Class of 1965 - St. Olaf College

S t. Ol af College
WINTER 2014/2015 NEWSLET TER
Class of 1965
PAUL EASTMAN - CLASS CORRESPONDENT
Greetings Classmates of ’65,
I am excited. Our 50th class reunion is just a few months away. I remember when all those “old” people came
onto “our” campus fifty years ago and I chuckled. We had a small (10 of us) meeting at Larsmont Cottages
near Two Harbors in June and a good sized (>70 of our classmates) meeting mid-September to plan the many
events that will be a part of our reunion. WE didn’t look old. We were full of life and excitement about a
chance to get together as the Class of ’65 and reconnect with all the people with whom we spent our formative
college years. This reunion is really going to be something special and your attendance will make it even more
special. Please come!
Sadly, a few more of us will not be able to be with us other than in spirit:
Jerry Zank, 70, passed away peacefully in the company of family on May 27, 2014. –
Gulliver Schools of Miami Florida wrote on their web site: We fly our flags at half-staff as our school and
students, parents, faculty and staff members pay honor and respect to our beloved Prep principal, Jerry Zank.
Jerry passed away on May 27, 2014, at the age of 70. The Gulliver family is deeply saddened by the passing of
this inspirational principal and man.
Jerry served six years at Gulliver, first as principal at the Middle School and most recently as principal at the
Prep. He was a devoted family man and was blessed to marry the love of his life, Catherine, who survives him.
Capping off an amazing career in education that spanned more than four decades, Jerry remained an energetic
force at Gulliver up until his passing. He was valued by so many in the Gulliver family. His ability to easily
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encourage our students will have a lasting impact. He touched the hearts and lives of many.
Catherine Clausen Deam, 69, a longtime Oak Park volunteer and community leader, died on June
26, 2013. Born on March 23, 1944 in Chicago, she spent her youth in Chicago, was valedictorian of
her high school class and graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., with a Bachelor of
Arts degree in mathematics, and a minor in French. She and her husband moved to Oak Park in the
early 1970s, shortly after the birth of their first daughter.
Described by a friend as the “Grand Dame of Oak Park,” she was a dynamic director of many local
organizations including the Park District of Oak Park board of commissioners, Pleasant Home
Foundation, Parenthesis, and the League of Women Voters. She not only served these non-profits
but was pivotal in creating the Parenthesis Kitchen Walk, getting Cheney Mansion donated to the
park district; and helping Pleasant Home become a National Historic Landmark.
Always a humanitarian, Catherine and her family provided short-term foster care for more than 25
children through Hephzibah Children’s Association in Oak Park. Many remembered her long into
adulthood. She worked as a math and French teacher in the Denver area elementary schools, served
as a Strikers and AYSO soccer coach and Brownie/Girl Scout leader, and hosted many International
Exchange students from Germany, Spain and Argentina. In 1985, she was named Illinois Citizen of
the Year by the Illinois Association of School Social Workers for her outstanding community service
on behalf of children.
Recently, she turned her love of history and community into work as a real estate agent for
BHG/Gloor Realty Co. She enjoyed introducing newcomers to the historic housing stock in Oak
Park and sharing her breadth of knowledge on many house tours. She was a member of the First
United Church of Oak Park and the Rotary Club of Oak Park-River Forest.
1 Ms. Deam also loved her Colorado home and traveled there often to enjoy nature and the slopes.
She served as host to the Steamboat Springs Ski School and brought many Oak Park skiers to the
mountains, asking them to “make a donation to Pleasant Home” as payment for staying at her
home.
Catherine lived her life for her family, friends, volunteering and travel. Her adventurous spirit and
love of history took her to historic homes, cities, and landmarks across the United States and around
the world, including France, Guatemala, Turkey, Budapest, Greece, Croatia, South America, and
Morocco.
Catherine Deam is survived by her husband, Dr. Malcolm Deam; her brother, George Clausen; her
children, Holly (Todd) Larson; Matthew (Jackie); and Erica Deam (Omar) Elbekri; four
grandchildren; and her dog Annie Doodle. She was preceded in death by her parents, Sara Lee and
Richard Clausen.
Eugene Harold “Stretch” Lund was born July 7, 1940 in Minnesota. “Stretch” was an
entrepreneur who owned a group of family businesses including a farm corporation in Minnesota, a
land and cattle corporation and an insurance professional corporation in Texas. He was a retired Lt.
Colonel Air Force officer with twenty-five years of service within the communications career field.
During that time his customers included the president and vice president of the United States, the
White House Communications Agency, Executive Department senior level executives, Department
of Defense leadership, plus all four military services. In addition he served the State Department’s
Embassy and Consulate system, as well as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies and other
aligned nations.
His military career also included service as a military aide to Vice President Mondale’s family, 1977,
the Presidential Inauguration and Advance Man for Vice President Bush’s visit to the Azores Island
in 1983. He had also been an escort officer, aide and briefer for national leaders, ambassadors,
members of the United States Congress, selected national foreign dignitaries, national and
international business executives, as well as flag officers.
His academic education included a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from St. Olaf University, a
Masters of Business Administration and was also a Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force Officer
Training Corps. Furthermore, he was an FAA rated commercial pilot and flight instructor and a
licensed insurance agent, licensed realtor and a licensed National Association of Securities Dealers’
representative in Texas and Oklahoma.
2 A native of Minnesota, Mr. Lund made Sherman, Texas his home since 1974 and as of July 1990 the
Lund family was in residence in Sherman. Mr. Lund was very active in the community which
included the Sherman Area Chamber of Commerce, the Sherman Rotary Club, the Texoma Valley
Council BSA, the Grayson County Board of Realtors, the Red River Valley Arts Fest, the
Republican Party of Grayson County, the VFW post 2772 and many others.
Eugene was a family man. He loved to pamper his wife, loved his son and would play on the floor
with his grandchildren when he wasn’t trying to feed the birds and cats near his home.
Eugene “Stretch” Lund is preceded in death by his father Harold Lund and his mother Esther Lund
and is survived by his wife of 43 years, Flory Ann Lund, their son and his wife David Christopher
and Morgan Sherrod Lund as well as his grandchildren Grayson David Lund and Scout Keeley
Lund.
Karen Nelson Conger: On May 5, 2014 after a brief illness
Karen passed away peacefully surrounded by her family. Karen
was born on February 20, 1943 in Glendale, CA to Madeline and
Jon Nelson. After World War II the family moved to Lu Verne,
IA so her father could join his father at their family owned bank.
She loved and excelled in sports and was pursued by Look
Magazine to work for and star on a basketball team they had. She
was accepted by St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN and majored
in Liberal Arts. In 1963 she was hired by Continental Airlines to
fly as an Air Hostess. She loved her job and continued it for 20 years flying both domestic and
international flights. She was invited to hunt tiger in Nepal and spent two weeks in the jungle on
Safari at the age of 23 in 1966.During her flying career she met and married Richard Wood Rhodes
in 1971. They were members of the Los Angeles Country Club. She became a passionate golfer and
was asked to be on the Women's Golf Team and was also asked to serve on the Junior Golf
Committee. Love of the game was so much a part of her. Her marriage to Richard Rhodes ended in
1982. In 1983 Karen married James Greenwood Conger a DC-10 Captain with Continental Airlines.
They had a son; Christopher Conger. She is survived by her husband Jim Conger, son Christopher
as well as her sister Sonja Nelson and brother Jon Nelson.
Now on to some of the Christmas cards I received last year:
Jerry Elling wrote in his Christmas 2013 card: It is a real winter scene outside with all the snow
we've had already. Guess it's a little more than we need but Jer and Michael plan to take advantage
of it by getting out on the slopes.
I spent two weeks last May in CA with Sonja and the kids while Haitham visited his family in Jordan.
It was a busy time with Sonja's teaching, violin lessons for lack and Raija, swim lessons for lack and
dance for Raija. In July Sonja and the kids joined us in Vail like previous years and then came back
with us to Wisconsin to be at Lake Holcombe. lack's favorite activity was to go fishing. Both lack
and Raija brought their violins along and it was enjoyable to hear them practicing. Raija is in 3rd
grade and is in the school orchestra. Little Aiden is almost three and quite the talker. He loved to
3 ride the tricycle when at the lake last summer. It has been so nice that we've seen Sonja's family each
summer, both in Colorado and here at the lake.
Jer and I drove to Park City, Utah, in September. During our week's stay Jer tried his luck at fishing
for trout and we explored the area further. Then in October we drove to Branson, MO. Before
leaving the area and the hilly and winding roads of the Ozarks, we explored some territory in
Northern Arkansas which was all new to us. Jer discovered some good trout fishing areas but
unfortunately did not have his fishing equipment with him.
Michael continues to be a violinist in the Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra and also in the Red Cedar
Symphony in Rice Lake. Those groups require that he keeps up with the instrument. While the
orchestras take a break, his passion is golf and he tries to get out on the course almost every day.
We wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy and Healthy New Year.
Fay Wolf Vork wrote in her 2013 Christmas card: Warm Christmas greetings from my home to
yours. This has been a difficult year and some of you may be unaware of what has happened. My
apologies, but everything transpired so quickly.
Dick had been in failing health and despite trips to specialists, nothing seemed to help. Last January
and February we took many trips to Mayo in Rochester. It culminated on Friday, February 15th with
his diagnosis of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), better known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
It was a numbing shock! Several household adaptations followed including a ramp installed in one
side of our double garage within days of his diagnosis. We were fortunate to have home health aids
make frequent regular visits to help with his care because he declined so rapidly. The love and
support from family and friends to both of us was a gift beyond measure. We knew we were in
God's hands and so it was on Easter Sunday evening, March 31st surrounded by family that Dick
grasped his Master's hand. It had been just six weeks and two days since his diagnosis.
Since Easter, I have continued tutoring and that has brought some much needed stability to my life.
On May 2nd our first Great Grandbaby, Levi Jonathon was born to Grandson Jonathon and Anika
Enger. In August, I had a chance to hold and hug that beautiful child. Jonathon graduated from
Trinity Seminary a year ago and has hopes for a call to a congregation. Granddaughter Kari Kaus
accepted a position in the Rochester Mayor's office and husband Josh had back surgery last month.
One niece graduated from St. Olaf and is working at a children's shelter in Texas, her sister passed
her MN State Boards and is a physical therapist in Minneapolis: their younger sister is a sophomore
at St. Olaf. Another niece graduated from law school AND passed the Florida Bar, her younger
sister and husband presented the family with great niece Caroline to join 3 year old sister Katie. We
have a great-great niece Ariella Ohana, born August 31st on Dick's side of the family.
I have had the sewer back up in my basement over a holiday weekend, enjoyed a trip to Washington
D.C. with my daughter Diane, my milestone birthday celebration was at the Chanhassen Dinner
Theater with mom, both daughters, Diane and Linda, and their husbands, Bob and Craig. On a
Sunday in August near midnight, I had a visitation from a bat with ensuing chaos, which was
4 followed a couple of weeks later by needing the skills of a mouse exterminator. Now, I have just
completed a seven week grief support session sponsored by Hospice. It has been most helpful in
guiding me through the roller-coaster emotions of grief. Going through grief is tough hard work and
a long slow process.
The holidays mean more firsts being alone, but with the loving help of family and friends I will
continue to work through the pain. I grieve for how much I have lost but I am grateful for how
much I have left. I look forward to the future with confidence knowing that our Savior, the
Bethlehem Babe who came to bring Peace to our World will grant His Peace to each of you and to
me, too.
Bob Gross wrote in his 2013 Christmas card: Each Christmas I rack my brain for something to
write: to bring some interesting things about our year to light. But each year gets more difficult as
the time flies by. My brain seems to get duller, but I am still going to try. It has gotten to be a most
difficult feat. So most likely it will be something short and sweet. Both Bob and I are lucky, our
bodies working still, as all of our retirement hours we fill. All of our getaways don't seem to slow.
Visiting kids and grand kid keeps us on the go.
