.

Stan said, “I am blessed to share my life with my wife, Diane. She is my partner and collaborator in both my professional and private life. I have had  parents who were supportive and who enjoyed music on a daily basis.”

Let it be said that Stanley Carlson is Staples own MUSIC MAN. Staples is proud of him and thanks him for all he has contributed to our children and community.

Stan was nominated for this award by Lee Jenkins and Jack Nelson as well as many others.
Submitted by Bev Nelsen

Citizen of the Year

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“For many, many years, Tom Kajer has been involved in the betterment of the  Staples community. He has been the driving force on the Old Wadena Historical  Committee; namely, making  permanent signs identifying all the various trees in  the park, construction of  the Bog Walk, active in the yearly rendezvous, and  also partaking in the
archeological digs. He was also very active in the library  fund drive, helping
to reach its goal. He has put in many hours of volunteer  labor at the Legacy
Gardens and has volunteered hundreds of hours in labor and  advice in the
restoration of the Staples Historic Depot. Tom really deserves the  Citizen of
the Year award”.  Those were the words written by Orv Meyer who nominated Tom
  Kajer.

Tom grew up on a dairy farm near New Prague. He attended the University of  Minnesota, earning a bachelors degree in agricultural education in 1961,  then  teaching vocational agriculture. Tom’s passion for international service  started  in 1962, when in joined the Peace Corps, one of the very first to serve in the  new organization. He was placed in Borneo. Following a revolt, he was  transferred to the British Honduras. Tom completed his masters in 1964, then  spent five years introducing  vocational agriculture to people in Kenya. He came  to Staples to teach  irrigation farm management and became director of the Irrigation Center in 1976,  serving until 1981.
International service once again beckoned Tom. In 1981, he went to Sri  Lanka for three and half years. In
1984, he was in the Philippines for three  months and Pakistan for three months.  He spent ten years in India with the  Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation. All  together, Tom spent over 17 years in ten  countries. He returned to Staples in  1996, and completed his doctorate. He  retired in 1999.

The most patient and supportive person in Tom’s life is his wife Lisa.  Married in 1973, they have
four children and seven grandchildren.

Since his return to Staples, Tom has continued involvement with Staples  Rotary, serving as International Committee
Chair; served as President of the Old  Wadena Society; vice-president of the Staples Historical Society working on the  depot restoration, clean-up and daily care taking; Friends of the Library,  raising funds to make it a reality; City
of Staples Planning and Zoning  committee for the past eight years; and the  Fishtrap Lake Owners Association  board. Tom also volunteers one day per month  for the Staples Food Shelf,  something he has done for the past ten
years.
Submitted by Jim Hofer

Youth of the Year

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Beth Hoyt
Arriving at Beth’s graduation party, we met someone just leaving. After chatting for a few minutes he said, “I’ll let you go see Beth now. Isn’t she just the most amazing young person you have ever met?”

We agreed and talked about her unique combination of good qualities and attributes. His parting comment, “It isn’t often young people take time for an old man like me. She always has a kind word and my day is better because of her.”

If you have been greeted by Beth, your day was probably better too. This is one of the many reasons that Beth is an outstanding youth in our community. 
Young and old are recipients of the Beth’s love and care.

Although Beth is not often in the limelight, she does many things for many people. She is one of the most caring people I know. She always has time 
for people, taking time to greet and converse even in her busy schedule.

Throughout her high school years Beth has been involved with Dollars for Scholars, choir, speech, Target Beyond, Peer Helper, Knowledge Bowl, fall 
play and volleyball. She was year book editor her senior year. Beth worked at  Ted and Gen’s part time and has also been a nanny.  Beth is an active member at Faith Lutheran Church, serving as Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher and Confirmation group leader. Beth is on the  youth committee and is active in the youth group. She has gone on five mission
  trips and continually finds ways to be of service to others.

