When you hear great laughter inside State Bank of Belle Plaine, chances are that Jeremy Vanderlinde is here! Five years ago, Jeremy moved to Belle Plaine from Norwood. His local employer has been a Bank customer since 1962 and Jeremy started visiting the Bank daily as part of his job duties. That’s when he started building a relationship with us. With each visit, there would be a joke shared with the Tellers and other Bankers…and the friendship grew. Jeremy decided he wanted to move his personal banking accounts from a larger bank to State Bank of Belle Plaine. “I like banking with a local, hometown Bank where people know me and treat me like a valued customer. My sense of humor is a gift from God and I like to joke with the Tellers,” said Jeremy. We appreciate the good cheer that Jeremy brings to the Bank and we hope we give it back to him, too!

Dale and Susie (Lana) Stender have been farming since 1966 – corn, beans, wheat and dairy – but they wanted to expand their business in a new direction. The idea for a hunting club seemed perfect. “Pheasants don’t kick as hard as cows!” commented Dale. They could continue farming and use some of their land to the delight of local hunters. In 1984, they started Oakdale Ridge Hunting Club in their garage. Over the years, their clubhouse expanded and today it is a hunters’ retreat featuring large and small game mountings – some are on loan from club members. “We have burgers, beers and birds.” commented Susie, “One of our members is 95 and has hunted with us for over 35 years. Members can hunt for 2-3 hours and go home instead of driving to the Dakotas.” On Thanksgiving Day, they had 18 groups of hunters. It’s a family affair at Oakdale Ridge Hunt Club. The Stender’s son-in-law, Todd VonBank, is instrumental in the operations of

the business and the grandchildren are involved, too. “Dale decided we weren’t busy enough, so we started breeding Labradors 15 years ago. People need good hunting dogs,” said Susie. Their banking relationship with State Bank of Belle Plaine goes back to Susie’s childhood. She opened her first savings account when she was 10 – at the old Bank building. Her father and his store were bank customers, too. The Stenders have always banked with us and according to Susie, “Through good times and tough times, the Bank has always been good to us.”

Jeremy Vanderlinde – Spreading Joy and Laughter with Every Visit to the Bank

Dale and Susie Stender, Oakdale Ridge Hunt Club – Creating Great Hunting Experiences…and Puppies, too!

People you know. Bankers you trust.

Snowbirds and Winter Vacationers