1967 Memory Book

Class of 1967 50th Reunion

Feel the Spirit! Reconnect!

Class of 1967

50th Reunion

Hymn to Concordia

On firm foundation grounded, Concordia fair doth stand, With love and hope surrounded From God’s almighty hand.

To sacred truth Concordia, May thou e’er faithful be, ‘Til “Soli Deo Gloria” we sing eternally!

In strength and faith forever Lead us where those have trod, Whose toil and chief endeavor Have brought us close to God! All hail to thee, our fathers; Concordia honors thee, As “Soli Deo Gloria” we sing eternally!

Concordia College Class of 1967

50th Class Reunion Cobber Yearbook Update Created by the Class of 1967 50th Reunion Steering Committee as a labor of love and gratitude for the committment of Concordia faculty and staff to our education.

We are pleased to present this 50th Reunion Yearbook Update as a gift to our classmates.

Contents

Introduction..............................................................................1 Classmates/Biographies...........................................................2 Our Other Classmates..........................................................233 In Memoriam.......................................................................235 Faculty in 1963-1967...........................................................240 Events During Our College Years........................................269 Class of 1967 50th Reunion Planning Committee...............272 In Appreciation.....................................................................273 Index....................................................................................276

Printed by:

645 Olive Street St. Paul, MN 55130 P 651.855.1100 www.idealprint.com lana@idealprint.com

We, the Concordia College Class of 1967, arrived on campus in 1963, wide-eyed and eager to begin a new adventure. Over the following four years, we were challenged, exposed to new ideas, and had our horizons expanded in every direction.

We made enduring friendships with classmates from all over the country. We grew to know dedicated faculty who were not only excellent educators, they cared about us. As we grew in knowledge, we were also given opportunities to grow in faith.

As we look back over the past fifty years, we realize how much we’ve changed in any number of ways. However, deep in each of us, there is an indelible mark left by being in that special place at that time. We were equipped to fulfill Concordia’s mission statement: The purpose of Concordia College is to influence the affairs of the world by sending into society thoughtful and informed men and women dedicated to the Christian life.

We hope that this yearbook will help each of us Feel the Spirit! and Reconnect! not only with each other, but with Concordia and the students who are now fortunate to be living the wonderful experience we were given fifty years ago!

Joanne Flaa Larson and Carol Johnson Mattson 50th Class Reunion Cobber Yearbook Update Co-Chairs (Joanne and Carol were also co-editors of our 1967 Cobber yearbook.)

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Travel

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Paul Aakre Hometown: Brainerd, MN Current Home: Richardson, TX Major: English Email: paakre849@gmail.com

After graduation I worked in a variety of fields in Minneapolis.

In the 1980s I moved to New York City and spent decades working in financial services information systems.

I retired early and moved to Texas.

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Annette Aanerud Holtan Hometown: Donnelly, MN Current Home: Cassopolis, MI Major: Sociology Additional Education: M.S., Education Guidance and Counseling Email: annetteholtan@comcast.net Following Concordia graduation, I immediately began my career in social service in Hammond, Indiana.

In December, 1967, I married Mark Holtan (’65).

We lived and worked in Lake County, Indiana, primarily in Munster, Indiana, from that time until retirement in 2011.

During my career, I worked in several social service capacities. I worked for the Indiana State Department of Public Welfare in supervision for ten years. Following that I worked for 20 years as an employee assistance program mental health therapist for the Franciscan Healthcare System. Mark worked as a private practice attorney.

We raised a wonderful daughter and son and also enjoy our one grandson. Over the years we have also had many pets!

We are longtime members of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Before I retired, I served in many capacities: church council, Sunday School teacher, and WELCA on the congregational Cluster and Synodical levels.

I continue to enjoy my family, reading, bridge, sewing and gardening.

Since retiring, we make our permanent home on a lake in southwest Michigan near Cassopolis. During the winters, we enjoy warm and sunny Florida.

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Susan Aanestad Anderson Hometown: Minot, ND Current Home: Minneapolis, MN Major: Music Education, French Additional Education: Music Education, U of M; Mozarteum, Salzburg, Austria Email: susanjoyful@yahoo.com Bonjour tout le monde! Life is good for this Concordia ’67 graduate. After graduating, I taught music in a few locations and finally settled in Robbinsdale #281 in the Twin Cities where I taught elementary classroom music and directed an All District Choir.

After a strong base in music education at CC, I expanded my tools with courses in Dalcroze eurythmics, Kodaly and most importantly, Orff Schulwerk which I studied at the Mozarteum in Salzbug, Austria, and throughout the USA. All led me to a very rich experience teaching music to children.

I also was on staff for ten years at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Minneapolis directing a wonderful children’s choir and the Sunday School music program.

I have two lovely daughters, a son-in-law and two adorable granddaughters. All live close, and I see them often. We have other extended family members with whom many holidays and celebrations are shared.

I’ve had two marriages­—both are over, and I am happily single!

After a few years occasionally managing school and community musical groups on tour, I decided I wanted to travel more. About this same time, I got into the social dance scene, mainly Salsa, Rueda and Argentine Tango. This led me to a lively, new group of friends with whom I now socialize and travel. I have been to Buenos Aires twice (for tango of course), Australia and Europe. Lately, I have been taking extended voyages to Europe (I also went to CC Lac du Bois Adult French Village two years ago). I begin with a month or two stay in Paris (where my heart lies) and have then gone on to Provence, Spain, Greece and last year, Italy.

I arrange the voyages and friends are always happy to join. (I still need to go to Norway and Cuba.)

What a life! Thanks CC, for the music and the French education!

Also, thanks for the education in values and what is important in life.

Those were unusual times in the 60s, but we made it through and CC was a solid place to be.

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Jonelle Aas Fadden Hometown: New Rockford, ND Current Home: Sammamish, WA Major: Elementary Education Additional Education: M.A., Elementary Reading and Language Arts Email: faddenjm@hotmail.com After college, I began teaching in Huntington Beach, California. Two years later I accepted a job in Okinawa, Japan, teaching at a DOD-ODS school. I worked there for the next two years. During breaks I enjoyed traveling to India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines. In 1971 I transferred to Nurnberg, Germany, where I lived and taught for seven years. I met and married my husband, Jim, who was an American Army Captain helicopter pilot. During my years living in Europe, I traveled to Russia, Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, England, Scotland, Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Lebanon and Greece. We went on a photo safari to Kenya and Tanzania. We camped through Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Austria, France, Spain, Switzerland and Italy in our Volkswagen bus.

Jim was an active skier so I learned to ski, and we spent many weekends enjoying the mountains. We went helicopter skiing in the Swiss Alps which was amazingly beautiful.

After Germany, we moved to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1978 where my husband sold private airplanes for Beechcraft before going into management for a telecom company. I was fortunate to be a stay-at-home mom with our son and daughter. We later moved to Richmond, Virginia, for three years and then to a suburb east of Seattle, Washington, in 1992. (Yes, it has been raining as much as they say.) I went back to work and taught kindergarten until I retired at 70. Presently, I’m substitute teaching on the days when I’m not taking my grandkids on wild adventures like getting ice cream. I enjoy going to the theater, spending time with friends, occasional trips and reading. I’ve recently given in and started texting which has made my children happy.

We are fortunate to have our son and daughter and their families living here in the Seattle area. Our favorite times now are spent with our family.

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Ruth Akins Lanning Hometown: Moose Lake, MN Current Home: Moorhead, MN Major: Elementary Education Additional Education: Post graduate work Email: ruthlanning@aol.com

After graduating early in December of ’66, I started teaching for the Fargo public school system. I taught for over 33 years and then took early retirement.

Currently I work part time for the Fargo-Moorhead Convention Bureau assisting with registration for conferences. My summers are spent at our cabin near Battle Lake, Minnesota, and winter breaks in Mesa, Arizona.

In July of 1967, I married Morrie Lanning. Since he worked at Concordia for 39 years, our life continued to revolve around many campus activities. We have two children who are Concordia graduates as well: Ann in 1996 and Mike in 1998. Our six grandsons keep us busy when we’re not being active in the community.

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Kay Albano Dahle Hometown: Chicago, IL Current Home: San Antonio, TX Major: Elementary Education; Art Email: kdahle@smhall.org

After graduating from Concordia, I taught in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, for two years. I was married to Lee J. Dahle (’68) and moved to Iowa City, Iowa, while Lee was in graduate school. I taught third grade.

Doctoral deferments were cancelled, and we were in the U. S. Air Force which took us many places. I taught school in a small town outside Dover, Delaware. I only taught for a year and a half before we were reassigned to San Antonio, Texas. I managed to get employment at an IGE (individually guided education) school in the fourth and fifth grade unit teaching reading to children in a Title I program. I taught there for three years, moving to a third-grade unit and finally to a kindergarten - first grade unit. While there, I was the school representative to the local Region 20 Education Service Center.

When married to an officer in the service, we move a lot. We were transferred to Colorado Springs, Colorado.

I was a substitute teacher and decided to get my teaching certificate for Colorado. I also pursued an interest in fiber arts and started weaving on a floor loom. Finally, I did get work at the Colorado Springs Child Nurseries as a kindergarten teacher. One accomplishment I had while living in Colorado was climbing and hiking ten mountains, each over fourteen thousand feet high. I worked until our next move to Vandenberg AFB in California, where I went to school in Early Childhood Education.

Life changed. Divorced, I returned to San Antonio to find a teaching position. I was extremely lucky to be appointed as a Form 2 teacher at Saint Mary’s Hall, a private school. I taught Form 2 for over 24 years.

I became the Director of Student Services for Lower School and continue to help students and teachers today.

I was awarded the Jaime Armstrong Bennett Award for contribution to the school and students and for demonstrating the qualities valued by the school’s founders. I also was awarded two summer grants, one to study gifted and talented at the University of Connecticut Reader’s Theater in London, and a Science History grant traveling throughout England and Scotland with an emphasis on child labor in the 19th and 20th centuries.

I am a breast cancer survivor. I am thankful for my sister, Paula, and many friends who helped me during chemo and recovery. I am a member of the Sanctuary Choir, Lydia Circle Bible study group, Eucharistic minister, visit homebound members and head of Altar Guild of Christ Lutheran Church Alamo Heights, San Antonio. I am an avid reader of science, nature, history and mystery novels. I still dabble in fiber arts.

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David Anderson Hometown: Hillsboro, ND Current Home: Leesburg, VA; Thailand Major: Chemistry, Business Administration Additional Education: Pilot and Navigator Training, USAF and United Airlines Email: cobber67@aol.com Two days after graduation, my draft board informed me I was the number one guy on their list. To beat the draft, I enlisted in the Air Force. Training was not done in the soft, friendly atmosphere of Concordia, but I survived, going on to make the Air Force a career.

From enlisted to officer to navigator school, eight months in Sacramento was very interesting.

Graduating high in my class, I selected to fly a C-130 to Langley AFB. During the next three years, I had two tours in Vietnam. I had a few thrilling adventures and worked with many interesting people. At the end of my second tour, I was selected for pilot training, a dream since I was four or five years old. Pilot training was demanding, but fun. I selected Wiesbaden, Germany, as my next assignment. The squadron I joined flew old but nice C-118s (DC-6) to fly VIPs around Europe. The most interesting trips were flying the U.S. Ambassador to Russia and the President of Germany to Berlin.

After Germany, I was sent to a career-broadening assignment in Intelligence. Pretty boring stuff until I was selected to work with a small group that helped plan the rescue of the hostages in Iran (mission impossible).

Before that plan was executed, I returned to flying, training at Altus AFB and then on to Dover AFB where I spent the last 10 years of my career flying the C-5 Galaxy, at that time the world’s largest airplane. Many interesting trips, especially when inflight refueling. I managed to take in all three USAF professional military education courses. At Dover I met and married my wife, Siriwan, who is originally from Thailand.

After 23 years it was time to retire. Fortunately, United Airlines hired me as soon as I retired. First came 727 flight engineer and 737 first officer in San Francisco. Then it was 737 in Chicago, 757 and 767 in New York and finally 767 and 777 in Washington.

I flew as a first officer in all those planes so I could have better control over my schedule.

At age 60 I was forced to retire. Now we split our time between our home in Leesburg and our condo and home in Thailand. Over the years, I’ve done a good deal of charity work and was honored with the Alumni Achievement Award for bringing large numbers of recycled eyeglasses to the needy of Thailand.

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Loren Anderson Hometown: Rugby, ND Current Home: Minneapolis, MN Major: Speech Additional Education: M.A., Michigan State; Ph.D., University of Michigan Email: andersonloren@me.com I loved my student years at Concordia, so when I graduated there was only one choice—keep going to school! So, it was off to Michigan State for an MA in Speech Communication, and then the University of Michigan for a Ph.D. in Communication Theory and Research.

My career in the academy began as a faculty member at Wayne State University in Detroit, after which I returned to Concordia in 1972. I came “home” as a member of the Speech and Theatre department along with an appointment as Director of Institutional Research. In the years that followed, I was privileged to serve Concordia in a variety of administrative roles including a time as Executive Vice President. Pacific Lutheran University came calling in 1992, and a wonderful and extended tenure as president of another great Lutheran college was a true capstone experience.

Mary Ann (Mary Ann Waalen 1980) and I moved from Tacoma, Washington, to Minneapolis to open our “third chapter” in 2012. Mary Ann now works as an Executive Coach, and I am helping colleges and universities find presidents and senior executives through my work with AGB Search of Washington, D.C. As I was never really able to leave the farm near Rugby, ND, we continue an active management role in JDL Farms— an enterprise founded by my Swedish grandfather in 1896.

But way more important than work and career—Mary Ann and I celebrate life together, and we are further blessed that our daughter, Maren, son-in-law, Elliott, and our newly minted grandson, Nels David, now live in Decorah, Iowa, where Maren teaches at Luther College and Elliott in the Decorah Public Schools. Each day continues to be a great banquet of family and friends, of new experiences and travel, and precious moments (never enough) at “Fred”—our Bad Medicine Lake home. As we frequently say at the end of another busy day, “Life is Rich and Full! God is Good! And We are Greatly Blessed.”

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Marianne Anderson Nelson Hometown: Chicago, IL Current Home: San Pedro, CA Major: Elementary Education, English Additional Education: M.S., Curriculum & Instruction, U of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Email: maridean@aol.com Two days after graduation, I used my education degree to fill a position in a first grade remedial classroom in St. Paul, Minnesota, until the semester ended. I spent the summer in a Head Start classroom in Chicago, Illinois, and married Dean Nelson, class of ’66, in August. In September, Dean returned to school at Luther Seminary, and I taught fourth grade in St. Paul.

For Dean’s internship year, we moved to Santa Rosa, California, where I taught third-fourth grade in Kenwood, California. The following year, Dean completed his studies at Luther, and I taught fourth grade again in St. Paul.

After ordination, Dean accepted a call to Enid, Oklahoma, where we lived for four years. Our daughter, Kirsten, and son, Mark, were born there. In 1974 Dean got a call to a church in Chicago where we lived for nine years. I subbed at our local public school for six of those years, sometimes in long term positions. In 1983 Dean got a call to a church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and we lived there for 12 years. I subbed and then taught first and second grades in a Milwaukee public school for ten years. In 1995 we moved to Torrance, California. I taught fourth grade at First Lutheran School.

In 2001 Dean was elected Bishop of the ELCA Southwest California Synod, and we moved to San Pedro, California. I continued teaching until my retirement in 2013. Once again, I am subbing as needed at the same school. We are fortunate our married daughter, Kirsten, lives close by with her husband and our two grandchildren. Our son, Mark, lives with us after struggling for several years with mental illness. He is stable, and it is good to have his help and company at home. We have a cat named Max. Our jobs and life experiences have acquainted us with people of different races, cultures, sexual orientation and economic levels. It has broadened our perspective and acceptance of people. In retirement, I am happy to have much more time for reading for pleasure; however, looking for “the deeper, hidden, inner, secret meaning” still makes its demands. We both enjoy traveling and have been to almost every state as well as many other countries, but there are many more places on our “bucket list” of places to go. This year Dean and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary.

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Marilyn Anderson Bengtson Hometown: Bagley, MN Current Home: Long Prairie, MN Major: Music Education Additional Education: 65 Graduate Credits Email: marilynb45@charter.net

After graduating from Concordia, I taught vocal music at varying grade levels for 36 years, mostly in Long Prairie, Minnesota, where I live with my husband, David. When I took over the high school choral program in the mid-’80s, the mixed choir had thirteen students and the girls’ choir, about twenty-five. When I retired in 2007, the high school choral program was averaging 135-140 singers.

Over the years, in addition to my school responsibilities, I directed and accompanied a church children’s choir and frequently played piano for other church events, including weddings and funerals in the community.

I served as the rehearsal accompanist and played with the pit orchestra for musicals at the high school in Long Prairie, and was pit director and pianist for a Frost Fire Summer Theater production in Wallhalla, North Dakota. I also taught piano lessons in our home. About 25 years ago, I began judging music contests for the Minnesota State High School League. I judge both Large Group and Solo/Ensemble Contests throughout the state.

I am grateful to my high school band and choir director, Ronald Q. Johnson (’53), who helped me develop good musical skills and a deeper appreciation for the joy that music can bring to a performer and an audience.

I am grateful to Leif Christiansen and my experience in the Concordia Band for providing an exceptional instrumental music experience. I am also grateful to Paul J. Christiansen and my experience in the Concordia Choir for putting a choral sound in my head that, as a director, I have always strived to emulate. Two years in band and two years in choir were the best of both worlds!

David and I continue to share our love for music and poetry. In the past ten years, we have done many programs of poems and songs on various themes at churches, public libraries, senior living communities and private homes.

For eight years, in February, we performed our “Poems and Songs about Love” program at Sixth Avenue Wine and Ale in Alexandria, Minnesota.

We have two daughters, Cory (’90) and Kjersten (’94), and two granddaughters, Madison and Annika.

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Paul R. Anderson Hometown: Cloquet, MN Current Home: Rochester, MN Major: Mathematics, Economics Email: barbpaul@charter.net

Upon graduation from Concordia College, I moved to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, spending four years being financially damaged by the US Army. In 1971 I began working for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as a bank examiner. I spent the entire time assigned to Rochester, Minnesota, although I worked in many different parts of the country. I terminated my relationship (retired) with FDIC in December 2000.

Since then, I’ve been nearly retired for the last 16 years. I said “nearly retired” because I’ve spent all those years working as a bookkeeper for a friend at his travel agency. I work every weekday and my time commitment is about 30 hours per month. I receive less than minimum wage and have neither title nor office window.

Some benefits include no set working hours and I can stay away for extended periods, like 26 days in May and June. I spend a good deal of time volunteering at our church, spending more time there than at the travel agency.

I’ve been married twice. Obviously, the first marriage was not a success and was either legally terminated or I’m a bigamist. The second marriage is wonderful. Barbara and I have five grown married children between us (all boys). My primary hobbies are fishing, reading and attending movies and plays. I fish once each year for 26 consecutive days (see above); I’m the first person in Rochester to have his motor winterized each year.

A few of my favorite authors are Jane Austin, Charles Dickens, Anthony Trollope, David Mitchell and Michael Chabon. Unfortunately, the first three will not be providing new reading material. I usually have anywhere from 20 to 50 novels in my books-to-be-read queue. Among my favorite movies are those directed and/or produced by the Coen Brothers or Wes Anderson and, of course, the Rocky Horror Picture Show. We also do some traveling. We have a son who is a permanent resident of Germany and it is unlikely he will ever return to the United States. This, however, provides an excuse to travel to Europe every few years. It is exciting to be there during the World Cup as the European countries get sort of crazy. No, I do not receive travel benefits from my relationship with the travel agency. Another negative. I would like an office window. Overall, I’ve had a great life with no complaints, except that one of our cats sheds great volumes of white fur.

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Diane Andresen Shotwell Hometown: Uniondale, NY Current Home: Richfield, MN Major: Mathematics Additional Education: 1 yr. graduate student and Teaching Assistant, Univ. of Minnesota Email: puterattic@msn.com My experience at Concordia ran a gamut of emotions from pure joy to heartbreak and everything in between, but it taught me many life lessons. When I graduated, I accepted an offer to be a Teaching Assistant in the Math Department as well as a graduate student at the University of Minnesota. It was a very interesting and rewarding experience. I roomed with three other girls in a house near campus. One of them had a friend named Bob who later proposed to me, and we were married in August 1968.

Bob owned his own business called Snug Bug—a process for insulating the heating systems of Volkswagens.

That sustained us for quite a few years until the heating systems were completely changed and Snug Bug gradually became obsolete. Our first child, Heather, came along in December of ’69. Three years later came Kristin in ’73 followed by Robin in ’75 and Kimberly in ’76. In 1980 I found it necessary to get a job, and I started working at Fairview Southdale Hospital in the clinical lab, performing a variety of tasks over the years, ending as Administrative Assistant to the lab manager. I was there for 30 years until my retirement in 2010.

My greatest pride is in my family. Until a few years ago, Heather was on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ—traveling the world to spread the Word of God. She is currently employed as a teacher at Pine Harbor Christian Academy. Kris spent several years as a blackjack dealer at Mystic Lake Casino but finally left that and currently has a managerial position at a local company. She has two children, Jessie, 16, and Brody, 14. Robin (a ’97 Concordia graduate) is a physical therapy supervisor at Gillette Children’s Hospital.

She is married to David McDonald and they have our two youngest grandchildren, Ashley, 5, and Gavin, 8.

Our youngest daughter, Kim (a ’98 Concordia graduate), has our other four grandchildren, Bailey (boy), 14; Benji, 12; Brianna, 11, and Braydan (boy), 9. She is married to Col. Joshua LaMotte and they are currently at Fort Stewart in Georgia.

Now in retirement I enjoy writing poetry and working on my family’s genealogy. And, of course, Bob and I enjoy spending time with our grandchildren. They are always challenging and entertaining.

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Sally Aronson Peterson Hometown: Oakland, CA Current Home: Kerkhoven, MN Major: Music Email: smapeterson@tds.net

I traveled halfway across the U.S. in the fall of 1963 to attend Concordia and live in the snow. My first year was spent in Academy Hall, followed by off campus living and finally, New Hall. I received a bachelor’s of music degree majoring in violin with a minor in voice.

After graduation I accepted a teaching position in Kerkhoven, Minnesota, where I taught vocal music in grades 1-12 for 41 years.

I met my husband, Melvin, at the local cafe where he and other farmers played cards in the evening. I began to play lots of whist which lead to a wedding in 1983 and the birth of our daughter in 1988.

In the the spring of 2004, Melvin passed away. I retired from teaching in 2008. I still live on the Peterson family farm were I enjoy my cats and flowers. I travel to the Twin Cities for concerts at Orchestea Hall and the Opera whenever I’m able, and I never miss the Concordia Christmas Concert at Orchestra Hall.

I wish all my 1967 classmates well—perhaps I will see you at the reunion.

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Wayne “Bill” Bailey Hometown: Cloquet, MN Current Home: Brainerd, MN Major: Biology, Physical Education Email: bill.bailey68@gmail.com

Following graduation I taught school in Heron Lake, Minnesota, from 1967-1970. In 1968, I married Cheryl Helm. In 1970 we moved to Browns Valley, Minnesota, where I taught school until 1975.

We moved to Brainerd, Minnesota, in 1975 where I was an insurance adjuster until retiring in 2011.

We have three children, Sara, 44; Lindsey, 40, and Wayne, 37. Sara lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; she and Brad have two great little girls. Lindsey and her husband live in St. Paul, Minnesota, and they have two very busy boys. Our son,Wayne, has been in the US Navy for 18 years. He and his wife, Sayuri, have two boys and one cute girl. They live in Okinawa, Japan. Wayne is presently stationed at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, California.

Cheryl and I are members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Brainerd. I have been a member of the Baxter Bass Snatchers since 1976. I am on the supervisory committee at the Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Unions in Brainerd and presently chairman of the committee. I am a member of the Brainerd Lodge #615 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; I have been Exalted Ruler for three years. I am scoreboard operator for girls’ volleyball and girls’ and boys’ basketball at Brainerd High School since 1991.

After retiring I decided that I couldn’t fish every day for the rest of my life, so I took a part time job working for ServiceMaster doing marketing. It gives me a reason to get up and get going in the morning, and I also earn enough money to buy bullets and whiskey. Life is good.

Cheryl, 1969 NDSU grad, retired in 2011 after 19 years teaching preschool at St. Francis School in Brainerd. She presently volunteers at two local kindergarten classes in Brainerd. She is an avid quilter and belongs to several quilting groups. Every Thursday afternoon, she and several other area ladies volunteer at the Crow Wing County Jail and teach female inmates how to quilt. Besides that, she keeps quite busy visiting grandchildren including five trips to Okinawa, three by herself.

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Arlen Baumhoefner Hometown: Reading, MN Current Home: St. Paul, MN Major: Business Admin; History; Political Science Additional Education: M.B.A, St. Thomas; Ph.D., Business Management/Finance, Kennedy Western University Email: abaumhoefner@csp.edu I am delighted to have attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, graduating in 1967 with a B.A. I received a Double/Combined Major in Business Administration, History and Political Science. Upon graduation, I went to work for AT&T, Northwestern Bell in Fargo. By 1969 I left Fargo-Moorhead to work for Wilson Sinclair in Albert Lea, Minnesota, where I earned Certifications as a Traffic Manager and additionally as a Distribution Manager.

I moved to Minneapolis in 1972 to work for Sharpe Manufacturing as their Distribution and Traffic Manager, completing my Purchasing Manager Certification at that time. In 1976 I joined Heines House as their Manufacturing and Distribution Manager and became President by 1980. I left Heines House in 1986 to form my manufacturing company, A B I Corporation, with international distribution in the school and home craft markets. That company was sold to a competitor, whereupon I formed Supreme Financial Services, Inc., handling commercial and residential mortgages as well as real estate development. In 1999 I had a tragic injury accident forcing me to sell off the mortgage business and focus on computers, websites and networks.

I then began in 1999 what has become my passion which is education. I am now an Adjunct Professor for North Central University; Concordia University; Northwestern University, St. Paul (thank you, Obama Care —i.e., the Affordable Care Act—wow, what a misnomer). I teach Business Management, Marketing, Communication and Interpersonal Communication, and am also actively involved in running a non-profit schooling organization with about 900 family members.

I have been happily married to Cheryl Ann for over 35 years and we have two daughters. Our oldest is a Merchandising Manager for an international company and our youngest has completed her Master’s in Literature and is also an Adjunct Professor.

I received my MBA in Business Administration from St. Thomas University in St. Paul in 1980, and my Ph. D. in Business Management and Finance from Kennedy Western University in 2003.

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Charles J. Beck Hometown: Fergus Falls, MN Current Home: Bend, OR Namesake: Charles N. Beck (Uncle, 94 years old and still painting!), a 1948 Concordia grad.

Additional Education: M.D., University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN Email: clblab@me.com My freshman year at Concordia College was a most enjoyable year, particularly the math and science courses, meeting people through intramural sports and being a member of the track and field team. One reason that I chose Concordia was that I had previous family members who had both studied and participated in sports there.

It was also my only year at Concordia, as I had planned to meet my identical twin brother, Richard, at the University of Minnesota the following year. I followed through by transferring to the U of M in Minneapolis and roomed with my brother during both our sophomore and junior years. We were good study companions; competitive, as we both knew we wanted to attend medical school. Upon graduating with my degree in zoology, I entered medical school also at the U of M. My daughter, Shannon, was born in 1972; she’s a remarkable individual.

After starting my internship, I was committed to two years in the Army after residency (they had NOT forgotten about me). My orders brought us to the Presidio of San Francisco near the Golden Gate Bridge, and this became our new home. Basic training included four hours of instruction per week for a month; needless to say, I crossed the street any time that I didn’t recognize what rank of scrambled eggs was approaching. I was there to be a staff radiologist and help teach the residents.

Being in the sunshine state of California led to my first private practice position in Modesto, California.

After some interesting politics, I subsequently moved to Corvallis, Oregon. Having been an Otter in Fergus Falls, a Cobber in Moorhead, and a Gopher in Minneapolis, it only makes sense that I’d go to a state where they rely on the Beavers (OSU) and Ducks (U of O) for entertainment. I was in practice there with a great group of colleagues for the next 24 years.

I remarried in 2002 to my current wife Lynne. Living in a diverse state lends itself to our interest of fly-fishing, particularly for the elusive steelhead! I also had time to ski REAL mountains in the winter, golf in the summer, and travel some as the schedule allowed. With the ocean only 60 miles away, the next adventure would be to move to the desert or east side of the Cascade mountains, right? So, in 2007, with retirement near, we built our dream home in the golf community at Pronghorn. It’s that much closer to all the outdoor pursuits we enjoy together.

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David Behlke Hometown: Faribault, MN Current Home: Ewa Beach, Hawaii Major: Art Additional Education: MFA, Bowling Green University, Bowling Green, Ohio Email: drbehlke@gmail.com I am an artist, the Director of the Koa Fine Art Gallery, and a professor of Art and Humanities at Kapi‘olani Community College on the back slopes of Diamond Head overlooking Waikiki. I have been the Koa Art Director for over twenty years and am also a private art curator/exhibit designer.

As an artist, I work in traditional stained glass, watercolor and mixed media. I was recently awarded a private commission by Arcadia Health, Inc. to design and manufacture a large stained glass mural for the new 15 Craigside Senior Living Condominium in Nu‘uanu Valley on Oahu. The glass mural is 58' wide and 8' in height and depicts the Hawaiian Creation motif.

I have my MFA from Bowling Green University in Ohio, and graduate art history credits from Rutgers University in New Jersey. Additionally, I studied at the Stained Glass School of America, as well as advanced drawing and color theory classes at Banff Center for Visual and Performing Art. I am represented in the State of Hawaii permanent collection and have work in private and corporate collections in Hawaii and throughout the Mainland. My stained glass work can be seen in San Diego, the greater Los Angeles area, Arizona and Hawaii. I have been in higher education the majority of my professional life, while maintaining my love for professional art-making and incorporating my own iconographic visual vocabulary in my work. I have taught in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, the Plains of North Dakota (Valley City State), National University in California, and Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

I moved to Hawaii in the early 90s with my wife, Joan. I run Kapiolani Community College Art gallery. I also teach a variety of classes on the back slopes of Diamond Head Crater including watercolor, water-based media and gallery design. I have been active curating fine art shows featuring contemporary artists of Hawaii in select corporate buildings in downtown Honolulu.

I consider the education I received at Concordia College to be pivotal to my understanding of designing large scale work. Working with Cy Running on the Christmas murals had always been a highlight in my ability to work large scale art projects. The art education we art majors received while in the tutelage of Professors Running, Galsrud, Strand and Bowman set the bar as we developed our own set of skills. Rule one, never denigrate young artists, and it helps if you can be genuinely enthusiastic while giving critiques. These mentors allowed me to make my fair share of mistakes while learning the ropes.

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Robert Bendiksen Hometown: New Bedford, MA Current Home: La Crosse, WI Major: Psychology Additional Education: Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN Email: Robert.Bendiksen@aol.com

I entered Concordia College (June 1966) as a transfer “junior” after military service (USAF) in Missouri, Guam and Vietnam, thanks to the G.I. Bill. My favorite course was Kierkegaard’s Either/Or. Daughter Tanya was born/baptized in Fargo,Tasha in Minneapolis/St. Paul. My first wife Patricia (Helgevold) later graduated from Concordia.

After graduation from Concordia, I was an adoption case worker at LSS in Fargo (1968) until graduate study at University of Maine (M.A.) and University of Minnesota (Ph.D.). My major interests were medical sociology, death, grief and bereavement, religion and society. I was on the faculty at Concordia College (1969-70), Thiel College (1972-75), and University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (1975-2002). Coedited six books that included Death and Identity, Revised Edition (with Robert Fulton).

Married Marilyn (Marlie) Mathews King in 1976. We raised our “2 plus 2” children in La Crosse. Marlie earned her Ph.D. in gifted education and was a school district administrator and principal. She is completing a biography of her Presbyterian pastor/dean father. Daughter Beth is in Panama, Paul in Madison, Wisconsin, Tanya in Woodbury/St. Paul, and Tasha in Long Beach, California, with their families. We summer at Chautauqua Institution in Western New York.

This bestefar really enjoyed taking my two grandchildren to Norway after their freshman college years to meet their cousins and family heritage. With seven first cousins in Norway (Rogaland) and second cousins in Sweden, international interests have woven through our lives. We have hosted exchange students and teachers from Sweden, Germany and Japan. As Rotary District Governor, I began ten years of International Friendship Exchanges and served as general secretary of International Work Group (IWG) on Death, Dying & Bereavement, as well as editor of the journal, Illness, Crisis & Loss (Sage).

Personally life is a journey, like being at sea and at times buffeted by nature, an image first lived in my commercial fishing Massachusetts childhood family. Ongoing spiritual journey interests were shaped at the Lutheran Bible Institute (Teaneck, New Jersey), and continue today in my ELCA church and with ecumenical Franciscan and Newman Center friends. Volunteering included 40 years in research ethics on the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Gundersen Health System in La Crosse. I also enjoy Scandinavian figure carving, long daily hikes and conversations about spiritual issues (and the Enneagram).

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Benny Benson Hometown: Crosby, MN Current Home: Shoreview, MN Major: Chemistry Additional Education: Computer Programming, Brown Institute Email: phalen45@comcast.net Whoosh! Fifty years gone! A speck of time in eternity! My life. Insignificant in history. But significant to God. God is good! God can use ANY life for His glory and our benefit. I left Concordia full of pride and promise to conquer the world and make a major impact on life. The world almost conquered me. But God repeatedly came to my rescue.

My early jobs as a teacher, chemist and supervisor were not good fits. In frustration, I turned to God. He led me into computer programming. Success at last! In the process, God had molded me to be a better person who put his trust in Him not prideful self.

Loneliness set in. My own attempts to find a spouse failed. I finally prayed to God to meet my mate at next weekend’s Youth Encounter retreat at Green Lake Bible camp. I met Jo. She came at the last minute out of compassion for an upset fellow teacher after a coworker was killed in a car accident. A wedding dance led to long distance dating to marriage. God can take even terrible things and make good from them! My early job losses made finances meager. Our big gift on our fifth anniversary was a $5 plate from the dime store. My goal of being a millionaire was shattered. God replaced that goal with a desire to follow Him. God has blessed us abundantly as we have looked for His direction. I am no longer concerned about finances. We have plenty and love to share it with our favorite charities. We wanted children. Years of waiting!

We applied for adoption. Just before Christmas 1979, we received our lovely infant son, Frank, from Lutheran Social Service. That night we went to the Messiah. Jo became sick. She was pregnant with Rob. God had given us more than we asked. “To us a child is born, to us a son in given!” Frank is a trainer and disability claims manager at Cigna. Rob is teaching math in Stillwater. Rob has two lovely children, Levi (3) and Lina (1).

God also overcame my fear of speaking in public. Now I enjoy singing, writing, speaking and doing shows. My main goal is to use these talents as outreach for God. I especially like singing Gospel and popular Christian music. I also enjoy singing in church choir. Because of God this insignificant life has significance. My old dreams and goals have been replaced with His wonderful abundant life and joyful purpose.

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Jean Bergo Kutz Hometown: Montevideo, MN Current Home: Burnsville, MN Major: Elementary Education Additional Education: M.S., Education, St. Thomas University, St. Paul, MN Email: jkkutz@me.com

I married Richard Kutz in August 1967. I taught second grade from 1967 in Renville, Minnesota, until moving to Burnsville in 1972. I taught special education for 16 years in Burnsville District 191.

I then taught third grade in Burnsville until I retired in 2008.

Since retiring, I have subbed and volunteered in the district. In 2013 Richard and I were honored with District 191’s Outstanding Volunteers Award for the school year 2012-2013.

We have two sons and four grandsons. They keep us busy with their activities in school, sports, Boy Scouts and church. I also keep busy with my church activities, attending concerts, plays, sporting events, summer lake activities, gardening and traveling.

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Tom Berquist Hometown: Garrison, ND Current Home: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Major: Zoology Additional Education: M.D., Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO Email: berquist.thomas@mayo.edu Doctor Berquist received his B.S. degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, and his M.D. degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. He completed his internship and residency in Diagnostic Radiology at Mayo Graduate School of Medicine in 1975.

Following his residency, he served in the U.S. Army and was the Chief of Radiology at U.S. Kirk Army Hospital from 1975 to 1977.

He joined the staff in Diagnostic Radiology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, in 1977 and served as the department’s Vice-Chair from 1986 to 1990. He then moved to Jacksonville, Florida, in 1990 and became Chair of the Department of Radiology, a position he held until April 1999. During his tenure as Chair, he was instrumental in implementing the Automated Radiology Practice for digital imaging. He served as the Director of the Radiology Residency and Musculoskeletal Fellowship Programs at Mayo Jacksonville from 1999 to June 2010.

During his career, Doctor Berquist has been either a member or Chair of more than 50 Mayo committees, most of which are related to clinical practice and education.

He has also held significant positions of responsibility in several professional organizations including the American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America, and the Society of Skeletal Radiology. In March 2006 he was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the American Board of Radiology. He was also appointed to the ACGME review committee for Diagnostic Radiology in 2006. In 2008 Dr. Berquist was named the Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Roentgenology. He is recognized as an accomplished author of 36 widely used radiology textbooks, over 100 publications, and has given over 170 lectures and presentations both nationally and internationally.

Other professional achievements include: Chair of the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville Education Committee (1991-1999); Chair of the Academic Appointment and Promotions Committee (1998-1999) and Executive Dean of Education for the Mayo Foundation (1999-2005), the first major Foundation role to be held outside of Rochester. He was a member of the Board of Governors of Mayo Clinic Jacksonville for 11 years, also serving on the Mayo Foundation Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee. He received the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from Concordia College in 2012 and was awarded the Gold Medal by the American Roentgen Ray Society in 2016.

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Wayne Blikre Hometown: Powers Lake, ND Current Home: Texas Hill Country Major: English Email: wcblikre@gmail.com

After graduating from Concordia in 1967, Wayne fulfilled his military obligation by joining the US Army spending a year of his enlistment in balmy Việt Nam where he was awarded the Bronze Star.

Thereafter he embarked on a rewarding career in the field of human relations crossing multiple industries. He began in labor relations in the railroad industry in the early 1970s in Chicago and Washington, D.C., and then switched to banking in 1978 in Miami for 10 years. He remained in Miami for the last 25 years of his career in the IT sector of a global corporation which specialized in the travel and tourism industry, retiring as Vice President of Human Resources for North America. During that time, he traveled extensively, domestically and internationally, for both business and pleasure.

With his Concordia education, plus his service in military intelligence and the business acumen he acquired in his working career, Wayne became a highly respected human resource professional. He developed the unique skills of balancing the employees’ welfare with the company’s bottom line to produce one of the ten best companies to work for in Florida.

Now happily retired in the Texas Hill Country, Wayne considers his outstanding achievements to be his contributions to the many employees he assisted throughout his career, his two exceptional children, and last, but not least, his successful relationship of 26 years with his redheaded wife.

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Constance Boen Anderson Hometown: Fergus Falls, MN Current Home: Apple Valley, MN Major: Elementary Education Email: constanceandray@yahoo.com

In my senior year at Concordia, I recall us girls proudly showing off our diamond rings. It seemed everyone was “pairing up!” I put on a pink mohair sweater thinking it would best show off my new diamond! That summer I married Ray Anderson (’63). Teachers were in high demand; I took a 4th grade teaching position in Pelican Rapids. Ray had opened a lumber yard in Underwood, so we lived in Fergus Falls for the next ten years. I admired Roy Rogers and Dale Evans because they had adopted children from many countries.

After four years of teaching, we had saved up enough money to buy Pan Am “round the world” airline tickets. Along with much sightseeing at stops along the way, we brought home our baby girl from India.

We went on to have three more girls. I’m sure we missed out in not having a son, but I can confirm there is nothing better than having daughters once you hit old age! They continually and generously bless us in so many ways, including our ten grandchildren.

Besides Fergus Falls, we lived in Alexandria, Minnesota; Rapid City, South Dakota, and now Burnsville, Minnesota, since 1984. I never went back to teaching elementary school but spent some years at Sears selling everything from men’s suits to TVs. In Burnsville we had a nice big house. I started a home daycare which I had for eleven years. I enjoyed it very much, and feel I was an “expert” at buying toys and setting up our home to facilitate play. I loved the hum of children contentedly playing!

In 2002 I retired from daycare and had more time to focus on the grandchildren. Ray continued to work until 2008. He is an entrepreneur but did do an eleven-year stint with UPS. We think retirement is the greatest. Ray is my “Rock.” Though we have nearly daily skirmishes, being of opposite political views, we are fulfilling his proposal to me when he asked me to marry him and grow old together. And that is certainly what we are doing!

I must not close without telling about the most important day of my life!

I bundled up the little girls and begrudgingly walked to the neighbor’s house for a Bible Study. I’m not sure what happened. It was like I had been walking in the dark when suddenly someone turned on the light. I experienced that God is real and that Jesus reconciled me to Him when He died on the cross. We are all pretty lucky; as Ray always says, “The best is yet to come!”

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Gary Boyn Hometown: Princeton, MN Current Home: Elkhart, IN Major: Political Science Additional Education: J.D., Valparaiso University Email: gboyn@warrickandboyn.com I continue to work full time practicing law as a partner in the law firm of Warrick & Boyn, LLP. Married since 1974 to my wife, Judy, we have two children, two grandsons. I don’t talk about myself.

In talking about me for an award ceremony, a good friend described me as follows: “Everything about Gary is a contradiction. He’s one of the most frugal, yet generous people I know. He’s serious, yet has an infectious sense of humor. He’s not a spiffy person, yet he’s married to a past Fair Queen.

He’s a typical attorney and looks for everything that can go wrong, yet at times he’s not afraid to take a risk.

Gary’s a great guy—a rock! Sometimes a rock head, but always a rock.”

I believe in leaving things better than I found them.

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Rich Braun Hometown: Rothsay, MN Current Home: Bend, OR Major: Business Administration Email: richbraun345@gmail.com

Following graduation from Concordia, I served four years in the U.S. Air Force, one of those years in Vietnam.

The next twelve years, I was in sales management with truck dealerships in southern Minnesota. In 1985 I became a field sales representative for The Holland Hitch Company, covering the upper Midwestern states and living in Minnesota. Later I lived in Denver and covered the Rocky Mountain States. In 1992 I was promoted to Sales Manager for The Pacific Division and lived in the Bay Area. In 2002 I was promoted to Regional Sales Manager responsible for the Western United States, during which time we were based in Dallas, Texas. I retired from this position in 2007.

In 1999 I married Judy, the love of my life, and became a stepfather to Charmain, Michael and Marc.

They have given us six wonderful grandchildren. We moved to Bend, Oregon, in 2014 and truly love the beautiful Northwest. This location also places us closer to our children and grandchildren in Oregon and California.

Judy and I have traveled to Australia, Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Canada, Mexico and forty-nine of the fifty states. Our next goal is to visit Alaska.

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Harold “Harry� Brenden Hometown: Wilmar, MN Current Home: Rapid City, SD Major: Elementary Education Aditional Education: M.ED., University of ND; Ed.S., Chadron State College Email: haroldbrenden@gmail.com 1967-1968: Teacher, Grand Forks, North Dakota 1969-1971: US Army, Air Traffic Controller, Seoul,

Korea

1971-1972: Teacher, Grand Forks, North Dakota 1972-1975: Principal, Beach, North Dakota 1975- 1991: Elementary Principal, Rapid City, South Dakota 1991-1993: Junior High School Principal, Rapid City, South Dakota 1993-1997: Middle School Principal, Rapid City, South Dakota 1997-2007: Assistant Superintendent for Elementary & Secondary Education., Rapid City, South Dakota

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Beverly Brendsel Hefte Hometown: Mayville, ND Current Home: Mound, MN Major: English, German Email: bhefte@mchsi.com

I was born in Mayville, North Dakota. I feel fortunate to have had an excellent education in Mayville, with excellent training in music from Roger Kolsrud, a Concordia graduate, who directed our choir, band and dance band. I have wonderful memories of our dance band playing for many of the proms in the area.

This background in music inspired me to attend Concordia College, playing in a band my freshman year and singing in the concert choir under the direction of Paul J. Christiansen my last three years. What a wonderful musical experience that was. I graduated from Concordia in 1967, majoring in German and English. Before pursuing a career in education, my friend, Carol Renneke Gilbertson, and I spent six months traveling in a VW bug in Europe, with my brother, Tom’s, home in Germany as our headquarters. He would help us plan our trips which included Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Yugoslavia, The Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, England and France. We stayed in many youth hostels and B&Bs, met many interesting people and visited relatives. We even picked potatoes for my cousins north of Oslo, Norway. What a wonderful trip it was!

Upon returning to the United States in January 1968, I was hired by Minneapolis Public Schools as an English teacher at Patrick Henry High School until 1989. I married Art Hefte, a teacher in Hopkins, Minnesota, in 1975, and we moved to our present home in Mound, Minnesota, on Lake Minnetonka. In 1977 we were blessed with the birth of our son, Scott, followed by Todd in 1979. Scott graduated from Luther College in 2000, majoring in music, taught special ed for 10 years and is now pursuing his PhD in psych education at the U of M. Todd graduated with honors from the U of M in 2001 with a major in computer science. Both of our sons had excellent training in music at Mound High School, MacPhail and GTCYS. The love of music continues on in our family.

In our retirement, Art and I feel fortunate to be able to do a lot of traveling. In October of 2015 we traveled in the footsteps of Martin Luther, learning much about the Reformation and seeing the preparations for the 500 year celebration of the Reformation in 2017.

In July we cruised for a month up the coast of Norway and the Baltic.

On December 29 we cruise to Cuba with a group of friends.

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Harry Brown Hometown: Williston, ND Current Home: Mesa, AZ; Plymouth, MN Major: Mathematics, History Additional Education: M.A., University of St. Thomas Email: harry.brown8211@yahoo.com Upon graduating from Concordia, I had no idea what I wanted to do, so I continued to work on our family farm and attend school in the winters. I earned my teaching credential from the University of Montana, beginning my career as an educator in 1969, teaching math and coaching football at Forest Lake JHS in Forest Lake, Minnesota.

In 1977 I took three years of leave to work for the Department of Defense Dependents’ Schools (DoDDS). I worked two years at Schweinfurt, West Germany, and a year at Incirlik, Turkey, before returning to Forest Lake for two years and then resuming my career with DoDDS, where I taught, coached, and served as an athletic director until my retirement in 2009, spending time in the following places: Keflavik, Iceland; Schweinfurt (second tour), Darmstadt, and Vilseck, Germany; Rota, Spain; Juffair, Bahrain, and Aviano, Italy.

I retired to Mesa, Arizona, and later purchased a place in Plymouth, Minnesota, where I spend the summers.

I had no connection with Concordia for the years I spent working. Once I retired, I thought I would like to do something for the kind of students I had in DoDDS. Concordia was the place I wanted it to happen.

Concordia and I established a scholarship for students from DoDDS who are mainly sons and daughters of military enlisted personnel. My desire was to make it affordable for such students to come to Concordia.