With this personality it is no surprise that Beth’s plans for the future include working with children, possibly as a child psychologist. She will  become a student at Bethel College this fall. Her advice to other young people is to be involved in as many things as you can because that approach will help you in the future. Beth says even if you aren’t sure of something, give it a try.

When asked how she felt when she received her awards letter her  enthusiastic response “I was very excited” was said with a big smile. In her quiet and unassuming way, Beth finds the good in all  people. 
 
Submitted by Joyce Anderson

Chairman's Award

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Ray Garland

Dr. Ray Garland is just the sort of person one would want on their team,  committee; or in their family. He’s committed, hard-working, compassionate and  giving, well deserving of this year’s Chairman’s Award.

Ray has deep roots in the Staples community.  He was raised on the southside of Staples, graduated from Staples High School in 1952, married his high school sweetheart, Helen Amundson and raised four daughters.

Ray studied at Wheaton College in Illinois and then the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. After two years as a dentist in the U.S. Air Force he moved back to Staples, set up his dental practice and served his community for the next 39 years in a number of ways. Since 1963, he has been a Staples Rotarian where he has especially enjoyed
  helping students. He served on the Staples School Board for 13 years and was a part of building Centennial Auditorium.

He’s been a big part of the Boy Scouts program as a kid and as an adult, including as Scoutmaster with Troop 61 for many years.   “I liked that we were trying to help kids be somebody,” Ray said.  Kids like Guy Doud, Craig Williams and Chuck Page. Ray recalled that Craig and Chuck became Eagle Scouts while he was a leader.

Ray has been a member of Staples Alliance Church since he was a boy. He was on the board from 1962-2004 and served as Sunday School teacher from  1960-2000.  “I was really influenced by my Sunday School teacher, Dr. Bens,”  Ray  shared. Dr. Bens, a dentist, not only inspired Ray to pursue a similar career  path, but also encouraged Ray to attend Wheaton College, his alma mater.  Years  later, when Ray was a Sunday School teacher himself, he would have a  positive  influence on many kids, including Dawn Schimpp, who would attend Wheaton College  thanks to Ray’s encouragement.

Ray’s commitment to friends and family is an example to everyone. For the past several years, his wife, Helen, has suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease.  There probably isn’t a person in our town who hasn’t noticed Ray’s kindness and devotion to his sweetheart as he continues to care for her in every way.

Longtime friend, Gary Schimpp, said, “When we moved back to Staples in 1970, Ray and Helen Garland were the first to befriend us. We are still friends today.”

In addition to Ray’s community service, Gary has been impressed with Ray’s Christian faith. “He has impacted many over the years as he has shared his  love for his Lord Jesus Christ and lived it out as a husband and father,”
Gary  said.

Ray Garland was nominated by Gary Schimpp and Dawn Timbs
Submitted by Dawn Timbs

Organization of the Year

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Evergreen Hill Cemetery Board
and Staff




Board - Seated, from left are Betty  Haskin, Bud Haskin and Don Olsen. Standing, from left, are Phil Stone, Gary  Knosalla, Bob Reeck and Dennis Miller.  Not pictured: Rich Japke, Helen Riggs,  Charlie Mertens.
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Members of the grounds crew are led by Sexton Loren  Lanske and assisted by Steve Scribner, Jeff Scribner and Tyler 
McClure.       
It was early in 1904, when the Staples  Cemetery Association was formed. At that first meeting 13 people chose E. E. Greeno as chairman and C. A. Remillard as secretary. The corporate name chosen was Evergreen Hill Cemetery. On April 30, 1904, 10 acres were purchased from C. A. Remillard. 

The first person to be buried was a baby daughter of C. A. Remillard. An early settler, a Mrs. Eickten, was also  thought to be the first buried. After further research, the baby was buried in the Catholic reserved area, and Mrs. Eickten was laid to rest outside the reserved area.

