Photo by Samantha Davis. Yvonne Caron receives flowers from her family on stage while being presented with the Outstanding Senior Citizen Award at the Lyon County Fair on Saturday morning. Denny and Judy Ozmun were also named Outstanding Seniors, while Dale Schroeder was named the Outstanding Veteran and Lee Raske is this year's Hometown Hero.

MARSHALL — A handful of community senior citizen awards were presented at the Lyon County Fair on Saturday morning, showing appreciation to those who have remained involved in the area and made a difference.

Dale Schroeder received the Outstanding Veteran Award, Lee Raske was named the Hometown Hero, and Yvonne Caron along with Denny and Judy Ozmun were given this year’s Outstanding Senior Citizen Awards.

“We are here to celebrate our seniors … We are looking for people who are very dedicated and they make a difference in their community. They have a devotion to volunteering,” Jaen Weilage of the nomination committee said. “All the time, we have people in our community … They’ve stayed in Lyon County, and are still contributing to the quality of life and making such a difference.”

Schroeder was presented the Outstanding Veteran Award from Bruce Fuhrmann, who works with the local Quilts of Valor group.

“It’s a big thank you for the years you put in, I’m very grateful to be able to do it,” Schroeder told the Independent after the ceremony.

Schroeder served as a combat engineer in Korea, and has been a legion member for over 57 years. He also is currently, and has been, the commander for the Marshall Honor Guard.

“I nominated Bruce (for the award) last year, and I think he nominated me this year,” Schroeder said laughingly.

Presented by Modern Woodmen and Glenda Vizecky was Lee Raske with the 2025 Hometown Hero.

“He is active in the Marshall Lions Club, he works with the eye testing, and if you also have seen him around the fairgrounds, the Lions help do our chauffeuring on golf carts,” Vizecky said. “He helps in our open-class building right behind his wife, and he’s moved our quilt frames in there … He also is active at SMSU (Southwest Minnesota State University) and his church.”

Seated next to one another to each receive the Outstanding Senior Award was Caron and the Ozmun’s, supported by family members in the audience.

“We’re coming together as a community to celebrate what it means to be here, and what makes Lyon County special,” Weilage said. “That’s the three people who are with me today.”

Denny and Judy come from Cottonwood, and have been involved with a plethora of community groups and organizations for years.

“Denny, we want to recognize him for all his salvation army work, he has been a bell ringer forever and a day,” Weilage said. “The other activities that he’s been doing so much (for) so many years … The list is long.”

“He’s so involved at his church,” Weilage added. “He’s on the Minneota Friends of the Library Board. He’s done things, and made things continue, because of his background in accounting. He’s been involved with here at the fair … He’s a hand radio operator, he volunteers with that.”

The moment was full circle for Denny, who said his father also received the Outstanding Senior Award in 1977.

“She’s (Judy) also done so much at her church. In fact, I think she served every possible role on committees in the women’s group at church,” Weilage said. “She has, of course, been such a great supporter with Denny. They do a lot of things together. She also has done the things here at the fair, like open class superintendent.”

Denny and Judy were also described as being friendly people that have a desire to stay involved, and bring others in as well.

Caron was next to receive the award, and was accompanied with a hand-made poster that had the number “3,000” on it. She has been a longtime volunteer with Lutheran Social Services, a senior support group, for 20 years.

“She served 3,000 people over those 20 years with one-to-one visits, taking them for groceries, doing shopping for them, going to the doctor,” Weilage said. “She is leaving a legacy by all that she’s provided to those people.”

Caron, originally from Taunton, was given flowers by her brother on stage.

“She just had this spark about her that she was going to make a difference,” Weilage said. “Having one person coming to you and making you feel special, makes a difference, and she has provided that.”

Caron, the Ozmun’s, Schroeder and Raske were all applauded by the crowd, and were flooded with hugs following the ceremony.

“They make such a difference,” Weilage said. “Make the world brighter.”