I am pleased to say there are currently six students at Concordia from DoDDS schools in Europe and the Far East. I am proud that our first scholar graduated in the Class of 2016.

I have been pleased to reconnect with Concordia and former classmates, and hope to connect with many more.

There was a word we used in Germany: gemütlichkeit. Where I lived, it translated to having a “good feeling” but meaning much more. It best describes my feeling about Concordia due to my education, lifelong Cobber friends, and Concordia’s help in the establishment of our scholarship, which will hopefully prove to help many deserving students attend Concordia in the future.

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Jane Brueske Hometown: Alexandria, MN Current Home: Grand Forks, ND Major: Business Education Additional Education: M.A., Business Education, California State University, LA Email: jbrueske@rrv.net

After graduating mid-year in December 1966, I taught high school business for the remainder of that school year at McGrath, Minnesota.

It was a very small community, and I lived in a Teacherage with the rest of the instructors. We charged groceries at the local grocery store and went to the post office to get our mail.

In 1967 I ventured to California to teach Business Education in Lynwood, California, a Los Angeles suburb. In 1968 I worked as a secretary for the Chairman of the Board of Time Oil Company, Los Angeles. My son Joel was born in December 1968. I have never married. I also taught English as a Second Language part-time at Lynwood, and high school business at Crescenta Valley, a northern LA suburb. I earned my M.A. in business education at California State, Los Angeles, before returning to Minnesota in 1973.

In the fall of 1973 I began teaching business at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. I started the Court Reporting program at the college and attained the positon of assistant professor.

In 1979 I began my own Mary Kay Cosmetics business; in 1980 I resigned my college position to further pursue my own business. I am still running my own Mary Kay business as a Future Executive Senior Sale Director with a large reordering customer base, advising over 100 consultants in my unit. Yes, I’ve earned the use of the top pink Cadillac two times and the other 16 times have been the middle car winner, in addition lots of diamond rings and other prizes. It’s been a fun, lucrative business. I don’t plan to retire. I’m mostly just maintaining what I’ve built now.

I love to travel: a European tour of 13 countries; Hawaii, Alaskan and Canadian province cruises; Italy/Greece/Greek Isles/and Ephesus (with dear friend and college classmate, Donna Goetz Beeson), two trips to the Holy Land, the first to Egypt/Israel/ Athens and Corinth and the second to Rome and Israel. I try to never miss a family event with Mom, Joel, eight of us siblings, grand-nieces and nephews. I like to play cards, fish, go to movies, concerts, plays and keep up with the news. I’m active in my church, and the last couple years I’ve been spending a lot of time in Bible Study Fellowship and lead a weekly discussion group. I plan to go through all ten of their wonderful in-depth studies in the coming years.

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Sherry Bryant Hometown: Rolla, ND Current Home: Brookfield, NH Major: Elementary Education Email: sbryant_rms@hotmail.com

Concordia’s education department prepared students for careers that allowed them to pursue the wide open roads. The road first led me to White Bear Lake, Minnesota. The first grade teachers were truly welcoming, sharing their techniques and lessons.

I had begun my career in heaven.

Then my path led to Austin, Texas, for one special, memorable year of new landscapes and culture. At a private school, I taught 14 talented first graders. At my going away party, the director of the school said, “Well, you aren’t one of us, but we’re sure glad you came.” I was, too.

Next stop: Kenosha, Wisconsin, on glistening Lake Michigan and another great school system. This time in my life exposed me to new worlds: consciousness raising groups, the women’s movement, The Art Institute of Chicago, my first trip to Europe, the pleasure of a good game of bridge and the aroma of Woodstock. My life was changing.

Thirty-eight years ago my journey brought me to New Hampshire. Here my soul is fed by the peaceful woods, blueberry fields, and strolling for hours with friends through the trees, over the frozen lakes and along the railroad tracks. I often feel that coming east was in my DNA as my ancestors arrived here in the 1600s. My paternal great grandfather moved West, and I came back to the East.

Travel opportunities took me to Ecuador for the wedding of two former students, to Australia via French Polynesia, and to India where I took a three month course and lived in communities with Moslems, Hindus, Sikhs, Tibetan Buddhists and Christians. I fell in love with India; the foods, the rituals, the color, and the generosity of the people. This amazing experience was organized and taught by my brother Darrol (class of 1964).

Life is filled with lots of twists and turns, and I am so grateful for new experiences that have come my way: operas, canoe trips, bird watching, month long solo journeys to the United Kingdom, catching mice, divorces, teaching middle school and living alone for 23 years. I am an avid reader and enjoy playing games, listening to podcasts, doing Sudoku and watching TV. I am grateful for my 11 years of retirement. I give thanks for my health, hot running water, the sweetness of sugar, friends and family. I have truly been blessed. I continue my love of learning and exploring new places. The roads are endless. I look forward to reading where the roads have taken you.

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Mark Budd Hometown: Osage, IA Current Home: Washington, DC Major: Economics Additional Education: IIT, MS Engineering; University of Chicago, MBA Email: jmarkbudd@gmail.com

When I graduated from Concordia, I had not settled on a career, but I did know my first job was going to be with the military—that was decided by my draft board when I asked for permission to spend the summer following my junior year travelling throughout Europe.

The tradeoff was well worth it since I visited 24 countries. After graduation, I joined the Navy and spent my active duty in the medical corps at a naval air station near Chicago, Illinois. After the military, I worked at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois, for several years and continued my education on a part time basis. Five years of full time work and part time school was a struggle, but my graduate programs prepared me for an enjoyable and successful 30 year career in health care information systems.

I met my wife, Gita, while we were both working at Lutheran General Hospital. We were married in April 1979 and have spent a wonderful 38 years together. We both moved from Lutheran General into consulting jobs—Gita to a health care strategic planning firm and me to information systems consulting. I spent the last 25 years of my career working for Computer Sciences Corporation. This work involved restructuring ineffective health care information systems departments, managing large data warehouse and system installations, and serving in interim chief information officer roles. My clients included hospitals, health systems, Blue Cross and NIH. Gita’s career moves resulted in us relocating every 6-9 years—going from Park Ridge, Illinois, to downtown Chicago; Kalamazoo, Michigan; St. Louis, Missouri, and now Washington, D.C. The best part of moving is seeing new places, meeting new people and sorting through belongings to get rid of unneeded items before each move. We also both became experts at business travel and used our significant flight and hotel points for trips to Egypt, Morocco, Australia, New Zealand, China, etc.

We are retired from real jobs, but continue to keep very busy—Gita with Northwestern University alumni activities and Mark as a member of our condominium board, volunteer work, bike rides and a struggle to develop a respectable golf game. Family has also been an important part of our lives.

While we do not have children, we have participated in the growth of our nine nieces and nephews. Over the last 20+ years, we have enjoyed the company of a number of cats. We currently have two adorable Ragdolls.

Concordia was an important learning and growing experience for me as well as the source of friendships that have lasted over 50 years.

When you get to Washington, D.C. let us know!

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Jim Buhr Hometown: Sauk Centre, MN Current Home: Valley City, ND Major: Chemistry Additional Education: M.D., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN Email: james.b.buhr.md@gmail.com After eight years of education in a one-room schoolhouse, I graduated from Brooten, Minnesota, High School, working every day on our family’s dairy farm with my five brothers. After graduating in ’67, I worked a second summer in metallurgy at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. I received my M.D. in 1971.

In 1970, I married Sharon Muir (’68) who was teaching home economics in Alexandria. We spent three months working in a malnutrition center in Cuzco, Peru, during one of my free quarters. After internship at Lutheran General Hospital, I worked in a Lutheran mission hospital in South Africa. I worked long hours, did lots of surgery, but we both enjoyed it immensely, especially living next to Hluhluwe Game Reserve where we got hooked on birdwatching. We traveled to Cape Town with Sharon’s parents, to Madagascar to visit my brother, Paul, and to Victoria Falls.

In 1976 we returned to the U.S. I started a Family Practice residency followed by working at Maplewood Clinic in St. Paul for another two years. Sharon finished her Master’s in Public Health. Our oldest son, Christian, was born in 1978. I started practicing Family Medicine in Valley City, North Dakota, at a clinic that later became a part of MeritCare, then Sanford. I also took on the task of county health officer and served on the County Health Board. We spent six months in Liberia helping at Curran Lutheran Hospital where I did tropical medicine, and Sharon managed the public health program. Our second son, Nicolai (Nico), was born in 1985. In 1984 I worked for three months at Garou Boulai Hospital, Cameroon. I had to work in French so I had 20 lessons at Maryvale Convent in Valley City. In 2003 MeritCare became a leader in using electronic medical records. I spent many evenings entering data.

In 2006 I traveled to the Central African Republic (CAR) for Global Health Ministries (GHM) to investigate the need for a new hospital there. I served six years on the board of GHM, traveling back to the CAR to assess the hospital’s progress.

We have lived 37 years in Valley City. Every winter we go on a ski trip.

In summer we enjoy canoeing, tennis and sailing. We have gone on trips to Alaska, Ecuador, Thailand, Cambodia, France, India, and to France and Austria with Michael Barone from MPR to tour pipe organs. I started semi-retirement in 2016 which I hope to continue until 2020. I received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Concordia in 2016.

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Penny Cameron Daehlin Hometown: Moorhead, MN Current Home: Moorhead, MN; Danbury, WI Major: Elementary Education Email: ddaehlin@gmail.com

I moved from South Dakota to Moorhead in the ninth grade and graduated in 1963. Working three to four jobs at a time, I worked my way through Concordia and graduated in 1967. I then moved to the Minneapolis area and began teaching primary grades in the Robbinsdale Area Schools. I taught for 41 years and retired in 2010.

My husband, Daniel Daehlin, graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1963. He was a second-generation Cobber; however, he transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 1965, and graduated from there in 1968 with a BS and MS in education. He taught in the Robbinsdale schools until 1977. Dan then went to the University of North Dakota, earning a doctorate in educational administration and spent 25 years as an assistant principal (the last 20 in the Anoka School District). He retired in 2007.

We married in 1968 and had two children, Erik (1974) and Allison (1977). They each have three children.

We moved to Danbury, Wisconsin, in 2010, making the cabin we built in 1982 our home. When my mom died, we purchased her condo in Moorhead, so we winter in Moorhead and summer in Wisconsin and Grand Marais, Minnesota. Dan substitute teaches in Moorhead, and I am constantly busy doing “grandma duty.�

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Bruce Carlson Hometown: McIntosh, MN Current Home: Anton, TX Major: Political Science Email: brucecarlson@door.net

I am currently enjoying retired life on my farm outside Lubbock, Texas, where I spend much of my time working in the wood shop and being entertained by the occasional great-grandchild. My wife, Charlotte, and I have been married for over 45 years and have four children, seven grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren.

Most of my working life was spent in agribusiness. I retired from Texas Agrilife Research where I worked on developing drought tolerant corn seed lines, traveling to Southeast Asia and Europe for fun and much of the frost free areas of North America for my job.

I still follow the Cobbers, Bison and Gophers, but my main rooting concern is the Red Raiders of Texas Tech.

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Mark Carlson Hometown: Newfolden, MN Current Home: Newfolden, MN Major: Business Administration, Economics Email: mdcarlson@wiktel.com

Following my Concordia years came grad school followed by 19 months in the Army as a draftee.

At the conclusion of that adventure, I traveled, explored photography, and eventually returned to Newfolden to work in real estate and farming. In 1974 Betty Johnson and I married and went on to raise four children. We are also proud grandparents of three grandchildren.

In 1987 I began work as a Director of Head Start Early Childhood and Family programs in four counties in northwestern Minnesota. It’s a wonderful program working with great children and families. Working with amazing staff/professionals has also added to the enjoyment and rewards of being involved with the program. I continue to be the Director at this time (November 2016), but will be moving on in the not so distant future. Betty taught Nursing at Northland College for many years until her early retirement in 2015.

We enjoy traveling, usually to a country in a warm climate bordering the Caribbean so I can scuba dive.

Over the years, my appreciation for all the learning during the Concordia years has continued to grow.

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Carol Cartrite Klein Hometown: Wahpeton, MD Current Home: Portland, OR Major: Medical Technology Email: bclklein@q.com

Upon graduating from Concordia, I purchased an Oldsmobile Cutlass and drove to Portland, Oregon, with a small wardrobe in the backseat. I worked in the field of medical technology for ten years. During that time, I met my husband, Larry.

We enjoyed many ski vacations around the Northwest and Canada in the winter, camping and hiking trips in the summer. In 1976 and 1979 our daughter and son were born. In the early years, I taught Sunday School and later became active in Aglow International, a Christian women’s fellowship dedicated to spreading the gospel and maturing women in Christ Jesus.

Larry and I toured many parts of the United States with Road Scholar, educational programs for persons over 55. (The age limit has since been disbanded.) After Larry’s retirement, we traveled abroad: Israel, the Greek Isles, Tahiti, the Balkan countries and Istanbul.

I taught English as a Second Language a number of years, meeting families from Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, learning about the various interesting customs and cultures of each nation.

Participating in intercessory prayer groups has always been a part of my life. I am currently serving as a prayer counselor at my local church. I enjoy reading, jigsaw puzzles, creative writing, hiking, and identifying wild flowers along the trails. However, my greatest joy is my six precious grandchildren. I smile even at the mention of them.

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Mark Chekola Hometown: Brooklyn, NY Current Home: Moorhead, MN Major: Philosophy Additional Education: Ph.D., Philosophy, University of Michigan Email: mchekola@yahoo.com My parents came out to graduation from our home in Brooklyn, New York. When we left Moorhead to return there, we were concerned about a snow storm coming from the west. I swore I wouldn’t live through another Minnesota winter. Now, almost 50 years later, I still live in Moorhead, and I like living here. I returned in 1969 to teach philosophy at Moorhead State (now Minnesota State University Moorhead) and retired in 2005 after 36 years.

After graduation, I went to graduate school at the University of Michigan and finished my Ph.D. in philosophy there in 1974. My areas of specialization were Ancient Greek Philosophy (my minor in Greek from Concordia was a great asset for work in this area) and ethics.

In addition to teaching and scholarship, service to the community in terms of support and activism on LGBT issues were important to me. From 1992 to 1995 I served on the Governor’s Task Force on gay and lesbian Minnesotans. The topic of my Ph.D. dissertation was “The Concept of Happiness,” in 1974 an unusual topic in the field. Starting in the 1980s, when some social scientists began to focus on happiness, it drew attention as early pathbreaking work in the area.

In 2003 while participating in a conference on happiness and economics in Milan, Italy, I was invited to visit Erasmus University in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. I have been serving as a research associate at the World Database of Happiness there since 2004, spending a month there every year.

Since I retired, in addition to doing research in happiness studies, I’ve been doing a lot of traveling, including visits to relatives in Norway and Belarus. And I spend time at a cabin on a small lake in a remote area near Nevis, Minnesota. Having a place of retreat like that is one of the benefits of living in Minnesota. In addition, I’ve gotten involved in mushroom hunting, helping organize the Paul Bunyan Mushroom Club in north central Minnesota. I had a wonderful old (1882) house in Moorhead along the river near the old Moorhead power plant which I had to leave in 2011 after the increased flooding we experienced for several years.

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Paul Christopher Hometown: Medina, MN Current Home: Waconia, MN Major: Psychology Additional Education: M.Div., Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN Email: pgchristopher@yahoo.com After graduation, I entered Luther Seminary. My internship year was spent in Detroit Lakes. After ordination my first call was to a two-point parish at Leader, Minnesota. I then moved to Pequot Lakes where I served for four years. The next call was to Dawson, Minnesota, where I served Grace Lutheran Church for 25 years. This long-term call was in part a credit to several good associates who brought fresh ideas and energy. It was also a good community and school for the boys.

I have had a lifelong interest in emergency services, particularly medical services. I have been a volunteer firefighter in three departments and an EMT with the Dawson service for 24 years. I served on the board of directors of the medical center there. My interest in this area sparked thoughts about chaplaincy work which led to a year-long CPE residency, followed by employment as a hospital chaplain at Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia. I retired after 13 years but remain as an on-call chaplain. While at Ridgeview, I had the opportunity to lead a team in development of family and staff assistance centers as part of the emergency preparedness plan.

I have been blessed to see three sons (Adam, Matthew and Peter) grow into fine men. Adam chose law enforcement and is chief of police in Montevideo. He has three sons, Jaden, Ashton and Nolan. Adam donated a kidney to his three-year-old who is now 15. His significant other, Sarah, has one little girl, Annika.

Matthew was recently married to Holly in a beautiful service on the North Shore. He is with Arctic Cat in Thief River Falls with some travel involved in his job. Peter is in Fargo with his wife, Jill, and their children, Lily and Tyler. He is with Habitat for Humanity, and she is the executive director of the Ronald McDonald houses in Fargo. They are both Cobbers.

My wife, Jane, has two daughters (Minneapolis and Pennsylvania) and two grandsons, both in their twenties and in the Minneapolis area.

We are now into the retirement years with decisions on one-level housing and where that should be. Waconia is a nice community, and we enjoy the opportunities here. Our travel interests focus on exploration of the history of various communities. A trip to Alaska and the Yukon was a recent joy.

We enjoy music with seeds planted in choral music at Concordia continuing to bear fruit.

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Beverly Dahl Melgaard Hometown: Carpio, ND Current Home: Detroit Lakes, MN Major: Medical Technology Email: bevemel@gmail.com

I was born in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, and lived at the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge near there (my dad was the manager). I attended country school and in seventh grade, Dad was transferred to the Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge near Minot, North Dakota.

I graduated from Carpio High School as a member of a class of 12. Following graduation from Concordia, my first job was at Medical Arts Clinic in Minot.

After marriage to my high school sweetheart, Jerry Johnson, in 1967, we moved to Rolla, North Dakota, where I was employed at Rolla Community Hospital and he taught at the high school. Jerry passed away unexpectedly in June of 1970. I was fortunate to meet another wonderful man, also a teacher at Rolla High School. Dave Melgaard and I were married in Rolla, North Dakota, in November 1971; we recently celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary. In 1974 we moved to Bemidji, Minnesota. Dave earned his Master’s Degree in Business and Vocational Education; I typed all of his papers in the days before computers.

We relocated to Valley City, North Dakota, in 1975. Our daughter, Kaaryn, was born the following year and our son, Karsten, in 1980. I was employed part-time at Mercy Hospital in Valley City. In 1980 I started working at the Valley City Clinic part-time. Dave was a professor at Valley City State University in the business department for 33 years.

The week after Kaaryn decided to attend Concordia, a full-time position became available at MeritCare Clinic in Jamestown. I commuted for 17 years and only had one flat tire and ended up in the snowy ditch once! I was an active member of Our Savior’s Lutheran in Valley; senior choir member; church council for 13 years including president for three years; accompanist for cherub and youth choirs; preschool chapel pianist; member of Sarah Circle, and six years on the Eastern North Dakota Synod Council. Other activities included Beta Sigma Phi, P.E.O. and Welcome Wagon hostess.

We retired in 2011 and moved to our home on Little Cormorant Lake (Detroit Lakes). We are enjoying First Lutheran Church. Both of us are members of the Extravagant Generosity team and work on the centennial celebration committee. I am involved in Sons of Norway, Beta Sigma Phi, P.E.O., Lakes Women’s Society and Ruth Circle. I feel very blessed and thankful for the friendships I made and the wonderful education I received at Concordia.

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Ken Dean Hometown: Bloomington, MN Current Home: Cambridge, MN Major: Biology Additional Education: Environmental Science, St. Cloud State University Email: kdean@usfamily.net

My wife, Roxanne (Roddy), and I both moved to Cambridge, Minnesota, after graduation. I began teaching in the fall of 1967 and Roxanne came after we were married, and she graduated in December from Concordia.

I taught biology at Cambridge High School until retiring after 36 years in 2003. While there, I developed an environmental curriculum for upper class students that applied many of the principles I acquired in my graduate studies. I enjoyed the challenges and rewards of teaching high school students. They never ceased to amaze me with their curiosity to learn about the world of living things.

Roxanne’s degree was in Social Work. Initially, she worked at the Cambridge State Hospital; later she worked at Grandview Christian Home in Cambridge where she developed the Social Work program and became director of that program.

We raised three children, Greta, Karla ’94, and Paul. They are all married and enjoying their careers.

Mostly, they enjoy parenting our seven, soon-to-be nine, grandchildren. Much of our focus these days is watching them in their activities.

Throughout our 48+ years in Cambrige we have been members of a church, active in leading youth and adult programs, in choir and in outreach programs. For twelve+ years I have worked as an adjunct at Bethel University, supervising graduate students who are pursuing a career in science education.

I am grateful for the part Concordia played in my life, particularly for the many great instructors: Mr. Fuglestad, Dr. Paulson, Dr. Loeffler and others in the Biology Department, for chapel services led by Pastor Lee and for the many concerts and musical productions.

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Charlene Dockter Akers Hometown: Harvey, ND Current Home: Deerwood, MN (summer)

Mesa, AZ (winter) Major: Art, English Email: charlowakers@gmail.com

Hello to all friends and acquaintances from college.

I’m not really sure if I’d call this an autobiography but maybe a summary will do.

The summer after graduation I married a wonderful man and we have two great children (boy and girl) who make us proud every day. Lowell worked for 3M Company. In the course of his career (35 years) we have spent time in Hutchinson, Minnesota; Grove City, Ohio; Plymouth, Michigan, and Woodbury, Minnesota.

I have worked various jobs but have not really had a career. The best job was at a bookstore for 11 years before retirement. That was heaven for an English major.

We were able to buy a lake in Minnesota and now have a vacation place in Arizona for winters. Now, in retirement, I’m back to oil painting and enjoying it every day. I never used my art for career or job purposes but I have used it a lot through the years for all sorts of activities. I now spend my spare time oil painting and I enjoy having the time to do so. Lowell and I split our year between Minnesota and Arizona so I have so many different things to paint. I’ve done landscapes, people, pets, water scenes and anything else that strikes my artistic spot. I remember a lot of very talented people in the old art barn and hope all of you have enriched life with works of art.

Lowell has some serious health issues, but aside from the normal “wear and tear,” I’m doing very well.

I won’t be attending the reunion, but wish you all well.

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Douglas Dufty Hometown: Fergus Falls, MN Current Home: Stillwater, MN Major: Physical Education Additional Education: M.S., South Dakota State University Email: dkdufty@hotmail.com

After graduation, I completed my M.S. degree at South Dakota State University in 1968. I taught and coached wrestling there before accepting a coaching/teaching position at University of Minnesota, Morris in 1969. We had a most enjoyable experience in Morris. Our children were born there, we bought our first house, gained lifelong friends, and the college wrestling program became nationally ranked. I was personally rewarded during the team’s 11 seasons of success.

Our family moved to Fargo, North Dakota, in 1981 where I began a sales and marketing position for agriculture crop inputs with ConAgra. I retired from that industry in 2012 after consulting the final two years.

The flexibility of the business job allowed our family to travel during spring breaks and enjoy our lake home in Park Rapids as our children grew. It also allowed me to be involved in charity work and supporting the Gopher and Cobber sport teams. My hobbies include golf, hunting, fishing, and traveling with Karen and friends.

Retirement has now given us greater opportunities to travel. We enjoy our annual Mexico trip and we will make our third European trip this spring to visit Italy. We love to travel to Virginia where we can visit our two grandchildren, Mason and Mia. Our son and his wife have lived in the east for 11 years. We are fortunate to have our oldest grandson, Cooper, and our daughter living in Woodbury, Minnesota. Our newest project is establishing a condo home in Stillwater, Minnesota.

Both Karen and I are looking forward to socializing and getting reacquainted with all at our 50th reunion.

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Marie Dunn Schroeder Hometown: Beaver Creek and Luverne, MN Current Home: Willmar, MN Major: Biology, Pre-Med Additional Education: M.S., Medicine, U of SD; M.D., Baylor College of Medicine Email: mcschroeder@willmarnet.com After graduating from Concordia, I earned my M.D. degree as detailed above, then focused on a career in pediatrics. Houston was a great place, but the climate was too hot for a Minnesota prairie daughter. I returned to Minnesota in 1977 and joined Affiliated Community Medical Center in Willmar as a pediatrician, retiring in 2011. I was the first woman physician on staff at ACMC. I worked part-time because of family responsibilities. I also briefly held locums positions as a Pediatric Urgent Care provider in Alexandria and Minnetonka, Minnesota.

I have four grown children, three living in the metro Twin Cities area with their families, and the fourth lives in Seattle with his family. There are seven grandchildren so far, ages 1-20 years old. I have a French daughter-in-law, a consequence of my kids attending Concordia Language Villages camps, which sparked a deep interest in all things French in my oldest son. He is a software support consultant for metro companies.

My second son is a lawyer in the northeast metro area. My daughter is an R.N. and a care coordinator at Park Nicollet, Golden Valley. My youngest son is a software test engineer in Seattle—great vacation place, but I wish they lived closer to Minnesota. I am blessed with a wonderful, caring, smart, funny and expanding family.

My hobbies are genealogy and travel with photography to go along with these. I have been fortunate to visit Norway three times and plan to go again in 2019 with Valdres Samband. I am only half Norwegian on my mother’s side; I have all her ancestral lines traced well back into Norway and have so far visited two heritage farms there. On my father’s side, in addition to English and Scots-Irish ancestry, family tradition traces back to the Mayflower; I just can’t “prove” the paper trail after over 30 years of trying. An interesting tidbit to place perspective on the passage of time: Mr. Fuglestad was my CC adviser—a grandson is a family practice physician here in Willmar, and now his daughter is in medical school. She was surprised recently when I told her that her great-grandfather was my Concordia adviser! Such occurrences don’t make me feel any younger, but I guess we aren’t.

Final item: my grandfather was S.G. Reinertsen, long-time Superintendent of Schools in Moorhead where my mother grew up. One of the Moorhead elementary schools was named in his honor. That’s the reason for the picture of me in Skudenes, Norway, two years ago near a house bearing the family name.

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Marilyn Emery Eid Hometown: Moorhead, MN Current Home: Minnetonka, MN Major: Piano and Voice Email: mehoyafox@aol.com

I completed my college Bachelor of Music degree in December 1966. I began my teaching career in January of 1967. I taught elementary music in Princeton, Minnesota, until the end of the school year.

In June of 1967 I married Gordon Eid (class of 1966), whom I met in the eighth grade. After our marriage I taught elementary music in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota, until the spring of 1973 when Gordon and I moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where we lived one year. After returning to the Twin Cities, I continued teaching private piano lessons in our home for the following 25 years. I organized and directed a children’s cherub choir at Calvary Lutheran Church in Golden Valley, and taught pre-school piano in their music school for about ten years. I was involved in the WAMSO organization, Children’s Hospital volunteer program and several other community volunteer programs.

We have two children, Tanya and Jaylan. They were adopted as infants from Bogota, Colombia, in 1977 and 1979. Our children were in the Wayzata school district. Our daughter graduated from Concordia in 1999.

We now have four grandchildren that we adore.

Gordon retired in 2000, and since then we have enjoyed traveling to many places in the world, living at our lake home on West Fox Lake as much as possible where we jet ski and enjoy our pontoon. Downhill skiing and snowmobiling keep me active. I enjoy bridge, gardening, and spending time with all the wonderful friends I have in my life. We will be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary in June of 2017. We are members of Normandale Lutheran church in Edina, Minnesota, and also associate members of Cross Lake Lutheran church.

We have both continued to be active alumni in supporting Concordia College. I have been blessed to be able to attend and graduate from such a wonderful Christian College. We currently reside at 5404 Vining Point Road, Minnetonka, Minnesota.

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Cheryl Erickson Racine Hometown: Page, ND Current Home: Duluth, MN Major: Sociology Email: cfracine@gmail.com

I grew up on a farm located 55 miles northwest of Fargo. Page is still a very small town. We make trips to the farm every year which remains in the family and actively produces a number of different crops.

Just before my last semester at Concordia, my wonderful dorm roommate (Beverly Brendsel Hefte) and I went for a summer semester at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. As luck would have it, I met my husband-to-be, Scott, on a blind date. At that time he was working for Hawaiian Airlines after being stationed on Oahu in the Air Force for four years. After one week of meeting each other, we were engaged. I flew home to break the news to my parents and finish my last semester at Concordia. A couple of weeks after graduation, Scott flew into Fargo, and we were married in my home church at Page, North Dakota. No honeymoon as we immediately flew back to Honolulu to live. Who needs a honeymoon when one is going to live in Hawaii?! While living in Hawaii, I worked for a local island tour company for two years, and then hired at Continental Airlines, retiring from them in 2008. Shortly after our marriage Scott was hired by United Airlines.

I loved living in Hawaii, so I wasn’t thrilled about leaving, but our jobs called us to Chicago O’Hare airport in late 1973. Four and a half years later, we were transferred to work at the Denver airport.

Retirement came a couple of years early for me. Scott wanted to live in the same city as his younger brother so that is how we ended up in Duluth.

Our 50th wedding anniversary will also be in 2017; I am looking forward to doing something special to mark this happy event. We have had so many blessings and wonderful memories over the years. We hope our health holds out for a few more years.

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Jeanne Erickson Hoseth Hometown: Moorhead, MN Current Home: Bonney Lake, WA Major: Elementary Education; French Additional Education: M.A., Education, Pacific Lutheran University Email: hosethpe@plu.edu

I am very thankful when reflecting on my time at Concordia College and the good preparation for the following years. The special people I met included influential teachers, friends and my best friend, Paul Hoseth. Paul and I married in 1967 and spent virtually all of our working life near the campus of Pacific Lutheran University (PLU), Tacoma, Washington.

My first dream job was teaching young children. Paul worked at PLU as professor, coach (football and track) and later was Dean/AD. When our children were born (Karl,’71 and Mari ’74) staying at home with them was a very special time for me. We lived close to PLU, so seasonal weekly “meetings” in our home for a large group of athletes was a highlight for all the family. I liked to bake dessert and they enjoyed being in a home and eating home cooking, a “double win.” This was a special side-benefit of Paul’s job: providing great role models for our kids. I went back to teaching at the same elementary school our children attended, retiring after 27 years. Then I got my new dream job of “grandma” babysitting adorable grandchildren. Our son, Karl (high school teacher/coach/ assistant principal), and his wife, Alison (physical therapist), let me help with Annika (16), and Kaelen (13), their engaging and creative children, in the years before their fulltime schooling began.

Another set of grandbabies was born to our daughter, Mari (middle school counselor), and Dan (middle school math teacher). Their twins, Elsa and Jonas (8), were micro preemies born at 24 weeks and about a pound apiece. They are miraculous survivors, thanks to God’s grace and the gifted and watchful care of the professionals in the NICU and their parents. The twins are now active, lovable second graders who are doing very well.

Traveling to different parts of the world has been interesting and exciting for all the family. PLU football teams played “road” games in France, Australia/New Zealand, China and Germany. Recently, we went on a Road Scholar tour for grandparent/grandchild (Annika) to Paris. We are planning another “grand tour” with Kaelen.

My favorite activities at home are being with family and friends, gardening, decorating, celebrating special seasons and quilting (I piece; Paul quilts with a long arm machine), Bible Study and reading. We are blessed as parents/grandparents and as a couple. Our wall sign reminds us daily: “Let our lives be full of both THANKS & GIVING.”

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Marjo Erickson Lysne Hometown: New Rockford ND Current Home: Moorhead MN Major: Business Education Email: dandmlysne@gmail.com

After graduation, I taught school for one year in Sheyenne, North Dakota. In the Spring of 1967, I married David Lysne (’66) and we lived in Grand Forks, Fargo and Wahpeton before settling in Moorhead, where we have lived for the past forty years and where we have raised our three children, Matthew, Joshua and Rachel.

I had the luxury of staying at home to raise the kids so my employment history is short. I worked for the Moorhead Public schools from 1985 to 2013 as the director of the GED testing program for the district.

In retirement, I am finding great pleasure in volunteering at our local food pantry and spending all available hours gardening, at our home and our lake cottage as well as our church.

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David Erickstad Hometown: Starkweather, ND Current Home: Starkweather, ND Major: Music Additional Education: Farm Management, UND, Lake Region State College

I was born eldest of seven siblings and 24 cousins on my father’s side. I was baptized and confirmed in the faith at Trinity-Bergen Lutheran Church near our farm in Starkweather, North Dakota. I graduated from Starkweather High School and from Concordia with a music major and Latin minor. I served in the U.S. Army where I played in the 6th Army Headquarters Band, played funeral taps, and serviced Hughes Aircraft Computers which controlled missile defense of our manufacturing sites around the Great Lakes. I taught school in Max, Benedict, and Adams, North Dakota, and farmed for over 43 years as well as managing farms for others in the Starkweather area.

I have served on mission teams in Brazil and Mali, West Africa, and have supported Asian children from the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan for over 30 years, hosted foreign exchange students from Indonesia and Malaysia in my home, and served as guardian/conservator for two older gentlemen for several years.

I have been active in the community serving as Hammer Township supervisor and Chairman of the Board of both the Ramsey County Soil Conservation District and the Ramsey County Farm Bureau, as Crop Improvement Director, treasurer of the Advisory Council to Home Extension Service, and Director of Garske Elevator Company as well as treasurer.

I have built and remodeled several cabins and homes, maintain gardens, fruit crops and make wine.

I enjoy work, friends, relaxing and fishing at the cabin in Minnesota summer times and winter in Arizona.

I have traveled extensively, most recently on a tour of Norway this past June.

I am grateful for my mentorship and friends gained from my Concordia experience.

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Cheryl Eugene Possehl Hometown: Bismarck, ND Current Home: Elkhorn, NE Major: Elementary Education Phone: (402) 670-3711

After graduating from Concordia, I taught in elementary schools in North Dakota until our two children came along, at which point I became a stay-at-home Mom. In 1981 I moved to Omaha. After both kids were in school, I went back to work representing a company that sold their products to gift stores and florists. My territory was Nebraska and Iowa.

After I retired, I worked for Gallup Polls for a few years doing surveys with contracted customers like banks and similar kinds of institutions. I am now completely retired and enjoying living in a multigeneration home with my family in Elkhorn.

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Connie Farden Friesen Hometown: Moorhead, MN Current Home: New Canaan, CT Major: Political Science Email: cfriesen@sidley.com

I continue to work full time as a partner with the law firm of Sidley Austin LLP. Each day presents the challenge and interest of working with a diverse group of international financial clients on regulatory and transactional issues. Much of my work is related to the fight against money laundering and terrorist finance.

After graduation from Concordia, I attended graduate school at Harvard University and received a Ph.D. in Government in 1972. That same year, I married a fellow graduate student, George Friesen, who also received a Ph.D. in Government.

Soon thereafter, the “real world” beckoned and we decided to pursue further education to acquire practical skills in business and law. George received an MBA from MIT’s Sloan School in 1976 and I received a J.D. from Yale Law School in 1978. We have lived and worked in the New York area since 1978. Our daughter Sara (Dartmouth, Class of 2006, and Wharton, MBA Class of 2011) and her husband live and work in Manhattan but join us frequently for weekends at our home in New Canaan, Connecticut. We treasure precious time with family and friends and are grateful for the blessings great and small of each day.

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Paul Fauske Hometown: Forest City, IA Current Home: Lake Oswego, OR Major: Psychology Additional Education: M.D., Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN Email: pafauske@yahoo.com

I graduated from Concordia with a degree in psychology and was accepted in the Ph.D. program in Child Psychology at the University of Iowa, but before commencing in September 1967, I married Christine Simonson (1966) in Mt. Kisco, New York.

After completing one year of study at the University of Iowa, I entered the Masters in Divinity program at Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, receiving my degree in June 1972. I was ordained into the American Lutheran Church in August of 1972 at Hope Lutheran Church, Santa Clara, California, where I had served my internship.

I then served parishes in Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Luis Obispo in California. In addition, I was director of El Camino Pines Camp, Frazier Park, California. I also served a congregation on Mercer Island, Washington, for nearly 20 years and finished up full-time ministry as an interim pastor in Salem, Oregon, for several years. I continue to supply pulpits in the greater Portland, Oregon, area as my wife and I now live in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

Christine and I have two sons, Matthew and Joshua; the latter attended Concordia. Each has married and provided us with two granddaughters and two grandsons for which we feel enormously blessed.

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Joanne Flaa Larson Hometown: Wahpeton, ND Current Home: Placentia, CA Major: English Additional Education: M.S., Organization Development, Pepperdine University Email: jlarson714@roadrunner.com When I graduated, I felt as though I had arrived. What followed were a few things I expected, many things I did not, and now, fifty years later, my life is filled with experiences, friends and memories.

The increasing pace of the Vietnam War forced many of us to make decisions we did not care to make. Larry Larson, a fellow grad, and I were no exception. Married in November 1967, Larry enlisted in the Air Force while I taught High School English in Cambridge, Minnesota, sharing an apartment with Linda Heglie and Carol Johnson. Larry’s first assignment was a base in California; I taught English and Latin. Once Jennifer and Christopher, fraternal twins, arrived in 1971 I became a fulltime mom.

The highlight of our Air Force time was a four-year NATO assignment in Belgium. We traveled, lived on the economy, and learned to appreciate the U.S. role in WW II via our neighbors, fellow NATO acquaintances, and our frequent travels throughout Europe. It gave new meaning to “understanding history.” A welcome return to the U.S. was followed by a move to California and a return to civilian life. I began my career as a management consultant. After a 23-year fulfilling career, I left consulting in search of a job with more flexible time to enjoy my grandchildren. I went to work for Larry, who was by then my ex-husband. We worked together better than we lived together. Jennifer (substitute teacher) and Keith (network engineer) have two daughters and live in Enterprise, Alabama. Christopher (Air Force Colonel) and Sara (home school teacher) have three daughters and currently live in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Now retired, I often wonder how I found time to work fulltime. I volunteer in the community, sit on a few boards, am active in my church, women’s singing group, book clubs and current event discussion group. It’s a good life filled with family, grandchildren (five granddaughters), friends, travel and just puttering while savoring life. I am currently working on my certification as a coach—the personal kind, not the sporting kind. Concordia was a good place for me to be: lifelong friends, the opportunity to have meaningful relationships with professors who influenced my life, especially Dr. Dovre. I appreciate the purpose of Concordia: to influence the affairs of the world by sending into society thoughtful and informed men and women dedicated to the Christian life. Soli deo Gloria.

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Karen Floding Dufty Hometown: Nelson, MN Current Home: Park Rapids, MN (summer); Stillwater, MN (winter) Major: English, History Additional Education: M.S., Public and Human Service Administration, Moorhead State University Email: kjdufty@gmail.com Work life: I taught various English and History classes to junior and senior high students in Lake Benton, Morris and Hancock, Minnesota, for 12 years. After moving to Fargo, North Dakota, I worked for Fargo Clinic/Meritcare/Sanford Health for 30 years in a variety of Patient Services managerial positions.

Family: My husband, Douglas (’67), and I have a daughter in Woodbury, Minnesota, and a son in Sterling, Virginia. We have three grandchildren.

Since retirement in 2012, I have time to read and join book groups. I continue to try to improve my golf game.

Doug and I love road trips and have done some international travel. We look forward to spending February in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, followed by two months in Italy.

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Marcia Folland Hometown: Greenbush, MN Current Home: Greenbush, MN Major: Elementary Education Email: mcfolland@wiktel.com

A day after graduation, I was invited to an interview with the Superintendent of Schools from Great Falls, Montana. I accepted an offer of employment and in August I headed out west. I spent my entire teaching career in Montana as a first grade teacher in Sacajawea School. My first year’s salary was $5,900.00. My little charges were a marvelous mix of joy and mischief.

They loved to perpetuate the myth that Sacajawea herself was buried under our school.

Montana is a grand state, and the people there are wonderful. The country is breathtakingly beautiful with mountains, mountain streams, bountiful wildlife of deer, antelope, bison, elk, mountain goat, cougar, bear and the yellow-bellied marmot, as well as the rattlesnakes who were polite enough to stay out of town unless conditions were very dry.

I retired in 1995 and returned to my little village, Greenbush, Minnesota, where so many dear hearts and gentle people were and still are. Although I am officially retired, I have a fulltime job raising two kittens. Little Big Joe is 7 and Molly Jean, his sister, is a calico beauty and will soon be 2.

My priorities these days are church, family and friends, maintaining my home and grounds, mowing six acres of lawn, feeding my “friends” in the yard and woods which surround me. One of my feeding stations has a sign which reads: “All Things Wise and Wonderful, All Creatures Great and Small, All Things Bright and Beautiful, The Good Lord Made Them All.”

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Sherman Folland Hometown: Karlstad, MN Current Home: Romeo, MN Major: Political Science, Economics, History Additional Education: Ph.D., Economics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA Email: folland@oakland.edu During my senior year, I became disillusioned with the war in Vietnam, but my draft number came up and I was inducted a few days after my final tests. From a purely selfish personal point of view what I got from the Army was a good deal. They trained me at the Naval School of Justice in military law and court reporting, then shipped me to Frankfurt, Germany. We GI’s had enough freedom to visit all around in Europe and Scandinavia. Later, this gave me ideas where I could return with my family.

In 1970 I enrolled in the doctoral program in economics at Iowa.They woke me up to ideas.Upon getting my Ph.D., I took a job at Pierre, South Dakota, as a health economist for the government. I met a young woman there, Donna Louise Fleming, and our relationship blossomed in the next few years, and in 1980 we got married. In just a few weeks we will celebrate our 37th wedding anniversary. Eventually I came to miss academe, we agreed and we packed up for Pennsylvania State Harrisburg, and while there we began our family.

We have two daughters, whom we cherish. Johanna Louise, 32, and her partner, David Spreen, are seeking their doctorates in history at the University of Michigan. The younger one, Ingrid Ann, is 27; she got her Masters in Microbiology at Queen’s University in London. She will be getting married later this month to Jamie Tidiman, who does innovative software design; they will live in London, England.

Later a position opened at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, a well-respected, large (20,000) public Michigan school mainly for the baccalaureate. OU encouraged faculty to present papers at conferences virtually anywhere, and supported sabbaticals. We took our young girls for a Fulbright year in Freiberg, Germany.

Some years later, they got to visit Bergen, Norway, in the same way. I’m retired as of Fall 2015. Donna is the senior planner for the Oakland County Parks System. She plans to work five more years after which we’ll travel.

During 35 years of teaching college economics, I often recalled the excellent teachers at Concordia. Paul Dovre drew a small number of motivated students to rhetoric and led them only by interjecting things he was genuinely interested in. Alan Graebner taught history and drew serious students for Intellectual History of the 20th Century. He inquired about our thoughts and wove them into something better than a conventional lecture. Walther Prausnitz taught a very large class. His blunt criticisms of our term papers annoyed me. He taught Oedipus and a Shakespeare play, coordinated with the college performance. I also recall a book called How Does a Poem Mean? It took me maybe two decades to realize Prausnitz had the magic. I couldn’t forget anything he taught.

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Kathy Fossum Gustafson Hometown: Forest City, IA Current Home: Rochester, MN Major: Elementary Education Additional Education: M.S., Learning Disabilities, Winona State University, Winona, MN Email: krgustafson35@gmail.com Kathleen (Fossum) Gustafson attended Concordia College in Moorhead and graduated in 1967 with a major in Elementary Education. She was hired by ISD 535 School District in Rochester, Minnesota, where she taught second grade at Hawthorne Elementary School. Kathy attended Winona State University and received her Master’s Degree in Learning Disabilities in 1980.

When she retired after having taught for 34 years in the same room, she was presented with the door of her classroom, a 7 ½ foot solid burled oak door with Room 101 and Mrs. Gustafson as name plates on the door.

When asked if she was going to have the door made into a table or something, Kathy stated that then it would no longer be her door. It is still intact and leaning against the wall in one of the guest bedrooms in her home.

On April 4, 1986, Kathy married Roger Gustafson, also a teacher at Hawthorne. He was transferred to Hawthorne in 1977 as a sixth grade teacher. Later he moved down to fourth grade. His room was on the second floor at Hawthorne, directly above Kathy’s second grade classroom. When Kathy married Roger, she inherited Miriam, his daughter from his first wife, Maxine, who had passed away in 1976. Miriam married Joel Abrahamson in June 1999. They have two sons, Cyrus Walter Gustafson Abrahamson and Erik Axel Gustafson Abrahamson.

Kathy and Roger have traveled to Hawaii where Roger was stationed as a Marine at Kane’ohe Bay for 21 months in 1953-1955. They have also traveled to Denmark, Norway and Sweden to visit Roger’s cousins.

Kathy and Roger also enjoy driving trips around the United States. Their favorite place to vacation is Williamsburg, Virginia.

In her spare time, Kathy volunteers in several capacities at Bethel Lutheran Church in Rochester. She has also compiled two family books, one called the Hector Book for her father, Vernon Fossum’s, side of the family, and one called the Brudvik Book for her mom, Hannah (Brudvik) Fossum’s, side of the family. Vernon Fossum was also a Concordia football player and Concordia graduate. Now Kathy is compiling an Olson Book (Roger’s mother, Marie’s, side of the family) and a Gustafson Book (Roger’s father, Walter’s, side of the family). Kathy loves to read, does cross-stitch and sews quilts. She also subs in various bridge groups.

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Terry Frisch Hometown: International Falls, MN Current Home: Johnston, IA; Hartfield, VA Major: Biology Additional Education: Physics, Chemistry; Creighton U, Uof Northern Iowa, U of Iowa Email: loonwolf@dwx.com I have degrees in physics, chemistry and biology and have done extensive graduate work in high energy particle physics and chemistry at Creighton University, University of Northern Iowa, and University of Iowa.

I compiled 38 years of successful teaching experience in face-to-face classrooms and have been teaching physics online for the Iowa Department of Education for the past 13 years. My face-to-face experience included physics, chemistry, physical science, and physiology/anatomy.

Currently I teach physics for Iowa Learning Online and have been with ILO for 14 years as an instructor/designer.

I am a member of the American Association of Physics Teachers, National Science Teachers, Phi Delta Kappa, the Iowa Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers, and the Iowa Academy of Science. I was named the Johnston School Foundation 2004 Teacher of the Year and was nominated for Iowa Teacher of the Year. I was a finalist in the Math and Science Excellence in Teaching Award and the North Central Chapter of the Health and Physics Society Science Teacher Award. I have been selected by Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, to pilot the National Science Foundation-funded Materials World Modules. I also serve on a presidential commission for online learning at Grandview University and work with Fermi Lab and Cern in even numbered years.

I enjoy canoeing, fishing, camping, travel, reading, biking, hiking as well as spending time with my wife of 23 years, Madonna, our five children, 15 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

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Gileen “Jill” Gandrud Wahman Hometown: Detroit Lakes, MN Current Home: St. Cloud, MN Major: Physical Education; English Email: jillwahman@charter.net

In 1967 I married Jack Wahman of St. Paul. We lived in Ivanhoe, Minnesota, for the first three years of our married life, where I taught and Jack finished school at SDSU. We have been married 50 years.

In 1970 we moved to St. Cloud when Jack got a teaching job there. We had our two daughters, one in 1970 and the other in 1973. We have put our roots deeply in St. Cloud: teaching, coaching, volunteering and raising our family, all the while rehabbing an old home. We both retired in 2001. Jack retired from a 32-year career teaching Middle School Social Studies. I retired from a 10-year career in the non-profit field of Brain Injury.

