Tornado hits Rolfe, Bradgate

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
June 3, 2004

ROLFE - When severe weather passed through northwest Iowa on May 21, a tornado moved from the edge of Rolfe located in Pocahontas County ripping through Bradgate in neighboring Humboldt County. The cyclone damaged St. Margaret's Cemetery in Rolfe as well as the property of some parishioners of St. Margaret's and St. John the Evangelist Church of Gilmore City.

According to Father Merle Kollasch, pastor at St. Margaret's, the storm hit after 6 p.m.

"It touched ground a little west of Rolfe and then on the southern end it hit the golf course and continued east, knocking over some tombstones and trees in our cemetery, St. Margaret's," he explained. "There was even greater damage to the Rolfe community cemetery."

As the tornado moved out of Rolfe, it struck the farm of Michael and Joni Behrendsen, parishioners at St. Margaret. Their farm is located about one and one-half miles from the cemetery. While their house was spared, most of their buildings were destroyed.

"We are cattlefeeders and it took everything but the house and garage. It took the barn, the two silos, the machine shed, two hay sheds and two cattle sheds. They are just gone," she said. The tornado also killed 13 cattle and they had to destroy another due to its injuries. In addition, the storm demolished her mother-in-law's house, located about a quarter of a mile down the road.

Joni Behrendsen said they were in the machine shed when it struck.

"We couldn't make it to the house because we had a lot of oak trees and they were just snapping - it came so quickly," she described. "My husband grabbed my hand and we went to the south side of the machine shed." At that point, the roof had caved in and everything was flat but a small three- by two-feet area where the two were huddled.

"We were very lucky. Somebody had to have been watching out for us because the whole roof fell in and there was machinery in there," noted Joni Behrendsen.

She came out of it with a broken nose and had to have 14 staples on her head. Michael had a concussion. They each spent one night in the hospital.

When they arrived home from the hospital the next day, she said there must have been anywhere from 150 to 200 people at their farm working. The view of destruction was particularly hard on her husband as she mentioned that he had no memory of the storm. Behrendsen added that people have also brought food in, so she hasn't had to cook for a week.

While they had fairly good insurance on their machinery, the Behrendsens had limited coverage on their outbuildings. This will create a financial hardship.

"My faith has helped me through it," she said. "If we didn't have faith, I don't know what we would have done. For a few days I even questioned my faith. We were lucky to be alive, but it's hard to wake up to all of this mess. God must have a purpose although I don't know what."

She mentioned that this situation makes her think of the pioneers who went through a fair share of diversity, but continued on.

The outpouring of care and concern from neighbors, friends and family has been overwhelming for the couple.

From the Behrendsens, the tornado moved on to Bradgate, located about six miles west of Rolfe. Of the 40 homes there, about 30 were either destroyed or condemned. At least one family who are parishioners at the Gilmore City parish, suffered some property damage in the storm.

"As bad as the storm was, it brought out the very best in a lot of people whether they are professionals such as firefighters and policemen or volunteers from every area around here," said Father Kollasch.

Greg Kaiser, a parishioner at Rolfe, was one of countless volunteers who helped to clean up in the aftermath of the tornado. He mentioned that in addition to people offering assistance from surrounding communities, inmates from the Rockwell City correction facility helped in the effort.

His wife, Joan Kaiser, pointed out that everything - all of the markers and trees - near the cemetery's crucifix were destroyed but it remained.

"It stands there like a memorial. It's just unbelievable," she said. "It's uncanny how the crucifix was left untouched - God must have been watching over it."

Greg Kaiser pointed out that this year St. Margaret's will mark its 105th anniversary. With that in mind, he estimated that the cemetery was nearly 100 years old.

"All of the trees and shrubs were nearly destroyed in the cemetery except around the crucifix," he said. Kaiser added about 10 to 15 percent of the markers were moved or tipped over, including one of Father Daniel A. Tewell who died May 3, 1970. The priest had served at the parish in Rolfe for over 30 years.

Along with the cemetery crucifix, Greg Kaiser observed that many small statues of Mary and angels also escaped damage.

Through the storm, Father Kollasch said the power of nature was evident.

"There are so many things we take for granted and then a storm like this can help us look at things with more gratitude for what we have and for the generosity of the people in our communities. We are really blessed to live in a place like this where people are very caring and respond to our difficulties," he said.