DECEMBER 2020
CHANGING ENVIRONMENT Page 14
THANK YOU!
From all of us at Bethany Lutheran College, please accept a heartfelt thank you for your support of Give to Bethany Day on Thursday, November 12, 2020, and for making the event a tremendous success.
553 gifts totaling $126,669! By surpassing the goal of $100,000 and 550 gifts in 24 hours, Bethany received the full $70,000 challenge grant making the total amount raised for the day:
$196,669 Thank you so much! Your gifts allow Bethany to provide students with an exceptional Christ-centered, college education! All The Vikings, All Together We hope that alumni and friends of Bethany continue to support the “All The Vikings, All Together” campaign throughout the 2020-21 academic year. Our goal is to raise $625,000 by June 30, 2021. There are many opportunities to contribute beyond Give to Bethany Day. You may receive requests during the student-run Bethany Phone-a-thon, through direct mailings, social media posts, or email messages sent throughout the year. We humbly ask you to grab an oar, row with us, and make a gift to help the College continue to engage and equip the next generation with the One Thing Needful—their Savior, Jesus.
We need All The Bethany Vikings, All Together!
B E TH A N Y Magazine
D ECE M B ER 2020
TABLE OF
CONTENTS CAMPUS NEWS ____________________________
4 FROM THE PRESIDENT
The Bethany Spirit permeates all we do on and off campus
20 ANOTHER RECORD FALLS Enrollment reaching new heights
FACULTY & STAFF ____________________________
ATHLETICS ____________________________
6 UPDATES AND NEWS Department and faculty news and updates
22 ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME Five new members inducted
7 JUDY HED RETIRES
24 SOCCER FIELD BECOMES A REGIONAL ASSET
Long-time food service worker leaves after 39 years
Local high schools make use of field
8 CAMPUS BRIEFS
News briefs from campus departments
STUDENTS ____________________________
CAMPUS NEWS ____________________________
14 MUNSEN LEADS WITH A SHOW OF HANDS
Senior music major steps up to help conduct band
10 CULTIVATING WHAT IS ESSENTIAL
New class begins with focus on the primary doctrines of Christianity
ALUMNI NEWS ____________________________
17 KEEPING CLASSES FLEXIBLE Faculty takes on Hyflex learning model
25 ALUMNI NEWS AND IN MEMORIAM
19 CENTER FOR APOLOGETICS OPENS
27 RETROSPECT
Planning for spring student conference
ON THE COVER: The Bethany Concert Band performed outdoors on October 6, 2020. Changes were made during first semester due to the pandemic. Read how senior Mariah Munsen stepped up to help on page 14. Photo by David Norris
Who is depicted in this cartoon?
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UPLIFTING RETURN See how theatre adapted to changing restrictions
zine
Maga ISSUE: 147
All contents © COPYRIGHT 2020 Bethany Lutheran College. Articles, images or photographs may not be reproduced without written permission. The Bethany
Magazine is published three times yearly by the Bethany Lutheran College Office of Institutional Communication and distributed free of charge.
editor, writer | Lance Schwartz designer, photographer | David Norris contributing writer | Amber Murry ('21) contributing writer | Don Moldstad Please direct all correspondence, letters, news, corrections, and comments to: Bethany Lutheran College Bethany Magazine 700 Luther Drive Mankato, MN 56001-6163
Email: editor@blc.edu Phone: 507.344.7000 | 800.944.3066 Mission: Bethany Lutheran College is a Christian
liberal arts college owned and operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod and committed to the teachings of the Bible as expressed in the statements of faith known as the Lutheran Confessions. Bethany Lutheran College provides Christian higher education in a challenging academic environment where personal mentoring guides students to pursue knowledge, truth, and discernment for productive and fulfilling lives.
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from the
PRESIDENT BY G E NE PFE IFE R • PRESIDENT, B E THANY LUTHERAN COLLEG E
The spirit of Bethany permeates Every new school year is special, but this past fall has been an unusually remarkable time on the Bethany campus. It was a poignant experience this past August seeing our students again for the first days of the academic year. Catching glimpses of them chatting with friends, going to chapel, and exploring new territory with Bethany professors joyfully replaced the previous six months of looking across a pandemic-shuttered campus. And while I was overjoyed for the return of these students, I couldn’t help but think of last spring’s seniors who were forced to leave the campus in March without saying goodbye. So, we eagerly look forward to providing the Class of 2020 a proper graduation celebration, God-willing, when the situation allows. We fully understand that the events of this world are making these times stress-filled and perhaps tenuous. And while 2020-21 may not provide a full academic year in the traditional sense for Bethany, we are grateful for the opportunities that abound when a small, Christ-centered community of young people care for one another, and place the health of their neighbor first as they adjust the ways they move and interact in a world still coping with a pandemic. This year, Bethany students are accepting and respecting the many rules and regulations on campus, both the guidelines suggested by the State of Minnesota, and those we’ve implemented as an institution with the goal of mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 virus. Students made these adjustments in a charged environment at a time when arguments were heightened during a contentious national election. Similar to society as a whole, there are a variety of perspectives regarding the virus and politics on the campus. But, the value of a liberal arts education at Bethany is alive in these varied perspectives and lifted by the blessing of living in a land of personal and religious liberties where we are free to worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
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The pandemic isn’t the only concern students are bringing to campus this fall. Today’s college students are grappling with the pain associated with racism in America. As our College Chaplain Don Moldstad said in a video message following the events in Minneapolis, “Our hearts ache at the senseless tragedy of the death of George Floyd.” Bethany is blessed to have diverse multiculturalism on campus and embraces this as an important part of the liberal arts experience. Enriching educational experiences are often the result of meaningful dialogue between people with different perspectives. As Christian brothers and sisters, we must work together reaching deeper into our hearts and God’s grace to discover greater understanding and new ways to truly love one another. Bethany is one of only a few colleges that acknowledges the Bible as the inspired Word of God. It is also a place where students can openly affirm their Christian beliefs in honest dialogue with students of different faith backgrounds. This conversation happens in a setting where caring professors guide discussions covering diverse perspectives. It is a good thing to see this beautiful variety of young people, that our Lord created, interact at Bethany in a manner that will elevate their abilities to serve the Lord throughout their lives.
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This spirit of open dialogue, caring mentorship, and true collaboration is the basis for Bethany’s current recruitment messaging. Perhaps you’ve noticed the slogan Bethany.Values.My Spirit. in admissions materials and on recent advertising. This campaign deliberately echoes our students’ perceptions of their Bethany experiences—A time when their intellectual spirits are encouraged by professors who know them personally and value collaboration—A moment when their creative and imaginative spirit in music, the visual arts, oration, and writing is nourished and inspired by an environment that fosters discovery— And a season when the athlete’s competitive spirit is fed by coaches who guide and mentor while taking them both to individual and team accomplishments never before experienced. These are the inspiring stories our students are sharing with us, bolstering our confidence that the Spirit is alive and well in the scholars, artists, and athletes attending Bethany Lutheran College. A Bethany education is built on engaging students with their Savior, Jesus—The One Thing Needful. Because of His sacrifice for us, we can live with a renewed Spirit that motivates and guides our every moment. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” We pray that our students at Bethany, through the discerning lens of Truth found in God’s Word, learn to wisely navigate the uncertain times that we live in, and that they find shelter among fellow Christians and in the foundation of what our Savior has done for us so that we may be filled with a loving Spirit. I am grateful to serve at this special college, and I am thankful for your ongoing support for the Spirit of Bethany.