Last Spring we RV'd to California's central coast, Beautiful country--Ioved the ocean the most. Also
in the summer was a trip to the Midwest celebrating 50 years of marriage of Joan and Dave was the
best. This fall a quick trip to Arizona to celebrate Halloween with old Park City friends--hate all the
miles between. Our kids keep so busy--don't like them so far away but it helps to know they love
where they are. The same words seem to come from grandparents all Life was much simpler when
our kids were small. We will spend Christmas in our home this year. Then head to Texas to bring
Bob's Mom some cheer (96 years old) A new adventure awaits us during the cold winter days. We
will spend three months RVing, catching Arizona's warm rays. It is a first for us; we will see how it
goes Bob will fly back here some when it snows. He still loves to cross country ski--to quit cold
turkey he cannot bear With a couple of races in Park City--he'll be there Well, I've managed to bring
you all up to date Maybe my brain is still in its rhyming state. We think of you all not just at this time
of year And love hearing from you as the year's end draws near. Wishing you the Joy of Family, the
Happiness of Friends, and the Wonder of the Holiday Season
Henrietta Thies Lowery wrote in her 2013 Christmas letter: Caroline, our pit bull-hound person,
takes one sniff outside and says, "I'm not going out, Squirrels do tempt me, but not when its 8
degrees. Let me find my toy.” Logistics, change and beauty characterized 2013. The only part
of our lives that didn't change is our snug home.
Marcus-George is deep into Culinary Institute of America's curriculum. We get delicious visuals
by IPhone at work, of course when we're hungry, weekly. One Chef let them make 6 kinds of
caviar after they survived the fish unit. A day in MG 's life: cutting up huge salmon, going home
stinking of fish from head to toe, doing English journaling, restaurant management, falling asleep for
6 hours. Then up at 4 am to do it again the next day. He made our Thanksgiving turkey with a sauce
which kept it perfectly moist, even if someone had forgotten to remove the giblets. We found them
as we stuffed the bird.
Bright, eager Roosevelt University teacher candidates give George new challenges. Some, 60 have
had motivating mentoring teacher parents or good classroom teachers. Others are determined to
5 shake up the status quo because of their bad experience. Not ALL new ideas will come from the
Teach for America graduates.
Road trips are a Lowery tradition. South Beach, Florida's colorful art deco architecture, both human
and concrete contrasted with the green rolling hills of northern Georgia. Georgia is a golfer's
paradise. We had a chance to view Dr. King's memorial during our visit in Washington, D. C. at
New Year's. It was part of celebrating Enjay's birthday. A whole day was spent at the Library of
Congress. Seeing the actual documents from U.S. history made Marcus-George exclaim, "This is
where history should be taught-at a museum where we can really see it." The commemoration of the
work of Dr. Arnold Mitchem, George's best friend and former boss, was celebrated in September.
George was able to reconnect with the Trio family who are helping first generation, low income,
college students succeed. The gap is worse today. The struggle to take a piece of the American pie
for everyone continues. It is good to see Northwestern University taking an interest in creating high
school college prep academies in regular high schools. This sounds like Upward Bound 2013 style.
Hopefully, private money and more political pressure will push Congress.
Henrietta sees the gorgeous sunrises as she drives Lake Shore Drive. Deneen Elementary is a quiet,
hardworking southeast school. It amazes her that no entrepreneur can build grocery stores or a bank
south of Roosevelt Road. It is an eerie contrast from the crowded commercial north side. I help 9
years old wiggly Makaila and other special needs students with their reading, writing, and math. She's
hard headed, but smart. Friday, Ms. Riley's class attended a writing field trip downtown. Parents and
28 students created their own 10 page story using some amazing technology. The artist, the typist,
the students and the storyteller worked simultaneously. Students saw the artist draw their characters,
typist type the plot, while students corrected the sight words. Then students wrote their own ending.
Students received a published book from the mysterious, dramatic, hidden, Lady Publisher with the
Red Hand. Elizabeth, my sister, would have loved to use that drawing technology. Makaila sat still
for 2 hours. She participated with her class!!
Peace and Health to Each and Every one of You!!! Our World is in God's Hands. He has taken a
peacemaker to help him. -Nelson Mandela.
Jim Johnson wrote in his 2013 Christmas letter: Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you
and yours. Here in San Jose not too much has changed for us as we continue in good health and
keep active with various local pursuits, plus some traveling. In 2013 we made birding excursions to
Point Arena CA in January; Morro Bay CA in February; Ohio in May; and Albuquerque NM in
November. There were hiking and touring trips to Zion and Moab UT in March; Yosemite CA in
April and August; southwest Canada in September; and the "Wine Country" in October. For the
August Yosemite visit we rented a house so that Linnea and Erik and his family could join us. We
also visited Erik and family in Needham MA in September, and will be there again for Christmas
(Linnea as well).
Linnea's year brought considerable drama as she and Michelle agreed to break up and dissolve their
domestic partnership. She plans to sell the house in the spring. Then her ward at the state mental
hospital was closed in a reorganization and she has shifted to a different one, dealing with the
criminally insane -- even more stress!
Erik's job as basketball coach brought its own drama, dealing with diverse and unpredictable young
women. His first season back at Boston College ended up quite encouraging, but the Atlantic Coast
6 Conference has gotten even tougher with the addition of schools such as Notre Dame, and
recruiting seems even more time-consuming with changes in NCAA rules. Daly and Avery are doing
fine in school and activities, now separated as Daly goes to a 6th-grade-only facility.
Karen Hjelmervik Kelly wrote in her Christmas letter: Greetings from the home of the Naval
Academy (note Army-Navy game results). It's only my granddaughters and me in the photo because
John has left me to pursue his personal life goals, so I am starting a new chapter of my life. I have
just finished another term teaching English as a Second Language at the local community center.
This teaching is satisfying, helpful, and downright fun.
My two older granddaughters in San Diego are elegant, serious ballerinas, and Jessica, in
Philadelphia, is into gymnastics and skiing in the winter. All three girls are extreme fashionistas. I
have a few excursions planned in the winter and spring, but I'm also taking two classes through the
community college myself. Just can't seem to stay away from the campus.
Have a merry, healthy, and laughter-filled holiday season and keep in touch.
Judi Boe wrote in her 2013 Christmas letter: In 1913 and 1930, The St. Olaf Choir traveled to
Norway. In June of 2013, the choir retraced these itineraries. A study travel trip was designed to
include three of these concerts. The most thrilling was in the cathedral in Trondheim. I heard
echoes of my mother singing there in 1930.
Jon and Carol DeJong Bisbee wrote in their 2013 Christmas letter: CHRISTMAS GREETINGS!
What a whirlwind 2013 has been -- ups and downs and lots of travel. If some of this is old news for
you, just skip over those parts!
In Feb. we visited good friends in Arizona, and spent delightful time in Sedona, Phoenix,
Albuquerque, and the Santa Fe area. We went south for warm weather and ended up in snow, but
we had a great time anyway. In June we spent a delightful week with Kari and family in Oregon.
Over the 4th of July, John’s sister joined us for a 4-wheeling adventure in the Colorado mountains.
Later in July we were in the Midwest.
7 August found us in a beautiful home which we rented in the mountains about 2 hours from here.
We had 10 days of hiking, reading, doing puzzles, sitting in the hot tub and generally relaxing. We
welcomed the change of pace from our usual vacation.
Best of all, in September we spent 17 days in Turkey! It was a wonderful adventure. We viewed
ruins from 5000 years ago, plus many Biblical and ancient sites (Ephesus, Cappadocia and Nicea
were favorites), and ancient mosques and churches. We swam in the Mediterranean and Aegean
Seas. Most of the people in our group were from Australia, so we made interesting new friends.
Our usual hiking has changed considerably in the last couple of years. The fires of 2012 made many
of our favorite haunts inaccessible. Then the floods here in September washed out the roads to
many others. We finally got up to Rocky Mtn. Nat. Park in late Nov. in time for our first snow
adventure.
I (Carol) lost two very special people this year. My uncle, age 103, died on Jan. 1, and my aunt, age
95, died in November. Kari and children had planned to join us on a visit to her in Iowa, but my
aunt died the week-end before our planned trip. They came anyway and were there for the funeral
instead, which was very special for me.
Kari was here for Easter and Halloween – nice times to share with her. We are planning to fly to
Oregon the day after Christmas to stay for a week.
Both girls and their families continue to live at the usual hectic pace. All 4 adults are doing very well
at extremely busy jobs, and their children keep them on the go. Sonja’s Emma is in middle school,
Molly in 3rd grade. Molly spends lots of time in soccer; Emma ran cross country. Both girls spend
many hours singing in the local community children’s chorus. Kari’s Jack is in 3rd grade and excels
in every sport he tries. All three are excellent students. Annie at 3 is a free spirit who charms
everyone. For a year now she has been calling us for long conversations – who would think, at her
age?
As you can imagine, with all this travel we haven’t done too much around here. We continue to
attend weekly Bible study. I am still doing my accompanying at church, water aerobics, book club,
and circle, plus weekly volunteering for Homeless Gear. Gardening is difficult when John isn’t
around to water. He has been working on his book about his great-grandfather in the Civil War.
Collection of clothes for the Pine Ridge Reservation has been a big project this fall.
We wish you a blessed Christmas with those you love, as we celebrate the birth of the Child who
brings us hope.
8 Karnie Cronquist Moesenthin sent a 2013 family Christmas picture:
Carol Cauldwell McElroy wrote in her 2013 Christmas letter: Thank you for your prayers,
encouraging notes, and e-mails during the year. We appreciate these expressions of care and interest.
This year we are sharing a "sort of calendar" We knew you did not need another calendar. We are
sure that several have arrived in your mail box already. This "calendar" lists prayer themes that relate
to our past and future opportunities. They also relate to our area of Cru/CCCI. We are assigned to
Jesus Film Ministry Trips which fall under the Jesus Film Project. In addition, we attend one Jesus
Film Briefing per year to receive up to date information about the Jesus Film Project's outreach in
the world.
As Bible translators in various organizations (Wycliffe & The Seed Company, New Tribes, Lutheran
Bible Translators, Pioneer, The Bible Societies, etc.) finish translating the Gospel of Luke, The Jesus
Film Project is asked to record and lip-sync a video version.
Now 1,192 languages have a lip-synced version of the Jesus film. The current focus is on 865 more
languages that have about 50,000 speakers. The organizations in the above paragraph helped to draw
up the list of these 865 languages. The focus is of unreached and unengaged people groups around
the world: Africa, China*, India, and Paupa New Guinea. In the “far north”, there are several Sami
groups too. (* In China there are 53 "recognized" minority groups and 400+ minority languages!)
Research has shown that the younger, urban generation has a short attention span and does not
watch the whole, two hour Jesus film. To flex with this change, the Jesus film has been broken down
into 60 video clips that are five to eight minutes long. These are available to watch on digital devices
like smart phones and tablets.
During the Asian, Jesus Film Mission Trip last March, Shannon and Carol used the Crucifixion clip
during a follow up meeting with three female students. On the previous day, the young ladies had
watched short films and discussed the Four Spiritual Laws. They accepted Christ. The next day, in a
tea shop, they watched the Crucifixion video clip from the Jesus film on a tablet. They wept! They
realized what Jesus' death accomplished.
9 For other parts of the world, the Jesus film introduction is customized. For example, there is a
special introduction for use in Africa. Story Tellers are important in oral cultures. So, a story teller
provides the introduction to the Jesus film.
An early adaption of the Jesus film was made for children: it’s one hour long. Six children observe
Jesus. As they care for their parents' animals in the stalls, they discuss what they have seen and
heard. The conclusion includes an invitation to join a postal club sponsored by Child Evangelism.
Thousands of children have accepted Jesus and completed the follow up lessons.
Oppressed women in the world is another area of need. This version shows six women interacting
positively with Jesus.
The first showing of Magdalena was in a Central Asian woman's prison. Women responded and
Bible study groups were started in the prison. When the prison officials saw the positive changes in
the women's behavior, they let the studies continue.
The response of oppressed women to the Magdalena film was larger than expected. Elizabeth
Schenkel and a team of writers developed a "follow up" series of lessons and DVDs. A woman
named Rivka disciples ladies in the first century. But, the principles apply to women in all eras of
history. How does a Christian woman survive in a family that does not follow Jesus? How should
she share her faith with family members and neighbors? The eight lessons provide a foundation for
women's new faith in Jesus.
If you would like copies of the DVDs mentioned in this letter, please let us know. We can order and
mail you the DVD(s).
International travel plans for us during 2014 have not been made. Carol sees her doctor in early
January. She's hoping that he will sign her medical travel release form for J.F.M.T. She is still
struggling with fatigue.
In mid-January, we will fly to Florida. First, we'll spend a few days with Kier in Ft. Lauderdale. Then,
we will attend the annual J.F.M.T. retreat. In February, we will share our 2014 travel plans.
May you and those you love have a joy filled Christmas and New Year.
Roberta Schwendimann Morrow wrote in her 2013 Christmas letter: Holiday greetings from the
Pacific Northwest! Many of you are Facebook friends, but for those who aren't, here are a few
highlights from 2012 and 2013.
