FEATURED RESIDENT- MAY- 2008
BEVERLY CARLIN

Bev Carlin was born Beverly June Whaley on September 22, 1944, in Wheaton, Minnesota, Traver County. She was one of five children born to Rosella and Chester Whaley. Her parents were farmers and Bev loved living on the farm as a youngster.

Bev attended school for all 12 years in either Wheaton or Morris. After graduating from high school, she went to work as a secretary for the Wheaton Community Hospital.

After marrying Ed Carlin on September 26, 1962, they lived in Herman, then they moved to Columbia Heights, Minnesota. Ed worked for many years at Hypro Engineering.

Beverly and Ed became the parents of 7 children. Jim Carlin and his wife Bonnie live in Isanti, while John and Kay Carlin, along with their sons, Ian and Nathan, reside in Zimmerman. Daughter Angie and her husband Brian Steele live in Milton with their 2 boys, Cole and Devin. Jenny Carlin lives in Princeton. Bill and Amanda Carlin live in Sandstone and have a small son Benny. Robert is single and lives in Isanti also. Lastly, Dale lives in Askov.

During the years that she lived in Colombia Heights, Beverly ran a day-care center out of her home for about 10 years.

Prior to moving to this area permanently, Bev and Ed bought property on Timber Ridge Road here in Cloverton. They had a camper on the place first, then built a little cabin. She says some of her happiest memories are the” spring break” times when she and the kids would come up to the cabin. They had no electricity, thus life was very simple. They had this little cabin for about 12 years.

She and Ed bought their farm and moved to Cloverton in 1994 fulfilling a years-long dream of being farmers. Bev had grown up on a farm and always longed to return to that lifestyle. Their sprawling farm on the intersection of Rutabaga and Tamarack Roads is home to the two of them, many dogs, and lots of beef cattle and pigs. Bev says her favorite part of the farming life is driving the tractor. She strongly disliked the city and is “happy as a lark to be back in the country”.

Beverly served our community as president of the homemakers club known as the “New Dosey Dosies” for 2 years. She was also town treasurer for 8 years. She has been a member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Sandstone for many years.

Since farming is not an endeavor that provides a solid and dependable income all of the time, Bev has worked out of the home for many years. She was a cook for both of the St. Croix Camps- Boys and Girls- from 1996-2002 when the camps closed down.

She then worked as a cook again for Moose Lake Correctional Facility for about 9 months, until she transferred to the Correction Incarceration Program in Willow River, where she is still employed

As one of the most hardworking people in our community, Bev works her outside job, then comes home to do her part in the farming enterprise. Her energy, drive, pleasant personality and willingness to always help out are appreciated by all of us.

FEATURED RESIDENT- APRIL- 2008

Merlin “Boots” Raboin is one of the most colorful people to live out here in the little hamlet of New Dosey.

Boots was born on Columbus Day in 1934. He acquired his nickname during the years of the Great Depression. His family, like so many families of those years, were poor. There was no money to buy boots for the 9 youngsters. When Merlin was about 5 years old, a neighbor asked him if he wanted a pair of boots. These boots were about 3 sizes too large, but Merlin loved them! He wore them everyday and even slept with them at night. Hence, the nickname “Boots”. Coincidentally, Boots has a cousin also named Merlin, who was given the nickname “Boots”.l

Boots’ parents were Celina and Leo Raboin and Boot was right in the middle in age of the 9 children. He attended high school in Somerset, Wisconsin, where he first became interested in boxing. It was a sport that he was good at inspite of his small physical stature. He got to be quite “feisty” with his boxing talent.

While serving in the Army from 1957-59 in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, he did a lot of sightseeing and still has memories of the Smithsonian Institute. He became a crack shot in the Army, which was interesting because he had never used a gun as a child. His family was too poor to own guns. In the Army, he shot a 238 out of 250 possible on the rifle range.

His boxing continued while in the Armed Forces. He joined an amateur Bantam League for the 118# class. He also was a Golden Glove boxer for years, but decided not to turn pro.

The Army also trained him as a lifeguard. This was invaluable training because he saved a young boy who was drowning. Have him tell you that harrowing story sometime.

When he left the Army, he moved to a country area just west of Stillwater and went to work as a blueprint operator for 3M, a job he held for 31 years, retiring in 1996.

He was married in 1959 to Barbara Schaeffer. Although the 2 of them have been divorced for 15 years now, they have remained good friends.

Boots is the father of 4 children- Sons Terry and Andy live in St. Paul, Dan lives in Chisago City, and daughter Lori lives in Stillwater.

Boots has been using his retirement to meet his need for reading. His love of reading started in high school, where he always had “his nose in a book”. True-adventure stories are his favorite genre.

He also strongly enjoys hunting and raising pheasants.

We all enjoy having this quiet, friendly man in our midst.

FEATURED RESIDENT- MARCH 2008- PEGGY COVEAU

As you are heading east from Askov on Pine County Hwy 32 ( aka Rutabaga Road) out here in the little township of New Dosey, you may have noticed in the summertime, that the yard just past Hay Creek Drive on the left is full of beautiful flower gardens. That is the lovely home of Peggy and Ken Coveau.

Peggy was born in Crow Wing County in 1959 to Gladys and Pat Robinson. She lived there as a baby, then her family moved to Hackensack, Texas. They lived there for awhile, but Peggy grew up in Webster, Wisconsin.

She attended the Webster Schools for all of her 12 school years. In high school, she participated in almost every sport available-track, volleyball, and basketball. She was also class treasurer, a cheerleader, and Prom Queen.

She met Ken Coveau right after high school graduation and they were married in 1978. Except for a brief stint in Markville, Peggy and Ken have lived in New Dosey township all of their married life. In addition to serving as town treasurer for many years, Peggy worked at the St. Croix Camp for 13 years. She has also waited tables and bartended in the area.

Peggy is the mother of 2 daughters. Annie is 29 and lives in Duluth with her husband, while Alicia is 28 and lives in Maplewood with her husband.

At the age of 48, Peggy still finds that planting and growing flowers is a prime mover in her life. She says she learned her love of flower gardening at her grandmother’s knee. She has always liked the colors, digging in the dirt, and planting seeds to see what comes up. She adores all flowers but says that cosmos and zinnias are two of her very favorite.

In addition to flowers, Peggy loves animals. Those of us out here were always pleased to see Bud, the dog she and Ken got when his grandmother Doris Fornengo passed away, sitting peacefully in their yard. Bud developed a tumor on his heart a few weeks ago and had to be euthanized. Peggy was gratified to be able to take in Alicia’s cat Kaiser because Alicia’s husband Ted is allergic to cats.

Peggy’s bubbly, out-going personality and her down-to-earth values are very much appreciated by all of her friends out here in New Dosey township.