Photo by David Norris
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FACU LT Y & S TA FF
D ECE M B ER 2020
From our faculty & staff Sara Edwards (Legal Studies) is beginning a term on the Membership Committee for the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC). The UMAC Membership Committee Sara Edwards governs and provides guidance for all aspects of conference membership. Alanna Lienig (Education) trained the St. Clair, Minnesota, school district during the spring of 2020 on the new State reading requirements including dyslexia legislation. She visited each school district building in order to help every Alanna Lienig subject level teacher incorporate ways to support learners with reading difficulty, including dyslexia, in their instruction and assessments. Ryan MacPherson (History, Philosophy, Legal Studies) published an article in the July-August Lutheran Sentinel entitled “Rendering to Caesar and to God: Pandemic Health Codes and Religious Liberty," and also was interviewed on the Issues, Etc. radio program concerning “Lutherans, Political Ryan MacPherson Resistance and the 1550 Magdeburg Confession,” on July 3, 2020. He also presented a live webinar for Lutherans for Life entitled “Aborted Human Fetal Tissue in Vaccines: A Summary of Medical Science to Inform Pro-Life Moral Reasoning.” His related article, “Aborted Human Fetal Tissue in Vaccines: Ethical and Legal Considerations amid the Race to a COVID-19 Vaccine,” has been accepted for publication in Life and Learning: Proceedings of the Thirtieth 6
University Faculty for Life Conference. MacPherson also contributed as a co-author to his wife Marie’s booklet Teaching Children Chastity for Life: Talking Points for Christian Parents (Lutherans for Life, 2020).
Leadership and Strategy for the Care of Souls and completed the training to be a certified facilitator for the Prepare/Enrich relationship pre-marriage and marriage enrichment program.
Carrie Pfeifer (Education) recently became a certified trainer in Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) as part of a state-wide effort by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to support both in-service and pre-service teachers in implementing the science of reading in classroom instruction. Carrie Pfeifer Throughout this past summer, Pfeifer rewrote the literacy courses offered at Bethany to properly align to the science of reading, and will be teaching these courses to undergraduates in elementary education and special education. Pfeifer is also continuing her training with MDE in the areas of science-based instruction, reading comprehension, and preschool literacy instruction.
KatieJo Svenson (Athletics) is completing her final year (three-year term) on the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) National Board of Directors.
David Reagles (History) co-authored an article with David Evans, a senior history major at Bethany, in the Lutheran Sentinel entitled “How Preserving the Past Will Sustain Our Future.” The article highlights the importance of developing church archives. Shawn Stafford (Religion) attended the Summer Institute of Theology at Free Lutheran Seminary in Plymouth, Minnesota. He took courses on Soul Care and Church
David Reagles
Several members of the KatieJo Svenson Bethany administration and faculty taught online graduate courses for Bethany’s sister college, Martin Luther College, this past summer. President Gene Pfeifer taught Improving Instructional Methodology. Vice President of Academic Affairs Jason Lowrey taught Issues in Education, which covered Gene Pfeifer many of the hot button issues facing elementary, middle and high school teachers today. Vice President of Admissions and Enrollment Jeff Lemke taught a class on business administration, budgeting, and financial Jason Lowrey planning. Professor of Education Carrie Pfeifer taught Diversity Issues in Education.
Jeff Lemke
Shawn Stafford
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FACU LT Y & S TA FF
Judy Hed retires from Bethany after 39 years BY AMBER MURRY • BETHANY SENIOR ENGLISH MAJOR
The 2020 Fall Semester marked the end of 39 years of faithful service from Judy Hed, who retired on September 15, 2020. “Grandma Judy,” as she is affectionately known on campus, has often been credited with the ability to make Bethany feel like home through her wonderful desserts in the school cafeteria. When Hed and her husband first came to the Mankato area for her husband’s job, she didn’t want to stay. “I was very sad about coming here because I didn’t know anybody, and all my children were in college in Wisconsin. I was having a very hard time.” In an effort to persuade her, Hed’s husband made a bet with her that, if she found a part-time job in Mankato, she would decide to stay. If she didn’t, her husband promised that she could return to Wisconsin
Photo by David Norris
and he would commute to work. “I lost that bet,” said Hed with a laugh. Despite an initially negative impression of the outdated kitchen, Hed’s mind was quickly changed when she began to meet the people of Bethany. “I stayed one week, and the people were so wonderful. I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll just stay for one more week.’” In this way, “one week” quickly turned into 39 years of delicious desserts, special moments, and enduring friendships. Hed is retiring to Wisconsin, where all of her family members live within a 40-minute drive. She looks forward to spending more time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. “Maybe I’ll work at my great-grandson’s cafeteria for a few years,” she joked.
WELCOME NEW EMPLOYEES Six new full-time faculty and staff members were installed during the College’s 2020 Opening Service held in Trinity Chapel on August 24.
Those installed were: • Brittany Espinoza, Assistant Professor, Mathematics
Brittany Espinoza
Patrick Garvin
Erika Gunderson
Kenneth Johnson
Aaron Ollrich
Sheng Sang
• Patrick Garvin, Head Coach Men’s Basketball • Erika Gunderson, Assistant Professor, Business Administration • Kenneth Johnson, Associate Professor, Business Administration • Aaron Ollrich, Assistant Professor, Mathematics • Sheng Sang, Assistant Professor, Engineering Sciences
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CampusBriefs Mock Trial Team Grows Bethany’s Legal Studies Department is sponsoring a mock trial team. Interest is so strong that the team began the new year with enough participants for two complete competitive teams. During the pandemic, all mock trial events are held virtually. The BethPaul Gunderson any Mock Trial team is coached by Ryan Drea, J.D. a public defender in Mankato, Professor of Legal Studies Sara Edwards, J.D., and Bethany alumnus Paul Gunderson, J.D. (’07) a private practice attorney in New Ulm, Minnesota.
SPEECHLESS says
GOODBYE
Bethany Fund Surpasses Goal A sincere thank you to the many alumni and friends of Bethany who contributed to the Bethany Fund during the 2019-20 fiscal year. The College was blessed, even during a worldwide economic downturn, to surpass the Fund’s goal by raising almost $615,000 of annual budget support. This tremendous outpouring helped the College to nearly achieve a balanced budget for 2019-20 despite the challenging circumstances. The support of over one thousand alumni and friends of Bethany is truly heartwarming, and a testament to the tremendous help the College receives for higher education taught from a Christian worldview.
