FAIRMONT - A small white angel stands on the hilltop, drawing attention to an often-overlooked city park on the southern tip of Lake Sisseton.
Nestled between Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center and Shoreacres Drive is the beginning stages of a memorial garden.
A short pathway leads to where volunteers laid down pavers to form a large circle. Within that circle is the "angel of hope," benches and a lamppost. The ground surrounding the circle is prepared for a garden that soon will be planted. Down the rolling hillside, Lake Sisseton can be seen in the distance.
"It's sort of a place to meditate," said Don Bauman, "for people to come here and think about things. This was made for everyone in Fairmont."
It's the sort of place Bauman needs himself these days. His wife, Lorraine, died in November. The two were close, working together at Don's insurance and stock brokerage business. They also worked together in the community, reaching out to grieving parents, grandparents and siblings since they started the Fairmont chapter of The Compassionate Friends in 1980, after their son, Thomas, passed away.
"When Lorraine was really ill, and she was in hospice, we had talked and said, 'Wouldn't it be nice to have a memorial garden?'" said Claudia Schaaf, a member of Compassionate Friends. "And Lorraine said, 'We've always wanted to do that, but we never had a place.'"
After her death, a group of friends and family decided to make it happen, thanks to the generosity of several private donors.
Don approached the city park board and got permission to proceed.
"They were excited that someone wanted to improve the park, and they're hoping more people will want to do the same," said Denise Chrischilles, another member of Compassionate Friends.
The work isn't complete yet though. The garden still needs to be planted and the city has promised to cut away the curb for wheelchair access. Also, engraved pavers will soon appear, bearing the names of loved ones who have passed away.
"This is open for all members of the community," Don said.
Anyone interested in purchasing a paver for engraving can call him at (507) 235-5059.
"Some people may have lost loved ones years ago," he said, telling a story of a woman whose spouse is buried in Fort Snelling, too far for her to frequently visit his grave. "It's nice to have that connection."
The next phase of the project is the completion of a pathway lined with flowers, leading from the corner of Shoreacre Drive and Woodland Avenue up to the Angel of Hope and engraved pavers. Someday, Don envisions the garden expanding across and down the hillside, creating a lush place of natural beauty, where anyone passing by can stop, relax and possibly find a bit of peace.
When the memorial garden is closer to completion, it will be named after Lorraine.
"She touched a lot of hearts when she was alive and helped many people through the most difficult days of their lives," Schaaf said, speaking from personal experience.
