When the seasons change in Pipestone, Minnesota, there is warmth to be found.
At Good Samaritan Society – Ridge View Estates, it radiates from Dianne Brockberg’s knitting needles.
“I like to work with my hands and I like to make things,” says Dianne, a senior living resident.
Dianne has a daily routine. Every day at 1 p.m., you can find her in the library working her way through the yarn.
“She's just peacefully going about her business while everybody's visiting or there's entertainment and she's busy working,” says Senior Living Administrator Melissa McCorquodale.
Dianne says she likes the natural light provided by the library windows.
“I sit there in that comfortable chair and knit away. And then (other residents) come down for the programs.”
Dianne is working with a purpose. Every stitch brings a strand one step closer to another colorful knitted stocking cap.
“Bright colors. I like bright colors. Keeps you happy. Makes you happy,” Dianne laughs.
Each hat takes about two weeks to craft.
“I get done with them, I put it together, and I go, ‘Oh, that turned out pretty nice.’ I surprised myself that it turned out nice,” Dianne says.
Taking care of the community
These creations are a continuation of a heartfelt hobby of Dianne’s longtime friend, Gail, who passed away in the spring of 2025.
“She showed me these stocking caps, and I said, ‘Show me. How do you make these?’ And she did. And then it just kind of went from there,” says Dianne, a lifelong fan of knitting. “So now that's been a blessing for me to be able to knit, make things and give them away.”
These hats will soon have a home, thanks to a collaboration with the Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau. The organization partners with others for the annual Pipestone County Christmas Care program.
“It's important as a community that we take care of our own,” says Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Erica Volkir.
The program helps families with things like a holiday meal, toys, and something to keep warm, like Dianne and Gail’s hats.
“They're always in a variety of colors and sizes. It's special, and I think the people see that when they come through, the families that pick them up for their kids,” Erica says.
“They’ve got a lot of different colors. Some of them have pompoms, and some don't. They're a little more masculine. There's always a lot in (Pipestone) Arrow Green.”
‘I hope they’ll be proud to wear it’
Dianne’s hobby is not only helping her hometown.
“It makes me feel good to make and give away and knowing that people appreciate, especially the kids, that appreciate that hat,” Dianne says.
It’s a connection with her community.
“Pipestone is a very close-knit community, I would say, filled with people who care about each other, care about the community,” Melissa says. “And I think, here, our Dianne is the Good Samaritan and helping for that greater cause with our community.”
“It'd be fun to see where they all go,” Dianne says. “It'd be exciting to see a little child or student running around town with that hat on. I would recognize it – ‘That's a hat I made!’”
And those who don one of Dianne’s hats should know a few simple things.
“Just that it was handmade and some lady that loves to knit, knitted my hat,” Dianne says.
“And they can pick out the colors that they like. And hopefully they'll be proud to wear it.”
