Dakota Harvest Bee

An old-fashioned Harvest Bee took place August 24, 2010 near Chaseley, North Dakota. Wells County did itself proud though the efforts of a number of friends of the Heintz family. Mother, Lorraine Heintz, and son Henry Heintz, farm near Chaseley.  Lorraine’s health condition has kept the family busy traveling in search of treatments. Friends, aware of the stress, have pitched in to offer support.

Londa and Rick Neumiller of Bowdon; Tom Nudd, Bruce and Lexi LaPlante of Harvey; and Leon Klocke of Fessenden, got together with Henry and his sisters, Twyla Delzer of Fessenden, and Kayme Melby of Bowdon. 

Twyla says, “It’s good to know that even in our society when everyone’s so busy and so rushed, you’ve got friends who are out there who are ready to help you in a time of need. Henry felt like a heavy load had been lifted, he was like a different person.” Kayme agrees. “We want people to know that there are still good neighbors out there, and we appreciate them.”

The crew worked the afternoon, from dinner time to supper time, and cleared 250 acres of spring wheat for the Heintz family. 

They brought their combines and semi trucks. “All Henry did was stay in the yard and help unload trucks into the bins,” says Delzer. “We didn’t even have to get out our own combine.” 

The team worked together smoothly, some in the combines, some in the trucks. “Lexi would drive up beside the combines, they would load into her grain wagon, then she’d drive to the semis to unload and go back for more.”

Twyla says, “Rick Neumiller brought the filled semis and trucks in, Henry unloaded them. Londa, Bruce, and Leon were in the combines. Everyone else helped drive and unload trucks.”

It was a hectic afternoon, but the teamwork of longtime friends paid off and the job got done. 

Ruth and Butch Rexine and their son Scott brought over supper, a traditional hearty hotdish at the end of a strenuous day of harvesting. Dinner was a quick and simple sloppy joe meal, eaten in the trucks and combines.

The Heintz family has cause to be very proud of their friends and relatives, as well as being grateful for their support. “Sometimes a family just needs that extra from others, when things get stressful and hard. Having good friends who are like family be there to pitch in their emotional support as well as practical help – it’s pretty awesome. We love these guys.” Recently a cousin, George Grossman of Fargo, drove the family to Rochester, Minnesota. The Flicks, Steve, Mike and Nona, Dave and Cheryl, and John Pervix have helped out often, and are close neighbors. John and Linda Roller have also been extremely supportive. The extended family has grown closer through these trying months, and Lorraine’s son and daughters are thankful for everybody who has stepped up to the plate to help. 

“We didn’t even ask. I think Leon just let them know we could use a hand, and they came,” says Twyla.

“A team photo was not taken because somebody, who shall remain nameless, thinks pictures add twenty pounds,” she explains, when asked for a group picture. Also, people were in motion the entire time, too busy to pose for a camera. 

Twyla remembers, “When I was a little kid, my dad got badly burned and friends and neighbors did the same thing, they got the crop in. I guess some things just don’t change around here, and I’m glad.”