BLC Nationally Ranked by U.S. News Bethany has once again been recognized by U.S. News and World Report for its excellent outcomes in the social mobility category. The yearly poll includes colleges and universities from across the country. U.S. News places Bethany in the prestigious National Liberal Arts Colleges classification and the College is ranked highly both in Minnesota (#3) and in the nation (#86). Social mobility refers to the ability of a person to move upward in income and social class after earning a bachelor’s degree. This high ranking demonstrates Bethany’s ability to help students achieve to their fullest ability regardless of background. 8
Speechless Ends Its Successful Run Bethany’s Speechless Film Festival, an event created by the Media Arts faculty and staff, will not resume in 2021 after being forced to appear virtually in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From early on, the event was a success while attracting filmmakers from around the globe. And southern Minnesota embraced the event with enthusiasm. Numerous community sponsors, venues, and volunteers helped the participating filmmakers by giving to them a passionate and supportive audience to view their art. Over the years, festival organizers in the Media Arts Department staged a number of host venues while assembling eight Speechless annual programs. But the pandemic and the economics of the event are a tricky road to navigate in these uncertain times, and after considerable deliberation the organizing committee made the difficult decision to end the event. Media Arts Professor Kurt Paulsen explained. “It is with a heavy heart that we have decided to discontinue the Speechless Film Festival. The mission of Speechless has always been deeply tied to education, and to that end we believe it is time to redirect our efforts to other initiatives. “When we launched this event in 2013, we were immediately thrilled with our newfound connections to a great many visual storytellers from all over the world. We are exceedingly grateful to those who have made this festival possible by generously volunteering their time and financial support.” Paulsen says the Media Arts Department will focus their efforts on new ways to bring the film and visual storytelling industry to the campus and into the classroom.
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CULTIVATING WHAT IS
D ECE M B ER 2020
Essential Photo from 2019 by David Norris
BY CHAPLAIN DON MOLDSTAD • DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS SPIRITUAL LIFE
Chaplain Don Moldstad helped create a new class to introduce essentials of Christianity to students with little or no knowledge of the Christian faith.
Dr. Gene Veith, an author of over twenty books on topics involving Christianity and culture, Lutheranism, literature, and the arts, identified today’s group of college students as the first “post-Christian generation.” For the first time in our nation’s history, the majority of young people have grown up with little or no knowledge of the teachings of the Christian faith. An increasing number of new students at Bethany have not had the privilege of Christian education. In addition, Bethany has been blessed with a large group of international students of late. Recently, a Bethany religion class of twenty-five students had nine nations represented. In another class, there were no less than thirteen different languages spoken by the students in that one room. It is exciting to teach to such a diverse group and learn more
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about their backgrounds and home countries. Through the years, these wonderful opportunities have also presented an interesting challenge to the College’s religion faculty. While Bethany continues to be blessed with new students who have already experienced many years of formal Christian education, there is a growing and significant number who are from backgrounds with little or no knowledge of the faith. In an attempt to address these differences, we have developed two separate paths for their firstyear religion requirements. Nearly twenty years ago, three Bethany religion
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professors, Mark DeGarmeaux, Mark Harstad, and Erling Teigen created an excellent Christian introductory class for freshmen which is still taught to half of our students. Using core elements from their materials, I was asked to develop a new course in hopes of allowing those with less of a church background to learn the essentials of the Christian faith, and prepare them for future Religion classes. The new course is called, “Essentials of Christianity.” Dr. Brian Klebig (Communication) and I now teach four sections with nearly 25 students enrolled in each class. From my perspective, it continues to be a work in progress, but is also very rewarding. The class’ first semester lessons focus on the primary doctrines of Christianity, similar to a study of the catechism: the Trinity, Creation, the Revealed Knowledge of God, Redemption, etc. Students bring Bibles to class so they can read the various teachings in order to familiarize themselves with a study of the Scriptures. Take home readings and assignments guide them through a survey of Bible history in both the Old and New Testaments. Students keep a reading journal, included in their textbook, where they answer questions about Biblical history and important historical figures. The second semester is a survey of the history of Christianity from the time of the Apostles to today. Our study continues to research what the Bible has to say as we work through the development of the early creeds, the early controversies about the Person of Christ, the Reformation, and other great events in Church History. By the end of their first year of Religion classes, these students should have a solid knowledge of basic Christian doctrine, a foundational background in Bible history, a familiarity with the terms used in Scripture, and a good understanding of the larger events in the history of the Church. The classes are also infused with many elements of worship among Christians through the centuries. God has provided Bethany with such tremendous blessings through the years. Many of us can remember our favorite religion professors, Sigurd Ylvisaker, Rudy Honsey, Bjarne Teigen, John Moldstad, Sr., Erling Teigen, Mark Harstad, Bill Kessel and many others. It is such a privilege to follow in their footsteps as we continue to proclaim the same truths from God’s saving Word to a new generation.
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Student comments on the Essentials of Christianity course at Bethany:
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[The class] welcomed you to Bethany and its Lutheran background, and I came from a public school where I’d never had a class on religion. It was not intimidating, and I felt that everyone was welcomed, no matter what your belief was. After taking the first semester, I was baptized and became more open about my faith. – Melodie DeVlaeminck Coming into this class I had little background and understanding of Christianity, but through the class, I learned more and more about Jesus Christ… and my faith has grown exponentially. I found it really nice that I was not only given the information, but it was also backed up by other sources and other ways of thinking—to me, that was a big deal. – Carter Hansen Personally, this class helped me to go deeper into my faith and understand some of the why behind what we believe. It is a great class for people like me who did not attend a Christian high school. – Isabella Lattery [The class] taught me a lot regarding religion, but also outlined morally how you should live your life. [It] gave me a different outlook on Christianity, and I really like the direction it has provided for me. – Conner Side 11
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Theatre takes on three productions for fall
Photos by Benji Inniger
Fall productions clockwise from above: Rikki Tikki Tavi, Black-Eyed Susan, and The Theatre Physics Christmas Radio Show.
BY AMBER MURRY • BETHANY SENIOR ENGLISH MAJOR
Uplifting Return 12
The cancellation of the Spring 2020 production of Treasure Island due to the ongoing pandemic came as a huge disappointment to the whole Bethany community, but most of all for those who were directly involved in the production. The future seemed bleak, but Bethany Lutheran College and its Theatre Department don’t give up so easily.
