|
Bertas Funeral Home Chaska * 952-448-2137 |
|
CORNERSTONE Insurance Agency David Barsness * 952-448-5028 |
|
Lake Auburn Moravian Church Victoria 952-443-2051 |
|
Southwest Christian H.S. 952-556-0040 |
|
Christ Victorious Lutheran Church Just south of Victoria * 952-443-2993 |
|
Wayne Neubarth Victoria 952-443-1910 |
|
CLICKSTART 952-902-2014 |
|
Headlines and bylines |
|
Front Page Feature Story |
|
From the Editor |
|
Addie’s Drawing |
|
Letters to the Editor |
|
Victoria Moments |
|
Hook Line & Sinker |
|
Calendar of Events |
|
Click here to Advertise |
|
the Gazette |
|
Return to Home Page |
|
Order paper Gazette |
|
Notes and Quotes |
|
The Scoop at City Hall |
|
The Oil Patch Continued |
|
Dedicated to the sunshine of truth, the moonshine of meeting deadlines, and the starshine of Victoria. |
|
But in no time at all, Tioga was changing. “It was getting pretty busy downtown with all the worker men and activity, so we decided to move out to our farm,” said Jenny. Stated Chris, “We wanted to get out of town. The kids were at the age where they didn’t want to ride their bikes and cross the streets anymore -- there were blind spots -- and they wanted four-wheelers and BB guns and a dog.” “We had bought this eight-acre farm site in 2010,” he said. “We rented it out to Oil Patch workers for a couple years, to a company that slept 10 to 12 guys in the house plus I put up a 30 amp service for three RV’s out here.” The rent was very good but it was soon time to make it their own home. It was February 2012 when the Norgaards moved to the farm. They sold their home in downtown Tioga for more than they had into it. This editor clings to many fond memories of their home on Torning Street as though it were yesterday. Didn’t I paint most all of the walls upstairs and down? Didn’t Allan install all the drawer and door pulls on the cabinets? Didn’t we celebrate Addie’s First Communion and open presents there with my mother and roast marshmallows in the backyard? Out at the farm, the grocery store is now two miles away rather than two blocks away. Jenny has two chest freezers and a second refrigerator so easily stocks up to minimize trips to town for groceries. Their big garden at the farm also helps stack shelves and fill the freezer. Christopher does much of the planting, cultivating, and harvesting of the garden. Jenny does much of the canning and freezing of the vegetables. The Norgaards’ country home is spacious and surrounded by mature trees and evergreens, which is unusual on the mostly barren Tioga landscape. In the past two years, Chris and Jenny have knocked out walls and remodeled and upgraded the kitchen and the kids’ bathroom in big ways. They vaulted a ceiling in the foyer, laid hardwood floors throughout the first level, and reroofed the house. This spring they will re-side the house, add stonework, and replace the deck. Construction contractors are not as scarce today as in 2008. Country living in the Oil Patch brought other amenities to their life. There is a barn and outbuildings and yard space for Christopher and his stuff -- a semi trailer, backhoe, snowplow, snowmobile, trucks -- plus Addie and Gunnar’s four-wheelers and free range for Goliath. Goliath is their Newfoundland, a favorite fifth family member whom they purchased as a pup two years ago from a litter in northern Minnesota. A fun sidenote, Goliath and Jenny speak the same language. He also loves Christopher, Addie, and Gunnar but it is Jenny whom he protects like a jealous boyfriend. If we don’t want a 150-pound black bear look-alike meeting us eye to eye, with his paws up on our shoulders, we don’t hug Jenny in front of Goliath. Life is very full for the little girl who was raised in Victoria, Minnesota. Jenny still works as a private contractor for 3M in Information Technology but prefers her work for St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Tioga where she has set up a bookkeeping system and is currently developing their church website. Jenny was hired as the church secretary. St. Thomas is celebrating it's centennial this spring and Jenny is busy making and coordinating plans for the big occasion. She also initiated and takes care of the Little Bell Ringers at Masses, teaches Sunday School every week, and serves as a Eucharistic Minister. ***
|
|
The Victoria GAZETTE |
|
March 2014 |
|
The school bus drives right onto their farm yard to make its roundabout turnaround. Addie and Gunnar love school. |
