by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleasders.com
Nearly 100 people combined a good time with a good cause by playing bingo on the afternoon of April 3 at the Immaculate Conception Church Dining Hall in Rice.
The annual event, was sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, Rice Council 9138.
Families, with members of all ages, gathered to mark their bingo cards as Knights of Columbus member Jim Schlangen called the numbers. Now and then, shouts of “Bingo!” could be heard as the winners brought winning cards up to be verified, after which they had their choice of various packages of meat.
At one table sat three good friends: Mary Pyka of Rice, and MaryAnn Vogel and Jane Palmersheim, both of St. Cloud. Pyka and Vogel are cousins; Vogel and Palmersheim are sisters-in-law. They joked as they marked their cards with the big colored magic markers. Mostly, they came close to winning but never did.
“Yes, I suppose you call us a trio of losers,” said Vogel, laughing.
“What’s new?” Pyka said, chuckling with a twinkle in her eyes.
But, later, Pyka did lift one of her cards and yelled “Bingo!”
At a table nearby sat Richard and Martha Dubbin of Rice.
“We didn’t win anything,” Martha said later. “But we had fun. It’s nice to get out of the house and do something different this time of year.”
Later, the Knights served a complimentary dinner of barbecues, potato chips and pickles.
About $4,500 was expected to be raised at the bingo afternoon.
There are about 140 active members of the Rice Council’s Knights of Columbus, under the leadership of Grand Knight Bob Kerestes.
Throughout the year, the Knights sponsor all kinds of fundraisers, such as fish fries, a kiddie tractor pull, a bazaar and other fun events for the congregation and other participants. The Knights use the proceeds to give money to the Rice Food Shelf, the local PTA, funds for the seminary, warm-coats program for all ages and many other needs in Rice.
The Rice Council of Knights of Columbus is part of Minnesota Knights District 44, which, besides Rice, includes the cities of Sartell, Sauk Rapids, St. Joseph and Clear Lake.
Founded in 1882 in New Haven, Conn., the Knights is a Catholic fraternal organization. Its guiding principals, worldwide, are charity, unity and fraternity. It now has 15,000 councils and 1.9-million members.
Richard and Martha Dubbin of Rice mark their bingo cards during the annual Knights of Columbus Bingo event April 3 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Rice.
Jim Schlangen, Knights of Columbus member, calls numbers for bingo April 3 in the dining hall of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Rice. The activity raised more than $4,000 for the good deeds the Knights do in the Rice area.
Rice Council Knights of Columbus Grand Knight Bob Kerestes browns hamburger for barbecues to be served as part of a complimentary lunch during a bingo event at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Rice.
Three friends enjoy playing bingo together in the dining hall of Immaculate Conception Church in Rice. From left to right are Mary Pyka of Rice, and MaryAnn Vogel and Jane Palmersheim, both of St. Cloud.
