Loren Luckow's Interview
An Interview with Loren Luckow — March 2025 By Kristi Miller
Loren Luckow’s maternal grandmother, Helmine Skogen, and family emigrated from Norway and resided in Ada, MN, and Enderlin, ND, before boarding the train traveling westward to Gladstone, ND. Setting out on a three-day journey southbound, they arrived in what was to become Hettinger in 1906. They found no town, only prairie. In fact, the family struggled to determine how they might prepare a meal. Fortunately, there was a bachelor nearby that allowed the women in the party to cook in his kitchen and carry the pots of food to the hungry and tired travelers. Little did Helmine know what awaited her in this wild land, what Hettinger would blossom into, and how her grandson would make his mark on the community.
Helmine would marry Andrew Kvanvig, and the couple would be blessed with nine children, including a daughter in 1917 named Minnie, who would become Loren’s mother. Minnie was born on a homestead in Duck Creek Township. She was one of nine children. Minnie’s family moved to Perkins County in South Dakota in 1919, timing which may have spared their lives from the deadly tornado of 1923 that laid a large path of destruction across Bowman and Adams Counties.
Minnie’s family was musical. The family had a pump organ at home, which Minnie played, and she and her sister Alice strummed the guitar. They once performed for a sandwich at a hamburger joint on east Main that was owned by Bryce White, Betty Olson’s father. A speaker was set outside so shoppers could hear the music and possibly come on in out of curiosity. Helmine was less than pleased as she thought her daughters should pay for the burgers rather than play for them. Minnie worked as a housekeeper in her teens for the Tanous family, probably carrying songs in her heart as she went about her tasks. She was an honor student at her Perkins County Schools, and she continued to be sharp as a tack until her death in 2010, often beating her sons at Scrabble at age ninety.
Andrew and Helmine Skogen Kvanvig — Loren’s grandparents.
Alice and Minnie Kvanvig — Loren’s aunt and mother, respectively. "The Old Cowgirls."
Minnie Kvanvig — Loren’s mother, at her confirmation.
Loren’s father, August Wilhelm “Bill” Luckow (1918–2008), was also born in Duck Creek Township, one of ten children. He played the accordion by ear and enjoyed being on the baseball team. As a part of the Civilian Conservation Corps, he helped build the road around Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It was at the Hettinger Produce Company where Bill met and fell in love with Minnie Annette Kvanvig while engaged in a rather unromantic activity—plucking turkey. Minnie and Bill married in 1941 and lived in a two-room house on the Luckow farmstead. The next year they moved to Hettinger. Bill drove truck for the Adams County Creamery during WWII for Cecil Melby. The creamery served areas as far as Baker and Sydney, MT, so he was able to get a military deferment. Two tow-headed boys were born at this time: Larry (currently lives in Casper, WY) in 1942 and Loren in 1946. From 1947–1949, the Luckow family owned Bill’s Produce in New England, buying and selling poultry, eggs, and cream. Loren was about two or three at that time. Lynn (currently lives in San Francisco, CA) joined the family in 1949. The Luckows returned to Hettinger for good when Lynn arrived. Bill worked at Gambles Hardware and Furniture, at Adams County Creamery, and at Halvorson’s Super Valu. Minnie cooked at the school and nursing home, held retail jobs, and did demonstrations at Super Valu.
Loren Kent Luckow was born at the Springer Hospital in Hettinger. As a child, he played catch with his dad and brothers and fished for perch at Mirror Lake at the site of the current walking bridge. His family nicknamed him "Punky." Fishing did have its drawbacks, however. At North Lemmon Lake, while fishing with a friend, Andy Thompson, Loren discovered a leech between his toes. He also cast a line at the Cedar River, where the family often had picnics. Young Loren had pet rabbits, which he traded, sold, or gave away. Once a friend gave him a female rabbit, but later asked for her back because she had babies that needed care.
Larry, Lynn, and Loren.