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The opportunity to return onstage came in the fall semester of 2020, but with many caveats. Now-familiar rules and limitations on building capacities, social distancing, and the use of masks may seem like insurmountable difficulties for a production, but the Theatre Department has managed to produce not just one or two, but three productions for the Fall Semester, each with a different director. “We’ve been calling them ‘bubble shows’ because they’re much smaller than usual. They have fewer cast members and aren’t as long in terms of time. It’s part of an effort to get as many students involved in the theatre as we can without having them on stage all together at the same time,” explained Associate Theatre Professor Benji Inniger, the director of the bubble show Rikki Tikki Tavi. The other two shows of the season were Black-Eyed Susan and The Theatre Physics Christmas Radio Show, directed by Adjunct Theatre Instructor Emily Kimball and Department Chair Peter Bloedel respectively. Black-Eyed Susan was the first of these bubble productions and took place in early October. Because of the warmer weather, this production was unique in that it was held outdoors under a large tent set up on the Bethany Green. The minimalist set depicting the naval setting of this melodrama from 1829 were reminiscent of the hopes for Treasure Island, but the content of the play took a much less serious approach to storytelling. Kimball explained the plot of the story by saying, “It was about this sailor who returns home to his wife, who can’t pay her rent, which is a big stereotype of that kind of drama. We thought about all the ways in which we could really milk that goofy energy.” In some ways, the safety restrictions of the pandemic led to even further comedic action. The reunion between husband and wife involves a long embrace which had to be carried out from opposite ends of the stage. Inniger has also been able to benefit from some of the difficulties of the pandemic in his production of Rikki Tikki Tavi by using creative masks to portray some of the animal characters of the play. “We wanted to incorporate the mask into how we present the character and make it into an intentional choice as opposed to only being a safety measure. We wanted it to feel natural,” said Inniger, who believes this pandemic provided the perfect excuse to direct this childhood favorite of his. “Putting a bunch of people in weird animal costumes is not the
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Photo by David Norris
Due to the need for physical distancing, audiences were spaced out for the two productions held in the Sigurd Lee Theater.
way to go with something like this, but the masks were perfect.” Even this year’s version of Theatre Physics looked a little different from the entirely black background that normally allows quick set changes between skits. Since the skits this year were performed as parts of a radio broadcast, the set was able to depict the studio in which all the action took place. The script for this play was written by Bloedel himself, which also offered some unique opportunities for those who couldn’t attend the performance in person. In fact, because of the rules of public domain for Black-Eyed Susan and permission from the writer of Rikki Tikki Tavi, each of these Bethany theatre productions has been put online through YouTube for everyone to enjoy, whether they were able to see it in person or not. Though the scale of this year’s theatre productions at Bethany was significantly smaller, the challenges that were presented to and overcome by the Bethany Theatre Department have made their marks in many ways. The directors and cast members were able to pursue new avenues of storytelling while also reminding themselves of what is truly important. Perhaps Bloedel said it best: “Bethany is here for something more important than theatre. We are a school that purports the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe that God tests his people in various ways, and I think we need to look at this as a test. He tests His people and their mettle so they can look inward and reflect. If these things are making us a little more thankful to him than we were, I don’t think that’s an accident.”
VIEW VIDEO AND PHOTOS FROM PAST PRODUCTIONS: BLC.EDU/PAST-PRODUCTIONS 13
MUNSEN LEADS WITH A
Show of Hands
Photos by David Norris
BY AMBER MURRY • BETHANY SENIOR ENGLISH MAJOR
Mariah Munsen conducted a piece during the 2019 Christmas at Bethany concert in Trinity Chapel.
Senior music major steps up to help conduct band When Bethany senior Mariah Munsen received the phone call from Assistant Professor of Music Ben Faugstad asking her to conduct a Concert Band performance taking place in less than a week, emotions flooded her mind. This concert was the first of the semester as well as the first Bethany outdoor concert in several years. “I was excited to do it and a little bit nervous, but mostly, I was just thinking, ‘Let’s do this.’” This type of reaction is exactly the reason Faugstad chose Munsen as a substitute conductor after injuring his back in early September. Faugstad is the director for several of Bethany’s instrumental ensembles, including Concert Band, Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, and the B-Town Drumline. He traditionally directs and conducts all of these groups, but is also careful to allow plenty of opportunities for students like Munsen to take a more central role than usual. Munsen has been heavily involved in various parts of the Music Department during her time at Bethany. Her primary instrument is the flute, which she plays as a member of the Concert Band. For the Jazz Ensemble, she provides accompaniment on the piano. While at Bethany, Munsen has also learned to play the snare drum for B-Town Drumline. In previous years, she has enjoyed playing the violin for Chamber Orchestra while also making time in her busy schedule for choral music. These activities are quite befitting for her music major, but Munsen’s 14
true passion is conducting. As an augmentation to her emphasis in conducting, Munsen also takes private lessons to sharpen her skills. In the interest of gaining extra hands-on experience, she has had the opportunity to conduct individual songs for other past concerts, including the beloved Christmas at Bethany concert. This previous experience made her the ideal candidate in Faugstad’s mind to take on the role of conducting all five songs of the September concert, last-minute though the change was. After just a few practices with the band during the week before the concert, Munsen was ready to go. Faugstad praised her willingness to take on the task. “She didn’t hesitate. That’s a huge credit to her attitude and her confidence in her skills, and the ensemble were right with her. They basically embraced her conducting without hesitation, and the concert was wonderful.” The student conductor wasn’t the only new aspect of this concert. Due to the ongoing global pandemic, Faugstad and other members of the Bethany Music
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Department were forced to make many adjustments to their practices and performances. Traditional practice rooms were swapped, schedules revised, special singing masks and bell covers were purchased, and taped markers for social distance were carefully measured. Some, such as Faugstad, chose to perform concerts and practices outside while the weather remained warm. He was quick to point out, however, that social distancing and the great outdoors sometimes have a rather negative effect on coordinated sound. “We’re so used to hearing each other from three feet away, and now you double that, and everything sounds strange. And then, with the wooden instruments and the nature of how they’re played in Chamber Orchestra, it’s tough to say, ‘Let’s go outside.’ They’re more delicate, and that’s true on the choral side too. You get a gust of wind while trying to sing and it just kind of disappears.” The robust instruments of the Concert Band, on the other hand, can often be heard across campus when they play. “We have received a lot of compliments throughout the semester from people who hear it while they’re walking to and from class,” said Faugstad with a chuckle. It seems that, whether Faugstad or Munsen is the conductor, the energy of the Concert Band has been able to soar across campus with the sound of hope conveyed through musical notes. Munsen in particular has appreciated these opportunities to be outside because she can remove the mask, making it easier to use facial expressions in order to evoke the sounds she imagines. “I think that facial expressions and hand gestures are a huge part of conducting. I do a lot of careful thinking about how expressive my hand gestures are because they show how I want the music to be portrayed.” Munsen has also had many opportunities to utilize these conducting techniques outside of Bethany. At the moment, she teaches music lessons at Risen Savior Lutheran School in Mankato and works as the conductor for Minnesota’s Over Sixty Band, “which is funny because I’m definitely not over sixty, but they’re a really fun group to work with,” said Munsen. As she looks to her future after graduation, Munsen hopes to open a musical instrument lesson studio in the Mankato area. She also plans to look for other directing or conducting opportunities in area schools
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Mariah Munsen conducted for Bethany's first outdoor band concert this fall (above). She also plays flute in the Concert Band (top) and has taken part in Bethany's B-Town Drumline (left). She conducted for part of this year's Christmas at Bethany concert, which was recorded and released on December 6.
and churches. Until graduation and God-willing, she will “return to normal” and continue conducting one or two special selections at upcoming concerts with the Concert Band, but it seems Faugstad will never forget her willingness to jump in at the last minute and take responsibility for conducting a whole concert. “I was so proud of what she did. I’ll always be grateful that she was able and willing to step in for me when I couldn’t do it.”
