Tri-County News

Kimball Lions update


As I write this months Lion’s notes, I would like to honor our club for 40 years of service to the community of Kimball, and one person who is still going strong!

Our service projects from past to now include everything from building a ramp for someone who became wheelchair-bound, to building a fence for their child, to moving someone, to getting the  snow off someone’s roof, helping clear the way for Willow Creek Park and building the shelter, building a couple of  playgrounds in new developments, our Christmas programs, yearly clean-up at the shelter, and Kimball sign maintenance, just to name a few.

Donations have been made to Dollars for Scholars, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Food Shelf, school support (some of which were: Robotics, school trips, supplies for students who need help, and theater), people in the community facing hardships because of health issues, our 12 days of Christmas to 30 residents each year, and food and gift boxes for families at Christmas.

Yearly, we donate to Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation, Minnesota Leader Dogs for the Blind, Minnesota Can Do Canines, Minnesota Lions Childhood Cancer Foundation, Minnesota Diabetes
Foundation, MD5M KidSight  Foundation, 5M8 Youth Exchange Foundation, and Minnesota Project New Hope Foundation.

Proudly, we have one member still serving from the start-up of our club June 18, 1981: Ben Lutgen. I spoke with Ben about his service from the beginning. This is a little history, and how he feels about still being an active member in the club yet today.

The Kimball Lions were sponsored by the Fair Haven Lions with about 20 members from all walks of life, businessmen, farmers, and those that wanted to be involved in their community, like Ben. This group of men were sworn in to the Lions Club by Bill Landwehr. To this day, Bill and his wife Donna come every year to swear in our new officers and members. Ben has lived in Kimball his entire life except for the two years he served in the military in 1952 and ’53.

Ben met the love of his life, Adie, at the age of 47, he served on the Kimball Fire Department for 28 years, worked at Gannon Elevator for 32 years, and is still a Legion member for some 60-plus years, and still comes to many of our Lions meetings and events when he can at the age of 91; he will be 92 on Oct. 7.

Ben is very proud of his service to Kimball. I asked Ben what motivated him to become a Lions member; he said he lived in this community so he might as well be involved in the community. The next question was what he felt was important about the club and the community support it gives. Ben said the best part of being in the community is being involved in an organization that helps the community, the reward is seeing a smile or even a tear for just making someone happy. Ben said that the Lions organization is so involved in the community and service that people know who to come to for help. The Lions are not just involved with their local community but they’re state and worldwide, it’s just working with a great group of people who seem to get the job done whatever they do, even feeding breakfast to 2,500 people at the Stearns County Breakfast on the Farm.

I asked if he had any advice for our current members and those who may be thinking “how can I get involved?” His answer was to stay strong in helping where we can, and to those wondering how they could get involved in the community where they live. Talk to Ben; he wants to tell you why it is important to be involved in the community where you live and giving back. If you are not sure, he says come talk to me; I’ll share what I know.

Thank you, Ben for your thoughts and your commitment to the Kimball Lions Club.

We have been honored by three other men who have left our club this past year for health reasons or death. They have taught us, guided us, and showed us how to serve our community. They were Gene Gohmann, Carl Hoffman, and Dean Mozena. All three started with the Kimball Lions June 18, 1981. We are grateful for their guidance and dedicated service.

Submitted by Mary Knaus.

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