10/26/2005 – News
Volume 122, Number
Harlow native earns honor for work with disabled
Judy Lysne remembers growing up in Harlow. Her friend Richie Britsch was born with a developmental disability, but what did she know of that at five years old? She didn’t understand why he didn’t attend the two-room schoolhouse with her. Common thinking at the time was that people with disabilities could not learn. Because her parents, Magnus and Junice Lysne, accepted Richie and were friends with his parents, she knew this was shortsighted and just plain incorrect.
In 1973, Lysne took her belief in the abilities of those who are disabled to the nonprofit organization Lifeworks Services and she has been blazing trails ever since in Minnesota and internationally. Building on Lifeworks’ passion for innovation, she has initiated supported employment, giving a community presence to people with disabilities.
Her visionary leadership of Lifeworks Services, a nonprofit organization supporting people with developmental disabilities in jobs, volunteering, art and music and education, was recognized as she was given the first annual Brian C. Barenscheer Award for humanitarian service by the American Bank Foundation on October 7.
Brian C. Barenscheer, who died in 2004, was chairman of the board of American Bank. He was known for his caring concern for his employees and for the communities in which they lived and worked. He co-founded the South St. Paul Education Foundation and the American Bank Foundation.
"Judy Lysne exemplifies all that Brian believed," said John Seidel, president/CEO and trustee of the American Bank Foundation. "Judy’s enthusiasm, dedication and conviction have been instrumental in the enormous contribution Lifeworks has made in its 40-year history, enriching the lives of people with disabilities and the lives of those they touch."
"Judy brought the bank and its employees to a new perception of disabled adults by encouraging us to hire them to work in our bank. They are phenomenal, inspirational employees and they have changed us and our culture."
"Unemployment of disabled people is four times the national rate," said Seidel. "This should be a big concern not only of business but of the entire community."
Judy Lysne joined Lifeworks in 1973. She started as a teacher in Lifeworks’
preschool program. Then she moved into administrative positions where she could build the capacity of the nonprofit to fulfill its mission. After serving as co-president with Jim McCaul, she assumed the president’s job in 2000.
In her 32 years with Lifeworks, she has focused on the abilities of people with disabilities. She knew the answer was not sheltered workshops but real jobs in the community.
Never a sheltered workshop, Lifeworks learned how to place people with developmental disabilities in jobs in community businesses and then train and support them on the job. In 1985 when the first five people were employed, they earned $840. By 2004, through Lifeworks, 593 earned $3.74 million working in more than 200 Minnesota businesses.
Lysne was a leader in lobbying for a change in the way counties supported families of children and adults with disabilities. In 2001, the legislature made it possible for families of children and adults to control their own budgets for services. Those families began to hire family members, neighbors, or friends to support them.
The Lifeworks Customized Support Services team guides the support manager (the individual, family or guardian) through the process of hiring, training and supervising staff and manages the formal employment relationship. This brings more continuity in the care and improves quality.
Lysne is entrepreneurial. When the economy softens and jobs are more difficult to find, Lifeworks increases opportunities for those it serves with retraining, life enrichment programs, art and music programs and volunteerism. A painting created by one Lifeworks artist was recently selected to be in a juried art show. The walls at the Lifeworks center are covered with art created by those it serves.
For years, Judy Lysne and her husband, who also works with disabled people, have hosted officials from Denmark who have come to observe and learn from the success of the supported employment program. Denmark has always provided excellent support for people with disabilities and their families but until seeing Lifeworks was never convinced that supported employment could work.
"I can understand the skepticism both here and abroad," said Lifeworks board chairman Steve Wexler. "When I was at Norstan one of my staff suggested bringing Lifeworks in. I was a big skeptic but after seeing the capabilities of people with disabilities and watching how well they integrate into an organization, I became totally supportive. The Lifeworks clients become an inspiration to the employees and actually made us more efficient as well as improved our company’s morale. It is my goal to convince more businesses to be involved in supported employment."
Harlow native Judy Lysne, left, is president and CEO of Lifeworks in Mendota Heights, Minn. She is pictured with John Seidel, president and CEO of American Bank. She holds the first annual Brian C. Barenscheer Award which was presented to her October 7. She is a 1969 graduate of Leeds High School.
