PRAIRIE RETREAT REPORT – Spring 2007

NOTE: (June 12, 2007) - If you have read the history of Prairie Retreat, you know that our dear friends Garry and Carrol Ohlsen have spent the last four summers working with us to build the beautiful deck (designed by Garry) at the Old Church and to do the siding on the Old Church and the Prairie House.  Last Christmas Garry learned that there is cancer in various parts of his body. Garry passed away on Monday, June 11.  Memorials may be sent to the Prairie Retreat in honor of Garry. His good nature and great workmanship will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

2007 began with a delightful 25^th wedding anniversary party for Curt and Eva.  We had our first catered dinner for them with 84 people attending.  It was a wonderful, loving celebration for family and friends with many special guests including Curt’s parents and Eva’s mother from Sweden.  Later in March, Ray’s new friend Brody brought a gift of 7 Royal Palm Turkeys to live at Prairie Retreat.  They are very friendly and try to impress everyone with their fine feathers.  Our #1 rooster, Mr. Feathers is rather put out by their displays, but has finally accepted their presence on HIS farm!

Our seminary intern from three years ago came ‘home’ with her husband for a short retreat.  Now Rev. Emily Goldthwaite Fries serves in Iowa.  We also enjoyed our Minnesota goose hunters during the early season.


The tulips were beautiful at the Prairie House and we enjoyed the children at church on Easter.  We now have 15 beautiful children at our home church in Bryant.






Our new baby chicks took a trip to the Bryant nursing home to the delight of the residents, and the new kittens have made a hit with the visiting children.




Our friends from James River Church in Huron joined by River Center Church of Pierre came for a two-day retreat and were challenged on their way home by heavy rains and strong wind.  We were happy to know they all made it home safely. 


Memorial Day weekend brought family to the farm, so we had help in planting the garden from our daughter-in-law and granddaughters, Ray and our son cut the trees that had died and we had time for the swing, running in the yard, looking in the chicken house and finding a caterpillar by the Old Church parking lot. We invited some lovely little ladies from our church in Bryant to a Tea Party at the old church.  Grandma Char made hats for everyone, we played dress-up, had story time and used Great-Great-Grandma Solberg’s tea cups for our festive day.

We also welcomed our first visitor from Trinidad!  Oosman had new experiences of staying in a farmhouse, riding a 4 wheeler and learning about our South Dakota culture.  We are looking forward to meeting more new friends throughout the summer.  Hopefully Ray and I will be able to replace the old windows on the east side of the Prairie House and our son has promised a weekend of work to help to finish the siding and new steps.

We continue to treasure your prayers, financial and physical help as we continue God’s outreach work for the Bryant Church at Prairie Retreat.

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Our goal is always to honor God and give praise in all we do at Prairie Retreat.