February 2012 - Several of us folk dancers went to Petaluma, California for a dance camp, and then
on to the cabin at Tahoe for some skiing. I bought new skis and boots just before that trip. Marti
Gras 2012 - Terry and I went New Orleans (where she attended a youth conference) and we met
some cousins from the Johannes Schwendimann (Tennessee) branch of my family.
In August, while attending the Sons of Norway International convention in Fargo, ND, I met some
Vedaa family members living there. Genealogy is still my number one hobby! In September I
10 attended a rosemaling class at Seabeck on the Hood Canal taught by Patti Goke. I was also there
both springs for Skandia Folkdance Society's teaching weekend called Springdans. I went to Norleik
(a folk dance festival) held in Steinsjer, Norway the summer of 2012, and then went on with a few
friends to Sweden for Rattvik Dansen classes. Then I spent another week in Sweden with second
cousin Annika at her family's lake cottage ... a few more relatives came by as well! Then to Norway
to visit with friends and relatives near Oslo and finally over to Bergen, Fossmark and Dale for more
time with family. This trip began with three days in Iceland, bathing in the Blue Lagoon, visiting
Viking sites and museums, and viewing puffins!
Liam began preschool in the fall of 2012 at Richmond Beach First Lutheran where Terry works. He
is into music, trains and cars. So, of course, he was a train engineer for Halloween. We had a
wonderful Christmas in our family in 2012, celebrating our newest family member, Seth Gilbert
Baird, born on November 30, baptized December 30.
It has been a lively year in 2013 with two little boys around. I babysit a couple of days a week;
sometimes it is just Seth while Liam is at preschool, and sometimes it's both boys. And occasionally
I have them both for the entire weekend when Terry has youth events to attend as Jimmy works
weekends.
Terry's family lives nearby in Lynnwood. Jimmy was promoted to manager of his own store in 2012
and has made several trips to Tennessee for management training. His commute is now minutes
rather than hours! Terry went to New Orleans twice and several other places with church youth on
various mission trips and retreats. She is the Director of Faith Formation at First Lutheran of
Richmond Beach.
I enjoy classes with the Scandinavian Language Institute and the Creative Retirement Institute,
where I have taken courses on Igmar Bergman movies, classical music, Ibsen, Viking sagas and
eddas, renaissance and baroque art, Scandinavian crime novels and various other topics. I taught
some Hardanger embroidery classes this year also.
Our Western Rosemalers Association members are painting trim for the windows on the outside of
the Fritjov Sons of Norway Lodge at Stanwood. It's a fun project with one organization helping out
another.
The company that has been managing our cabin at Tahoe quit, so beginning in January, I am once
again managing the cabin myself. So let me know if you are any of your friends want to rent our
Tahoe cabin!
2.
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3.
For my birthday this year, I attended a Josh Groban concert with some friends.
The 17th of May is Norway's Constitution Day, and we have a big parade in Ballard. Everyone wears
Norwegian attire on that day!
We all spent some time at the cabin early this summer. Liam had a great time at Tahoe!
11 In July I took a trip to L'anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, Canada with the Leif Erikson
International Foundation for the dedication of a statue of Leif Erikson in this area where his
encampments were located. It was a great group of people and a fascinating place to be as I often
give talks about Vikings for the Nordic Heritage Museum and Sons of Norway and Daughters of
Norway.
Benedicte , the daughter of Anna Stine and Helge Ingstad, was there to sign the English edition of
the diary her mother wrote during the years they excavated the site. And Loretta Decker,
granddaughter of George Decker who pointed out the potential site to the Ingstads, was our docent.
4.
I stopped in Tennessee for a few days on the way home to meet Schwendimann relatives on my
dad's side. One of Dad's great-uncles settled there. I enjoyed meeting more of the folks in that
branch, and seeing some of the country I have never explored before.
For Halloween this year, Liam was a fireman and Seth was a Dalmation. Just before Thanksgiving,
the Bairds spent a few days at Disneyland.
Days are filled with preparations and activities - Leikarring dance performances, parties, dinners. It's
nearly Christmas! I hope you have a lovely celebration with loved ones! Blessings from Edmonds!
Mike Kasun wrote just after Christmas: Happy New YEAR! Soon to be 2014 and hope all is well
with you and your families. I just got back from spending Christmas with my kids in Colorado. It
was nice but I was glad to get home. Bought myself a toy that I have been wanting for many years.
An electric bike. It's a beauty made in Spain. It has an electric motor that can cruise at 30 miles an
hour for up to 30 miles. I can pedal or run it on pure electric power or any combination. Bought it
in Colorado and having it shipped to Minnesota. Don't really need it right now as it was -18° F this
morning when I got up. But come Spring, the Sooon is going to be motoring around the hills of
Stillwater in my new rig.
Ken Bergo wrote in his 2013 Christmas letter: Merry Christmas to all. This is a true Christmas
letter not an Advent letter composed on Dec 26, a la a good friend who says anything written before
Christmas is an Advent letter.
It has been a very busy time for the family. I was called to serve two congregations on the first of
April upon the retirement of the pastor. These two congregations are in the Chester Illinois area and
about seven miles apart. Each congregation has about 30 to 35 worshipers each Sunday and in one
congregation I have the two previous pastors as members. This is not a problem because both
addressed the issue with the congregation for a couple of months preceding their retirements, telling
them that they were no longer going to serve the congregations. It would be up to the new pastor to
provide the services required. Both have kept their word and referred all pastoral needs to me.
Both congregations, part of a five church parish, have called an ordained pastor, a second career
pastor with two plus years of experience. I met her when I was preaching at the big church in the
parish. She will be a real asset for the senior pastor of the parish. My last Sunday will be the forth
Sunday in February. I also had two classes that I taught at McKendree University this last term.
This was a lot of time away from home and took too much energy. I choose not to repeat the two
class preps ever again.
12 Jane is busy leading her “Artful Prayer” class at our home church. She has six to eight regulars and
one or two that stop in to see what it is all about. This last summer she spent from mid- May to early
September at her cottage in Northern Wisconsin. She found a writing group through the Luck
Library and enjoyed honing her writing skills. The Third Act of older ladies provided trips, lectures
and good company. At Lucky Days she made aebelskiever at the museum. She worked on the
planning committee for her 50th college reunion and enjoyed re-establishing contacts with her
classmates. As part of the December meeting, she enjoyed the annual St. Olaf Christmas Festival.
After 10 years and 100+ thousand miles Jane acquired a Red Nissan Rogue. She is learning all the
bells and whistles of a car 13 yrs newer than the 95 Volvo. Fun times.
Kurt and Shelly moved from Tampa, FL to Waldorf, MD and back into their house from when he
was stationed at Andrews AFB, 20 years ago. They had been renting it out so he and Shellie have
been painting, putting in new flooring, etc. to prepare it for eventual sale. Kurt’s new job is Chief of
Procurement and Contracting for the Washington District. He buys goods and services for the Air
Force units stationed in the Washington D.C. area. Their oldest daughter, Kimberly will be
graduating from the Air Force Academy in May with her first assignment to pilot training. Her base
of choice is Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls, TX. Emily is a sophomore at the University of South
Carolina and just loves the challenge. She will be a great elementary school teacher.
Eric and Linda returned from five years in Belgium in March. Linda is stationed with the US Army
Corps of Engineers in Portland, Oregon. Eric is the house husband and takes very good care of
their two girls, Laif and Aowen. We Skype with them regularly so we get to see and talk with them.
Kirsten and Chad still live in Marion IL. Chad survived the shutdown of the Illinois Maximum
Security Prison at Tamms, IL. He is now the ranking Lieutenant at a minimum security prison and
enjoys the decrease in tensions. Kir is still doing home health Occupational Therapy and
occasionally gets to Belleville where she gets lunch. She made it to the Chester area a couple of
times for lunch with me. Victoria, their oldest, is a first year student at Greenville College,
Greenville, IL and hoping to make it into the elementary teacher program. With her grades I do not
think she needs to worry. She made the dance team. Joshua, a high school junior, has been the
starting left tackle for his high school, except for the one game I made when he was riding the bench
with a knee injury. He made National Honor Society in Oct. Andrew ran cross-country and enjoyed
it. He has also become a very good sweet-roll baker. Veronica is getting straight “A”s in sixth grade.
She is a dancer like her older sister.
God’s grace and peace to you all
Mark Olson was honored by the National Law Journal as one of its Trailblazers & Pioneers 2014
(http://pdfserver.amlaw.com/nlj/GRC_TP2014_LR_final.pdf). The article read:
PIONEER SPIRIT Mark Olson’s background is in the banking industry and also on Capitol Hill,
so he has been at the confluence of financial services and public policy for 45 years. Governance
issues became a significant focus in 1991 and 1992, when there was a spate of banking and thrift
failures and regulators were requiring management reviews. Olson, then at Ernst & Young, was
hired to handle many of them, focusing on the board’s oversight over management.
TRAILS BLAZED In 2001, Olson was appointed to the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve, where he focused on the roles of management and the board at both public and private
13 companies. In 2006, he was tapped to become chair of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (PCAOB), where a major focus was on governance issues. He chaired PCAOB “to establish a
higher level of accountability for the accounting industry.” In 2009, Olson was invited to help build
the regulatory consulting firm Treliant Risk Advisors. “I had established Ernst & Young’s regulatory
consulting practice in 1993 and now I again have the opportunity to be involved in what I helped
define and build–governance, risk management, and public policy.
FUTURE EXPLORATIONS Olson believes that we will continue to see Corporate America and
financial reporting held to a higher standard. “The future will depend on where we see the greatest
call to action. But there won’t be a retreat from the relatively high level of governance we are at
now.” Olson also believes that as a bigger share of the population gets involved in equity ownership,
there is and should be higher expectations.
Jan Wiest Walton wrote: Since the last edition, we have been blessed with another beautiful
grandchild. Brady (7) and Allie (4) now have a sister. Macie Marie Walton was born on May 4, 2015.
What a gift they are!
We enjoyed a 15 day road trip to Eastern Canada in August. Passing briefly through Toronto,
Montreal and Quebec City (where we had been before), we really enjoyed New Brunswick, Prince
Edward Island and Nova Scotia. In P.E.I. it was fun to see the setting for the Anne of Green Gables
books (which most girls our age read as children) and to see a stage musical based on the book. On
the way back, we spent some time in Bar Harbor, Maine, another special place.
We still spend our winters in Davenport, Florida (near Orlando). We welcome anyone who would
like to come for a visit!
Greg Nelson wrote: Since I wrote to you earlier in the summer, my wife Karen and I have taken a
boat cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest. It was a terrific cruise with many stops in Germany,
Slovakia, and Hungary along the way. Her brother and his wife were along with us. There were
about 100 Australians, 18 from the US, 8 or so from New Zealand and another 12 from Canada. We
had a wonderful time on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. Lots of castles, cathedrals and ethnic
food. Only 2 small bottles of Vegemite were consumed in the two weeks, but not by me. Sometimes
the boat picked up local entertainment at one lock and dropped them off at the next lock. Most of
the places on the trip I had been before during many vacation and business trips to Europe, but
Hungary was a new experience. We learned a lot about the Empress Sissi who was very popular in
Hungary and provided a lot of the character of the Austro-Hungarian Empire under Franz Josef.
This week I began my second year as a laboratory instructor one-day per week at Mills College. The
enrollment in these courses is very high, having more than doubled in the past three years. They
work really hard. At the end of the month begin the three courses I will be taking in the Osher
Lifetime Learning Institute at the University of California, Berkeley. In addition to the two music
courses, I have a history course on the Civil War. They are only six weeks long, but incredibly
enjoyable.
Now for something of interest (to me) -- I was watching PBS who was using ‘60s music as part of
their fund raising. They had a snippet of the Kingston Trio singing the “Charlie on the MTA Song.”
You remember how it went, with Charlie not able to get off the train because of the fare increase
making him a nickel short. Well, I thought about it and on the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), I
have a so-called “Clipper Card” that gives me about a 2/3 off senior discount on regular fares
14 throughout the system. If the balance on the card gets low, an increment is added (usually before I
get off at the next station) and charged directly to my credit card. So I wondered if the Boston MTA
had anything similar and Googled it. It turns out the Boston MRTA (updated name) has the exact
same type of fare card, and guess what it is called? The “CHARLIE CARD.” Yes, at least someone
got something right.
