By DORA UNRUH

Northwest of Durham correspondent
(620) 732-2647

Here is wishing everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year for many good days to come in 2009.

Many families were able to have loved ones home from distant places as well as those near. Some were able to travel to relatives far away.

Mike and Mich Rhodes and family of Bradley, Ark., arrived Tuesday at the home of their parents, Harry and Sheryle Rhodes, and stayed until Sunday. On Christmas Day, the Calvin Wiebe family, Darrin Rhodes family, and Ken and Shelly Giesbrecht and Taylor joined them for the day.

Guests for a family dinner Christmas Day at the Ron and Dora Unruh home were Jim and Brenda Enns and Darren, Lon and Deb Hiebert and Matt, Mark and Barb Unruh, Katelin and Sarah, Warren and Anita Unruh, Nathan, Kyle, and Jenna, and David and Ashley Enns and family.

Lavern and Lisa Litwiller and family of Murray, Ky., spent a week at the home of her parents, Bruce and Cheryl Dirks. They returned home Monday. They went to the home of Brad and Joyce Dirks Christmas Eve for a family get-together. Guests were Melvin and Vera Dirks, Gavin and Donnalee Johnson of Texoma, Texas, Ty and Karmeta Johnson of Galva, and Ruston and Lydia Dirks. Lavern, Bruce, and Cheryl visited the home of Cheryl’s mother, Verna Smith, Saturday at Hutchinson.

Richard and Kathy Dirks had Christmas dinner at the home of Doug and Colleen Weinbrenner with other guests. Kathy’s sister, Betty, and Wayne Garrard of Albuquerque, N.M., spent Monday and Tuesday with them. They had lunch Sunday in Newton.

The Gene and Jaraine Redger family got together Christmas Eve of an evening dinner at their home in Newton. Several family members gathered at the Redger home Christmas Day for dinner. The next day, some of the family went to Wichita to help Vicki and her grandson, Tyler Brockman, celebrate their birthdays. Vicki’s was Dec. 25.

Marcella Unruh’s family was home Christmas Day for dinner and an afternoon of visiting at her home.

Ron and Dora Unruh hosted the Duerksen family Christmas Dec. 28 at Hillsboro. There were 38 in attendance.

Guests of Richard and Charlotte Wiebe in their home Christmas Day were Clayton and Betty Wiebe, Tim Davis, Dale Jantz, and Troy and Marla Wiebe.

The Harry Wedel family gathered for their Christmas Dec. 22 at Sugar Creek School near Galva. The Merlin Wiebes and Kelly Koehns hosted the event.

Tom and Sara Penner and family of Canada arrived Dec. 22 and will stay through Jan. 2 at the home of her parents, Larry and Wanda Koehn. Amy and Denise Koehn of Brooksville, Miss., also came for the holidays Dec. 24 and will return Jan. 2. Most of the Koehn family spent Monday evening at the home of Lena Koehn in Newton. Also visiting were Larry’s sister, Jewel Warkentin and husband Dennis and their son, Wilbert, and Janet Warkentin of Cartwright, Manitoba. On Christmas Day the entire Koehn family was together for a family dinner which included Travis and Sharon Koehn and family, Tim and Sara Penner and family, Dalton and Lorna Wiebe and Kyran, and Amy, Denise, and Titus.

Ransom and Lillian Wiebe had houseguests some of the holiday week as Justin and Rebecca Wiebe and family arrived from Bloomfield, Iowa Tuesday through Sunday to spend time with the Wiebes and the Ensz at Hillsboro. Additional Tuesday evening guests were the Mark Wiebe family, Merlin Wiebe family, Anthony and Beth Wiebe, and Tylan, Brian and Rebecca Thomas and family, and Justin and Sheri Wiebe and family.

The Dayton Unruh family got together Dec. 28 at the school for a noon basket dinner.

The Larry Koehn family ate supper together Friday evening in the home of Tim and Shelia Koehn. Other guests were Lena Koehn and Margie Jantz of Newton and Andy and Kristi Koehn of Montezuma.

Ransom and Lillian Wiebe were Christmas Day dinner guests of Jason and Sheri Wiebe with houseguests, Sheri’s sister, Jan Weaver and husband Andrew and family of Pennsylvania.

Ransom and Lillian visited Merlin Wiebe Christmas Day at their new place. They moved to the Harry Wedel house and Harry and Lela moved to their new home in Durham about the middle of December. Kendall and Susie Wiebe moved in the Merlin Wiebe farmhouse.

Larry and Wanda Koehn and Amy, Tom and Sara Penner and family, and Mitch and Carol Unruh were Monday supper guests in the Clayton Wiebe home.