By Meredith Stanton Vaselaar
Darla Kramer has been hired by Nobles County to be the new employee at the Adrian Branch Library. Longtime employee, Joan Johnson, retired at the end of September. Kramer began working at the Library in October.
Darla grew up on the family farm ten miles east of Ellsworth, and is a graduate of Ellsworth High School. She is the daughter of Algene and Bertha (Groote) Houtsma, who now reside near George, Iowa. Darla married Kriene Kramer of Fulda, and they moved around a lot – Fulda, Minnesota, Phoenix, Arizona, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Valley Springs, South Dakota – before settling on their current farm south of Adrian twenty-four years ago; and the couple has farmed together since that time. They are the parents of two daughters: their older daughter, Kourtney (Kramer) Leuthold lives south of Rushmore, MN and is an ESL 7th grade teacher in Worthington. She is married to Kale Leuthold and they have two children. Kelvyn is a kindergartner at Worthington and Kaylee is two years old. They are expecting their third child in January. Kale is a farmer and the family lives on the farm on which Darla was raised. Their younger daughter, Karly (Kramer) Schwartz lives in Adrian with her husband, Sterling Schwartz, and their newborn son, Kenneth. Karly is employed by Southwest Western Coop in the occupational therapy division, and works in the surrounding schools. Sterling is employed by Lakes Gas of Adrian.
When asked what prompted her to apply for the job, Kramer says, “I’ve always loved reading and libraries. This seemed like a dream job to me.” Now, after a few weeks working in Adrian, what does Kramer think of her new position? “I think it is my dream job! The remodeled library is so amazing!” She says, “If you haven’t stopped by you totally should check it out. I appreciate the patience the patrons and co-workers show me as I learn this new position.”
Kramer is settling in very well at the library, “I am enjoying working with the residents of Adrian and the surrounding community. Even though I have lived here a long time it’s very interesting to meet new people. I love the small town atmosphere and seeing the downtown traffic.”
Feel free to stop by and say, “hello,” to Darla at the Library. The Adrian Branch Library is open six days a week from September through May (closed on Saturdays during the summer months); 214 Maine Avenue, Adrian; 507-483-2541; www.plumcreeklibrary.org/adrian
