2019 Stars Over 70

Thank you to Belle Plaine High School's Creative Writing Class for the Stars' bios.
Mary Lou Blomme

Mary Lou Blomme first moved to Belle Plaine in 1969 to work at Bumper to Bumper, which is now known as CarQuest. She left town to work in Ankeny for about 7 years, then later moved back to Belle Plaine in 2005. Mary Lou has two daughters Marcia and Lynnette, five grandsons, and eight great grandchildren that all live in Belle Plaine.

She has done many things for the community over the years. Mary Lou is always looking for things to do. She is involved in organizations in town like Altar Rosary and is involved with the St. Michael's church. Her involvement in the community doesn’t stop there. She ran the food pantry, volunteers at the nursing home, and helps out at the community center on Wednesday’s for senior dining.
After living and volunteering in Belle Plaine, Mary Lou has learned lots of things. A life lesson she has learned in the community is to help when you are needed. Her favorite thing about Belle Plaine is having family and relatives living in town. She wants to be remembered as a friendly person. Future goals for the town are to have more businesses and more senior housing. Some advice Mary Lou would give to the young people in the community is to enjoy your life and follow yourself.
Dean Carl

Mr. Dean Carl was born and raised in Belle Plaine, Iowa. He left and served for three years in the Marine Corps, then returned home to start his family. His mother was his biggest role model because she always worked hard for what she wanted.

Mr. Carl doesn't really have any specific motivator. His only thought is to keep on going and do what needs to be done. His service of 30 years in the Marine Corps is his biggest accomplishment. He was proud to serve our country and help protect people. Mr. Carl was self employed truck driver. He had five semis at one point, but sold them later on. He never went to college, but graduated from classes he took for four months in the Marine Corps.
He wants the community to remember him as he was, a hard working man who wanted the best for his family and community. The people that are in this community and the ones who have passed through are what he finds most interesting about Belle Plaine. Mr. Carl is a part of the Wallace Winkie Foundation, and the Herring Hotel Foundation for a short period, and is on the board for the museum.

His best memory from Belle Plaine is his high school career and “the friends and memories made with them doing crazy shit.” He wants this town to continue to grow and he wants people to take time to make it even more beautiful. One of the biggest challenges he had to face while living in Belle Plaine was losing his eye. It made it harder for him to do the things he liked most. His advice for young people is, “Look around you, really look around you. You’ll find out that the towns around us are a lot worse off than we are. They aren’t as close of a community as us. It’s just a fantastic town to live in once you take a look around.”

Mardene Garling

Mardene Garling moved to Belle Plaine in 1968 when her husband’s health got bad. She is currently 88 years old. They were farmers for about 10 years when, due to health conditions, he couldn’t drive a tractor anymore, so they moved to Belle Plaine. They raised herefords which is awesome because my mom raises those too! He got a job here in town.
When Mardene and her husband moved to Belle Plaine they had 2 kids, but 3 after they moved to Belle Plaine. Gene, Keith, and Sandy. Mardene’s biggest role model when she was growing up were her mom and dad because they were such hard workers and kind to everyone.

The thing that motivated Mardene is when her husband passed away she wanted to give back to others. She enjoys people and loves to get to know others. Her proudest accomplishment is owning the furniture store for 26 years and volunteering at the community center. Mardene shows up at
the community center at 8:30am and pretty much does everything. She washes many dishes, cleans tables, puts chairs down, makes coffee, and so much more. She gets home about 1:30 or a quarter to 2 in the afternoon.

Mardene never went to college, but graduated high school. She went to Belle Plaine for 2 years, then went to Blairstown. She wants to be remembered as a very caring person who always gave back to senior citizens. The thing that most interests Mardene about Belle Plaine is all the opportunities for seniors. What I mean by that is there is chances for them to talk and get to know others, people to deliver their groceries and medications, and people who are willing to help them.

