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Borgstroms are RC Chamber award recipientsBy MaryHelen Swanson What do people do today after retirement? Vegetate? Hardly. In retirement, a lot of todayís seniors keep very active and many of their waking hours are devoted to volunteer community service. Phyllis and Darrell Borgstrom of Rush City have been named the Rush City Area Chamber of Commerce 2003 Community Service Award recipients for their part in serving their community. When they retired some 15 years ago, he after 38 years with Whirlpool and she from 3M, they moved from their Cottage Grove home to Rush City. Phyllis figured the best way to meet and greet folks in the new community would be to get involved in volunteer work. ìAnd it worked,î she said, during a walking interview last week at Main Street Market in Rush City. The Borgstroms shared some of their activities and a little about themselves while they were busy doing shopping for the Family Pathways service. Itís one of the many volunteer activities the couple is involved with, although the shopping is mostly Phyllisí activity. Darrell said his volunteerism began when he enlisted and served in the military during WW II and then again during the Korean War. In Rush City, Darrell belongs to a very active Lions club and the VFW, and he is on the Chisago County fair board. Darrell is known as the ìcorn manî because he is the one responsible for procuring the sweet corn for the Lionís corn stand at the fair each summer. The corn comes from Woodbury, he said. Darrell is active at the coupleís church, First Lutheran, and is the head usher the first Sunday of the month. Heís the Lionís cheer person, making sure anyone who is ill or in need of cheering is contacted. And he has received the Lionsí Melvin Jones award. He was also named Chisago County Outstanding Senior Citizen a few years ago. As a former employee of 3M, Phyllis has received two of the companyís service grants each for $200 which went to the Rush City Cares program. On quilting days at church, sheís busy working with the other women putting together practical quilts for overseas missions. Thatís what she does some Wednesdays. Once a month, her Thursday morning is spent shopping for groceries for those unable to get out and do it for themselves. This service is coordinated through the Family Pathways program. Sheís also the ìsupply personî or the one who keeps the kitchen at First Lutheran well stocked. Phyllis also belongs to the Rush City Womenís Club. In their leisure moments, and it was harder to come up with what they do during these moments than their busy times, they enjoy fellowshipping with other Rush City folks over coffee, most recently at the Eagleís club, and sharing time with their family. In summer, they enjoy working in their garden. ìWe give a lot of it (produce) away,î said Darrell. Phyllis belongs to the Rush City Garden Club, too, and recently accepted the position of chairperson. ìShe can never say no,î Darrell said. The couple, both 77, married for 55 years last November, have four grown children and eight grandchildren. Both were born and raised on farms, so the rural setting of their home on Fairfield Avenue in Rush City is just fine for their retirement. They donít take off and go south in the winter, except last year they spent a week in March visiting a daughter in Texas. Darrell said he loves Minnesota, but quickly added, ìas long as I donít have to get up in the morning.î Both of them think it is important to serve your community if you are able. They appreciate the good health that allows them to carry on with their volunteer work. And they seem to have a deep appreciation for each other as they work together and with others in the community on the many service projects that keeps them very busy. Were they surprised when they learned they were chosen for this community service award? ìOh, definitely,î Phyllis said, as she picked out some frozen vegetables for the lady on her list. The Borgstroms will be honored Saturday, Jan. 24 at an awards banquet at the VFW club in Rush City. Everyone is invited. Tickets are $12.50 and can be reserved by calling Harold Lind at (320) 358-4557, Loring Nelson at (320) 358-4209, Bob Frandsen at (320) 358-3181 or Jim Ertz at (320) 358-5630, or tickets can be purchased at Bohatyís Hardware in Rush City. A social hour will begin at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. and a presentation ceremony at 8 p.m. ©ECM Post Review |