Balaton residents gathered Saturday to honor the town’s finest
California-born Theresa Zaske quietly arrived in Minnesota many years ago to attend Carleton College in Northfield. Little did she realize at the time that she would never leave. And Balaton residents long ago, acquired a deep appreciation for the West Coast transplant and what she has meant to the small town.
For her efforts, which bridge decades, Zaske was named the 2024 Balaton Area Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year at Saturday evening’s Chamber banquet.
“Lucky for all of us, she never left,” said emcee and Chamber President Brita Fricke. “Titles and organizations don’t fully capture the heart of what she does. It’s the moments — the countless ways she has quietly made a difference — that truly define her impact.”
That impact is spread out across a number of different groups Zaske is a part of, including the Balaton Area Community Foundation, Balaton Fire Department Marshall/Buffalo Ridge PFLAG and the United Way of Southwest Minnesota. Fricke noted that Zaske has helped organize events, secured equipment for local parks, supported the local preschool, and has worked as part of a group of volunteers to improve the Balaton Community Center.
“I love Balaton,” Zaske said to begin her acceptance speech. “I love how everyone works together and the way people support each other. There are so many small communities that are dying, and ours just continues to thrive. I’m humbled.”
Zaske and her wife, Penni, make their home on the shores of Lake Yankton.
Zaske wasn’t the only person recognized Saturday for their efforts to improve Balaton. Two residents were honored as Volunteers of the Year: Teri Hively and Kasey Holm.
Teri Hively
Hively might be best known for her dedication to both the Balaton Fire Department and Balaton First Responders, having responded to emergency calls for more than 30 years. Despite working full-time out of town, she was able to respond to 76 of 149 ambulance pages in 2024. She averages 68 calls a year and serves as treasurer of the Balaton Fire Relief Association.
Hively, who lives north of Balaton, makes a deep impact in Marshall as well as Balaton as a devoted member of Grace Life Church of Marshall where she serves on the Ministry Board and helps prepare meals for Wednesday night activities.
Speaking of food, she has also helped organize and run the free Thanksgiving meal in Marshall for over 30 years, a meal that serves more than 700 people.
She also gives of her time and talents to the Balaton Sportsmen’s Wild Game Feed and other events involving her kids and grandkids.
“Balaton is blessed to call you ours,” Fricke said. “It’s hard to put into words what it means to be a dedicated volunteer, but when you meet this woman, you begin to understand.” Hively and her husband, Brad, live north of Balaton and have raised four boys, three who have followed in her footsteps as members of EMS and the fire service. She is also the proud grandmother to 11 grandkids.
“I’ve been very blessed to be a part of the ambulance crew for all these years and be able to touch people’s lives,” Hively said. “I will continue to do my part as long as I am able. I work alongside some very wonderful people.”
KASEY HOLM
Holm is a committed member and chief of the Balaton Fire Department and is an EMT for the First Responders as well, working to ensure the fire department is well-equipped and prepared for any emergency by securing funding, training others and advocating for the needs of his team.
Holm is vice-president of the Balaton Sportsman’s Club, a group that he joined at a young age, working alongside his brother and father.
“His passion for conservation and outdoor recreation shines through in his efforts to maintain and improve local hunting and fishing lands, ensuring they remain available and sustainable for future generations,” said Fricke.
Holm and his wife, Ashley, have three boys: Finley, Landon and Odin. He is a business owner, co-owning HMI with his brother, but despite his busy schedule, he has built a reputation of always being willing to lend a helping hand to a friend or community member in need.
“I don’t know what to say,” Holm said. “I want to thank my family for being so understanding for not being around for everything. I thank my dad — everything I fall into is because of what he’s been involved with in the past. I don’t feel like I’m the only person in this room who deserves this award. I’m just a small cog in the wheel, it takes everybody in this room to do things.”
• Fricke opened the banquet by sharing all the Chamber has done over the last year, including Fun Fest, the Fall Tour of Homes, Trunk-or-Treat, Kids’ Christmas Corner, Light up Legion-Lion Park, Holiday Soup Supper and the Easter Egg Hunt. Fricke also recognized the active Chamber members who attend most if not all meetings: Vice President Julie Erickson, Secretary Kelly Kaare, Treasurer Ashley Swan, Kylie Chandler, Chelsea Trump, Jared Hively, Joan Wendland, Marvin Anderson, Tami Wee, Tracy McCloud, Marla Anderson and Cassi Stibbe.
• After the invocation, door prize giveaways from the Balaton EDA and the dinner, the floor opened to Dylan Fricke, Balaton city councilman, Pam Johnson from the History Center, Greg Erickson, representing the EDA, Zaske speaking on behalf of the BACF and Holm for each to share updates from their respective groups, boards and organizations.
