For rural young folk of the past, ‘coming home’ was much more than Friday night lights on the gridiron

by Kim Pederson
This content is for subscribers only. Log in or sign up for a free trial below.

This closeup photo of 1956 PRHS Homecoming Queen Donna Larson (Haugrud) radiates the natural beauty of young women and the elegance of homecoming coronations back in the day. Her simple crown and scepter made me smile, probably made by the art and home-ec classes. I recognized this young woman because she would marry Wayne Haugrud, raise her family here, and teach Sunday School at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pelican Rapids in the 1970s. I was in her 8th-grade class. She made me think the man hanging on the Cross might be someone I wanted to know better. Maybe that’s why I think she looks like an angel, or at least a fairy godmother.


You may also like:

John Waller III
𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝗦𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗣𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮...
A group photo was taken at the new Pelican Rapids trailhead, prior to a walk-bike event on the trail—including a session on roundabout safety in downtown Pelican Rapids. The event was spearheaded by Patrick Hollister, Partnership4Health—held during Pelican’s Homecoming festivities.
𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝖢𝗒𝖼𝗅𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗌, 𝗐𝖺𝗅𝗄𝖾𝗋𝗌–𝖺𝗇𝖽 ‘𝗌𝖼𝗈𝗈𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗂...
𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝖢𝗁𝖺𝗋𝗅𝗂𝖾 𝖫𝖺𝗋𝗌𝗈𝗇, 𝖦𝗋𝖺𝖼𝖾 𝖡𝖺𝖼𝗄𝗌𝗍𝗋...
Surfacing of Highway 59, north of downtown Pelican Rapids, was in high gear this week. Here blacktop is being applied by the Pelican Valley’s Riverfront on Main and Community & Life Services.
𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐖𝐀𝐘 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝖲𝖾𝖼𝗈𝗇𝖽 𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗉𝗅𝖾...
Speaking at the Fergus Falls Public Library on Oct. 1 were, from left, Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson, former Minnesota Lt. Governor Marlene Johnson, and Ashby Mayor Amy Johnson. Photo by Tom Hintgen
𝑨𝒓𝒆𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒛𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒂𝒚𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲...
From left, Arianna Hovland, Grace Backstrom, and Hazel Haugrud.
Homecoming volleyball match-up pitted Lady Viki...
Carlos Moreno, #12, takes the ball downfield for the Pelican boy’s soccer team against Hillcrest Lutheran Academy.
Vikings secure 3-1 victory over Hillcrest on Se...
𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬...𝖸𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗀 𝖯𝖾𝗅𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝗏𝗈𝗅𝗅𝖾𝗒𝖻𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗉𝗅𝖺...
Larry's