Dutchman receives surprise birthday bash

When a Dutchman turns 50, it's kind of a big deal.

That's why when it came time to plan a birthday party for Monroe resident and business owner Ernst "DutchmanGÇ¥ Terhorst, his partner, Susan Whitfield, decided it was either go big or go home.

The surprise event was held Wednesday night, Dec. 30, at the Monroe Odd Fellows Hall, and featured all the elements of a traditional Dutch 50th birthday celebration. The walls were festooned with signs that said "Hoera 50 Abraham!GÇ¥ a Dutch tradition based on the whimsical idea that if you have lived for 50 years, you are old enough to have seen Abraham. For women turning 50, the same concept applies, except they are said to be old enough to have seen Sarah. Abraham and Sarah are biblical figures who lived to be 175 and 127, respectively.

Tradition also dictates that a life-size doll of the party recipient be added to the d+¬cor, so Whitfield provided that as well. Her nieces helped decorate the room, she said.-á -á -á

The event was catered by Chef Adam Hoffman of Adam's Northwest Bistro and Brewery, with Jerry "Big DogGÇ¥ Dixon serving as the DJ. Numerous members of Monroe's business community attended the celebration, along with Monroe Mayor Geoffrey Thomas and his wife, Lara, Monroe Chamber of Commerce President Mike "Mr. DizzyGÇ¥ Buse and Chamber Operations Manager Shelley Nyhammer.

The Dutchman's sons, Owen and Kevin, surprised Terhorst at the event, as he was unaware they had returned from their holiday travels visiting relatives in Holland. The boys live in southern Washington.

Planning the event was fairly complex, Whitfield confided, since in addition to operating the Dashing Dutchman's Deli together, Whitfield and Terhorst live together.

"I had to get diabolical,GÇ¥ she said.

Whitfield sought help from Monroe School Board President Katy Woods, asking her to approach the Dutchman about a dessert catering job for the night of Dec. 30. Whitfield recently catered Woods' Business Symposium, so the request wasn't out of the ordinary. Whitfield feigned anguish about taking a job on the night of his birthday, and asked Terhorst what he wanted to do.

It was decided they could just have a birthday celebration at a later time, particularly since his sons wouldn't be in town. The Dutchman was fine with taking the catering job, calling his birthday "just another day,GÇ¥ Whitfield said.

Swearing everyone to secrecy, Whitfield invited all the Dutchman's friends to arrive at Odd Fellows Hall by 6:30 on Wednesday night, and asked anybody with a recognizable vehicle to park somewhere else. Having a number of cars parked at the hall when she and the Dutchman arrived made sense, since the ruse was that they were there to cater an event.

Once inside the hall, the Dutchman was instantly surrounded by friends and family, all wishing him a happy birthday.

"He was definitely shocked,GÇ¥ Whitfield said.

Whitfield and Terhorst, now a member of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, opened the Dashing Dutchman's Deli in 2013.