Porter Memory Book

2009

February 2009

Funeral Arrangements for Porter Resident Bruce Byers

Bruce Byers, age 51, of Porter, passed away on Friday, Feb. 20, 2009, in Hendricks.
 A memorial service will be on Monday, Feb. 23, at Birk Funeral Home in Canby at 5 p.m.  A remembrance will be held at 6 p.m..  For online condolences, please visit our website at www.birkfuneralhome.com.
 Bruce Robert Byers was born on Feb. 27, 1957, to Robert and Audrey (Engquist) Byers in Watertown, S.D.  He graduated from Windom High School and attended Worthington Community College.
 On Nov. 11, 1978, he was united in marriage to Linda Hecht in Windom.  To this union they were blessed with two children, Brenten and Michelle.  He previously held the position of President at the State Bank of Taunton.  He was on the Canby Hospital Board and was a volunteer firefighter.
 Bruce was a very creative person. He enjoyed writing, fishing, golfing, baseball, and softball.  He enjoyed listening to classic rock music.  His friends were very important to him and his work was his life in which he helped many people.  He loved his two dogs, Thelma and Lucky, but most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family.
 Bruce is survived by his wife Linda Byers of Porter; son Brenten (Beth Olson) Byers of Mankato; daughter Michelle (AJ Madison) Byers of St Paul, and their daughter Kaylin; his parents, Robert and Audrey Byers of Windom; sister Carol (Randy) Schroeder of Morgan, and two nephews Dan Schroeder of Mankato, and Kyle Schroeder of Morgan. 
 He was preceded in death by his grandparents.

Funeral Services for Porter Resident Doris Jacobson

Visitation, Prayer Service and Funeral Re-Scheduled due to Winter Storm

Visitation: 3:00 - 7:00 PM on Friday, February 27 at Bethel Lutheran Church

Prayer Service: 7:00 PM on Friday, February 27 at Bethel Lutheran Church

Funeral Services: 1:30 PM on Saturday, February 28 at Bethel Lutheran Church

Leave an online condolence.

Doris Jacobson, age 68, of Porter, MN passed away on Sunday, February 22, 2009 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD after suffering from unexpected complications in her home on Saturday, February 21.

Funeral Services will be at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 28, 2009 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Porter with Rev. Ellen Munter officiating. Visitation will be from 3-7 on Friday at Bethel Lutheran Church with a prayer service at 7 p.m. and continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Burial will be in Wergeland Cemetery, rural Porter.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Bethel Lutheran Church Heating Fund.

Doris Marie MacArthur was born December 11, 1940 in Canby, the daughter of Roland & Agnes (Schoephoerster) MacArthur. She was baptized and confirmed at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Canby. She attended rural country school and in 1958, she graduated from Canby High School. After high school, she attended lab school in Minneapolis and graduated in 1959. On May 31, 1964, she married Jule Jacobson at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Canby. Shortly after their marriage, she made her home with Jule on a farm north of Porter, where she resided until her death on Sunday, February 22, 2009 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 68 years, 2 months, and 11 days.

Doris worked for 38 years as a medical lab technologist first working for Dr. Pertl, and then at Canby Community Medical Center and at other area hospitals. Doris also taught at Pipestone Technical College, teaching new med techs. She was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church for over 40 years where she was very active in church activities. She was a church board member, past president of the congregation, taught Sunday school and confirmation, and she was also involved with the ELCA board that represented this area of the state. Doris was active in lay ministry for many years at area churches and was a board member of Thrivent Financial.

Doris was known for sewing handmade shower and wedding gifts, as well as making the baptismal blankets for all baptisms at Bethel, all of which became treasured keepsakes. She had a strong belief in giving, whether it was giving to those in need, to the ultimate gift of organ donation. Because of the gift of her organs, three recipients now have a new chance at life. Doris was an excellent manager of people and resources for work and volunteer efforts. Her laugh and sense of humor will be greatly missed by all. Doris always took time to notice and talk with others, and had a natural talent for making others feel special. Above all her greatest joy was her children and grandchildren.

She is lovingly remembered by her husband, Jule of Porter; two daughters, Andrea Jacobson (fiancé, Brad Weisbond) of Palatine, IL and Janelle (Ben) Meier of Shakopee, MN; two grandchildren, Cora & Evan Meier; sister, Mildred (Donald) Schweer of Milbank, SD; two brothers, Charles (Sharon) MacArthur of Zumbrota, MN and Glenn (Donna) MacArthur of Canby; two sisters-in-law, Mavis Anderson of Porter and Ardis Julian of Volga, SD. She will be greatly missed by her dog, Charmyn, and cat, Bettie Kitty.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers-in-law, Burnett Jacobson & Donald Anderson; father & mother-in-law, Berton & Lillian Jacobson.

Blessed be her memory.

Annual Porter Community Market Day Sale

This year's Market Day Sale will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2009. View the Sale Bill. Consignments will be accepted up to the morning of the sale.