In 2002 our grandchildren started arriving; we now have five, ranging in age from 9 - 14. Because all of them live, work, play sports and go to school in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro area, we find ourselves on I-94 much of the time, lending support to their busy lives as much as possible. We try, however, to get in some travel and lots of cycling!

I reached a 40-year career in officiating High School Gymnastics and just retired from leadership positions with the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) and the local official’s association. I received the Distinguished Service Award from the League as well as the Coaches’ Association Hall of Fame Award. Life has not always been rosy but even with the health challenges we and our loved ones have encountered, we consider ourselves blessed with love and a long and happy married life. LIFE IS GOOD! I wish the same for all of you!

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James Gerde Hometown: Sedan, MN Current Home: Glenwood, MN Major: History Email: jbgerde@tds.net

Before graduating, I did my student teaching at Elbow Lake, Minnesota, and was hired to teach senior high social studies. I had a history major and a political science minor at Concordia. That job lasted 32 years.

In 1970 I purchased a farm next to my parents’ farm where I grew up and spent the summers there. When my dad retired, I also purchased part of the home place.

I have had cattle since my grandfather gave me a heifer calf when I was seven years old.

I didn’t get around to getting married until I was 39 years old. My wife, Barb, also taught in the district for 32 years. Since we were both dealing with children all day long, we have none of our own. We started going together after taking a 17-day drive to Alaska. We have continued to travel ever since. We have visited all 50 states and 16 other countries. Most people retire and move to the lake. When we retired, we sold our place at the lake and built a house on the farm. We now live near my home town of Glenwood, Minnesota, at 26653 Hwy. 104.

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Ann Gillespie Mathison Hometown: Moorhead, MN Current Home: Fergus Falls, MN Major: Biology, English Additional Education: Medical Technology, St. Luke’s Hospital, Fargo, ND Email: anngmathison@gmail.com While at Concordia I earned a double major in biology and English. Following graduation, I studied for twelve months at St. Luke’s Hospital/ Fargo Clinic to become a board certified medical technologist with the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. During my time in college I broadened my outlook, developed skills, made life-long friends and met the “boy” who would later become the man who has been my partner in life.

On December 30, 1967, George Mathison and I were married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead.

The temperature was -32, but we have been warm and happy ever since! After a honeymoon in Aspen, George continued his studies at the University of Colorado Medical School, and I worked for a doctor who was researching a liver condition known as hemochromatosis. The work was most interesting, and I am always pleased when I read of the advances made in treating it. Later, I worked in a general hospital laboratory.

Following George’s graduation we moved with our two-month-old daughter, Elizabeth, to San Diego where he did his residency in Orthopedic surgery. Kathryn was born at the Naval Hospital there in 1974. The Navy then sent us to Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. Finally, in 1977 we settled in George’s hometown, Fergus Falls, Minnesota, where he practiced medicine, and I managed our home and four children. Luke was born in 1979 and Andrew in 1982. I enjoyed many hours doing volunteer work at church, schools and in the community. The last six years I have been active as a board member for the Kaddatz Galleries here.

Now I am a grandmother to ten of the most exceptional little people I know! George and I have spent summers on Ottertail Lake since he retired, and we have enjoyed many trips to interesting and beautiful places around the world. We still love to ski, garden, read, and I do some needlework and weaving. We live in the home we designed and built in 1980 and hope to follow John Lennon’s words, “Grow old along with me; the best is yet to be.” And that is my wish for all of our Cobber classmates!

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Martha Gjelten Dobratz Hometown: Forest City, IA Current Home: Minneapolis, MN Major: Home Economics Email: mdobratz@comcast.net

I graduated from Concordia with a home economics education degree. I began teaching at Fridley Junior High, a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota. I taught there for six years. I married my husband, David, in 1971. Our family expanded with the birth of twin daughters, Nicole and Kara, in 1975, and Megan in 1978.

I was at home with our daughters for a number of years, filling my time with their care, teaching Community Education classes and volunteering at their school and our church.

For the following 14 years, I was on the staff at our church, primarily as a food coordinator. We had a very active church with some wonderful programming. During that period, I supervised volunteers to prepare meals for many festivals, including Madrigal dinners, Reformation Renaissance Festivals, educational conferences and the more common church events. During some of those years I was also an assistant to the Education Family Life Director.

In 1999 I began working as a volunteer director for Presbyterian Homes in Roseville, Minnesota, and subsequently Arden Hills, Minnesota. Those positions also included management of gift shops at each facility.

My husband and I are enjoying retirement. Five years ago, we embarked on a new adventure. Leaving Arden Hills after 40 years, with our large yard, many flower beds, long driveway and multi-bedroom home, we moved to downtown Minneapolis into a condo in the North Loop close to the Twins Stadium. We are loving the adventure, especially the walks along the beautiful Mississippi River and the two dozen restaurants within walking distance. I easily fill my time with volunteering, two book clubs, two small groups at church, reading, knitting, sewing and travel.

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Rolf Gjorven Hometown: Williston, ND Current Home: Williston, ND Major: Elementary Education Email: rolfgjorven@yahoo.com

After graduating from Concordia in 1967, I taught sixth grade for two years in Oregon. I joined the Peace Corps in 1969 and spent three years working with teachers in the Philippine Islands. I met and married my wife, Mary, during that time.

After our Peace Corps tour was completed in July, 1972, Mary and I left from the southern Philippines by outrigger canoe and traveled to the island of Borneo. We then bummed through Southeast Asia and Europe for nine months. We came back to Williston in the spring of 1973 where my brother and I farmed small grains for 43 years.

Mary and I were blessed to have two children, a boy and a girl, plus two adopted children, a boy and a girl.

Our natural son lives in Costa Rica and has a lovely wife and a four-year-old son. Our natural daughter lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband, a two-year-old girl and a newborn son. Our adopted daughter is married and lives in Nebraska. Our adopted son has moved to western Montana.

Over the years, I have spent time on several church (AFLC) local and state boards working with some great individuals. I retired from farming in 2014. I am now doing volunteer work in our community.

Mary and I do a fair amount of personal traveling in addition to visiting the grandchildren.

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Diane Glesne Dahl Hometown: Underwood, MN Current Home: Forman, ND Major: Home Economics Additional Education: Masters Coursework, Guidance and Counseling, NDSU Email: larry.diane.dahl@gmail.com Following graduation, I taught home economics in Fridley, Minnesota, for three years (1967-1970) before returning to Concordia as a residence hall director (1970-1974). While working at Concordia, I continued my education at NDSU in Guidance and Counseling.

It was there that I met my husband, Larry Dahl, an NDSU graduate (1966). Together we returned to his family farm in southeastern North Dakota where we farmed and owned and operated an aerial spraying business.

Aviation played an important role in our lives. Larry continued his military career in the North Dakota Air National Guard, and as a family we were active members of the North Dakota Flying Farmer and International Flying Farmer organizations.

My major role for many years was that of wife, mother and home builder. We raised three children: Brian (stepson), Karin and Kevin. Much to this Cobber mother’s delight, both Karin (Dewey ’97) and Kevin (’00) graduated from Concordia. During their growing-up years, we attended Trinity Lutheran Church in Forman, North Dakota, where I was a Sunday School teacher and involved in the women’s ministry and Circle Bible studies. Together as a family we enjoyed traveling, especially downhill snow skiing in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. In 1990 we welcomed a Swedish exchange daughter, Karin Sofia (Karlsson) Agren, into our home and have enjoyed several visits back and forth across the pond. As we became empty nested, I took on a more active role in farming with my husband until we retired from farming.

Retirement has allowed us to keep the old and enjoy the new. We still maintain our farm residence in North Dakota, but have added a summer cabin at Bad Medicine Lake near Park Rapids, Minnesota, as well as a winter residence in Orlando, Florida. Brian, a computer programmer, and his wife, Eva, live amongst the glittering lights of Las Vegas. Karin, a homeschooling mom and teacher and her Disney-employed husband, Jason, live in Orlando, Florida, with their three children, Kira, Siri, and Jase. Kevin, an orthopedic surgeon at Sanford, and his wife, Brooke, have made their home in Fargo with their two children, Cade and Ryan. Traveling is still one of our favorite activities, and we enjoy seeing friends and family across the United States as well as cruising to new and fun destinations.

I am so very grateful for my Concordia education and experience. I have been blessed that my Concordia friends still remain so close and amazed how Cobber acquaintances have consistently woven their way through my life over the past 50 years.

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Donna Goetz Beeson Hometown: Stanley, ND Current Home: Highlands Ranch, CO Major: Business Email: ldbeeson@msn.com

After graduation, I taught for a year at Lake Park, Minnesota. I was married in 1968, and we moved to Michigan where I taught for two years. Then we were back in Moorhead for twelve years, where I did secretarial work, including for the city.

In 1985 we moved to Eden Prairie where I worked for Fingerhut—a job I loved and hated to leave. But my husband accepted a position in Batesville, Indiana, so we moved again, and I worked for a funeral planning service. Twenty-one years ago, we moved to Highlands Ranch, Colorado, where I’m still working in the building department for the city, although I plan to retire within the next two years.

We have two sons. One is a musician in Los Angeles, and the other played professional basketball all over Europe. We enjoyed trips abroad to watch him play in France, Spain and Switzerland. He also played for two years in Israel. After retiring after 12 years playing pro basketball, he is now living in Bangkok, Thailand, where he is a hedge fund trader.

I love to travel and most recently took a trip with a college classmate to Italy and Greece with a stop in Toronto to see friends. Until I retire, there just isn’t time to do as much traveling as I’d like. Neither son is married, so no grandbabies, regrettably.

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Winslow “Win” Grandstrand Hometown: Viking, MN Current Home: St. Paul, MN Major: Business Administration with special sequencing in Accounting Email: w.grandstrand@gmail.com

Shortly after graduation I was working in Chicago.

Each month I had to report to the induction center and run through the pre-induction exams. My employer kept getting me exemptions, but I realized that I could not plan my life without getting my military obligation out of the way. So I volunteered for the draft. My time in the military was spent along the West Coast and overseas.

After the military, I went to work in Saint Louis, Missouri. After a couple years in Saint Louis, I returned to the Twin Cities where I met my wife, Diane. We have been married for 44 years. We have one son and two beautiful grandchildren. They call me “Grandpa Bear.”

The last 30 years my major in accounting has served me well. I have had the opportunity to manage accounting departments in three different non-profit organizations. At age 70, I retired for the first time.

I think I am now retired for the second time.

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Paul Grimstad Hometown: Moorhead, MN Current Home: South Bend, IN Major: Biology Additional Education: M.S. and Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison Email: prgrimstad@gmail.com A month after graduating from Concordia, I began my graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in medical and veterinary entomology and virology. In spring 1968, I volunteered for the US Army and spent two years as a preventive medicine specialist.

Spring 1970 I returned to graduate school and to the love of my life, Roberta Cooper. We were married in September, 1970.

I then continued my graduate research, focusing on mosquito biology as it related to the transmission of viruses of medical and veterinary importance and earned my Ph.D. in 1973, but continued work at the University of Wisconsin for another year. In summer 1974 I accepted a position at the University of Notre Dame (South Bend, Indiana) and was tasked with overseeing the construction and direction of a laboratory to research mosquito-borne viruses. During this time, we were blessed with two beautiful children, a daughter in 1977 and a son in 1980.

In 1980 I was promoted to Assistant Professor and tenured in 1986. In addition to researching the natural cycles of important mosquito-borne viral diseases, often in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control, Ft. Collins, Colorado, and the Indiana State Board of Health, I taught several pre-med courses to undergraduates and also taught virology to first year medical students at IU medical school (appointed to the IU Medical School Faculty) and retired as a Professor Emeritus in 2013.

Were I still at Notre Dame, I’d be working on mosquitoes, Zika, dengue and other viruses. Perhaps the most rewarding part of my Notre Dame career was serving as the undergraduate advisor for all biology majors for 25+ years and environmental science majors for 10+ years. It was a thrill to work with such highly motivated and intelligent students. One of my advisees became a Rhodes scholar, one a two-time Olympic runner (who did cancer research while Olympic training at Notre Dame), and four became Notre Dame Valedictorians.

My wife is Jewish, and we were married by a rabbi in Milwaukee; my father administered the priestly blessing. Over time I learned more and more about Judaism and felt so much more a part of that family of God. Having lived a Jewish life for essentially 35+ years (waiting until my parents passed away to formally convert to Reform Judaism), I’ve never been happier with my life. Since 2011, we’ve been blessed with three wonderful grandchildren who bring us much joy.

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Muriel Grindberg Mahoney Hometown: Velva, ND Current Home: Big Lake, MN Major: Medical Technology Additional Education: Memphis State University Email: mahoneyms@hotmail.com

After graduating from Concordia with a medical technology major, I had one brief phone interview with a hospital laboratory in Tacoma, Washington, was offered a job, packed up my Camaro, and moved to Tacoma. There I worked for two years, met my future husband (Jerry Mahoney), and moved to his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee.

Jerry and I were married in 1969, and I began graduate studies at Memphis State University. In 1972 we moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where Jerry worked for Sears, and I was employed at a private medical laboratory.

In 1974 we moved again, this time to Bismarck, North Dakota, where I received a job at St. Alexius Medical Center. Bismarck was our home for 37 years and was where we raised our four children. But as often is the case, three of the four moved out of state, and we were able to see our grandchildren only two or three times a year. After I retired in 2011, Jerry and I made the decision to move to Big Lake, Minnesota, which brought us within minutes of our youngest grandkids.

For many years, I was involved in music ministry as an organist and have been blessed to be able to continue in that role here. It was hard to uproot ourselves from a city that we loved and where we felt so much at home, but family ties are stronger and we are gradually becoming “Minnesotans.�

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Marilyn Gronseth Moen Hometown: Rothsay, MN Current Home: Erhard, MN Major: Sociology Additional Education: M.S., Social Work, University of Minnesota, Duluth, MN Email: mmoen@wildblue.net After graduating from Concordia, I was employed

by Otter Tail County Social Services in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. I left employment there to complete my Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Minnesota, Duluth.

After finishing this degree, I accepted a position as the Mental Retardation Coordinator and later, Director at Lakeland Mental Health Center, Inc. in Fergus Falls. The Mental Health Center is a valued regional mental health resource in northwestern Minnesota.

My husband, Cliff, and I live and farm at our lake home near Erhard, Minnesota. We have two children and five grandchildren.

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Paula Gulstrand Lundberg Hometown: Richfield, MN Current Home: Bayfield, WI Major: Elementary Education Email: paulalundberg1@icloud.com

Amazingly, 50 years have passed! Following graduation, I married Paul Lundberg, a high school sweetheart, and in the blink of an eye, we’ve just celebrated our 50th anniversary. It has been a “wonderful ride!”

We joined the Peace Corps in September, training for three months in Hawaii. Our two years were spent in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where I taught English as a foreign language. We may have benefitted those we worked with there, but we were the winners, learning to love them as friends and understanding their culture. We traveled through Europe while returning to the U.S. Two months later our daughter, Lena, was born.

Shortly after, Paul started his Forest Service career in Missouri. Two years later our son, Patrick, was born.

Through the years with the Forest Service, we also lived in Minnesota, New Hampshire, Vermont and Wisconsin. Through all this I taught elementary school, all grades, 1-6. Every school was a new and enjoyable experience, and I benefitted by gathering new ideas and approaches. While our children were in high school, we invited two foreign exchange students from Japan into our home. While teaching 6th grade in Addison, Vermont, I was selected to be a participant in the Fulbright Memorial Fund pilot program. Two teachers from every state were selected to travel to Japan and spend three weeks traveling through the beautiful country, visiting Japanese schools and sharing our experiences and methods with their teachers. We learned a great deal from them and their students as well. How very fortunate I was to be able to participate in this.

After Paul’s retirement from the Forest Service, we moved to Bayfield, Wisconsin, where he worked for the Bayfield County Forestry Department and I was hired by the Bayfield School District. After 10 years, we both retired and now have time to enjoy all the benefits of such a beautiful location.

Throughout these 50 years, we have been blessed, with our vocations, our children, and our recreational experiences. The family has traveled through much of the U.S., and Paul and I have taken several trips overseas. We have been avid sailors since Paul constructed our first sailboat in Missouri.

Summers meant SAILING! Just last summer, however, we “hung up our sails,” sold our 4th sailboat and purchased a smaller powerboat, hoping that the power will help substitute for the lagging human power. There are still more explorations of Lake Superior and beyond left for us to discover. All of this, however, wouldn’t have been possible without the firm foundation given to each of us at Concordia College.

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Solveig Hallenger Westgard Hometown: Madagascar Current Home: St. Paul, MN Major: French Email: dsolwestgard@gmail.com

After graduation, I taught English and French in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, from1967-1968.

After marriage to David Westgard in 1968, I taught French and English in Larimore, North Dakota, from 1968-1969. I worked in the group health claims department of The Equitable Life Insurance Co. in Seattle, Washington, from 1969-1971.

After David graduated from medical school in 1971, I worked at home and in the community while raising two sons and a daughter in San Bernardino, California (1971-1974), La Crosse, Wisconsin (1976-2000), and Rochester, Minnesota, through 2016. I volunteered in church and in community organizations and served on boards and committees. I have many lifelong areas of interest, especially design of all kinds, music and the outdoors.

David and I moved to Saint Paul in 2016 and are happy to see our extended families, their children and six grandchildren more often and to provide backup for them. We also enjoy time with family and friends at our cottage in northern Wisconsin.

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Rita Halmrast Wells Hometown: Moorhead, MN Current Home: Annapolis, MD; Bonita Springs, FL Major: Elementary Education

After graduating from Concordia, I started teaching 3rd Grade in the Fridley Public Schools in the Minneapolis area. I loved every minute of those five years that I taught there. I met my husband, Dennis Wells, at Concordia and we got married in 1967 after his six months’ military duties with the National Guard. We continued to live in the Twin Cities. While living there, our son, Jason, was born in 1971 and our daughter, Lisa, was born in 1973. I was lucky enough to be a stay-at-home mom at that time.

In 1976 my husband’s job with Apache Corporation brought us to Connecticut where Dennis headed up the east coast office in Greenwich, representing Apache Programs in Oil and Gas Exploration Private Placement sales. In 1978 the President of that division of Apache asked Dennis if he would join him in starting a new company called Investment Search. Once again, we were on the move, and this time we went to Annapolis, Maryland, where we have stayed for 38 years. In 1978, Dennis felt the urge to start his own NASD Broker Dealer firm. By this time, our children were in school full time, and I decided to join him in the business.

I became the Chief Compliance Officer and was kept busy with all the changes in the security firms’ regulations. We closed our office in 2004 when we merged our securities firm into Raymond James Financial Services.

We have five grandchildren, Addison, Ingrid, Lily, Nathan and Logan. Our son and his family and our daughter and her family all live within a mile and a half from us in Maryland. We spend our winters in Bonita Springs, Florida, where we have just recently made it our official residence. We are fortunate that our children and grandchildren love to visit us here. We still plan on spending five months of the year in Maryland so we can be actively involved with our grandchildren and all their activities.

Even though I’m a part of the class of 1967, I actually graduated in the summer of 1966 after going to year-round classes. I so appreciate being included in my original class book.

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Patricia Halverson Klundt Hometown: Barnesville, MN Current Home: Bismarck, ND Major: Elementary Education Email: patklundt@msn.com

I married Larry Klundt after graduation. I taught elementary school for 17 years in various schools in North Dakota and Minnesota. Upon moving to Bismarck, I worked at Motor Vehicle licensing over-the-road truckers for 17 years, retiring in 2003.

I was able to travel with Larry to many spots across the U.S. while he was executive director of NDCEL. We really enjoyed the traveling, especially the many friends we made as we traveled. We remain in contact with many of them.

We get to Nashville several times a year to visit our daughter, Kristen, and her husband, William. It has afforded us an opportunity to see many points of interest in the South. Our daughter, Mela, and her husband, Shannon, and their children provide hours of enjoyment. The kids are involved in music and sports in Mandan.

I love to sew and spend hours quilting. Many quilt tops and receiving blankets go to our church for Lutheran World Relief as well as local distribution. I also make all of our family quilts.

Larry and I look forward to more traveling and visiting the many friends we have made across this great country.

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David Halvorson Hometown: Shelly, MN Current Home: Apple Valley, MN Major: Biology Email: ardie2@frontiernet.net

Early in 1967 I was drafted by the U.S. Army Pacific and spent time in Okinawa, Japan. I married Ardie Wigdahl in November of 1968. Ardie joined me in Japan, and we had a terrific experience traveling to Taiwan, Hong Kong, the World’s Fair in Japan and Hawaii.

After separating from the service, I returned to the Minneapolis area to join Ardie who had found work in St. Paul. I attended the University of Minnesota for a period of time until I got private employment selling real estate. I’ve had the opportunity of exploring different types of work which led me to my long-term selling career in the car and truck business. During that time, I became a Ford Grand Master Salesman, retiring at age 52.

We have two grown children: Dr. Seth Halvorson, Ph.D., an educator in New Jersey, and Dr. Leah Halvorson-Sievering, Ph.D., who is also an educator teaching at a school for girls in California. We are blessed to have two and one-half grandchildren. Seth has a little girl, Sidney, who has just turned five months old.

Leah has a little boy, Bram, who will turn three in April and another little girl who will be joining us in June.

Ardie and I have lived 45 years in the same house in Apple Valley, Minnesota. For 17 of those years Adelaide Wigdahl, Ardie’s Mom, lived with us. We plan to remain here for all our retirement years.

I still have all my hair!

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Karen Hansen Elsen Hometown: Sidney, MT Current Home: Houston, TX Major: French, English Additional Education: M.A., French, University of Texas, Austin; ABD, University of Texas, Austin Email: elsenkarenanddoug@yahoo.com Upon graduation from Concordia in December of 1967, I traveled to France where my college roommate, Naomi Toso, and I studied for eight months.

I was at the Sorbonne in Paris while she studied in Besanรงon.

From August 1968 until May 1969, I taught first year French at Concordia as part of the study abroad project. In May of that year, Doug and I were married, and we moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he was stationed at Lackland AFB as a remedial reading instructor. In the fall, I began my graduate studies in French at the University of Texas in Austin and continued teaching French there as a teaching assistant. At the time, Doug and I were living in San Marcos, Texas, and each of us had a daily commute of about an hour to our respective workplaces. Doug got his discharge from the Air Force in October of 1972, and we moved to Austin that winter to be closer to the University and his work.

In November 1973 our daughter, Emily, was born. A few months later our mobile home was destroyed in a tornado. All of my research for my dissertation was scattered across the field adjacent to the mobile home park. It was difficult picking up the pieces and starting over again, but we did it. When Doug was offered a better position in Houston, we decided it was time to move on. Our son, Stephen, was born in Houston in 1978.

I began taking courses in Early Childhood Development, became director of a Lutheran pre-school and day care, and ultimately became certified in English as a Second Language, and as a Master Reading Teacher and Bilingual (Spanish) teacher. I spent 18 years as an elementary teacher in the Houston Independent School District and then five years as an elementary school principal before retiring in 2012.

Now I spend my days teaching ESL as a volunteer in our church, mentoring new Christians from our Mandarin ministry, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, traveling in the United States and abroad, and spending time with our children and four grandchildren. I also enjoy reading, leading Bible studies, cooking and mentoring the youth of our church during our three-week Faith Camp.

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David L. Hanson Hometown: Roseau, MN Current Home: Seattle, WA Major: Psychology, Biology Additional Education: Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, University of North Dakota Email: davidofseattle@comcast.net Following graduation from Concordia in 1967, I married Sharon Johnson Hanson (’67), and this summer we’ll celebrate 50 years of marriage. I was a high school psychology teacher for two years in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. I then entered graduate studies in Clinical Psychology at the University of North Dakota. In 1974 I completed my fifth-year internship at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill and graduated with a Ph.D. I took a position as a clinical psychologist for Mecklenburg County Mental Health Center, Charlotte, North Carolina.

As a fully licensed psychologist, in 1978 I initiated a private practice and have been functioning as an independent consultant since that time. Over time, I transformed my clinical practice into consulting psychology, working on leadership development with many organizations. After practicing for 28 years in Charlotte, I moved to Seattle, Washington, and continue to work as a business consultant although on a semi-retired basis. I have recently published a workbook related to growth oriented coaching, and I continue to expand the functionality of my website, LifePsych.com. I greatly enjoy living near our daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren ages 8 and 12. I enjoy golf and good health allowing participation in a variety of physical activities.

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Janet Hanson Grennes Hometown: Benson, MN Current Home: Raleigh, NC Major: Sociology Additional Education: University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration Email: jmgrennes@gmail.com I graduated in sociology with additional graduate school at the University of Chicago. Though I did not continue that career path, I found that my strong liberal arts education at Concordia served me well through many changes and helped me to adapt to many situations.

A fellow student at the University of Chicago, Tom Grennes, and I married in 1968. That fall we moved to Raleigh, where Tom became a professor of economics at North Carolina State University, retiring in 2014 after 46 years. I decided to return to my first love—food.

My cooking career evolved from teaching cooking classes, to writing food articles for the Raleigh newspaper and various magazines and finally to food styling—preparing and setting up food for photographers. I retired in 2011 after more than 28 years. Our son, Dan (Daniel), was born in 1971. He is a professional musician.

He graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston. Though still based in New York City, he has played the last few years for a Broadway show in Las Vegas. He and his wife, Sara, live above Vegas on beautiful Mt. Charleston at about 7800 feet.

Tom and I have two great loves—traveling and hiking. We have traveled extensively in the U.S. and Europe.

Tom taught at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, Latvia, in the summers from 1995 to 2001. It was an interesting experience watching them emerge from communism to become a democratic society. We have had a chance to hike in many beautiful places in the U.S. and Europe—the Appalachians, the Rockies, and the canyons and deserts of the southwest, Switzerland, Austria and the Dolomite Alps of Italy. One of our favorite places is in Norway where we visited my father’s ancestral valley and hiked with my rugged outdoors cousins.

We have both been very active in retirement. Tom is still doing economics with a blog and special assignments related to international trade and globalization. I have been active combining my earlier social work with my kitchen skills for a nonprofit that provides household goods for people transitioning from homelessness, addiction or disaster. I aid in helping them set up a kitchen in their new homes.

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Jerry Hanson Hometown: Underwood, MN Current Home: Mountain Home, AR Major: English Additional Education: M.Div., Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul, MN Email: jerryallenh@aol.com I was born in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, and raised on a farm near Fergus Falls. I attended a one-room country school for seven years, then high school near Underwood, Minnesota.

After graduating high school, I ventured to Cobberland. I enjoyed freshman English so much that I majored in the subject. (Having Joan Buckley as a frosh teacher did it!). Additionally, I have a minor in Greek, as I pretty much knew I was headed for seminary. What a delight it was that my Cobber son, Erik ’99, also was taught by Mrs. Buckley.

Upon graduation from Concordia, I attended and graduated from Luther Seminary. My first pastoral call was to the Lysne-Solem Parish at Hawley, Minnesota, followed by a call to Our Savior’s ELCA in Hibbing, Minnesota. From there I accepted a call to the hometown of Carl Lee and James Hofrenning: Badger, Minnesota.

Following 12 years in Badger, I took a call to Tempealeau, Wisconsin, where I served for 15 years in the ELCA parish. My son, Erik, remains in the La Crosse, Wisconsin, area (Melrose, Wisconsin), engaged in high school band directing.

Making a life change, I moved to the mid-South and served Hope ELCA in Heber Springs, Arkansas, from which I retired in 2012. I currently live in Mountain Home, Arkansas, which is the home to many other retired northern transplants. I have been involved in a community chorus and volunteer work at the Good Samaritan Village. I have also become familiar with Branson, Missouri. I spend the summers back in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, where my 94-year-old mother still lives (Fergus Falls) and friends have a cabin on Clitherall Lake near Battle Lake, Minnesota.

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Paul Harrington Hometown: Ferguson, MO Current Home: Rosemount, MN Major: English Additional Education: Master of Theology & Master of Divinity, Luther Seminary Email: paulharringtonmn@gmail.com After leaving Concordia, I spent the next five years at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, acquiring the two degrees noted above. It was also during this time that I met and later married a wonderful woman named Margaret Bredberg, who was a student at the University of Minnesota majoring in Elementary Education.

My first parish was in Pontiac, Michigan, a northwest suburb of Detroit. Pontiac was the first city in the nation to have mandated busing of children, which presented a host of challenges for persons of all racial backgrounds. Two of our three children were also born in Pontiac.

After almost nine years in Michigan, we moved to Apple Valley, Minnesota, to form a mission church (Shepherd of the Valley LC) of the then American Lutheran Church. Starting with just three families, the church grew to over 8,000 members in the next 30 years with a salaried staff of over 60 persons.

Following retirement from Shepherd of the Valley, I also worked for three very enjoyable years as interim campus pastor at Luther Seminary. I have served on several different boards and committees including the governing board of Gustavus Adolphus College and the Metro Lutheran Newspaper. Following Margaret’s retirement, we have spent a fair amount of time traveling (Indonesia, China, Europe, Israel, Tanzania).

We also winter in Mesa, Arizona, in a marvelous community of retirees, about a third of whom are from Canada. Delightful people to spend time with. Our three children are all married and have blessed us with nine beautiful grandkids.

To say that life has been good is a gross understatement. On most days, our hearts overflow with thanksgiving. And on many days, I also reflect on those four very formative years I spent at Concordia College and realize more than ever what a gift that college has been to my life. I look forward to seeing many of our former classmates at the reunion in 2017. Soli Deo Gloria.

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Sharon Harvego Josephson Hometown: Breckenridge, MN Current Home: Detroit Lakes, MN Major: History, Speech Email: sharonjosephson@yahoo.com

Like most of you, I am still married and have children and grandchildren. Like most of you, I served my church on Church Council, Confirmation and Sunday School teacher and, of course, WELCA Boards and led countless Bible studies.

Commitment to my community and state has meant serving on lots of school bond issues, museum boards, task forces for the city and county, advisory committees for the state including the first lottery board, the University of Minnesota Extension board and advisory Board to the President of Minnesota State Moorhead, League of Women Voters, and numerous leadership positions in the Minnesota Democratic Farmer Labor Party.

Our family supports all our colleges—Gustavus, Georgetown, Valparaiso, and, of course the best, Concordia.

C400 and other gifts have been part of our budget forever. If someone were to ask what I am, I immediately answer that I am a teacher. I taught senior high History and Government and coached debate for the first ten years after graduation.

I worked with low income people at Rural Minnesota CEP and then in 1990 I moved to my dream job, working for the people of the Seventh District of Minnesota and Congressman Collin Peterson. I traveled the district and hopefully helped people for twenty-four years by still being a teacher explaining how government works. I have received many awards over the years, served as delegate to hundreds of conventions (even broke my arm working the convention floor for Senator Al Franken).

I have met Presidents and can call Governors, State Legislators, US Senators and members of Congress my friends. But the award I consider the best is being called Mom and Grandma and Wife by Roger, Sarah, Dan, Martha, Sophia, Nathaniel and Henrik. Just like you, I tried to live the mission of Concordia to be sent forth to make a difference.

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Raychel Haugrud Reiff Hometown: Pelican Rapids, MN Current Home: Superior, WI Major: English, Home Economics Additional Education: M.A. and Ph.D., English, University of Utah, Salt Lake Email: raychelreiff@yahoo.com I lived on a dairy farm with my parents and five siblings before I went to Concordia. Although I had two majors and a minor, my most time-consuming commitment was singing in the Concert Choir for four years. Our Christmas concerts and tours, which sent me to almost every state in the country, were highlights. After graduation I traveled to Salt Lake City to attend graduate school. I was awarded a three-year fellowship which paid for my education and provided a living stipend. When I left to begin teaching, I had earned an M.A. and had nearly finished a Ph.D., which I completed the following year. My first tenure track job was at beautiful Texas A&M, in Kingsville, a city near three Mexican borders and lovely Padre Island. Here I met and married Rev. Paul Reiff, a Lutheran minister.

My life drastically changed when I became a mother. With no daycares or babysitters in south Texas, we decided to move back to the Midwest. With our two-month-old boy, we moved to Esdaile, Wisconsin, a tiny town across the Mississippi from Red Wing, Minnesota, where Paul served three churches. While there, I taught at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls but stopped when our second son was born.

Paul’s next call was to Black River Falls, Wisconsin, where our two daughters were born. With no universities nearby, I devoted my time to raising my family and serving the church and community: superintending Sunday School, writing Christmas programs, teaching piano, playing and singing for churches, directing choirs, and accompanying students at school and 4-H music events. When Paul was called to Superior, Wisconsin, I was able to return to college teaching. At the University of Wisconsin-Superior, I am a tenured Professor of English, primarily teaching British literature. I have published eight books on the lives and works of major writers as well as numerous literary essays in scholarly journals. Several times a year, I present talks at profsional literature conferences.

Our four children are happily married, working in Minneapolis, Chicago and Charlottesville, Virginia: Peder (professional opera singer), Daniel (lawyer), Marija (professional actress and singer, completing a Ph.D. in English), Rebekah (logistics manager for a large business). Peder and Rebekah have enriched our lives with four grandchildren each having a girl and a boy.

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Solveig Haugsjaa Rhodes Hometown: Great Falls, MT Current Home: Tucson, AZ Major: Elementary Education; Art Additional Education: M.S., Counseling and Guidance, University of Arizona Email: solveigrhodes@me.com In 1967 I accepted a teaching job in Huntington Beach, California. After two years, with a goal of traveling, I began teaching with the Department of Defense in Okinawa during the Vietnam era. I explored Asia, then transferred to Germany and continued to explore European and African countries. I learned so much, not only about the cultures I visited but also about myself, as I often traveled solo.

Eventually I returned to the U.S. and settled in Tucson, Arizona, where I met my husband, Ike. His quick wit gives him a sparkle plus a giggle from me. His intelligence, creativity and work ethic have made him my best friend; besides, he can fix anything I break. Along with his two daughters, we became a family. As a bio-chemist, Ike traveled weekly starting industrial water treatment systems throughout the U.S. and occasionally abroad. I had the amazing job of teaching middle school kids for 40 years. I loved that goofy age as they kept me laughing, learning and loving my job.

Our girls settled in Portland, Oregon, and Johnstown, Pennsylvania, one in education, the other a judge. We have been blessed with five grandkids, currently ranging from 17-25 years old. Now we visit our grandchildren in their homes, at college, and at times abroad during exchange and gap years. I didn’t want them to grow up, but the relationship only gets stronger. We gather yearly for a week together on Lake Powell, our grands often accompanied by their special friends.

Ike literally built our home in 1970; his talent insures we will always have projects, updates and additions to keep us busy. More recently we have built a family home in the Flathead Valley of Montana and yearly spend a couple of months there where we enjoy escaping the Tucson summers and snow skiing in the winter, often with family and friends. My health is great as I work at staying healthy. With spare time I enjoy the desert, landscaping, my piano and dabbling in fabric dye creations and wood.

When I am really lucky, I get together with my Concordia friends. Life has been very good to me.

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Linda Heglie Sauer Hometown: Walcott, ND Current Home: Prior Lake, MN Major: Business and Elementary Education Additional Education: Business Courses Email: jlsauer720@gmail.com

Along with several ’67 Concordia grads who were offered contracts at Cambridge, Minnesota, High School, I became part of their Business Education faculty. After a few years, my teaching career continued in Willmar, Rosemount and St. Paul Park, Minnesota, where I met my husband, Jim. We were married in 1974 and lived mostly in Wells, Minnesota, where Jim was the operations officer for a bank.

I taught in Albert Lea, Minnesota, at the high school and at Riverland Community College during that time.

We are fortunate and have two children, Steve and Shannon, their spouses, Shelly and Nick, and four grandchildren, Hailey, Ethan, Samantha, and Lucy, who complete our family.

Jim and I are now both retired and have moved to Prior Lake, Minnesota. Jim and I enjoy our cabin, traveling, and sporting events. We are looking forward to the 50th Reunion at Concordia

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Susan Heiberg Christopher Hometown: St. Cloud, MN Current Home: Dawson, MN Major: Elementary Education Email: susanfchristopher@yahoo.com

I am from St. Cloud, Minnesota, and attended St. Cloud Tech, graduating in 1963. I attended Concordia and received a degree in Elementary Education. I taught first grade in White Bear Lake and Audubon, Minnesota, and most recently kindergarten in Dawson, Minnesota, retiring in 2010.

In 1966 I married Paul Christopher (’67). Paul was headed to seminary, and we lived in White Bear Lake and Audubon during seminary years. Following that we lived in Leader, Pequot Lakes and Dawson, Minnesota, where Paul served parishes. We have three sons: Adam, Matthew and Peter (’99). Adam is the chief of police in Montevideo, Minnesota, and has three sons.

Matt works for Arctic Cat and lives in Thief River Falls. He recently married Holly Kornas. Peter works for Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity and lives in West Fargo. He is married to Jill Anderson (2001).

They have two children.

In 2004 I was divorced from Paul. I remained in Dawson where I continued teaching kindergarten until I retired in 2010. I have done a little substitute teaching but spend most of my time with volunteering, sewing and just enjoying my free time. I have done some traveling every year, including Costa Rica, Lake Tahoe, Branson, Arizona and Florida.

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Dianne Held Lee Hometown: Rock Lake, ND Current Home: Bellevue, WA Major: Home Economics Additional Education: Teaching Credential, Dominican College, San Rafael, CA Email: dianneelee@msn.com As a freshman at Concordia, one of the comments I heard repeatedly from new acquaintances, who later became my special friends and dorm mates, was, “Dianne, you talk funny.” Coming from afar, central North Dakota near the Canadian border where I had lived for 17 years on our family farm, I wasn’t aware that I had an accent. Laura Ingalls Wilder books about living on the prairies portrayed a lifestyle I could relate to in the years I was growing up in Dakota. My three siblings and I had the blessing of Christian parents who valued education and gave all four of us a college education as our inheritance.

I am thankful that I had the privilege of attending a liberal arts college and receiving a degree in Home Economics. The training in practical life skills as well as in decision making and management have been very useful throughout my life. I am also thankful that Dick (class of ’65) and I met while students at Concordia and have been married for 50 years. We have two wonderful children: Jennifer (born in l968) and Christopher (born in 1976), and are blessed to have four adorable grandchildren. Family has been the highlight of my life; they have given me more fulfillment than anything else I’ve accomplished.

Dick’s career as an architect has given us opportunities to live in beautiful places: San Francisco Bay Area where I completed course work in the Social Sciences for a teaching credential; Oahu for three years, and Bellevue (East of Seattle) where we’ve made our home for the past 35 years. Major work experiences have been administrative assistant and organist for Rose Hill Presbyterian Church in Kirkland and teaching children piano lessons for 25 years. For many years I was involved in Bible Study Fellowship as a discussion leader, a commitment that came to me quite unexpectedly and enriched my life in ways I never thought possible.

We enjoy the Pacific Northwest where hiking opportunities abound.

In retirement, we are doing house and yard projects, but we also spend time in Sunriver, Oregon, and Hawaii. Other interests are time with friends and family, reading, travel (Alaska, Western Europe, Israel, Italy, the Greek Islands and New Zealand), sewing/quilting and piano. I am most thankful for the gift of God’s grace and the sustaining of Proverbs 3:5.

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Carolyn Hemsing Moeller Hometown: Kindred, ND Current Home: Miltona, MN Major: English Email: cdmoeller@midwestinfo.net

I graduated from Concordia in December of 1966, although I identify with the Class of 1967.

After graduation, I taught English and junior high music classes for 1/2 years at Twin Valley, Minnesota, followed by three years of high school English at Breckenridge, Minnesota, September 1968 to May 1971.

In the fall of 1971 my husband, David Moeller (MSUM ’71), was hired as the high school English teacher at Clinton, Minnesota. (The school later became Clinton-Graceville, then Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley.)

We lived and taught in that community until June of 2004, when we retired.

During our 33 years in Clinton I worked as a substitute teacher, a paraprofessional at the high school level, and ultimately as a full-time English teacher at Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley. I was a full-time piano teacher during those years, also volunteering in various community activities and events. We were active members of Trinity Lutheran Church where I served as organist for some 25 years.

In 2004 we retired and moved to Miltona, in the Alexandria lakes area of Minnesota. During our retirement, we have traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada. We currently are active members of Living Word Lutheran Church in Alexandria.

We have two children: Karen Blake (Concordia, ’95) and Ryan (NDSU ’99). Both of them live in Fargo.

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Eunice Herberg Perry Hometown: Beardsley, MN Current Home: Coral Gables, FL Major: Chemistry Additional Education: MBA, University of Miami Email: erperry45@gmail.com My four years at Concordia were memorable and useful. I earned my Mrs. (Arnold Perry) there a few weeks after graduation.

I was employed by Ashland Chemicals in Minneapolis for four years with a year at the microbiology lab at the University of Pittsburgh. (That was Arnie’s intern year.)

We lived in Superior, Wisconsin, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, growing our family: Adam, Lloan, Lydia and Jacob; the first two are adopted from Green Bay and Vietnam, and the last two are homemade.

A cold and windy evening off Lake Michigan convinced us to take the call to Miami, Florida, in 1980. The kids tell us they loved growing up in Miami. For some reason, however, three moved on to Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Montana. That means long travels to see the grandchildren, all 10 of them.

Miami offered good employment for me. I worked for the League of Women Voters and then for the University of Miami. I completed my MBA at the University of Miami. For several of the 27 years, I was Assistant Dean for the Undergraduate School of Business. I retired in 2014.

Arnie retired from St Mark’s Lutheran Church, Coral Gables, in 2015. We’ve had our home in Coral Gables for 30 years. In retirement, we like the small town setting within a major metropolis. Oh, and it is a crazy metropolis . . . but no snow. In summer months we enjoy a mountain house in North Carolina.

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Mary Louise Hershberger Hometown: Bagley, MN Current Home: Fargo, ND Major: Spanish Email: marigoldrose45@gmail.com

The first years after graduation I taught Spanish and was part of a team that created the first language abroad program in the Fargo Public Schools, which included taking a group of students to Spain in the summer of 1969. In the 70s I moved into what was the most creative and exciting time of my life (so far), a career in Cosmetology, which led, in 1977, to the creation of the area’s first full-service salon, Madam Butterfly. Those years saw the end of one marriage and the beginning of another and with that union, the birth of Bing, Fargo’s original frozen yogurt shop.

During 1984-1986 I attended a holistic wellness program which marked the turning point from an extroverted lifestyle to a more inward journey. The summer of 1986 I met Anthroposophy, a holistic picture of what it means to be a human being based on the spiritual scientific research of Rudolf Steiner, and was inspired to organize the F/M area’s participation in “Celebration for World Peace,” a global event held on December 31, 1986 and 1987.

Since that time, my relationship with Anthroposophy continues along with offering stress care classes and relaxation massage for women through my current business, the Woman’s Room, in Fargo.

These days I thrive on study and conversation with individuals and small groups; lots of unstructured time; travel (both armchair and actual); walks; the beauty of Nature and exploring the worlds of color and creativity through chalk pastels and watercolor painting. I appreciate every step and misstep of this amazing life.

ONWARD!

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Carolyn Heuer Tonneson Hometown: Bertha, MN Current Home: St. Paul, MN Major: Elementary Education Additional Education: M.S., Counseling, North Dakota State University Email: chtonneson@yahoo.com I married my Concordia sweetheart, Jim Tonneson (’66), in the summer of 1967. Jim completed his seminary degree in 1970, and we moved to McVille, North Dakota, where he served a 3-point parish. After five years there, he entered a Clinical Pastoral Education program and became a CPE supervisor for the remainder of his career. This journey took us to Jamestown, North Dakota; Rochester, Fergus Falls and St. Paul Minnesota. Jim retired in 2013. We raised three children—Mark (now 45), Scott (43) and Kimi (39). In addition to two daughters-in-law, our family also has gained two grandsons, Owen (15) and Noah (9).

Meanwhile, my career consisted of teaching: second grade, kindergarten, and private piano lessons. In 1982 I completed a Master’s Degree in counseling and went to work for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota as a clinical social worker/marriage and family therapist. I remained with LSS for 15 years, spending the last four years as a Regional Vice President. Following that, I opened my own consulting business, working with nonprofits and businesses in the areas of management and human resources. One more career change happened when we moved to St. Paul in 2004. I finished out my career as the Executive Director of Metro Meals on Wheels, retiring in 2008. I feel very fortunate in being able to have a fulfilling career while raising a family and staying involved in the communities where we lived.

I have dealt with cancer twice—having been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2001 and colon cancer in 2013. Today I am back to good health, and hope to stay that way for a long time! Jim and I have been able to travel a lot for which we are very grateful. We’ve traveled to many European countries, as well as Russia, Korea, Africa and Israel. The world is such a wonderful place! We spend three months of the winter in Arizona soaking up warmth and sunshine, away from the cold Minnesota winters!

I feel fortunate and thankful to have attended Concordia. My experiences there gave me a solid foundation for the challenges and the joys of the past 50 years!

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Linda Hiaasen Hilstad Hometown: Churchs Ferry, ND Current Home: Mayville, ND Major: Music (Piano, Public School Music) Additional Education: M.A., Piano Performance, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA Email: lindahilstad@gmail.com I have lived a life of remarkable stability of residence and occupation, but it has also been one of yearly challenges, and there is one thing I have learned for sure: whatever is in the future cannot be predicted.

As anyone may have guessed, my husband Steve and I have been farming for the last 45 years or so. Just when you think you’ve seen everything in the farming business—that notion will be undone!

After graduation, I taught public school music for a year, and then the turbulent times eventually led to Augsburg Publishing House in Minneapolis for a stint as an editorial assistant in the music department.

In 1971 Steve and I married and moved to his family farm near Blanchard, North Dakota. For many years, I had a private piano studio with many students who, I am pleased to say, have done very well in their lives.

Some still play—that is the best reward.

In 1982-1983, I decided to get my M.A. in Piano Performance at the University of Iowa. That was managed in a couple of winter semesters at Iowa City, plus a lot of work without being in residence there. It was an interesting experience being back in a music school, but this time surrounded by much younger, striving musicians.

Steve and I have always sought to expand our horizons with travel, travel, travel. We have spent a lot of time in Mexico and have gone to Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Romania. We have traveled extensively in the U.S. by small plane, motorcycle and sports car.

I am an obsessive gardener, an avid reader, and I still practice the piano and learn new music. For me, those pursuits are equal to the pursuit of quality of life.

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Gerald Hinrichs Hometown: Rushmore, MN Current Home: Sioux Falls, SD Major: History, Political Science Additional Education: ADN, Dakota Wesleyan University Phone: (605) 361-7632 In 1969 I enlisted in the Air Force and was discharged in 1974. During that time, I served at bases in Texas, Vietnam and Okinawa, Japan. Temporary duty assignments included Thailand, Taiwan and Korea.

While stationed in Vietnam, I met my wife, Lien. In 1975 Lien and our daughter arrived in the US. Our oldest son and Lien’s mother arrived years later.

From 1978-1980 we lived in Mitchell, South Dakota, where I attended Dakota Wesleyan University.

