MANKATO — Like tonic on a new haircut, rains on Friday and Sunday softened the edges on fresh-cut grass at Kerns Oak Grove Cemetery in rural North Mankato. Scott Smith, like generations of his family before him, finished preparations for the biggest event of the year — Memorial Day services planned for 10 a.m. Monday — on Thursday.
One of the first things noted by Daniel Loe, outgoing president of the Kerns Oak Grove Cemetery Board, at Monday’s service and annual meeting, was to thank the Smith family for their conscientious care. People who attend the service notice that, he said, and as the cemetery approaches its 160th year next year it is appreciated even more.
“I basically started when I was 13,” Scott Smith said Thursday, decked out in a green “The Lawn Ranger Rides Again” T-shirt. “My dad had me out here helping him doing this, and once he passed my brother (Brady) and I took it on. My brother has since kind of stepped away from it, so it’s just been mostly me.”
The Smiths live adjacent to the cemetery overlooking the Minnesota River Valley, with Scott’s uncle Arnie occupying the house between the cemetery and Scott’s house. Although caretaking there is a family tradition, and his nephew helps him sometimes, Scott Smith said he’s not pressuring the fifth generation to take over when he’s gone. It’s a service that needs to come from the heart.
In attendance Monday was 97-year-old Loren Lindsay, who has lived near the cemetery for most of his life, he said. He served on the cemetery board himself until about a year ago, and draws an unending line of well-wishers among the 150 or so people there. One of them notes Lindsay also cared for the grounds for a bit.
It’s apparent before and after the service that community and family are a big thing for the Kerns Oak Grove Cemetery. Many of the names of people in attendance match the names on the headstones, and they acknowledge the legacy status they possess thanks to past generations.
Don and Kathy Gordon are among those. Not only have they lived there for 54 years — long enough to almost be welcomed in, Don said jokingly — but Kathy’s parents, John and Helen Tidd, are buried there. After they moved there from Indiana, the cemetery seemed an appropriate resting ground for the couple, the Gordons said.
Several Smiths have taken eternal rest at Kerns Oak Grove Cemetery, which had “Kerns” added to its name in 1965 to reflect the pioneer community that surrounded it. One of their stones, belonging to Scott’s father Delbert, who tended the cemetery before passing away in 2006, gets a fist bump when Scott passes. His niece, Autumn Ruth, who died 10 years later and whose stone is next in line, gets a tip of the hat.
It’s just another representation of the respect for family and legacy seen there.
Lisa Haman, cemetery secretary, used original documentation to chart out the cemetery’s history and the Smiths’ involvement in it. A short distance inside the gate on the west end is the stone for the Trask family, which goes back to the cemetery’s beginnings.
According to information gathered for the updated website, it indicates, “land offered for sale for that purpose by Mr. Goodrich” in early minutes. In addition, “A.D. Trask and D.K.F. Trask” were two of the 10 attendees at the first cemetery meeting in 1867, Haman said, as was Caldwell Goodrich.
In the late 1800s, George Smith, Scott’s great-grandfather, became one of the early caretakers, according to the history. Arnie Smith, who attended Monday’s service atop his red Snapper riding mower, said his family moved here from England and George worked at the Saulpaugh Hotel. The homes are at the corner of land where Arnie’s father — George’s son — Robert, farmed.
“In those days, maintaining cemetery grounds was difficult and labor-intensive work,” according to the history. “Grass was cut by hand or with horse-drawn equipment, trees needed trimming, and fences required constant repair after harsh winters.”
In the beginning, the cemetery was smaller.
“They had a one-acre piece then, that he scythed off,” Arnie said, referring to early hand equipment. “I heard him talk about that.” He thought that was done once a year. His dad Robert built a power mower with a friend and Arnie and his brothers, Delbert, Duane and Ray, used that.
Scott said there was another piece of early equipment.
“My grandma, we actually found these recently in (Arnie’s) garage. She had these (hand) shears that she used to go around the stones and trim with,” he said.
Monday’s service took place in the shade of the giant oak tree that sits at the center of the cemetery. Initially, however, the tree was just outside the fence around it. When the cemetery was doubled in size, the oak found itself in an honored spot at the middle. As with any good history, Loe recounted how the tree avoided removal at one point to become the area’s centerpiece.
Improvements through the years included having a crew raise the chain link fence around the perimeter of the cemetery, Scott said. He sprays there to reduce the necessary trimming and to give the cemetery a cleaner appearance. Plus, Scott uses a power mower so he doesn’t need the push-behind as much.
At each gate Monday, people could sign in, pay their cemetery dues and even volunteer to help with normal care and maintenance. It’s another way to bring the Kerns Oak Grove Cemetery family together.
As the big birthday approaches, the board continues to strive for improvements. Graves were reviewed to determine the number of veterans buried there, for example. After Loe read the 39 names they gathered, he asked if anyone had been missed. A hand shot up, and two names were added to the roster.
Nowhere is the dedication to “place” more apparent than in the Smith family. And that was strongest in the 1950s when the four brothers were working in tandem.
“The Smith brothers understood that families visiting loved ones deserved a place of beauty and comfort,” according to the history. “Whether preparing the grounds before Memorial Day services, repairing storm damage, or caring for graves through long Minnesota winters, their work became woven into the identity of Kerns Oak Grove Cemetery itself.”
Monday’s services were conducted by American Legion Post #518 and Auxiliary, which had already been at Rapidan Memorial Park and would later visit Pilgrims Rest Cemetery and Swedish Cemetery. It was one of nearly 20 memorial services planned in the area.