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Life on Stalker Lake pretty close to heaven
Published Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Richard Kimpton had a big, green storm door ready to put on his Stalker Lake log home and “the boss” — his wife Judy — was lending a hand.
It was one of those warm, July afternoons in the lakes country that are both peaceful and pretty quiet. The sun was beating down and Richard decided to put aside his screwdriver and take a break. Those days of having to complete a project by a certain time are behind him.
There are a lot of people who swear Heaven is pretty close to Otter Tail County in the summertime. The Kimptons will not offer much of an argument. They have been permanent residents of Stalker for two years.
They were fussy about where they bought a place and some of their friends thought they were a little crazy to buy such an out-of-the-way lake home, but there are advantages. One day last week they sat on their new deck and counted seven different loons on Stalker.
“I just love it up here,” said Judy.
The couple has been married 43 years, a marriage that had endured Richard’s tour in Viet Nam with “The Big Red One” – the U.S. Army’s First Division – which started just two months after they had tied the knot.
The Kimptons ran an automotive body shop in Carver, a town southwest of the Twin Cities, before moving up to Stalker Lake.
Like many lake people, the retired couple finds plenty to do – and plenty of time to do it.
“When you’re retired you don’t always get everything done when you’re supposed to,” said Richard.
The Kimptons are not afraid to tackle big projects. They recently replaced a deck on their home — a project that took 2 1/2 weeks to complete.
Last year they shingled their home and poured sidewalk. There might be a driveway paving in their future. If Richard is able to carry out all his projects by December, or even if he is not, they will pack up their boat and head south to escape the worst of Minnesota’s winter.
The Kimptons spend three months of the year in Arizona. They stay on the Colorado River south of Lake Havasu City, Ariz. with their yellow lab, Abby. Richard goes after stripers (striped bass) and sunfish. There are also large and smallmouth bass and catfish to be found in the Colorado.
Duck hunting ceased to interest Richard several years ago when finding good spots became too difficult. He has hunted pheasants in South Dakota and he still like to chase those around.
There are projects ahead for Richard and Judy will have a hand in planning them.
That storm door project was not going away Monday afternoon and neither were the Kimptons.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by ffrogg (anonymous) on July 23, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
certainly heaven is private property
Posted by Newshound (anonymous) on July 23, 2008 at 4:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Those of us fortunate enough to live in OtterTax county should keep our big mouths SHUT! What!? You want this area overrun with big city folks; all gobbling up the good lake front land, catching all the sunnies, buying all the really cool stuff from Fleet Farm and drinking all the vintage beer!
I hope these Stalker Lake folks get their deck done. And shame on you rascals at the Journal for telling the world about our little hideaways in the woods.
Posted by ghostly_1 (anonymous) on July 23, 2008 at 6:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I just can't think of a single good thing to say about this article. I don't direct any anger at the Kimpton's, good for them. They aren't even a good example of the problem those of us that live here have.
It just makes me think of how many good hard working people that are permanent year around residents here, including myself, who will never be able to enjoy a retirement like they do. Why? The cost of lakeshore homes is beyond the point where most of us can afford it. Have you driven around the lakes recently? You should, million dollar homes aren't rare. It makes me wonder why some of the areas around Otter Tail Lake haven't become gated communities that you and I can't even drive into.
They come from area's that have economies that have bloated the equity that they have in there homes or businesses beyond reason, this extends to farms in ND and SD too. Sure, those of us that have lived here all or most of our lives have enjoyed this growth in equity too, but not to the huge extent that other areas of the country have. Even Carver, MN and its proximity to the Twin Cities where the Kimptons are from.
There are many causes of the inflation of lakeshore prices, but most of the residents here can't fathom the money that outsiders are bringing in to lay down for a lake home, and it has contributed to the sad fact that we will never be able to afford it. Yeah maybe its a little jealousy you detect in this, but it is also sadness at the death of a dream.
You that are reading this from your nice lake home, I know you have terrible high taxes, but get over it, if you can afford the house you can afford the tax. Thank God for the blessing you have.
Posted by Newshound (anonymous) on July 24, 2008 at 6:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Ghost.....I think you'll find that a great many people are living on lakes because the family has owned the land for decades. If they had to BUY it today they would be in the same situation you describe.
I know some folks who live on land their grandfather bought 80-years ago.
And I suppose we all understand how you feel about the "rich folks" coming in and buying lakefront land. They also buy up all the best hunting land and the best ranch land out west and the best beachfront in Hawaii.
The problem you and I have is we ain't rich and probably ain't gonna get there either!
Life is GREAT.....but it isn't always fair!
Posted by Critter (anonymous) on July 24, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes Ghost, life was always peachy on Stalker Lake. In the "old days" we used an outhouse, kerosene lanterns, wood stove, and we hauled ice and kept our perishables underground in sawdust. Meanwhile, you "townies" had flush plumbing. It's an outrage! So now the "lakies" have all the amenities and pay through nose for them too. Keep in mind that some old time property owners lost their dream sites because they couldn't afford the increasing taxes. Maybe the explosive growth in the county and the pressure for more revenue is the real culprit? Woof!
Posted by silly272002 (anonymous) on July 24, 2008 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I liked this article. It was a happy upbeat story, finally! I'm sick of sad depressing stories! Good for them! Ghostly, shut up with the poor me's and be happy for someone other than yourself and maybe life would be a little better for ya!
Posted by metasonics (anonymous) on July 24, 2008 at 10:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
they earned their money I think?
I'm glad they brought it to our area to spend!
maybe we should encourage others to spend money in our area, and reap the rewards of them putting money into the pockets of area business?
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