VIEW THE 2020 CHRISTMAS AT BETHANY CONCERT: BLC.EDU/CHRISTMAS 15
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Photo by David Norris
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KEEPING CLASSES
FLEXIBLE BY LANCE SCHWARTZ CHIEF COMMUNICATION OFFICER
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he landscape at Bethany Lutheran College didn’t look markedly different in August 2020 compared to a typical fall semester. Students were moving into residence halls with parents helping lug suitcases and compact refrigerators through the hallways. The academic days are different yet much the same. A chapel service still happens every weekday morning although worshippers are physically distanced and hymns are sung from behind facial coverings. The bands and choirs still rehearse on a daily basis. The College is indeed open and in session. While much of the routine is familiar, just glancing into Bethany’s classrooms, the scenery does have a somewhat different feel. In some rooms, half of the desks and chairs are gone. In larger lecture halls, many of the permanently-affixed chairs are marked for no use. Yet, even with the restrictions, nearly all of Bethany’s upper-division courses are open for all students to attend in person, and freshman-level courses are accessible for face-to-face learning to about three quarters of students. In some infrequent situations, where class enrollment exceeds mandated room capacity, students are asked to rotate into a synchronous (live, real-time, online) learning environment one class period per week. But, in fall 2020, there are many students who simply don’t have the option to be on campus due to a variety of circumstances ranging from not being able to enter the United States to some students feeling more comfortable learning online during the pandemic. And as the pandemic drags on, the virus has directly affected some Bethany students while forcing others into quarantine. College leadership, taking all of these scenarios into consideration, began planning early on for
the best online learning option for those Bethany students who can’t be in the classroom, on campus. The hybrid class delivery system Bethany is utilizing is referred to as HyFlex. The HyFlex model is built upon offering face-to-face classes while also using cameras and microphones in the classrooms so that students who are either choosing, or being forced to learn online, may join classes synchronously from literally anywhere in the world. Nearly all of the Bethany classrooms have been adapted and equipped to deliver remote learning. The classes are recorded so that asynchronous (on demand) learning is also an option for students who are currently too many time zones away from Minnesota to join a live class. The arrangement provides a high-quality educational experience whether the student is on campus or not. Dr. Jason Lowrey is Bethany’s Vice President for Academic Affairs. He collaborated with several faculty and staff members to bring HyFlex online. He explained. “HyFlex was developed as far back as 2003, and was designed to help adult learners who wanted to return to college after a time away. The model was created to provide students with the choice of brick and mortar learning, synchronous, or asynchronous learning.” Lowrey specifically commended the team of Julie Kjeer (Dean of the Faculty), John Sehloff (Director of Institutional Technology), and Kevin Zimmerman (Director of Online Learning) who collectively began working on this model immediately after the close of the spring 2020 semester. Zimmerman developed videos for the faculty to view over the summer to prepare them for the intensive HyFlex training that took place in late July. The College CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
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Photo by David Norris
An education class taught by Dr. Carrie Pfeifer broke out into virtual groups with some faceto-face interaction while others joined in online for discussion.
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offered three training sessions that helped faculty in the use of Zoom (video conferencing platform), integrating their teaching methods into this system, as well as learning the technological aspects of HyFlex. And while, ultimately, HyFlex was chosen as the delivery system that best fits Bethany’s needs, other options were considered according Lowrey. “We, actually, looked at upwards of ten models. As we dug into the pros and cons of each, three ideas came to the forefront. We considered intensive eight-week block modules in face-to-face settings, fully asynchronous delivery, and the HyFlex model. Ultimately, HyFlex became the obvious choice because of three factors—the diversity of learning on the BLC campus, the fact that students would not be able to get to campus from other countries, as well as the uncertainty of the length of COVID’s impact on everything.” The HyFlex model has been working well and perhaps its biggest benefit is the flexibility it offers learners. Yet, Bethany’s mantra has always been the personal interaction and mentoring that takes place on the campus in Mankato. Lowrey expressed some concern with the limitations the system imposes on the College’s ability to carry out that piece of a Bethany education. “It’s frustrating to lose some of the face-to-face communication with students—no question about it. But in this climate of COVID restrictions, we believe this is the best way to meet with students—where they’re at whether that’s a comfort level with being in class, their tolerance for the pandemic, or being forced to learn remotely.” And Lowrey admits that the learning curve was steep for some professors who were not used to online learning. For a college that’s used to offering nearly all classes face-to-face, the process to implement HyFlex can be taxing for many instructors. There are additional steps to a normal classroom session including capturing video and uploading it to a safe location for students to access the content. 18
But Lowrey said the Bethany faculty really embraced the situation and he noted that almost unanimously, the faculty realized this was the best alternative to reach students at this time. “From the teaching standpoint, it’s not perfect, at least not yet. All of the Bethany faculty treasure the face-to-face environment, but we continue to find better ways to meet our students’ needs in this multimodal manner. We all want to get back to ‘normal’ in-person teaching, but everyone has been exceptionally adaptive and agreeable and are willing to do what they can to serve our students well." Bethany’s ability to transition to the HyFlex model was aided by the fact that the entire campus was forced into online learning last spring when the pandemic arrived in the United States. Lowrey explained, “Because we were able to move quickly to exclusively online courses in March, the entire campus was able to better understand the components of the HyFlex model. This experience last spring helped the faculty to gain more understanding about the needs of learners within a different modality. The positive feedback from the students, at the time, allowed us to maximize the opportunity to move to the HyFlex system.” Bethany students have been very open, accepting, and adaptable to the hybrid format in fall 2020 and as the semester progressed and COVID numbers continued to increase, more and more students found the shift to online very convenient. The HyFlex model required substantial technology improvements on the campus, and the College was fortunate to have a long-time supporter pay for the six-figure upgrades by way of a significant gift. And while the model addressed the needs of a campus during the pandemic quite well, it could also provide the basis for new ventures as Bethany potentially partners with like-minded institutions to provide courses not offered on the BLC campus, or perhaps to keep some of Bethany’s courses available in online format. In the meantime, Bethany is thankful for the blessing of technology that in prior decades was not available. Without these tools, the College would most likely not have been able to operate so smoothly through the challenges of the pandemic.
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Center for Apologetics and Worldview Studies opens Photo by David Norris
BY LANCE SCHWARTZ • CHIEF COMMUNICATION OFFICER
Bethany has hosted a number of apologetics events, including "Making the Case for the Truth of the Bible: Bringing Jesus to My Unbelieving Neighbor" which was held on June 28, 2019, in Trinity Chapel.