Greg later added: I was putting together a display on the International Year of Crystallography for
Mills College and realized it had something to do with my time at St. Olaf, my decision for graduate
school, and with the recent TV series “Manhattan.” I have been in the X-10 building control room
at Oak Ridge, TN and at Los Alamos –both scenes used in the Manhattan series. As a senior in
chemistry at St. Olaf I did a research project with Prof. George Hardgrove in X-ray crystallography
starting in the summer of 1964 and throughout my senior year. That was 50 years ago and is marked
by a Nobel Prize going to Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin, who among other important molecules had
determined the structure of Vitamin B12 . It was in 1965-6 that George Hardgrove, who was working
on Vitamin D, went on sabbatical to her lab. I met her once in Chicago, mentioned George, and she
commented on his “splendid work.” I also learned from Prof. Al Finholt in several courses including
inorganic chemistry. He had commented that as a graduate student he carried graphite bricks to the
squash court stands at the University of Chicago, for which he was paid. In the Manhattan Project,
that was where the first self-sustained nuclear fission reaction was moderated with graphite bricks.
Prof Glen Seaborg, for whom the element Seaborgium is named, brought David Templeton to the
University of Chicago and then to the Manhattan project. Templeton went on to Berkeley where he
was a professor until his death in 2010. Prof. Hardgrove received his Ph.D. under Templeton who
was also on my Ph.D. thesis committee. When considering graduate schools, I considered UC
Berkeley and University of Wisconsin. But as you remember, the winter of 1964-5 was exceptionally
cold. So it seemed that Wisconsin would be more of the same, so I chose Berkeley. And in
deference to Prof. Finholt, I didn’t do X-ray crystallography, but instead majored in Inorganic
Chemistry. Prof. Finholt had provided me a scholarship of $300/year for my first two years to
encourage me to come to St. Olaf. I had been sought after by Prof. Courtland Agre (formerly a St.
Olaf professor) to attend Augsburg College. My study for the Mills College display brought out that
Prof. Agre’s son Peter, six years younger than us, received the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2003 for
his discovery of aquaporins. There were many other close connections over the years and I always
was encouraged to look forward.
Patrick Quade pointed out an article from St. Olaf News: A gift from St. Olaf College alumnus
Steven Fox ’77 will establish the Patrick J. Quade Endowed Chair in Theater.
Quade, a 1965 St. Olaf graduate, served on the college’s theater faculty for nearly three decades and
directed International and Off-Campus Studies for nearly a decade before retiring in 2005.
His commitment to helping St. Olaf students become global citizens who, as he wrote in the Star
Tribune in 2002, “appreciate the complexities, similarities, and differences that exist in our evershrinking world” has left a legacy that extends far beyond any classroom.
15 That impact led Fox to provide a gift that will, through the Strategic Initiative Match, result in a $1.5
million commitment for the endowed chair in Quade’s honor. The Strategic Initiative Match is a St.
Olaf Board of Regents program that provides matching funds for gifts above $50,000 that support
the college’s strategic plan.
During his 37 years at St. Olaf, Quade taught more than 20 different courses in theater and
communication and directed more than 70 theater productions. His production of Godspell was a
national winner in the American College Theater Festival. He served as chair of the college’s fine
arts division for six years and chair of the Theater Department for 10 years.
Quade received more than two dozen grants to develop initiatives that allow young people to
explore theater. Among other projects, he founded the St. Olaf Children’s Theater Institute,
implemented a Fine Arts Elementary Education Program for public schools, and created a
workshop that helps elementary and high school instructors teach writing.
In addition to his service as director of International and Off-Campus Studies, Quade acted as field
supervisor for the Global Semester, the Term in the Middle East, and the Theater in London
Interim program (which he led 10 times).
He continues to lead St. Olaf Adult Study Travel around the world, the most recent being Theater in
London in 2014.
16 Pat later added: A few brief tidbits: We have now been residents of New Braunfels, Texas for over
two years and enjoy our new home very much (especially in contrast to the past winter in
Minnesota!). New Braunfels is about 30 miles North of San Antonio and 40 miles South of Austin
in the Texas Hill Country. We did get up to visit our son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren in
Andover, Minnesota for three weeks in August. We'll be going to Washington DC in October to
spend time with our son who serves in the Foreign Service. He just returned (safely!) from a year in
Kabul, Afghanistan. Our prayers were answered when he did finally depart from Kabul and landed
in Washington, D.C. He and his wife and their two children will be leaving again in a year for a
posting in Madrid, so we hope to visit them there sometime during 2015. Our youngest is our
daughter, her husband and their two children who live "up the road" from us in Austin, They
moved here from Brisbane, Australia after spending about 10 years down under, so we now get to
spend time with them quite regularly.
Kathy keeps busy as a church organist and as a member of the German Heritage Society where she
serves as a docent for the German Handmade Furniture museum. I do some volunteer work and
teach confirmation at our church. We did another St. Olaf Lifelong Learning program last April
with 36 participants to London and Stratford. Great group. wonderful performances and perfect
weather in London. Retired life is good!
Susan Eastman wrote: It’s a beautiful, crisp day here in Maine; Ed and I harvested basil for pesto
and the house is filled with the smells of basil, pignoli nuts, and garlic. Our (huge) garden is
overflowing with more than we can eat or freeze; we’re going to have our annual Gleaning Party,
where, after we’ve taken as much as we can use, friends can take what they like and another friend
will take the rest to a food pantry. Tonight Ed (the cook in our family) is making us Eggplant
Parmigiano, and my contribution will be Swiss Chard with lots of garlic.
I’ve had two honors in the last day; some friends called me a hippie, and my choral director named
me the alto section’s ‘musical section leader’! It’s a wonderful chorus (The Oratorio Chorale), and
we just started working on the Mozart ‘Requiem’, which I’ve never sung, so that’s going to be a
thrill. I’m going to start studying voice this fall, which is going to be a discipline. I’ve started slowly
going through a ‘Piano in 24 hours’ book a friend gave me, which is a humbling experience!
Hope all is well with all of you; I’m looking forward to seeing some of you in a few months at Our
Alma Mater herself, at our reunion. I hope to contribute a little ‘edginess’ to the wholesome vibe.
Lynn Brooks wrote: Marilyn and I were married before our senior year. Marilyn was at Bethesda
Hospital in Saint Paul and we lived in an efficiency apartment two blocks away; I commuted to St.
Olaf that year. January was not only the first St. Olaf Interim, but an unusually cold & snowy winter.
All this means that in August we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary, choosing Glen Gordon
Manor [http://glengordonmanor.com/ ] just south of Front Royal, Virginia. Our three children
surprised us with a gift of airline tickets and hotel reservations in Quebec City. [Images of both are
in albums under my Facebook account “Lynn Ellis Brooks”.]
This year we did more travel, one of our favorite activities: Fripp Island, Charleston, two trips to our
kids’ place near Snow Shoe, WV, Washington, D.C., several trips to Frederick, MD, several trips to
see our newest grandchild Julia in Brooklyn, and Quebec City.
17 Lynn’s Granddaughter Julia
I was pleased to have finally wrestled 501.c.3 status from IRS for The Global Coral Repository,
which is associated with the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory; I’m on the board of both
environment-oriented non-profits.
I try to improve my photography and post to several photography sites, one of the most interesting
being Rust-Art-Group. I’m trying to keep up the reading front, and our church’s Friday morning
group will begin discussion this week of ‘Unapologetic,” by Francis Spufford. I’m continuing my
beekeeping endeavor, and have moved my hives to my bee buddy’s new place north of Amherst,
striving for more diversity of plants, less neonicotinoid-treated crops/gardens/yards, and fewer
small hive beetles and Varroa mites.
If you’re ever in south central Virginia, please call & stop by!!! Fram! Fram! Warm regards,
Kay Knutson Miller wrote: Last fall when I wrote something for our class newsletter, I was
recovering from a second surgery to repair my shattered left arm. I wasn't so sure what was ahead
for me. Thanks to the power of prayer, much help from friends, and a great physical therapist, I
recovered enough to be able to use my arm for most things. The only thing I cannot do is play a
stringed instrument. It was heartbreaking for me to say farewell as a player to the Kenwood
Symphony after 42 years. I realized though that I was no longer tied down to a concert schedule. On
a bitterly cold and snowy day in March, I left Minneapolis for springtime in Paris. Our rented flat
was right on the Seine in the heart of the city. We had a magnificent time. In April I revisited all my
favorite places in Spain. I came back to Minneapolis to enjoy a very late spring and part of a lovely
summer before I flew to London and traveled around England, Scotland, and Wales. My sweet
granddaughters Harriet (age 4) and one year old Eloise (pictured below) live three miles from me
and I see them almost every day. I am somewhat tied down this year since I am picking up Harriet
from preschool at 12:30 pm and taking her to daycare or planning an interesting afternoon activity. I
am thankful that I took advantage of the travel opportunities that came my way in 2014. I hope you
also had a good year and will be able to attend our class reunion in May. It is hard to say Fiftieth
18 Reunion. When we were graduating on that beautiful day in May, all those people coming for their
Golden Reunion looked ancient. Now that's us. The years sure flew by!
Kendall Ellingson wrote: In July my better half, Dianne, and I were in Minneapolis and visited
Minnehaha Falls. She was able to see the falls flowing. She reminded that I had taken her to these
Falls in January when the temperature was minus 16 degrees. The Falls were not flowing but the ice
still looked like a falls. She had never been to Minnesota and I ended up taking her to the same
location twice but with a distinct difference in appearance.
We did visit St. Olaf campus this July and if you have not seen the campus for a number of years
you are in for a treat. There are many positive additions to the campus. We are still enjoying Punta
Gorda, FL even though we have only been there two weeks since the beginning of May.
19 Karen Anderson Aamot Sent in a picture of her, Mark, her kids and grandkids at Mount Rushmore
in August:
Karen also wrote: Hi Classmates!
20 Looking forward to our reunion! Two of these guys in our picture are graduating from high school
spring of '15, so Mark and I are hoping to make the reunion in between graduations. (One is in
Bozeman and one in Evanston, so it is a bit tricky!) I'm headed to the reunion planning meeting at
St. Olaf next week - that will be fun, too.
Our family spends a week together each August. As you probably know, it gets more challenging all
the time as the grandchildren get older. One of our sons is in Bozeman, so the Black Hills is a good
place for us to gather. We were in a house in the foothills of Deadwood where the trolley tour took
us to Boot Hill and the graves of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. It was a fun week! Hope to
see many of you at our 50th!
Kristine Moore Gebbie wrote: As has become our pattern, Les and I have continued with travel
mania! We spent June in the Galapagos (second trip, 15 days with a group of family & friends) and
Ecuador (4 of us from 4000 meters in the Andes to rainforest along headwaters of the Amazon).
All of it amazing, and Galapagos portion was made extra-special by having 14 of us, with our
friend/professional guide and a boat captain who was half dolphin and came snorkeling with us
every time! Since then I've made 2 professional trips--one to Hiroshima, a repeat of last year's
workshop on disaster nursing for students from 6 universities (in Sweden, Spain, US, Australia,
Indonesia, Japan) scheduled around the anniversary of the A-bomb blast; and the other to Manila to
talk about disaster resilience to the Asian Forum on Social Responsibility (my first time back in the
Philippines since my family lived there in the early 1950's as one of my father's USAF assignments).
And now in we are planning for a September-October trip that includes Munich (did you know
Oktoberfest starts in September?), Vienna, the lower Danube to the Black Sea, and Turkey (Istanbul,
Ephesus and Galipoli) When I read this list, it seems exhausting, but when the travel is happening, it
is exhilarating! I am looking forward to the annual spate of holiday letters, but particularly to our
reunion next May.
I'm also attaching a picture from the Hiroshima course--me in a kimono made by one of the
students in the course--for a laugh!
21 Conrad Bergo wrote: In May Denny Mueller, his wife Kathy, and I enjoyed a trip to Thailand
that featured an earthquake, Marshall Law, and a coup d’état. How is that for a complete Asian
experience?
Rod Seeger wrote: This year has been delightful! The oldest son of the best man from my wedding
asked me to do the wedding ceremony for him and his fiance in Costa Rica! We had a great time. We
all stayed at a resort on the Pacific Ocean side of Costa Rica. From our king sized bed we could
watch the waves come in and they were only a few feet away! Before and after the wedding we
played tourist! We were there on the day Costa Rica made the quarter finals in the World Soccer
Tournament! What a celebration.
Mid-August we took a Roadscholar Trip to Glacier National Park, which also included the Canadian
portion of the park. It is the only national park in two nations. It was designated as a Peace Park
when it was established. We saw phenomenal views of the Rocky Mountains and all of the
geological mischief that was created tens of thousands of years ago. We visited all the old lodges in
the park. We spent time on the Blackfeet reservation. Hiked and experienced the wonders of nature
which are everywhere present in Glacier National Park! We are now getting ready to go on another
Roadscholar trip. This time we fly to Quebec, after a couple days in Old Quebec City we board a
Norwegian Cruise liner, sail north to nova Scotia and then head south to Boston, stopping every so
often. We are looking forward to this trip and hoping we get to see some of the fall colors!