After graduation, we returned to Worthington, Minnesota, and in 1981 I reenlisted in the US Navy.

Assignments included Illinois, California, Texas, Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Carolina and the Mediterranean Region. I retired in 1996 as a Hospital Corpsman Chief (Fleet Marine Force). After retiring from the Navy, I began work as a civilian Health Technician for the Dept. of the Army. I then retired in 2013.

Now that both Lien and I are retired, we have more time to enjoy our daughter, two sons and seven grandchildren in South Dakota and Washington State. After nearly 50 years, the memories, relationships and knowledge gained from friends, professors and staff remain valued.

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Marian Hogoboom Eisenmann Hometown: Sentinel Butte, ND Current Home: Maplewood, MN Major: Nursing Additional Education: M. Div., Luther Northwestern Seminary, St. Paul, MN Email: mbeisenmann@msn.com Following my freshman year, I transferred to Fairview Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1967. After spending the summer as a camp nurse at Lake Vermillion Lutheran Bible Camp, Cook, Minnesota, I began work at Fairview Hospital. In June I married Bill Eisenmann, a Luther Seminary graduate. We moved to Detroit, Michigan, where he served at Salem Memorial Lutheran Church. Later Bill served consecutively in three other Lutheran congregations at Evart, Port Huron and Freeland. I worked part-time as a nurse and raised our two young children. I went back to school, graduating from Central Michigan University with a psychology major in 1988. That summer we moved to Hastings, Minnesota, where Bill served as a pastor at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, and I began my studies at Luther Seminary. In 1991 I did a combined Internship at United Lutheran Church and Seminary Home in Red Wing, Minnesota. 1992 found our family moving to Red Wing, where Bill began serving as senior pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran.

I was ordained in July 1993, beginning my ministry as Associate Pastor at St. Paul’s. Bill and I enjoyed our ministry together. In 2000 we moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where Bill began serving Arlington Hills Lutheran Church, and I completed a CPE Residency at Fairview Hospital. The following year I was called to serve as an Associate Pastor at Arlington Hills Lutheran. In 2005 I began working as a chaplain at St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Paul, and then at Woodwinds Hospital in Woodbury.

Now retired, we enjoy time with our four grandchildren as well as special interests in creative writing, music, ESL and travel. We also have a puppet ministry and enjoy performing for children and adults in various settings. Our son, Dave, works as a Director of Technology for the Minnetonka School District; our daughter, Amy, is a pastor at St. Matthew’s in Thompson, North Dakota.

I have had a special interest in the subject of grief and loss and have recently published a spiritual memoir entitled Grace for Today, Hope for Tomorrow. More information about the book is available on our web site: www. storiesforliving.com

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Saundra Hoper Moe Hometown: Stephen, MN Current Home: Milan, MN Major: Home Economics Email: milanmoe@fedtel.net

I taught home economics for three years. I married Tom Moe in 1968. We lived in Ellsworth, Minnesota, and Forest City, Iowa, before buying a hardware store in 1976 in Tom’s home town. We operated the store together. In 1997 we expanded our business to Appleton, Minnesota, a neighboring town. We sold the store in 2009 and I officially retired. Tom continues as owner-operator of the building center in Appleton.

We have three children: Beth, Brian and Kjersten. They have given us eight grandchildren, God’s best gift to us.

Together, Tom and I enjoy traveling and supporting our church. I also enjoy quilting, cross-stitching, hardanger, making felt Christmas ornaments and reading a good book.

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Dave Horstmann Hometown: Current Home: Minneapolis, MN Major: English, Theatre Additional Education: M.S., Marriage & Family Therapy, UW-Stout, Menomonie, WI Email: davidwhortsmann@gmail.com Family(ies): Back in 1996 I caught a fleeting glimpse of the empty nest phenomenon.

My elder son, Yasha (20), had left home for college, and my younger son, Eli (15), was coming along right behind him.

That, however, was the year that Eve Guo Shan joined our family. At fifty-one, I signed up for another hitch of parenting. Yasha, now forty, got married in 2015, is working at Hazelden as a counselor while pursuing a Master’s Degree in Addiction Counseling. Eli died suddenly in December of 2013, of spinal meningitis.

All of us are still grieving his passing, and missing his warm, easygoing presence.

This fall I finally began experiencing the empty nest for real. My youngest, Camille, became a college freshman in pursuit of a BFA degree in dance, and moved into a dormitory on the U of M campus here in Minneapolis. Her older sister, Eve, is a junior majoring in interior architecture at UW Madison. Eve and Camille’s mom died at home in January of 2008, after a two-year struggle with cancer. The prospect of being without her on the planet, as well as a single parent to our ten and twelve-year-old daughters, was the most terrifying challenge I’ve ever faced. These past nine years with my girls have been amazing, and forced me to grow in ways I never believed possible. I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to have become so close to my daughters.

Brother Paul (’69) and his wife, Margaret Ann (’71), live across the river, as well as their daughter, Sara, married to Peder Nestingen, son of Jim and Carolyn from our class. Sara and Peder’s three adorable young children are at frequent family gatherings, and allow me to fully enjoy being a great uncle. Sister Grace (’71), lives in Washington, as do her son, Cort, and his wife.

Work: Luther Seminary . . . education classes . . . high school positions teaching English and directing theatre programs . . . graduate school in theatre . . . Montessori training . . . eight years on my knees teaching preschool children.

Discovering along the way that it was people I was interested in more than teaching a curriculum, I went back to school to become a psychologist and marriage and family therapist, and have been doing that for the past thirty-three years. I still see a very small number of clients, and take care of Rose, our family cat.

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John Hovey Hometown: Moorhead, MN Current Home: Jamul, CA Major: Zoology Additional Edcation: M.D., University of Minnesota; Ophthalmology Residency; Naval Flight Surgeon; Board Certified Ophthalmologist Email: jmhovey@cox.net After graduating from Concordia, I went to medical school and graduated from the University of Minnesota in June 1971. As a sophomore in medical school, I married Mary Tabbut (1968). We have two daughters—both married—and five grandchildren who all live in Arizona.

After interning at the University of Minnesota, we moved to Pensacola, Florida, where I went through flight training and graduated as a Naval Flight Surgeon.

I served three years at the Glenview Naval Air Station. We then moved to San Diego where I did my ophthalmology residency. After serving on staff at Balboa Naval Hospital, we got out of the Navy and moved to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, area where I set up the Ophthalmology Department for a multi-specialty clinic.

After six years, we moved back to San Diego, where I joined the Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical group and did their orbital plastic surgery.

At age 50, I was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease and have been retired since then. Thankfully, it has been a slow progression, and I have enjoyed extended time with family, travel at home and abroad, woodworking hobbies, and the opportunity to serve my church and community.

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Carol Hovland Benson Hometown: Fertile, MN Current Home: Northfield, MN Major: Music Email: carolbenson@gmail.com

Well, I must have chosen the right career path because I have stayed close to it for most of my life. I graduated with a music major and a religion minor. Over the years I have led many children’s choirs for churches, taught elementary and middle school music, worked with St. Olaf’s Children’s Theater summer program, and given voice lessons at two colleges. I retired from being an elementary school music teacher in Northfield, Minnesota, in 2009, but I also taught in Washington and the Twin Cities. I am still directing a children’s choir at a local church. I have always enjoyed working with kids and making music, so it keeps me connected and happy.

I have sung in some fine choirs, including the National Lutheran Choir, the Chamber Ensemble of the Bach Society, and Yale’s Battell Chapel Choir. Singing in concerts directed by Robert Shaw and Neville Marriner were especially exciting and rewarding.

My husband and I have three children, a son and two daughters. Two children and their spouses live in the Twin Cities with our two grandchildren, and our eldest daughter lives in Washington, D.C. One special experience I have had was helping to lead a semester abroad college program for 28 students.

They studied in Egypt, India, China and South Korea. Another semester program we led a few years later had the students studying in Japan, China, Thailand and Vietnam. It etched those places and people in my mind forever.

I hope in some small way I have helped to live, teach, and share the values that Concordia sought to have us take into our hearts and minds.

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Joesph Huppmann Hometown: Rapid City, SD Current Home: Wilmington, NC Major: Pre-Med Additional Education: M.D., Louisiana State University College of Medicine Email: jhuppmann@ec.rr.com Although I did not graduate from Concordia for financial reasons (five semesters), my experience was so wonderful, especially the year I was a member of the Concordia Choir (’65-’66). I still draw on that experience for spiritual inspiration, as I’m sure all who sang under “Paul J.” do to this day.

So… I enlisted in the Navy (’67-’70) and served as a hospital corpsman. The G.I. Bill provided me with the needed jump to resume my education. When I married Mary Baldino (from Garretson, South Dakota—class of ’70, Augustana), I commenced a pre-med major and graduated from San Diego State University in 1975. I attended the University of South Dakota School of Medicine for two years and then transferred to Louisiana State University School of Medicine, graduating in 1979.

Following medical school and a surgery internship, I resumed my naval career serving as a Naval Flight Surgeon with the 2nd Marine Air Wing (four years), residency training in dermatology (San Diego Naval Medical Center), and then served my remaining active service as a dermatologist, retiring in 2011 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. I began private practice in Wilmington, North Carolina, with a final retirement in 2013.

Mary and I raised two wonderful kids: Derek (Marine Corps) and Kate (Navy helicopter pilot), and we have only recently been blessed with grandchildren! What fun to finally join the “silly grin club!” Current activities include a greater dedication to our church, singing with a superb choral group (Cape Fear Chorale), travel, reading and study. (Photo—Palisades State Park, Garretson, South Dakota)

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David Isaacson Hometown: Perth, ND Current Home: Fargo, ND Major: Psychology Additional Education: M.Div., Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN Email: dmisaacson@cableone.net David Loren Isaacson was born in the Rugby Hospital, North Dakota, January 11, 1945. He grew up in the small community of Perth, North Dakota, with three siblings; Mom and Dad ran Isaacson’s General Store; they had a zoo in the back yard. Dave graduated Bisbee, North Dakota, High School 1963. He went off to Concordia College where he graduated with a major in psychology and a minor in sociology.

The most important thing at Concordia was the meeting of a bright, redhaired gal, Marilyn Berge, from Dazey, North Dakota. They married Dave’s second year at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota. Internship took them to Brooklyn, New York, ’69-’70.

Dave graduated seminary in 1971 and was ordained in Trinity Lutheran Church, Perth, North Dakota, in August 1972.

The ministry took them to Westbrook, Maine; Rocky Point, Long Island, New York (the “Fish Church”); Mayville, North Dakota; Milnor, North Dakota; Wyndemere, North Dakota; Trinity at Lisbon, North Dakota, and, finally, the parish of Verona and Englevale, North Dakota. Dave and Marilyn retired to Fargo in 2011 where they now reside.

Dave and Marilyn had three children: Sarah (Mark), Aaron and Joshua (Stacey). Alas, Sarah, at age 42, died of a brain tumor on November 8, 2016. She leaves behind a husband, Mark, and a five-year-old daughter, Mari. Joshua and Stacey have a ten-year-old grandson, Thomas David.

Hobbies: In Verona Dave began collecting and giving away decorative eggs. The number of eggs now given away is around 2000. Oh, what beauty, what fun!

SOLI DEO GLORIA!!!

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Greg Iverson Hometown: Glasgow, MT Current Home: Whitefish Bay, WI Major: German Additional Education: M.A., Germanics, Rice University; Ph.D., Linguistics, University of Minnesota Email: iverson@uwm.edu I believe I am a bona fide member of the Concordia College class of 1967, though I didn’t graduate until 1968. The delay was due to several factors, chiefly, that I was in Germany during most of 1967, participating in a novel Concordia program to train up select language majors first in actual use of the language they had been learning (through extended study and residence in a country where it is spoken), then in the techniques of teaching it to American undergraduates (through follow-on service as a trainee instructor at Concordia). This was a fine program—innovative, successful, mutually beneficial (the college got young, energized language teachers, they in turn became proficient speakers with a full academic year of professionally supervised college teaching experience).

These were pioneering times for language initiatives at Concordia, with the celebrated Concordia Language Camps getting off the ground at about the same time, and still flying high.

After finishing the teaching internship at Concordia in 1968, I entered graduate school in Germanics at Rice University. There I learned about earlier varieties of Germanic languages, their history and structure. Finding linguistics to be more up my alley, I completed the M.A. degree and moved on in 1970 to study the structure of language per se in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Minnesota. In 1972, I married a Minnesota classmate from Korea, Hong-Im Kim. We spent the following year at Uppsala University in Sweden, returning to Minnesota to graduate in 1974, where I taught for a year before embarking on a conventional academic career. After 12 years at the University of Iowa and 25 at the University of Wisconsin– Milwaukee, along with visiting appointments at the University of Maryland and various universities in Japan, Korea, Germany and Morocco, I retired as Professor of Linguistics, Emeritus in 2012. Since 2013, I have been working as Research Advisor in the National Archives of the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi.

Through the years I’ve stayed in touch with several of our classmates: Harry Brown, Mark Budd, Doug Dufty, Jim Hallas (sadly, died in 1998), Dennis Olson, Lee Skavanger, Scott Sundrud, even, especially, one of the co-chairs of this yearbook, Carol (Johnson) Mattson.

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Jeanne Iverson Larson Hometown: Bismarck, ND Current Home: Beach, ND Major: Elementary Education Email: bjlarson@midstate.net

After graduating, I moved to Grand Canyon, Arizona.

At first I worked at a motel outside the park, but after signing a teaching contract I moved inside the park and worked at a small grocery store. I had met my fiancĂŠe while visiting Theodore Roosevelt National Park the previous summer and we were married in November.

I taught sixth grade and also had the elementary music program. That summer I worked in the fire tower on the South Rim and my husband finished his National Park Service intake training.

In September we and 10 others began our nomadic lifestyle. We were off to the ski area at Badger Pass in Yosemite. Here my love affair with generators and the snow shovel began. We had at that time the record snowfall in the Sierra Nevadas. To get into the house we had a 12 snow-step stairway, a 12' bridge and 12 steps back onto the porch. Once there, it was cozy with a huge stone fireplace that was our heat and a wood burning army stove. It made great bread; after I got the top cleaned off, it became my lefse grill. The bird lived on a perch above the fireplace and the mice loved his food. We eventually got that problem solved.

After nine months there, we traded in our skis and snow for sun and black sand. We were off to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, Hawaii. Again, there were generators. Our water from roof catchment was stored in huge black rubber bladders. We hauled drinking water from Pahoa, where I substituted almost full time K-12. After three years of living 75' above the ocean and living in a very isolated location, now totally covered by lava, we moved to headquarters outside Volcano. Our next move took us to Lake Mead National Recreation Area. We were at Boulder Beach, which sported a beautiful view of the lake only 30 miles from Las Vegas. We enjoyed the lake, spending every evening boating and water skiing.

After five years of hot and dry we packed up and headed to Mt. Rainier National Park. There was an elementary school just through the woods. I began substituting again, and ended up doing full time teaching in special education in Eatonville.

After 23 years Bill retired. We moved to Beach, a small town 20 miles west of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I now am on the City Council and School Board, and still substitute teach. I love my life

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Kathryn Jacobs Morton Hometown: St. Peter, MN Current Home: Rochester, MN Major: Art Education Additional Education: M.A.; St. Thomas University, St. Paul; Oslo University Email: oakridgecottage@yahoo.com I originally planned on attending graduate school after graduation. Instead, I taught art for a year in Great Falls, Montana. I was then hired to teach in one of the first two middle schools in Minnesota: Orono Middle School.

I married in 1972. During the 10 years I lived in Orono my two children, Kelly and Bradley, were born.

I became a stay-at-home mom, teaching adults quilting in the evenings. I started a business of designing hooked rugs in 1985, also teaching this textile craft in other states.

Divorced after 21 years, I began teaching high school art in Chaska, Minnesota. I retired in 2010 after 16 years of teaching, moving to Rochester in 2013. Now I continue to teach and travel with my textile business.

My other interests include gardening, Tai Chi, my four grandchildren, travel, art from other cultures and spending each February in Austin, Texas.

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Mary L. Janz Hometown: Minot, ND Current Home: Racine, WI Major: Spanish, Business Education Additional Education: M.Div., Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN Email: mljanz@aol.com Following graduation, Mary spent six months studying in Pamplona and Madrid, Spain, through the Concordia TA Language Scholarship Program.

She then taught first-year Spanish at Concordia as a Teaching Assistant. The following five years she was a high school Spanish and Business teacher, first in Wheaton and then in Moorhead, Minnesota. During that time she spent summers in Mexico for Intra-American Student Programs, working with high school students from twenty states. In 1973 Mary spent a year in Madrid, working as a bilingual secretary and translator for the National Institute of Industry. She also developed the Spain program for IASP while there, and then assumed a full-time role as director of the travel program, which was first based in Detroit Lakes and later in St. Paul, Minnesota. She, along with several investors, eventually purchased the student travel business. During her fifteen years with IASP, Mary spent considerable time out of the country, negotiating contracts and making arrangements for the students traveling to Mexico and Spain.

After a “dry spell” of a number of years of being disconnected from the church, Mary reconnected with a suburban Minneapolis church. It was in 1984 that she decided to “take a class” at Luther Seminary in St. Paul.

One class led to others, and during the next six years Mary both ran the business and studied at Luther.

After completing classes and a one-year internship in Fairfax, Virginia, Mary graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 1990. Several months later she sold the business in preparation for her third career.

In 1991 Mary was called to Emmaus Lutheran Church in Racine, Wisconsin, which at the time was known for being the oldest active Danish Lutheran church in the country. She served there for 25 years, until her retirement in July 2016. During her tenure, the congregation moved from being 100% Northern European descent to what it is today—a congregation composed of 25% Anglos and 75% Latinos, with worship and programming both in English and Spanish. Since the year 2000 there has been a strong emphasis on outreach to neighborhood children and families, including a well-established after school and summer camp program. Mary, who didn’t expect to use Spanish after her move to Racine, muses at God’s sense of humor.

She continues to use Spanish on almost a daily basis as she stays involved in the diverse community she now calls home, working with immigration and education issues facing the Latino community. Other bonuses of Racine include the unobstructed view of Lake Michigan from her front porch, and the small town feel while being nestled between the cities of Milwaukee and Chicago. Winter getaways to Mexico are an added bonus.

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Anita Johnson Duder Hometown: Willmar, MN Current Home: Minneapolis, MN Major: Medical Technology Email: neeterweeze@yahoo.com

After graduation, I accepted a position as a medical technologist at what was then Weld County General Hospital in Greeley, Colorado. I worked mainly in the chemistry lab but needed to have knowledge of the other departments since I also had to take night call.

Two years later, in 1969 I returned to Minnesota and began working at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park.

There I began as a generalist, then went on to be supervisor of the chemistry lab, later as supervisor of the Special Chemistry Lab, and finally as a tech specialist in the Flow Cytometry /Molecular Lab. After 44 years at Methodist Hospital (39 fulltime), I finally retired on December 31, 2013. Staying in the same place for so long is unusual in these days, but there was always something new to learn and to challenge me, and I was fortunate to work with many wonderful people. Now we are no longer called medical technologists but rather medical laboratory scientists.

While living in Colorado, I learned to downhill ski (sort of), and it was when I joined a ski club after returning to Minnesota that I met my husband, John, a Nebraska native and a Catholic (OMG!) We were married in 1975 in my Lutheran church by my pastor and a Catholic priest. We are both still Lutheran and Catholic but attend church together, alternating Sundays between the two churches. We have no children or grandchildren, but have been “parents� to two Boston Terriers, the latest, Morgan Stanley, just having had his tenth birthday. We have done some traveling out of the country, the most interesting being a two-week guided tour of the World War II battlefields in Normandy, France. What a history lesson that was! Because this trip was sponsored by the Fort Snelling WWII History Roundtable, our group was treated to several special events and extraordinary tour guides.

Things that keep me busy are knitting, needlepointing, sewing, gardening, reading, walking around our nearby lakes, volunteer church activities, DIY home projects and meeting friends for coffee, lunch or dinner. John, who has a degree in physics and has been retired for many years, still spends time on his boyhood farm in Nebraska which we now own. As many people would agree, retirement is a busy time and a pretty good gig.

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Bruce Johnson Hometown: Moorhead, MN Current Home: Fargo, ND; Quail Creek, AZ Major: History, Political Science Additional Education: JD, University of ND School of Law, Grand Forks, ND Email: bjohn10555@aol.com Married Shirley Ann Nelson (Class of 1968) December 28, 1968 (my computer date).

Child: Peter K. Johnson, born December 4, 1973.

He lives in Helena, Montana, and works at the Montana Capitol for the Department of Human Services in programs for the developmentally disabled.

Military: In the United States Army from August 28, 1968, until May 20, 1971. Attended OCS at the Engineer School at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in Military Intelligence on June 20, 1969. Studied the Vietnamese language for nine months at the Defense Language Institute at Ft. Bliss, Texas. Served as Chief of the Order of Battle Section of the G2 of the 101st Airborne Division at Camp Eagle (near Hue) in Thua Thien Provence in Vietnam from June 20, 1970, until May 20, 1971.

Job: Worked in private practice of law in Fargo, North Dakota, my entire career. Was a member of the North Dakota bar from July 27, 1973, until December 31, 2013. At end of my career, practiced in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, real estate and business formation.

Retired: Enjoy our winter home in Quail Creek, Arizona, which is in the Green Valley area south of Tucson.

Attend Desert Hills Lutheran Church in Arizona and Hope Lutheran Church while in Fargo. Play golf frequently while in Arizona. Heart working fine as the result of a new aortic valve in September 2015. Knees are now functioning well as the result of bilateral total knee replacement in June 2016. Have had the opportunity to enjoy several world travel adventures and have additional plans for 2017.

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Carol Johnson Mattson Hometown: Hendricks, MN Current Home: Hastings, MN Major: English; German Additional Education: Art Link, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Institute of Art Email: dkm13@embarqmail.com As the spring of 1967 arrived, we graduating Cobbers considered our options—a job, graduate school, the military or perhaps a year in Paris. My choice was a teaching job in Cambridge, Minnesota. But after three years it seemed time to move on, and I accepted a teaching job in the river town of Hastings, Minnesota.

As I drove over the high bridge spanning the Mississippi River, I wondered what life changes lay ahead for me, and in the years to follow, that drive over the river became the soul of my life’s journey. Here I met and married my husband, David, our two children, Jeremy and Katrin, were born, and teaching as a job became a career and ultimately a passion.

Working with a teacher of world history, I implemented a curriculum for the 10th grade honors students, course work of substantive literature, readings such as Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” and an emphasis on writing with style and precision. I also worked with classes of incoming freshmen who had failed 8th grade English, kids with dyslexia who failed spelling tests and were handicapped by learning and behavioral problems.

And the journey continues. Katrin works in elementary special education. Jeremy is a regional manager for the Ziegler Corporation; he and his wife, Suzie, have three daughters. Kate and her partner, Ian, are parents of a little girl. Since we all live in Hastings, we are gladly on call for child care for our four wonderful granddaughters. Retirement has afforded us a chance to travel. As a Peace Corps volunteer serving in Iran for two years, Dave had traveled extensively, but not to Egypt or China, our travel destinations of the last few years.

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Carolyn Johnson Meyer Hometown: Storden, MN Current Home: Ramsey, MN Major: Elementary Education Email: bmeyerc@hotmail.com

Upon graduation, I began teaching in Fridley, Minnesota. On June 8, 1968, I married Bob Meyer who had recently graduated from Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa.

The next eleven years were in Neenah, Wisconsin. Bob and I were both employed by the Neenah Joint School District. Our children were born while we were living in Neenah: Nate 1971, Sarah 1973, Martha 1978.

In 1979 we returned to Minnesota where we continued to be involved in education. I taught in the elementary school and Bob was in school administration. In 1989 I received my Special Education Degree from Mankato State University. These were busy years teaching, enjoying the many activities of our three children and life with family and friends. Our three children are all COBBERS: Nate, 1994; Sarah, 1995; Martha, 2001.

We enjoyed returning to campus when they were at Concordia.

When I retired in 2008, we began to explore a new location that would be closer in miles to our grandchildren. Our daughters lived in St. Paul/Minneapolis and son in Alexandria, Minnesota. In 2010 we relocated to Ramsey, Minnesota. We love the many opportunities available for music and sporting events. We also enjoy attending the many activities where our grandchildren are participating. In the school year 2016-2017 we have one grandchild in each of the following grades: 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, skip 2nd and the youngest in 1st grade!

However, we have the very youngest turning three the month of November.

We love retirement and have enjoyed some wonderful travel trips. We get away from Minnesota in February and March, spending time in Florida. Looking forward to our 50th Reunion gathering.

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David Johnson Hometown: Moose Lake, MN Current Home: Billings, MT Major: English Additional Education: M. Div., Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN Email: davj1227@gmail.com It truly is amazing where the years have gone and the paths followed since graduating from Concordia!

After graduation, I attended Luther Seminary, finishing in 1971 and taking my first parish in Morris, Illinois, in early 1972. I met my late wife, Miriam (nee Walters), the summer of 1971 while her family was on missionary furlough from Madagascar. We were married the summer of 1972 in Morris and shared almost 41 years together. We were blessed with five children (three girls, two boys) before her homegoing the end of June, 2013.

We served two parishes in Illinois, then spent seven years overseas with ALC World Missions in the Central African Republic before returning in 1986 and serving other parishes in the Midwest. In 1997 after experiencing the devastation of the Grand Forks flood (we lived in East Grand Forks), we took a parish in western North Dakota. We also worked with at-risk teens in western Wisconsin before taking our last parish in Laurel, Montana, in 2003. I retired from this parish the end of 2015.

Fourteen months after Miriam’s passing, I made a trip to Baja, California (Mexico), to visit a wonderful orphanage (Foundation for His Ministry, FFHM.org) that had just celebrated 50 years of serving children. It was there I met Domi (pictured above), and we will soon celebrate our second anniversary. She had been a widow for fifteen years with seven children and seventeen grandchildren and had worked at the Mission for thirty-one years! Our new life together is wonderful! We find ourselves in transition, as we divide our time between my family in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota and her family in Baja, California (Mexico). Vicente Guerrero, our home and the Mission’s home in Baja, is 160 miles south of Tijuana at the U.S. border.

Learning Spanish is my new challenge as I try to communicate with Domi’s family. A couple of them speak some English and Domi herself began learning English around 2000 from the many volunteers that come to help at the Mission. Thank goodness! It’s how we got acquainted and communicated!

Our Lord is so good and faithful to His many promises! He provides for our every need. May He bless each and every one of you as we continue to travel life’s many paths

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Denis Johnson Hometown: Borup, MN Current Home: Moorhead, MN Major: Art Additional Education: M.A., New Mexico Highlands U; B.S., Civil Engineering, NDSU Email: dljslj@gmail.com After graduation, I taught junior and high school art for 11 years in Kingsford, Michigan, earning a MA during the summers.

I returned to Moorhead in 1979 to pursue a Civil Engineering degree at NDSU. I worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs beginning in 1983 in Fargo, Reno 1984-1987, Boise 1987-1997, and Seattle 1997-2009. I worked in various capacities: Project Engineer, Assistant Chief of Engineering, Chief of Engineering, Associate Director, Chief of Maintenance and Operations and Facility Manager, at times supervising up to 400 staff in various disciplines throughout the medical center.

I retired in 2009 and moved to Moorhead to be closer to the family (children in Minneapolis and Duluth), the farm and lake cabin.

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Donald C. Johnson Hometown: Starbuck, MN Current Home: Alexandria, MN Major: Business Administration Additional Education: M.S., University of North Dakota Email: don-judy@charter.net After graduation I served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany from 1968-1970. My wife, Judy Torness (’69, graduated ’68), and I were married in 1968. We started our life together in Germany where she was a teacher in a DOD school.

I was a CPA from 1973-2010 with my own practice starting in 1979. I am a charter member of the Alexandria Sertoma Club, serving as secretary, president and, currently, treasurer.

We have two children and four grandchildren. We have twin 11-year-old granddaughters in Elk River. In 2014 we took one to London and one to Paris. We have a two-year-old granddaughter and a new grandson in Texas.

We love spending time with all of them.

We have traveled extensively before and during retirement. Recent travels include Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Egypt, Jordan, South Africa, Morocco and many trips to Europe.

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Douglas Johnson Hometown: Northfield, MN Current Home: Stillwater, MN Major: History, Political Science Additional Education: J.D., University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, MN Email: ddjohnson802@yahoo.com A week after we graduated, I was wearing Army green at Fort Dix, New Jersey. In March 1968, I spent a year in Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division on the DMZ. The fall of 1969 found me at the University of Minnesota Law School, graduating in 1972. I met Doreen Laingen, an English teacher in St. Louis Park; a year and a half later, we were married on July 31, 1971. Our first child, Jennifer Lynn, was born in April 1974 and Jeremy Douglas followed in March 1977.

I returned to my home town Wadena, Minnesota, in September 1972, and worked for an attorney while awaiting the results of the bar exam. Upon passing it, I was sworn in as a lawyer in October 1972, beginning the practice of law in a two-person firm. Our practice was typical of country lawyers with us trying to solve people’s problems with no specialization. We did real estate, probate, estate planning, family law, corporate law, criminal defense and everything else a client would ask. The Wadena City Council appointed me Wadena City Attorney as a part-time position in 1973. In January 1983 I became the Wadena County Attorney which was a part-time position so I continued with my private practice also. I found that county attorney work was what I liked doing the most. In September 1986, I resigned as Wadena County Attorney, moved to Stillwater, Minnesota, and started as an assistant Washington County Attorney specializing in delinquency and child protection.

This change meant that I was in the courtroom a lot which I loved and gave me a great deal of satisfaction being able to help kids. 1998 found me successfully running for Washington County Attorney. I was leading an office of 22 lawyers and 23 support staff. After running unopposed in 2002 and 2006, it was time to retire in January 2011.

Doreen worked for the Stillwater schools until she retired in 2004. She then coordinated the Prescription Assistance Program at our local medical facilities, providing medication to financially-challenged individuals. She retired in 2011.

Our family has grown. Jennifer is married and has two children; they live about 40 miles from us. Jeremy is married and has two daughters in Phoenix, Arizona. Retirement keeps me busy with family activities, church council both at the local and synod levels, golf, duplicate bridge, Civil War history and lawn maintenance.

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L. Steven Johnson Hometown: McVille, ND Current Home: Worthing, SD Major: Sociology Additional Education: M.A., Sociology, Psychology, NDSU, Fargo, ND Email: nana@iw.net Upon graduation from Concordia, I made the best decision of my life and married my high school sweetheart. Carol and I will celebrate our 50th anniversary in May. I then attended graduate school at NDSU in Fargo and received my degree in 1968.

Then, believe it or not, Uncle Sam called and said I was needed elsewhere. I completed Engineer OCS at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. I was a training officer at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and got to spend a year in Vietnam.

I spent most of the next 40 years in sales, mostly in the agriculture industry. Many customers became close friends, and I feel I was much more capable in this profession because of my educational background. In fact, one of my customers and I were discussing our educational backgrounds. When he found out what mine was, he jokingly accused me of knowing what he was going to do before he did it. I told him he didn’t have to worry because it didn’t work that way.

Carol and I have two children, Nicole and Marc. Nikki is a Special Education teacher and her husband, Bill, is a Colonel in the Air Force. Marc is a Commander in the Naval Reserves and his wife, Andrea, is a fitness trainer. We have three grandchildren: Steven, Samantha and MacKenzie; two grandcats, Bob and Honey, and our dog Max. Carol and I are retired and spend most of the summer in our motor home in the Black Hills. We have yet to decide where to spend our winters but are sure it will be someplace warmer.

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Sharon Johnson Hanson Hometown: Detroit Lakes, MN Current Home: Seattle, WA Major: Elementary Education Email: sharonofseattle@comcast.net

Early graduation in the summer of 1966 enabled me to teach in Grand Forks before marrying David Hanson (’67) the following July. I taught second grade for six years, four in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and two in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Prior to the birth of our daughter, Krista, in December 1972, I took graduate courses in learning disabilities at UND. We then spent a year in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, for David’s Ph.D. internship. The following year we moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where we lived for 29 years.

For over 20 years my career was spent working for small businesses in the area of accounting and personnel.

In 2003 David and I moved to Seattle, Washington, to be near Krista and her husband, Eric. We have two wonderful grandchildren, Alex, 12, and Avery, 8. I’ve provided “Grandma Day Care” for both since infancy and still enjoy many hours with them each week.

David and I are both in good health and I have enjoyed many wonderful trips in North America and Europe.

We’re lifelong campers and enjoy many outdoor pursuits. I’m an avid reader and enjoy gardening and playing bridge. We’ve made wonderful friends wherever we’ve lived and have enjoyed staying in touch with them and many of our Concordia classmates.

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Phyllis Kent Olson Hometown: Casselton, ND Current Home: West Fargo, ND Major: Elementary Education Additional Education: Trinity Lutheran College, Washington Email: drandpdolson@ideaone.net I taught school for several years, was a stay-at-home mom, and was always involved in church and community activities where we were living.

I continued my education and was commissioned as an ELCA Associate in Ministry in 1996. We continued to serve in the parish ministry as well as hospice and nursing home work.

We retired in 2007 and have enjoyed several wonderful trips and visits to our children in Texas, Colorado and Georgia. I enjoy reading, volunteering at a thrift and gift hospice store and working occasionally at a local funeral home. We have a Yorkie dog to spoil.

We are actively involved in Atonement Lutheran Church in Fargo and thankful for God’s presence in our lives. Jesus is my best friend. I am grateful for the teaching of Pastor Art Grimstad while at Concordia and the witness of a pastor and teacher named Erman Lunder (also a Cobber, now deceased) who boldly shared his faith and helped my faith to grow.

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John Kildahl Hometown: Minot, ND Current Home: Connecticut Major: Political Science Email: johnkildahl@yahoo.com

I currently reside in Connecticut with my wife, Teresa Iten. We have three daughters and six grandkids: three boys and three girls. All live in Connecticut.

I am retired from: 1. Entertainment industry, singer and actor.

2. Presbyterian Church of America, janitor.

3. State of North Dakota, psychotherapist.

I recently finished my first CD of original material, Always With Me, on You Tube under John Kildahl.

I’m working on my second CD, taking guitar and art lessons and editing my first novel.

Enjoy, be well. 

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Janet Klemmer Hoberg Hometown: Owatonna, MN Current Home: Owatonna, MN Major: Art Additional Education: M.A., Studio Art, Mankato State University Email: hoberg435@charter.net After graduating from Concordia, I met my husband, Gary. Married in November 1968, I taught art for two years at Glencoe to 7th through 12th graders.

Following my marriage, I spent 31 years as an art teacher in Waseca, Minnesota, where I taught drawing, painting, sculpture, pottery, calligraphy and art history to junior high students. I had two children. My daughter, Heather, became a registered nurse. Her son, Zachary, was born in 2010. My son, Erick Hoberg, teaches history to high schoolers; his wife, Jessica, is an elementary teacher. I earned my M.A. degree in 1989 by going to summer school and night classes while working full time and raising my family. My M.A. in studio art consisted of completing 17 pen and ink drawings with Rapidograph pens and displaying them in a solo exhibit after my board of review. I created photo real images with dots of ink creating the light and dark tones of my subject. I continued taking college art classes after completing my M.A. My husband’s passion was landscaping; he ran his own business. Eventually he started a new career at Owatonna Tool Company where he worked for 24 years in quality control and internal auditing. He has been a wonderful husband and supportive through various health issues encountered in the past few years.

Singing has always been a passion of mine. After completion of my college singing days, I have stayed involved in music in my home and church life. I sang for many years in our Trinity Lutheran Church choir.

I also sang for nine years with the Roger Tenney Chorale which toured around the Midwest and sang several home concerts each year. Music has always been a big part of my life.

In my art work, I’ve done oil painting, acrylic painting, watercolor, pen and ink and some calligraphy. I keep being drawn back to my favorite which is pen and ink. I retired from teaching in 2000 but continued to do substitute teaching for nearly 10 years. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and traveling to visit our grown children and our grandson, Zachary. We also enjoy tending to our many flower gardens and seeing their beauty. Greetings to all the class of 1967! Soli Deo Gloria!

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Julie Klemmer Knapp Hometown: Owatonna, MN Current Home:Faribault, MN Major: English Email: jkanpp44@charter.net

After graduation I began my teaching career in 1967 at Willmar, Minnesota. Two years later I accepted a job at Faribault teaching senior high English. I remained at Faribault (29 years) until my retirement in 2000.

During my Faribault teaching career, I taught at every public school and at all grade levels, K-12. Through the years I taught English and art at all grade levels.

Most years I averaged 350 students a year but when I did combinations, it was as many as 600 students. Each level had its challenges and fun things. During my last year I had the class of 2000 which I had also had as kindergartners, 7th graders and then 12th graders.

I married David Knapp in 1969. We have three children: Kim (1972), Kathy (1975) and Scott (1985). They have given us five grandchildren: Christopher (2), Emily (13), Trey (12), Timothy (9) and Megan (8). Dave worked with the Rice County Sheriff’s Department as deputy, chief deputy and sheriff until his retirement.

Since retiring I have taken care of my grandchildren during the weekdays and summers which is a great way to establish a close relationship with them. Now that they are older, we are going to many sports events.

My hobbies are gardening (and weeding); drawing in pencil, colored pencil and pastel watercolor painting and reading. I also enjoy finding good buys at garage sales and spending time with the family on Little Pelican Lake in Detroit Lakes. Dave and I have led very busy lives and have enjoyed reconnecting during retirement.

I am busy and happy and never get caught up on house work or yard work, but I haven’t given up! I belong to First English Lutheran Church in Faribault which has supported me in good times and bad. Soli deo Gloria!

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Lucille Klofstad Huckaby Hometown: Plentywood, MT Current Home: Fort Worth, TX Major: German, Mathematics Additional Education: MA, Germanics; Rice University, Houston, TX Email: lucillehuckaby@att.net Can it be fifty years? As we slow down, it is good to remember the times at Concordia, busy yet rewarding. Now time is spent going to the gym a few days a week, tending to necessary obligations, and a highlight for me: Sunday church. We are currently attending a church in the NALC with a pastor who skillfully preaches the word of God. After my graduation from Concordia in December of 1966, I stayed to do my student teaching in January and February of 1967, before heading for Germany to study at Passau and Tuebingen. After teaching German at Concordia during the 1967-1968 academic year, I went to graduate school at Rice University in Houston, Texas, earning an M.A. in Germanics in 1970. Also in 1970, I married Dale A. Huckaby, a chemistry professor at TCU in Fort Worth, and we have lived here since then. We have two sons.

In the early 1970s I taught high school and some junior college, and in the late 1980s I taught at TCU. Mostly I was a stay-at-home mom, but I accompanied Dale on sabbaticals and research trips when possible.

We, the four of us, spent months in Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland and Puerto Rico. There were also shorter trips to Romania, Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic and others. Visiting many countries was a treat. We always played tourist when possible. Puerto Rico was one of my favorites. Several trips there meant opportunities to enjoy the beach.

Volunteering has been a big part of my life. For fifteen years I was part of a knitting group at church that made hats along with scarves and headbands for the homeless, chemo patients, and preemies. I made about three thousand items during those years. Now I am trying to reduce my own stash of yarn.

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Richard Kutz Hometown: St. Louis Park, MN Current Home: Burnsville, MN Major: Biology Additional Education: MBA, St. Thomas University, St. Paul, MN Email: rakutz@me.com I married Jean Bergo in August of 1967. We will be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary along with our 50th class reunion in 2017.

I taught biology and chemistry at Renville High School in Renville, Minnesota. I established a physiology course for juniors and seniors in my second year at Renville. In the early seventies, we moved to Burnsville where we still reside.

I entered the insurance business. Over the balance of my working life, I sold life insurance for four years and then began to pay health insurance claims for Equitable Life. I worked in this industry as a payment specialist, auditor of claims, claims manager and finally as a recovery specialist. Mostly these jobs were for the same company only under various names due to their changing owners or configuration. The last company I worked for was Injenix which was a subsidiary of United Health Company. It is now known as Optum.

We have two sons and four grandsons ranging in age from 12 to 17 years. We have been very involved with their activities in and out of school. We do a lot of volunteering at the local schools, church and Boy Scouts.

In 2013 Jean and I were honored to receive Burnsville District’s outstanding volunteer award.

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Ed Langsdorf Hometown: Glasgow, MT Current Home: Sun City, AZ Major: Biology Additional Education: M.S., Physical Education, Washington State University; Ed.D., Arizona State University Email: edlangsdorf@gmail.com Following graduation from Concordia, I enrolled in a master’s program in physical education at Washington State University. While at WSU, I met and married my wife, Jan. After completing my degree in 1968, I taught and coached in Pullman, Washington, for two years. In 1970 I returned to Concordia as a faculty member in the HPEA Department where I taught a variety of classes, assisted in football and served as the head track coach until 1980. Working side by side with members of that department who were so influential when I was a student was extra special and an experience for which I am forever grateful. While at Concordia, I enrolled in a doctoral program at Arizona State University and took a leave of absence for the ’76-’77 school year to complete my degree.

Having spent time in Washington and Arizona and having married a West Coast girl, I looked for a new challenge west of the Rockies and ended up on the faculty and coaching staff at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. Concordia has a history with Linfield, having been involved in post-season football playoffs in 1964, 1978 and 2005. As a member of the PE faculty at Linfield, I taught primarily teaching methods courses, served on various committees and was a member of the coaching staff. I assisted in track and football from 1980 until 1991, when I was named the head football coach, a position I held from 1992 to 1995 before returning to an assistant position for four more years. During my time on the football staff, Linfield played for the NAIA National Championship in 1982, 1984, 1986 and 1992. In 2000 I resigned from Linfield and took a college scouting position with the San Diego Chargers. I worked full time covering colleges throughout the western states until 2013. For the next three years, I worked part-time scouting just the Pac-12 Conference schools until I retired in May, 2016.

Jan and I moved from Salem, Oregon, to Sun City, Arizona, in December 2015 and are thriving in the sunshine as we explore a myriad of retirement opportunities. We escape the summer heat by spending June, July and August in Oregon with our daughter, Lisa, who’s a guide in Europe for Rick Steves Tours, or at Priest Lake, Idaho, where our son, Danny, has a summer place. Danny’s currently the offensive coordinator for the University of Nebraska football team. We relish the time with our four grandkids, Jacob (16) and Lindy (12) in Oregon; Dawsen (6) and Carter (4) in Lincoln. Life is good! Soli deo Gloria!

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Arvin Larson Hometown: Wildrose, ND Current Home: Williston, ND Major: History, Political Science Email: alarson@nccray.com

After my graduation from Concordia College in 1967, I began coaching and teaching at North Sargent School in Gwinner, North Dakota. I was there for two years and then moved to Poplar, Montana, for eight years.

There, I taught and coached and moved into administration as activities director and vice principal.

After those eight years, I moved to Ray, North Dakota, and became the high school principal. I left education in 1987 and took over the family farm near Wildrose, North Dakota, after the death of my father.

I also served on many boards and committees while teaching and farming. In 1985 I was elected to the board of Northwest Communications Cooperative in Ray, North Dakota. I served on the board for 26 years, 21 years as president. I am currently on the board of the U.S. Durum Growers Association.

I married my high school classmate, Marlene Holland, in 1968. She graduated from Minot State Colleg and taught in Gwinner, Poplar, and Ray schools. We have two children. Roxanne is an orthopedic surgeon in Williston, North Dakota. Her husband, David, is a family medicine doctor. They have two daughters, Zoe and Ava. Our son, Ryan, lives in Bismarck, North Dakota, and is employed by National Information Systems Cooperative. His wife, Stacy, teaches science at St. Mary’s High School. They have three boys, Anders and twins Karsten and Kayden.

We are now living in Williston, North Dakota.

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David Larson Hometown: Parkers Prairie, MN Current Home: Bellevue, WA Major: Economics, Political Science Additional Education: Military and Aviation Courses Email: dlarson7@comcast.net After Concordia, I received my US Air Force wings at Randolph AFB, San Antonio, Texas, in 1968. In 19691970 I flew tactical airlift in South Vietnam from Cam Ranh Bay Airbase and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Much of the flying was supporting Vietnamese Special Forces and the Montagnards in the Central Highlands. From 1970 to 1973 I was stationed at McChord AFB, Tacoma, Washington, flying military strategic airlift to Vietnam and throughout much of the world.

In 1973 I left active duty and joined an Air Force Reserve unit, also at McChord AFB, and continued flying worldwide, part time, until I retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1988.

In the civilian world, I flew for Wien Air Alaska out of Anchorage and Fairbanks in 1975, and then joined Alaska Airlines based in Seattle in 1976, retiring as a 20-year Captain in 2004. I have also enjoyed flying my private aircraft around the Pacific Northwest.

In 1984 Deborah Burke and I were married and moved to our present home in Bellevue, Washington. We have one son, Erik, born in 1990. During his 11 years in the Boy Scouts (he made Eagle), my wife and I were very involved as troop Assistant Cub/Scoutmasters. We join with many others in supporting progressive causes including environmental protection efforts, climate change awareness and advocating for disadvantaged people, often indigenous, subjected to corporate exploitation and governmental abuse. When not working on our small “farm� in Sammamish, we enjoy hiking, nordic skiing, canoeing, traveling, photography and vacationing in Hawaii.

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Janet Larson Grove Hometown: Stillwater, MN Current Home: Glen Arm, MD Major: English Email: jrgrove@comcast.net

I left Concordia with an uncertain future, recently engaged but with marriage postponed thanks to the draft board. I returned to my hometown and embarked on a career with Augsburg Publishing in the Editorial Department. This experience shaped my lifelong journey into editing and proofreading—sometimes financially compensated and sometimes as a volunteer. I ventured into retail sales and have worked at the same Staples, Inc. store for the past 22 years in various capacities.

I met Joel Grove “across the river” in Fargo during our junior year. We finally married in 1969. We moved around several times with Joel’s work in insurance. This is our seventh home; we have been here now for 23 years. We have three sons and four grandchildren who keep us young in spirit.

While working in Minneapolis, I took up counted cross stitching and am still plying my needle for relaxation when I’m not reading. Joel and I have found as we moved around that the church was the place we based our integration into our new surroundings. Helping with the church newsletter, teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir (Joel) and now head of the Altar Guild have all been our way of learning about our surroundings, making new friends and finding ways to serve others.

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L. Jon Larson Hometown: Kennedy, MN Current Home: Menomonie, WI Major: Art, Political Science Additional Education: M.S., Guidance and Counseling, Winona State Univ., Winona, MN Email: annneitha@gmail.com I married Ann (Swenson) in 1968, and we moved to La Crescent, Minnesota, where I taught art. Our family grew to include four sons (Matthew, Peter, David, and Michael), then four daughters-in-law, and eight grandchildren: six boys and two girls, ranging now from 12 years old to newborn. They all live within an hour of us, and we feel lucky to be part of their lives.

