What a bittersweet this week was. The weather was absolutely beautiful. We are done calving heifers but not all the neighbors are. But if they are not having trouble, the cows are in the lap of luxury, weatherwise!

We had the opportunity to attend the celebration of life for Marvin Heggem, Friday, at the Hills View Evangelical Free Church in Piedmont, SD. A huge segment of Harding County showed up. It was amazing to reconnect with so many of the family that we have not seen for a very long time. He was so remembered and will so be missed.

The very next day we celebrated 90 years for Gordon Steen at Thee Garage in Baker, MT and that evening celebrated 40 years for Ty Richter at a lovely party at his home.

Sunday evening was a night of fun with the Bethany-ites at their church pancake supper. When we all get together, we all have fun!

The neighborhood has been on the move in spite of calving and all the cow work that goes on in the spring.

Gerald and Becky Burghduff went to the celebration of life for Marvin Heggem.

Even though Spickelmiers mainly spent the week calving, they managed to have some off-ranch activities! Friday, Kayla went to Rapid City to pick up some seed and run errands. She stopped at Colby and Tanya Crago’s beautiful indoor barn and tied goats for a few hours with some kids. Friday evening, Kayla met Miles and the at the #3 for supper with Donene Taylor. Donene conducted the mental toughness workshop which Kayla hosted, Saturday. Kayla was there at the Buffalo Rec center all day at the workshop! The ten participants learned a great deal from her wealth of knowledge and experiences. They are all eager for the rodeo season to start so they can implement what they learned! Sunday Miles, Kayla and the boys attended church. Afterward they helped Meza Moody celebrate her 3rd birthday at a party at Wayne and Susan Nelson’s!

Kacie Turbiville said she was excited to tell me the news that they didn’t go anywhere this week or weekend!! Saturday, Randy and Traci Routier came out to shoot and eat supper. But the Turbivilles successfully stayed home a whole weekend, the first since September!!

Brian and Jacie Teller and Linda Humbracht attended church at Little Missouri, Sunday. Afterward all of the Tellers and Jeremy Humbracht were at John and Linda’s for dinner.

Mary Cramer met her sisters and Lane Dingfelder at Grand River Lutheran church, Tuesday, to practice music. The next day, Russell had a regular DOT safety meeting in Newell, SD. Friday morning, on the way down the celebration of life for Marvin Heggem, they kept dental appointments in Sturgis. They then went to service for Marvin Heggem at which Mary helped sing. Afterward the Holsti sisters and Russell and Lane gathered at the Spearfish Perkins for a meal. Russell and Mary went apartment hunting afterward and found one for Hattie who will be working in Sturgis. Meanwhile back in Ames, IA, Hattie attended a formal dinner party. It is a lovely meal. Not only do the men cook and serve the meal, they park the cars, give each lady a bouquet of cut flowers, decorate the church parlors and all dress to the Nines! It was a grand evening. Sunday she headed to Nebraska to do more clinicals. These will be the last before she graduates in May!

John Ovitz visited Jesse Bail, Monday morning. Then he visited Jerry Comes that afternoon at Ty and Cathy’s. Kay said that they did not get to see the eclipse because it was too cloudy. Tuesday Mike Hallman came for lunch. John and Kay are done calving. The last cow calved. Kay hadn’t paid much attention but thought there was a turkey in the cow pen. John came in and said, “Well, he had never seen a turkey getting milk from a cow! Friday, John attended the service for Marvin Heggem while Kay went to senior citizens. The next day they both went to Baker to the birthday party for Gordon Steen. I went with them. It was so neat to see people we had not seen for quite a long time. That evening, John and Kay attended the birthday supper for Ty that Cathy and the girls had prepared.

Teelan and Meza Moody and Krece Spickelmier were at Grandpa Wayne and Grandma Susan’s, Wednesday. Barrett Nelson and Hazen and Krece Spickelmier were there Friday afternoon. They helped dump more sand in the sand box and then spent an hour building roads and dams in the fresh sand. Wayne and Susan split up on Friday to attend two funerals in opposite directions. Wayne went to the Heggem one in Piedmont while Susan attended the one for Sheala Erickson in Bowman. Sunday, the family celebrated Meza’s 3rd birthday at Wayne and Susan’s with a taco lunch and Dairy Queen ice cream cake. Meza had chosen a Paw Patrol theme! Cake, balloons, plates and napkins brightened up the Nelson garage area!

Sam Pilet from New Zealand is helping the Holmes/Painter ranch with calving and pairing out. Jessica said he had just gotten here last week, just in time to get in on the calving and branding!

Jesse and Kenzlee Bail at- tended the Father/Daughter Dance, Thursday. Kenzlee reported she got her Dad out on the dance floor more than ever before. The weekend was busy. Kruze and Kash had Barrett Cordell over for sleepover. They worked hard and managed to take down one whole outside wall to an old barn Bails are tearing down. The rest of the weekend was spent checking cows, moving pairs via horseback and calving. Reese Ehlers spent the weekend with Kenzlee. They rode sunup to sundown all weekend minus a few hours to heat up leftovers. Kim said, “We aren’t sure Reese will ever visit a cattle ranch again in April!”

Cindy Painter’s cousin, Judy Macaluso, stayed until Tuesday. Cindy said, “We really enjoyed catching up.” Thursday, Joe and Cindy went to The Hills for parts. Laurie Goehring and Cindy headed to Cancun, Mexico, Sunday to attend Marvin Heesacker’s wedding there!

Cheryl Turbiville was in Deadwood Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, for some law enforcement training. Last Saturday evening, Ronald and Cheryl attended the Prom Grand March in Buffalo.

Carmen Gilbert attended the funeral for Jeff Thorstenson, Monday, in Rapid City with Phyllis and Denver. Matt stayed home to calve. Saturday Matt and Carmen went to Dickinson to watch Gage in his spring scrimmage football game.

John and Bonnie Johnson have been very busy calving, also. They did take some time away from the ranch to attend the Celebration of Life for Marvin Heggem. Afterward they met Stuart, Ashley, Jack and Lexi and Ashley’s mom, Ranae Ball, for supper in Spearfish to celebrate Lexi’s birthday.

Bruce Ketchum from Plevna delivered a bull to Tarters, Tuesday. Friday, Dean and Mary Tarter attended the funeral in Piedmont for Marvin Heggem. They also picked up branding supplies in Sturgis and Mary had her glasses adjusted. Dean and Rock spent most of the week going through the fields.

The Wilcox girls visited Lathams, Wednesday, while their parents were in the Hills. Darwin made a parts run the next day to Bowman. Afterward, Lathams went to Faith to get Joy. Saturday, Darwin, John and Jason went to an auction by Vale. John took Joy back to Faith, Sunday.

Becky Holsti was amongst the many paying last respects to Marvin Heggem at his funeral in Piedmont, Friday afternoon. The next day, Hailey, Gracie, Kylie and Cade Richter helped her work cattle. That evening she was at a supper hosted by Cathy Richter and girls, in honor of Ty’s birthday. Other than that, calving is pretty much her schedule.

We look forward to another week, hopefully with rain as it has been predicted. Have a wonderful week everyone, and if it does rain, be sure to dance for joy. See you then!

The post North Camp Crook News first appeared on Bowman County Pioneer.