Hundreds show up at St. Luke's Home carnival

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Press Photo by Lisa Call A tiger-face-painted Annabelle Klimpel of Dickinson, relaxes during a train ride at the St. Luke’s Home carnival fundraiser, Saturday afternoon.

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The blustering Saturday afternoon wind didn’t stop many from enjoying themselves at the St. Luke’s Home fundraiser carnival, the largest event the home has held thus far.

Money raised at Saturday’s festivities will go toward a complete facelift for St. Luke’s Home.

“It’s going to be in the same location and (construction) will be in phases,” said Joyce Decker, St. Luke’s Home activities director.

While exact numbers will not be known for a few days, Decker said they were hoping to raise $10,000.

St. Luke’s Foundation Director Yvonne Kroll said the facilities will feel more like a home rather than a hospital setting.

Kroll said plans for the facility include apartment-type homes with balconies, private bathrooms and a wireless communication system to eradicate intercom announcements.

With magician Blake Krabseth and Bodiddly the clown on hand, there were few faces without a smile Saturday.

For $10 per bracelet, children had unlimited time in a jumping castle and inflatable slide. Bingo was $1-per-card and St. Luke’s received half of the proceeds.

Connie Etzler and Sheyenne Hill of Staples, Minn. and Hali Gjermundson of Marshall proved age is not a factor in riding an oil-drum train.

Confections such as Indian tacos, pickles on a stick, barbecues, hot dogs and cotton candy were being enjoyed by many.

St. Luke’s Home resident Blanche Weber of New England volunteered at the duck pond.

Weber has lived at St. Luke’s Home for about a year and said the building updates are needed.

“We’d have our own bath and our own toilet,” Weber said.

A multitude of people volunteered for the dunk tank, including Todd Otto of State Farm Insurance, KLTD radio personality Paul Quinn and Dickinson Police Department’s Senior Patrol Officer Ron Van Doorne.

A bake sale was also held and most of the items were sold by noon, Decker said.

Organizers were hoping to accomplish a bit more than raising money.

“We were hoping too, to get the generations together,” Decker said. “A lot of times people feel the nursing home is just elderly people and there are younger people here, too.

“They love when kids come in,” Decker said.

Tags: news, local, st, lukes, carnival, festival, bodiddly