Oh what a pile of momentous happenings we had this week! So many that we really shouldn’t bother with idle observations about the weather, except to say that it rained everywhere, which was good, and hailed in places, which was not good.

Now on to the momentous happenings, the first of which took place in Alexandria, SD on Thursday morning at the Carmelite Convent, where Sr. Magdalena of Jesus Crucified, in the company of a slew of priests, the Bishop of the Diocese of Sioux Falls, Bishop Paul Swain, her fellow sisters, all of the “Upland Trasks” except Stephanie, and a chapel full of assorted well-wishers from as far away as Ft. Collins, CO and Peachtree City, GA (no really) made her first profession of vows. With this vow she has sworn to fully live the life of a nun for three years, after which, if she and her fellow sisters desire, she will make her Solemn Profession. After the ceremony, all of the attendees could visit with Sr. Magdalena, who was made Mother of the Convent for the day (she gave the other sisters a ‘free day,’ which meant they could talk) and then eat brunch at the Community Hall. The “Upland Trasks” and several other friends, including Philip and Mary Kay Wilson, spent almost the entire afternoon visiting with Sr. Magdalena, and she even brought a keyboard into her side of the room to demonstrate the effect of her piano lessons. The “Upland Trasks,” who left Elm Springs at three o’clock Thursday morning, left Alexandria at ten-thirty that night and arrived home in waves between two and three Friday morning.

The Elm Springs Memorial Day Program was a well attended success Monday, with Dean Hackens being the principal speaker. Several people performed on the piano, and Gary Smith, being the most recent high school graduate in the community, won the WTL scholarship this year.

And Kellie Linn carted the Linn, Johnston, Pauley and Elshere children to Vacation Bible School at Prairie Bible Church Tuesday through Friday. VBS, coordinated by Mrs. Shelane Graham, culminated in a Friday evening program, which all of the parents attended.

The Marvin Anders’ and the Rod Anders attended the Wall Regional High School Rodeo Saturday and Sunday in Wall to watch Baxter and Dunbar compete. The Marvin Anders’ visited the new Brady and Lane O’Rourke residence near Quinn Sunday afternoon.

Doris Burke is happy to report that there’s “no warm air comin’ out of this refrigerator.” Clyde Arneson visited the Lawrence Burke residence for something cool Sunday morning.

Clyde Arneson additionally accompanied the Ryan Elshere family to the Casey Tibbs Matched Bronc Ride Saturday, where Ryan competed. We may as well continue with the Elshere news; young Braydin Eastman of Belle Fourche came home with the Elsheres Saturday night for a few days stay, and Carson Johnston visited Sunday afternoon.

Sandy Fields celebrated her Thursday birthday at home with Lynn watching the rain fall on the Belle Fourche river bottom. Thats a birthday present to a ranch wife. The Fields’ went to Rapid City Saturday to help Dean Aker celebrate his 80^th birthday, and they went to New Underwood Sunday to help Marvin and Lois Barber celebrate their 50^th wedding anniversary. Lane and Betty Butler visited the Fields’ residence Saturday night.

Cary Johnston and her girls attended a wedding shower for Lisa Marie Pflaumer, fiance of Clint Hammerstrom, at the Terry and Cheryl Hammerstrom residence Sunday.

The somewhat unlikely duo of Matt and Bridget Trask visited the Morris Linn residence Tuesday evening, where Bridget helped Matt retrieve something off of Morris’ computer. It’s Matt’s life, and it’s a strange one indeed. On Thursday, Shirrise, Kassandra, Cheryl Simons and Grandma Margaret went to Rapid City for appointments. Shirrise and Kassandra had supper at the Scott Simons residence before the Vacation Bible School program on Friday. And Sunday the Morris Linns attended a graduation reception for Central graduate Tony Curtis at the Gene and Marsha Pluth residence in Rapid City.

John Tines, Amanda Humphrey and baby Lainee Mae visited the Cary and Pam Tines residence for supper Monday night. Cary Tines was a Thursday morning visitor at the “Upland Trask” residence, and Morris Linn and Clyde Arneson were Friday morning visitors at the Cary Tines residence. On Sunday, Cary and Pam took a motorcycle excursion to Wall to visit Amanda Humphrey and baby Lainee Mae.

Julie and John Paul Trask and Patrick Wilson were Saturday night visitors at Al and Bridgets Castle.

John Paul Trask took a week and a half off from work in Wyoming to attend Sr. Magdalena’s first profession and help the “Upland Trasks” get some of the spring work squared away. It may have been appropriate that he chose this week to announce to his family that he will be joining the seminary this fall in the hope of someday becoming a diocesan priest.

Visitors at the “Upland Trask” residence during the week included Ray Olsen, Dave and Kandy Kalil of Rapid City, Danny Arneson of Red Owl, Bernie Scheer of Kentucky, and Patrick Wilson.

Matt Trask visited the John Wulf residence for supper Saturday night.

Philip and Mary Kay Wilson left Thursday for Brookings, where, joined by Amy and Mary Wolberg, they helped young Pam move across town. Pam has found summer employment in Brookings. On the way, as noted above, the Wilsons stopped in Alexandria to visit Sr. Magdalena.

Melvin and Dorothy Anderson attended the big feed at Ft. Pierre, and the Matched Bronc ride Saturday. Sunday afternoon, the Reverend Harold Delbridge, wearing his Rodeo Announcer Hat, visited the Anderson residence on his way home from the Wall Regional Rodeo.

And Melvin Anderson reports that on Sunday, Kenny Wilson and John Wulf motorcycled up to Spearfish to attend an Air Show which they found to be rained out. The two decided to salvage their trip with a visit to Deadwood, where Mr. Wulf managed to win a Cadillac. Possibly reasoning that he could not stuff his motorcycle into the trunk for the drive home, he opted for a cash payout instead.

The kind citizens say, “party at John Wulf’s house!”