Deb Holland Meade County Times-Tribune staff

When neighbors are in need, leave it to South Dakotas farmers and ranchers to step up and fill that need. Such is the case with Rainbow Bible Ranch. Drought conditions in central and eastern Meade County resulted in meager hay production this summer. Larry Reinhold knew that 22 bales of hay they did put up this summer would not sustain both the ranch's horses and cows over the winter. Meanwhile, about 320 miles to the east, Ken and Lynn Wintersteen were blessed with abundant rains which translated to four cuttings of hay. "When our neighbors are hurting for hay and we have extra, we feel obligated to share," Lynn Wintersteen said. The Wintersteen's daughter attended Rainbow Bible Ranch camp when she was younger. Lynn Wintersteen said it's sad to see fellow ag producers suffering. 10/4/2019 A WELCOME DELIVERY | Sturgis | rapidcityjournal.com https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/communities/sturgis/a-welcome-delivery/article_259135da-0f7b-5fef-870d-d6e95f8e7aa7.html?utm_medium=social&utm_so… 3/5 "They do so much good for so many young people," she said. The Reinholds took the Wintersteens up on their offer, but still knew they needed someone to get the hay from one locale to another. Larry Reinhold said he had heard from a young girl who attended camp at Rainbow Bible Ranch how Farm Rescue had helped her family when her father was ill with cancer. "We filled out a simple application and here rolls in this load of hay on Saturday," he said. That was 25 ton of hay to be exact. And another truckload arrived on Monday evening from friends and neighbors of the Wintersteens who had heard about the ranch's plight. "It's pretty big and very welcome," Reinhold said. "Some would probably fault me for my faith and hope that God is always going to provide, but we trust him." The Reinholds are being realistic about the whole situation. Larry Reinhold knows, that like other ranchers nearby, he will have to sell down more cows so that all the livestock can make it through the winter. "We just can't bring in that much feed and make it work out," he said. Carol Wielenga, operations director for Farm Rescue, a nonprofit organization that provides planting, harvesting or haying assistance free of charge to farm and ranch families, said she was proud to drive the load of hay and drop it at Rainbow Bible Ranch. "If a rancher is asking for help, they usually need the help, because they are usually too proud to ask for help," she said. "They have this entrepreneurial spirit. They've always done it themselves and want to stand on their own. But there is a point at which they can't do it that season or year and that's where Farm Rescue can step in and get them to the next season." This is the second year that Farm Rescue has stepped in with hay. They accept applications from ranchers who are seeking hay to fill the void left by unseasonably dry weather or fires in the Dakotas and Montana. The nonprofit then serves as an intermediary between ranchers in need and producers with additional hay available for transport. Last year Farm Rescue delivered about eight loads of hay. This year they have delivered more than 100. "Initially we were trying to give hay, but with so many applications coming in, the way we could help the most people is by hauling it," Wielenga said. She said they have trucks hauling in all locations currently when they have the volunteer drivers to do so. Wielenga says seeing the look on the rancher's face when she pulls in is amazing. "This puts the purpose in your miles. They are in need and very appreciative," she said. Wielenga, who grew up in Corsica, said she has seen more of her home state in the last week or so than she had her whole life. "It's really a beautiful thing when you can meet people in your home state and thank them for the part they play in feeding the world. Each one is so important. Building relationships with them has really been a blessing," she said.

The Petunia....

Not quite the petunia in the onion patch….

I am sure that I could pull several more clichés together to fit this extraordinary situation. This summer, with the difficult drought conditions and the extreme temperatures in June and July, found growing conditions quite difficult. And yet, just between the concrete of the front patio and the hard packed graveled parking lot, grew a petunia. In the midst of all the foot traffic in and out of the camp building bloomed this amazingly beautiful blue petunia. There was no extra care given. It was not in the plans, by any means. It is as if God placed it there to remind us that even in the hardest of struggles we are not only able to survive, but to thrive as well.

REMEMBERING JOE WELKE

JOE WELKE

AS A BOY WITH HIS MOTHER,BETTY AND HIS TWO BROTHERS.

Memorial Day Gratitude
I knew him as Joe. The son of a dear family friend that was taken from this world seemingly too young in a hunting incident. Joe's mom continued raising Joe and his brothers with her Godly example. Joe came to camp as a little boy and I was able to spend some special time with him. Joe grew up and took on the honorable position of being a Marine. He was killed in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Reinhold family is grateful to Joe and his family for the sacrifice.

Joe's memory reminds me as I work with so many young people just like him each year, that their path here on earth may not always be as expected. With that, may we always be faithful in our service to each other and passionate about the call that God has given us.

Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph T. Welke
Died November 20, 2004 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom
20, of Rapid City, S.D.; assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; died Nov. 20 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, of wounds sustained Nov. 19 in enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq. CITY, S.D. — A Marine from Rapid City has died of injuries suffered while fighting in Fallujah, Iraq.

