Thirty-three OHS seniors to receive diplomas this Sunday

Ortonville High School will hold its 140th Annual Commencement Ceremony this Sunday, May 24 at 2 p.m. in the Ortonville High School Gymnasium. Thirty-three OHS seniors will be receiving their diplomas.

Processional will be played by the Ortonville High School Band, under the direction of Carmen Zupfer. The Concert Choir, directed by Brooklyn Wellendorf will perform “Slipping Through My Fingers'” arranged by Grover for graduation.

Seniors in Concert Choir include Archer Dorry, Adeline Hartman, Jenna Haugen, Sawyer Henningson, Mikaela Johnson, Bailey Merritt, Alayna Nelson, Kirby Olson, Isabelle Thell, & Kyra Volkenant.

OHS Principal Trevor Keller will present the class of 2026. Diplomas will be presented by Ortonville Board of Education Chairman Brett Kaye and the OHS band will play the recessional for the graduates.

Guest speakers for graduation will be Language Arts Teacher and class advisor, Lisa Berdan and Business Education Teacher and class advisor Kim Johnson.

Valedictorian and Salutatorian will be announced this week, once all the grades are in for the graduates.

Class Colors are Baby Blue, Black and White and the Class Flower is White Carnation.

See inside this issue for graduate photos, sponsored by area merchants, as well as open house announcements for the graduates this weekend.

Local Veterans groups to host Memorial Day Services

Ortonville, Big Stone City, SD and Bellingham will be having Memorial Day services on Monday, May 25.

Ortonville

Big Stone Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #3964 and VFW Auxiliary Post #3964 will be having their Memorial Day program Monday, May 25, at 9 a.m. at the Ortonville High School Gymnasium. The Program will be held in the Ortonville School Gymnasium regardless of weather.

Parade of Colors will be provided by the VFW, VFW Auxiliary and Charlie Co. 1-151.

The OHS Band, under the direction of Carmen Zupfer, will perform the “Star Spangled Banner”, “An American Celebration” and “God Bless the USA”.

Master of Ceremonies for the program will be Dr. Al Ross. CPT Hope Hasslen will give the Memorial Day Address.

Pastor David Niemela will give the Invocation and Benediction.

Charlie Co. 1-151 will present the Rifle Salute. OHS sophomore Joshua Haugen and freshman Jonah Hartman will perform Taps.

The program will continue at Mound Cemetery for the decoration of the Monument, with Wreaths at the Big Stone Lake Pier by the VFW and VFW Auxiliary. Charlie Company 1-151, will salute the dead-here and lost.

Big Stone City, SD

Gertje-Van Lith American Legion Post 229 of Big Stone City will conduct Memorial Day ceremonies Monday, May 25. The ceremonies will start at 10 a.m. at St. Charles Cemetery in Big Stone City, with ceremonies to follow at Greenwood Cemetery and at Big Stone Veterans Memorial Park, located next to the Whetstone River on east Highway 12 in Big Stone City. Then they will travel to Douthitt Park in Big Stone City for a brief program and then to St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Alban Township. Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.

While Memorial Day is intended to honor our fallen, we should not forget those who have pledged to make the same sacrifice if called upon – the young men and women still serving in the United States and in more than 130 foreign lands.  All local citizens are encouraged to make a special effort to attend the ceremonies to honor veterans of past wars and as a way of showing their support for those still serving this Great Land.

Legionnaires are asked to assemble at the post clubrooms at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 23, to form a work detail to decorate veterans’ graves and again at 9:30 a.m. on May 25 prior to the ceremonies.

Bellingham

Bellingham will be having a Memorial Day Program this year starting with coffee and donuts being served at 10 a.m. at the Bellingham Community Center.  The program will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Community Center with  members of the Bellingham Legion, Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion participating.  Remarks will be given by Robyn Rademacher, Member of the Sons of the American Legion.  Reading of the Roster will be by Stan Olson and Mark Weber, members of the American Legion Post #441.  A moment of silence will be held follewed by Taps.  Everyone is welcome to Attend!