Porter Resident, Velda Speight,  Passes Away at Age 72

Long-Time Porter Resident, Doris Melrose, Passes Away at the Age of 92

Doris Marie Melrose
(June 8, 1917 - July 9, 2009)

Roger DeVos Family Benefit

There will be a benefit on Saturday, July 25 for the family of Roger DeVos who passed away on July 10, 2009 after a very short battle with lung cancer. The benefit will be held at the Porter Community Hall from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. There will be food, events for the kids and a live auction at 3:00. If you cannot attend the benefit and would like to help out there is a benefit fund set up at the State Bank of Taunton.

Vacation Bible School at Bethel Lutheran

Vacation Bible School will be held July 27 - 31 at Bethel Lutheran Church and is completely open to the public. Session will be held nightly from 6:00 - 8:00 PM with a short program held on Friday night. All children through grade school are welcome as well as high school students for volunteer help. Simply bring your children to Bethel Lutheran Church on Monday, July 7 at 6:00 PM to enroll them.

Porter Harvest Festival

The planning for the 2009 Porter Harvest Festival is beginning to wind down. This year's festival will be August 14, 15, and 16 and promises to be full of great new events as well as the return or the classic events that make Harvest Festival the perfect family event year after year.

Porter Harvest Festival 2009 Main Events Lineup

Omelet Breakfast Information

Bed Race Information

Bean Bag Tournament Information

Porter Trailduster's Horse Fun Show Information

Bethel Ice Cream Social Information

Medallion Hunt Information

Watch this site daily starting Monday, August 10 for our 4th Annual Medallion Hunt Clues! Medallion Hunt Clues can also be heard on Radio 1400 AM, KMHL of Marshall between 8:00 and 9:00! Only the Medallion Hunt Clue for the day will be displayed on this site and heard on the radio, you must check this website or listen to the radio every day to get the clues, they will not be repeated or posted the next day.

Rules: The medallion is hidden on public property and no destructive activities are required to find it.

If you find it call Becky Noyes: 296-4535 or Kim Jelen: 296-4606

The Medallion was found at noon on Saturday on the Porter Auction Grounds directly behind the Bonnie Ehlers residence in a cow pie.

 Medallion Hunt Clues for 2009:

The 2nd Annual Tractor Show was a huge success.

Urgent Travel Advisory - 12/24/2009

The State of Minnesota and Local Weather Reports have issued a urgent advisory on this morning. Though roads may look safe to travel as of the early morning hours, the conditions will deteriorate in an instant as the core of this very dangerous winter weather system approaches Southwest Minnesota. SW Minnesota will still see the brunt of the storm as far as accumulating snow fall is concerned. Winds will also increase during the morning hours quickly creating blizzard conditions. Once the main part of the storm reaches us it is expected that travel even in towns will turn impossible through mid-day to end of day on Saturday, December 26. MN DOT advises no travel this morning through the end of the day Saturday. Though roads do remain open, they may close at a moments notice to ensure the safety of the public. If closure gates are shut on roads and you should go around them you are putting your life in your own hands.

Road Conditions and Weather Announcements are always available at www.portermn.org by clicking the appropriate link directly below the "Porter Headlines" title bar at the top of this page.

Major Winter Storm to Hit Porter for Christmas

A major Winter Storm System is predicted to hit the Porter area beginning Wednesday, December 23 and lasting through Christmas Day. Anywhere from 8 to 16 inches of snow is being predicted to fall during the 3 day period with the possibility of Blizzard conditions. Travel safely this Christmas and check www.portermn.org frequently for weather and road conditions. Weather related announcements can also be accessed through our homepage. Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season.

12/23 Weather Updates from KSFY: South Dakota Governor declares a State of Emergency December 23 through 26. South Dakota Travel Conditions Interstate and Road closures expected as soon as the evening of December 23.

Porter-Canby Areas of Minnesota can expect more than 16 inches of snow by Friday morning, with up to 4 additional inches of accumulation by Saturday morning.

Christmas Eve Services at Bethel Lutheran

The public is welcome to celebrate Christmas on December 24 at Bethel Lutheran Church. The open worship service will begin at 5:30 and open table communion will be served. Weather related messages will be posted to this website if conditions cause cancellations or rescheduling of services.

Winter Storm Totals

The Winter Storm that shut down the Porter area from December 23 through late December 26 has left the community with 24 inches of snow. Depth reports from the surrounding area ranged from 15 to 26 inches. The cleanup from the winter storm will likely continue on Monday and Tuesday as we prepare for the arctic chill that is now moving down from Canada.

Porter Post Office Now Accessible 24 Hours a Day

As an added convenience to PO Box renters, the Porter Post Office Lobby is no open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to allow access to your mail box whenever it is convenient to you. PO Box renters have always enjoyed the security of knowing that their mail is in a safe place during the day and when they may be unable to pick their mail up for an extended period of time due to a vacation or business trip from a mailbox outside their home, and now they have access to their mail whenever they arrive in town. Theft of mail is a leading cause of identity theft, think of the information included in your month credit card statement or bank statements and not to mention when new offers are sent to you in the mail. Having your mail safely stored at the post office is just an added step in helping keep your identity safe. If you are interested in renting a safe and secure PO Box from the Porter Post Office you can inquire with the Postmaster during the service windows normal business hours: Monday-Friday: 8:45 - 12:00 and 1:00 - 3:45 and Saturday: 9:15 - 10:30.