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News: Unity Town & Country Homes – Wins Award (1977)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Fisher, Keith

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 13 Apr 1977

Town and Country Homes of Unity received ninth place award for total sales in 1976, at the Tri-State Homes annual spring seminar held in Hurley. Jerry Fisher of Town and Country Homes received his award from Gil Keith, Tri-State Homes Field Supervisor for this area.

2

School: Abbotsford Middle School Spelling Bee Winners (Apr 1977)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Conrad, Venzke

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 13 Apr 1977

When a spelling bee was held last Wednesday at Abbotsford High School, Mike Conrad, a seventh grader, was the winner. Tamie Venzke, an eighth grader, was runner-up. Conrad will now compete at the CESA6 spelling bee in the Neillsville Middle School on April 19. Winner of the Neillsville contest will compete in the 1977 State Spelling Bee in Madison on May 7.

3

News: Clark Co. - UW-River Falls Dean’s List (Winter Qtr. 1976/'77)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Pinter, Schilling, Drier, Herrmann

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 13 Apr 1977

The following UW-River Falls students from the area were named to the dean’s list recently:

Jeffrey Pinter, Route 1, Abbotsford, Jan Schilling, Abbotsford, Carol Drier, Colby, and Allan Herrmann, Dorchester.

To be named to the UW-River Falls dean’s List, a student must earn a grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, or midway between an “A” and “B” average. A total of 149 students earned a grade point of 4.0, or straight “A” average during the winter quarter.

4

School: Colby H.S. FFA Wins State Contest (1977)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Bochanyin, Monness, Peissig, Bender, Koerner, Rau, Schilling, Haas, Kunze

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 13 Apr 1977

Nine Colby students competed in the State FFA Contests at Madison recently. In the ag mechanics contest, Colby place first out of the 46 teams. Team members were Lee Bochanyin, Ken Monness, and Eugene Peissig. These three will represent the state of Wisconsin at the Kansas City National FFA Convention in November.

Also competing were Dean Bender, Dan Koerner, and Wayne Rau in the dairy cattle judging contest. They place sixth out of 180 teams.

Competing in the farm management contest, but not placing, were Scott Schilling, Ron Haas, and Paul Kunze.

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News: Colby – Doctors Presented with Appreciation Plaques (17 Apr 1977)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Koch, Pfefferkorn, Wavrunek, Zenner

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 20 Apr 1977

Dr. Koch and Dr. Pfefferkorn were presented plaques of appreciation during the festivities held in their honor Sunday in Colby. Bernie Wavrunek, chairman of the day, presented a plaque to Dr. Koch for 25 years of service, and Jim Zenner, president of the Colby Chamber Commerce, presented a plaque to Dr. Pfefferkorn for 17 years of service.

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Obit: Ellenbecker, Arthur P. (1909 – 1977)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Ellenbecker, Schaefer, Heindl, Werner, Carlson, Nelson, Feldbruegge, Chotoff, Huss, Gruber, Ryan, Peter

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 20 Apr 1977

Ellenbecker, Arthur P. (16 Sep 1909 – 12 Apr 1977)

Funeral services were held Friday, April 15, 1977 for Arthur P. Ellenbecker, age 67, of Route 1, Dorchester, at St. Louis Catholic Church at 11 a.m., with the Rev. James Schaefer, pastor, the Rev. Arthur Heindle, Lime Ridge, and Rev. Francis Heindl, La Crosse, officiating.

Burial was in Dorchester Memorial Cemetery. Kraut-Maurina Funeral Home at Abbotsford was in charge. Pallbearers were Edward Werner, Lloyd Carlson, Jens Nelson, Frank Feldbruegge, Steve Chotoff and Norman Huss.

Mr. Ellenbecker died Tuesday, April 12, 1977 at Memorial Hospital in Medford, where he had been admitted on April 7.

He was born September, 16, 1909 at Athens, and he received his education there. He married the former Catherine Heindl on October 12, 1932, at Dorchester. They farmed in the Town of Mayville all their married lives.

He was a member of St. Louis Church, of the Catholic Order of Foresters, was trustee for the Colby-Dorchester branch of Catholic Family Life Insurance, and a member of the Dorchester Senior Citizens.