Bethany Lutheran College recently announced the establishment of the Center for Apologetics and Worldview Studies with the expressed purpose to help students learn to talk openly and with confidence about their Christian faith. The Center, unique among Christian colleges, sponsors opportunities for students to discover that Christianity is simultaneously a matter of faith and a matter of fact. According to the Center’s director, Dr. Ryan C. MacPherson (History), “The Christian religion is not merely a ‘belief system’ or a ‘source of values.’ Christianity claims to be factually true: God really exists, Jesus actually rose from the dead, and therefore our faith is more than just wishful thinking.” The Center’s four-fold aim is to present evidence for the truth of Christianity, critique worldviews that oppose Christianity, fortify believers with discernment, and engage others in conversations leading toward the Gospel proclamation of forgiveness in Christ. “Christian apologetics,” explains MacPherson, involves making well-reasoned, evidenced-based arguments for the truth of the core claims of Christianity, most especially the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. “For example, the Bible contains numerous historical references and points to external evidence corroborated by archaeology and related fields of study. The apostles frequently referred to
eyewitness testimony to back their claims about Jesus of Nazareth.” MacPherson notes that the Greek word “apologia,” occurring several times in the New Testament, is a legal rather than a theological term, and it means to make a reasonable case based on evidence. The Center will serve students through a combination of focus-group discussions, classroom instruction, and conferences featuring guest speakers with expertise in the areas of theology, history, archaeology, and other relevant fields. On September 26, 2020, the Center partnered with St. Timothy Lutheran Church of Lombard, Illinois, to expand that congregation’s local conference worldwide through live video streaming. Pastor David Thompson of St. Timothy also serves on the Board of Regents for Bethany and has hosted several prior conferences that laid the groundwork for establishing the new Center. “Bethany’s commitment to the liberal arts—to exploring and testing ideas—naturally lends itself to scrutinizing competing philosophies, or worldviews,” explains Thompson. “The Apologetics Center provides the College with an expanded platform for demonstrating the uniqueness of Christianity and the truth of the Bible.” The Center’s website includes video archives of prior conferences plus a growing list of resources. A student conference is in the planning stages for March 2021, followed by both a youth camp and a national conference for adults in June 2021.
VISIT THE CENTER FOR APOLOGETICS ONLINE: BLC.EDU/APOLOGETICS 19
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Another record falls BY LANCE SCHWARTZ • CHIEF COMMUNICATION OFFICER
In March 2020, Bethany Lutheran College was forced to move all classes to online learning, send students back home, and close the campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This sudden shift certainly could have been the impetus to sow the seeds of doubt about whether Bethany’s students would be interested in attending college – in person – in the fall of 2020. While the hope was to reopen in August as usual, it was never a guarantee. Something very interesting happened during those five months of quiet on the campus. President Gene Pfeifer explained, “Certainly our hope, even in May, was to bring the Vikings back to campus in August. After all, that’s why Bethany exists—to mentor these students and help them to grow in the knowledge of their Savior. So, we made the announcement early on that we would open in August. But ultimately, it was up to the students to decide what was right for them. We were thrilled when most decided to 20
return to campus.” In the midst of the worldwide pandemic, the fall 2020 enrollment at Bethany set a new record. And while it wasn’t the first-year class that led the enrollment growth—there are twenty-two fewer new students on campus than the previous fall—the upper-class students came back to campus in record numbers. A metric of student satisfaction in higher education are the yearly retention numbers. Retention is expressed as the percentage of students who attended the previous year and choose to come back to continue their education. For many years, Bethany retention numbers hovered in the 70-75% range. Retention for the fall 2020 semester is at historic
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record levels. Bethany’s first-to-second-year retention is 87%, second-to-third retention year is 91%, and third-to-fourth year is 94%. To make these retention percentages tangible, this fall Bethany has an additional sixty-three returning full-time students than the prior year. When historic retention jumps like these occur, it’s natural to want to investigate and understand the reasons for such a dramatic change. Pfeifer explained, “It seems that there are a few contributing factors to our outstanding retention. First, we’ve noted a high level of satisfaction among the student body with last spring’s online learning experience. We also believe our public announcement already last May to return to in-person instruction in the fall was reassuring to students that they would have some normalcy in their Bethany experience. The implementation of our HyFlex learning model also provided students with the flexibility to choose to attend their classes in-person or online. And probably most importantly, the outstanding mentorship and dedication displayed by our faculty to do to whatever they could to serve our students well throughout this time can’t be mentioned enough.”
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Bethany’s fall 2020 full-time enrollment stands at an all-time record of 633 students. This represents a seven percent jump from last year’s fall enrollment of 591 full-time students and moves well past Bethany’s previous record full-time enrollment of 607 experienced in the fall of 2009. In addition to the traditional, on campus programs, Bethany also offers online college courses for high school students. This fall, 133 high school students are taking courses through Bethany’s Dual Credit and Post-Secondary Enrollment Options programs. Both programs allow qualified students to earn high school and college course credit simultaneously. Bethany’s total enrollment, including all full and part-time students and high school online students, also stands at a record of 772. In recent years, Bethany has focused a considerable amount of time and energy on increasing campus diversity and international recruiting. Over the past five years, there has been significant enrollment growth in the College’s international student population. There are now a record 98 international students representing 26 countries taking courses at Bethany. It all leads the College to thank the Lord for the blessing to be able to bring Bethany’s special and unique brand of higher education to a growing number of students. Pfeifer said, “Even in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, the Lord continues to abundantly shower His blessings upon Bethany Lutheran College and The Lord’s promise to not let His Word return empty is truly powerful!”
Photo by David Norris
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L L A H C I T E ATHL OF FAME
BY K ATIE JO SVE NSON • COORDINATOR OF SPORTS INFORM ATION
The Bethany Viking Athletic Department has announced 2020 Athletic Hall of Fame honorees. The inductees will be officially recognized at the annual Hall of Fame banquet to be held when guidelines allow. Steffanie (Whittet) Dietz played volleyball for Bethany in 1993-94, and softball in 1994-95. On the court, the Vikings were two-time Division Champions, two-time MCCC Champions, two-time Regional Champions, and two-time National Tournament participants. On the diamond, BLC was two-time Division Champions, the 1995 MCCC Champions, 1994 Regional Champions, and made an appearance in the National Tournament in 1995. Dietz was named an All-American in 1995. Dan Houck played soccer from 1989-90 and Bethany won the 1989 Regional Championship. He was a two-time All-Region and two-time All-American selection. Houck later played for the Minnesota Thunder professional soccer club for four years. The Thunder were the Midwest Division Champions in 1994 and took second place at the USISL National Championships. Tony Lane played baseball from 2002-03 and Bethany won the Region Championship in each season. Individually, he was an All-MCCC honoree, two-time All-South Division, two-time All-Region selection, and was named a Third-team All-American in 2003. After graduation from Bethany, he played for South Dakota State University.
