A quarter century had just passed since the couplehoneymooned there at Sylvan Lake in the beautiful BlackHills of South Dakota. This time they would be staying at theLodge, about a half mile uphill from the rustic cabins by thelake where they had relaxed after an exciting three months ofdating, courtship and wedding. The skeptics who didn’tbelieve the marriage had a chance of making it had all beenproven wrong and had eachbeen reminded of itthroughout the years.Twenty-five years ofHallmark cards had beenexchanged; the birthdays,anniversaries, and of course,those mushy Valentine cardsprofessing their ongoing lovefor each other.

On the way to Sylvan Lake,the twosome had lunch atHill City’s Alpine Inn, adelightful German cuisinerestaurant housed in the oldHarney Hotel, which is now aBed & Breakfast with lots ofpersonality and history. No visit to Hill City would becomplete, however, without a stop at the Jon Crane Gallery, ashowcase for one of the area’s beloved watercolor artists, so aquick visit there resulted in the purchasing of a 1999 pieceentitled “After the Storm”, depicting a Pennsylvania farmfollowing a snowstorm. The storekeeper was asked to holdthe print until the following day, rather than taking it withthem to Sylvan Lake on their anniversary getaway.

Once they were settled in at the Lodge, had the proper hikingclothes and footwear in place, they took the trail downhilltowards the lake, each carrying a Hallmark card to be sharedat their final destination, atop the rocks above the spillway at

the far end of the lake. The view from there is so beautifulthat the couple thought it appropriate to begin the nextquarter century together at that exact location. Talk aboutsentimental!

As they made the final ascent to reach their destination, theycouldn’t help but notice that their two greeting cards

appeared to be similar in size,shape and color. But whenthey reached the summit andexchanged the anniversarycards, it became veryhumorous when they realizednot only were they the samecard, but that they had alsopurchased them at the exactsame store!

What are the odds of thishappening? They areprobably about the same oddsas a marriage lasting twenty-five years after just a threemonth relationship. They saythat when we marry that the

two become as one. May this story about the greeting cardsserve as a beautiful example of just what it means to becomeas one.

Nancy and I hope you enjoyed our story.As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, a lovedone’s birthday, or a special anniversary,remember our Heavenly Father’s great giftto each of us, the ability to love. It’s in thesharing of that gift that we are loved inreturn.

Life!Life!News for the friends of Kirk Funeral Home

A newsletter to help you Celebrate Life!February 2012 Vol. IX No. 1

God Bless! Ken

Sylvan Lake Revisited

Life! News for the friends of Kirk Funeral Home

How Much?This is the season for engagement rings. And when wesee the beaming bride-to-be showing off her ring, weall ask the questions: “How did you meet?” “How didhe ask?” “When is the date?”

But of course, the question we ask each other after shehas gone is: “How much did that ring cost?” The quickanswer is: time.

A jeweler will tell you the average ring purchased isequivalent to two months wages for the groom-to-be.That means they will work 320 hours to buy adiamond that shows how much they care.

The Christmas gift you may have received often comeswith a story, “….I looked all over town for that,”because the time and effort spent finding the gift is partof its value. So a home-made meal may actually“cost” more than one in a restaurant, a hand-writtennote or card is valued more than an e-mail, and a visitmore than a phone call.

There was even a movie released recently about afictitious place where people purchased things withunits of time, and even a cup of coffee cost time off ofyour lifespan. The phrase “time is money” was literallytrue.

This is a time of year whenmore people “spend time” ontheir estate issues, gettingtheir house in order. Theyknow that telling kids, friendsand family what to do in casethey die is time well “spent.”

It is a gift people will not seeused, but will be muchappreciated. A funeralcounselor can ask you onbehalf of your family to writedown your wishes for your own funeral service,making it as simple or as elaborate as you wish. It isone of the most requested services we offer.

And because of the time you put into it, it will be a giftof immense value – I know, because people tell me allthe time.

KurtKurt Johns or any of our Funeral Directors can be

reached at 343-4808

Kurt Johns

VETERANS’ HISTORIES WIPED OUTWhen the U.S. Military set up storage for themilitary history of veterans in their huge complex inSt Louis, they insisted on no sprinkler systems,because they didn’t want to cause possible waterdamage. But it happened anyway. When a fire brokeout on July 12, 1973, water, smoke and fire wipedout the histories of nearly 18 million Americans.