With a school system schedule making my summers available, I did some general contracting of construction projects—homes and a medical clinic in La Crescent. With a partner, I also created a sub-division with lots for homes. Our favorite project was working with an architect to design and then build our own home. I spent the first 20 years after graduating from Concordia teaching senior high art. Working with students in the informal art classroom led me to get my Masters in Guidance and Counseling from Winona State University in 1987. I was the Guidance Counselor at La Crescent High School for 13 years until my retirement in 2000. I was active in Minnesota’s MSCA and named Minnesota Secondary School Counselor of the Year. I served as the Midwest Vice-President in ASCA, the national school counselors’ organization. In the fall of 2000 I began work as a counselor at Winona (Minnesota) Senior High, working with the federal drug and alcohol prevention program until my second retirement in 2005.

With my four sons, we started a family business, Lancer Group Properties in 2003. It is in Menomonie, Wisconsin, where we now live. We own and manage properties. It has grown into a realty and property management company for many other owners as well and is now owned and run by one of our sons.

We built a cabin in 1987 on Lake Holcombe in Wisconsin. We have loved playing and relaxing there with friends, family and best of all—grandchildren! You can find us at all home Viking games—moving to Wisconsin didn’t change our Minnesota purple blood!

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Larry Larson Hometown: Battle Lake, MN Current Home: Clitherall, MN Major: English, Math Additional Education: MBA, Pepperdine University, SOS and National War College Email: larrydlarson45@gmail.com Following graduation, OTS in San Antonio was first stop. After a “90-day wonder” adventure, new USAF 2nd Lt. flew to North Dakota to marry Joanne Flaa (’67). After six years, Joanne gave birth to fraternal twins. Jennifer is a bilingual special-ed teacher at Fort Rucker near Enterprise, Alabama (two granddaughters). Christopher is USAF Colonel at Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, in command of the world-wide fleet of stealth drones (three granddaughters). After three+ decades, Joanne & Larry decided we were better friends than roommates and parted company. We remain good friends.

Ten years ago, Barbara Taketa got my attention, and we married. A fourth generation Japanese-American, she was born in a California detention camp. Her family went to Japan for eight years following WWII. Barbara is fluent in Japanese language and customs. She won a Disney talent contest (singing) in her teens and has been giving song and dance performances for 55+ years. Barbara retired, and we moved to Minnesota in 2010 in order to help care for my mom. Mom has since died; we’ve decided to live awhile in our Minnesota lake home. It is only six miles from my childhood farm, so it’s back home for me and a culture shock for Barbara.

We travel a lot. My military career included assignments in nine states and Belgium. After 11 moves in 13 years, we left active duty behind for California. I transferred to the USAF Reserves, retiring as a Colonel.

Jobs included two years with my own consulting firm and ten years as an aerospace employee and consultant.

Highlight: manager of integration for development of the B-2 Stealth bomber at Northrop. I got an MBA from Pepperdine and CFP (Certified Financial Planner) credentials and spent 25 years as a financial planner and RIA. I sold my practice in 2013 and retired.

Top memory (excluding wives and kids): taking Joanne, my parents and 16-year-old twins for a Christmas trip to Europe. An old friend closed his restaurant in a small Belgian town in the Ardennes on Christmas Eve, and we ate and drank our way through a four-hour, nine-course meal, then walked across the street for a midnight mass in French. Christmas morn: a two-hour drive through the Ardennes in 6'' of new snow to a village we had lived in, for lunch with our old landlord. The bar owner across the street showed up and invited us over for a drink, and 100+ villagers surprised us and marched us through the streets to the Flemish school which the kids had attended for three years. My eyes are wet.

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Orvin Larson Hometown: Buffalo, ND Current Home: Lemon Grove, CA Major: Psychology Additional Education: M.A., Psychology, University of Arizona, Naval War College Email: orv@cox.net I started at Concordia with the class of 1968 and graduated with the class of 1967. After graduation, I attended graduate school at the University of Arizona in Tucson. After receiving a Master’s in Psychology in 1969, I took a job in San Diego with the Navy Personnel Research and Development Center (NPRDC) on Point Loma. At NPRDC I worked in human factors on predicting future maintenance requirements for Navy technicians. This work was a good fit with my prior Army radar experience and as a tech rep to the Air Force in heavy ground radar before enrolling at Concordia. Note: Dr. Al Bartz counseled me well on how to fit my prior experience into a career in Psychology. In 1974, I moved into a training division with a series of multi-year Marine Corps projects. The Office of Naval Research (ONR) was the primary funding agency.

In 1981 I was selected to attend the year-long “Senior Course” at the Naval War College (NWC) in Newport, Rhode Island. The subject matter was Management Science, Policy and Strategy, and Naval Operations. This was a very rewarding year professionally. As a family, that year was a nice change of pace. And, our son and daughter were introduced to snow! I graduated in June 1982.

Upon our return to San Diego, I moved into a staff position and provided management oversight for both Navy and Marine Corps research programs involving Manpower, Personnel, and Training. The technical programs were accomplished by very capable research scientists with funding coming from both USN and USMC sources. In 1991 I moved back into “line” management as head of a Training Systems Division.

I left NPRDC in 1998 to accept a position with the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Pacific (SPAWARSYSCEN). I was a Business Area Manager in the Systems and Human Simulation Division. I retired from there in May of 2002.

My wife, Mallory, and I married in 1971. We have two children, Kirsten and David, and three grandchildren ranging in age from 8 to 24 years.

Since retiring I have continued my “ham radio” hobby begun in 1957, and spent six years creating a 344-page genealogy of two immigrant Norwegian couples—the Larsons and the Kringlers. We have remained in the San Diego area.

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Dan Lee Hometown: Bigfork, MT Current Home: Rock Island, IL Major: Philosophy Additional Education: M.A., M. Phil., Ph.D, Yale University, New Haven, CT Email: danlee@augustana.edu I am currently the Marian Taft Cannon Professor in the Humanities at Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois. A member of the faculty since 1974, my teaching responsibilities include courses in medical ethics and business ethics. In 2007, I was a member of the People to People Ambassador Program Philosophy Delegation to China, which led to an invitation to be a guest professor in the College of Philosophy at Shanghai Normal University in 2010 and 2011. In 2014 I was a visiting faculty member at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia.

I have taught in Augustana-sponsored international study programs in Italy, France, Mexico and Peru. Publications include ten books and numerous articles and op-ed pieces. Human Rights and the Ethics of Globalization (Cambridge University Press, 2010), co-authored with my daughter, Elizabeth J. Lee, was a Choice Outstanding Academic Title 2011winner. Op-ed pieces I have written have appeared in USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Journal of Commerce, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and several other newspapers. I cherish every minute in the classroom and have no plans to retire. I avoid faculty committees whenever possible but serve as the faculty advisor for three student groups. In my rather unpredictable life, I help prepare Miss Iowa for the Miss America Pageant by backgrounding her on current issues.

A Vietnam-era Navy veteran, I served as a commissioned officer assigned to naval intelligence. My training included studying Russian full-time for forty-seven weeks. I am no longer involved in espionage; I haven’t been involved in that particular line of work for more than forty years. A member of the Handel Oratorio Society, I have sung in numerous performances with the Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra, and with Opera Quad Cities.

Ruth Danielson (’68) and I were married June 1, 1968. We celebrated our 48th anniversary with a river cruise on the Danube. We have one daughter—Elizabeth J. Lee—who is a lawyer affiliated with a law firm in Santa Monica, California.

We built a log cabin on the part of the family farm I inherited in Montana (near Glacier Park), doing much of the work on it ourselves. During the summer when the winds are favorable, I can be found at the helm of Viking Explorer, my Ericson 35 Mark II sloop, which I keep at a marina near our cabin.

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Joyce Lee Hovdesven Hometown: Redwood Falls, MN Current Home: Petaluma, CA Major: Education, Sociology Additional Education: Early Childhood Learning Email: 2joyne@gmail.com

In 2015 I retired from teaching. During my career, I worked as a Special Education teacher with a focus on Autism, a classroom teacher and a supervisor of practicing student teachers through a local university.

I also had the privilege to teach summer school for newly credentialed young teachers for 11 years.

I married my college sweetie and we have two children. We enjoy museums, concerts, music, wine tasting and playing with our “grand puppies.�

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Rhonda Lefdahl Molloy Hometown: Malta, MT Current Home: Billings, MT Major: Elementary Education Email: rhondaleemolloy@gmail.com

How can 50 years have passed without knowing about where the wind has blown so many of you? I left Concordia after being in three of my roommates’ weddings that summer of 1967 to go back to Montana and marry my childhood sweetheart. Dan and I have been married for 50 years this July 15th. We have been celebrating this year by going to Ireland for two weeks in October and then we spent Christmas and New Years in Shanghai, China, where our son, Sean, has lived for 25 years. Dan just retired this past year after practicing medicine in Billings, Montana, for 38 years.

I taught school after we got married in Omaha, Nebraska. Sean was born there in May of 1969. Marne, our daughter, was born in February of 1971. We were in the Air Force at Rapid City for a couple of years and in Fresno, California, for an OB/GYN Residency that lasted three years. I always had a preschool in our basement while Sean and Marne were growing up. The most creative experience I had was after the kids were grown, I had a Waldorf School called Kite Song School. It was the best teaching I ever did. Everything was magical with art and nature taking us all on many an adventure.

My passion over all the years has been in the kitchen. I have taught cooking classes as well as taken many classes myself. Dan and I love to plan a great meal for friends and gather around the table sharing food, conversation and wine. There is no better occasion than when we create an evening gathering our family or close friends, cooking sometimes for three days to prepare lovely food. Our favorite place on the planet is at Flathead Lake where we have a Pontoon boat and are close to Glacier Park where we hike and go to enjoy the great beauty in Montana that surrounds us. We have snow and water skied over the years. I got my masters in counseling and have worked part-time doing that as well as massage therapy.

The years have blessed us with good health and we hope to have time to enjoy our extended families and travel. We have time together now and it all seems very precious. Looking forward to catching up with friends from the past.

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James Legler Hometown: Detroit Lakes, MN Current Home: Moorhead, MN Major: Psychology Additional Education: MBA, Ph.D., Organizational Development, Oregon State U Email: legler@cord.edu I came to Concordia College from my hometown in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. At that time, Concordia had a trimester system where you could graduate in three years; I graduated in July of 1966, but my class is really the class of 1967. At Concordia I majored in psychology and minored in economics. I had a great learning experience and enjoyed the people at Concordia. I met my wife, Cindy Cooper, at Concordia. We married in June 1967.

I enlisted in the U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School. I was assigned to an ammunition ship off the coast of Viet Nam for my first tour of duty. My second tour was as an instructor/administrative officer at Officer Indoctrination School, in charge of training doctors, dentists and lawyers coming into the service. I finished my service as a Lieutenant and returned to Detroit Lakes.

In Detroit Lakes, I went into business with my father in the automotive wholesale business. We grew a very successful business with over 40 employees. During the time I was in business, I completed a Master’s Degree in Organizational Communication at NDSU. In 1984 I sold the business and got accepted into a Ph.D. program at Oregon State University. I completed an MBA degree and my Ph.D. degree in Organizational Development there.

Involved in consulting in Lake Oswego, Oregon, and Poulsbo, Washington, I eventually moved into college teaching. I taught at Wartburg College in Iowa. Paul Dovre contacted me as to a position as Director of the Center for Ethical Leadership and professor at Concordia College. I accepted this position and taught courses in leadership and ethics and ran an outreach program in ethics. I proposed and developed the required ethics curriculum for business majors and taught those courses for several years. I really enjoyed teaching; Concordia was a great place to be. I decided to reduce my work load in 2014 after 14 years on the faculty. Presently, I am classified as an Emeritus Professor; I continue working part-time at Concordia teaching and advising.

Cindy and I have been married almost 50 years and have two children.

Erika is a principal in Prior Lake, Minnesota; Chris is the CEO of a coffee supply company in Seattle. We have two grandchildren: Mario and Cooper. I enjoy canoeing, biking and hiking.

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Joyce Lerberg Locken Knutson Hometown: Moorhead, MN Current Home: Oakes, ND Major: Medical Technology Email: jlocken@drtel.net

After graduating in 1967, I received my Medical Technologist license and began my first job in August in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was quite an eye opener as it was such a diverse and huge laboratory. In January 1968 I moved back to Fargo and worked at St. Luke’s Hospital where I had trained.

In June I married David Locken, and we both lived and worked in Fridley, Minnesota, he as a teacher, and I as a medical technologist. We moved to Oakes, North Dakota, in the summer of 1969, where we both continued working at our respective jobs. After five years I stayed home and raised my children, two girls and a boy.

I went back to work at Oakes Community Hospital in 1985 and worked there until 2002. In 1995 I married Richard Knutson. Together with his three and my three we were fortunate to have all graduate from Concordia, along with a niece and two nephews.

During these 50 years, I have been active in many organizations in Oakes. I am currently volunteering at the Oakes Food Pantry, nursing home, and Hospice of the Red River Valley, as well as various church committees at our home church, Grace Lutheran. Our efforts are now focused on our 13 grandchildren whom we try to visit as often as we can. We have been truly blessed.

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Gaylen Lerohl Hometown: Savage, MN Current Home: Alexandria, MN Major: Economics Additional Education: M.S., Business Management Email: gaylenlerohl@gmail.com Following graduation in the spring of 1967, I reported to the US Air Force Officer Training School. Pilot training at Vance AFB, Oklahoma, followed with an assignment to Forbes AFB, Kansas, and advanced training in C-130 aircraft. For the next two years my squadron served in several deployments around the world. I served a tour in Southeast Asia flying AC-130 aircraft in 1971 and separated from the Air Force in the fall of 1972.

Married now with one child, we began farming in my home community. We became parents of three daughters, two of whom incidentally are Cobbers. After 15 years, we left the farm and moved to Alexandria, Minnesota.

I retired from real estate at age 65 and now spend my time volunteering in the church and community and am a part time flight instructor. My wife is also retired. We have seven grandchildren—all in Minnesota, so we are able to see our kids and grandkids often.

I often think of the phrase, “… to influence the affairs of the world by sending into society thoughtful and informed men and women dedicated to the Christian life.” I am grateful to have had the opportunity to receive the education afforded by Concordia, to have had the teachers and mentors on staff who helped guide my education and who have had a great influence on my life.

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Ron Letnes Hometown: Moorhead, MN Current Home: Blaine, MN Major: History/ Political Science Additional Education: M.Div., D.Min. Email: ronlinlet@gmail.com

Concordia focused my life. Meeting and marrying Linda was the greatest plus. Being part of a seminar at Bleak House led by Dr. Elie Haney, I learned of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, whose writing focused my theology and ecclesiology. Bonhoeffer, coupled with history/ political science courses, experiencing the drama of the 1960s, living through JFK’s assassination, serving on the Student Senate for four years, being part of the Student-Exchange Committee in conjunction with Virginia Union University, marching in Concordia’s first Civil Rights March and hearing speakers like Stringfellow, Littell and Bennett stirred a life-long commitment to peace, justice and nonviolence. Conversations with Pastor Lee helped center my life and mentor a fuller understanding of ministry.

Studies at Luther Seminary and the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago shaped 40 years of called ministry. I served 17 years in outdoor ministry as executive director of two camps: Shetek in southwestern Minnesota and Sky Ranch in Colorado, where I established the largest servant ministry in the ELCA. I served congregations in Milwaukee; Aurora and Denver, Colorado, and interims in Colorado and Minnesota. I founded the Southwest Minnesota District Racism-Sexism Task Force and worked with a Milwaukee ecumenical team to establish a community center. In Colorado I set up the Rocky Mountain Synod Nonviolence Resource Team, worked with an ecumenical team to write the Colorado Confession in response to Iraq and environmental issues and wrote a Colorado Confession Blog. Now retired in Minnesota, I founded the synodical team called ENGAGE: Lutherans for Gun Violence Prevention. I serve on the Board of Protect Minnesota, a nonprofit committed to gun violence prevention. Concordia’s Mission was majorly influential in shaping my callings.

Linda and I have three children. Alyssa has four children and lives in Casper, Wyoming. Stephen, CC ’01, lives in Minneapolis and composes music for movies. Shana is married to Erik. They with their two children live just a mile from us. She and Erik served in the Peace Corps upon graduating from Concordia. Today Shana teaches immigrants and prepares them for college.

Linda and I have much common ground. We are passionate about politics, sports, gardening, travel and how faith intersects life. My gratitude to Concordia for lifelong friends and meeting and marrying Linda. It has made life full. Soli Deo Gloria!

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E. Paul Lian Hometown: Owatonna, MN Current Home: Phoenix, AZ Major: Elementary Education Additional Education: M.S., Education Administration, U of Southern Mississippi Email: epl@gmail.com My TOP TEN list from the past fifty years: 1. Earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.

2. Honorable Discharge from the USAF serving during the Viet Nam War, 1970 - 1974.

3. Sang in the Mount Olivet Lutheran adult church choir in Minneapolis. We made two European tours singing several concerts in Norway, Sweden, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

4. Blended family of three adult children: Skip, Polly and Eric, and eight grandchildren.

5. Awarded a Paul Harris Fellow from Rotary International.

6. Served as a Past President of the Fridley (Minnesota) Jaycees.

7. Served as a past president of the National Alumni Board of Directors at Concordia, without question, my best volunteer experience.

8. Retired after a 33-year career in the Life Insurance - Pension business. Qualifying Member, Million Dollar Round Table. Served as a Past President of the 500-member St. Paul Life Underwriters Association.

9. Past Member of Golden Valley Country Club in Minneapolis and Desert Forest Golf Golf Club in Carefree, Arizona.

10. My current hobbies include attending classical symphony orchestra and choral music concerts. My lifelong passion for all sports is alive and well.

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Warren Liebenow Hometown: Leonard, ND Current Home: Wayzata, MN Major: Art Additional Education: Kendall School of Art and Design; Grand Rapids, MI Email: wcliebenow@gmail.com The first five years after graduation I taught junior and senior high school art; two years in Jackson, Minnesota, and three years in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. I then went back to school and studied Interior Design at Kendall School of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Upon completing school at Kendall, I moved to the Minneapolis area where I worked as an interior designer for a variety of firms involved with projects ranging from furnishing nursing homes, motels, restaurants, to jails, schools and offices. For the last 16 years prior to retiring in 2012, I worked for Graco, Inc. as an in-house interior designer responsible for their offices in the Twin Cities and other locations within the U.S. Throughout my career, I was a Professional Member of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) and a Certified Interior Designer (CID) in Minnesota.

In 1969 I married my wife, Arlys, who prior to retiring was a middle school band teacher. We have two children: Paul who is a sound engineer, and Kathryn (a Luther grad) who is a middle school orchestra teacher.

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Dianne Lovaasen Judd Hometown: Park River, ND Current Home: Bayfield, WI Major: Business Education Additional Education: Various..continuing Email: dljudd@bayoak.com

After graduation, I put all I had into a suitcase and took the train to Minneapolis. In the Twin Cities I worked as an Executive Secretary at Control Data and finished my career at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in St. Paul as an Administrative Assistant.

During all those years, I volunteered with several social concerns groups such as ELCA Peace with Justice Team, Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing (MICAH), and PFLAG. Currently, my volunteer work includes being President of the local League of Women Voters chapter.

I met my husband, Dave, at Control Data in St. Paul where he worked as a Software Developer before moving to Cray Research where he worked to develop operating systems and compilers. We raised two children, Matthew, who is a forester in Duluth, and Susie, who is an actuary in Bloomington. With both kids married, we have four grandchildren that keep us laughing and busy.

Our dream was to be near the Apostle Islands and sailing on Lake Superior, so we retired and moved to Bayfield, Wisconsin, in 2007. We enjoy adventure trips, gardening, hiking, being in nature and loving those grandkids. This picture was taken last spring at Chaco Canyon in New Mexico.

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John Lund Hometown: Larimore, ND Current Home: Marshall, MN Major: English, History/Political Science Additional Education: M.S., St. Mary’s University, Winona, MN Email: jmlund@chartermi.net I retired in 2001 after teaching 29 years in the Marshall District. I had a five-year break from teaching while my wife, Marilyn, and I owned and operated a Coast-to-Coast store in Cherokee, Iowa.

We have two sons: Matt of Coon Rapids, and Mark of Boyden, Iowa.

Since retiring, we have traveled to Europe, Australia and New Zealand as well as throughout the United States. Besides enjoying retirement, I volunteer at the Lyon County Historical Society museum in Marshall.

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Kerth Lundell Hometown: Kennedy, MN Current Home: Santa Fe, NM Major: Psychology Additional Education: M.S., School Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, OH Email: Ktlundell@aol.com After graduating from Concordia, I did my graduate work in School Psychology at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. After a one year internship with the Dayton Public Schools, I stayed on...for 31 years...as a staff psychologist. I also taught behavioral psychology at the University of Dayton.  I am now retired and living in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

My wife, Mary, passed away two years ago. I have one daughter who is married and lives in Portland, Oregon. My current interests include hiking, listening to jazz, international travel and playing the bluegrass banjo (I play with the Santa Fe Ramblers). 

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Dean Madison Hometown: Luverne, MN Current Home: Sioux Falls, SD Major: Zoology, Chemistry Additional Education: M.D., University of Iowa Medical School, Iowa City, IA Email: deanm@sio.midco.net During the medical school and residency years, I married my wife, Kristi. We now have three children ages 40-45. After my OB-GYN residency, I was off to the Army at Ft Bragg, North Carolina, for two years.

This was as Vietnam was winding down so there were lots of babies to deliver! It was a great experience.

After my discharge, we moved from North Carolina to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and have been here since.

I started with an independent group of three, but as we expanded, we integrated with Sioux Valley which is now Sanford Health. I was involved in a fast-growing organization and served on the board of trustees and hired the present CEO Kelby Krabbenhoft, also a Concordia alum. We have had fun working together, but then I found out I was getting old, so I retired in 2014. Sure went fast!! I still cover Section call in Vermillion off and on but am in search of something fulfilling to do while still healthy.

It is fun to think of all the changes since we were there 50 years ago. I still remember the 50-pound calculator we used for big chemistry problems...now we can do it on our watch!

My 18-year-old grandson is considering Concordia. I wonder if he can get the same tuition we did??

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John Malvey Hometown: Moorhead, MN Current Home: Oak Park Heights, MN Major: Biology Additional Education: Ph.D, Physiology & Biophysics, University of Iowa Email: jjmalvey@msn.com Growing up just two blocks from campus, plus having my father heavily involved in many ways, Concordia almost felt like a second home to me. My four years as a student/athlete (football and tennis) only cemented that connection more firmly.

After graduation my wife, Jan, and I (high school sweethearts) moved to Iowa City where I attained a Ph.D. in Physiology and Biophysics (1972). It was there also that our sons, Craig (’92) and Michael, were born and initiated into the Hawkeye culture. Then, acknowledging that teaching/research was not my thing, we returned to Moorhead in 1976, and I started work with a local insurance company which eventually became one of the top fixed annuity providers in the country. In 1988 we were relocated to Des Moines, Iowa, where I became the Vice President of Marketing. In 1996, after the company was sold and moved, I joined a good friend/co-worker starting our own insurance marketing business—probably the most enjoyable ten years of my working life—until I retired January 1, 2008.

Two years later, after more than a little encouragement from our sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren, we returned to Minnesota and ended up near the Twin Cities in the Stillwater area. Welcome to the world of four grandkids and their many activities. A very special benefit from all of that was our ability to take all eight of them to Costa Rica for a week this past summer to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary.

Although we moved North when we retired, we do escape the Minnesota winters by spending that time in Florida. We are gratefully enjoying our retirement years even though they pass by much too quickly. We have done some traveling to other parts of the world, both with and without family members; however, most of our time is divided between family gatherings of one sort or another. Golf and other individual activities keep each of us connected with our own special likes and talents.

Looking back, I think I can say that Concordia provided the perfect transition from youth to adult. The people I got to know there (new friends, professors, coaches, administration) were great influences, some of whom we still connect with today. It was a very special place to be part of.

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Bradley Martinson Hometown: Brainerd, MN Current Home: New Brighton, MN Major: History, Political Science Additional Education: J.D., University of Minnesota Law School Email: bmartinson@martinsonlaw.com Beth and I were married shortly after graduation in 1967 and moved to Minneapolis. Beth taught at the junior high school in Fridley, Minnesota, and I started law school. I completed my first year of law school before Uncle Sam decided he needed me more than I needed law school, so I enlisted in the Army in the fall of 1968.

I completed Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Georgia, and received a commission in the Infantry in September 1969. I was assigned to the 24th Infantry Division in Ft. Riley, Kansas. Beth and I spent a year living in Manhattan, Kansas, before I received orders for the Republic of South Korea. I was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division in Korea. I completed my tour in July 1971, and returned to Minnesota to complete my law school studies.

Our daughter, Sara, was born while I was in Korea. Sara and her husband, Mike, live in Mound, Minnesota, with their three children: Hank, 14; Libby, 13, and Owen, 11. Our son, Tim, is not married and lives in Minnetonka, Minnesota. We are fortunate to have our family so close.

I was admitted to practice law in Minnesota in 1973 and from then until 1997, I practiced in small firm settings, mostly doing commercial litigation. In 1997 I started my own firm and practiced solo until 2010. In 2010, I became General Counsel for North American Banking Company where l am presently employed. I am doing work that interests me and I work with good people, so for me retirement is still somewhere in the future.

I enjoy golf and try to play a couple of times a week in the season. Beth plays tennis and, while she no longer plays in organized competition, still plays several times a week. We also try to take in as many of our grandchildren’s activities as we can. We gave up our motorcycle a few years ago but enjoyed several trips on the bike to Sturgis for the rally and further west and north through Colorado, Wyoming and Canada. We have substituted a convertible for the bike and now our “gang� travels on four wheels instead of two. Beth and I will be on a Viking River cruise on the Danube at the time the reunion activities are scheduled so we will not be in Moorhead. Greetings to all. I am sorry to miss the chance to reconnect with old friends but will look forward to reading about all of you in the yearbook. Thank you to all on the committee for putting it together.

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George Mathison Hometown: Fergus Falls, MN Current Home: Fergus Falls, MN Major: Biology Additional Education: M.D., University of Colorado Medical School, Denver, CO Email: gmathmd@gmail.com Born and raised in Fergus Falls, I followed my sister and brother, Larry, enrolling in the freshman class at Concordia in 1963. My interest was in the sciences thinking I would major in math. I quickly discovered I was not fit for that, but I loved biology and chemistry right away. Ed Fugelstad, Eleanor and Olaf Thorstveit, Howard Osborn, Dr. Dinga and many others were an inspiration in the old science building (old Army barracks). I was drawn in and very busy. But in October 1963, my attention was pulled away by a very cute freshman I met in the lunch line, Ann Gillespie. Everything changed from that moment on. Me a zoololgy/ chemistry major, Mondamin, and she a biology/English major, AKX, dated throughout college, marrying on December 30, 1967; -32 degrees! Then on to the University of Colorado Medical School in Denver. With Ann working as a Medical Technologist, she put me through school and supported us. Liz was born there in 1971.

My 1971 graduation from medical school was followed by an internship and residency in Orthopedic surgery at San Diego Naval Hospital, ’71-’75. Kate was born there in 1974. On to Maryland where I directed residents on the spine service for two years at Bethesda Naval Hospital, leaving the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander in 1977. Then I returned to Fergus Falls again, joining the FF Medical group, a solo Orthopedic surgeon for the first seven years in a multi-specialty group of great doctors, including my brother, Larry. Luke was born in 1979, Andy in 1982. Ann was very busy! I cared for all sorts of orthopedic problems including pediatric and trauma, and especially enjoyed total knee and hip replacements. I practiced for 33 years at FFMG, retiring in 2010.

Now with 10 grandchildren, all geniuses, Ann and I have traveled all over the world, spending summers at our cabin on Otter Tail Lake and experiencing many adventures with friends throughout the U.S., Scandinavia, Europe and Japan. We still ski in Colorado. We enjoy keeping in touch with dear friends. including Cobbers from the class of 1967. Concordia was where our lives together started and put us on the right track to a wonderful life together. We remain in Fergus Falls, visiting family, friends, kids and grandkids in Minneapolis, Chicago and Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

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Sandra McColl Johansen Hometown: Chicago, IL Current Home: Whitefish Bay, WI Major: English, Speech Additional Education: MA, English Lang. & Lit., U of Mich; MA, Speech Communication & Theatre, East Michigan University Email: sjmjohans@gmail.com Today’s to-do list tells much of my current story: 1) write opening prayer for Pastoral Care Team, 2) review notes from Aging and Spirituality symposium, 3) text Marc & Kate (our son and daughter-in-law teaching at UA in Tucson), 4) phone mother in Florida, 5) serve breakfast to Sara’s chihuahuas, 6) email church business manager about repair costs of a broken chalice, 7) update Kjell’s (husband ’64) calendar to include two movies for a Lenten group.

Most significant is the spiritual renewal I’ve been experiencing since I turned 60, more or less. That also translates into my current routine. Since September 2016, I’ve committed to a four-year Education for Ministry program developed by University of the South-Sewanee. This year, I’m studying the Hebrew Bible—takes ten to twelve hours of preparation for a two hour class! That was not my study-for-class ratio at Concordia.

Funny story: Sara, our 32-year-old daughter (marketing exec)—still wondering about her parents’ switch from the ELCA church of her youth to the Episcopal church down the street—quipped while she watched my intense study of Introduction to the Hebrew Bible, “Well, are we going to be Jewish next?” No, not exactly.

With the rich tradition of Lutheran grace and the mystery of the Episcopal liturgy, we have found our spiritual home.

Perhaps my quest for greater spiritual meaning reached a critical mass when I was teaching students with special needs in the Wisconsin zip code noted for the highest rate of poverty in the state. I remember typing a science fiction story as fast as my student was creating it, only to recall assigning his classmates the task of writing sympathy letters to his family the following week. By means of an intricately planned revenge attack by a gang, this thirteen-year-old child was bludgeoned to death at a bus shelter. Teaching in Milwaukee Public Schools was the last stop before I reached the official destination of retirement. Job-tracking backwards from there, I worked as a commercial real-estate manager, book editor at Alverno College, administrative manager for graduate student services at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, assistant professor of English and Communication at Concordia University-Ann Arbor, high school English teacher in Allen Park, Michigan, and first of all—teacher at Moorhead High School.

At this juncture of my journey, I am amazed at the insight of Robert Frost, “The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected;” and I am still overwhelmed by the lyrics of John Ylvisaker, “I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry.”

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Randall McKee Hometown: International Falls, MN Current Home: St. John, IN Major: Biology Additional Education: M.S., Parasitology University of Kansas, Manhattan, KS Email: ranmarmckee@aol.com I taught human anatomy and physiology to pre-med, pre-nursing and pre-health majors at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside for 39 years, retiring in 2011.

I then moved to my current place of residence to be with my partner, Richard Tinerella, now my husband, as we were able to marry June 26, 2014, here in Indiana.

I’m enjoying retirement, spending my time gardening (lilies, orchids and anything unusual), doing antique shows with my business partner, junking and reading when I have time. We travel quite a bit—Maui every January; Barcelona for our honeymoon which included a cruise of the Mediterranean, and also Aruba, the Riviera Maya, the Bahamas, Tuscany, Florida and Provincetown in the past couple years.

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Camille Meyer Wainwright Hometown: Chokio, MN Current Home: Clermont, Fl; Vancouver, WA Major: Chemistry Additional Education: M.S, Purdue; Ph.D., Science Education, University of Minnesota Email: wainwric@comcast.net We’re snowbirds! It’s quite a delight living in perpetual summer. We have a home in Clermont, Florida (near Orlando), for the sunny winters and a condo in Vancouver, Washington, for the delightful summers. (In the winter there it rains every day.)

I play a lot of bridge, golf, read, crochet and volunteer as an ESL instructor locally. Dave (Louis David Wainwright, ’66) and I are celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary this summer. We are expecting friends and relatives to join us from across the country as well as our sons and their families, which include six grandchildren.

Our biggest hobby is travel; this year’s international trips included Cuba, Portugal and Spain. We’ve now visited about sixty countries, including multiple trips to China and teaching school there, as well as three years in the Philippine Islands. But there are so many more countries to visit! Each trip contained highlights, so we’re stumped when asked about our “favorite” trip. We strongly encourage all Americans to travel to learn as much as possible about other cultures around the world.

After 30+ years of teaching, retirement is terrific. Over time, I taught middle and high school, elementary and college level students. (Whenever asked which was my favorite, I always replied that students at all levels are basically the same, and quite enjoyable; but teaching at the college level had the distinct advantage of not having to deal with parents!) For aging folks, our health is excellent though we notice the increased forgetfulness. We constantly fight a battle with weight, especially when travelling (cruises guarantee weight gain) but otherwise are able to enjoy life fully. Best wishes to all my classmates and their spouses.

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Bonnie Miller Smith Hometown: Hettinger, ND Current Home: Hettinger, ND Major: English; Vocal Music Performance Additional Education: B.S., Dickinson State University; M.A. NDSU Email: bonnie.smith@dsu.nodak.edu Excited to attend Concordia College, I came to learn and to sing.

Classes with Drs. Prauznitz (English), Anderson (Philosophy), Svendsbye (Reformation) and Miss Halvorsen (Voice) stay with me yet.

In a 35-year career, I taught English, drama, speech and related courses in Hettinger; Advanced Comp; dual-credit Interactive Television courses for area schools, and English and Communication courses online for Dickinson State.

A Class B drama coach, I directed and produced over 90 plays of various runs for school, church and community. Under my direction, students earned eight Class B State Championships, six State Runners-up titles, 15 Regional Championships and placed in the top four at State all but two other times, with many students receiving individual medals.

As student yearbook advisor, I coached students to four Division II NIPA Sweepstakes trophies and 21 Special Recognition trophies. My writing students continued to sweep the North Dakota State Fair Writing Awards.

A North Dakota Teacher of the Year, 1994, I was also North Dakota Speech and Theatre (NDSTA) Teacher of the Year, NDSTA Class B Drama Coach of the Year three times and am a member of the NDSTA Hall of Fame. In 1998 I received the highest alumni achievement award for DSU, the Golden Hawk Award.

In 2000 I studied in China on a Fulbright Summer program, with later educational trips to Russia and Iceland.

I represented North Dakota at NASA’s International Space Camp, at the National Ed Goals 2000 Teachers’ Forum in Washington, DC, at the North Dakota Educational Goals 2000 and at the North Dakota State Fair. I served as an FDA Patient Rep for ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn’s and collagenous colitis, and started the first Spondylitis Association of America Support Group in the Northern Great Plains.

Believing it is what we give that matters most, I continue to be involved in volunteer work, supporting what I learned in Concert Choir from Paul J. Christensen about the “ripple effect.” Enjoying time with family and friends and getting to know people from other cultures, I am a lifelong learner who enjoys reading, writing, yardwork, photography and hiking.

My husband, Norman, my duet partner of 51 years, and I have two children, Steven and Kristen, both Concordia grads, and seven grandchildren.

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Margaret Mills Haglund Hometown: Indianapolis, IN Current Home: Moorhead, MN Major: Sociology Additional Education: Licensed Social Worker Email: haglund@cord.edu

In the fall of 1963, my brother-in-law brought me from Indianapolis, Indiana, to attend Concordia College.

In the fall of 1964, I met Roger Haglund (CC ’64), and we were married in December of 1965 during the middle of my junior year. After graduating with a major in sociology and minors in social work and Spanish, I worked for Cass County Social Services until 1971 when our son, David, was born. He and his wife, Debra, now live in Parker, Colorado, and both work for the Colorado DOT. In 1971 we bought a home on two acres of land in Oakport Township north of Moorhead where we still live today.

About 1976, I re-entered the work force in the field of home health care. My husband accepted a position as a mathematics instructor at Concordia in 1991, so I also returned to Concordia to complete a social work major (which was not available when I graduated in 1967). After becoming a licensed social worker, I was employed

by Lutheran Social Services for several years in their guardianship program. After working for a year as the director for one of the Fraser facilities in Fargo, I spent 10 years as a long-term care social worker for Beverly Healthcare in Moorhead. My husband and I both retired in 2008.

In addition to work, my husband and I have been involved in several community service organizations, travel and recreational activities. In 1998 I was elected as a supervisor to the Oakport Town Board and was re-elected in 2001. In 1996 and 2004 my husband and I traveled to Guatemala with Sister Parish delegations whose purpose was to promote understanding between our countries. We have been involved in square dancing for 50 years and traveled to many state and national conventions. We are active members of Hope Lutheran Church in Fargo, and I have also participated in an aerobics class there for many years. Since retirement, Roger and I have enjoyed volunteering at Habitat for Humanity, the Emergency Food Pantry and the Salvation Army. We also enjoy biking, taking long walks and caring for our large garden.

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Dikka Moan Ballantine Hometown: Park River, ND Current Home: Seattle, WA Major: Art, Home Economics Email: strawberrella@yahoo.com

I grew up in Park River, North Dakota. I graduated from Concordia with a double major in art and home economics. After graduation, I had a variety of jobs that included teaching, sewing drapes and other things, working retail including helping to manage a store and working in an accounting department. When I retired, I was Office Administrator at Denny Park Lutheran Church in Seattle.

Shortly after retirement, I married Ken McDonald. Other than church choir, I attend MCS support meetings as I’m sensitive to a variety of fragrances/chemicals. I also like to work on Lutheran World Relief quilts and teach once a month with extra activities at the SewUpSeattle sessions.

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Audrey Nelson Bruxvoort Hometown: Moorhead, MN Current Home: Woodbury, MN: Nipomo, CA Major: English Email: bruxvoort@gmail.com

The shy, awkward farm girl who loved books and started Concordia College in 1963 is living a life beyond her childhood dreams—and Concordia fueled that life.

Following a stint in journalism after college, by 1971 I was living in the Twin Cities and working at the Guthrie Theater in administration.

Besides being an intense, fascinating environment, it provided an immersive education in dramatic literature, and I got to know the most amazing, talented people. First, I was administrative assistant to the artistic director, then to the managing director. That led to my creating the first personnel function at an American regional theater. Meanwhile, my 1965 marriage to classmate Skip Baumhoefner ended and I met Wes, a research chemist at 3M. We soon realized we had each found our life’s partner and we were married in September, 1977. After leaving the Guthrie in 1980, I worked in personnel management in St. Paul but then moved on to freelance writing and desktop publishing.

I gradually retired and at the end of 2001 Wes retired too. We already were traveling extensively in the U.S. and began exploring Europe in 1988, going abroad every other year or so, doing our own trip planning.

Eventually our travels included Greece, a cruise along the Mediterranean coast from Istanbul to Barcelona, and a tour of China. Literature classes came to life especially in Great Britain and France, and Dr. Herman Larsen’s ancient history courses haunted me in Greece, Italy and China. Echoes of both World Wars reverberate all over Europe and China.

Over the years, I learned to knit, to ski, and to play bridge, and began learning to play piano. We started spending winters in California in 2002 and eventually bought a house on a golf course about halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Our summers are spent in Woodbury, Minnesota, so we get to garden year round and Wes can play golf nearly every day. We enjoy time with family and friends in Minnesota, Iowa, California and beyond. I had no siblings, but we try to keep up with Wes’ six and their families. I’m also very involved in the care of my mother who still lives in Moorhead. I continue to be an avid reader, and play bridge whenever I get the chance. Our next trip is a Viking river cruise from Moscow to St. Petersburg this summer.

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Connie Nelson VanDerBill Medin Hometown: Newark, IL; Emerado, ND Current Home: Spicer, MN Major: English Email: clvdbm@tds.net

After graduation in July, 1967, I taught Junior High English in Atwater, Minnesota, for two years, followed by two years as an elementary librarian at Chisago Lakes Public Schools in Lindstrom, Minnesota.

In 1971 I married Warren VanDerBill. We had three children: Andrew; Elizabeth, who is a Concordia graduate, and Nathan. I was a volunteering stay-athome mom until 1985 when I started working for the Welfare Department in Kandiyohi County, supervising the Unit for 18 years until I retired in 2006. Warren was killed in an accident on our farm in 1996, and in 2003 I married Stephen Medin, a dentist in Willmar, Minnesota. We built a home on Green Lake in Spicer, Minnesota.

Over the years I have served on numerous boards including the South West Initiative Foundation, The Rice Memorial Hospital Board, and the Women’s Fund of the Willmar Area Foundation. I’ve been active in my churches as well as the schools my children attended. I am currently on the Finance Committee of Bethel Lutheran Church in Willmar and volunteer at Rice Memorial Hospital.

We have four grandchildren: Abby-9, Emmett-7, Weston-5, and Ian-1, all of whom are above average!!!!!

Stephen and I enjoy traveling and socializing with friends and family. It’s a good life!

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Harold Nelson Hometown: Jud, ND Current Home: Minot, ND Major: English Additional Education: M.A., English, University of Chicago; Ph.D. English, University of North Dakota Email: harold.nelson@minotstateu.edu I earned a BA (English Honors) from Concordia, an MA (English) from the University of Chicago, and a PhD (English) from the University of North Dakota.

I joined Minot State University’s English Department in 1968, where, as Professor of English and Literature, I continue to teach writing, literature, and film classes.

I served as a part-time administrator in faculty development organizations, including twenty-four years as founder and director of the Northern Plains Writing Project and three years as assistant director of the Midcontinent Institute.

My wife, the former Terry Ann Bleich, and I live on the edge of a heavily wooded coulee in Minot. Our daughter, Kristen, lives in Florida.

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Phyllis Nelson Pedersen Hometown: Alexandria, MN Current Home: Sun City, AZ Major: Elementary Ed, History, Poli Sci Additional Education: Graduate Studies, University of Minnesota Email: manna7729@aol.com After graduating from Concordia, Bjorn Pedersen (class of ’68) and I were married in 1968. I taught fourth and fifth grades in Fargo, North Dakota; Riverside, California, and Roseville, Minnesota, following college. After living in Alexandria, Minnesota, for 20 years, where we had three children, we moved to Glendale, Arizona, for ten years. I taught at-risk high school students for 25 years. In my spare time, I also enjoyed being a cruise consultant and planning/traveling 11 cruises as well as assisting people with optimal health through Mannatech supplements. After living primarily in Flagstaff for 20 years and still maintaining our home there, we now have a condo in Sun City, Arizona, and enjoy being back in the Valley of the Sun. Bjorn founded the non-profit ministry, Prayer Watch International, about 20 years ago. He continues to teach on the importance of prayer and prayer leadership worldwide. We have enjoyed traveling extensively not only with Prayer Watch International but also with our family over the years. One of our favorite family destinations was our annual trip to Sanibel Island, Florida, during the Minnesota winters. I have been blessed to travel all around the United States, as well as to 45 different countries, which has allowed me to learn about and experience many various cultures. Our most recent adventure was a cruise with our whole family (including our three children, their spouses, and our seven grandchildren) to the Mexican Rivera over Thanksgiving.

I look forward to our next trip of a lifetime and visiting more charming cities. I am now enjoying my time in Sun City scrapbooking family memories and travel, working on mixed media art, and taking lots of paper crafting classes.

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Sharon Nelson Papic Hometown: Kandiyohi, MN Current Home: Eden Prarie, MN Major: Elementary Education Additional Education: M.S Email: swpapic42@msn.com

Bill and I have been married for 47 years. I taught elementary education in the Eden Prairie School District for 35 years before retiring. During my employment, I received the Eden Prairie Teacher of the Year award in 1996.

We have lived in Eden Prairie where we raised our two sons, Christopher and Jonathan.

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Sylvia Neraal Johnson Hometown: Hutchinson, MN Current Home: Moorhead, MN Major: Sociology Additional Education: M.S., Montessori, St. Catherine’s University, St. Paul, MN Email: dljslj@gmail.com Following graduation, I taught Head Start and started our family in Kingsford, Michigan.

While my husband, Denis Johnson, was attaining his degree at NDSU, I worked at Dakota Montessori School in Fargo, North Dakota, and received my M.S. degree in Montessori at St. Catherine’s in St. Paul, Minnesota. I taught at various Montessori Schools in Fargo, Reno, Boise, and Seattle until retirement in 2009.

We moved back to Moorhead to be near our children, one in Duluth, the other in Minneapolis. We have two grandchildren, Per (12) and Nissa (8). We love being back home in Minnesota and near Concordia!

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James Nestingen Hometown: Grenora, ND Current Home: Roseville, MN; Dallas, OR Major: Speech, Political Science Additional Education: Ph.D., St. Michaels College, University of Toronto Email: nescar@gmail.com The day after graduation from Concordia, I started work for Lloyd Svendsbye at Augsburg Publishing House in Minneapolis, continuing part time after classes opened at Luther Seminary in St. Paul.

Carolyn Storaasli and I were engaged later that summer, not long after she returned to the States from her studies in Grenoble, France. We were married a year later, before my middle year at Luther.

Subsequently, we spent a year in Spokane, WA, where I interned. Upon graduation, we moved back to the Northwest, to a small town on the southwest coast of Oregon called Coquille. I served there for three years before returning to Augsburg as a curriculum editor. Two years later, Luther Seminary called me to an interim position teaching Reformation History and Lutheran theology. Again in two years, the faculty gave me a leave to finish my doctorate at St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto.

Carolyn and I had two children by this time, one in Oregon and one in Minneapolis. We brought home a third, in the womb, when we returned from Ontario. She had clerked at a law firm in Toronto; shortly after our third son’s birth, she went to work practicing law in St. Paul. With three sons, two jobs and a house to keep up, it took a little while to finish my own degree. It was awarded in 1984.

Since then, Carolyn and I have been able to keep the chaos pushed back, at least minimally. While she kept up her legal practice, becoming one of Minnesota’s Super Lawyers, I taught at and traveled the church for Luther Seminary, lecturing here, there and everywhere. By 2006 a little the worse for wear, I was ready for retirement. Carolyn was slowing down, too. We built a home in Western Oregon, not far from Salem heading toward the coast. We spend summer and fall there, but winter—like true Norwegian Americans—in Minnesota. It makes sense to our grandkids, though one of the six, who is known as Kleine Erdnuss, the little peanut, fell out of our grip way over in Germany.

Carolyn claims that my retirement is a myth. I have taught on line for several faculties and still preach and lecture here and there. But there are no faculty meetings, a real deliverance. And there is plenty of time for fishing, even if living two different places makes it hard to find times to hunt. We have a wonderful time.

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Nancy Newton McGraw Hometown: Thief River Falls, MN Current Home: Hutchinson, MN Major: Home Economics Education Additional Education: Various Postgraduate Courses Email: nancymcgraw80@hotmail.com Greetings to all my Cobber classmates. 50 years!

Wow!! I don’t think I’ve counted the number of words I’ve written since my undergraduate work. I left Concordia after my junior year to marry Richard (Rick) McGraw, so we celebrated our 50th anniversary this fall. I graduated in 1968 after completing work in my major at the University of Minnesota and a required religion course at Concordia.

I loved teaching FACS (Family and Consumer Science) at Fosston, Minnesota; Stewart, Minnesota, and finally McLeod West (a Stewart and Brownton consolidation) until 2001. My students were active in FLA (Future Leaders of America), and they did well in STAR event competitions at the district, state and national level as well as holding local, district and state office leadership positions. It was a busy life.

We have three children: Ron, Mark and Leah. Mark and Leah also graduated from Concordia. They have given us eight wonderful grandchildren, two of whom are married and our oldest grandchild and her husband gave us a great-granddaughter, Adeline, born on Easter Sunday of 2016. We are truly blessed!

