owned the biggest business in town, Pure Milk Company, (we just called it “the creamery”) for years and years. He sold it to Mid American Dairy in the 70s, it went co-op after that, but I believe it ultimately closed.

My relatives all live in the cities now. My grandmother lived in a retirement home in Minneapolis New Hope for years, but when she died she was buried out of Holy Trinity, and the place was packed. I think the pastor was surprised.

That was the last time I was there. It was October and snowed as we stood in the cemetary, a graveyard full of relatives, above and below the ground.