If you are a veteran who may have lost records (seebelow), it is possible there may be copies ofinformation at the county court house where youwere discharged to. And there are other options aswell.

For any veteran: pleasemake sure you have acertified copy of yourdischarge papers on file atthe funeral home. There isno charge for this, and it isthe only way we can assure getting you the most ofyour veteran benefits.

Army personnel: 80% loss of records for thosedischarged between 11/1/1912 and 1/1/1960.

Air Force/Army Air Force: 75% loss of recordsfor last name Hubbard to ‘Z’, dischargedbetween 9/25/1947 and 1/1/1964.

Up in Smoke

Life! News for the friends of Kirk Funeral Home

It’s Just the Flu…When Pvt. Albert Gitchell reported to theinfirmary at Fort Riley, Kansas, on anearly spring morning in 1918, he did notknow that within one year, 20 to 40million people would have died(including him) of what was to be calledthe Spanish Flu. Although he was thefirst diagnosed case of that particularstrain, Influenza has been a long timebane to civilization because its ability to mutate year after year.

Each year, 5 to 20 percent of the U.S. population gets “the flu” andin the last 30 years annual deaths have ranged between 3,000 to49,000.

Flu vaccines protect against three different flu viruses: an H3N2virus, an influenza B virus and an H1N1 virus. Everyone sixmonths and older should consider getting vaccinated against the fluevery year. Immunity sets in about two weeks after vaccination.

Who is Valentine?The name“Valentine” isderived from theLatin word for“worthy, powerful,strong” (think of theword “valor”) andwas so commonduring the RomanEmpire, that thereare fourteen(!)martyred saintsnamed Valentine!

One of the saints was a Roman priest arrested and imprisoned formarrying Christian couples, a practice outlawed at that time. Theemperor Claudius took a liking to him and things might have endeddifferently, but the bold Valentinus tried to convert Claudius toChristianity.

So Valentine was killed and became a martyr... then a saint... then aholiday, where people profess their heart... whatever the risk!

TOMBSTONEEPITAPHS

In the old days tombstones were oftena source of wit and commentary. Hereare a few epitaphs:

On the grave of Ezekial Aikle in East Dalhousie Cemetery, NovaScotia:

Here lies Ezekial Aikle, Age 102. Only The Good Die Young.

•••In a London, England cemetery:

Here lies Ann Mann, Who lived anold maid but died an old Mann.

•••In a Ribbesford, England, cemetery:

Anna Wallace The children of Israel wanted bread,

And the Lord sent them manna. Clark Wallace wanted a wife, And the Devil sent him Anna.

•••In a Ruidoso, New Mexico, cemetery:

Here lies Johnny Yeast.... Pardonhim for not rising.

•••In a Uniontown, Penn., cemetery:

Here lies the body of JonathanBlake. Stepped on the gas instead

of the brake. •••

In a Silver City, Nev., cemetery: Here lays The Kid.

We planted him raw. He was quick on the trigger

But slow on the draw. •••

A lawyer’s epitaph in England : Sir John Strange.

Here lies an honest lawyer, and that is Strange.

•••John Penny’s epitaph in theWimborne, England, cemetery:

Reader, if cash thou art in want ofany, Dig 6 feet deep and thou wilt

find a Penny.

Life!Darlene Kremer - PublisherPO Box 2846 Rapid City, SD 57709"If you'd like this newsletter free ofcharge, call 605-343-4808"

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T H E B A C K P A G E

Big WheelWhile touring Washington, D.C., the Pope got to thinking about

how long it had been since he actually drove a car. He tapped onthe glass until the chauffeur rolled down the partition. “I want todrive.” What could the chauffeur say?

Soon the pope was behind the wheel. He enjoyed the experiencea little too much and was pulled over by a motorcycle cop forspeeding. The cop got one look at the Pope and immediately wentback to his radio for advice.

“Captain, what is our protocol for ticketing VIPs?” The Captain was curious. “How big a VIP? Like the Vice

President or something?” The cop was somber, “Bigger.” The Captain was alarmed, “You pulled over the President of the

United States?!” “Bigger than that.”“Who could be more important than that?”“I dunno Cap, but his chauffeur is the Pope!”