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Waconia Dodge Chrysler Jeep

Highway 5 * 952-442-2010

Jay Swenson

Chanhassen 952-906-2405

Sue’s Album

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and fewer than a thousand words

at www.VictoriaGazette.com

The Victoria Lions We Serve.

Lake Auburn Moravian Church

Victoria * 952-443-2051

ABC Family Chiropractic

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To the Editor:

Congratulations on your new granddaughter and the miracle of a precious new life in your family. And thanks again for all the enjoyment and fun of the last issue of the Gazette for our family.

Jan Olinger

Victoria, Minnesota

To the Editor:

My beloved wife Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Bellert died Saturday, April 3rd, 2010. Betty and I first met when she was in the sixth grade and I, the seventh, in west central Ohio. My father purchased a farm next to hers.

Through the course of those early years, farmers working together was common. Our parents partnered in a thrashing machine. At harvest time, she age 13 and I at 14, would pitch the wheat or oat sheaves onto the wagon. Betty would pack the load. We would then drive the team of horses to the thrasher where one of our parents would be feeding the sheaves into the machine, the other unloading the grain. We would return to the field with the other team, completing the process all over again.

We were married April 23rd, 1952, working together raising a fine family of three sons and two daughters. Betty and I partnered in those duties as best we could. She was always supportive in my sales career assisting any way she could.

After returning from a regular day job, and now as Winter Texans, we began a new adventure that led us to places never imagined, producing country music entertainment and eventually reciting cowboy poetry.

Through the course of her illness and death, Betty received nearly 300 cards with notes of encouragement and prayers, some from folks we hardly knew. She was on numerous prayer chains across the country, Canada, and Mexico. God chose not to grace us with a healing miracle, but those prayers sustained her through her long trial -- she, never complaining, knowing all along that God was at her side. Thy will be done.

I miss her terribly, have an ache in my heart, and take comfort in knowing, as Cardinal Newman said, that death is not a separation but a preparation for eternal union with those we love, in the peace and joy of heaven. Betty was many things to many people. She was my wife, a mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and a friend to many. She was my best friend.

Thank you so much, Sue, for your beautiful music at Betty’s funeral Mass at St. Victoria.

Rich Bellert

Excelsior, Minnesota

To the Editor:

Hello, Sue. Feel free to share with anyone you might know about my son Lee’s deployment to Afghanistan, and about sending cards to military people. You cannot know how much it means for them to receive mail, any words of encouragement, and just hearing news about your families.

Lee’s tour this time is by far more dangerous than his time in Iraq. Your prayers will certainly be most appreciated. Please pass this on to your email addresses or face-book friends who might be interested, to your kids, businesses and organizations.

Even if individuals don’t personally know a soldier, they are sometimes willing to send their greetings of support. Veterans who have already served are often interested in connecting to those deployed.

The troops share care package items among their platoon, and greeting messages. Lee wanted everyone to know that he probably will not be able to send back letters at this time. Mail going out from the troops is sometimes delayed by two to three months, partially for security issues. However, mail and packages coming into the troops is steady. Their days are often some 28 hours long and in any free time they just try to get some sleep.

U.S. Marine Corp. Sergeant Lee W. Pieper serves with the 1st Platoon Animal Company. In September he was promoted to Tank Commander, Alpha Company, and in February he was promoted to Sergeant.

With this deployment to Afghanistan, Lee will serve as a Combat Engineer with his platoon in search of IED’s and additional explosives for route clearance. This is his second deployment.

Lee is a 2001 graduate of New Prague High School. His deployment will run through the end of November 2010. People who would like to send letters or items needed for troops in care packages, may contact me for details and updated address changes.

Mary Pieper 952-873-6781

Chaska, Minnesota

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