The city of Hettinger during Loren’s youth was vibrant. Stores were open on Saturday nights. Admission to the Strand Theater cost twelve cents. Loren remembers seeing a scary movie that included a head rolling down the stairs titled "Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte." Several businesses catered to young people. For example, the Adams County Creamery put points on their ice cream carton, which could be used to bid on such items as toys and bikes that were displayed where KNDC is now housed. At Christmas, Adolph and Leni Schmidt filled the Strand Theater with items for children and held a drawing. Roller skating took place in the south parking lot of RZ Motors in a building dubbed the Sheep Shed. In the thirties and forties, the high school basketball team played on the Sheep Shed’s hardwood floors before moving games to Lodgepole Hall.
During Loren’s youth, baseball was king. Bowman, Lemmon, Reeder, Scranton, Mott, and New England all had teams. Players were sometimes recruited from out of state and given jobs to encourage them to play for the Hettinger Bears, who won the state tournament in 1949 and proceeded to the Little World Series. Local businesses sponsored youth teams. Loren played infield, either first or third base, and served as a bat boy in sixth through eighth grades. He also collected baseball cards, ending up with almost a complete set of 1958 Topps cards. He later sold his collection for $4000 in 2023.
(1957 City League Champions: Team Sponsor — J.C. Penney)
The outfield was lined with advertisements painted by Warren Dela.
In addition to baseball and raising rabbits, Loren was a Cub Scout, Webelo, and stayed involved in scouting through high school. Poor swimming skills kept him from Eagle Scout. Loren continued playing baseball, then basketball — which he feels was his best sport. He was a 6'1" forward on the Shooting Stars. In his senior year, Hettinger was Class A and competed against larger schools. He also ran track but did not letter.
The Shooting Stars: Russell Walch, Sheldon Dannenfelzer, Spencer Bovee, Loren Luckow, Paul Quickstad, Steven Parker, Sterling Benson, Chuck Carter, Jim Sperle, Jim Goplin, Coach Jerry Peterson, Jim Fuglie.
The Luckow Family.
Loren, nicknamed "Luke," graduated salutatorian of the Class of '64. He participated in the Lettermen’s Club, Dramatics Club, Science Club, National Thespian Society, and National Honor Society. Originally considering forestry, he chose the University of North Dakota after a visit from recruiter Wesley Christenson.
At UND, Loren excelled academically and participated in intramural sports. He managed McVey Hall's intramural sports and worked distributing mail. He graduated with a major in math, minors in physical science and education. After student-teaching at Grand Forks Red River High School, he accepted a job at Regent High School, teaching math and coaching from 1968–1972.
Returning to UND for graduate school, Loren worked security at Red River High School, eventually becoming a teacher and coach there, leading the boys’ tennis team and assisting with the girls’ basketball team. He joined the Grand Forks County Wildlife Federation and served as treasurer.
In 1977, Loren returned to Hettinger as the school business manager, a position he held for thirty-six years. He coached junior high girls' basketball, refereed for twenty-five years, and pursued real estate in the 1980s, founding Luckow Real Estate, which operated until 2024.
Loren volunteered extensively: Centennial and Buffalo Heritage Committees, Hettinger Park District, Golf Association, Dakota Buttes Museum Board, Cedar Creek Pheasants Forever Chapter, and West River Ducks Unlimited. He hunted, fished, catered appetizers (including pheasant liver pate), and participated in Fantasy Football leagues, winning $400 in 2024–25.
Loren and Chris Parnow.
Golf has been a lifelong love. He tended bar at the Hettinger Country Club, later leasing and managing it. He helped secure a $200K bond to transform the sand greens to grass. After a heart attack in 2015, he sold his golf cart but now plans to return to golf with a push cart.
Loren and Lynn Luckow (with a mural painted by Joe Manning in the background).
Prior to 1960, the golf course was near Shelf Rock north of the hospital.
A historian and avid collector, Loren fills his home with artifacts representing both local and national history. His collection includes his grandfather’s Hohner harmonica, early photos of Hettinger, cavalry site bottles, and Richard Nixon political posters. His photos are displayed at Kennedy’s Fresh Foods.
Loren’s many roles — son, student, athlete, outdoorsman, teacher, coach, referee, historian, organizer, and board member — have enriched Hettinger for future generations. Surely, Helmine would be proud of the life her grandson is leading.
Loren is a fan of Johnny Cash.
Helmine Skogen Kvanvig.
