from our ALUMNI

1950s

Minnesota. Samuel is the first grandchild of Michael and Kirsten (Kiki) (’87 Weseloh) Schnackenberg also of Bemidji. Samuel joins Vivian and Larry’s other two great grandchildren: Ezekiel Weseloh was born April 24, 2018; his brother, Odin, was born March 30, 2021. Ezekiel and Odin live in West Fargo, North Dakota, with their parents Devin and Claire Weseloh; grandparents are Christian and Wendi Weseloh (Vivian and Larry’s son) who live in Watertown, South Dakota.

1970s

Heather Bakke (’93) recently moved to St. Peter, Minnesota, to teach special education at St. Peter High School.

Pastor Paul Meitner (’96) recently had published a commentary on the book of Exodus titled, From Egypt to Sinai. The commentary is available through Northwestern Publishing House, and also available in Kindle and Nook format through Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Paul is currently serving Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Winthrop, Minnesota.

2000s

p Dick Hybl (’56) came to Mankato, Minnesota, to visit his Bethany classmates Bruno (’56) and his wife Marian (Solli ’57) Wilinski. Dick makes his home in Virginia.

p The Bethany High School class of 1957 met on-campus for Fall Festival Weekend and celebrated their 65th class reunion. A special time to visit with classmates was created where those at Bethany could meet in a room, and other classmates unable to attend could participate via Zoom or phone. All had a great time reminiscing. Pictured from left: Don and Caroline (’57 Rabenhorst) Hanel, Karen (’58 Swenson) and John Radway (’57), Marian (’57 Solli) Wilinski, Marsha and Hal Natvig (’57). Not pictured but on Zoom or phone were Joyce (’57 Brakke) Fuller, Deanne (’57 Bleick) Cooper, and Judy (’57 Wold) Modene.

1960s

p Larry and Vivian (Unseth ’60) Weseloh recently welcomed their third great grandchild this year. Samuel Stewart was born July 28, 2022, to Katrina and John Stewart in Bemidji, p Nile (’77 Seminary) and Lynn (Schurke ’70) Merseth celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on September 3, 2022. Present with them on this joyful occasion were their six children and 14 of their 16 grandchildren. Nile and Lynn both retired in 2020, Lynn from 47 years as a registered nurse and Nile from 43 years in parish ministry.

1980s

Deb (Kopischke’82) Schulz was inducted into the Minnesota State University, Mankato, Athletic Hall of Fame in September after working in academic athletic eligibility for over 27 years. Deb retired in July from her duties as Associate Director of Registration and Academic Records after almost 30 years in this department.

1990s p Bethany roommates Jason Tweit (’92) and Chris Fowler (’92) recently celebrated turning 50 together! p On August 6, 2022, six Bethany Baseball alumni organized the Bethany Baseball Futures Tournament for 9U teams that their children play on. Coordinators were Dr. Jon Mielke (’06), Seth Hueckman (’07), Dr. Josh Mears (’05), Tony Lane (’03), KC Johnson (’07), and Jake Krier (’06). The tournament was held at Sechler Park in Northfield, Minnesota, but was unfortunately cancelled after a few innings due to weather. Participating teams were from the Minnesota communities of Chaska, Lakeville, Burnsville, and Northfield. The tournament was sponsored by Up North Trading Co. which is owned and operated by Johnson.

Jes (’07 Schmidt) Woller, children’s author, and Kory Henkel (’11), Director of Marketing and Communication for Centricity Music, collaborated to create a new book called Beloved The book was inspired by award-winning pop recording artist and songwriter Jordan Feliz’s song “Beloved” which was the title track to his debut album released in 2015.

2010s

Jeff (’10) and Carla Hendrix, are parents to children Koren, Isaiah, Corinthia, and a fourth child due in May 2023. They are working on opening a small classical Lutheran school at their church, Faith Lutheran Church, Oregon, Wisconsin, where Jeff serves as pastor.

p Cameron Koopman (’11), and wife Ashley, welcomed daughter Isabelle Alice Koopman to the world at the stroke of midnight on January 1, 2023, at Maple Grove (Minnesota) Hospital. She was 6 pounds 15 ounces and 20 inches long. Alice is believed to be the first baby born in Minnesota for the year 2023. They were interviewed by KSTP-TV (Twin Cities).

Rachel Knudson (’11) reports that she is doing well since graduation. She currently works in Washington County (Minnesota) in the department of motor vehicles and lives in the Twin Cities. She notes that she has a great circle of friends who participate in trivia, movie nights, and day trips to such places as the “biggest ball of twine in Minnesota” and the Jeffers Petroglyphs in Comfrey, Minnesota. Rachel notes that she is proud that she has kept four plants alive for the past six years. Rachel has learned the art of being content in whatever season she is in - Philippians 4:11-13 and Jeremiah 29:11.