Retirement has brought more time for travel and living three to four months of each year in Mesa, Arizona.

We enjoyed retirement trips to Europe and Alaska and have since gone to Norway twice for relative reunions.

Cruises to various places have become a fun way to travel. Our life is full of volunteer efforts in our community and church, as well as attending sporting events for the grandchildren. Life is good, and we are thankful for the roots and values our parents and college years at Concordia instilled in us. Soli Deo Gloria!

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John Nordstrom Hometown: Benson, MN Current Home: Frazee, MN Major: Elementary Education Additional Education: Masters of Elementary Education, Moorhead State Univ.

Email: nordlake7@hotmail.com After graduation, I taught 6th grade and physical education at Carl Ben Eielson Elementary School on the Grand Forks Air Force Base. In 1970 I was drafted into the Army, trained at Infantry School, and spent 14 months in Vietnam. When I got to Vietnam the Replacement Depot was looking for typists and fortunately I had taken typing in high school. I passed the test and spent my time in Vietnam as a Remington Raider (my name for a clerk typist who sat behind a Remington typewriter for 14 months).

After my military service, Bonnie and I got jobs teaching in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota (1971). I taught fifth grade in the same room for 33 years. Although summers were wonderful, teaching was an exciting, rewarding, fun and challenging career.

Bonnie Johnson (Class of 1969) and I got married on December 29, 1968. We adopted two children, Matt (1977) and Sally (1980). We used our summers to enjoy the lakes of Minnesota, going camping and traveling to many different places in the US. In 1982 we bought property on Lake 7 and had the shell of a log home built. Upon retirement in 2005, we sold our house in Pelican Rapids and moved to Lake 7, about 25 miles from Pelican Rapids.

Some of my free time has been spent volunteering. I was a Boy Scout leader in Pelican Rapids for 29 years which meant that every Monday night found me at a Scout meeting with 15 - 30 boys. We have been active at Trinity Lutheran Church for the past 45 years. Playing trumpet in the Band of Faith has been enjoyable. I’ve advanced to 5th chair in a section of three trumpets (they have me in charge of wrong notes).

After retirement Bonnie and I have become involved in the Friends of Maplewood State Park, which is located about seven miles east of Pelican Rapids.

Today we enjoy our five grandchildren and have done a lot of day care for three of them. We do spend a month or so visiting Florida or Arizona during those cold winter days, but if the winter brings snow, it’s still fun to go cross country skiing. Great education and fun college years. Thank you, Concordia.

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Bob Nordvall Hometown: Roseau, MN Current Home: McKenzie, ND Major: Sociology Additional Education: M.D., Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN Email: pastorbob@eemn.org Following our graduation, Karen (deceased September 2013) and I were married. I entered Luther Seminary.

My first missionary call was to Papua, New Guinea, 1971. We returned Stateside in 1982, and I accepted a call to serve as parish pastor in Taylor, North Dakota.

In 1985 we moved to Bismarck where I served as Senior Pastor, Charity Lutheran (LCMC) for 25 years.

I also served as chaplain with the Heartview Foundation. Upon “retirement” in 2010, I recycled back into global mission work and currently serve as National Field Coordinator with the East European Missions Network with focus in Russia and former Soviet Union countries.

On April 2, 2016, I remarried. Patti and I continue serving through EEMN with our assigned focus being to build partnership with the Estonian Lutheran Church. We spend the month of August leading short-term mission teams in Estonia and several other weeks in the year providing support ministry for pastors and church workers in Estonia. In 2017 we have been invited to explore partnership with an evangelical Baptist ministry (there are no Lutherans) in Bulgaria. It is a joy to work alongside believers who love Jesus Christ and understand that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life for all people.

Patti and I live on a 40-acre ranch east of Bismarck, enjoying the company of cows, chickens, six pigs, and learning the ways of human nature through 40 sheep. We hope our bees will be able to survive the winter.

Large gardens help keep the larder stocked, and along with all that—“we have the meats!” We are completing the building of a “small house” in my daughter’s backyard in Minneapolis, while we also enjoy our log cabin in central Minnesota on the Red Eye River east of Bluegrass. I have two children: Karl (Tina) and Siri (Mike Myhrom), and daughters, Elena (6) and Stella (4). Patti has a son, Andy (Bernadette), and daughter, Alli (Johnny Sullivan), and daughters, Eloise (5), Aliza (2), and baby Darla expected January 2017. We have five granddaughters ages 6, 5, 4, 2 and brand new!

Life is a joy in Christ! We live imperfectly, seeking His perfect will, and desiring to serve Him faithfully.

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Solveig Nornes Kitchell Hometown: Ada, MN Current Home: Ada, MN Major: Elementary Education Additional Education: M.S., Education Email: missensol@yahoo.com

My days at Concordia were determined at the age of three on my first day of Sunday School; I told the pastor that I would “finish Sunday School and go to Concordia.” My dad had enrolled to finish high school there in 1915, but because of difficulty at home, he had to give it up, so he was pretty firm in his plans for me. I came as a frightened young girl who was terribly sheltered and shy, so my years at college were spent studying, practicing organ at the music hall, working in the cafeteria and spending time with a boyfriend who went to NDSU. I wasn’t involved in any social activities, and I really regret that now. I do not regret the wonderful education that I received which has served me well for these last 50 years.

I was part of the accident that claimed the life of our classmate, Judy Severtson, and the injuries sustained have remained a challenge. However, despite a green face and no hair or teeth, I was offered a job in Rochester in 1967 teaching third grade. I spent two years there, married, and moved to the Chicago area where I coordinated Library Learning Centers in two schools for seven years. During that time I completed Masters degree work in Education. We moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where I taught reading and math to children 6-19 who were in a psychiatric hospital. Our first daughter was born during that time. The marriage ended badly, and I went home to Ada with my 18-month-old. I was able to teach part time in Gary, Minnesota. Following that, I was the director of a child care facility in Ada. I remarried and had another daughter. When she was five, I was offered a job as a Title 1 teacher in Ada working with children K-6.

That rounded out my teaching career as I spent 35 years there.

Retirement arrived in 2012. The curatorship of the Prairie Village Museum was offered to me, and I have been doing that ever since. Ruth Berge, organ teacher extraordinaire, gave me my most valuable “extra skill.” I’ve played the organ for over 300 weddings, and I play in at least one church a Sunday. Sadly, I’m now the “funeral organist” for three churches in Ada. I’m blessed with health, a wonderful home and husband, two daughters and sons-in-law, and three grandchildren. Life is good. To God be the Glory!

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Al Oertwig Hometown: Owen, WI Current Home: St. Paul, MN Major: History Additional Education: M.S., Urban and Regional Studies, Mankato State University Email: alsrentzone@hotmail.com I’m best known as a leader on education issues: St. Paul Board of Education: Elected citywide to four year terms in ’83, ’87, ’95, ’99 and 2003; chair, 2002-2003. Major accomplishments include serving as spokesman for the school district for the levy referendum campaign in 2002, hiring four superintendents and setting up a desegregation plan to meet state mandates.

Council of Urban Boards of Education: 12-member national Steering Committee, 2000 to 2006, chaired the Student Achievement Task Force and the Legislative Committee during the time. When No Child Left Behind Legislation was adopted (NOT a badge of honor), I’m the only Minnesota person who served on this national steering committee. Association of Metropolitan School Districts, Chair: A major accomplishment was securing an alliance with suburban/ urban districts to improve schools. I am the only St. Paul person who served as an officer of this organization.

Other school involvements include: Council of Great City Schools, Board of Directors; Minnesota School Boards Association, Board of Directors; East Metro Integration District, Board of Directors; St. Paul Teacher’s Retirement Board of Trustees, which included selection of Investments for teacher retiree funds, and Metro Educational Cooperative Service Unit Board, Chair.

Major employment history: State of Minnesota, Human Services Department, 1975 to 1994: The most responsible position was serving as Legislative Liaison for the Assistant Commissioner of Mental Health.

As such, I supervised the preparation of bill analysis and fiscal notes on proposed legislation impacting the Divisions of Mental Health, Chemical Dependency, Developmental Disabilities and State Institutions.

Another position was administering the federally funded Mental Health Block Grant, where I funded (among other projects) the Children’s Mental Health project which required counties and school districts to collaborate in the delivery of mental health services. These demonstration projects became the basis for the Children’s Mental Health Law in Minnesota.

As I age, children and grandchildren become more important.

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Jon Oleson Hometown: Halstad, MN Current Home: Bloomington, MN Major: History; Political Science Additional Education: MEd, Schl Admin, UMD; PhD, Schl Admin & Tchr Ed, U of AZ Email: joleson65@gmail.com I’ve lived an experience-rich life, taken some hits that have helped me grow, and gotten some lucky breaks. I delayed starting the teaching career that Concordia helped prepare me for by accepting a job opportunity in 1967 to be a youth director for three churches in Duluth, Minnesota. Within a couple weeks I was on a canoe trip with high school kids! The two-year experience was a great transition opportunity that helped me begin a 33-year career as a teacher and secondary school principal.

Married in 1969, Sue and I were blessed with three children (Nathan, Ben, Meggin) and nine entertaining, smile-creating grandkids.

Bitten by the entrepreneurial bug late in life, I formed a small conflict management LLC in 2003. This rewarding work has been complemented by volunteering in a neighborhood school, at my church, and in outreach with the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. Serving on the Bloomington, Minnesota, Planning Commission didn’t add enough excitement into my life so I filed for and was elected to a City Council seat in 2013. I have adequate excitement now.

I diagnosed myself with HAMS (hyper active mind syndrome) a few years ago while trying to figure me out.

I’m driven to do more than what a 365-day year can logically accommodate. Ignoring inner voices, I started writing a book in 2010. Cycles of productive “yahoo!” writing and “why did I start this?” writing droughts yielded finally to feelings of excitement not common in Scandinavian males like me. What Legacy Are We Giving Our Kids? launched November, 2016: www.legacytokids.com.

I’ve made it this far in my experience-enriched life because I’ve been supported and guided by my Christian faith, family and friends. As noted in book acknowledgements, Concordia played a major role in how I do life. I am grateful for all at Concordia College who continue to send into society thoughtful and informed men and women dedicated to the Christian life, to those who support our alma mater in so many ways, and to you, Classmates of 1967, who helped prep me to enjoy a great life!

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Dennis Olson Hometown: Willmar, Minnesota Current Home: Washington, DC Major: Economics, Business Administration Additional Education: MBA, University of Minnesota Email: dojw@yahoo.com Shortly after graduating from Concordia, I received the same job offer as many other Cobbers—a letter from Uncle Sam inviting me to join the Army. After training as a radio-teletype operator, I spent a tour in South Korea with a nice R&R in Japan. Returning to Minneapolis, I got a job with IBM. While there, I started in the night program at the University, returning to school full time in 1971-1972.

Graduating with an MBA, I started with Carter Golembe Associates, a bank research and consulting firm in Washington, DC. While there, I specialized in the financial analysis of banks and bank holding companies, mergers and acquisitions and bank regulation.

In 1978 I joined the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as Chief, Analysis and Monitoring in the Division of Bank Supervision. My responsibilities included financial reporting, analysis of major institutions and the development of early warning systems. In the late 1970s the FDIC began to experience a significant number of large, distressed or failing institutions, and I became active in the resolution of these banks—most frequently arranging assisted mergers or acquisitions.

In 1989 the S&L crisis came to a peak with the failure of the Federal Saving and Loan Insurance Corporation.

A number of us from the FDIC became the core that created the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC). I served there as Assistant Director, Major Resolutions overseeing the disposition of numerous large S&Ls. On arriving in Washington, I met Jeannette Wedel who lived in my apartment building. We first became bridge partners and good friends and were married in 1983. Jeannette spent most of her career as Director of Development for the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Annually, we have enjoyed a summer stay on Green Lake, Wisconsin, near our families. One of our more exciting vacations was a raft trip through the entire Grand Canyon.

ShapeGolf has been my main hobby, and we both enjoy seeing new sights.

Interesting trips in retirement have ranged from the Norwegian fjords to Istanbul and a cruise of the Greek Isles. Life’s been good, and I appreciate the foundation and life-long friends gained at Concordia. Look forward to seeing you at our Fiftieth.

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Paul Olson Hometown: Moorhead, MN Current Home: Carol Stream, IL Major: Philosophy, Speech Additional Education: M.Div., Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago, IL Email: viking805@comcast.net After graduation from Concordia, I began studies at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, graduating from there in 1971. After ordination in 1971, I served in congregations in Bloomington, Illinois; Moline, Illinois, and taught part-time at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois; and then in congregations in Joliet, Illinois; Geneseo, Illinois, and in Springfield, Illinois. When I retired from parish ministry in 2011, we moved to Carol Stream, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, in 2012.

After retirement I took a position as the Director of a Capital Campaign and then as Interim Director of the Cornerstone Society of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois for several years until that position came to completion. Since 2013 I have been doing Interim Pastoral work in Elgin, Illinois; Evanston, Illinois, and presently in Aurora, Illinois, and also doing Capital Campaign consulting work and leading a Capital Campaign in the congregation in Aurora, Illinois.

In 1985 Evelyn and I married and raised five children and have nine grandchildren. all of whom live in various parts of the country. Evelyn’s career as a high school Spanish teacher came to completion in 2011 upon retirement. We enjoy our gardens, our children and grandchildren and are fortunate to have one family who live relatively close to us. We do some travel as time and work permits. Golf has become an active part of my life as weather allows in the Chicago-land area.

My fond recollections of Concordia are connected with people and events. Dr. Dovre and Pastor Lee were certainly influential as was Dr. Hofrenning. Student Productions, as it was called at that time, was a major part of my time and activities while a student at Concordia. Looking forward to some time together with classmates at the reunion.

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Rodd Olson Hometown: Fertile, MN Current Home: Crookston, MN Major: Physical Education Email: olson68@q.com

After graduating from Concordia, I began my first teaching assignment in Eagle Bend, Minnesota, a small town in central Minnesota. I taught physical education and coached football, basketball and baseball. I married Francine Jafvert,’68, in June of 1968, and she joined me in Eagle Bend where we stayed for three more years. Francine worked as a social worker in Todd County.

In 1971 we moved to Crookston where I taught elementary physical education and was assistant football coach for 31 years. I began coaching wrestling as an assistant for five years and head coach for 23 years.

I also have been teaching driver’s training behind the wheel for 43 years.

Francine has worked in several positions, most recently retiring as Parent Educator for the ECFE program in Crookston. I took an early retirement from teaching in 1999. I have stayed connected with the school system as a football and wrestling commentator for our local radio station. I also am the scorekeeper and announcer for many of the sports in Crookston. And, of course, I enjoy golfing, fishing and hunting, and our cabin in the woods.

Our family consists of four grown children and 11 grandchildren. Jeff and Tara live in Delano and have three children. He teaches and coaches there. Jake and Erin also live in Delano and have one child with twins expected in the spring. He teaches and coaches there as well. Paula and Mitch live in Alexandria, Minnesota, where she is a family counselor. They have three children. Leah and Chris live in Crookston with their four children. She works for Public Health.

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Ruth Opgrande Elder Hometown: Dickinson, ND Current Home: Fargo, ND Major: Elementary Education Additional Education: M.S., Remedial Reading; Learning Disabilities Certification Email: gruthelder@hotmail.com After graduating from Concordia, I taught third grade in Bloomington, Minnesota, for six years. I moved to Fargo, attended Moorhead State and became certified in Learning Disabilities and earned my Masters in Remedial Reading. For the next 26 years, I taught learning disabled junior high (now middle school) students. Since retiring in 2004, I have been subbing in special education classes.

My family includes a daughter and son-in-law, Kara and Chad Winkelman, and four grandchildren: Lindsay, 18; Hallie, 17, and ten-year-old twins, Zachary and Megan. I am fortunate to have them in Fargo.

I am active in two teachers’ retirement organization, church activities and classes and enjoy book club.

After almost 50 years, I took up the flute again and play in the FM Golden Notes New Horizon Band.

We have two major concerts each year and monthly concerts in retirement communities.

I enjoy traveling, have traveled around Europe, and took my daughter to Norway in May to meet our Norwegian relatives. We had a great time. Almost every year I go to Arizona, California or Florida to visit relatives.

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Wayne Orn Hometown: Mound, MN Current Home: Alexandria, MN Major: Physical Education Additional Education: M.S., Education, Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN Email: wayneorn@gmail.com The first teaching job after graduation was in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota: Physical Education and head hockey coach and assistant in football.

My wife, Nancy (Malmo), and I moved a year later to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, for employment in the same positions. In 1970 I became the first hockey coach for Austin, Minnesota, High School. Five years later, I took the head hockey job and a biology position in Stillwater, Minnesota. The next year we upgraded the health department at Stillwater High School and I remained in that teaching position until retirement in 2002. During our Stillwater days, I owned the St. Croix Valley Hockey School for 23 years, running spring, fall and summer clinics at Lily Lake Arena with stints in other nearby communities. I also published the Hockey Coaches Newsletter for four years with nearly 500 subscribers around the world. This September (2017), I will be inducted into the Minnesota High School Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame.

In 1983 Nancy and I joined two families in purchasing a Schwinn bicycle franchise, added sporting goods to the mix and named it Time Out Sports in Stillwater. Nancy served as the business manager while I worked part-time in purchasing and sales for the next six years. In 1992 Nancy was diagnosed with breast cancer and after five years discovered it had spread to her liver. With help from friends and a variety of conventional and alternative treatments, she lived an extraordinary life until passing on July 3, 2000.

We were extremely proud of our three sons and their achievements at Stillwater High School and their respective colleges: Mike at Miami of Ohio (’88), Rob at St. Thomas (’90), and Brad at Gustavus (’95). We both enjoyed following their hockey endeavors from youth through college.

In August of 2007, with help from Jim and Paulette Satter (’67), I met Cindy (Hamline ’69), who had lost her husband, Donavon (Hamline ’69), in 2004. He coached football at NDSU for 13 years and had just retired as head coach of Hamline football.

She was the Hamline Piper mascot her senior year and is an accomplished musician in voice and piano. We were married on October 4, 2008, and later moved to Lake Ida in Alexandria, Minnesota. Our blended family includes 22 grandchildren, including a college graduate, three in college, and the youngest in kindergarten. We have enjoyed many travels, including the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany, a Viking River Cruise and a twelve-day tour of Israel. March is the month we travel south to the Florida Gulf area south of Clearwater.

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Jo Ann Pattison Gesellchen Hometown: Bagley, MN Current Home: New London, MN Major: Home Economics Additional Education: M.S., Home Economics, Teaching; University of MN Email: gesellchenc@gmail.com I majored in home economics with a minor in education. After graduating from Concordia in 1967, I began my teaching career for New London-Spicer Schools in Minnesota. At that time, I was the only home economics teacher for grades 7-12. In 1987 I received my Master’s Degree from the University of Minnesota. As time passed we added two more home economics/family and consumer science teachers.

When I retired with the Rule of 90 in 2002, we were a three-teacher department. I taught for 35 years in New-London-Spicer Schools. After retiring I did some substitute teaching in Paynesville and New London schools for a few years.

I married Cliff Gesellchen, Concordia Class of 1966, on June 14, 1969. Cliff was a biology and chemistry teacher in the neighboring school district of Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa. We bought land along the Crow River near New London and started building our house in 1972. We were “do it yourself designers and builders.”

This is where we still live. We have two adult children, Andrea (and Joel) Ostapowich and Michael (and Jessica) Gesellchen, and three grandchildren: Isaac Ostapowich (14), Evan (4), and Cora (2) Gesellchen.

We enjoy spending time with all of them.

We enjoy traveling both in the US and have been to many foreign countries of the world. We have tried to stay connected to some of the friends we made at Concordia and enjoy getting together with them in Minnesota and other states. We have traveled to South America, Africa and Cuba with some of our Concordia friends, Dave & Camille Wainwright and Jerry & Ginny McClure.

We look back to the time we spent at Concordia and the friendships we made and are grateful. We think we received a very good education in the classes that we took and also had many positive growth experiences that have influenced us in our lives.

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Bonnie Peterson Scholl Hometown: Bloomington, MN Current Home: Grandin, ND Major: Medical Technology Email: bonnies1@loretel.net

My fourth year at Concordia, I lived in Fargo where I completed a 12-month internship in Medical Technology at St. Luke’s Hospital. I enjoyed my training but missed the camaraderie with many friends whom I had acquired during the first three years of college.

I met my husband, Rayland, while attending Concordia. He was a pilot with the Happy Hooligans and farmed near Grandin, North Dakota. We have three wonderful children. Michelle, a graduate of Concordia College, worked for Microsoft for 15 years. Presently she is an awesome and dedicated full time mom. Michelle, Todd, and their children, Hannah (9) and Hunter (7), live in Fargo. Jeff, a graduate of UND and wife, Adele, live in Whitefish, Montana. We call it Paradise—a perfect setting for their business, Gravity Shots. They do aerial photography, flying drones equipped with cameras. Some of their clients include HGTV-Beach Hunters, Sandals Resorts and Mountain Men. They are truly living a dream, and we are so proud and happy for them.

Randolph Tyler (Moosey), our eldest son, tragically lost his life in a fatal fall from a catwalk at 37 years of age in 2005. A beautiful soul, he was loved by all who knew him. His wife, Donna, a strong and a courageous woman, is a teacher in the Norman County West School system. She and the boys, Henry (12) and Charlie (11), live in Halstad, eight miles from the farm. It is a great comfort to have them so close.

Rayland and I have spent 50 years farming the rich soil of the Red River Valley just north of Fargo. Sugar beets with American Crystal have been good to us. We retired from farming in 2004, but we still have the farm as our residence. Most of our time is spent between the farm and our lake home on Lake Ida (Detroit Lakes area), entertaining our Four Monkeys and vice versa. Our lives revolve around our grandchildren, and we love them to the moon and back. How lucky can we be?

We spend the month of November in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where we share ownership in a condo. Steamboat has been a skiing paradise for our family and an elk hunter’s dream for Rayland for 43 years and 10 years for me. Life is good.

2017 was a very memorable year for our family. My dad and mom celebrated their 100th and 99th birthdays respectively. We are blessed.

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Dianne Peterson Hetland Hometown: Hannaford, ND Current Home: Hannaford, ND Major: Elementary Education Email: hopetoquilt@gmail.com

I was raised on a farm near Hannaford, North Dakota. My grandpa and my dad had attended Concordia and had given me the idea of going to Concordia long before I needed to make my college plans. After graduation I began my teaching career in St. Paul, Minnesota, and St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

In 1970 I was led back to my hometown area by my husband and began teaching in the Hannaford/Cooperstown area over the course of 32 years.

I most definitely was led into the teaching profession in my early years by a country school teacher who seemed to recognize me as someone to nurture in the field of education. She asked me to help others in our 4th-8th grade classroom whenever someone needed help when she was busy teaching at the back table.

Those were days! Of course, my years at Concordia were filled with the experiences that honed me into the teacher I became. I loved teaching and always considered this an opportunity to build a team relationship between my students, their parents, and me as teacher.

My husband, Charles, of 46+ years and I raised two daughters, both of whom graduated from Concordia College. We worked the land as farmers. During those years, we hosted 32 ag exchange people from all over the world through a program called Communication for Agriculture. We experienced wonderful times through this program as we welcomed these trainees into our home as part of our family for many years. Many of their parents traveled to our country while their son or daughter was with us. These experiences furthered our understanding of the different cultures of the world. We have had opportunities to visit several of these young people, meeting their families, seeing the countries we had heard about, and being welcomed as family into their homes.

We are spending our retirement years in Arizona during six months of winter and returning to our North Dakota farm in the summer with its many activities. Much of this time is spent in the Minneapolis area with our daughters and their families, including our three very important grandchildren. My life has been enhanced by a wonderful hobby called art quilting with sprinkles of real quilting thrown in. We have been blessed by the many people encountered, the unexpected journeys we have had to face, and the experiences we have been led through. These have been evidence of our Lord’s plan for us. To God be the glory!

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James Peterson Hometown: Henning, MN Current Home: Rochester, MN Major: Math Additional Education: MBA, University of Michigan Email: JamesAldenPeterson@hotmail.com While at Concordia, I participated in varsity basketball and baseball, welcoming my twin brothers as freshmen at Concordia where we were basketball teammates my senior year.

I also met my wife, Kathy McKee (’68), at Concordia.

We were married in August, 1968, and are enjoying our 45th year of matrimony. We have three children, one girl, two boys, and seven grandchildren. Unfortunately, none of our children became Cobbers. After graduation, my first year of high school teaching and coaching in Appleton, Minnesota, was interrupted by the Vietnam War. My tour of duty was in the U.S. Air Force where I was stationed in Texas and Mississippi.

After my time in the Air Force, I taught math and physics at Pass Christian High School, Pass Christian, Mississippi. This was during the initial integration of the all-white Pass Christian High School and the almost all-black Randolph High School into fully integrated Pass Christian High School. The integration was accelerated because Randolph High School had been destroyed by Hurricane Camille, which we also experienced while in the Air Force.

We returned to Minnesota where I was a high school teacher and coach for several years in Walnut Grove and St. Charles, Minnesota. I then switched careers to Information Technology and accepted a position at Manufacturing Data System Inc. (MDSI) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. At the time, MDSI was the world leader in N/C software. That line of MDSI’s business is no longer. While working for MDSI, I got an MBA at the University of Michigan. After seven years at MDSI, it appeared that the future was becoming less rosy for MDSI, so I accepted a position in Information Technology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, and am still employed there.

My interests include family activities, travel (highlights include several trips to Europe and Hawaii, with more planned), sports (I’ve given up basketball and baseball and have taken up tennis, golf, swimming, and hiking/backpacking), church, music and theatergoing.

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Shirley Peterson Dietrich Hometown: Thunder Hawk, SD Current Home: Mandan, ND Major: Medical Technology Email: rsdietric@msn.com

After graduating from Concordia, I worked at the Fargo Clinic Lab (St. Luke’s Hospital) in Fargo, North Dakota, for three years. I married Richard (Dick) Dietrich in September 1967. He is a graduate of NDSU with a major in Economics. We moved to Minot, North Dakota, in 1970 where he worked at Union State Bank, and I worked at the Air Force Hospital Lab. In 1971 we moved to Bismarck where Dick worked at North Dakota Job Service until his retirement in 2000.

Our first son, Jeff, was born in 1971; Erik, our second son, was born in 1976. I remained a “stay-at- home” mom until 1990 when I started working in the lab at Q & R Clinic (MedCenter One, Bismarck). In 2002 I retired from there for health reasons. We have two grandchildren, ages nine and seven, who attend Shiloh Christian School in Bismarck. Our grandson is active in sports, Cub Scouts and archery. Our granddaughter is very active in ice skating and loves art. Our son, Jeff, graduate of Minot State University, works at Basin Electric, Security and Dispatch, Bismarck. Our son, Erik, graduate of University of Montana in Forestry, works for the North Dakota Parks and Recreation, Bismarck, as OTR 4-wheeler instructor and has his Law Enforcement degree. Erik’s wife, Trisha, graduate of the University of North Dakota, is a reading teacher at Northridge School in Bismarck.

After both of us retired, we moved from Bismarck to north of Mandan along the Missouri River. We’ve enjoyed boating on the Missouri and seeing wildlife in our yard and along the Missouri River: geese, ducks, golden and bald eagles, turkeys, pheasants, rabbits, fox, deer and moose. We enjoy being close to family and baby-sit our grandchildren and “dog-sit” our sons’ dogs frequently. I was active in the Women of the Church and in Sunday School at Good Shepherd Lutheran in Bismarck for many years. Currently we attend Charity Lutheran in Bismarck. I also was active in Epsilon Sigma Alpha Philanthropic Sorority locally and statewide for many years and was on the local Lutheran Brotherhood Board for a few years. We are looking forward to celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary in September, 2017, God willing. We have no special plans but just want to celebrate it with family & friends.

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Frank Porten Hometown: Buck Lake, MN Current Home: Grand Rapids, MN Major: Elementary Education

Linda Latvala (’68) and I taught school until retirement. We have two married daughters. We live in the North Country and travel to New Zealand to visit our youngest daughter and family.

We are now grandparents to four children: two boys in the U.S. and two girls in New Zealand.

I kind of wonder what Dr. Lutter, one of our history professors, would think of today’s politics.

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Kathy Prestidge Ahlberg Hometown: Anoka, MN Current Home: Hillsboro, OR Major: Elementary Education Email: ahlbergke@gmail.com

Alan has been operating our two Servpro fire/water restoration franchises since 2001. In 2005 he ended 38 years of service with the U.S. Navy Reserves as a Captain. When we first moved to Hillsboro, Oregon, in 1975, Alan worked for Bethlehem Steel Corporation.

He worked for several different steel companies in the area until we purchased the franchises.

Kathy spent the first years in Oregon raising four children and working part time. In 1986 I began teaching kindergarten in Hillsboro and continued in assignments from K-3rd grades until retiring in 2010. I am currently still substitute teaching and managing our far-flung rentals.

We have four children: Corin, Technology Director; Jessica, Physician; Thomas, student in Criminal Justice and Jean, Insurance Adjuster. We also have four grandchildren: Shelby, 24, Structural Engineer; Ramy, 12; Jad, 8, and Reese 5.

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Penny Price Swanson Hometown: Williston, ND Current Home: Helena, MT Major: Art, Elementary Education Additional Education: M.E., Computers in Education Email: pennyswanson@mt.net 1967 was a year of significant events for me. I graduated from Concordia in May and by June 1st I was traveling in Europe for eight weeks with three close friends who were also Concordia grads. By fall I had moved to Huntington Beach, California, to begin my teaching career. During Christmas break, back home in Williston, I married Richard (Dick) Swanson, another Concordia graduate. I taught third grade in California for three years. During that time, Richard and I briefly tried our hands at pottery making and fell in love with clay. We moved to Boulder, Colorado, in 1970 to teach and there became members of the Boulder Potters’ Guild, which was a wealth of information for us. In 1973 we moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, to set up our first pottery. In November 1974, we made another move to become two-year residents of the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts in Helena, Montana.

By the end of our residency, Helena felt like home so we stayed and established Swanson Pottery here. In Helena, I continued to pursue my two loves, teaching and pottery making. I taught kindergarten for 7 1/2 years and middle school art for 16 years. During that time, I twice co-chaired the Montana Art Educators’ Convention.

After receiving my master’s degree, I introduced computer drawing and animation into the middle school art curriculum.

Our son, Alex, was born in 1980. He graduated from the University of Oregon with a multi-media degree in art with an emphasis on animation. He and his wife moved back to Helena in September of 2015. Alex works remotely as lead designer for a software company. Katie plays in the Helena Symphony and teaches viola lessons.

Richard continues to work in both clay and metal. He has received several commissions for large scale public art sculptures including for the University of Oregon, Montana State University and the Holter Museum of Art in Helena. Early in retirement, I volunteered as a docent and taught drawing classes for the Holter Museum. Currently I serve on the board of directors for the Art Mobile of Montana and continue to work in clay and also do some printmaking.

We’ve enjoyed travels abroad, most recently to Japan, but also love traveling in our camper to explore and hike in Utah and Arizona. When at home, we hike most days, read and spend time with family and friends, but most of the time you will find us in our studios.

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Mary Rand Taylor Hometown: Northfield, MN Current Home: La Jolla, CA; Priest Lake, ID Major: English Email: mrandtaylor@me.com

Following graduation I married my college sweetheart, Gary Williams; moved to Iowa City; he earned a PhD/ MD and I taught high school English; had a son, retired; moved to Rochester, New York; had a daughter; moved to Bethesda, Maryland; moved to San Diego; divorced from college sweetheart; worked as development officer for a law school; retired again, and married a Canadian, Ron Taylor.

We now live in Priest Lake, Idaho (can see Canada from our deck), and La Jolla, California (can see the Pacific Ocean from our deck). Am an adoring gramsie of four teenagers, an enthusiastic but fair weather skier, an enthusiastic but average golfer, an avid reader and an optimistic Republican. Life is good!

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Dianne Rath Herr Hometown: Turtle Lake, ND Current Home: Turtle Lake, ND Major: Sociology Email: herrdl@westriv.com

Fifty years ago I had no idea where my life’s journey would take me, only dreams. Those dreams started with marriage to R. Ray Herr, a terrific NDSU mechanical engineer, on June 2, 1967. Our first home was in Seattle, Washington, where I worked for Glendale Lutheran Church and Ray was with Boeing.

We returned home to Bismarck, North Dakota, where Ray accepted a position with Amoco Oil Refinery, and I began a career with Missouri Slope Nursing Home as the office manager.

The urge to develop our own business brought us back to Turtle Lake. I continued working in Bismarck but still helping with the office work at our new business, Ray Herr Construction and Machine Shop. In 1981 I started a career with the US Postal Service and was promoted to Postmaster in Turtle Lake. This career continued until I retired in September of 2014 following the death of my husband, Ray, in June, 2014, after 47 years of marriage. We had no children, but between our business and my postal job I still didn’t find much time for too many other activities. Volunteering in our community activities such as Girl Scouts, Chamber of Progress (business), and the many events at our church kept me busy.

In l981 I learned to fly. We had a 152 Cessna and later a 172 Cessna Skyhawk. Our state chapter of The 99s, International Women’s Pilots Organization, kept me flying and enjoying the friendship of lady pilots. Ray also had his ratings of Instrument and Twin Engine certificate so flying became our main hobby. I no longer fly, but I still enjoy traveling. Now the airlines get me to wonderful vacation spots!! I was appointed to the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission in l998 by Governor Ed Schafer. In the thirteen years that I served our state aviation community, I received another education of life experiences: traveling the state, visiting community airport dedications, air shows, and fly-in breakfasts, attending many aviation policy meetings and receiving many blessings as an ambassador for our great state. I am still active as secretary/ treasurer of our Turtle Lake Airport Authority.

Now in retirement, I am blessed with great friends and good health and am content to just enjoy each day that the Lord gives me.

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William Reck Hometown: Glyndon, MN Current Home: Crookston, MN Major: Mathematics, Chemistry Additional Education: M. Div., Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul, MN Phone: 218-281-1408 “Lord, let your love flow through me and help me to love the people you have called me to serve.” This prayer has sustained my life and my ministry for 46 years. I have had the privilege of serving Lutheran congregations in Medina, North Dakota; Perham, Minnesota, and am currently in my 30th year of serving at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Crookston, Minnesota.

I have also been married to two wonderful wives. Loree, a gem in every way, is the mother of our four children: Samuel, a dermatologist, Billings, Montana; Peter, on disability from the Army, Finlayson, Minnesota; Betsy, a former nurse at Mayo, Rochester, Minnesota, is in need of your prayers as she is fighting stage four cancer; and Matthew, a corporate treasurer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. My wonderful wife, Loree, injured in an accident years ago, spent the last four years of her life in a nursing home in Crookston. I had the privilege of preaching for her funeral service on November 25, 2008, with great hope because of the promises of our Crucified and Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. I John 5:13, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of Jesus, that you might know that you have eternal life.”

My children say, “Dad, you are twice blessed.” Eight years ago, I was flying to the Lutheran Seminary in Berkley, California. I was 33,000 feet in the air when a beautiful, neo-natal nurse from St. Cloud, Jill, sat next to me. She told me about her three children, Heather, a parish secretary, St. Cloud, Minnesota; Jon, studying for his PhD. in Physical Therapy at UND, Grand Forks, North Dakota, and Holly, in the records department at the St. Cloud Hospital. As we visited, I knew she loved Jesus and loved children. Well, on September 18, 2010, we were married at her church in St. Cloud. “It is wonderful, how love grows!”

Together we have seven children, their seven spouses and ten grandchildren, and are blessed to have all our children involved in a Christian Church. Life is truly a gift. We look forward to seeing each of you at our 50th class reunion or at our reunion in heaven, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

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Peter Robilotta Hometown: Brooklyn, NY Current Home: Maplewood, NJ Major: Political Science, English Email: robilotta@verizon.net

I didn’t pay a lot of attention to most of my classes, but I got a great education that really prepared me for an amazing journey. I probably missed a few jobs here and there. The problem: as soon as I got good at something, it got boring. A list of most of the jobs I have wandered through: 1. Peace Corps Training, Community Development for Thailand, U of MO, deselected (Peace Corps for kicked out, reasons unspecified) 2. Luther Seminary in St Paul for a couple of months while working at a factory down the road building prison doors: there’s irony in there somewhere 3. Editorial Assistant, the Los Angeles Times 4. Clerk Typist, US Army, Vietnam 5. Cab driver, New York City, multiple stints 6. Silk Screen Technician, Brooklyn; Silk Screen Textile Artist, Brooklyn 7. Editor/Writer, Supermarket News, New York City 8. Freelance Photographer, mostly movement publications, New York City, India, Nepal 9. Carpenter, construction laborer, multiple stints 10. Vietnam Veterans Advocate, New York City Mayor’s Office for Veterans Action 11. Playwright, The Wobblies: US vs. William D. Haywood, et al produced by The Labor Theater at The Hudson Guild Theatre, off-off-Broadway, New York City 12. Neighborhood Services Coordinator, The Mayor’s Office for Neighborhood Services 13. Director, The Community Advisory Board for Youth, Sunset Park, Brooklyn 14. Restaurant manager/chef, La Villa Storica, Brooklyn 15. Trouble shooter Manager, Beef Steak Charlie’s, New York Metro area 16. Start-Up Manager, precious metals casting company 17. Computer/Network developer, jewelry manufacturing 18. Freelance IT Consultant, multiple stints 19. Director of Info Systems, Camares Communications, ad/marketing agency 20. IT Director, Newstalk Television, NYC 21. Main Street Development Consultant, SIDS, BIDS, downtown revitalization 22. Solar Energy Designer/Project Manager 23. Retired, Artist, Photographer finally.

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Roxanne Roddy Dean Hometown: Bloomington, MN Current Home: Cambridge, MN Major: Sociology, Social Work Additional Education: Psychology, Anoka Ramsey College, Sister Kenny Institute Email: kdean@usfamily.net Shortly after graduation from Concordia in December of 1967, Ken Dean and I were married, and I began my social work career in January, 1968 at what was then called the Cambridge State Hospital. We had our first child, Greta, in January of 1970. I chose to stay at home for the next ten years during which time we had a second daughter, Karla, in 1971 and son, Paul, in 1979.

In June of 1980, I was asked to consider developing a social work department for a large nursing home in Cambridge. I served as director of the department for 27 years and expanded staffing as the needs of the nursing home increased over the years, including assisted living and independent living. The highlight of those years was learning the stories of many families and helping them navigate their journeys in the complex health care system. I also finished my career having a great appreciation of all those who choose to work in the ever-changing health care system. I believe that my education and overall experience at Concordia allowed me to help staff and families in learning how to work together for the best possible outcome for the residents who lived there.

We have been blessed with seven grandchildren (ages 4-19) and are anxiously looking forward to two more in the near future. We love to attend their activities whenever possible. Karla and her family have always been out of state which has allowed for a variety of trips internationally as well as state side. Both Ken and I enjoy traveling. It has provided a venue for on-going learning and experiencing other cultures, especially in retirement.

I believe that Concordia prepared me not only for my career path, but also for the roles that we have had in our family, our church, our friendships and in our community. We are grateful!

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Vicky Rogness Stenehjem Hometown: Watford City, ND Current Home: Watford City, ND Major: Public School Music Email: vickystenehjem@gmail.com

Wow! To think we are the older generation is rather unbelievable. We haven’t spent much time thinking about this predicament in the past, possibly because we’ve spent most of our time trying to make ends meet and doing what we needed to do from day to day.

After our marriage in 1967 and Glenn’s 1968 graduation, we began teaching careers in music education and physical education, respectively, in Glasgow, Montana. Glenn continued to teach but I resigned as I was nauseous with pregnancy. Our children, Erin Louise and Garth Peter, were both born in Montana. Glenn loved it there as he became interested in hunting and was able to bring down several big game animals.

Finding it really difficult to live on one teacher’s salary, we decided to purchase a fast food business in my home town, Watford City, North Dakota. It was a good move as our children learned to know their grandparents and they also had a job in our business. We owned and operated the business for 19 years. When we had the opportunity to “bail out,” we did. It was, at times, hard work and frustrating, but it was a good move overall. Glenn taught elementary physical education in Watford City and also developed a photography business. Over time, he dropped the teaching to give more time to his family and his business. He did all kinds of photography including aerials, seniors, weddings and any other needs that people had. People still call him for photography needs.

Since we have been blessed by the recent oil boom in Western North Dakota, we are able to spend winters in Arizona. Garth and his family live only 20 minutes from us in Phoenix so we are able to get to know our grandkids and be involved in their activities. I really enjoy the opportunities that a big city has to offer. We sometimes go to Suns games or even a Cardinals game on occasion. We have also seen a few concerts by wellknown performers.

Erin lives in New York City and does musical theater. This year she is out on the road doing the part of Hannegan in Annie. Last year she was Donna in Mama Mia, living the time of her life. She will perform here in Mesa in January 2017.

At any rate, we are thankful that we are reasonably healthy and even though it is our big 50th reunion, we are happy to be able to participate should we choose to do so.

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Erling Rolfson, Jr. Hometown: New Rockford, ND Current Home: West Fargo, ND; New Rockford, ND Major: History, Political Science Additional Education: Navy Flight Training Email: rolfson@gondtc.com I am now retired after spending most of my working life in sales. I also had 28 years of military service, retiring as a Colonel in the United States Army Reserves. I was rated as a Naval Aviator Helicopter Pilot, serving one year in Vietnam.

My wife, Deanne, and I have six children and nine grandchildren. We enjoy our lake cabin on the Missouri River and our home in West Fargo, In the fall, I shoot pheasants; in the summer, I catch walleyes.

181

Linda Rolfsrud Letnes Hometown: Alexandria, MN Current Home: Blaine, MN Major: Sociology Additional Education: Master’s in Reading Email: ronlinlet@gmail.com

Rolfsruds have attended Concordia for nearly a century. I was no different. There I met Ron Letnes.

We married two days before graduation at Trinity in Moorhead because we wanted you there.

Luckily for me, an associate of Ron’s connected me to Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis where I was asked to establish the Medical Social Work Department. Later, Fairview’s Learning Disabilities Clinic gave me a leg up in getting special education jobs. In 1971 Ron and I moved to Aurora, Colorado, for his first parish. I started over, taking a two-year program in elementary education at the University of Colorado. We adopted Alyssa in 1974 and moved to Marshall, Minnesota.

I got a call from the superintendent of schools who asked if I was Ron’s wife, and if I was, he had a job for me! (After that I got my own jobs.) I taught in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Colorado. I fell in love with fourth grade and taught fourth graders for most of two decades in Fort Collins.

We lived in places where social work and teaching jobs were hard to get, so when I ran out of Ron’s connections, I went to several colleges. Those classes kept me employed. I nearly finished a Master’s in Learning Disabilities at Augustana, and once again started over at Cardinal Stritch in Milwaukee, earning a different Master’s there. Concordia provided me with a safe place and time to grow up, but it was through graduate education that I was able to find meaningful, joyful work each time we moved.

We have three children and six grandchildren. At 62, we happily circled back to Minneapolis to live close to our son, Stephen, and daughter, Shana, with her husband, Erik, (all Concordia graduates) and Anja and Milla.

Both of us have a travel gene. Fifteen trips to Europe, various other international spots, and we are certainly not done. We have crisscrossed the U.S. many times and will celebrate our 50th in 2017 by visiting all 50 states again. Planning a trip, taking the trip, putting together an Apple photo book allows us to enjoy each trip three times.

Besides precious time with Milla and Anja (ages 7 and 9) nearly every day, my favorite volunteer job is teaching newly arrived immigrants from all over the world to speak, read, write English. I am blessed to know them and the U.S. is blessed as well.

We live in a beautiful world. Thank you for being a part of it.

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Connie Rossetti-Knafla Hometown: Nevis, MN Current Home: Bella Vista, AR Major: English Additional Education: M.D., Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN Email: caknafla@yahoo.com After graduating from Concordia, I taught school in Osakis and Little Falls, Minnesota, for six years.

For two of those years, I taught English, and for four years I was an elementary school librarian.

St. Paul was my next home where I started working for 3M. I held various jobs there in three different divisions, culminating in the position of systems analyst for the Medical Division Quality Department.

In 1979 I married Roy who worked at 3M as a chemist. We enjoyed traveling (including Australia, New Zealand, Europe and China). We also did a lot of camping, fishing, duck hunting, 22 target rifle shooting and snowshoeing. We enjoy nature and the outdoors. While at 3M, I was able to make use of my teaching background by supervising and training high school OJT students for ten years. I worked at 3M for 28 years, and Roy worked there for 45 years.

After retiring in 2001, we moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas, in the Ozark Mountains. It’s a beautiful place to live with a change of seasons but milder winters than Minnesota. In retirement, a couple of my pastimes are sewing quilts and knitting prayer shawls and hats. I have three step-children and seven grandchildren, with our first great-grandchild due in January, 2017. Our home church now is Bella Vista Lutheran Church.

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Bert Rude Hometown: Madison, MN Current Home: Elliot City, MD Major: History, Political Science Additional Education: M.A., Political Science, U of SD; M.A., Journalism, U of MO Email: bert.rude3@gmail.com At one time or another I was or am a teacher, a newspaper reporter, a businessman, a real estate agent (briefly), a paralegal, a U.S. Capitol tour guide and now a retiree. I should add to those: a stepfather to a stepdaughter now enjoying a brilliant career as a professor and biographer. I learned from all of them.

I’m still learning, proof that an old dog (or graduate) can learn new tricks (or concepts). Nowadays I’m seeing stars, literally. There are six institutions within easy reach of our house devoted to astronomy, astrophysics and space research (not surprising since NASA, the principal funding source for many, is also nearby). We’ve also joined our local astronomy club. Each presents regular free lectures and/or open houses.

Ten miles from us is the facility where the New Horizons, the thing that blasted out to and beyond Pluto, was assembled and is directed. We’ve watched the new James Webb Space Telescope being constructed at the Goddard Space Center, an hour away. Perhaps the most spectacular thing I’ve ever witnessed in person: The nighttime launch at Wallops Island, Virginia, of a rocket propelling a satellite into lunar orbit, seeing each stage separate and ignite. But it is almost as thrilling just to go out at night and see the stars and planets.

Back to earth. As a kid I loved listening to radio—nonfiction (news) and fiction (Our Miss Brooks, Suspense and the radio Gunsmoke among others). Still do. I’m president of our regional old-time radio club and have acted in several recreations and given club talks on broadcasts.

Concordia gave me wonderful friends. Let me pay tribute to several who are no longer with us: Dr. Harding Noblitt, one of the most intelligent and sage persons I have ever met and a mentor and lifelong friend; Dr. Roger Spilde, another teacher who became another lifelong friend; Dr. Lloyd Svensbye who took the time to help a bewildered incoming freshman understand that rigorous academic examination of the Bible didn’t mean abandoning faith; and Marc Borg who was one of the first to welcome me on campus. His upbringing, as detailed in his Speaking Christian, matched that of mine. I would have loved to have had a conversation with him about it. He left us too early.

