She wasn't born in Wadena and never attended a single class at Wadena-Deer Creek schools. But Jane Kurtti will be remembered for a long time at the school.
Kurtti's donation was enough for the district to establish a foundation -- a fund whose interest earnings can pay for scholarships or other enhancements to the schools.
Kurtti, a native of Star City, Ind., spent many years farming near Motley with her husband, who passed away in February. The couple had one daughter, who died last summer.
Why would someone who had never lived in Wadena until last fall give such a generous monetary gift -- $20,000 -- to its school?
"It's no use just keeping it," the unassuming Kurtti said. "I don't have much in the way of family. You might as well put it where it can do some good."
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Kurtti also donated $14,000 to the city of Wadena to be used toward entrance signs.
While Kurtti just moved to Wadena from Arkansas, she had visited the city often while farming near Motley.
"We lived in Minnesota for many years," she said. "This is where we came to."
The Wadena-Deer Creek school board used the donation to establish a foundation -- clearing a minimum investment hurdle and starting the fund with the Minnesota Community Foundation. With the framework established, the foundation can now start accepting smaller donations.
"This is the start of our foundation," Superintendent Jerry Enget told Kurtti. "Without you we couldn't have done it."
School board chairwoman Judy Taves added her thanks.
"Your generous spirit is helping a lot of people," she said.
Shrugging off the praise and the apprecation for her gift, Kurtti said the money was going to a good cause.
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"I happen to like Wadena anyhow," she said.
In other action at Monday night's WDC School Board Meeting:
- The board approved changes to student handbooks for the elementary and high school for the 2006-07 school year with only minor and typographical changes. Coaches' and advisors' handbooks were also approved.
- Though it had already become practice, the National Honor Society raised its minimum grade point average from 3.3 to 3.5