Earlier this month I received a phone call from the Director of Development and Alumni Relations
at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) (the seminary I graduated from in 1969!). He
asked, "What are you doing on September 10? Will you be in town?" I said, "Yes." He then said that
I need to be at PLTS because I have been chosen to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award for
Ministry in Special Services. Each year PLTS awards two Alumni - one for distinguished service in
congregational ministry and one for distinguished ministry in special services. I served as the
Director of Spiritual Care at the University of California, San Francisco, Medical Center for 31 years!
22 According to their assessments and criteria I qualified for this award. It was an amazingly affirming
experience. After my bio was read by the Director of Development I was given the certificate. The
entire congregation rose to its feet and began applauding! They clapped and clapped for what
seemed like was an eternity, but in fact was probably only five minutes. I was overwhelmed and
honored to have received the award and especially the resounding applause from faculty, students,
and friends of the seminary. Truly a high!
Life continues to be exciting and affirming here in the San Francisco area. If any of you are in the
San Francisco area, I would enjoy it if you let me know you were here! We could go for coffee or
something!
J Douglas Cameron wrote: Two items: 1) Just got back from a Baltic Sea Cruise with the Garrison
Keillor group; great times.2) Just got appointed to be Director of Research for the Department of
Ophthalmology, UOFM; not related to item 1.
Eric Knutson wrote: Several trips to Iowa this spring as we closed out Mom's estate and prepped
the house for the real estate market. Was the family home on the lake for 50+ years so it was sad to
see it go. As with many good things, it's not forever. Did have time to visit Colonial Williamsburg
with a delightful side trip to Richmond to visit Stevie Trapp Hesse. Added on another side trip to
visit a cousin on the Jersey shore. Pretty amazing to see all the hurricane Sandy aftermath and new
construction going on there. Annual "boys" golf trip and a Canada fishing trip in June. Final Iowa
trip in July when I was thrilled to have a brief visit with Gary Wicks, a second Canada fishing trip
with Al Carver in August, a couple ocean salmon trips, and here we are. Obviously I am enjoying
retirement.
Virginia Pruitt wrote: I retired from Washburn University (English Dept.) in June of last year.
One time-filler, a rather stressful one, of the first six months or so of this new reality, was the
various immediate demands (e.g., the Health Care arrangements, as many of you know). At home,
the "reorganization" process took more time than I'd expected, mainly all the saved stuff I'd failed to
winnow while working. But I still need to reduce the amount of stuff in most of the boxes which are
now neatly arranged in the unfinished part of my basement. I do plan to hang onto the tons of saved
letters (mainly due to my parents' thoughtfulness through a number of decades) and last week, I
began reading ones I'd written from the St. Olaf years--a treat, and often an embarrassment, that
young adult self.
23 As for travel, although I haven't yet begun to book some international travel as I'd intended to do,
I've consoled myself with that fact that I'd done a lot of that in 2 former periods, the summer of '65
and throughout the 1990's--and, in the 2000's, 2 weeks in Aix and Arles in Provence; I'd love to
repeat that most recent wonderful experience in the future.
Kathy Wilker Megyeri wrote: These passing years are filled with intensified moments of happiness
and sadness. Regrettably, a St. Olaf English professor that many of you may remember, Graham S.
Frear, passed away at age 92 at the Northfield Retirement Center in August. He was directly
responsible for my becoming a high school English teacher for my entire working career and thus,
had a profound impact on my life. We corresponded regularly for almost 50 years, he nominated
me for St. Olaf’s distinguished alumnae award in 1995, and he trusted me enough to help him edit
his two books of poetry before they were published. I remember so well his description of our
profession:
Teaching is a good way to make a living. Not only does one enjoy the process itself (how lovely the sound of one’s own
voice), but it’s like being a ‘doorkeeper in the house of the Lord,’ which is authoritatively stated to be better than
sitting in the ‘seats of the scornful.’
Today, I am sure that Professor Frear is indeed one of the doorkeepers in that glorious House of the
Lord.
On a happier note, this last year has had its moments of joy. We attended a meeting of the National
Ski Patrol in Denver, CO since my husband sits on the organization’s by-laws committee, and I was
able to explore the nearby areas of Colorado City and Colorado Springs. I also celebrated the 85th
birthday of a dear teacher friend in Bristol, TN and visited the nearly opened History of County
Music there which is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution so I highly recommend it. In a
recording booth, one can sing along with country greats and be immersed in such classics as “Will
the Circle Be Unbroken?” and “Amazing Grace.” We also attended a Johnny Cash tribute in the
nearby Barter Theatre in Abingdon, VA which is the location of the historical Martha Washington
Hotel and the new local artisan’s center called Heartwood. Then, too, my husband and I spent the
month of April at our small condominium in Venice, FL and will return this Nov. before returning
to PA so my husband can ski patrol at a slope near Gettysburg. In his mid-70’s, he’s quite proud to
be the oldest patroller there who can bring down a loaded toboggan for which he was photographed
for the national magazine (attached picture). Gettysburg continues to be a favorite of ours as we
enjoy our little ski chalet during winter and attend Gettysburg College’s many events as well as join
thousands of tourists there for battle re-enactments and tours of the Eisenhower home. The area’s
become a mecca for wine lovers as well as a destination for antique dealers and crafts collectors.
Gettysburg also hosts one of the most active Harley Davidson riders groups, and my husband
recently made the national magazine for his antique Harley bike (photo attached). We continue to
be active in the George Washington law school’s fundraising efforts as we hosted a reception for the
new law school dean and attended alumni weekend events as my husband and I together earned 5
degrees from that institution and have pledged to leave our estate to GW since we have no
24 remaining family. We meet the most interesting people at school events who’ve become role
models for us. For example, I had the honor of sitting next to the University’s President at a dinner
one evening and asked him to sum up his success in one word, to which he replied, ”Stamina.” We
also met the world’s second wealthiest person, Mexico’s communications magnate Carlos Slim, in
New York City at a symposium and will always remember his advice to attendees, “Pessimism is
mediocrity.” Thus, both my husband and I try to stay active, immersed in all that DC and GW
offers, intellectually, culturally and politically.
While flying our Mooney Ovation 2000 in June and attempting to land at nearby Lancaster, PA, we
had a propeller strike which bent the tips and proved to be a costly error as the engine had to be
removed for inspection, the prop replaced, the landing gear tested and the seats’ safety mechanisms
inspected. (photo attached) It cost us three months of flying time, but then my husband was able to
visit Hungary for a vacation and after many years of deliberation, he finally decided to sell his
boyhood home on Lake Balaton since he’s held onto it for purely nostalgic reasons. Hungary, as
many of you may know, is not doing well economically and the Prime Minister has decided to turn
away from the West and is looking to China and Russia for financial aid, a truly sad story since my
husband was a ’56 Freedom Fighter. During his time overseas, I read and attempted to clean out a
lifetime of clutter since our goal is, at age 80, to move to Knollwood, a retirement community for
retired military officers in Washington, DC. It’s a challenging and depressing task as I hold each
Christmas decoration from the ‘40’s and remember family members and years of decorating trees
with that fake white snow while singing carols. How can I possibly donate such artifacts that hold
such dear memories to the Goodwill, so I box them all up again and vow to go through it all next
year. I continue to write my little articles for a Hungarian insurance magazine, but since print media
outlets are shrinking, I’ve cut back on submissions and opinion pieces. The ones that readers most
liked last year were three articles I wrote on collecting memories, Hungarian clothing, and the
Udvar-Hazy Museum adjacent to Dulles Airport in Virginia.
I’m reminded of my age in a myriad of ways throughout the year. For example, we swim laps at the
local Y most afternoons, and a month ago, a fellow swimmer said to me, “I’ll bet you learned to
swim in the ‘40’s because no one today swims like you do—a couple of laps of side strike, a couple
more of back stroke, and then most in a crawl with snorkel and goggles.” I was struck dumb that
my swimming style was such a giveaway of my age. Then too, we’ve attended two funerals in the
last 2 weeks which is a real reminder of our own mortality. Thus, I am profoundly grateful for life’s
many blessings, particularly good health and the ability each month to pay off my Visa bill. What
more could I ask, other than for each of you to have a blessed holiday season and to reflect on all
the goodness God has bestowed upon us since our St. Olaf days. While we have taken different
paths in life, the common bond we share of 4 years on Manitou Heights will certainly be celebrated
at our upcoming 50th reunion. Each time this year, I’m also grateful that Paul Eastman has kept us
linked together as no one reads your Christmas messages more thoroughly and with such interest
than I. Have a productive and happy new year as well.
25 Ann Floreen Niedringhaus wrote: My poetry anthology, BOUND TOGETHER: LIKE THE
GRASSES, published by Clover Valley Press in 2013, won the 26th Annual NEMBA award (the
Northeastern Minnesota Book award) for poetry. The NEMBA awards are co-sponsored by
University of MN-Duluth library, the Duluth Public Library and Lake Superior Writers. The
anthology includes poems from my poetry writing group of over 20 years. This is our second
published poetry anthology. The first, THE MOON ROLLS OUT OF OUR MOUTHS was
published in 2005 by Calyx Press.
Retired now for seven years, writing both poetry and a limited amount of prose, as well as
volunteering in the Duluth area, has been keeping me as busy as I want. I am in my sixth year of
teaching poetry writing every other week during the school year at the St. Louis County Jail -- a
rewarding and challenging experience. I have learned much!
My husband Bob has been fully retired for three years now. The last four years we have enjoyed
annual road trips together. This year our trip was especially meaningful. We went to areas in New
Jersey where I lived until my junior year in high school. I had not been since high school in North
Bergen and Palisades Park where I spent late elementary and early junior high school. I also saw
childhood friends, a cousin who I'd not seen since high school who is Rutger's choral director, and
the church my father served as pastor in West New York, NJ. It is now a thriving Spanish Baptist
Church with 4 Spanish and 1 English service every Sunday and a new addition. My father would
have been thrilled to see that, as he was working then to guide the church into better serving the
neighborhood. Bob claims bragging rights because he drove on the 8 lane highway into Teaneck
where I finished junior high and started high school. Teaneck is the town before Fort Lee and the
entrance onto the George Washington Bridge. He loves to remind people that he drove where
traffic jams were intentionally created by New Jersey governor Christie's staff.
I hope many, many of you have put May 29-31 on your calendars for our 50th Class Reunion. Being
privileged to work on planning for it, I can say St. Olaf is going to treat us all extremely well. The
move of all reunions to the week after graduation means that the campus will be less crowded than
during our previous reunions. The last few 50th Reunion classes, after experiencing the new
reunion timing, tell us that it is a great improvement. I have already enjoyed working with many and
catching up on the classmates who have considered being part of the planning. We have QUITE a
class -- great diversity of lives, wonderful service in the world. Hope to see you May 29-31.
26 Charles Kahlenberg wrote: Nice news about the 50th Reunion planning. As to our showing up, it
is still a definite maybe. (I may have a competing event on that very same week-end in my old
hometown of Sarasota, FL.)...In the meantime, we are VERY glad we got out of the hub-bub of the
Los Angeles and moved to Richland, WA. Susan is “recuperating” from years in the corporate
world. I am at the microphone or editing sound every day, either working on the next audiobook
(titles on Audible.com - and more to come), or doing industrial VO’s or regional commercials. All
the best
Charles later added: I thought I might have already told you, but if not…we moved to Richland,
WA (and happily so) on June 6 this year.
Susan is out of the toxicity of Corporate life, and I can actually record (Voiceover) without the
constant interruption of ambient sounds such as car horn honking, jets flying overhead, sirens
blaring, and the general clinks and clangs of living in Studio City. So…now, we smile a lot, can’t see
the air we breathe, can go five miles without planning to leave "a month in advance.” - etc…
Here’s a link, by the way, to an audiobook that I narrated that just became available on Audible.com.
The author is a retired Green Beret Major and KNOW’s what he is writing about. He’s at work on
the sequel for the “franchise” character…and I will be doing that book as well…
We’ve struck up a pretty good friendship...
http://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/OverloadAudiobook/B00O10P7H6/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srImg?qid=1414704250&sr=1-1
I’m currently working on another book which will be 12.5 finished audio hours long. It’s written by
a former CIA contract agent. It’s a doozey! Currently on Kindle.
http://www.amazon.com/SAFE-HAVENS-Shadow-Masters-Havens-ebook/dp/B00I3QRHYU
The audiobook should be available sometime in mid-December, if not sooner.
