Porter, Minnesota - Photo Album

*Porter Memory Book* *2008*
February 2008 Major Regional Employer Ousts President and CEO The Schwan Food Company, the largest employer in the Marshall area announced on Thursday, February 7 that President and CEO, Lenny Pippin will be leaving the company effective immediately according to a press release from Schwan. Chairman of the Board, Alfred Schwan, brother of company founder Marvin Schwan, announced that Greg Flack, president of Schwan's Global Consumer Brands, will assume all duties held by Pippen as well as maintaining his own duties as the company begins it's comprehensive search for a new President and CEO. Pippin was hired by Schwan in 1999. For more details visit www.theschwanfoodcompany.com Goose Pit Bar SOLD The former Goose Pit Bar location which closed in late 2007 has reportedly been sold to former owners Mike and Mary Wente ran the bar as Cut Loose Lounge and sold the bar in 2005. More details will be reported when available.
March 2008
Cut Loose Lounge Returns The Goose Pit Bar has been sold back to former owners, Mike and Mary Wente, who have reopened the bar under its former name, Cut Loose Lounge. The bar was official reopened for business on Friday after a floor to ceiling cleanup and freshening. More improvements are planned as the business gets back under way. Funeral Services for Porter Resident Robert "Bob" Speight Robert “Bob” Speight, age 70, of Porter, passed away on Monday, March 17, 2008 at the Sanford Canby Medical Center. Memorial Mass was Wednesday, March 19, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Canby with Father Tony Hesse as celebrant. Military Honors were provided by Porter American Legion Post 457 and Canby Military Honor Guard. Inurnment will be in the St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery in Canby at a later date. Robert Charles Speight was born on July 11, 1937, the son of Arthur and Martha (Zinda) Speight. He attended Porter school and Canby High School. He was in the Army from 1956 to 1960 and served in the Korean War. On June 8, 1963, he married Velda Henney in LaCrosse, Kan., and to this union two daughters were born, Pam and Tonya. He worked for Stake construction for many years and also the telephone company in Canby and Farmington for 29 years. He started his own business of tree moving, tree stumping, chipped stumps and laid sod and he also owned the filling station in Porter. Bob collected old Buick cars and Ford tractors and antique horse drawn equipment. He was involved in the Doodlebug Club. Bob is survived by his wife, Velda of Porter; his two children and their families, Pam (Lyndon) VanDeVeire of Canby and their three children: Melisa (Jason) Lick and their two children, Nathan and Jayden; Jamey VanDeVeire and his daughter, Ashlynn; and Kari VanDeVeire; Tonya (Brandt) Wynalda of Chartsworth, Calif., and their daughter, Grace, and they also have another child due in April. He is also survived by four siblings: Rosemary (Silas) Olson; Jerry (Neva) Speight; Katherine (Robert) Hoffman; and Jeannie (Roger) Bresser; many nieces, nephews and close friends in the Porter and Canby area. He was preceded in death by his parents, Martha and Arthur; and an infant brother.

Annual Porter Market Day Sale The date for the annual Porter Market Day Sale has been set for Saturday, April 19. For immediate information needs please contact John Cornell at 507-223-7220. Check back to www.portermn.org for more information as it becomes available.

July 2008
Funeral Services for Long Time Porter Resident Thomas "Tommy" Jelen
Thomas Matthias Jelen, 52 of Porter, passed away June 28, 2008, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, July 2, at 10 a.m. at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Canby with Father Tony Hesse officiating. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 1, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. at Birk Funeral Home. Family Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the Funeral Home on Wednesday. Burial will be at St. Leo Catholic Cemetery in St. Leo. Birk Funeral Home in Canby is in charge of the arrangements. Thomas Matthias Jelen was born on Feb. 10, 1956, in Clarkfield to Joseph and Elizabeth (Kloos) Jelen. He was baptized and confirmed in St. Leo. He attended Catholic School in St. Leo and High School in Canby, where he graduated in 1975. On Oct. 9, 1993, he married Kimberly Lynn Cook at St. John Cantius in Wilno. To this union one beautiful daughter Megan was born. He was a member of St Cyril Methodius Catholic Church of Taunton until its closing and was in the process of becoming a member of St Peter's Catholic Church of Canby and belonged to ABATE. His favorite pastimes were spending time with his wife & daughter, family, friends, traveling, his dog Mojo, wrestling in High School, motorcycles, fishing, hunting, and poker. Tom worked for McLaughlin & Schultz for 20 plus years. He is survived by his wife, Kim Jelen of Porter; their daughter Megan Jelen of Porter; seven siblings, Ronald (Linnea) Jelen of Crosby, Leroy (Susan) Jelen of of Lakeville, Dan (Jerrie) Jelen of Savage, Evelyn Fossum of Richfield, Mary Lou (Duane) Gustafson, of Wyoming, Joseph (Paige) Jelen, of Farmington, and Janice (Karl) Johnson of Queen Creek, Ariz.; one Godchild Richard Fossum and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.

August 2008
Porter Harvest Festival Recap The Medallion was found Friday morning by Megan Sumption! It was located underneath the old deck at the former Porter Coop Oil Bulk Fuel Building. Click for Clues Congratulations to King James and Queen Sylvia Pridal, who were crowned Friday Evening to begin the reign over Porter for the next year. Full Line-up of Events Musical Performances Bean Bag Tournament Information Do you have photos of Harvest Festival Events? Email them to josh@portermn.org with caption descriptions and they will get posted to the Porter Harvest Festival Webpage!

November 2008
Porter Election Results: Statewide Recount Underway on MN's US Senate Seat. less than 0.03% (720 votes) separate candidates in race. First and foremost, voter turnout in Porter was phenomenal. Of the 109 registered voters in Porter 91 cast ballots, which is 83.4% voter turnout. Mayors Race (non-contested): Don Verschelde received 77 of the votes City Clerk(non-contested): Eric Dybsetter received 84 votes City Council Member Race(non-contested): Pat Vlaminck received 82 votes Barack Obama won Porter in the Presidential race with 50 votes. John McCain received 38, Ralph Nader 2 and Cynthia McKinney 1. Obama swept the elections in Porter, Yellow Medicine County, the State of Minnesota and later the nation. The US Senate Race went to Al Franken receiving 40 votes to Norm Coleman's 37 and Dean Barkley's 16. The statewide race is still too close to call. Collin Peterson received 69 votes to return to the US House over 21 for Glen Menze Andrew Falk won the State House election with 49 votes over Mike Bredecks' 42 votes Porterites also favored the Minnesota Clean Water Constitutional Amendment with 51 votes for it and 40 votes against.

< Return to Porter Activities and Projects

Webmaster: josh@portermn.org