Michael (’13) and Moriah (’14 Barker) Harting are excited to return to Bethany Lutheran College and the Mankato area. Michael over the summer accepted a job at Bethany as a member of the IT Department. Michael and Moriah have been blessed with two children, Solomon (three years) and Simon (six months).

p Hannah (’14 Rank) Dupont and husband Joey welcomed a baby boy on September 11, 2022, Grayson Thomas Dupont.

2020s

p Daryl and Hayli (’15 Mathe) Littlehead were married on September 2, 2022, in St. Peter, Minnesota, surrounded by a few other Bethany alumni, Alyssa Shields (’18), Hayes Schneider (’18), and Tessa MacPherson (’19).

Brittany (Titus ’15) Fenrich graduated from Texas State University with a master of arts in literature on August 6, 2022. She currently teaches tenth and eleventh grade English in New Braunfels, Texas, and was recently hired to be an adjunct faculty member for the English Department at Palo Alto Community College in San Antonio.

p Matt (’22) and Maddie (Hart ’21) Maisch are proud to announce their marriage and that they have started their own companies, Ghost Dog Media, LLC and Maddie’s Moments Photography.

Mackenzie Floyd (’22) started her first post-college job in August 2022. She is a paralegal for the McLeod County Attorney’s Office.

Deaths – Alumni, Regents, Faculty and Staff

Esther Radtke (Hellermann’39) passed away on October 16, 2022

Anna Haake (Eggebraaten’41) passed away on August 16, 2022

Robert (Bob) Rickels (’43) passed away on January 23, 2022

Robert A. Overn (’48) passed away on December 13, 2022

Elaine (Klindt ’49) Nelson passed away on April 2, 2022.

Esther E. Faugstad (Petersen’51) passed away on December 4, 2022

Eunice C. Streufert (Cordes’51) passed away on July 9, 2022

Catherine Anderson (Brekke’52) passed away on September 30, 2022

Janice Nibbe (Roschen’54) passed away on October 24, 2022

David T. Lillegard (’55) passed away on November 5, 2022

James P. Olsen (’57) passed away on October 27, 2022

Andrew H. Gullixson (’59) passed away on June 28, 2022

James Ronald Menke (’62) passed away on August 19, 2022

Norma Miller (Bell’66) passed away on October 25, 2022

Mark Manthe (’67) passed away on September 9, 2022

Laurel Severson (’67) passed away on December 9, 2022

Mark O. Jaeger (’69) passed away on September 25, 2022

Pamela Pfeifer (Lindstrom’69) passed away on July 28, 2022

Rev. Emil Carl Frederick Stubenvoll IV (’70) passed away on November 17, 2022

Alonzo Poindexter (’72) passed away on November 16, 2022

Karen Engdahl (Shelvik’82) passed away on September 8, 2022

David Volk (’84) passed away on September 16, 2022

Daniel Edward Tonn (’84) passed away on November 14, 2022

Brian L. Goens (’86) passed away on November 18, 2022

John L. Johnson (’89) passed away on October 28, 2022

Obituaries

she was able to be on campus in 2019 for the 40th Anniversary of the Dobson chapel organ installation—a trip she cherished according to her son, Greg. She's pictured with Lynn Dobson (left) and Christopher Young (right). Blessed be her memory.

p Isaac Stephen Schmidt (’19) passed away after a seven-month fight against cancer on Friday, August 12th, 2022. He received a bachelor’s degree from Bethany Lutheran College where he met his wife, Bailey (’19). He is survived by his wife Bailey; their son Jeshua; parents Rev. Stephen (‘89, Sem ‘96) and Sarah (Post ‘89) Schmidt; brothers Andrew (Rachel) Schmidt, Aaron Schmidt, and Jonathan Schmidt; grandparents Dennis (’69) and Judith Schmidt, and LoAnn Twedt. Blessed be his memory p Former Bethany music faculty member Arlene Hilding passed away on October 14, 2022. Hilding worked at Bethany for nearly 30 years (1968-97). She served in the Music Department teaching organ lessons, music classes, and was fine arts director for a time. Hilding was instrumental in helping the College to purchase the organ in the Anna John Silber Recital Hall and the Dobson organ which was first installed in the Old Main chapel and was later augmented and moved to Trinity Chapel. Although her health was declining, p John A. Moldstad Sr. passed away on December 6, 2022. He attended Bethany Lutheran College graduating in 1945, and then enrolled at Northwestern Lutheran College, Watertown, Wisconsin, graduating in 1947. He was in the first cohort of students to attend Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary, graduating in 1950. Reverend Moldstad was called to Bethany Lutheran College in 1965 where he primarily served as a religion professor, Dean of Students, and as Director of Advancement until 1978. During his lifetime he also served Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) congregations in five different states. Pastor Moldstad was also very involved in the work of the ELS. In the early 1950s he started a summer camp, now called Camp Indianhead in Minnesota. He served on numerous synodical boards and committees, most notably the Bethany Lutheran College Board of Regents from 19802009, and one term as Synod Vice President from 1986-1989.

A funeral service was held at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Mankato on December 12, 2022. Blessed be his memory.