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Paul Sannes Hometown: Fertile, MN Current Home: Breckenridge, MN Major: Psychology Additional Education: M.S., Moorhead State University, Moorhead, MN Email: paulsannes@yahoo.com Paul is originally from Fertile, Minnesota, where he graduated from Fertile-Beltrami High School. In 1963 Paul began his college education at Concordia graduating in 1967. Paul was involved in athletics during his college career. Paul began his teaching career at Elbow Lake, Minnesota, at Elbow Lake High School, taught part-time at Moorhead High School in 1969-1970 and then began a long career at Breckenridge High School in 1970 where he remained until his retirement in 2001.

Paul had a long, successful career in the coaching ranks which included: football, wrestling, and track at Elbow Lake, and football (1970-2001), wrestling (1970-1972), track (1970-2001) and basketball (1986-1994) at Breckenridge. Paul’s coaching accomplishments include 11 Heart-O-Lakes Football titles, 11 state football playoff appearances, and one Minnesota State Football Championship. Paul was honored for 30 years of Outstanding Achievement and Distinguished Coaching Service, 1970-2000. In 2006 Paul was inducted into the North Dakota Softball Association Hall of Fame and inducted as a member of the Concordia College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997.

He spent 46 years officiating football, basketball and volleyball as a registered official in both Minnesota and North Dakota. He officiated 25 district tournaments, 20 sectional and 12 state tournaments in Minnesota.

In North Dakota, Paul has officiated 14 Class B regional tournaments, 15 Class A regional tournaments and numerous district tournaments. Paul was awarded a Distinguished Service Award for Basketball Officiating by the Minnesota State High School League (1996-1997).

Paul and his wife, Debra, have been married for 42 years. They have two sons, Ryan and Ross, and four grandchildren, Gracie, Jack, Emma and Stella. In his spare time, Paul enjoys outdoor activities of all kinds including softball, hunting, fishing, golf, as well as reading. Paul’s plans for the future include travel, reading, spending time with family and watching his grandchildren’s activities.

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Carol Sartain Peterson Hometown: Littlefork, MN Current Home: Oxnard, CA Major: Business Education Email: carlsong8@msn.com

I grew up in a small town on the border of Canada, the oldest of five children. Our family attended the Lutheran church where I was baptized and confirmed. All activities centered around church, school and family friends. The lakes everywhere in northern Minnesota offered plenty of fishing in summer and skating and sledding in winter.

My father and mother ran a small bakery until my father died suddenly just before my senior year. Friends, family and church offered support, and my mother took care of five children aged from two weeks to 17 on her own. Our Lutheran pastor was a strong support to our family. He and his wife had graduated from Concordia and he encouraged me to attend there the next fall. Long lasting friendships made during my years there remain today.

After graduation I was married in my home church to my best friend, Ron, also from our home town. He had graduated from UND the year before me. After our wedding, we immediately moved to Ohio where Ron was already employed and I began teaching in a high school which had enrollment about the same as Concordia while I was there. Quite an adventure for my first teaching job. After two years, we relocated to Colorado where I taught junior high business education. Typing was an important class then for the eighth grade. I taught senior and junior high business education until children arrived. After that I tutored, was a substitute, worked as an aide and volunteered in the classroom.

We have two sons and two daughters-in-law, two granddaughters and two grandsons. We get together with them as often as we can.

Over the years we have lived in five Western states and now live in California for the second time. We have found it home in each new place and made many friends along the way. Our interests tend to center on the outdoors. We especially enjoy skiing and sailing and power boating.

Living in California, we are able to spend time on the ocean and we take sea voyages to Alaska in summer and Mexico in winter as often as we can.

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James Satter Hometown: Wheaton, MN Current Home: Frazee, MN Major: Physical Education Additional Education: M.S., Guidance Counseling, NDSU, Fargo, ND Email: jm_satter@yahoo.com Wow! Fifty years after graduation and 50th wedding anniversary! My first job following graduation was in Frazee, Minnesota, where I was hired as a teacher and football coach. I was able to guide the football team to its first conference title in 30 years. I also received my M.S. in Guidance Counseling.

While in Frazee, we lost our firstborn, a son, to heart failure. At that time, we decided to add to our family with the adoption of two sons. They are now wonderful adults, Tony with two children and Brock with one child.

A change of jobs took us to Morris, Minnesota, where I was a teacher and coach at the high school and later an assistant in football at the University of Minnesota, Morris. It was here that we had the addition of our daughter, Brigette. Brigette also has three children.

I made a career change and entered into the agriculture arena in sales, sales management and marketing.

I enjoy agriculture and continue working as a consultant.

Eight years ago we retired to “HEAVEN ON LAKE 7” near Frazee, Minnesota. We love the lake and all it has to offer our six grandchildren. As a footnote, we were blessed with wonderful gifted athletes that kept us hopping from one bleacher to another and now we are following the grandchildren in all their activities.

We enjoy the winter months in the warmth of Florida or Mexico. God has granted us a wonderful life. We look forward to seeing you all at the reunion.

187

Robert Lee Schroeder Hometown: Rochester, MN Current Home: Brantford, Ontario, Canada Major: German Additional Education: M.A. & M.D, U of Western Ontario; Goethe Institute, Germany Email: robert02lee@gmail.com Married to Mieke (1971), teacher and school principal until her retirement.

Children: Stephen (born 1978) presently working as a correctional officer for the Province of Ontario.

Professional life: A parish priest in the Anglican (Episcopal) Church of Canada for 39 years serving in southwestern Ontario and St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Prior to that, several years of teaching as an instructor of beginning German at Concordia College 1968-1969; teacher of English at a Benedictine cloister school in Germany 1971-1973. Occasional instructor at Renison College, University of Waterloo, for Old and New Testament (ten years).

Recent community involvements since retiring: Volunteer at the local immigrant settlement office as a tutor for recent arrivals to Canada. Five years as a volunteer at the local jail.

Memories of Concordia: The crisp fall days at the beginning of term, two years in residence at Livedalen Hall, several great instructors like Dr. Prausnitz and Norbert Benzel, the chapel talks by Pastor Carl Lee, and the general ambiance of Concordia at that time as a welcoming place with high standards, encouraging us to do our best and, upon graduation, to be agents for good in the world.

188

Kay Sethre Eckman Hometown: Carlisle, MN Current Home: Duluth, MN Major: Elementary Education Email: sethreckman@yahoo.com

After graduation, I taught second grade in the Twin Cities suburbs of Inver Grove Heights and Minnetonka. In 1971 Matthew Eckman, M.D., and I were married, and in 1973 we moved to Duluth where he practiced physical medicine and rehabilitation until his retirement in 2011. I have been active in church, schools and community volunteer activities.

We are parents of three married children: Peter, cardiologist; Erik, anesthesiologist, and, Annalisa, emergency room pediatrician. All are practicing in the Twin Cities, which means we get to spoil our eight grandchildren.

My hobbies include travel, reading, gardening, and spending time with family and friends.

Memorable events from Concordia years are: freshmen beanies, Concordia class ring, Chi Zeta/Chi Delt events, Concordia Christmas Concerts, working for Dr. Drache, college musicals, especially Camelot, student teaching at Sharp Elementary School, 10 PM curfew, panty raids, Kennedy assassination, daily chapel.

Memorable professors: Dr. Svendsbye, Dr. Prausnitz, Dr. Drache, Dr. Lutter, Dr. Stahl, Chaplain Carl Lee. Concordia has influenced my life journey in so many ways, and has reinforced my support for church-related liberal arts education. Soli deo Gloria.

189

Carmen Shaw Hometown: Forest City, IA Current Home: Oshkosh, WI Major: Public School Music Additional Education: M.M., Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL Email: wsps@new.rr.com After Concordia I attended Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois, earning an M.M. degree in piano in 1969.

I stayed on at IWU for another year filling a faculty leave position.

In 1970 I joined the music faculty at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, teaching piano and class piano. In addition to teaching, I enjoyed both solo performing and collaborating with colleagues.

After being part of downsizing in the university music department, in 1977 I joined a colleague who had established an independent studio to form the Winborne-Shaw Piano Studio in Oshkosh. It has been an adventure to have as many as 50 students of all ages and levels.

I have been active in Music Teachers National Association at local, state and national levels. I did ad hoc teaching at UWO and some performing there as well. I’ve also enjoyed being a clinician and adjudicator. My studio partner, Carol Winborne, and I performed as a duo—two pianos and one piano four hands when we managed to find time to practice!

For many years I played in the second violin section of the Oshkosh Symphony. Violin is very definitely my secondary instrument. I had only had private lessons and no orchestra experience, but it was a thrill to play the orchestral literature and accompany many world-class soloists who played with us.

My musical and personal life has been expanded and enriched through serving as Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church in Oshkosh. I direct the choir and oversee the music program and occasionally play the organ or piano.

In 2002 my partner, Carol Winborne, passed away very suddenly and everything changed. I have continued in the studio but now with fewer students. I’m edging toward retirement but am not quite there yet! In my spare time, I continue to enjoy reading, gardening and travel.

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Mary Shoning Klauer Hometown: Sioux City, IA Current Home: San Diego, CA Major: Psychology Additional Education: M.A., Correctional Counseling, Chapman University, Orange, CA Email: msklauer@aol.com After graduating from Concordia with a degree in psychology, I moved to California and received a Master’s Degree in Correctional Counseling. I am also a state-licensed psychotherapist. After 32 years of working in various law enforcement positions, I retired from the State Department of Corrections in 2002.

I have no children and am a widow. I love to travel and take at least one overseas trip every year. I also love photography and still use film and a darkroom. The photo attached is of a friend and myself on the Sea of Galilee last month (I am on the right.)

I am very active in my church and involved with prison ministry, refugee ministries and retreats. I was quite surprised when the fall women’s retreat leader at our church told me that she too was a Concordia graduate! On a recent trip to China, one of the folks in our travel group had also attended Concordia...so you see, we are everywhere!

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Richard Sibley Hometown: LaMoure, ND Current Home: Portola Valley, CA Major: Biology Additional Education: M.D., University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School Email: rsibley@stanford.edu It is a pleasure to have this opportunity to be in touch with all of you again!

I took Dr. Prausnitz’s advice scribbled at the bottom of one of my papers and, with the encouragement of Mr. Fuglestad and other Biology faculty, went to medical school. My first two years of medical school were at UND where I was inspired to be a pathologist by a North Dakotan, Dr. Walter Wasdahl. I continued medical school at the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School, and then went on to the University of Chicago and Stanford University for resident training.

My first job was at the University of Minnesota, a place full of opportunity for someone interested in renal and transplant pathology. After ten years at Minnesota, I returned to Stanford University Medical Center where I have practiced for the last 30 years. And yes, I’m still actively working as a surgical pathologist at Stanford University Medical Center. I have to go far and wide to find a lunch partner of my generation and gender, but the work still challenges me every day.

I was lucky to marry a social worker, Bonnie VanOrnum, also from LaMoure, who rounded off some of the rough edges and has been a wonderful life partner. We have two children and four grandchildren who live close by. They all enjoy our big vegetable garden—you can take the kid off the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the kid. We also are fortunate to live in an area where we can enjoy a lot of music, theatre and beautiful nature. I am very grateful for the opportunities I have had and the life I live day-to-day.

I look forward to attending the 50th reunion of the Class of 1967!

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Lee Skavanger Hometown: Williston, ND Current Home: Maple Grove, MN Major: Physical Education Additional Education: Education Administration, St. Thomas University, St. Paul, MN Email: skierlee@gmail.com I celebrate every day with gratitude for my family, friends, and faith and for this precious time I’ve been given to walk on this amazing planet.

My career centered around serving as an administrator for a Twin Cities suburban school district. My most enjoyable/rewarding work was leading an educational foundation.

My wife, Donna, and I were blessed with three children and three grandchildren. Donna passed away eight years ago; however, we had forty great years together. We all know that life has no guarantees. I live in the Twin Cities and I’m fortunate that two of my children and all three of my grandchildren also reside in the Cities. In addition to the time I spend with family and friends, I also enjoy skiing, hiking, traveling and working out.

Since retiring 13 years ago, I’ve had time to reflect and learn to appreciate the abundance of blessings in my life. This process has helped me gain a great deal of gratitude, an increased desire to make a difference and, as a result, I’ve made “giving back” a sense of purpose for my life.

My Concordia experience was a wonderful gift to me that provided a quality educational base, dedicated staff/ faculty and the right fit for me. However, what I remember the most from my Concordia days are the many quality relationships I experienced and the lifelong friendships that resulted.

I look forward to celebrating our 50th with many of you this fall!!

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Kay Skjei Hometown: Williston, ND Current Home: Laguna Beach, CA Major: Elementary Education; Art Additional Education: School Administration Email: skjei@cox.net

After graduation from Concordia, I taught school in the Ocean View School District in Huntington Beach, California. The third year after leaving Concordia, I taught in Okinawa and then in Germany. Deciding I needed to get back to the States, I returned to California and taught in Mission Viejo and Lake Forest until retirement in 2002.

Worried that I wouldn’t know what to do with my time after retirement, I taught part time at the school I retired from and worked in an interior design/accessory shop in Laguna. The University of California-Irvine then hired me to observe student teachers for a two-year stint.

Finally, I DID retire full time and began art classes, bridge and yoga.

In 1994, I married Christopher Toy, a real estate agent. He had two children, so I not only became a wife, but a mom all at once. We also now have two grandchildren, Adam and Missy. In addition, we also have two cats.

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Patricia Skramstad Westgard Hometown: Enderlin, ND Current Home: Fargo, ND Major: Mathematics Additional Education: Various Intensive Bible Studies Email: lwestgard@aol.com I was raised near Enderlin, North Dakota, where I was a 1964 high school graduate. I married Lester Westgard in 1966. In 1972 we moved to Fargo, North Dakota, where we still live. At Concordia I majored in math, minored in English. I taught there for three years, retiring to raise our three children and to be ready to pack our bags for a trip. My advanced education has been in Bible Studies where I taught Search, and completed Bethel, Crossways, Bible Study Fellowship and continue in many church-offered studies.

Les and I have had a great time together exploring the world. Currently we have completed exploring all 50 states, most of Canada, more than 20 European countries and Australia/New Zealand. We love winters in Florida but have also enjoyed Arizona, Mexico, Costa Rica, Puerto Rica and many other Caribbean islands.

Highlights include the five years of teaching Bible School in Slovakia and small ship cruises with Les’ college buddies. Among tooooo many hobbies, I’ve enjoyed gardening and quilting. Currently I have served on the Board of Directors for National Garden Clubs for over 20 years and am a Master Flower Show judge. This has contributed much of our USA travel with at least three meetings somewhere each year. This photo is during a recent trip to Wyoming and a tour there. My quilting hobby is mostly through our church, Atonement Lutheran, Fargo. For over 40 years I have quilted weekly with a group that supplies quilts for the Fargo-Moorhead shelters and Lutheran World Relief. Another group, “the fancy quilters,” currently has membership in Quilts of Valor that we present to honor military service members.

I am very proud of our family. Jeff graduated from Concordia in 1991 in Art/Media and is a semi-truck and Harley driver. He is married to Cobber, Kerri, who has since earned her doctorate and teaches in Dilworth. Reid graduated from Concordia in 1993 in math (like me!) and is a problem solver for an office in Lake Mary, Florida. He is married to Cobber, Rain, who cares for Safari Ride animals at Animal Kingdom for Disney. Jessica graduated from Concordia in 1998 in Econ/German, has earned her MBA and has taken over Les’ financial planning business. She is also handbell director at Concordia and is married to Dave, a professional painter and honorary Cobber. We have twelve grand-cats and two grand-dogs.

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Ruth Sletten Clemenson Hometown: Hoople, ND Current Home: Hoople, ND Major: English Email: rr.clemenson@gmail.com

After graduation I taught junior high English for four years. I married a farmer and have resided six miles south of Hoople, North Dakota, ever since.

We have three children (two girls and one boy) and six grandchildren. We spend our winters in Arizona. We just moved from residential Gilbert to Sunland Village East in Mesa.

I served on the board of the Eastern North Dakota Synodical Women of the ELCA and was president for four years. I worked with Sunday School in our church, gave Bible studies and served as organist for several years.

We have enjoyed travels to Australia and New Zealand, an Elbe River Cruise (Prague to Berlin), and last spring I joined two high school classmates on a tour to the northern capitals of Europe and St. Petersburg, Russia. We have a cabin on East Devils Lake. I enjoy traveling, music, reading and quilting.

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Terry Sletto Hometown: Overly, ND Current Home: Mandan, ND Major: Psychology Additional Education: Master of Divinity, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN Email: tersletto@yahoo.com Following graduation I continued studies at Luther Seminary in St. Paul. During those four years, I spent 14 months of internship at Onalaska, Wisconsin, at a church and also directing Sugar Creek Bible Camp at Ferryville, Wisconsin. Trail riding was implemented with 12 riding horses. My first call was to New Waterford, Ohio. That call included a half time position at Camp Frederick Bible Camp. The camp built their own pool and named it the Trent B. Sletto swimming pool in honor of our son who was born the week before camp started.

My time in Ohio was cut short when my father died at the age of 55. We moved home to the family farm at Overly, North Dakota. It was a perfect place to raise three children as Siri joined the family in 1977 and Solveig joined the family in 1979. It was not a perfect time to be raising crops. I continued to preach every Sunday when there was an opportunity to fill a pulpit in the area. One of those places was at the 3-point Presbyterian parish of Towner, Willow City, and Rugby, North Dakota. They asked me to serve full time and be rostered in the Presbyterian Church USA. I served Presbyterian churches until my retirement. After serving in North Dakota, I served a 2-point parish in Castlewood, South Dakota, a single point church at Spicer, Minnesota, and my final church at Britton, South Dakota. In all of the parishes we met wonderful, loving, compassionate people.

My passion besides preaching the Word has been flying. While in Ohio, I got my private pilot’s license.

Later I would achieve my commercial license and my instructor’s license. During the last years I have had the opportunity to have access to a Mooney. What a blessing! We also enjoyed taking/leading mission trips in the US and in Central America.

By my side has been my loving wife, Susan, married 50 years now. We have been retired five years and love it. Another passion is seeing that our children grow up healthy and happy. They are all married to perfect mates, Tonya, Jeremiah, and Scott. To those marriages we have been very blessed with ten grandchildren: Signe, Ben, Josiah, Micah, Sara, Soren, Kari, Kinley, Britta and Jorgen. What Joy!

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Paulette Smith Satter Hometown: Moorhead, MN Current Home: Frazee, MN Major: Art Email: pcsatter@gmail.com

As Concordia grads of 1967 prepare to celebrate 50 years, Jim Satter and I will also be celebrating 50 years together. Jim and I were married in Fargo in July of 1967. We immediately moved to Frazee, Minnesota, where Jim had accepted the job of teacher and football coach, and I started teaching art in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. After one year in Detroit Lakes, I accepted a job in Frazee to begin a senior high school art department. While in Frazee, our son, Bricker, was born, but, unfortunately, he died two weeks after his birth. We made the decision to adopt, and we were blessed with two little boys, Tony and Brock. Jim then accepted a teaching and coaching job in Morris, Minnesota.

With no art teaching jobs available in the area, I began to work at the radio station in Morris as a copy writer and some on-the-air work, too. While in Morris, we were blessed with the birth of a daughter, Brigette.

A change in career for Jim took us to Fargo, North Dakota, our home for the rest of our working careers. I started working for a construction company with new home buyers and eventually as an interior designer. I finally found my true calling. I owned my own business as well as working for different firms over the years.

I am now retired and enjoy my life living at our lake home in Frazee, Minnesota‌right back where we started. I love to garden, read and spend as much time as possible with our six grandchildren, ranging in age from three to 18. I still love to do art projects and, of course, redecorating our home. Looking forward to seeing everyone next fall.

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Shirley Sommerfeld Binns Hometown: Wibaux, MN Current Home: Salt Lake City, UT Major: Elementary Education Email: srbinns3@hotmail.com

Upon graduation from Concordia, I went to Great Falls, Montana, to accept a teaching assignment.

I taught there four years. During that time, I met and married Tom Binns, who had been transferred there from his home in Spokane, Washington.

We moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, in December 1973 and have resided here continuously since that time. I taught in the Granite School District in suburban Salt Lake for 32.5 years and I am now substituting three days a week! Our biggest accomplishment (and our most joy) in life is our family. We have five children, four sons and a daughter. Those five children have given us seventeen grandchildren. Three of our sons (and 13 grandchildren) live in Texas so our traveling involves going back and forth to Houston or Dallas! We will all be together this summer for a family reunion at Island Park, Idaho. One son graduated from the Air Force Academy, others from BYU and BYU-Idaho. I am extremely proud of our kids and their accomplishments, and THEIR kids and their accomplishments. It is hard to believe that we have grandchildren in college!

The piano. Although my major was elementary education and I spent most of my teaching years in fifth grade, I did have some wonderful opportunities to direct and accompany some school choirs. I did not solo, but I have been privileged to accompany many accomplished soloists and groups. A rich, rich blessing.

I am so grateful for my years at Concordia. I have told my children that getting an education is more about learning to live away from home than it is the actual class requirements. I was so fortunate to have association with such quality people that influenced me and helped me make good decisions all through my life! Thanks to friends, acquaintances, and teachers! I have had a wonderful life and I have my background at Concordia to thank for a portion of that. The Concordia hymn says it all . . .“On firm foundation grounded . . . . �

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Barbara Sorenson Leno Hometown: Tuttle, ND Current Home: Bottineau, ND Major: Elementary Education Additional Education: 45 hours post-graduate Email: jbleno@yahoo.com

It has been my pleasure to live in North Dakota from my time of growing up on a farm/ranch in Central North Dakota and living into my retirement years in northern North Dakota. I graduated from a small rural high school (Tuttle, ND) before attending Concordia.

After graduating, I married M. John Leno who is from my hometown. We will be married 50 years this July.

My first teaching position was with the Fargo Public School System in a first grade classroom, a position I held for four years. Our older daughter, Teresa, was born during our residency in Fargo. Teresa has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Moorhead State University and is presently self-employed with an internet company called Fresh Finance. She has two children, Jamison and Alexis. Our grandson is a junior at North Dakota State University pursuing a Crop and Weed Science Degree.

Our granddaughter is a junior in high school at Central Cass Public School, and she plans to enter a major related to a human service career.

In 1972 my husband accepted a professorship with NDSU-Bottineau Branch, as it was known at the time, and we moved to the northern border. Our younger daughter, Terra, was born in Bottineau. She graduated from Jamestown College and Pacific University at Forest Grove, Oregon, with an Optometry Degree. She is employed at Altru Health in Grand Forks. She and her husband, Chris, live in Grand Forks.

In 2008 I retired from my third grade classroom position of forty years with the Bottineau Public school system. During that period of time I served as the secretary, vice president, president, building representative, and a negotiator for the Bottineau Education Association. Since retirement I have continued to be involved in the education of children as a substitute teacher for three years and a para-professional for another three years until this year. I have been fortunate to have good health and enjoy so many good pleasures in life including my special hobbies: Hardanger, quilting, reading, viewing animal and plant life, taking drives with my husband in the early mornings and evenings— seeing the beautiful sunrises and sunsets of the Turtle Mountains.

I am especially thankful to Concordia College for the positiveness instilled in me that has enabled my family and me to appreciate and be of service to others.

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Sandra Specht Johnson Hometown: Duluth, MN Current Home: Las Cruces, NM Major: English, Business Education Email: skjohnso@cord.edu

Graduation Day. Headed for Bismarck; made it to Jamestown on solid ice. Two days later made it to Bismarck (frozen brakes—burned out clutch). Piles of snow greeted us. By the move back to Fargo in ’69, we had added our first son, Kirk. The family grew again a couple years later with Ryan. (Two Cobbers.)

After five years at home with the boys, a recession pushed me to return to the work force—and the perfect job presented itself, a job that gave me two months off every summer to enjoy the boys’ T-ball, swimming, Scouts, and later, DeMolay Conclave and other adventures.

I managed a few adventures as well. I got my bus license to drive on church trips to three national youth gatherings and a couple of summer camps—one of them included a blown-out tire requiring a repair stop (only exceptional because it was in Sturgis, South Dakota, during biker rally week).

Back to that perfect job: English Department office manager at CC. I was luckier than most of you—an extra 38 years with Cobbers—fresh faces with yellow beanies every fall and becoming friends with our professors and welcoming new ones as the years passed. I was truly blessed by the collegial relationship we had and greatly honored when they nominated me for the Ole and Lucy Flaat Distinguished Service Award for Support Staff in 2005. And more adventures: nine Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge spring break trips (now I’m on the HFH Board of Directors in Las Cruces) and a Justice Journey trip. What great young people still come to CC to work and play hard. All the English majors and work-study students I was able to mentor are still in my heart.

I spend a great deal of time serving as a volunteer advocate with the Alzheimer’s Association (currently as Ambassador to New Mexico Rep. Pearce), visiting Washington 13 times in 15 years, working to increase research funding and to move legislation forward. I am proud of legislation we passed in North Dakota and the enactment of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act. Beyond these activities, I sang in church choir, served on church boards and was council president. I was part of our contemporary worship team for twenty years. Somehow life repeats itself as I am on church council, sing in the choir, select contemporary worship music, and with the youngadult connection in my blood, I continue to hang out with the youth group in Las Cruces. In my spare time for spare change I dog sit, cover vacations in the church office and edit the occasional book.

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Susan Stevens Downing Hometown: Starbuck, MN Current Home: St. Paul, MN Major: Elementary Education Email: champdown@gmail.com

Family: Met husband Gregg Downing after befriending young Vietnamese refugee in 1976; this Fairy Godmother arranged my blind date. Children: Laura (Varna, Bulgaria) and Joseph (Minneapolis); three cats.

Work: Taught first grade in Minnetonka Public Schools; first grade 1970-1971 at St. John’s English-Speaking School in Brussels, Belgium.

Left teaching, became travel agent, Hennepin County Public Affairs office manager, stay-at-home mother, elementary school volunteer, and reading tutor before retiring.

Hobbies: While reading, am always searching for the “inner, hidden, deeper secret meaning.” Thanks, Professor Prausnitz. Attend concerts of three community bands with my bass clarinet-playing husband as a member. Write doggerel poetry for friends, won 2013 St. Paul Sidewalk Poetry contest, send Letters to the Editor (about 85% published), with one bringing 15 minutes of fame as the highlighted letter in Time magazine, November 5, 1990.

Favorite Hobby: Travel. Toured with Star of the North Concert Band to Norway, Ireland, Spain and Argentina; will be on band’s cruise to Alaska in 2017. My love of exploring increased while living in Brussels and on weekend trips into France, Germany and the Netherlands. I treasure my memory of young boys and sheep roaming Spanish hillsides, truly “shepherds in the field watching their flocks,” on Christmas vacation car trip. Climbed to top of Vatican dome; evacuated from Italian train in tunnel when engine caught fire.

After visiting Norway, detoured from Denmark to cross East Germany by train to West Berlin; had English-language Time magazine confiscated by East German guards.

Rode Tunisian camel to Bedouin encampment, entered Lenin’s Tomb in Red Square with college students from Brussels. Flew from Hong Kong to Bangkok over North Vietnam with war raging below. Went ice fishing with Inuit grandmother in Nome, Alaska. Watched daughter graduate with Masters in Humanities degree at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. Stayed with family in private home in Belgrade, Serbia, and now good friends.

Enjoyed car trip across Bulgaria with daughter as tour guide. Crossed Artic Circle, International Date Line and Equator. Visited all U.S. states except Vermont and Oregon.

Great appreciation to Concordia College for nurturing my faith and for my education. On my deathbed, as angels bring me to Heaven, my soul shall be hearing a Concordia Concert Choir sing “Beautiful Savior.”

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Dave Stoll Hometown: Forest City, IA Current Home: Naples, FL Major: Biology, English Additional Education: M.D., University of Iowa; Orthopedic Surgery, WV University Email: dstoll6720@aol.com Upon finishing my training, I joined Mountainstate Orthopedics in Morgantown, West Virginia, and was Clinical Professor of Orthopedics at West Virginia College of Medicine. I served as the team orthopedic surgeon for the West Virginia University Athletic Department from 1980 until my retirement in December 2011.

But now the real fun begins! My wonderful wife, Deborah, and I moved full time to Naples after retirement. We have so enjoyed living here and have spent the past years golfing, fishing and traveling extensively. The bucket list of destinations is slowly being completed. Our plans for this year include Cuba, Portugal and a cruise from Basel to Amsterdam.

We also enjoy the lives of our children who are scattered from San Francisco to Dallas to New Orleans to Princeton to Washington, DC, and also here in Naples. And thus far, there are seven grandchildren who keep us fully entertained!

It is hard to comprehend how fast the years have zipped by. Our last years seem to be on a fast forward! I will say my years at Concordia gave me at great basis of education and, more importantly, moral values that seem to be slowly leaving our society.

We are certainly blessed and would welcome any of you who venture to Southwest Florida!

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Carolyn Storaasli Nestingen Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Current Home: Roseville, MN; Dallas, OR Major: French, English Additional Education: M.A., French, Univ. of Wisconsin; JD, University of Minnesota Email: nescar@gmail.com It took the threat of me graduating and heading to France to study for Jim to ask me out. But we knew almost right away that this relationship was for keeps.

After my studies in Grenoble, France, for five months Jonelle Aas, Penny Price, Kay Albano and I travelled around Europe for a madcap summer.

The next year I went off to Madison for French studies, but engaged to Jim. We were married in the summer of 1968; I began teaching French while Jim studied theology. Internship took us to Spokane, Washington, for a year where I taught at Gonzaga. After Jim’s graduation, we moved across the west to Coquille, Oregon, where Jim served as pastor for three years. Our first child, Andrew, was born there. We returned to the Twin Cities and I began law school when our second child, Peder, was five months old. It was a wild crazy time!

But I graduated, got admitted to the Minnesota bar and then, just for fun, moved to Toronto, where Jim went to graduate school. I couldn’t practice law, so did an internship. But what a great city to live in for two years!

In 1980 we returned to Minneapolis, where Jim rejoined the faculty at Luther Seminary and I joined a labor law firm in St. Paul, focusing on multiemployer benefits law. Our third son, Jacob, born two months after our return from Toronto, had the benefit of the Canadian Social Insurance system to pay his medical bills and my leave time. For 20 years, we went to kids’ hockey games, cross country ski meets, running races, music recitals, and all the rest; meanwhile billable hours was a mantra in the back of my head. After nine years I switched firms, ending up at Briggs and Morgan, a venerable Twin Cities firm.

In 2006, we built a Norwegian house in the woods of the Willamette Valley in Oregon, which we call Sagatun, or the House of Tall Tales. We spend summers and falls there, and return to Minnesota and our Midwest roots for winter and spring. We are blessed with six grandchildren, two in Seattle, three in Saint Paul, and one in Frankfurt, Germany. Both of us are avid readers. We enjoy classical music, gardening, and travel.

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Jerry Sundrud Current Home: Napa, CA Phone: 707-255-0931 I live in Napa, California, and have been married 40 years to Bobbie. We have three children. I retired from CC Meyers Construction in 2010 and am now working in Transportation, State of California.

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Scott Sundrud Hometown: Okhee, MN Current Home: Bemidji, MN Major: Physical Education Additional Education: M.S., Secondary School Administration, NDSU Email: scs2jm@gmail.com April, 1967; graduation day. After being a broke student for four years, and having signed a huge $5800.00 contract to teach, I bought a brand new 1967 Pontiac Firebird; wish I still had that car. Off to Montana to work on a ranch for the summer at $25.00/day. Started teaching at Lake Park, Minnesota, in 1967; physical education, Junior High English, B team football, two class plays. By the time I paid my car payment and room/board, I had $100 left for the month.

In August, 1968, I married Cindy, who was my hometown girlfriend and had just graduated from Moorhead State. We both taught in Kennedy, Minnesota; physical education and health (Cindy); high school English and elementary physical education (Scott). I also directed class plays and was head football and assistant basketball coach. After two years and a 14 - 2 football record, we moved to Fargo. I got an assistantship at NDSU to work toward my M.S. in school administration. After graduation in 1971, we were both hired at Littlefork-Big Falls HS where I was the high school principal and Cindy in PE and health. Three years there and that was enough of education for both of us.

We moved to Bemidji (1974), and I went into the real estate business for the next 13 years. Our two kids were born there. In 1987 I took a position with a real estate development company in Minneapolis and commuted from Bemidji. In 1989 I worked at two different real estate companies in the Twin Cities. In 1990 I went back to real estate in Bemidji until 1997. After the kids were off to Concordia, Cindy took a job in Special Education at Southwest High School in Minneapolis. I joined Edina Realty and a couple of other companies until Cindy retired from teaching in 2014, and we moved back to Lake Bemidji.

Jessica graduated from CC in 1998 and went to Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles. She went into Intellectual Property Law and married in 2002. Living in Manhattan Beach, California, they have three children, nine, seven, and five. Mark graduated from CC in 2000; He went into a doctoral program at Vanderbilt University and received his Ph.D. in Immunology. He married a Cobber and now lives in Jupiter, Florida, working with Scripps Research Institute. They have two children, eight and seven.

We enjoy northern Minnesota in the summer and fall, but we are a very rare sight in these parts during the long winters. Our family is honored to have been a part of Concordia College and hope to see lots of you in Moorhead at the reunion next fall.

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Byron Sutter Hometown: Moorhead, MN Current Home: Rapid City, SD Major: German Email: bjsutter@rushmore.com

It all started on my fifth birthday, but that’s another story. The best thing that happened to me at Concordia was finding my future wife, Joyce (Waltari ’69). After trying various jobs after college, I got the ridiculous idea to start a small business. Joyce has always been very supportive, and so we opened Sutter’s Mill in 1977. We had been making much of our own outdoor gear and clothing for years, and soooo, it seemed rational to start a business offering repair services and custom sewing of outdoor clothing and equipment, even though neither of us had any training or experience running a business. Furthermore, all the commonly accepted guidelines for successfully starting and running a small business applied to everyone else, not us, because we’re special. We scraped by for 12 years with our shop. We did have a lot of fun during those years with our two boys, John and Ben. Lots of bicycle touring/ camping, Nordic skiing, and road trips to Montana and other points West.

In 1986 we decided to acquire some other marketable job skills to allow us to move West (tired of the mosquitoes, humidity, and protracted winters). Joyce studied computer operations and programming, and I became a Registered Respiratory Therapist. We both found jobs at Rapid City Regional Hospital in 1989 and have enjoyed living in the Black Hills of South Dakota so much. We’ve been retired for about four years now and enjoy traveling (visiting our kids and grandkids), and selling our Sutter’s Mill packs and bags at craft fairs throughout the region. We still hike and bike some, but we’re slowing down (bad knees and shoulders).

Sometimes it’s just nice to sit and watch the deer come into our yard from the ravine behind our house.

We recently celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary, and that reminded me of one day at work about ten years ago when we were talking about the rash of failed relationships among our coworkers. Someone asked me what the secret is to a long marriage, and I responded, “I think sometimes people just have to lower their standards. Obviously, that is what my wife did.”

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Gerald Swenson Hometown: Willmar, MN Current Home: Port Orange, FL Major: Psychology Email: gswenson3@cfl.rr.com

My freshman year at Concordia was horrible academically. I ended up with 18 credits but did learn that chemistry was not for me. The only class I did well in and enjoyed was Psych 101 from Bartz. I left school for a year and got married to my high school sweetheart.

I returned the fall of ’65 and went straight through, graduating in Dec ’67. During that time my wife worked at the FM Hotel as a beautician and we lived at College Lane apartments. After graduation, I returned to my hometown and worked in the family business. In August, we had our first child—a son. In September I went to work in Worthington, Minnesota, for the State of Minnesota, Department of Education, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, as a counselor working with the physically, mentally and emotionally disabled. While there, we had our second son. Five years later I moved to Bemidji, Minnesota, to take a job as the Executive Director of North Central Inc., a sheltered workshop that employed the disabled. Shortly after moving to Bemidji, we had a daughter.

After two very enjoyable years there, I developed an interest in manufacturing. A local company came up for sale and on my 30th birthday I decided to pursue a new career. It took seven months of negotiating with the bank to finally put together a deal. October 1, 1975, I took over Core Craft, a manufacturer of fiberglass products. We owned the company for 22 years and raised our children there. In 1997 I sold the company and moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where two of our children lived. When we moved there, I worked for a fiberglass manufacturing company as production supervisor. After two years, I started up a company manufacturing kitchen and bathroom counters and shower stalls. January 1, 2008, I sold the company and retired to Port Orange, Florida, where two of my children had moved.

We have three married children and six grandchildren. We celebrated our 52nd wedding anniversary on December 5, 2016. There has been adversity but also many blessings that we thank God for, especially family and friends, and the opportunity to be able to consider 35 years of my 40 years of work as making a living from my hobby.

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Fred Thompson Hometown: New York City, NY Current Home: Portland, OR Major: English, Music Additional Education: M.A., American Studies & Ph.D., English, University of Utah Email: thompson @olympus.net In 1967 I married Jean Engbloom (’66) and we set out for Salt Lake City where I attended graduate school at the University of Utah (M.A. in American Studies and Ph.D. in English). I served two years in the U.S. Army.

My first teaching job was at Wasatch Academy in Mt. Pleasant, Utah, an independent boarding high school.

In 1979 I began teaching English at Peninsula College, Port Angeles, Washington. Besides writing courses, I taught literature and introduction to the arts.

I was lucky to have two full-year sabbatical leaves, the first in London, England, where I was attached to Westfield College of London University and the second, researching connections between music and literature. I led five study tours to the UK and continued throughout the years playing the cello in orchestras and chamber ensembles.

I retired from teaching in 2010, and Jean and I moved to Portland, Oregon. Our son, Andrew, is a boatwright in Washington state.

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Martin Thompson Hometown: Luverne, MN Current Home: Chanhassen, MN Major: Physical Education Email: martyet45@yahoo.com

I graduated with a major in physical education and a minor in biology; later I added a major in mathematics.

After graduation, I taught math and science six years in Elbow Lake, Minnesota. During that time I served as head wrestling coach and also the head track coach for the last two years. The track team was Class B state champion in 1973. I then relocated to Hastings, Minnesota, where I taught 7th grade math and coached several sports at the junior high level.

My summer job at the Cenex warehouse in Inver Grove Heights led me to 14-year career at Cenex. During that time I managed three warehouses (Aberdeen, South Dakota; Williston, North Dakota, and Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota). After 11 years in warehousing, I was transferred over to management in the transportation fleet.

In 1988 I was approached about a position in Supervalu as the Corporate Transportation Manager. I was there for 20 years, and when I left, I was the Corporate Director of Fleet Operations. During my time, I held a number of transportation positions, including Director of Inbound Transportation when the department was formed in 2000. I retired from Supervalu in 2008.

In 1969 I married Erika Haugen. We were blessed with two daughters, Kami (’72) and Kari (’74).

Unfortunately, Erika lost her battle with cancer in 1984. I married Anita Balkan in 1991; we celebrated 25 years this past summer. We are both retired and enjoying the new life style and two terrific grandchildren, Dalton (5) and Jordan (18 months). For the past several years we have rented a house in Surprise, Arizona, for several of the cold months. It is a great life.

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Carolyn Tommerdahl Quinn Hometown: Hendrum, MN Current Home: Battle Creek, MI Major: Medical Technology Email: carolyndquinn@yahoo.com

I am originally from Hendrum, Minnesota, which is about 30 miles north of Moorhead. I graduated high school in 1963 and attended NDSU for one year. I then transferred to Concordia and majored in Medical Technology with a minor in chemistry.

(Those organic chemistry classes were something else.) In May 1967 I graduated and took a job in Battle Creek, Michigan, at Community Hospital. That summer I met my future husband, Frank Quinn. We were married in 1968 and had two children, Jennifer and Frankie. I worked part time after the children were born, first at Lakeview General Hospital and then at a local doctor’s office. Later I went to work for the federal government working in contracting.

Frank and I still live in Battle Creek. Jennifer is in Arizona, and Frankie is in Circleville, Ohio. Frankie and his wife, Mandy, have a little girl, Isobel, who is six years old. We visit them as often as possible.

Frank and I have done a lot of traveling over the years. Europe, China and Egypt were highlights. Scrabble, bridge and watching MSU Spartan basketball are my favorite hobbies.

I remember fondly my years at Concordia and the friends I made. Hopefully, they are all included in this book, and I will get to read about them.

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Jane Tourtlotte Borsvold Hometown: Glasgow, MT Current Home: Beaverton, OR Major: Elementay Education Email: jeborsvold@aol.com

After graduation in 1967, I traveled to the West Coast with three Concordia roommates in search of a teaching job. I signed a contract in Hillsboro, Oregon, married, and thus began a teaching career that would span thirty years. I taught Grades 1-3 in an innovative new school of open space classrooms with three teachers and seventy-five students. It was the highlight of my teaching career! During those years, I had two children, Stephanie and Mark, both of whom are now married and living in the Portland area.

In 1997 I retired from fulltime teaching, moved to Michigan and married again—this time to the love of my life, Norman Borsvold. We became snowbirds, spending winters in Phoenix, Arizona, for the next 10 years, where we both substitute taught. I taught children with special needs in Grades K-2, realizing a lifelong dream to teach special education.

In 2007 we moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where Norm’s daughter lives. Norm was on staff at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in midtown as pastor to seniors. We stayed in Atlanta two years, eventually returning to Phoenix to resume substitute teaching for the winter. When my daughter and her husband adopted a baby in Portland in 2009, we returned to Oregon. Norm’s health declined steadily, and sadly, he passed in March 2014.

I continue to substitute teach in Hillsboro and love it. I enjoy my three grandchildren, now ages 7, 2, and 1. I attend two Bible studies, sing in a 150-voice choir, play in an English handbell choir and participate in a grief support group leadership team. I love to travel! A major highlight was my trip to Norway in 2014 to attend a family reunion.

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Trudy Waale Rye Hometown: Thief River Falls, MN Current Home: Merrimack, NH Major: Sociology, Psychology Email: trudyrye@att.net

I enrolled at Concordia in 1963 but graduated with the class of 1966 so it’s a tossup whether I actually belong in this book at all. My reasoning was that I wanted to stay in touch with my classmates.

Immediately after my summer ’66 graduation, I married Jim Rye, my husband of 50 years, and we moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, so Jim could complete his education. We have a “mixed marriage” in that he went to Augustana College! My job as a social worker for the state of South Dakota focused on child welfare in the area of adoption and foster care. We moved to West St. Paul, Minnesota, when Jim started his career in software engineering. Our first daughter was born before we moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where Jim worked with MIT. Back in Minnesota (Inver Grove Heights), another daughter and a son were born. I had the great privilege of being a stay at home mom. Our children grew up to be, in Garrison Keillor’s terminology, above average. At least we think so. We have 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. We’ve lived in Merrimack, New Hampshire, for the past 38 years. I volunteered and assisted in several social concern agencies. I worked in design for a florist and also at a garden center, fun jobs for sure. After our children left home, I’ve often traveled internationally with Jim. We lived in Stockholm, Sweden, for a year to set up an office there. For the same reason, we had two longer stays in India.

After retirement, we’ve volunteered regularly with Habitat for Humanity. We have totally enjoyed builds in Costa Rica, Guatemala, New Zealand, Thailand, Argentina, El Salvador, Alaska, Hawaii and most recently in Montana. Two-week builds are our favorite, and then we stay a few more weeks to explore the country. We’ve gotten to meet and work with great people. We stay most of the summer at our cabin on a small New Hampshire lake. Swimming, boating, reading, sailing, floating: all great things to do. Retirement is wonderful. My time at Concordia was also wonderful. I’m thankful for the atmosphere, for friends I met, for the education I received. Who doesn’t use psychology on a daily basis?

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Margaret Wahl Lima Hometown: Hannaford, ND Current Home: Valley City, ND Major: Home Economics Email: margaret.lima82@gmail.com

Class of 1967. I don’t know many of you since my days at Concordia began the summer of 1964.

However, I have shared with many young people that my Concordia experience was wonderful, but I missed out on a year of fun.

My first teaching position was in Chaska, Minnesota, where I taught for two years. I then took a one-year break and applied for a position that advertised “fly high, fly free.” I traveled the U.S. instructing dental offices how to use a new computer program for their billing and time management. I went back to teaching after a year of living out of a suitcase. I taught for a year in the Anoka, Minnesota, school district. During that time I met my husband; we were married in the fall of 1971.

We moved back to North Dakota where I worked various positions while raising three children. I became a widow after ten years. I was a stay-at-home mom for a few years. I began working part-time in the county treasurer’s office during the children’s school years. Afterwards for many years, I worked managing a bookstore that served as vocational training for traumatic brain injured individuals.

Following retirement, I helped two elderly individuals and now enjoy grandchildren, family time, many hobbies, travel and teaching a few quilting and wool classes. I am also active in my local church. Our congregation experienced a fire tragedy three years ago. Even though this has been a devastating experience for us, it has made us a closer unit. God is good!

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David Wallin Hometown: Bozeman, MT Current Home: Bozeman, MT Major: Philosophy, English Email: david.wallin@bozemanford.net

Graduation ’67, Audition for Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London, accepted to theatre in Brighton but received draft notice. Served in Army 4th Infantry Division Vietnam ’68 -’69. Flew and instructed passenger and freight aircraft, primarily in Montana and then East Coast up and down the Hudson.

Married LouAnn Velo in 1970, two sons Danton and Torin. Pilots were a dime a dozen after the war, and after experiencing four engine failures in twins, the gods of flight said to return to Bozeman, Montana. Involved with automotive business since 1971. Purchased full ownership in 1986 of Bozeman Motors Inc. Ford, Lincoln, & RVs; have been enslaved to the almighty dollar since.

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James Walline Hometown: Starbuck, MN Current Home: Dellwood, MN Major: Business Administration Additional Education: MBA, University of Minnesota; Chartered Financial Email: wallinejim@aol.com Enrolled in University of Minnesota’s Carlson School to pursue an MBA immediately following graduation from Concordia. Married my sweetheart, Carol Berset, from Cloquet, Minnesota, in 1968 and plan to celebrate our 49th anniversary this summer. Took a job with Lutheran Brotherhood right after our wedding in my chosen field of investment management. Spent 34 years with them doing research and portfolio management on bonds, money market securities, and stocks.

Finished career with Lutheran Brotherhood as a manager of two stock mutual funds, and then Thrivent Financial was born and with it some job displacements.

Not ready for retirement, I spent a short time with Piper Jaffray & Co. until Piper sold the retail side of their business to UBS. Still not willing to retire, I became the Executive Vice President of Twele Capital Management in Hopkins, Minnesota, specializing in Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). After eight years with Twele Capital, I finally decided to retire in 2015 at age 70. Time to fish and golf. Oh, forgot to mention that on January 1, 2015, my son and I bought and now manage 4 Seasons Restaurant in Mahtomedi, Minnesota. He manages the staff, food and operations. I help with the property and maintenance. Totally unexpected retirement job.