I loved getting to interview Mardene because she is a prime example of someone who grew up without much, but that didn’t stop her from doing the best for others. She does so much at the community center and for senior citizens and I don’t think she gets enough credit for it. Mardene loves to talk and thinks communication for senior citizens is crucial. She doesn’t think anyone should be sitting at home staring at four walls all day. Mardene encourages many people to come to the community center to eat, talk, play cards, or play bingo. Mardene Garling does so much for the city of Belle Plaine and is such a beautiful kind soul.        

Fran Magdefrau

Fran Magdefrau has been a citizen of Belle Plaine for over 60 years and has had a huge impact on the community. Fran grew up on a farm outside of Belle Plaine near Luzerne. She moved to Belle Plaine when she married Don. They had four children and said “my children are my proudest accomplishment.” She is very proud of her children and the accomplishments they have had.

Fran was involved in daycare for around thirty years and loved every minute of every day while she was doing it. Fran was very proud to help these young children grow up into children ready for school. Fran loves kids and loves being around her six grandchildren and her eleven great-grandchildren.
Fran is a fun individual and likes to be involved in the community. She is involved in the Lutheran Church where she taught 6th grade confirmation for 30 plus years. She is active in LWML- women in Mission Altar Guide. She also helps in multiple community volunteer organizations such as Benton Board of American Cancer Society for 40 plus years.  She has served as an election official and worked with the Red Cross bloodmobile for many years. Fran bowled at the Belle Plaine Bowl every year until it closed and now bowls at Keystone. Now she helps with bingo at the Belle Plaine Nursing and Rehab and leads an exercise class at the community center. Fran states that volunteering and helping others gives me a “ warm fuzzy”in my heart. She thinks that Belle Plaine is a great place to raise your kids and spend your life.

Fran is a very important individual in the community and has touched the lives of many people in Belle Plaine. Fran’s advice to young people is to be involved and to be friendly to everyone.

LaRue McIntire

LaRue McIntire moved to Belle Plaine in August of 1984. Since then she has been a role model in the community, not joining specific organizations but instead helping wherever she was needed. She loves the many opportunities to volunteer in town. Not only does she love the volunteering opportunities in Belle Plaine, but she also loves the people. One of her favorite things about Belle Plaine is the many amazing people who call Belle Plaine home.

Mrs. McIntire was the first person to go to college on either side of her family. She graduated with a bachelor of science degree in home economics, science, and elementary and secondary education.   Using her degree in Belle Plaine she became a 3rd-grade teacher for a semester
and later a high school resource teacher for a year. Mrs. McIntire also taught home economics for seven years and sixth-grade math and science for nine years. Despite being a very busy woman, she lovingly cared for her children and went to all their school events. Mrs. McIntire was also a member of the Belle Plaine Music Boosters while her children were in the Music department.

God has been Mrs. McIntire’s rock. She follows the path that God wants her to take. Living her life for God, she has no regrets. There is nothing she would change about her life. I believe if we all live our lives like Mrs. McIntire has, with no regrets, we could all live happy, fulfilling lives.

Anders Norgaard

Anders Norgaard moved to Belle Plaine in September of 1976 after he graduated from The University of Iowa Law school. He moved to Belle Plaine because there was an opening at one of the law offices in town. He thought it would be a perfect fit for him. Mr. Norgaard says his biggest role model and inspiration is his father. His father was an immigrant and worked to make a name for himself when his family moved to America. Mr. Norgaard looks up to him, because he shows that determination and strong work ethic can take you anywhere if you work hard. 

Mr. Norgaard is most proud of his 23 years of military service and his 30 years as Benton County magistrate. He is a full time attorney in Belle Plaine and loves every day of his job.
Mr. Norgaard wants people in the community to remember him as a competent lawyer and someone who did his job to the fullest potential. He was active in community organizations such as Rotary and the Lions Club. Mr. Norgaard is proud of this community, ¨because there is good city government and everyone works together to help within the town.¨

Mr. Norgaard has advice for the young people of Belle Plaine and it is to “always dream of  the future.” He wants the young people to always dream of something bigger. If you work hard and set your mind to it, anything is possible.