Exeter-Milligan Girls Struggle Against Meridian

Exeter-Milligan traveled to Daykin to play Meridian on Tuesday night.  The girls JV lost to an aggressive Meridian team and the varsity game didn't get any easier.  The EM girls were down 10 points at the half but came out hot nearly evening the score but fell back losing 26-33.

 

Obituary : Blondie M. "Blondie" M. Erdkamp

 

Eleanor Mae “Blondie” Erdkamp was born to Theodore and Krista Christensen on July 13, 1931 on the Cooper farm in Grove Township, Adair County, Iowa and passed away on January 15, 2022 at Heritage Crossings in Geneva, NE at the age of 90 years, 6 months and 2 days. She was one of 13 children in the family.

Blondie grew up on a farm north of Menlo, Iowa and attended grade school in Menlo and Stuart, Iowa through the eighth grade and graduated from Stuart High School in 1949.

Blondie was baptized at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lincoln in January of 1951.

Blondie was united in marriage to Richard E. Erdkamp of Exeter, NE on January 20, 1951 and to this union 8 children were born. The number 8 was a pretty significant number in the Erdkamp household. Five of the eight children were born on the eighth day of the month and her husband Richard passed away in 1987 on December 8th.

Richard and Eleanor lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Omaha, Nebraska and Burress, Nebraska before settling in Exeter, Nebraska where she would spend the rest of her life until moving into Heritage Crossings Assisted Living in Geneva in 2011.

Blondie belonged to St. Stephen’s Catholic Church and was a member of St. Stephen’s Altar Society. Her greatest joy was cooking and baking for her family. She was a marvelous cook and a fabulous pie maker. Her children were many times greeted with homemade treats after a long day at school. She loved traveling to California to spend time with her brother Jack and his wife, Carolyn. Blondie kept books for her husband’s construction business and after Dick’s death, she worked at the nursing home in Exeter as a nursing assistant. You could also find her helping out at the Exeter Lumber Yard at times. She always had a big garden and enjoyed the fresh produce that was grown.

Blondie was preceded in death by her parents, Theodore and Krista Christensen, her husband, Richard E. Erdkamp, her father and mother in law, Leo and Anna Erdkamp, 4 sisters, Edythe, Opal, Ruth (Peggy), and LIllian and seven brothers, Leroy, Wesley, Glen (Lindy), Virgil, Verle Leland, and Orville (Pete). She is survived by her sons, Richard (Marcia) Erdkamp of York, David (Pat) Erdkamp of Exeter, Dale (Julie) Erdkamp of Exeter and Paul (Becky) Erdkamp of Exeter, daughters, Krista Egging of Lincoln, Peg (John) Becker of Exeter, Mary (Tom) Bristol of Maryville, TN and Joni (Wade) Harre of Exeter. Her brother and sister in laws, Jack and Carolyn Christensen of Fremont, California and Ron and Wilma Spoerl of Longmont, Colorado. She is also survived by 22 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren, and 2 great, great grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

EM Boys Split at MUDECAS

Exeter-Milligan Boys lost their first game at the MUDECAS tournament to Diller-Odell. (22-53)and had to wait until Friday where they met Lewiston and won easily 69-34.  Congratulations to Draven Payne for his selection as a Honorable Mention on the MUDECAS B Division all tournament team.

 

Exeter-Milligan FInishes Second in MUDECAS B Division

The Exeter-Milligan Timberwolves and the Bruning Davenport Shickley Eagles were tied at the half at 21 but struggled in the second half and came out the runner-up in the B Division at the MUDECAS tournament.  Final score 33-46.  Congratulations to Emma Olsen and Cameran Jansky for their selection to the MUDECAS all tournament teamand to Jasmine Turrubiates for her selection as an honorable mention.

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Death Notice: Eleanor M. "Blondie" Erdkamp

 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Blondie on Thursday, January 20, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Exeter, Nebraska with Father Brendan Kelly presiding.

Praying of the Rosary will be held prior to the mass at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 20, 2022 at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Exeter, Nebraska.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Farmer Funeral Home in Exeter, Nebraska.

Graveside Services will be conducted following the funeral mass in the Exeter Cemetery in Exeter, Nebraska.

Memorials are to be directed to the Alzheimer's Association or to St. Stephen Catholic Church.

Exeter-Milligan School Board Discusses Loss of Ag Teacher

 

Exeter-Milligan School Board met in Exeter on Wednesday, January 12 for a regularly scheduled board meeting. 

The board opened with signing an oath of office and a conflict of interest declaration before electing officers. A motion passed to retain the current officers, Adam Erdkamp as President, Eric Milton as Vice President, Secretary Dan Kallhoff and Treasurer Kendra Jansky.

After approving the treasurer’s report and December meeting minutes along with January expenditures Superintedent Paul Sheffield gave a brief update on the topic of cooping sports with Friend.

He explained that in his discussion with Friend Superintendent Derek Anderson the district was open to cooping all sports and activities except volleyball and basketball.  He also reported that the Friend school board voted to dissolve the interlocal agreement for the ag teacher.

Erdkamp meant what this would mean to Exeter-Milligan students and Sheffield explained, “So we will not have an ag teacher.  According to the bylaws of the FFA, to be a member, students have to be enrolled in some sort of an ag class.”

He added that Anderson reported that “they needed her on sight for more classes at Friend.”

The board discussed several options for students who want to participate in FFA including using distance learning or transporting students to Friend for classes.

Erdkamp opted to table the coop discussion until the board could have another work session.

Track coach Brian Murphy asked the board for a “decision made prior to the school year starting otherwise we are just thrown in there.”

Sheffield gave a report on the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund plans.  So far they have “earmarked $15,600 for technology, $33,000 for the new reading curriculum. . .we would also like to expand our mental health services for students.”

Currently the board contracts with Fillmore County Hospital for one day a month but would like to add another half a day. They also plan to have the mental health advocate work with teachers to help them be able to help students with mental health issues.  The funds are to be used over a three year period.

The board approved the proposed 2022-23 calendar and briefly discussed the superintedents evaluation

After approving an unpaid teacher leave Sheffield discussed the upcoming state legislative session.  He noted that LB860/861 referred to as the Columbus plan would benefit the district.  “We could see an increase of about $300,000 in state aid.  Right now they haven’t figured out how to fund it.”

Three board members (Kallhoff, Jansky and Erdkamp) were reminded that their terms expire this year and they must file by February 15 to be eligible for reelection.

The board set the next meeting for Feb 10 in Milligan.