Children receive quilts
The Minnewaukan pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classes received quilts made by the Trinity Free Lutheran WMF ladies. The ladies made 19 quilts for the students to use for rest time. Thelma Thompson donated much of the fabric and she also arranged quilt days at the church. Several other ladies from the church helped with sewing and tying the quilts. Left to right, front row, are pre-kindergarten students Breena Alberts, Tia Brien, Eric Thompson, Ian Morin, Jaylen Greywater and Kylia Longie. In the back row are Alexis Driver, Destiny Hager, Aiyanna Smith and Jasmine Lohnes. An additional photo appears elsewhere in this issue.
Minnewaukan kindergarten students with their quilts are, left to right, LaShae Martin, Donovan Wind Jr., Tiffany Thomas, Bryer Erickson, Joran Redfox, Nicholas Greywater, Skyla Cavanaugh and Brenn Alberts. See photo and caption on the front page.
A-E-E takes on North Central Benson in football playoffs
It was playoff time for Class B 9-man high school football teams on Oct. 22 in the state of North Dakota.
Berthold-Our Redeemer’s was at Westhope-Newburg, Rolla-Rock Lake was at Divide County, Mott-Regent was at Washburn, Wilton-Wing was at New Salem, Hillsboro was at Napoleon-Gackle-Streeter, Edgeley-Kulm was at Richland, North Central Benson (Leeds and Minnewaukan) was at Adams-Edinburg-Edmore, and Dakota Prairie was at Tri-County.
Adams-Edinburg-Edmore was a tough matchup for the North Central Benson Raiders in many ways. Defensively the Spartans were solid, they had team speed and they were bigger than NCB.
A-E-E was the No. 1 seed from Region 3 in the playoffs. NCB finished second in Region 5 behind Tri-County. Tri-County is at number 4 in the 9-man polls.
NCB sported a 7-2 record heading into the playoffs and A-E-E advanced to the playoffs after going 6-2 in the regular season. Both teams have enjoyed success in recent years.
The two teams were certainly no strangers to each other. This was the third meeting between the two teams in the past 11 games each has played. The last two times the teams have met it’s been at Leeds.
The Spartans ended the Raiders’ season 42-30 in the second round of the state playoffs in 2004 and handed them one of their two losses (a 32-14
defeat) in their second game of the season earlier this fall. A-E-E made it to the semifinal round last year before eventually bowing to New Rockford-Sheyenne 30-22.
Greg DeVillers from the Grand Forks Herald has highlights and a score from the game:
Ball control is a little overrated for the Adams-Edinburg-Edmore football team.
In the first half in Edinburg, North Central Benson ran 26 offensive plays, just five fewer than A-E-E. But the big-play Spartans held a 50-0 intermission lead en route to a 50-8 win in the first round of the North Dakota 9-man high school playoffs.
During one stretch, the Spartans’ offense ran only six plays — and scored five touchdowns.
"We’re explosive," A-E-E coach Jerry Leingang said. "But something like that, it doesn’t happen every day."
Said NCB co-coach Mike Callahan: "Nothing they did surprised us. What surprised us was the ease with which they did things."
Both Johnson and Jonasson rushed for more than 100 yards in the first quarter. Johnson finished with a career-high 185 yards while Jonasson had 105. He didn’t play after hurting his knee on a punt return late in the first half. He’s expected to be ready for Saturday’s quarterfinal game against Tri-County.
"They were keying on Jerry a lot," Johnson said. "That left me open. The holes were there. Our line did a great job."
The blocking unit of center Adam Kendall, guards Nick Bylin and Michael Evenson and tight ends Laxdal and Torre Tagestad was a big factor.
"We’ve done pretty well defending the run lately," said Callahan, whose team was hurt by an early injury to top running back Keith Bowman.
"Jonasson is a threat to score any time he touches the ball. And their line just manhandled us."
North Central Benson scored on a R.J. Darling-to-Michael Tofsrud 55-yard pass in the fourth quarter.
"Our defense played a tremendous game," Leingang said. "That was probably our best defensive game of the year. Our line played well, offensively and defensively."