Lance Cpl. Joseph Welke, 20, of Rapid City, died Saturday at the Ramstein Air Force Base hospital in Germany.

Family members contacted Monday said they did not want to comment.

Welke graduated from Rapid City Stevens High School in 2003 and was a Greater Dakota All-Conference football player that year.

Joel Hybertson, head football coach for the Raiders, told the Rapid City Journal that Welke had always talked about becoming part of the military and joined the Marine Corps right after graduation.

“He was a hardworking kid and a very intense competitor. He wanted to be good, and he worked at being good,” Hybertson said.

“If we need somebody for our country, I want somebody like Joe Welke,” he said.

With Welke’s death, nine South Dakotans and a Nebraska man assigned to a South Dakota unit have been killed during military action in Iraq.

Funeral for Marine killed in Iraq to be held Saturday

RAPID CITY, S.D. — Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday in Rapid City for Lance Cpl. Joseph Welke, the latest South Dakotan to die in Iraq.

The 20-year-old Marine died Nov. 20 after being hurt while fighting in Anbar province, which includes the city of Fallujah. He was a member of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Welke’s body arrived about 6 p.m. Thursday on a commercial flight from Minneapolis. The flight was met at the Rapid City airport by a Marine honor guard, which moved the flag-draped casket to a waiting hearse. The Marines saluted their fallen colleague as the casket was moved.

A close friend from Welke’s unit accompanied his body all the way from Iraq.

Welke, an all-conference football player, graduated from Rapid City Stevens High School in 2003. The funeral will be held in the Stevens gym.

A Marine Corps honor guard will provide military honors during burial at Mountain View Cemetery.

Passengers on the Thursday flight had not been told Welke’s remains were on board until mid-flight. The passengers remained in their seats in silence until the honor guard completed its duty.

One passenger wept openly and was still crying several minutes later in the terminal.

Gov. Mike Rounds has asked that flags be flown at half-staff on Monday to honor Welke.

Nine South Dakotans and a Nebraska man assigned to a South Dakota unit have been killed during military action in Iraq.

— Associated Press

ALL MY CARES

I am listening to streaming radio during the darkness of night when everyone else is asleep and this very appropriate chorus comes on...

"I cast all my cares upon You
I lay all of my burdens down at your feet
And anytime I don’t know what to do
I will cast all my cares upon You "

Sometimes the weight of situations and ordeals when upon our heart or shoulders become so heavy...

especially when it seems "extra burdens" come multiplied...

well...

you have probably been there and maybe are even there now.....

we just need to cast the burden to our Heavenly Father.

I ask for your prayer now and thank you as well. We as brothers and sisters in Christ need to come together and pray for each other. I would be glad to pray for you, too.

RISK AND WISDOM

When I took my EMT training years ago, it was stressed that we were to act when the scene was secure and as safe as possible. Undue risk was not expected. Then the instructors reiterated their point by saying, "What good is a dead EMT or paramedic?" Granted many first responders have sacrificially given of their lives. Risk is certainly inherent. But the advice given to me years ago is still good advice. For me to help the most, I must proceed with wisdom. When I see that people cry for open borders, or that we take care of others far and wide over our family and neighbors and community, I wonder what the purpose is. It is not selfish to proceed with caution and care, neither do we show thoughtfulness when we approach a situation with reckless abandon. I have and will put myself on the line for humanity, but I desire to impact as many as possible for as long as i can. I believe this is what God has for me.

To our neighbors in TX, OK, KS and CO.

Tonight I was outside putting some feed tubs out for the mares. I have had the people in Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado who are dealing with these fires on my mind almost constantly these last few days. Seeing the pictures and hearing the stories have more than once brought tears to my eyes and it has also brought back memories of 2013. October 2013. Memories of a storm. Tonight as I ended up driving right through the field where we found 40 of our horses spread out dead for over a mile, I was thinking of all these people and what they are dealing with and what they will be dealing with over the next weeks. I prayed for them. Many of them lost their homes and barns and livestock and some lost family and friends. How my heart hurt. But just as I was driving by a big mound of dirt where some of our horses are buried and trying to understand why these things happen...guess what song came on the radio. Yep. The very song that helped to get me through a trying time in my life. One that I listened to as we were burying horses.

Standing on this mountaintop
Looking just how far we've come
Knowing that for every step
You were with us

Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You've done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
(-Matt Redman)

This life is full of scars and struggles. But we can use those scars to tell a story. A story of a faithful God Who loves us in the middle of a struggling, sinful world. Through every Storm and Drought. Every Fire and Flood. Every Heartbreak and Heartache. This battleground has seen it all... But we will get to that mountaintop and look back and realize…that we were never alone!

To our neighbors in TX, OK, KS and CO. Keep Walking. Keep Riding. Keep Standing Tall. Keep Pressing On. Your neighbors in South Dakota are with you.