Once established in May 1904, many of  the neighboring townships chose to rebury their dead in the new cemetery. In 1912, the G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic), Civil War veterans and W.R.C.  (Women’s Relief Corp) contributed funds for the purchase of a monument honoring  Civil War veterans. The monument was dedicated in 1919. The monument received a much needed restoration in 2009. It stands on a hill near the south side of the cemetery.

Today, the cemetery has grown to 40  acres. It is cared for by four dedicated grounds keepers. The board is
comprised  of trustees. Each year the board has quarterly meetings, including an annual  meeting. Their work and devotion goes by without notice by many. 
 
Members of the grounds crew are led by Sexton Loren Lanske and assisted by Steve Scribner, Jeff Scribner and Tyler McClure.

The board is made up of President Bob  Reeck, Vice President Rich Japke, Secretary Betty Haskin, other board
members:  Bud Haskin, Phil Stone, Don Olsen, Gary Knosalla, Helen Riggs, Charlie Mertens  and Dennis Miller.

From the nomination letter from Bev and Bruce Nelsen: “There are things we take for granted in  our community. We drive by the cemetery many times a day. Since the fence has  been removed around it, we often take notice of how beautiful it is, but we seldom think about the patience and dedication it takes to keep it that  way.

“To think there are over 500 tombstones within the cemetery that require individualized care each time it is
  mowed…we consider that to be a monumental task in itself. The grounds crew apparently must go around each monument with a weed whacker as they tend to detail.

“By this nomination, we thank them  for all the work they do to perpetually maintain the cemetery as a place of
  peace and beauty in Staples.”

Submitted by Don Flaten

Business of the Year

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Tower Pizza
From left are Albert Gorman, Jill Blessing,  Krystle Payne, Donald Hagenson,  Roger and Laurel Houselog, Jared Cowles,  Janice Mcnamara, Teresa Erickson,  Chelsea Hathaway, Ryle Jordan, Lynnea  Iverson and Dominic Emola.  Not  pictured: Leah Anderson and Lillie  Payne.

Roger and Laurel Houselog purchased Tower Pizza July 1, 2002.
In their nomination John and Linda Kopp wrote: “Tower Pizza has been a wonderful asset to our community for the past eight years. Owners Roger and Laurel Houselog grew up in Deer Creek and Verndale, respectively, and bring that friendly, small town attitude to their Staples business. Whenever you walk in the door, you’re warmly greeted with friendly smiles and wonderful aromas.”

Roger does many “behind the scenes” things. On Christmas Day he’ll deliver pizzas to staff at the hospital. On election night he’ll do the same thing for election judges. Whenever there’s a blood drive he’ll generously feed the volunteers. Dollars for Scholars, Relay for Life and Grad Blast have all been recipients of Tower Pizza’s generosity. Many people have received meals as they’re going through tough times like a death in the family or a hospital stay.

The young people who Roger employs benefit in so many ways other than tips and a paycheck. Each employee is given a scholarship when they graduate from high school and at Christmas each receives a bonus. They are freely fed during their shift and Roger truly cares about employees, showing grace and patience with each one.

What motivates Roger and Laurel is a serious effort “to serve the best product possible, whether it’s our food, service to our customers or our community. Another goal is to provide a safe and enjoyable working environment for all of our employees. We have employed dozens of people in our eight plus years and, as I have said many times, we have helped purchase a whole lot full of cars and many college credits.”

Both Roger and Laurel credit their parents for their attitude toward treating people. That is “to always try and do the right things and treat people the way we would want to be treated . . . We truly believe that owning a business in a small town is a great gift and we should do what we can to make life a little better for anyone who needs help.”

Roger concluded by saying, “I was told many years ago that you can’t be a nice guy and survive in business. I don’t believe this, nor will I stop doing things the way we do them or treating people as they should be treated, just to make more money. That is not the way we were raised. Thank you to the committee for choosing Tower Pizza as the Business of the Year. We will strive to live up to the billing.”

Submitted by Ken Klose