Spring Valley’s O’Connor Court dedicated July 8

“This is a lasting memorial to Steve O’Connor.  He was commander for a lot of years, and he was our mentor.  He was a state commander, and he also did a little work for the national organization.  Since he passed away, we’ve missed him,” stated Spring Valley Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Commander Ross Heusinkveld, standing before a gathering at the VFW Hall on a rainy Wednesday evening, speaking about Army nurse O’Connor, the post’s late former commander, a state commander and a representative to the national VFW organization, for whom the little green park next door to the south was named.

The July 8 dedication ceremony featured remarks from Heusinkveld, Spring Valley Business Alliance (SVBA) member Shelly Skindelien and Charlotte O’Connor, Steve’s wife who is also an Army nurse veteran and who was pleased to accept the recognition on her husband’s behalf.  Skindelien welcomed the attendees and outlined how O’Connor Court, the garden between the VFW Hall and the next building came to exist there as a collaborative effort between the VFW and the SVBA, sharing that the opportunity to work together to build something that could serve the community was one not to be missed.  Earlier, the lot had been identified as a potential location for the local veterans’ organizations to build a new veterans’ memorial – that initiative has been moved to the intersection of Highway 63 and Tracy Road on the corner near MinnWest Bank – and because the VFW had constructed a deck to the south of its meeting hall, converting to a park the lot that remained following the 2017 fire that razed the former VFW/Johnny Ringo’s building seemed a fitting purpose.

Heusinkveld recalled that the 1871 Italianate structure that once stood as part of the VFW had belonged to the VFW as a bar and eatery for decades, but it was sold to Aaron Kolling and Matt Kolling, who leased the lower level to bar owner Ray Jacobson, who operated Johnny Ringo’s.  “Sometime in 2007, the VFW decided to get out of the bar business, and we sold the building to the Kolling brothers.  That went fine until October 2017 when the building burned down.  The Kolling brothers got the property back and gave it to the VFW.  We built a deck, and later on, Duane Knutson took it upon himself to build the base for a flag and put the flag out.  We approached the SVBA about putting in O’Connor Court, got the ball rolling.  That fire in 2017 turned into a great thing, O’Connor Court.”

Skindelien took up the task of fundraising for the electrical infrastructure and for the benches, trees, retaining walls and memorial paver bricks, arranging for sidewalks to be installed, and carrying out public relations for the then-unnamed odd little green between, devoting spare minutes from early 2025 to present to rounding up donations from organizations and individuals who wished to see the planned park become a place to rest while wandering downtown to shop or peruse the sights.  She appeared at city council and local clubs’ meetings to advocate for the verdant venue, explaining how what an unexpected slot of grass was wedged into downtown could be something that could encourage people – residents and visitors alike – to pause and enjoy the moments in their day.  Skindelien remarked during the dedication ceremony that “we take pride in everything we do here” and that the park that had been her project for the past year and a half or longer was no exception, meaning that choosing a name for it involved great consideration.

Charlotte O’Connor and her family attended to accept the honor and recognition.  She introduced her daughter, Katie, and her children, son Brian and his children, and added that eldest son Sean lives in the Philippines, then went on to tell about how Steve would have relished the occasion for the chance to network, be it with or without a little Jameson in hand and an Irish tall tale to share for good measure, and how being a veteran was one of his most cherished accomplishments, as well as was working for the wellbeing of other veterans.  “From the time he retired in 1986, he was active in the post…he even worked with the legislators for the veterans’ cemetery in Preston, or counseling (other veterans).

He was so proud to be a part of the VFW.”

Skindelien thanked everyone who has contributed to the ongoing fundraising and cited that “we continue to fundraise,” even though what is now O’Connor Court has benches, a flagpole, sidewalks, trees, a lovely lawn, two little libraries and access to the VFW Hall’s deck, because the SVBA hopes to add planter boxes and flowers to further beautify the little rectangle that will be available to the public every single day of the year.  Heusinkveld concluded, “This is a true honor for Steve and his family.  The VFW is proud to have been part of it.  I hope it’s used and people enjoy it in the future.”