For a first time author, he’s done well. Over 1000 sold on Kindle. For a new author, that is a
remarkable achievement.
These guys are terrific writers!
Peder Berdahl wrote: The Berdahl family survived the horrendous Indianapolis winter of '14 with
only two days of hibernation. Indy had more snow this year that ever, over 50". But of course
some of our friends in more northern climes would say, "What's the big deal." The big deal was that
Indy doesn't have the equipment to deal with this level of assault. So we did what many do during
the winter months. At the end of February which is supposed to be the ending of winter here which
it was definitely not, we headed south to Hilton Head for five weeks of warmer weather. Even
27 Hilton Head was chilly and the natives were complaining bitterly when the temperature dropped
into the 30s. We sympathized with them but avoided the "You don't know what cold is" comments.
However, those who have been in the south in the winter know that when the South gets cold, it's
COLD. That dampness goes right through one. But it warmed up quickly and we enjoyed the sun
on our deck while reading of more snow and bitter cold in central Indiana. Many of our combined
progeny took advantage of our largesse and spent time in the South Carolina sun and it wasn't long
before the top on the car was down and we were enjoying what we have come to expect of late
winter in South Carolina. We returned home to find that Indy had potholes, some of which we so
big that if a Miata had dropped into one, it would be lost forever. There were blown tires by the
sides of the streets, and not a few hubcaps lying bent, broken and distressed. We did OK but
driving the Indianapolis city streets was a challenge, a sort of automotive slalom. Summer saw the
boat out of storage and many lovely evenings cruising on our lake and trying to forget the winter just
past. Dinners with friends out on the deck, visits from family again made our summer a great time.
The lowers bloomed and the scents of summer pervaded the air. We had given our 2005 Volvo S60 to Betty's daughter back in October. She badly needed a reliable vehicle to get to and from work.
We tried living with one car for several months but it wasn't working out so in April we got a new
Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, trying to do our part for cleaner air and conserving fuel. Not bad mileage.
We seem to get around 45 or so in trips to Cleveland and Chicago. Peder has been appointed
Treasurer of the Docent Council of the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Not much of a job really, just
overseeing the account that is used for projects or purchases authorized by the Council and
approved by the higher-ups. He continues to lead tours, particularly of the African Gallery which is
one of the largest collections of African artifacts in the USA. Betty volunteers on Thursday
afternoons at Trinity Episcopal Church where we worship. She sits at the welcome desk, answers
the phone, folds Sunday bulletins and passes the time of day with visitors. Peder has been invited to
preside at the Eucharist and to preach. The Rector just recently retired and the Associate has taken
another call so there are opportunities for old parsons to get to homilize every now and then. And
then in mid-September, we got a dog. She's an 18 month old black Miniature Poodle that we've
named Lady. She is new to us and we to her but we are getting acquainted. Both parents are
champions but for us she'll be a pet, no desire to show her. So the two of us are now sort of three
and we look forward to another beautiful Indiana fall.
28 Wilor Bluege wrote: This is my collection of stuff posted on the web:
There’s something for nearly everybody, so you have options!
Option 1:
Follow the link below to Wilor’s “Library” of mostly humorous lyrics set to mostly familiar (but also
to some original) tunes, her art portfolio, and her half-hour documentary posted at Screencast.com.
(Besides the documentary and art portfolio, an exception to the “humorous” theme/scenario is “The
Bird that has Flown,” the lyrics of which are written to music by Prokofiev as an in memoriam to those
who have passed on.) http://www.screencast.com/users/WilorB
About the half-hour documentary, Wilor says:
“Wade Turner did an absolutely fabulous job of narrating the documentary I produced about my
father’s baseball career.” (Follow the link above to “A Life in Baseball: Ossie Bluege,
Gripped by the Game” posted on Screencast.com and click on the icon “Ossie
Bluege”.)
Option 2:
For those who don’t mind a dose of gravitas with their coffee, follow the link below to Wilor’s 3part analytical commentary on the 2011 film ‘Black Swan’ that was published (2011) in Elements, the
e-zine of the Minnesota Jung Association. It’s posted at
http://www.wilorb.blogspot.com/2011/03/black-swan-three-perspectives-of-film.html
Part 1: ‘Black Swan:’ the Canary in the Coal Mine of the Collective Unconscious
Part 2: The Ancestral Cultural and Psychological Lineage of the Film
Part 3: Inside the Rabbit Warren of the Fragmenting Mind of the Addicted Personality:
A Psychological Analysis of the lead character, ‘Nina’
Option 3:
For some much lighter reading fare, use Cntrl+Click to follow the link to “The Mouse of the Lord,”
a humorous anecdote at http://blogbywilor.blogspot.com/2011/03/musings-on-mouse-ofgod.html
Option 4:
There is a PDF attached to this email: Wilor’s List of Books and Articles.pdf. (This document is a
comprehensive listing of all my writing and includes links both to my “library” of work posted at
Screencast.com and to the articles on my blogs.)
Randy Bohannon wrote: The years get tougher and tougher. As Gail’s condition deteriorates, I am
increasingly a 24/7 care giver. Watching this magnificent lady slip away is very distressing. However,
her attitude remains great. The support of our many friends and their visits are a blessing.
Last fall we made our now annual Thanksgiving visit to Minnesota and Wisconsin and the St Olaf
Christmas concert – will do it again this year. Last Christmas was the every-other-year when all kids
and grandkids come to the islands for the Holidays. Wonderful time!
29 One years’ long quest was completed when I finally found and bought a museum quality ’63
Studebaker Hawk GT R2 to tool around in on the island. FUN. Now on to find a ’41 Lincoln
Continental.
During July we drove our ‘92 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 6500miles from Washington all over the US
to Illinois and back visiting all my and Gail’s brothers and sisters. (Never went over 130mph). Upon
return to Washington we went to Venice for 8 glorious days – probably, because of Gail’s condition,
our last foreign trip.
Although I am less and less involved in the coffee business day to day, I seem to be more and more
involved in policy and direction: This year bought out Captain Cook Coffee Company (one of our
largest competitors) and started transfer of stock to the kids and grandkids.
Also, I continue some labor relations work on the mainland.
Aloha!
30 Sam Kochel wrote: Last April, we participated in a “Road Scholars” study tour of Barcelona, Spain.
At St. Olaf, I wrote papers on Antoni Gaudi and Salvador Dali for Dr. Flaten’s History of Art and
Architecture. Seeing the works of Gaudi, Dali, and Picasso was a great experience, especially Gaudi’s
church of Sagrada Familia. We enjoyed our time in Barcelona. The public transportation system was
made for tourists.
In July, we celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary with our sons and their families. Our little
cottage did not know what hit it. We had a grand time.
I am looking forward to our 50th Reunion. I had the good fortune to accompany my wife (’64) to her
50th STO Reunion last June. It was a delightful time even for those of us who were not in the 1964
class. The staff and administration bent over backwards to make her 50th Reunion a very memorable
experience. The program over the three days was jam-packed with music, lectures, worship and class
gatherings. Dr. Anderson spoke to the group and did an outstanding job of celebrating the Class of
1964 as well as bringing everyone up to date on the challenges and accomplishments of St. Olaf. The
food was fantastic. There were buses, vans and golf carts to get people where they wanted to be.
The cost for the weekend was a bargain. The stay in the air-conditioned dorm brought back many
memories. It was one of those experiences where time went vertical. It was so enjoyable. I am really
looking forward to our 50th Reunion. I am sure that it will be another great experience.
John Macaulay wrote: Life continues at a fast pace with lots of fun in retirement. Susan and I just
returned from three weeks in Italy on a Grand Circle Tour. We were in several places in Tuscany,
on the Amalfi Coast including Capri and then in Rome for all the usual sites. There were a great
group of travelers from all over the US on the tour which made for an interesting and fun time. We
arrived home full of pasta and pizza both of which were excellent. We leave in a week or so for
New England/New Jersey/New York City for my major volunteer effort with the Institute of
Management Accountants where I have finished the active Chair roles and now am just a Past Chair.
We will have a Board Meeting at our headquarters in Central New Jersey and combine it with some
shows in New York as well as a family reunion with Susan’s family in New England. We spent most
of February in Florida at Indian Shores which is a barrier island west of Tampa. That was a great
spot and we avoided some of the cooler weather here in Dallas although ran into a major “snow
event” on the road coming home. In June we were at Cragun’s Resort near Brainerd for a reunion
with my family which we had done as kids and then spent time in Minneapolis for the IMA Board
and Conference. We proceeded to Michigan and to Mackinac Island for a few days before winding
our way home. We are trying to visit the Presidential Libraries/Museums and we were able to visit
three on this trip. They are very interesting and provide a good version of period history.
Otherwise, all goes along well. Susan and I continue as many activities as the usual (and unusual)
aging/health issues continue. We are blessed to have had such a great life. Take care and look
forward to the reunion in May.
31 Lily Eidet Mogen wrote: Greetings to all Oles!! 2014 has been a busy event filled year. In
February our 2 daughters surprised me with a birthday celebration for a "Ladies Weekend on the
Town"--what fun!!!
Later in Feb we ventured out on frozen Lake Superior with our 11 year grandson to visit the ice
caves. He crawled in & out of caves while we tried to stay upright on the ice. The ice formations
were spectacular!!
With record cold and snow in March we left Moose Lake in a snowstorm and -10 below weather to
head to Oahu and Kauai for 2 weeks. It was a welcome relief to enjoy sun, sand, floral gardens and
long walks on the beach.
April brought a historic trip to Italy ending in Sicily. Mother's Day was spent with my niece, her
husband and 2 year-old with lunch on the Mediterranean. Italians were friendly, the sights were
memorable.
In May Joe and I along with family members and friends rode the Minnehaha Parkway bike a thon
for Tour de Cure supporting our 11 year old grandson who is newly diagnosed with Type 1
Diabetes. It was a sunny warm day and we all finished our rides (18 1/2 miles for us).
July brought a week with kids and grandkids--biking, RR ride up the north shore of Lake Superior,
spending quality time with family. With one daughter (Terri) and family living in Boise, ID and the
other daughter (Beth) & family living in Brooklyn Park, MN, we spend time on the road or in the air
to enjoy family times.
Life is busy and full with volunteering and enjoying time at the coffee shop. I am still involved with
church music (organ, piano, hand bell choir, Sunday and Wednesday church services). We wish for
you a happy, healthy, peaceful, Blessed Christmas!!
32 G'children Calvin (9), Naomi (4), Gabrial (11) Joe & Lily at the Trevi Fountain in Rome
Thomas Loe wrote: Mary Hong Loe '66 & I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary with the 3
kids & the 3 grandchildren hiking & kayaking & camping around the Grand Tetons in July, then it
was up to the cabin in the MN north woods as usual for 2 months or so after that ('til the washbasin
freezes up), then finally just now back to our place on the shore of Lake Ontario in upstate NY.
We've been traveling a fair amount since I retired from the college here in Dec. 2010, spending only
about half the year at home: mostly Europe & the Caribbean, but lately Peru and the Galapagos, and
earlier Vietnam, Cambodia, others in the far east. This May, it was a month in Japan. I think our
fascination with the East started with Mary doing a stint of work in Hong Kong some time ago, and
then a trip of ours to Tibet. We celebrated our birthdays in June with a 5 day schooner sail around
Penobscot Bay, ME and here's a picture of me last year playing the sailor (yet again) in a
reconstructed Viking ship off Roskilde, Denmark. Best, Tom
33 Gail Lageson Barsness wrote: The news around our house this year is that Bob (class of ’66)
retired in June. He has been spending a lot of time at our cabin on Leech Lake in northern
Minnesota, and has been good about much needed “projects "around the house here in Prior Lake.
In May, we went on a river cruise in Europe, along with my brother and sister in law, and my Dad,
who is 96 (and an Ole!), and his wife, who is 86 (also an Ole). We were amazed at them - if I get to
that age and do as well as they did, it will be cause for celebration!
It was great to see everyone at the reunion planning dinner on September 17. I was unable to be at
the meeting the next day, because we became grandparents for the 7th time. Our 3rd
granddaughter, Berit Lynden, arrived in the world, and we were “baby sitters in chief” for the two
year old grandson. The grandkids always amaze me - maybe because I guess I take more time with
them to watch and listen. I have learned a lot from them - not the least about my iPhone! Well, that
is enough “grandma babble”.