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Steffanie Dietz
Dan Houck
Tony Lane
Andy Radatz played soccer from 1983-84 and Bethany won the 1984 Regional Championship. As a defender, he was a two-time All-Region selection and named First-team All-American in 1984. The 1984 squad set the record of fewest goals allowed in a season and the Vikings finished 31-8-1 in his two years.
Andy Radatz
Amy (Schroeder) Veenhof played volleyball from 1998-99 and softball in 1999 and 2000. In volleyball, the Vikings were two-time Division Champions, two-time MCCC Champions, and two-time Regional Champions. Individually, she was Amy Veenhof a two-time All-State recipient, two-time MCCC All-Tournament, two-time MCCC First-team All-Southern Division, a two-time member of the All-Region team, and an Honorable Mention All-American in 1999. On the diamond, Bethany was two-time Division Champions, and two-time MCCC Champions. Individually, Veenhof was a two-time MCCC All-State selection, named to the MCCC All-Tournament team both seasons, a two-time MCCC First-team All-Southern Division, and two-time All-Region honoree. After graduation from Bethany, she went on to play volleyball and softball at Huron University, and received Academic All-American honors.
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ATH LE TI CS
ATHLETICS UPDATE Bethany Athletics is currently operating in compliance with the recommendation of the NCAA forgoing athletic competitions for the entire Fall 2020 Semester. The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC), of which Bethany is a member, has voted to suspend all athletic contests until January 2021. During this fall semester, Bethany teams have worked primarily on improving individual skills and conditioning, and meeting in socially-distanced settings to conduct team building activities. It’s the hope of the UMAC and its members that athletic seasons for all teams can resume in early 2021.
TEAM ACADEMIC AWARDS Both the 2019 Bethany Lutheran men’s and women’s soccer teams were named a Team Academic Award Winner by the United Soccer Coaches, a national organization. This was the first time the men’s team earned this distinction. College Team Academic Award recipients are active members of the United Soccer Coaches College Services Program with a composite grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale for all players on the roster for the 2019-20 academic year. The Vikings men’s team had a collective GPA of 3.09 under head coach Derick Lyngholm. The 2019 Bethany Lutheran women’s soccer team was also named a Team Academic Award Winner for the seventhstraight year and seventh time overall for the program. The Vikings had a team GPA of 3.62 under head coach Emma Morris. A total of 889 college teams (333 men, 556 women) earned the Team Academic Award. The Bethany Lutheran baseball team earned a Team Academic Excellence Award from the American Baseball
Coaches Association (ABCA), a national organization. Teams from every level of college and high school baseball were honored with this award, which highlights programs coached by ABCA members that posted a GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale for the entire 2019-20 academic year. The Vikings, under head coach Ryan Kragh, posted a 3.17 team GPA.
ANDERSON AND KARNOPP SELECTED TO NCAA FORUM Two Bethany student-athletes have been selected to the 2020 NCAA Career in Sports Forum. Sophomore Jakin Anderson (Belle Plaine, Minnesota) and junior Bethany Karnopp (Albuquerque, New Mexico) are the first student-athletes ever selected from BLC
for this forum. The 2020 Career in Sports Forum brings together selected NCAA student-athletes to learn about and explore potential careers in sports, particularly college athletics. The 2020 version took place with a unique virtual programming experience aimed at helping student-athletes chart their career paths, while presenting numerous opportunities for attendees to learn from current industry leaders.
Jakin Anderson
Bethany Karnopp
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Soccer Field A Regional Asset BY LANCE SCHWARTZ • CHIEF COMMUNICATION OFFICER
While college sports at Bethany were taking a break this fall due to the pandemic, local high school soccer teams in the Mankato community enjoyed the opportunity to make use of Bethany’s new state-of-the-art field. Three Mankato high schools, East, Loyola, and West played games on the new Bethany field. The Mankato East girls’ team used the field for all of their home games during the fall 2020 season. The new field is among the first of several campus improvements that are the result of the Building Bethany fundraising campaign—a multifaceted effort designed to enhance College’s activity spaces for students, employees, and the Mankato community. The new turf field is considered to be one of the finest soccer facilities in the State of Minnesota. Bethany Athletic Director Don Westphal commented, “Our soccer complex has quickly developed a reputation as one of the top fields in Minnesota. We’ve routinely heard from visiting coaches and officials who work around the Upper Midwest that the surface is among the best they’ve ever played on.” Todd Waterbury is the Activities Director (AD) at Mankato East High School, he also talked about the quality of the Bethany facility and the opportunity for high school players to compete on the field. “I am so very happy that we are able to work together for the Mankato high school soccer players and give them the truly wonderful experience of playing on an absolute gem of a turf field and soccer complex. As a school, we were proud to be able to host other Big 9 Conference schools in such a wonderful facility and show it off so to speak. It was very important for us to do everything we could to ensure this season was the best we could possibly make it for the student athletes. Bethany Lutheran College was a huge part in pulling that off and making a genuinely positive impact on our students in a time 24
Photo courtesy of SPXSports
The Bethany soccer complex has seen use by not only BLC, but three area high school teams.
when it was greatly needed. For that, we are eternally grateful!” The new soccer field was part of a list of projects associated with the fundraising campaign which also included the relocation of the baseball team to the state-of-the-art, city-owned Franklin Rogers Park just a few blocks from the Bethany campus. Bethany’s head baseball coach, Ryan Kragh, talked about playing at the new baseball facility. “Franklin Rogers has been a game changer for our program. It’s one of the premier facilities in the Midwest. Recruits are blown away with what “The Frank” has to offer. We are grateful for the opportunity to call The Frank home to Bethany baseball.” John Landkamer (’94) is a Bethany alumnus and is the AD at Mankato Loyola High School. He noted that the Loyola soccer program also appreciated the opportunity to play at the Bethany soccer facility. “Our players, coaches, and parents loved the opportunity to play on the field. I think it is great that Bethany is open to letting high schools use their fields. Kids like to play at a college campus and it can also be a good recruiting tool for Bethany.” Westphal echoed similar sentiments about the value of high-quality facilities for Bethany. “The turf soccer complex has proven to be a real blessing to our campus in so many ways. Not only has it benefited a vast number of our students, but the field has become a fantastic outreach into the greater Mankato area in terms of creating more exposure for what we have to offer potential students.” Other projects to eventually be associated with the Building Bethany campaign will include an indoor activity center with a track, a new fitness center, and finally a renovation of the Ron Younge Gymnasium in the Sports and Fitness Center. The College continues to seek donors to support the ongoing campaign.