With the Spartans’ quick-strike ability, the blockers didn’t have to be on the field a lot.
NCB 0 0 0 8
A-E-E 26 24 0 0
A-E-E: Johnson 45 run (A. Kingery run).
A-E-E: Johnson 55 run (pass failed).
A-E-E: Jonasson 39 run (pass failed).
A-E-E: Jonasson 48 run (run failed).
A-E-E: Laxdal 62 pass from J. Kingery (A. Kingery run).
A-E-E: Johnson 60 run (A. Kingery run).
A-E-E: A. Kingery 1 run (Tagestad pass from A. Kingery).
NCB: Michael Tofsrud 55 pass from R.J. Darling (Cody Biby run).
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: NCB – Michael Tofsrud 4-43, Danny Harkness 2-9; A-E-E – Johnson 9-185, Jonasson 8-105, A. Kingery 9-48.
Passing: NCB – R.J. Darling 9-20-1, 144 yards; A-E-E – J. Kingery 2-3-0, 69 yards.
Receiving: NCB – Michael Tofsrud 3-71, Ben Grann 2-35, Reid Haagenson 2-22; A-E-E – Laxdal 1-62, Tagestad 1-7.
The state playoffs is what every football team shoots for at the beginning of the season and the North Central Benson Raiders of Leeds and Minnewaukan were glad to be participants. Left to right, back row: co-coach Mike Callahan, Michael Tofsrud, Casey Gullickson, Nik Severson, Cody Biby, Ben Cline, R.J. Darling, Keith Bowman, Derrek Leapaldt, Danny Harkness and co-coach Jeff Manley. Middle row: Taylor Ritterman, John Lunde, Reid Haagenson, Collin Boyles, Tanner Larson, Travis Myklebust, Eric Schlieve and Ben Grann. Front row: Dallas Welch, Chris Tofsrud, Dustin Paulson, Cameron Leibfried, Jay Baker, Kyle Britsch, Daniel Luhman and Brendan Tarang. Not pictured are Darnell Bellanger and Jeremiah Masterson.
Mrs. Erickson receives 40 year membership award
The Evening Stars Family, Community, Education Club (Extension Homemakers Club before 1992) celebrated its 40th year with an open house November 9,
2004 at the Maddock Memorial Home. The first meeting of the club was held Nov. 9, 1964.
Pictured are charter members. Darlene Erickson is seated. Standing left to right, are Gloria Kallenbach (former member), Cheryl Arnold (former member), Alice Engkvist (charter member with interrupted membership) and Shirley Smith. Before joining the Evening Stars, Shirley held membership in the Hesper club.
Following the FCE Annual State Conference held Sept. 30-Oct. 1 in Minot, Darlene received a 40-year member certificate.
Members of the club in 2004 and 2005 are Darlene Erickson, Alice Engkvist, Shirley Smith, Carol Backstrom, Priscilla Backstrom, Sally Campbell, Bonnie Hagen, Addie Mathison, Janet Olson, Rita Sorlie, Eileen Vetter, Marie Wil-liams and Karen Woyen.
Red Hats donate
The Red Hatters from Maddock donate money they collect from those who show up each Wednesday at Maddock Cafe & Lanes. The second quarter of 2005 they donated $110 to the Maddock Swimming Pool. The third quarter they donated
$115 to the Maddock Ambulance Service. Collections for the fourth quarter will go to the Maddock Sharing-Caring Tree. The Red Hatters meet for coffee and wear their red hats and red apparel. Left to right, standing, are Jean Mosser, Ardyce Ellingson, Deb Jacobson, Ruth Wallin and Mavis Arne. Seated are Wanda Terpening, Deb Haugen, Phyllis Rehling and Carol Pederson.
Bags nice buck
Ten-year-old Seth Bisbee, son of Charlie and Tamie Bisbee of Leeds, got this nice buck while bow hunting.
Youth group to sell pumpkins
The Maddock Lutheran Parish Youth Group will sell pumpkins of all sizes through Halloween. Sales will take place Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to
6 p.m. at the North Viking Lutheran Church in Maddock. Proceeds will go toward a trip next summer to the National Youth Gathering in Texas.