I would like to encourage everyone to attend our reunion this year- 50 years is quite a milestone!
The reunion committee is hard at work making plans, and the weekend will be a great experience for
all who attend. I for one remember seeing all those “old Oles”, on the hill during commencement
weekend, and never once guessed that I would be one of them someday.
Merlin Simonson wrote: Trudy picked me up today at the LaCrosse Airport and took me home to
Genoa. I was a once-again re-employed annuitant for the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers for eight
weeks, this time at Norfolk, Virginia. I sang Um Ya Ya to two co-workers, who sniffed at the
fighting fast and furious AND being injurious.
Chris Lind wrote: Here are a few highlights from the last year for Jana and me. We had a great
year with both birding and travel. On the birding front we continue to be fascinated with the
tremendous variety of species that reside or travel through our forested home site in northwest
Wisconsin. We regularly watch and record our sightings through Cornell University’s ebird.org web
site. Of interest in the past few days have been migrating Swainson’s and Hermit thrushes, Yellow34 rumped warblers, Nashville warblers, Black-throated green warblers, and Scarlet tanagers. Our
species list from our home now stands at 99 but we are on the lookout for number 100. This winter
brought great sightings of snowy owls to our area since they were so abundant in the north that they
drifted much further south from their usual arctic circumpolar range. (I remember the first time I
saw a snowy owl. It was during the winter of our freshman year at St Olaf and the bird was calmly
perched in a tree right above the sidewalk in front of Ytterboe Hall – what a sight!) To insure we
got our full dose of the brutal winter of 2014, we decided to attend the Winter Birding Festival held
at Sax-Zim Bog north of Duluth, MN in mid-February. The trip was well worth the pain since we
saw lots of birds and added the Evening grosbeak to our life list.
Travel was also good this past year. Jana and I had the good fortune to travel with a National
Geographic/Lindblad Expedition to Southeast Alaska. We sailed from Sitka onboard the National
Geographic Sea Bird along with six naturalist, underwater diver/photographer, and 59 passengers.
It was a ten day trip within the Inside Passage and we had close up looks at Coastal Brown Bears,
Mountain Goats, Alaskan Black Wolves, Humpbacked Whales, Orcas, Stellar Sea Lions, Sea Otters
and a variety of pelagic birds (Artic Terns had just arrived from Antarctica, Tufted and Horned
Puffins were present in Glacier Bay National Park). The beauty of traveling with National
Geographic is that their agenda is to find and view wildlife and natural wonders rather than to get to
the next port of call. We also had wonderful views of calving glaciers and iceberg strewn waters
while kayaking from the ship or being launched in Zodiacs. Zodiacs also took us to shore for
wilderness hikes in the Tongass National Forest and other remote sites.
To balance our interests we also traveled with Road Scholars to Santa Fe, NM in July to attend
performances of the Santa Fe Summer Opera. We saw Beethoven’s Fidelio and Bizet’s Carmen. Both
were accompanied with great pre-performance lectures and post-performance critiques with Road
Scholar opera experts. Along with the performances we toured back stage set and costuming
departments to round out the experience. The trip also included studies of Georgia O’Keefe’s art
and visit to the Georgia O’Keefe Museum and other art museums, New Mexico history and cuisine,
35 a trip to Chimayo, and outings to observe traditional weaving as well as foundries for casting bronze
sculptures.
Having had these remarkable travel experiences we decided to complete the year by celebrating our
49th wedding anniversary along Minnesota’s north shore with a stay in our favorite spot in Grand
Marais. The trip along Lake Superior afforded us the opportunity to visit favorite restaurants like
the New Scenic Café north of Duluth and the Angry Trout Restaurant in Grand Marais. We did
also hike to the Falls in Grand Portage State Park just to work off a few calories.
Our sons (Eric and Olaf), daughters-in-law (Susi and Kate), and grandchildren (Anders and Jensen)
are well and meeting life’s challenges. It is good that Olaf, Kate and the grandchildren live here in
Eau Claire so that we can see them grow. Eric is now the Director of Development for the
Florentine Opera in Milwaukee and that gives us another opportunity to visit him and take in more
opera.
Finally it was with some reluctance that I agreed to be part of the planning committee for our class
50th reunion. But I found the meetings at St Olaf in September to be unexpectedly rewarding and I
think the 50th reunion next May will be a very worthwhile experience. I’m looking forward to seeing
many of you then.
John Pierson wrote: So the cool autumn winds are setting into the lake country of Minnesota and
we are in the process of packing for our trek to Arizona. Hard to imagine but it is something like
14-15 years that we have been doing this. Will again spend 7+ months in Arizona where we have
many friends from our moves around the Midwest in the banking business. I still do some work for
our two homeowners associations mainly revolving around investment, insurance, and finance
issues. And when not doing that, golf and fly fishing seem to occupy a good deal of time. Just
returned from a week of steelhead fishing on the Alaska Peninsula near Cold Bay. The winter winds
were starting to come in off the Bering Sea. And earlier in the summer did another trip with David
J Nelson and some friends to fish for silver salmon in the streams around King Salmon, Alaska.
This was the third fly fishing trip David J and I have done to Alaska.
Hope to see many classmates at our upcoming Reunion next May; it should be much fun to see
everyone.
Catherine Jorgensen McCutcheon wrote: An update from the ‘on the move’ McCutcheon’s.
I’d like to say the plaguing war wound from the second siege of the battle of Vananuwatananun for
the valley of Kee is the cause for my January, 2014 hip replacement. In truth, it was not. It healed
well enough in June to travel northward.
Ron and I accepted a birthday party invitation from Norwegian travel buddies for June 8th which
morphed into the opportunity to visit family in three locations—Ireland, Norway, and England.
36 The reunion with four still vibrant women all over 90 was rich with rewards. Cousins and friends
welcomed us and we returned home happy for this opportunity.
Summer had its relentless “catch up” with maintenance at home, but we squeezed in some cycling.
Also, we were pressed into service by locals to oppose the closure of our nearest fire station. The
issue is now scheduled for a February ballot. Other volunteer activities keep us out of serious
mischief.
June travel was the highlight of 2014 for us, but welcoming our foursome family (who seized the
sabbatical opportunity to sample world cultures), back home after a year abroad was heartwarming.
Our grandchildren enrolled in public schools and engaged fully in the adventure. The younger (11
yrs) qualified for the international swim competition representing Singapore in May at Hong Kong.
Both girls earned new deep sea diving certifications. Re-settlement at home in New Jersey has been
quick and complete for Karin and her family.
Our elder daughter, Lois Sevim, continues to represent Kent State at conferences as a presenter
focusing on new procedures in cataloging. She is heavily engaged in housing foreign graduate
students as they study for new degrees.
This year Ron and I elected to forgo employment—he abandoned his professional genealogy
business and I resigned from NASA’s day care facility. We hope to concentrate on writing and
researching our own family history.
We are eager to see St. Olaf classmates in May, 2015 and appreciate all the preliminary work the
committee has done. Mange tusen takk!
Sue Dow Zietlow wrote: This year in June we celebrated 50 years since Phil’s college graduation
and his employment in General Mills research. He is still working full time and plans to until this
final and favorite project is on the store shelves next year sometime. Later in the summer we
celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary by taking a drive to the West. I planned that trip; there was
37 not a tent or sleeping bag in the car! It was a good time with new adventures and old friends. Best
of all was the final weekend with two of our kids and the teen grandkids in Colorado. Phil played in
a hockey tournament there. He does that often but this one is special because our daughter Karen
and son Bill play on his team. One of the games is extra special because all the players, refs, and
coaches are cancer survivors. Phil is so proud to belong on that team. Just a few more months and
we will have lived in the same house for 50 years. We moved in the day after I graduated from St.
Olaf, nearly 50 years ago. Same house, same spouse, same job. We have made many changes to the
house during those years. Actually the spouses and job have changed much though still the same.
All for the better!
I continue to “work” also in my volunteer capacity as child advocate. Currently I drive to Duluth
twice each month to take a young boy to therapeutic horseback riding. I do think it is helping
control his explosive behavior and so worth my time and money. Our other son John with wife and
handsome fun smart toddler boy live in Minneapolis so we are blessed to see them often. Other
than that we keep busy with Phil’s mother, many good long-time friends, scouts for Phil, dancing for
me, and church activities, another nearly 50 year category.
All the family came home for Thanksgiving and Christmas last year. Next month we will all fly to
Hawaii for Thanksgiving. Life has been good to us.
I look forward to seeing you next May at St. Olaf.
Sam Pederson (and Mary Lou '66) wrote: This has been a very busy year with many ups and
downs. The first half of 2014 was focused on Mary Lou caring for her mom in an independent
living apartment, then hospital in February, then in a nursing home for a few months until she
passed away at almost 95 years old in June. We took a road trip to Minnesota to bring her ashes to
Rochester for a memorial service and burial in the family plot.
The second half of the year was filled with travel and visits with relatives. The Minnesota trip, in
addition to the memorial service for Mary Lou’s mom, lasted close to a month and included visits
with son and family in Wisconsin, going to the MN state fair, visits with relatives, attending a
wedding and a stop in Glacier National Park on the way home. We then went to the national
AAKP (American Association of Kidney Patients) patient conference in Las Vegas. Shortly after
that on to Albuquerque for the International Balloon Fiesta where we saw over 500 balloons
participate in mass ascensions and other ballooning events. We are planning another visit to the
grandchildren in Virginia in November. We want to take advantage of having them in the US for
this year so we can see them more than the twice a year we usually see them when they are overseas
for three years at a time.
We are still trying to be retired but find ourselves busy as ever.
Looking forward to the 50th – see you all next May.
Don and Diane Wikholm Mersch wrote in an early 2014 Christmas card: Hoping to improve my
golf game, I took lessons, thus, injured my arthritic knee by tearing the meniscus. Hobbled for 7
38 months then had arthroscopic surgery. Getting older is not fun, but I had a good recovery. I lost
40 pounds to take pressure off my bad knee. And with a new hair style, I feel like a new “me”.
Want to return to water aerobics and pickle ball this fall. Bridge, PEO and book clubs, I enjoy them
all. Don’s back gives him trouble, but he doesn’t complain. Went to Mexico twice to do volunteer
doctoring again. In California’s Disneyland we got the family together. With four grandchildren
giggling, there is nothing sweeter. Watched many soccer games, dancing, and cheer leading. Heard
guitar and piano playing, plus some awesome singing. Minnesota, Alaska and Canada are nice in the
summer, but we prefer sunny, warm Arizona for six months of winter. Merry Christmas to you, and
be of good cheer. May 2015 bring you a happy and healthy year.
Susan Eastman wrote: It’s late fall in Maine, the trees brown, the leaves thick on the ground, and
snow predicted for a few days from now. The garden is almost done (it’s been a long season) and
boxes of winter squash are sitting in the living room. Yesterday we had what Ed called a typical
Maine day - went to the dump and the hardware store and then to an art museum.
I’m sitting at the dining room table, which is strewn with newspapers, letters and the Mozart
‘Requiem’ which the chorus I’m lucky enough to have found is preparing. The letter I treasure most
is from my 3rd cousin, who lives in a teeny town in NW Iowa. Other letters arrive by email, on the
laptop that faces Ed’s laptop (we have dueling laptops), and my plump cat, Babette, is sprawled
between them. I’ve started to get RSVPs back for our annual Lutefisk smorgasbord in December.
I’ve just had an email conversation with my old friend, Sandra Bartels, on fear of aging and my
desire to age gracefully. I also had an email from a godson who attached pictures of his little baby
girl. And then, of course, there was the email from our wonderful Paul Eastman. In September St
Olaf flew me out for a planning session for our 50th reunion, and I was struck by the fact that a) I
knew who most of the people were (surprising because we nursing students weren’t on campus for
all of our four years, and I was firmly on the sidelines of things, to boot) and b) how much I liked
you all. Now it’s time for dinner, leftovers prepared by Ed, the official cook in our family.
Life is grand!
Julie Holt Ahrens wrote: I am in the beginning stages of my third year serving the
Methodist parishes of Arlington and Volga in northeast Iowa. What is different? Well, I’m
going back to classes, which are required of any local licensed pastors who have not
attended seminary, etc. It’s been a challenge, but also very good to be able to be in a
39 classroom situation again. The classes are two days in the spring and two days in the
fall…and I drive to Sioux City, Iowa as the classes are conducted on the campus of
Morningside College. Yes, I get to see another part of the state of Iowa.
Ron and I are doing well….keeping busy.