B E TH A N Y Magazine
A LUM N I
from our
In Memoriam
ALUMNI 1950s Dorothy (Heintz ‘52) Koschmann and Mark Koschmann (‘52) celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on December 29, 2019. They have three married children, six grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. Mark and Dorothy live in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
2010s
p Four generations pictured: great-grandma Carol (Frank ‘61) Johnson, grandma Michele (Johnson ‘87) Rysavy, mother Anna (Rysavy ‘13) Pyle, and Lincoln. Uncle Daniel Rysavy (‘15) is not pictured. Brandon and Anna (Rysavy ‘13) Pyle welcomed their son Lincoln Lee Pyle on April 1, 2020. He was baptized the day before Easter on April 11 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mason City, Iowa. Josh ('14) and Janessa (Beyer) Becker ('14) are excited to announce the birth of their daughter, Elise Autumn Becker. She was born on November 3, 2020, weighed 7lbs 5oz, and was 20 inches long. The Beckers happily reside in Pahrump, Nevada, and they thank the Lord for this wonderful blessing.
p Brittany Titus (‘15) married Matthew Fenrich on June 6, 2020. They live in New Braunfels, Texas, where Brittany teaches high school English and her husband Matthew is a welder.
Clarice (Huso ’46) Madson passed away on Saturday, May 16, 2020, in Edina, Minnesota. A private family funeral service was held at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, Mankato, and her committal service was in Somber, Iowa, on June 6, 2020. She attended Bethany Lutheran College, studying music and sang in the Bethany Choir. It was during that time that she met the love of her life, Juul Benjamin Madson (’40), on a Greyhound bus from Mankato to Northwood, Iowa, where he was headed to serve as the new pastor at her home church. Juul passed away in 2008. They were blessed by God with nine children: Linda Browning (’68) (Daniel), Mark (’69) (Sharon), Paul (’70) (Karen), David (’72) (Jan), Jonathan (’76) (Sharen), Timothy (’78) (Susan), Matthew (’82), Joseph (’86) (Tiann), and Jennifer Pederson (’86) (Brian). Clarice is survived by eight children, 23 grandchildren, and 44 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Juul; her son, Paul; and six siblings. Larry Benz (’62) passed away on September 22, 2020, in New Hampton, Iowa. His funeral was held at Saude Lutheran Church where he was a lifelong member. The service was led by Rev. Peter Faugstad (’05).
p Brianna Waknitz ('20) and Blake Peterson ('19) were married on July 11, 2020. They had a small wedding, around 70 people, but it was a beautiful day. Brianna is teaching third grade in Wabasso, Minnesota, and Blake is working at a dental office in Redwood Falls, Minnesota.
2020s Emily Kjeer (’20) Helmen is the new Development Coordinator for Branch Lutheran Schools of Haiti, Inc., a non-profit that funds elementary and middle school education and nutrition for more than 900 students in Haiti.
Susan (Smith '66) Amacher passed away peacefully with family by her side on June 3, 2020, in hospice care. Susan attend Bethany when it was a junior college and completed a B.A. at Ripon College. Susan also earned a master’s degree in theatre at the University of Oklahoma. She met Ryan Amacher, who was the love of her life, at Ripon College. They married on December 28, 1967, in Northwood, Iowa. Those who knew Susan will miss her great energy, fun loving spirit, and her laughter.
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Peter Hackstedde (’69) passed away on March 15, 2019, of a heart attack. He died at home in Hawaii with the love of his life, Holly (Prehm) Oriordan (’73) by his side. They met at Bethany Lutheran High School in 1969. William M. Overn, a member of the Board of Regents of Bethany Lutheran College for close to 50 years passed away on May 12, 2020. He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years Ann Marie and survived by his children, Jane (Michael) Van Norstrand (’78) and Matthew (Paula) Overn (’80); five grandchildren, siblings Robert Overn (’48), Dorothy Randolph, and many other loving relatives and friends. Overn served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. As part of his commission in 1944, he finished his engineering training for the war at Yale University. After the war, he attended the University of Minnesota where he earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He became a pioneer in the computer industry and was employed at Remington Rand/
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Univac/Sperry as an electrical engineer in a managerial position, where he was awarded many patents in computer science. The second half of his career he would install high tech climate control computers for large buildings. Overn’s Christian faith was the most important part of his life. He co-founded the Bible Science Association in Minneapolis where much of his time was spent in writing and editing their newsletter. He was a co-founder of the local Twin Cities Creation Science Association (TCCSA) in 1974 which is active to this day. He wrote countless research articles which are still widely read and referenced today. As a believer who wished to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ as the only way to salvation, he spent his years living a meaningful life influencing and strengthening many believers. A memorial service was held November 7, 2020, at Heritage Lutheran Church in Apple Valley, Minnesota.
Ruth (Bredeson ’42) Knudson Passed away on August, 26, 2020. Lloyd Hanson (’43) passed away on August 17, 2020. Helen (Lueck ’56) Hrdlicka passed away on October 9, 2020 Dennis Schmidt (’60) passed away on June 26, 2020. William H. Diersen (’64) passed away on July, 25, 2020, after a battle with Alzheimer’s. Warren Granke (’65) passed away on September 26, 2020. Cynthia (Mc Coy’65) Boersma passed away on June 10, 2020. Carol Harmon (’66) passed away on July 29, 2020. Victoria (“Vicki” Hougan ’67) Butterfield passed away July 28, 2020. Paul Bruss (’69) passed away on September 22, 2020. Lillie (Modless ’72) Pechuli passed away on September 22, 2020. Lorenz Pechuli (’90) passed away on September 28, 2020. James McGarigle (’92) passed away on January 31, 2020.
Thank you to four departing Alumni Board members At a recent Bethany Lutheran College Alumni Board meeting, four outgoing directors were recognized for their years of service and contributions to the Board. The College offers sincere thanks to Amy (Rank “93) Edwards, Paul Krengel (‘90), Beth (Kramer “90) Kuckhahn, and Kristine Straumann (’07) for their work on behalf of the College and the Bethany Alumni Association. The Board members received a framed limited edition “One Thing Needful” print and a plaque. The Bethany Lutheran College Alumni Association’s purpose is to strengthen relationships between BLC and its alumni, providing opportunities for alumni to serve their College, and for the College to serve its alumni. The Alumni Board helps to achieve these goals and serves in an advisory capacity to Bethany’s Manager of Alumni Relations and the
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Amy Edwards
Paul Krengel
Beth Kuckhahn
Kristine Straumann
Advancement Department. You can learn more about the Alumni Board by visiting the College website or contacting Jake Krier in the Advancement Department.
B E TH A N Y Magazine
Bethany
RETROSPECT
Remembering a campus moment from years gone by.
CHOIR CARTOON: The picture was drawn by alumnus Joe Aaberg ('48). It symbolizes the choir tour of 1951 and pictures choir director Alfred Fremder leading the students on tour in the upper Midwest. Send your reactions to editor@blc.edu. Find more photos from years past on archives.blc.edu. 27
blc.edu/events
Athletic events can be found at:
Calendar of events can be found at:
700 Luther Drive Mankato, Minnesota 56001-6163
blcvikings.com/events
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