Sheyenne News: December 23, 2024

Thursday evening, Dec. 12, Jeff and Denise Labrensz traveled to Mobridge, S.D., to attend the funeral for Jeff's aunt on Friday forenoon; always sad but sharing time with relatives and friends helps to ease that sadness. From there, they traveled to Bismarck for some shopping and spent the night, returning home late Saturday evening.

Jan Loe and Steph were in Fargo one day last week.

Peter and Patti Larson were Eddy County delegates to the State Farmers Union Convention on Friday and Saturday at the Bismarck Event Center. Professors and guest speakers covered topics including grain market trends, impact of technology and innovation, ag strategies and risk. Break-out sessions included Farm Bill status, property tax reform/relief legislation or a class to make a winter centerpiece.

National Farmers Union president Rob Larew talked about challenges and opportunities. Elections were held to fill state positions and select delegates to the national convention. Velva native, Mark Watne, was re-elected president.

A youth convention was held simultaneously, culminating with the Torch Bearer ceremony and member banquet. Ty Jerrel, son of Billie and Jody Larson, rural Sheyenne, received his 2024 Torch Bearer Award. He is a senior at NR-Sheyenne School.

On Sunday, Dec. 15, Jeff and Denise Labrensz attended their grandson Jase Pfeiffer's Christmas program at First Lutheran Church in New Rockford.

Patti Larson attended the Kvernes Lutheran Church Sunday School Christmas program on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 15. Later, Patti, Dianne Hanson, Irene Cudworth and Darlene Kolstad delivered Christmas Cookie plates around Sheyenne. Highway 281 was slick due to a mist in the air.

The Trail Riders 4-H Club, Shirley Myhre, Tiffany Munson and Stacie Cleveland made over 125 kuchen at the Open Season Lodge this past weekend as a fundraiser for their club. Part of the proceeds went to the Hegland family to help with Piper's medical appointment expenses.

Sheyenne celebrates community year round and especially throughout the holiday season.

The Sheyenne Community Quilters meet monthly at Grace Lutheran Church parish hall. Some of the quilts are given locally to families through the Joy of Christmas baskets every year. This year, nine quilts were dropped off at First Lutheran Church in New Rockford for those in need.

Every year for decades, families of First Lutheran Church, Sheyenne, have baked and delivered cookies to area residents at Christmas time.

This year, volunteers met at the parish hall to put together 60 plates of goodies. One bunch goes to Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd and Heritage House in New Rockford, one car delivers around Sheyenne and one travels to our rural Sheyenne and Oberon neighbors. Three plates go to Devils Lake for our former residents.

Last year, Sheyenne GRIT started an annual event to be held every December 21. Volunteers gather at the Sheyenne Senior Center just before dusk on the Winter Solstice to light luminaries to put along Main Street bringing light to the longest night of darkness. The community remembers our loved ones no longer with us for the holidays.

The light also shines for anyone who struggles with health issues and other concerns. Hot cocoa and snacks at the Senior Center after the luminaries are lit provide a chance for residents to support each other.

Sheyenne celebrates Christmas through the children's Sunday School program every year. First Lutheran hosts the 11 a.m. service this year on Dec. 22 and will serve lunch following the program. Our gratitude to all parents and teachers who put together a message of hope through the story best shared by our youngest community members.

For more than 10 years, Sheyenne community volunteers have put on a full turkey dinner on Christmas Day from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Ostby Hall. This event was started because we realized that some neighbors didn't have family to share a meal with. This celebration of community brings a lot of friends together every year, whether it's baking, cooking, serving, eating or cleaning up. Everyone shares the joy of the Christmas season.