You can go home again!
Pete VanVooren saw a lot of teachers come and go during his years at Minneota High School. But he remembers Ron Nordby, “A little guy who taught science. He was here for a few years,” said VanVooren.
Last weekend, the Nordby family chose Boxelder Bug Days as their time to return from a 50-year hiatus from Minneota. And it was a resounding success.
“We are talking about buying a home here so any members of the family can come and stay there when they want,” said Nancy (Nordby) Owens, the daughter of Ron and his wife Ursula.
Ursuala came to Minneota with her husband, raised a family here and eventually left. But she never forgot about Minneota. “Dad taught science and driver’s education,” said daughter Nancy.
The family moved and the kids didn’t graduate from Minneota, and ended up in California. But they never forgot their roots in Minneota. Nancy’s brother Chris has maintained a relationship with Greg Novotny. In fact, “We correspond on the internet. He works on the music and I add the singing,” Novotny said about Chris Norby.
Sons Chris and Terrance have been back for Bug Days before, but the entire family had not made a visit, until last weekend.
“I love it,” said Nancy Owen. “The parade is all I remember,” of the past Minneota celebrations. But mom Ursula remembers her time here well and was so appreciative to see everyone again.
“We walked out on the street and there was Brenda Verschelde, our old teacher at St. Edward’s,” said Terrence. He’s made five trips back to Minneota. Their dad Ron died this past year at the age of 93.
“We love Minneota. We have such great memories,” Terrance said. “We lived back of Kerr’s Hatchery,” he recalled, but all of them weren’t fond of the hatchery smell.
“We had the run of the town, until 10 p.m., when we had to go home,” Nancy recalled.
For Terrance, “It kind of seems surreal to be back again.”
“I wasn’t in town 10 minutes and I ran into Bill Drown, an old friend,” Nancy said.
They left 50 years ago – but last weekend, the Norby’s were back!