Hole in one
Krista Pietruszewski
nsnreporter@wiktel.com
On Tuesday, June 30th, a leisurely game of golf turned into a game this father and son will never forget. Kristoffer Lofstrom, a Tri-County graduate, hit a hole in one on hole #7 at the Karlstad Golf Course. Lofstrom hit with a nine-iron to make his shot. His son Trystan witnessed it. A hole in one is a shot a golfer will never forget. That will be a memory they can share forever.
Forty summers of making a difference
Samantha Alme
samantha.tribunepaper@gmail.com
In small towns, some of the greatest community leaders don’t seek the spotlight. Instead, they can be found on a dusty baseball diamond, kneeling beside a nervous 5-year-old, celebrating a first hit, tying a shoe, or reminding a young player that having fun matters more than the final score. For the past 40 summers, that person has been John Wilebski. For four decades, John has faithfully coached Greenbush summer recreation T-ball and baseball, helping shape generations of local youth. Thousands of children have stepped onto the field under his guidance, many arriving with oversized gloves, untied cleats, and butterflies in their stomachs. By the end of the season, they left with improved skills, newfound confidence, lasting friendships, and memories that have stayed with them long after the final out. While wins and losses may fade with time, the lessons John has taught continue to leave a lasting impact. Summer recreation has always been about more than baseball. It’s about learning teamwork, building confidence, practicing good sportsmanship, and discovering that hard work pays off. It’s about encouraging a child after striking out, cheering just as loudly for the last player as the first, and making sure every young athlete feels like they belong. Those are the values John has modeled year after year. His dedication has stretched far beyond the scheduled practices and games. Coaching for 40 years requires countless evenings, patience beyond measure, and a genuine love for helping children grow. It means showing up summer after summer—not because anyone asked him to, but because he believed our youth were worth the investment. Today, many of the adults who once played for John now find themselves watching their own children take the field, creating a remarkable full-circle moment for families throughout the Greenbush community. His influence spans generations, connecting parents, children, and now even grandchildren through a shared love of baseball and the memories made on those familiar fields. In a world that often celebrates the loudest accomplishments, it is important to recognize the quiet consistency of people like John Wilebski. Volunteers like him are the heart of small-town communities. They build traditions, strengthen neighborhoods, and help create the kind of hometown where children know they are supported, encouraged, and believed in. Forty years of coaching isn’t simply a milestone—it is a legacy. The Greenbush community is better because of the countless hours John has devoted to its youngest residents. His patience, encouragement, and unwavering commitment have helped shape not only better ballplayers, but better people. On behalf of the many families whose lives he has touched over the last four decades, the community offers its heartfelt gratitude. Thank you, John Wilebski, for 40 summers of encouragement, mentorship, laughter, and believing in Greenbush’s kids. Your impact reaches far beyond the baseball diamond, and your legacy will continue to be felt for generations to come.
A Half-Century Career with one great company
Fifty years ago yesterday, July 21, 1976, Jeff Westrem unfolded his first Hugo’s brown paper bag, packed a lady’s groceries inside and carried them to her car. That’s all it took and he was hooked on Hugo’s. “Mom was a very loyal Hugo’s Piggly Wiggly shopper,” Jeff says of his late mother, Dorothy Westrem. “The north Grand Forks store was her favorite and that’s where I started my first job. I was a 'carry out.'. It was between my junior and senior years in high school and I was anxious to get out and make some money.” Jeff graduated from East Grand Forks Senior High in 1977, and that year he also was transferred to the East Grand Forks Hugo’s store where Ace Hardware is today. He stayed at that store while attending the University of North Dakota earning a degree in Business Administration/Management. From 1981 to 1982, Jeff was manager trainee at the Hugo’s store on South Washington Street, Grand Forks, and then he was named Store Director back in East Grand Forks, a leadership role he held for almost 30 years. In one location, “that was the biggest chunk of time,” Jeff said. In May of 2012, Jeff transitioned into the newly created role of Human Resource Director for the Hugo’s company. So it is that after 50 years, today is Jeff’s last day of employment with Hugo’s Grocery Stores. Tomorrow his classification will be “Retired.” The passage of that half a century, “means that I got old,” said Jeff, who turned 67 in May. Jeff is well known around here and as word spread that he was employed by Hugo’s for 50 years, he learned, “People are kind of shocked,” he said. “Maybe in the olden days, but It’s not the norm anymore. It does seem kind of unbelievable. I’m very proud of it. I was loyal to Hugo’s and they treated me well. There were opportunities for me at Hugo’s and I was happy to stay there my whole career.” Opportunities he encountered and enjoyed included serving on the boards of the East Grand Forks Food Shelf and Campbell Library. He’s also been involved with the East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce which now is The Chamber Grand Forks – East Grand Forks. “In those organizations you find ways to meet people and serve others in the community,” Jeff said. Many fond memories of those Hugo days will stay with Jeff on into retirement. He tells of the times young students from the elementary grades visited the store. “Back in the day,” he begins, “we used to do field trips with second graders. We’d introduce them to the grocery store and show them how we made doughnuts and how we made hamburgers and how a grocery store works behind the scenes. The advisors who came with them enjoyed it as much as the kids did.” He also recalls the days when scheduling students who worked at Hugo’s was one of his duties. “The kids have so many different activities like sports and music,” Jeff said. “Sometimes it’s hard for them to fit in a job. I tried really hard to adjust schedules. I still get compliments from parents about working around their son’s or daughter’s schedules.” Was there ever a day when Jeff just didn’t feel like going to work? He chuckles at that question. “We all have those days, right?” Jeff said. “I always looked forward to my job. It’s a people business and a great place to show respect for others.” As Jeff steps down, Trina Mikula will step in as Hugo’s next Human Resources Director. “I have loved working with Jeff,” Trina said, “and I’ve learned a lot. His are some mighty big shoes to fill.” In an email, Kristi Magnuson Nelson, Hugo’s President/CEO, states, “Jeff has had an extraordinary career with Hugo’s. I remember working with him when I was younger. He is an exemplary team member, but more importantly, he’s like family and a wonderful friend. We will miss him.” Jeff and his wife, Lori, also retired after 25 years as an East Grand Forks letter carrier, live in East Grand Forks, as does Jeff’s dad, John Westrem and his sister and brother-in-law, Lori and Kyle Peterson. There’s travel in Jeff’s and Lori’s future as son Jared and his wife, Evelyn, and granddaughters Evangeline and Adalaide live in Maple Grove, Minn., and daughter Karlee and her fiancé Lincoln Sorensen live in Boone, N.C. Jeff says he’ll also be hitting the golf courses and continuing to cheer on the University of North Dakota football and hockey teams. A little Hugo’s history: Hugo and Dorothy Magnuson opened their first grocery store, the Pure Food Market, in Grand Forks in 1939. It was located at 506 DeMers Avenue, the same site where the new Hugo’s Pure Market stands today. In 1977, the company opened a Hugo’s Piggly Wiggly in East Grand Forks, but dropped the Piggly Wiggly name in the early 1980s. A new store was built in East Grand Forks in 1998. Today Hugo’s operates 15 stores across North Dakota and Minnesota and employs about 1,300 associates.