We are so thankful for health after what we have
fought through with him. Our families are doing well…grandchildren are growing up. My
daughter’s two oldest sons are now both attending Upper Iowa University and her youngest
is in 7th grade. They grow older…but I don’t???? (Yeah, right!)
Blessings to my classmates…and looking forward to seeing you for our 50th class reunion in
May.
Barbara Gerten Towey wrote: I took three trips to visit my daughter in Seattle and a week each in
AZ and Cleveland where I visited Cathy Jorgenson McCutcheon. Enjoyed two months at the lake
in MN and two camping trips. I retired from directing the church choir after 42 years but still enjoy
playing organ at Trinity Lutheran Church in Stevens Point WI and singing in the WI Master Chorale
which I directed for six years. Living in the same house for 43 years. Plenty to do. Enjoying good
health.
Paul Egeland wrote: Today (November 1),I leave for 20 days in Kenya, mostly birding. Managed
to get out of MN for a couple of weeks last winter, one week in Costa Rica and a week in south
Texas. Did our week in Canada fishing with the usual great results. Have spent a number of hours
working with a great crew planning our 50th reunion.
Andy and Joan Evenson Boe wrote: Thinking of you in this time of transition ... From glorious
autumn days to the beginning of November ... cold northeast winds. It is time to dig out the
snuggies and snow shovels! Joan took this picture looking east across Lake. Wapogasset. Oak leaves
often turn red-brown but stay on the tree through the winter.
A second "sign" of transition ... Migrating sandhill cranes on a pond west of Amery. They are a really
tall bird, standing between 3-4 feet with a red streak on their head.
40 The fall news. Joan and I attended the 45th reunion of my Luther Seminary Class of 1969. Fifty
Pastors and spouses got together for a wonderful 4 days at Mt. Carmel Bible Camp at Alexandria,
Minnesota. (We have met 3 times previously in Tucson, AZ) St Olaf classmates came from the
opposite ends of the country, Linn and Nina Opderbecke from New Hampshire, and Dave and
Sue Mullen from California! We had a great time with our theme "The song goes on!" Presentations
and small group discussions, together with wonderful singing at devotions and even a late evening
"60's Hootnanny!" allowed us to connect in meaningful ways! St Olaf classmates = Tom
VonFischer (Becky) Paul Nelson (Sandy) Dave Mullen (Sue) Ruth and Paul Tweeten, Chuck
Larson, Neil Ruedisili (Mary) Linn and Nina Opderbecke, Will (Geri) Olson, Will and Ruth
Bloedow, and Andy and Joan Boe. The St. Olaf graduates look forward to our 50th at STO in the
spring
Nancy Bodach Hanson wrote: For the past two years, our family has been on the move. After 15
moves with the Air Force (1965-1988) and 24 years in the “temporary” home we bought in Granger,
IN, we moved into a one-story house that makes it easier for us to go south for a few months each
winter. Besides getting ourselves settled, we also helped David and Rebecca and their families with
their moves the past two summers. In 2013, David and Cindy and the girls moved from Florida to
Burke, VA, where David was assigned to the Pentagon; this past summer they were transferred back
to Florida. Fortunately, the girls (Sage-16, Avery-14, and Reese-12) were able to find good options
for soccer and cheerleading in both locations. In 2013, Rebecca and Doug and their family (Hannah
Rose-14, Mason-11, and Hanson-4) moved from San Francisco to Austin, TX; this past summer
they were transferred to Atlanta. Volleyball, swimming, and football keep Hannah Rose and Mason
busy —Hanson is busy just being 4! Having both children and their families in the same area of the
country for the first time will make our travels easier.
While David was at the Pentagon, we were proud to attend the ceremony for him to pin on the rank
of Colonel. It was even more special when we realized it was thirty years to the day that Howard
changed rank to Colonel.
We keep busy at home with numerous activities in the community and at church. Howard is a CASA
and serves on the board for an organization that works with problem families. During the golf
season, he works 3-4 days a week as a starter at the Notre Dame golf course. I facilitate a Bible
Study at our church, participate in BSF, and serve as treasurer for two organizations. Both Howard
and I are currently involved with a capital campaign at our church.
I have had the opportunity to participate in two planning sessions for our 50th Class Reunion. It
has been a lot of fun to re-connect with classmates. I hope all of you will seriously consider
attending the Reunion. It will be a fun event!
Joanne Grundstrum Wangsness wrote: 2014 was a good year, nothing earthshaking. We're happy,
healthy and thankful for our many blessings. Jon and I are still in Minnetrista and enjoy maintaining
our property. Hardy roses, clematis and perennials are my focus while Jon wages a never ending war
against buckthorn. Most of May was spent in south-central Alaska. We rented VRBOs (Vacation
Rental by Owner) in Homer, Seward, Talkeetna and Willow, picked up a rental SUV and explored
the amazing versatility of Alaska. In July we attended a beautiful wedding at a vineyard in Sonoma
Valley for Paul Nelson's (66) daughter, Ashley. Paul was the best man at our wedding 48 years ago!
We have always enjoyed the Kettle Falls Hotel on Rainy Lake and this year Bob (66) and Gail
Lageson Barsness joined us for some fishing and fun at the "Tiltin' Hilton". Lifetime friendships
41 made at St. Olaf are priceless and with that in mind I volunteered to be on the 50th Reunion
planning committee. Our first meeting was in September and what fun it was to share stories with
classmates who I had not seen since graduation. I am on the Viking Update committee so I will add
to other reminders: Send in Your Bios! We need all of you. See you in 2015
And the Procrastinator Extraordinaire award for this year goes to Dan Sass who wrote: Paul
wants me to write some thoughts…..”some thoughts.” There. I did it.
Also, this preparation for the 50th Shindig is wonderful. So much more meaningful than any of my
high school reunions. First, they asked for smaller sums of money. Also, the high school reunions
were not so “in your face” with our mortality. Not that the money ideas are bad - they aren’t. My
wife and I are seriously thinking. Better late than never, I guess. As for the mortality issue, ditto. I
truly never thought I was mortal. Guess I learned that confidence on the Hill.
I am honored to be officially “old” with you esteemed classmates. I am looking forward to marking
this next step with you all. The LONG introductions of each other at the planning meetings earlier
this year were endlessly fascinating. And I remain, as always, eternally defined, to a great degree, by
my, and our, fleeting four years there, no matter how many other schools we eventually attended (in
my case, initially, to avoid the draft!)
My life has been defined by being an Ole, in that beloved STOChoir, with the loving tutelage of
parental professors, and you. Our first sense of the coming excitement we were going to experience
by simply living our promise happened there, and not many mistakes were there yet to cloud that
confidence.
So, now, we are together, again, as we step off into our 70’s, 80’s, and, hopefully, 90’s. Some will
achieve 100’s, I am sure. And I will be honored to greet you at every college opportunity
coming….as far as I know, I am the youngest in our class - I honestly hope to be one of the oldest!
Eventually!!
Retirement is getting good!!!! Love you all.
News Notes form the Alumni Office:
Ruth Jacobson Bloedow and Will Bloedow ’65 received the Paul and Elaine Groth Mentoring
Award sponsored by the Mielke Family Foundation. They received the award during the Celebrating
Our Volunteers event in April 2013 at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in downtown Appleton,
Wis.
In Fox Valley philanthropic circles, Will and Ruth Bloedow get around. Will, 69, and Ruth, 70, sit on
the governing boards and volunteer with many education and community health organizations,
including The Center for Grieving Children, the Community Health Acton Team, the Fox Valley
Symphony, the Fox Cities Book Festival, Common Ground and the Fox Valley Diabetes Education
and Support Group.
Despite their service, Will said he and his wife were surprised to win the award. “We were
flabbergasted when we were chosen. We sat down and had to think about ‘mentoring.’ Mentoring
42 isn’t necessarily about sitting down with someone else —– what we do is share our stories. In those
stories are numerous examples of how we’ve been mentored, and I think that inspires others.”
While at St. Olaf, Gretchen Lundstrom Farwell '65 wrote a letter to Jackie Kennedy in 1963 at the
time of the President’s death. She was so emotionally moved and upset. Thousands of letters like
this were sent in, and Gretchen received a thank you note from Jackie. Gretchen thought that was
the end of it until Nov. 2009 when she received a phone call from a researcher to verify that she was
the one who wrote the letter, and to let her know that this letter stood out and was chosen to be
included in the book 'Letters to Jackie: Condolences from a Grieving Nation'. The book was
released in 2010, the St. Olaf magazine did a story, and Gretchen thought that was the end of it.
Then in 2012, Gretchen received a phone call from someone in the office of Academy Awardwinning filmmaker Bill Couturie, who had been commissioned by The Learning Channel to make a
documentary about ‘Letters to Jackie’, which would feature her letter. An actor was hired to read her
letter, black and white footage of the St. Olaf campus became the backdrop when her letter was
read, and the movie was scheduled to show nationally in tribute to the 50th anniversary of JFK’s
assassination. Once again, Gretchen thought that was the end.
Then this past June 13, Gretchen received a call from the director Bill Couturie, commenting that
the film was chosen to open the American Film Institute’s five-day documentary film festival in
Washington, D.C., and asking if she’d like to attend. She said ‘yes’, flew to Washington with her
husband, and got the red carpet treatment. Gretchen said the movie was amazing with newsreel
footage of the times, as well as Kennedy family photos. Shortly into the film, the St. Olaf College
letterhead appeared with her letter and youthful handwriting, and then her freshman and graduation
pictures on the full screen. Her husband was proud and amazed, while Gretchen is still marveling at
the resurfacing of her ‘tiny pebble’.;;
Beverly Heiberg was honored for 50 years of service as a Flight Attendant/International Purser at
United Airlines.
Joan Engebretson wrote: This has been another busy year. Yes, I am still working…..that from
the one who would have been voted the least likely to stay or even work in nursing on our St. Olaf
graduation. I do enjoy working with graduate students and in particular their research. I went to
meetings in San Antonio in February and an anthropology meeting in Albuquerque in March; a
perfect setting for an anthropology meeting. In April we went on a cruise to the Bahamas and
Bermuda. In June, our son, Andrew and his family took us on a reminiscent trip to Boston. We saw
all the places we had lived and worked when we lived there and took in a lot of new sites as well.
Wow, what a luxury to have someone plan out your trip and take care of all those details. I could
get used to that. It was also fun to spend time with Andrew, his wife and 13 year old son Cody. I
spent the remainder of the summer getting a new course up and running. In October I traveled to
Washington DC where I was inducted into the American Academy of Nursing.
We are fortunate that all three sons live in Austin so it is fairly easy to visit back and forth and far
enough so we can’t be too overbearing. The family includes: Andrew, his wife Leslie and son Cody
age 13; Adam, his wife Cate and daughters Eliza (she will be 4 on New Year’s Eve) and Ivy who
turned 1 in September; and Ethan and his wife Joana and son, Noah who will be 2 in March. We
are challenged with holidays however, as we have the largest kitchen and supplies to feed the entire
group; however, the sleeping and bathroom accommodations in our house are pretty cramped when
43 they all come. We thought we had a large house at one time: with 4 bedrooms; however, it is pretty
inadequate for the entire group. So we are looking at some other options for thanksgiving.
Another good year. Looking forward to seeing folks at the reunion.
Paul Eastman wrote: This year’s newsletter has been an interesting exercise. Because of associated
requests for your literary skills surrounding or 50th reunion, I cut of the begging and harassment
early this year. I shut off newsletter requests after only four requests and only a third of the time I
usually cajole. The result is a much smaller newsletter (but still larger than any other class). I do
want to thank all of you who have submitted material. It has been a joy to put it together. I the
future, I hope you understand my incessant haranguing when September and October roll around.
I seemed to do a bit more traveling this year. As usual, we started the year on Maui where we have
an ocean front timeshare unit. Hawaii is our get away and relax place where we do little more than
enjoy the ocean and good food. The end of January took me to Fremont, California, where my
siblings and I saw our mother off to meet her Lord. February took me back to California, Long
Beach this time, for one of my IEEE Standards meetings and a few days in Austin, Texas so visit my
youngest son.. Mid-March brought almost all my family, siblings and their spouses, sons, nieces and
nephews and their families and even two generations of cousins to Palos Verdes, California, for a
memorial service for my mother. The very end of March took us for a one day visit to Hawaii on
our way to Australia as a celebration of our
I really hope to see all of you all of you at our 50th Reunion next May 28-31. Until then, God bless.
Paul Eastman
911 W. Port-au-Prince Ln.
Phoenix, AZ 85023
Home: (602) 993-7085
Cell: (602) 350-2488
E-Mail: [email protected]
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