Survivors include his widow, three sons, Kenneth Ellenbecker, Abbotsford, Galen E. and Gary E., both of Route 1, Dorchester; one daughter, Mrs. Mel (Bernette) Gruber, Middleton; five brothers, Clarence Ellenbecker, West Bend, Alfred Ellenbecker, Menomonee Falls, Arnold Ellenbecker, Hales Corners, Joseph Ellenbecker, Milwaukee, and Bernard Ellenbecker, United; two sisters, Mrs. Leo (Margaret) Ryan, Lawndale, California, and Sister M. Peter, Milwaukee, and six grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one brother and two grandchildren.

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Obit: Ridderbusch, Carol (1928 – 1977)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Ridderbusch, Loehrke, Locks, Klieforth, Fierke, Sorg, Metz

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 20 Apr 1977

Ridderbusch, Carol (5 Jun 1928 – 16 Apr 1977)

Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 19, 1977 for Mrs. Dale (Carol) Ridderbusch, age 48, Abbotsford, at Christ Lutheran Church, Abbotsford.

Officiating at the 1:30 p.m. rites was the Rev. Kenneth Loehrke. Burial followed in the Abbotsford Cemetery.

Pallbearers were David Loucks, Brian Loucks, Bruce Klieforth, Randy Klieforth, James Fierke and Bobby Fierke.

Mrs. Ridderbusch passed away at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield, Saturday, April 16.

The former Carol Fierke was born June 5, 1928 in the Town of Holton, Marathon County. She attended Dorchester area schools and graduated from Dorchester High School in 1945.

She married Dale Ridderbusch on January 3, 1948, at Dorchester. They farmed in the Town of Holton until 1960, when they moved to Abbotsford. She was employed by Abbotsford Public School system from 1970 – 1977.

Mrs. Ridderbusch was a member of Christ Lutheran Church and was president of its Priscilla Guild. She was a member of the A.F.S. Adult Chapter at Abbotsford Public School.

Survivors include her husband; two sons, Alan, Salmon, Idaho, and Gary, at home; two daughters, Mrs. Jeff (Susan) Sorg, Kalispell, Montana, and Julie Ridderbusch, Salem, Oregon; two brothers, Donald Fierke, Stetsonville, and William Fierke, Du Bois, Pennsylvania; three sisters, Mrs. Charles (Betty) Loucks, Abbotsford, Mrs. Irve (Doris) Klieforth, Abbotsford, and Mrs. Dave (Marilyn) Metz, Sheboygan; two grandchildren, and her father, Victor Fierke, Abbotsford.

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School: Colby H.S. Forensic Winner (Apr 1977)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Mieritz, Benjegerdes, Heeg, Jochimsen, Weber

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 27 Apr 1977

Colby High School students competed in the spring speech contest at the UW-Madison on Saturday. Students and their ratings are: Craig Mieritz, B, in extemporaneous speaking; Joel Benjegerdes, A, in storytelling; Cindy Heeg, B, in interpretive poetry; Karen Jochimsen, B, in storytelling, and Steve Weber, A. in original oratory.

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School: Abbotsford H.S. – Badger Winners (Apr 1977)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Nikolay, Voge, Ridderbusch

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 27 Apr 1977

Beth Nikolay, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mel Nikolay, Abbotsford, was named Abbotsford High School Badger Girl. Kevin Voge, son of Mrs. and Mrs. Donald E. Voge, Abbotsford, and Gary Ridderbusch, son of Dale Ridderbusch, Abbotsford, have been named Abbotsford High School Badger Boys.

Miss Nikolay has been active in athletics, volleyball and track, forensics, newspaper, math club, National Honor Society, pep band and AFS activities. After high school, Miss Nikolay plans to attend college, but is undecided as to which career choice to follow.

The American Legion received two openings for Badger Boys State, therefore, two high school juniors will be able to attend the session in Ripon.

Voge has been involved in National Honor Society, Photo Club, and has been a pool lifeguard. He plans to attend technical school in the future.

Ridderbusch is active in baseball, football and basketball. He is also involved in AFS and drama Club.