Carol and I lived in Bloomington and Edina for a while, but eventually made our home for the past 34 years in Dellwood, Minnesota. Raised our daughter and son in this area and both still live in Mahtomedi. They each have two girls. We are grandparents to four totally enjoyable grandchildren. We are longtime members at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi and stay active with volunteer events, youth sports and school functions. I have always been proud to be an alumnus of Concordia College for the quality of the education I received knitted within the fabric of faith that has always been important to me. Soli Deo Gloria!

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Jerome Walz Hometown: Bismarck, ND Current Home: Bismarck, ND Major: Political Science Email: jswalz@bisman.net

Jerome (Jerry) Walz—I enlisted in the U.S. Army Security Agency in 1967, and was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and later at Fort Myers, Virginia. I was trained as a linguist in Kituba (Congo) language and was later stationed at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, as a Traffic Analyst and then sent overseas to United States Army Security Agency Field Station, Tori Station, Okinawa, and received training in other areas.

I married Renee Setnes, class of 1968, June 29, 1968. Children—Michael, Angela and Kevin Watkins, Aaron and Shannon Walz, Nicholas; grandchildren Zachary Walz, Zachary Watkins, Brandon Watkins, Ethan Hadtrath, and Hailey Hadtrath.

I worked for 1st National Bank, Grand Forks, and TrueNorthSteel, Mandan, North Dakota. We have been members of Charity Lutheran Church since 1979. We have lived at 656 Mustang Drive, Bismarck, North Dakota 58503, since 1995. Political Science Major, Chemistry Minor (Concordia); B.S., Accounting, UND.

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Judy Wee Rickbeil Hometown: Lakefield, MN Current Home: Breezy Point, MN Major: Music Education Email: weebeil@hotmail.com

I grew up in Lakefield, Minnesota, but moved to Worthington, Minnesota, after graduating from high school. I attended Worthington Junior College 19631965, transferring to Concordia in the fall of 1965.

I graduated from Concordia with a degree in music education. In May 1967, Dick Rickbeil and I were married. I taught elementary music in Fulda, Minnesota, until we started a family in 1969. I substitute taught in grades K-12 in Worthington for several years. Additionally, I was elementary band instructor at St. Mary’s School (Worthington) as well as teaching music classes there at different times. I directed the choir at Minnesota West in Worthington for a few years, directed children’s and adult choirs at St. Matthew’s Lutheran until 1990 when we became members of American Lutheran Church where I was organist and bell choir director. It’s called putting my music education degree to work, I believe.

Dick and I raised seven children, five of whom attended Concordia with four of them being graduates of Concordia. We lived in Worthington until 2011 when we moved to Breezy Point, Minnesota, where we now live. We are members at Lutheran Church of the Cross in Nissawa, Minnesota, where I play organ on occasion and am bell choir director. I am, as my kids call it, “rent-an-organist” in the Brainerd Lakes Area.

Our kids live in Stillwater and Mankato, Minnesota; Billings and Red Lodge, Montana; Big Bear, California, and Evanston, Wyoming. Most of our travels take us in those directions to visit and be a part of our grandchildren’s activities. We have 17 grandchildren, the oldest being 18 and the youngest four months (1 year in August). When our kids were all home and in school I had a magnet that said, “If a mother’s place is in the home, why am I always in the car?! It was hockey, swimming, piano lessons, etc., etc. etc.

I volunteer at the Brainerd Lakes Area food shelf and keep busy with many other activities in church and in the community. I enjoy biking and snowshoeing.

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Carol Weight Nordquist Hometown: Litchfield, ND Current Home: Lexington, SC Major: Business Education Additional Education: M.S. University of South Carolina Email: carolnordquist@mindspring.com After graduating in 1967, I took a job at Pontoppidan Lutheran Church in Fargo. I married Lowell Nordquist in 1968, and we moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he received his master’s degree in economics and I worked as an administrative assistant for the local school district.

We then moved to Clemson, South Carolina, in 1969, where he took a job teaching economics at the university, and I taught business education classes at Easley Senior High School. While living in Clemson, we had a son, Eric, who now lives in Lafayette, Louisiana, and works for an oil company monitoring the drilling process on oil rigs.

We moved to Greenwood, South Carolina, in 1974 and lived there for two years. I taught part-time at Piedmont Technical College. We had a son, Christopher, who lives in Asheville, North Carolina, and works in the horticulture industry. In 1976 we moved to Lexington, South Carolina, which is still home for me.

I taught at Midlands Technical College for 33 years retiring in 2010. I received a master’s degree from the University of South Carolina in 1980. My husband passed away in 2014.

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Harald Weltzin Hometown: Viking, MN Current Home: Maryville, TN Major: English Additional Education: M.S., Education, Radio and TV, Indiana University Email: haraldweltzin@yahoo.con Born: May 7,1945 in Minot, North Dakota 1945 - 1946 Deering, North Dakota 1946 - 1948 Petersburg, North Dakota 1949 - 1955 Turtle Mountains, Bottineau, North Dakota 1955 - 1959 Viking, Minnesota 1959 - 1963 Dakota Lutheran Academy, Minot, North Dakota 1963 - 1967 Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota 1967 - 1968 Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 1968 - 1970 Audio Visual Director, Clinton High School, Clinton, Iowa 1970 - 1972 US Army, Stratcom New Equipment Training Division, Fort Huachuca, Arizona (Basic training Fort Lewis Washington) 1971, June 19 Married Sue Ellen Walton 1972 - 2002 Audio Visual Director, Clinton Community School District, Clinton, Iowa 1973 - March 25 Daughter Michelle was born (married Michel Hankes). She is CEO of American Red Cross, Eastern Tennessee, has sons Keagan and Rory 1974 - March 17 Daughter Jennifer was born. She is night accountant, Starved Rock State Park, Illinois.

1976 - March 5 Son Matthew was born. He is Warehouse Manager, Petco, Knoxville, Tennessee. Has daughter Kenndelle.

2002 - Retired from Clinton School District, Moved to 928 Brown School Road, Maryville, Tennessee.

2002 - 2003 Taught Graphics Arts, Loudon County High School, Loudon, Tennessee.

2003 - 2006 Wired houses, Gatlinburg Falls Resort, Gatlinburg, Tennessee (30 of which were burned in massive Gatlinburg fire this Nov 2016).

2006- Worked at Rubbermaid, Maryville, Tennessee 2007 - 2015 Maintenance for Boatmate Trailers, Maryville, Tennessee 2015 - May 7 retired from Boatmate trailers. Have been traveling in my motor home to Florida, South Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Minnesota, Tucson, Arizona, Los Angeles, California and places in between.

2016 - Built a workshop by the house. Making wood toys for a hobby.

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David Westgard Hometown: Plaza, ND Current Home: St. Paul, MN Major: Zoology Additional Education: UND, B.S., Medicine; University of Washington, M.D. Email: dsolwestgard@gmail.com David Westgard M.D., M.S., retired in July, 2014 after 43 years in medicine. At the time of retirement, Dr. Westgard was serving as Chief Medical Officer for the Olmsted Medical Center in Rochester, Minnesota.

Dr. Westgard graduated from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle in 1971.

He did his residency in Family Medicine at San Bernardino County Medical Center in California from 1971-1974 and then served in the United States Air Force at Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento, California.

He entered full-time private practice in 1976 by joining the multi-specialty SkempGrandview Clinic where he practiced medicine for 24 years in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He was responsible for development of their Family Practice department of 40+ physicians in 11 rural clinics and in the main clinic in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

During this time, he served as President and Chairman of the Board of Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians; President and Medical Director of Greater La Crosse Health Plans, an indemnity insurance company owned by FranciscanSkemp Healthcare. He was a Bush Foundation Medical Fellow in the class of 1988, completing a master’s degree in Administrative Medicine and Preventive Medicine from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He served from 1995 through 2000 as Vice President of Medical Affairs/Business Development for FranciscanSkemp Healthcare, part of the Mayo Health System.

Dr. Westgard served as Treasurer for the Minnesota Medical Association for three years and continues to serve on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Medical Association Foundation. He has served in multiple leadership roles within several integrated healthcare systems. His areas of special interest have been in information services, quality improvement, medical management of health plans, and the integration of health care delivery systems with insurance and financing functions.

Dr. Westgard and his wife, Solveig, now live in St. Paul where they enjoy being close to their three children and six grandchildren.

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Karen Wick Mailloux Hometown: Jamestown, ND Current Home: Fargo, ND Major: French, Political Science Additional Education: M.Ed., North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND Email: kmailloux@cableone.net I have been married to Gary A. Mailloux (Jamestown College ’67) since June of 1967. We have lived in Fargo since graduation except for one year in Jamestown, North Dakota. We have two daughters, Jennifer (41) who lives in Portland, Oregon, and Vanessa (35) who lives in Fargo. We have five grandchildren who add a lot of joy to our lives.

I spent most of my career teaching beginning French at Ben Franklin Junior High in north Fargo. I’ve been fortunate to have traveled to France many times and made life-long friends while there. My husband and I are avid sports fans, so often our social life has revolved around sporting events. My other interests include reading, gardening and politics.

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Gary Williams Hometown: Kerkhoven, MN Current Home: Alta Del Mar, CA Major: Zoology Additional Education: M.D., Ph.D., Immunology. University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA Email: gwwmdphd@gmail.com Dr. Gary Williams is currently the Chairman of the Department of Medicine, Scripps Clinic Medical Group, Vice President of Medicine Services, and Executive Medical Director for Information Services for the Scripps Clinic Foundation in La Jolla, California.

Dr. Williams received his MD and PhD in immunology from the University of Iowa. He served an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York, and was a Clinical Associate at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda Maryland. He spent two years at the University of California San Diego before joining the staff of Scripps Clinic Medical Group in 1979. He was appointed Chairman of the Division of Rheumatology and has served as the Vice President for Academic Affairs for the Scripps Clinic Foundation, with oversight responsibility of more than 650 active clinical trials. He was the Chief of Staff of the Scripps Green Hospital.

Dr. Williams is a Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine and a Fellow Member of the American College of Rheumatology. He has served as Vice Chair of the San Diego County Medical Society’s Ethics Committee and on the Board of Governors of the Arthritis Foundation. Dr. Williams is a recipient of the Borts Award for Clinical Research from the University of Iowa and is a member of AOA. Dr. Williams has authored or coauthored numerous textbook chapters and articles that have appeared in the Annals of Internal Medicine, American Journal of Cardiology, Arthritis and Rheumatism, Clinical Therapeutics, and the New England Journal of Medicine and Science. He has been involved in basic and clinical research for more than 35 years and has presented his research and has lectured throughout the United States and in 19 countries.

He has been listed in Best Doctors in America for the past 15 years.

Gary is married to Eunice Williams, a graduate of St. Olaf College with a Masters Degree in Piano Performance from Cal State Fullerton. She currently directs three choirs for the San Diego Community College District.

Her choirs have an active concert schedule in the San Diego region and have performed internationally in France and England. She and select choir members have also performed in New York City at Lincoln Center and in a performance, with Monroe Crossings, of a Bluegrass Mass at Carnegie Hall. Gary and Eunice live in Alta Del Mar, California, and have four children, Luke, Leah, Eric, and Bryn, and four grandchildren.

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Mary Williams Fowler Hometown: Arthur, ND Current Home: Bismarck, ND; Scottsdale, AZ Major: Elementary Education Phone: (701) 258-6675

I was born to Lloyd and Adeline Williams on March 5, 1945, in Fargo, North Dakota, and grew up in Arthur, North Dakota. After graduating from high school, I went to Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, for two years and then graduated from Concordia with a major in elementary education.

On September 3, 1967, I married my high school sweetheart, Jonathan Fowler, who was also from Arthur.

Then it was off to be an Air Force wife in West Texas where my husband was in pilot training. I got my first job as a second grade teacher in Big Spring, Texas. After a year in Texas, my husband was transferred to Travis AFB in California. He flew cargo planes across the Pacific to Southeast Asia. I got a teaching job as a first grade teacher in Fairfield, California. It was at Travis AFB where our first son, Scott, was born in 1970. What a blessing and joy that was to us.

After five and a half years in the Air Force, we returned to Fargo, where my husband went to NDSU as a student and graduate assistant. After earning his M.S. in Industrial Engineering, he was hired in Bismarck by the Melroe Bobcat Company in 1974. We joined Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Bismarck and have been members for over 40 years. We have served on a number of boards and committees. Our three children were all confirmed at Lord of Life. It was in Bismarck that our next two children were born: Susan in 1975, and Jason in 1979. All three of our children graduated from Bismarck High School.

In 2004 my husband retired from the Bobcat Company, and we now winter in Scottsdale, Arizona, where our daughter, Susan, and her family live. Summers are spent at our lake home on Lake Sakakawea and our original home in Bismarck. We have five grandchildren who are the light of our lives. God has truly blessed us.

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Arlene Wilmer Duff Hometown: Drayton, ND Current Home: Plano, TX Major: Physical Education Email: willied@me.com

Growing up in northern Minnesota, I attended and graduated from Kennedy High School with a class of 27 students. Following in my older sister’s footsteps, I spent the next four years at Concordia where I pursued a degree in physical education and biology.

The liberal arts education I received at Concordia served me well as I began teaching science, health and physical education at junior high schools in Sioux Falls, Bismarck, and Moorhead before leaving for warmer climes in Plano, Texas, a growing suburb of Dallas.

After moving to Texas and prior to my return to teaching, I spent a few years in the fitness industry including a stint as Fitness Center Director at a polo and hunt club in Plano. What a cultural change for me! Watching polo matches every Sunday at the club was very new and exciting for me, as I found myself surrounded by people from all over the USA and other countries as well. People often made fun of my Minnesota accent and expressions, although I tried to blend into a more diverse, multicultural environment. I’ve attempted to incorporate “fixing to” and “y’all” into my vocabulary but haven’t quite mastered that yet.

I have two daughters, Amy and Nicki, who are 17 years apart in age! Both graduated from Plano High School in classes of 1300+ seniors, a huge difference from my small high school class! Amy graduated from the University of Arizona, received her MBA from the University of Texas, and works in the Human Resources field.

Nicki, my daughter from a second marriage, graduated from Midwestern State University and is teaching and coaching in Frisco, Texas. Both daughters are married and have given me four loving and active grandchildren.

Retired after 40 years of teaching and coaching, my husband, Rick, and I are enjoying life at a much slower pace. Before retirement our travel consisted mostly of following daughter Nicki’s softball games as she played throughout the country with her club and college teams. We still love to travel but prefer the more relaxing road trips and the beautiful scenery along the way. I’m hoping that our next road trip will take us to my Concordia College Class of ’67 50th Reunion! See you there!

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Donna Wilson Waldera Pierce Hometown: Fargo, ND Current Home: West Fargo, ND Major: Elementary Education Additional Education: M.D., University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School Phone: 701-492-6298 I graduated from Concordia College in December, 1966, with a major in Elementary Education and a minor in Sociology.

Following my marriage in January 1967 to David A. Waldera, we lived in Lawton, Oklahoma, where David was stationed as an officer at Fort Sill, a U.S. Army base. Following numerous assignments, David received orders to serve in Vietnam. In April 1969 David gave his life for our freedom.

In 1968 I began my teaching career as a second grade teacher at George Washington Elementary School, Moorhead, Minnesota. I taught there until, as an answer to prayer, I married John S. Pierce, June 21, 1974. We were blessed with one daughter, Kristina A. Pierce Gillette ’98.

I have appreciated the opportunity to be a homemaker and the privilege of providing a home base for our family, being there for Kristina and complementing John, as his spouse and partner, in his long career as an advancement professional at Concordia, which, by its nature, has taken him away from home many times and in many ways.

During Kristina’s growing up years, I taught three-year-olds in Sunday School classes and served as homeroom mother in Kristina’s schools on numerous occasions.

I have enjoyed being involved in community and church activities, including Stephen’s Ministry and as a certified aerobics instructor. Realizing the importance of exercise, diet and a healthy lifestyle, I have devoted myself to giving it my best.

I recognize the importance of GOD first, family, country and our many blessings.

Soli deo Gloria.

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Betty Winter Brown Hometown: Forest City, IA Current Home: Lemoore, CA Major: Elementary Education Email: betzbrown@yahoo.com

After graduating from Concordia, I taught in St. Paul Park, Minnesota, and Tacoma, Washington. I continued my primary teaching with Department of Defense Schools, specifically located in Naha, Okinawa. I was fortunate to travel weekends to many Asian areas while in Okinawa. While there I met a Navy pilot, Tim Brown, who was serving as a security officer. I returned stateside in February 1972 to marry Tim, who was transferred to the Navy Air Station in Lemoore, California. Tim got out of the service in 1973 and became an agricultural chemist. He worked for several different companies throughout our 43 years of marriage.

I taught primary physical education, kindergarten and first grade on the Lemoore Navy Base for 25+ years.

I retired in 2007. Since then I have had the opportunity to travel with friends to Greece, Japan, France, Croatia, and last recently, Peru.

Tim loved and continued his job as an agriculture consultant until 2015 when he passed away suddenly at our Lemoore home. Six months later, the misfortune of a house fire left me living in a rental for about a year. God is good always and today I am living back in my rebuilt home. I welcome anyone who may be in the Lemoore area to stop and spend some time.

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Patricia Wrigg Keller Hometown: Glendive, MT Current Home: Littleton, CO Major: Latin, Greek Email: patricia.keller@comcast.net

Leaving Concordia with a degree in Latin and Greek, I pursued a Masters in Classical Languages at the University of Colorado. By the time I received my M.A. in 1969, I had fallen in love with Colorado.

I have lived in the Denver area since even though the rest of my family has remained in Montana.

I struggled finding a job that would match my education at first and finally took an entry level job with a small insurance agency. Well, it turned out that reading insurance policies is much like understanding Latin or Greek! In 1978 I joined the Denver office of the world’s largest insurance broker, Marsh, Inc., where I handled a variety of large commercial clients, some of them household names. I held a number of positions with Marsh; responsibilities grew.

In 1998 I was asked to join a team of experienced Marsh brokers who traveled to all the Marsh offices in the US (at that time about 50), and reviewed their internal client files for adherence to a set of “Professional Standards” which were developed by the company, primarily to avoid errors and omissions but also to provide excellent service to the clients. Although this position required extensive travel (three out of four weeks a month), the travel team agreed that this was the best job we ever had! Each year we “had” to travel to such places as Honolulu, Anchorage, San Francisco, Seattle, Bermuda and New Orleans, to name just a few. Trips to Chicago, Minneapolis, New York and Milwaukee in the winter—well, not so much fun. But the food and camaraderie were wonderful. In 2005 I retired from Marsh the first time and then worked at part time jobs until completely retiring in October 2015.

My husband and I are blessed with eight grandchildren, most of whom are adults now, and two great-granddaughters (whom I spoil rotten). I enjoy walking, reading, traveling and catching up with old friends. I also serve on the board of our HOA, which I believe is a punishment for some long-forgotten misdeed. Much to my embarrassment, I have never attended a Cobber event in Denver or a choir concert, but amazingly on a cruise we recently completed, I met two women who also graduated Concordia.

Small world. I firmly believe that the years I spent at Concordia with its excellent academic environment and professors set me up for a very successful career and for that I am eternally grateful!

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John Xavier Hometown: Mentor, MN Current Home: Minneapolis, MN Major: French, Political Science Additional Education: M.A., University of Wisconsin, Madison; Fullbright Grant Email: xavijohn707@gmail.com Fifty years have included ongoing contacts with friends Rolf Gjorven, Bert Rude, Byron Sutter and spouses, with others important, too. With over a dozen accidents by motorcycle, car, and car-pedestrian, I am fortunate. In the last, Pete Setness, Dr. Joel Boyd and team reassembled me with ligament transplants. No over-50 baseball, but I do OK with few speed bumps.

This good fortune is fully balanced by vexing and complete losses in investment and real estate areas.

Thanks for professors and others: Bjerkness, Drache, Gochberg (UW), Green, Hofrenning, Lutter, Noblitt, Spafford, Svendsbye, Tarro (UW) and potato broker Alan Thompson ’53.

My life is blessed by interesting study, travel and work. Concordia offered a European study scholarship in France, with a stint as instructor of French, along with Concordia Language Villages (“Camps”) and the launch of May Seminars Abroad. Grad work followed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in French and History (MA, 1970), culminating with a Fulbright Grant for Paris. Two years later after tenure in French hotels, and the college job market souring, I left grad studies.

Jim Hallas had insisted as a French major I take economics and accounting. A balanced BA opened the door to 17 years in insurance, investment and private investigation. After 1989-1990 grad work at the University of Alberta-Edmonton, I published and presented on Quebec Nationalism, and Saami North American history.

I also was at Control Data and Data Recognition, in litigation support and standardized testing. I also edited books, including a history of the royal family of Norway (The Prince and the Nanny), and the forthcoming history of Concordia Language Villages, both by Odell Bjerkness.

I have not been blessed with a spouse or children, but do have two god-daughters, Natalie and Colette Caille, “Diamond” and “Peaches.” After the 1990s Haitian boat people influx, I assisted a single Haitian father with pre-teen daughters through LSS. French paid off (their main language in early USA days). Today, the two daughters are in their 30s, one an LPN, the other a chemical engineer turned MD. Once boat people, they are repaying many times over their public education and refugee assistance.

Currently I do Minneapolis community work in the arts with forays into politics (no more GOP!). Other work is church-related on Council for Norsk Mindekirke (Norwegian Memorial Church), Most importantly, I am heavily engaged in major ethnic work on my Saami (Lapplander) ancestry.

Work includes publishing, speaking, radio and TV interviews, and a fiveyear stint as Chair of the North American Saami Searvi (NASS). In sum, the beat goes on.

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Jean Zeller Huselid Hometown: Carrington, ND Current Home: Moorhead, MN Major: Business Education Email: sweet.grammy@hotmail.com

After graduating from Concordia with a business education major and library science minor, I accepted a teaching position at the high school in Clinton, Minnesota, where I taught for 10 years.

Larry Huselid and I were married in December 1969. I am blessed to have three lovely daughters: Valerie, Jennifer and Kristen, and also three grandchildren to love.

In 2007 I moved to Moorhead and am currently engaged in private in-home childcare which I totally enjoy!

In my leisure hours, I enjoy gardening, sewing, baking and home decorating. Family, friends and neighbors enjoy the “fruits of my labors.”

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John Zimmerman Hometown: Litchfield, MN Current Home: Virginia Beach, VA Major: Biology Additional Education: M.S. and Ph.D., Entomology; M.A., Human Resources Management; Teaching Certificate Email: jzimmerman5@cox.net After leaving Concordia, I spent two years at the University of Delaware, graduating with a Masters in Entomology. From there, I was drafted into the US Army and spent time as a PFC in San Antonio, Texas, and Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland. Mary (Nestoss ’69) and I were married in 1969. After discharge in 1971, I started my Ph.D. at Michigan State, did my medical entomology research in Panama in the Canal Zone at Gorgas Memorial Laboratory for 15 months, and graduated in 1975.

I received a direct commission in the U.S. Navy Medical Service Corps as a Medical Entomologist. We had duty stations in San Diego, California; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Jacksonville, Florida; Cairo, Egypt; Quantico, Virginia.; Camp Pendleton, California, and Norfolk, Virginia. I retired as a Navy Captain in 1995.

Our oldest daughter, Amy, was born in 1976, and she and husband, Kevin (here in Virginia Beach), have one son, Levi. Our youngest daughter, Emily, was born in 1981, and she and husband, Alex (Wilmington, North Carolina), have a step-daughter, Alyssa; a son, Isaiah, and a daughter, Naomi.

Upon retirement, we stayed in Virginia Beach where I taught High School Biology for 11 years. I worked in a bookstore for two years and have for the last nine years been teaching Human Anatomy and Physiology at our local community college. Mary and I have enjoyed travel in Europe and the Middle East. We enjoy spending time with our children and grandchildren.

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Janice Zinter Willard Hometown: Willmar, MN Current Home: Colton, SD Major: Elementary Education Email: jjwillard@goldenwest.net

I grew up in Willmar, Minnesota, with three brothers.

Our mother, Dorothy Zinter, raised us alone as our father was killed in a train explosion near Devil’s Lake, North Dakota, when my youngest brother, Ervin, Jr., was five days old.

Vinje Lutheran Church with Pastor Harold Kildahl and later, Pastor Paul Hanson, were very influential in our faith journey. Mother always wished for her children to attend a Christian college. Pastor Paul influenced our oldest brother, Gary, to attend Concordia; Al, Ervin and I followed.

I majored in elementary education and minored in physical education. My first job was in Luverne, Minnesota, teaching third grade. After teaching for six years, a co-worker’s brother, James Willard, asked me to marry him. We have lived on the Willard Homestead in Colton, South Dakota, for 43 years.

There we raised three wonderful children. Our oldest son, Michael, and his family live three miles from us.

He farms with his dad and uncle. He will be the fifth generation on our family farm. Both younger daughters, Deborah and Laura, graduated from Concordia and are currently elementary teachers in Sioux Falls and Tri-Valley. We are blessed with eight grandchildren, all living within 30 miles of us! Their ages range from 14 months to 17 years.

Besides being a teacher, wife, mother and grandmother, I am involved in the church, have mastered driving tractors, doing field work, pulling newborn calves, attending school sports and music events, cooking, cleaning, yard work and most important—grandmothering!

Soli deo Gloria.

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Our Other Classmates The goal of the Class of 1967 50th Reunion Committee was always to include everyone in our class in this yearbook update. For that reason, we have listed below classmates who did not submit their information. As we gathered material for the book, we thoroughly enjoyed connecting with so many classmates. When you review the names below and those with a page in this book, we hope you will try to reconnect with old friends.

The committee does not have contact information for classmates with asterisks in front of their names.

If you know how to contact them, please reach out to them and share information about our 50th reunion. Also, please ask them to provide updated contact information to the Concordia Alumni Office (Cord.edu/classnotes or Catherine Smith at smithc@cord.edu or (218) 299-3743).

Nola Abraham Robert Albright Charles R. Anderson Judith Anderson Lauzen Jane Beaton Bartow Michael Beltz Carmen Berg Zwicker June Bergh Jewett Robert Blessum Sandra Block Hunt Almon Bock Margaret Bolin Silliman Karen Borg Scheels Ethelyn Brandli Odell Spencer Brien Diana Brown Schwartz Edith Susan Christensen Ronald Christenson Barbara Daggett Nelson Anita Denend *Susan Dimmitt McGuire MaryLynne Dittbrenner Michael Dondelinger *Richard Eggen Keith Emerson

Linda Engelter Apmadoc Mary Engevik Anderson Bonita Fitze Dunnell Mary Foss Rothmann Scott Fridlund Janet Gantka Hillstrom Russell Gessele Dorothy Glietz Freudenberg Sharon Gordon Olson Ruth Gronbeck Rhead Jean Gross Hansen Roberta Groth Mackay Diane Gunness Nelson Carol Haaland Gregerson *Sandra Halloran Tegethoff Marlys Hanson Kvistero *Thomas Hanson Ronald Haugen Roger Haugland Christine Hayward Ronald Helgeson Doris Hess Darrel Hestdalen Nancy Highum Boe Betty Huebner Bass

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Sevrin Huselid Pamela Hyland Hogg Jean Johnson Gunderson Jerry Johnson Jean Jorgensen Vetter Orvis Johnson Robert Katayama Margo Klebe Marcene Kleven Fridlund Allan Knutt Bobbie Kotlarsky Smack Wesley Langaas David J. Larson Robert Lee Duane Letness Terry Lindquist David Locken Ellen Ludtke Palmer George Lundstrom *Suzanne Madison Ehrlichmann Sharon Maier Gary Martinson Paula Midthune Kranz Mark Mostrom *Donna Myhr Denzin *Barbara Myrom Robert Newlander Leonard Nord Dennis Nordahl Carol Nygaard Donley *M. Prudence Parsons Jones Marcia Peterson Cottrill Sharyn Peterson Calton Gloria Philipp Blazina Margo Porter Kristi Quade Bangert Richard Quanrud Bonnie Reinhardt Hardy Carol Renneke Gilbertson *Dorothy Richardson Hamilton Gerald Ripley

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*Leslie Robinson Hartley Darlene Rodi Dergan Jim Roy Vernon Rule Barbara Ruth Braun Elizabeth Schiefelbein Bentz Crystal Schmidt Davis Joan Schmitz Geritz LuAnn Seeba Olson Peter Setness Nancy Sherman Okerlund Robert Sherman Gretel Sigdestad Haaland Leona Skrove Zimmerman Joanne Slethaug Knutson Barbara Smaby Massie Marshal Smart Marilyn Smestad Moore Sandra Smith Lewis James Stover Charles Swanson Leanne Swenson Agnes Syltie Johnson *Mirja Syvanto Ronning Linda Thorkelson Wong Colleen Tinkham Hyde Jon Tonneson *Zona Torgrude Poppenhagen Linda Torvik Jacobson Sharon Torvik Ripley Linda Townley Eberhart Mary Turmo Thompson Darlene Walker Solvie William Weisbrod Cheryl Wigtil Rieger JoAnn Wilson Schneiderman Michael Wolf Sondra Woltjer Breiland-Hodgson Paulette Worner Hentz Berta Wurm Anstrom

In Memoriam

We fondly remember...

Deceased list is as of April 21, 2017

Kristin Olson Borchard

Kris married her high school sweetheart, Kent, after her junior year at Concordia and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Medical Technology. After Kent finished law school in Ann Arbor, Michigan, they moved to Colorado. Kris raised five children and worked as Kent’s “right hand man” in his law practice in Meeker, Colorado. Also, in 1986 she became an Emergency Medical Technician and found her niche as an EMT and ambulance director. Her life was defined by her love for God, family, church, friends and community. Kris died at home on August 6, 2011.

Leslie Braaten

Les’s career after college was in retail management in Minneapolis and Des Moines, Iowa, returning to Hettinger, North Dakota, where he retired as the manager of Kum N Go. A family man, he was a proud father of two children, Lisa and Thomas. Les was an avid fan of NASCAR, NBA, NCAA and local sports. His other interests included astronomy, coin collecting, reading, politics, pinochle and single-malt scotch. His thoughtfulness and smile are missed by all who knew him. Les entered his heavenly home on October 12, 2013.

Gerald Carlson

After graduating from Concordia, where he majored in Sociology, Gerald attended Luther Theological Seminary, becoming ordained as an ALC pastor in 1970. He served Maxbass-Newburg Lutheran Parish for 10 years, Concordia Lutheran Church in Crosby for 11 years, and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Devils Lake from 1991-2000, when he retired. Jerry and his wife Janet were blessed with three children, six grandchildren and two great grandsons. Gerald was living in Enderlin, North Dakota at the time of his death on February 25, 2017.

Karen Groth Dwyer

Karen graduated Magna Cum Laude in Elementary Education and earned her Master’s degree in Reading and Remedial Reading from the University of Chicago. She began her teaching career in Burnsville in 1968. She took time off to raise her two children, and returned to teaching in 1980 at Child Development & Learning Center and privately tutored elementary students until her passing.

She was defined by her faith, courage and strength. She had a lifelong love of music: played clarinet and piano, and participated in choir. While she battled breast cancer for more than fifteen years, she always seemed to be the one inspiring and encouraging those around her. Karen died on April 9, 2007.

Paulagene Haugen Gordon

Paulagene graduated from Concordia with a degree in Elementary Education. While at Concordia, Paulagene met and married Leo Gordon (’66). They raised three children. She was active in their Lutheran church and held various church volunteer positions. Paulagene’s father, Wilbur Haugen, and her uncle, Wes Haugen, also both graduated from Concordia. Wes served as the Lutheran bishop for eastern North Dakota at one time. Paulagene died at home on June 17, 2012.

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Lowell Gorseth

Lowell graduated Magna Cum Laude with a double major in Philosophy and English. After graduation, he received a fellowship to study philosophy at the University of Kansas. Lowell married Lois Brenden (’66) and has two daughters (Rhonda Alberts and Rhea Root), and five grandchildren. He spent his career teaching English and coaching, with the last twenty-five years at West High School in Billings, Montana. He taught Honors English and was assistant football coach, head track coach and head groundskeeper for the Billings minor league baseball team. A former student and English professor described his class: “His contagious love of literature and poetry was amazing. I can still close my eyes and see his classroom with all those laminated quotations adorning the walls. That classroom, lined with novels we were allowed, encouraged, even dared to check out and read, was where my love for literature began.” Rhona, his daughter, having taken the class, adds in a semi-unbiased way “He was a great teacher!” He completed a M. A. in Education, spent four years on Concordia’s Alumni Board, was Montana Coach of the Year in 1987 and Billings Teacher of the Year. He was active at Peace Lutheran Church and enjoyed hiking with his family. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor and passed away a year later on April 15, 1997.

James Hallas

After graduating from Concordia, Jim relocated to Minneapolis. There he married Jane Echternacht, also of Brainerd. Jim and Jane were blessed with two daughters, Libby and Jana. Jim spent most of his career with the Pillsbury Corporation, serving in Internal Audit, Sales Management, and Strategic Planning and Capital Budgeting. Jim loved to travel and to spend time with his family at their cottage in northern Minnesota. Jim died suddenly following his favorite run around Lake Harriet on June 24, 1988.

Susan Hoxeng-Simundson

After graduating from Concordia, Sue taught school in Madagascar and Texas before moving to California. There she taught English and German at San Marin High School in Novato. After marrying and raising three children, she returned to teaching English at Redwood High School, where she was much loved and respected, until the time of her death. Her passion for travel brought many experiences, including teaching in Switzerland at the Leysin American School. Sue died unexpectedly of a cerebral brain hemorrhage on June 29, 2005.

Richard Jeffers

After graduation from Concordia, Richard completed a tour of duty in the Navy, including time in Vietnam. He joined the Coon Rapids Fire Department and retired after 26 years of service. He and his wife, Connie, have a son, daughter and five grandchildren. He enjoyed spending time with his family, especially at their cabin in Nisswa, Minnesota. Richard died on August 30, 2007.

Donald Knutson

Don graduated with a major in Physical Education and minors in History and Political Science and was a member of the basketball team. He married Joann Slethaug (’67) from his home town, Great Falls, Montana, on September 9, 1964. After graduation from Concordia, they returned to Great Falls.

At the time of his death on November 8, 1994, Don was a senior vice president with TrustCorp, a subsidiary of a Great Falls investment firm. He and two other company executives were killed when the company’s twin-engine plane crashed shortly after takeoff from the Great Falls airport. They were on their way to a meeting with Eastern Montana bankers and to conduct seminars for bank employees.

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Judy K. Koci

Judy graduated Magna Cum Laude with a major in Elementary Education and a minor in Art. Initially, she worked as an elementary school teacher and in the summer of 1969 participated in peace rallies in Washington D.C.. In the mid 1970s, she began working in special education and completed a master’s degree in special education from the University of Minnesota. She married Michael Gemperle in May 1975 and they lived in north east Minneapolis. She enjoyed playing guitar, gardening and crewel embroidery. Her last teaching position was at Barton Open School in Minneapolis as a special education teacher. Judy dealt with health issues her whole life. She was diagnosed with polio before her first birthday and spent six months at Gillette Children’s Hospital in St. Paul. Over the years, her polio required many surgeries. She passed away on December 14, 1986, from cancer.

Ronald Lahlum

Ron was from Nome, North Dakota, and graduated from Concordia with a major in History and minor in Biology. At the time of his death on October 26, 1989, he was living in Moorhead, Minnesota.

Jorgina Scherz Livingston

Jorgina majored in Public School Music and Piano and had a minor in Voice. She married Jeffrey Livingston in 1968 and taught school in Brownton, Minnesota from 1968 to 1978. They relocated to Rochester in 1980 where she worked part-time as a designer at Whiting’s Flowers and designed liturgical banners in her own business called, “How Great Thou Art.” She served as director of Children’s Ministry at Bethel Lutheran Church and a member of the senior choir. She enjoyed doing interior design work and spending time at the family cabin in the Black Hills of South Dakota. She died of cancer at her home on January 19, 2006, following a lengthy illness.

Martha McDaniel Lund

Martha came to Concordia from Rockford, Illinois. She graduated with a major in Music and was a member of the Alpha Society for academic achievement.

She died on August 28, 2005.

Ruth Nelson Lund

Ruth was from LaCrosse, Wisconsin and majored in Business Education at Concordia. After graduation, she taught business at the high school in LaCrescent, Minnesota for two years, then accepted a position to teach business at the high school in Marshall, Minnesota. She was married to John Lund (’67). She enjoyed singing and was active in her local church. Ruth died July 1, 1971.

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Marc Melberg

Marc majored in History and Political Science. He was a fan of history with trips to most of the battle fields of the Civil War, and very much at home in the rich past of the Richmond, Virginia area. He enjoyed golf, model train building and finding the one thing you want more than anything else. Marc succumbed to cancer on March 13, 2013.

Karen Helland Nordvall

Karen graduated Magna Cum Laude with degrees in Art and English Education. She married Bob Nordvall (’67) and served in the mission field of Papua, New Guinea, for 11 years. After returning to North Dakota, she completed a Master’s in English as a Second Language and taught in Bismarck, working with refugee communities, and taught art at Shiloh Christian School. In 2006, she and Bob taught at Tartu Theological Academy in Estonia and St. Gregor’s in Saldus, Latvia. She was instrumental in establishing the first Friendship English Language Bible Camp in Estonia. Karen died on September 20, 2013, having loved Jesus and being His face for so many worldwide.

Nancy Malmo Orn

Nancy and Wayne were married during their junior year at Concordia. After raising three wonderful boys and attending their athletic events, Nancy entered the business world, operating a small restaurant in Stillwater, Minnesota and managing a Schwinn Bike and sporting goods store. She finished her ventures as an interior designer at two suburban furniture stores. Nancy made friends at every stop of Wayne’s teaching/coaching career and enjoyed lots of travels with family and friends. She lived a full, exciting life, even during the five years she battled cancer with conventional and alternative methods.

Three grandchildren were highlights for her before she passed away on July 5, 2000.

Michael Possehl

Michael was from Baker, Minnesota. He graduated with a double major in Elementary Education and Political Science. Michael’s work career was in sales. He was a long time employee of a computer technology company at the time of his death on October 8, 1998.

Gerald Sanden

Gerald was from Barney, North Dakota, and majored in Business Administration with minors in History and Political Science. In 1967, he was one of two people chosen from North Dakota to go to Argentina later in the year to attend a farm youth exchange. On March 7, 1967, he went flying alone to practice techniques. The plane crashed in Cass County near Argusville, North Dakota.

Judith Severtson

Judy majored in Social Work, was a violinist with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra and was active in the student Christian group on campus. She died February 22, 1967, in a two-car accident while on her way home to Clear Lake, Iowa, for a weekend break with two friends. The gifts given in memory of Judy were some of the first donations to Handicap Village, an organization her father, Rev. Murley Severtson, helped create to provide a place where people with disabilities could live and work together in a Christian environment. Today the organization is called Opportunity Village and serves over 600 individuals in North Iowa. Judy’s life has made a difference for countless individuals and their families. Her burial monument contains a paraphrase of the promise of Jesus in John 14:19: “Because He lives I too shall live.”

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Edith Steinhaus

Edith majored in English at Concordia. She taught in Browns Valley, Minnesota, for two years before returning to Lisbon, North Dakota, where she taught English until her retirement in 2002.

She was an avid golfer and served as the girls’ golf coach in Lisbon for a number of years. After retirement from teaching, she worked at Armstrong Funeral Home until 2016. Edith was active in Dollars for Scholars, Trinity Lutheran Church and the Enderlin City Cemetery Board. Edith died on February 12, 2017.

Mark Ylvisaker

Mark graduated from Concordia with a major in Philosophy and spent the first part of his life as a philosopher. Eventually changing his career path to become a speech-language pathologist, completing his PhD in communications disorders at the University of Pittsburgh. He spent the majority of his life as a practitioner and theoretician of speech therapy and a longtime professor of communication sciences at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York. Mark gained world-wide distinction for his ground-breaking approaches to brain injury rehabilitation and his clinical work with children and adolescents with disabilities. He authored over 100 professional publications, including six books related to brain injury, autism and neurogenic disabilities and served on the editorial boards of six journals. His tireless dedication to the wellbeing of others and the power of his positive personality helped change untold lives for the better. Mark passed away at home on May 23, 2009.

“I am the resurrection and the life,” says the Lord. “He who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” John 11:25-26

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Dr. Verlyn Anderson Department: Library, History, Scandinavian Studies Years at Concordia:1962-1998 Current Home: Moorhead, MN Phone: 218-233-0685

I grew up on the Otter Tail County farm that my great-grandparents had homesteaded. I graduated from Concordia College in 1956 and earned three advanced degrees at the University of Minnesota: Master’s degrees in English and in Library science and a Ph.D. in American Studies.

Before joining the faculty at Concordia College in 1962, I taught high school English and Latin and was a school librarian in Hawley and in Waconia, Minnesota. During my first four years on the Concordia faculty, I was the Acquisitions Librarian. During my 1966-68 academic leave, I attended the University of Minnesota pursuing my doctorate. After returning to the Concordia faculty, I was promoted to Director of the Ylvisaker Library, a position that I held until my retirement in 1998. During that time I also held the joint appointment of professor of Scandinavian Studies.

The Ylvisaker Library was built in 1955. The small library collection was moved from the basement of Fjelstad Hall into the new facility in January, 1956. You probably remember the large unstaffed room with sixteen, 8-place tables and alcoves that housed the reference collection. The students of your generation were sufficiently disciplined so that it was a favorite study area. There was a marked change in the behavior of the students of the ‘70s – that room became what we librarians called “The Zoo!” When an addition to the library was built in the late ‘70s, that room became the Reference/Research Room, those large tables were replaced by individual study carrels and small tables and a reference desk staffed by a librarian. Your generation was apparently better disciplined than the students of the next generations. That is a difference that we librarians certainly noticed in the behavior of the students.

Reviewing my tenure as Concordia’s library director, there were two major challenges that I faced. The first was the critical need for more space for student researchers and more space for the growing library collection.

Those challenges were met when an addition to the library was completed in 1980. The second challenge was the computerization or automation of the library services – with on-line access to the college collection and to vast numbers of databases and research collections throughout the country. The library that you used during your college career is not the library that now services the research needs of today’s students.

My fondest memory of my time at Concordia: Meeting my future wife, Evonne, in Dr. Storvick’s second year Latin class!

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Charlie Basch Department: Phy Ed/Health/Coach Years at Concordia:1962-1968 Current Home: St. Cloud, MN Email: bonmay@bis.midco.net Phone: (320) 251-8279

Prior to joining the Concordia faculty in 1962, Charlie Basch had made a name for himself as a versatile, exceptional all-around high school, college and professional athlete. Lefty Smith, legendary South St. Paul and University of Notre Dame hockey coach, called Charlie “the greatest all-around athlete to ever come out of South St. Paul” where he excelled at football, basketball and baseball. Following high school graduation in 1943, Charlie attended NDSU for a year, earning all-conference honors in football before deciding to give pro baseball a try. He signed with the Boston Braves, playing centerfield for Ft. Lauderdale in the competitive Class C Florida International League; however, his pro baseball career was cut short by a broken ankle. After recovering from his injury, Charlie served as a signal man on a landing craft in the U.S. Navy and was involved in the invasion of Okinawa.

He planned on returning to NDSU to play football, but NCAA rules prohibited that because he had played pro baseball. Instead he enrolled at Concordia where he excelled in football, basketball, baseball and hockey from 1946-50. After graduating in education, Charlie taught and coached at Wahpeton, North Dakota, for a year and Moose Lake, Minnesota, for three years before moving to Alexandria, Minnesota, in 1956 where over the next several years he developed some of the state’s top prep football teams, including an undefeated team in 1959. In 1962 Charlie returned to Concordia where he coached hockey and baseball and assisted in football, helping guide the Cobbers to the NAIA National Championship in 1964.

Charlie earned a master’s degree in 1965, and in the fall of 1968, went to St. Cloud State where he assisted in baseball and football for ten years and served as the head hockey coach through 1984. At St. Cloud Charlie nurtured hockey from an outdoor sport where he took care of the rink to competing in the NCAA DII/DIII Western Division Playoffs in 1979-1980 and 1980-1981. He served on the NCAA hockey rules committee for several years and was among a group of college hockey coaches who formed the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) in 1981-1982, which promoted the college game at the Division II/III level and was instrumental in helping develop an NCAA national championship for DII and DIII schools. In 1982 Charlie received the Founder’s Award from the American Hockey Coaches Association and in 1984 was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the NCAA. Charlie retired from hockey coaching following the 1984 season but remained on the faculty at St. Cloud until his retirement in 1991. In 1988 Charlie was inducted into the Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame for his prowess as a four sport athlete and his contributions as a coach in three sports. In 2011 he was inducted into the St. Cloud State Athletic Hall of Fame for his contributions as a faculty member, baseball and football assistant and hockey coach. Charlie is currently 90 years old and resides in St. Cloud, MN. Prepared by Ed Langsdorf

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Robert Brummond Department: Sciences-Physics Years at Concordia: 1956-1990 Current Home: Fargo, ND Email: bobjoyce50@aol.com

Robert Brummond spent eight years teaching science and mathematics in Minnesota and Iowa high schools and at Emmetsburg, Iowa, Community College. He earned an M.A. degree in science education and physics at the University of Minnesota in 1955. He came up from Iowa for an interview at Concordia in April, 1956, during a snowstorm. Driving up Highway 75, by the time he reached Moorhead there were seven or eight inches of snow on the ground.

He was on leave one year during the time our class was at Concordia, spending the 1964-1965 academic year in a National Science Foundation program for chemistry and physics teachers at the University of Texas.

As a result of his studies in that program, he started courses in astronomy and meteorology at Concordia.

A small observatory was built, with the help of students, on top of the science building which had opened soon after our class graduated. That observatory operated for three to four years. Subsequent to that, viewing facilities were built in a small building on the south side of the athletic field that allowed several telescopes to be used at the same time. Brummond has been a member of the Fargo-Moorhead Astronomy Club since the mid 70s and the International Dark Sky Association.

He remembers many serious-minded science majors from our time who went on to go into teaching.

Concordia turned out more science teachers at that time than in recent years. He would like to see more current science students going into teaching.

He recalls that during our time, after chapel many faculty members gathered for coffee in an area near the cafeteria in the basement of Academy. Sonny Gulsvig often told what Brummond called “Norwegian stories,” humorous stories of the Ole and Lena type. Faculty who hadn’t been at coffee would often ask later what Gulsvig told there.

Brummond has fond memories of many of his students who went on to teaching and graduate school, and has been delighted when some came by from time to time to visit him. Brummond retired in 1990. He spent his final semester teaching at a college in Hamar, Norway, through an exchange program between Concordia and the college at Hamar that Verlyn Anderson had developed. It was a rewarding way to spend his last semester teaching, and he still is in touch with some of the people he met in Hamar.

A concern he has is for Concordia and other liberal arts colleges to find ways of associating their courses with the “real world” and including in the curriculum some courses of study that may position students for employment opportunities after graduation.

Based on an interview conducted by Mark Chekola on February 6, 2017

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Dr. Joan Buckley Department: English Years at Concordia: 1956-2005 Current Home: Fargo, ND Phone: (701) 866-9266 Email: Buckley@cord.edu

Thank you to the Class of 1967 for inviting me to send a short biography of my forty-nine years of teaching English at Concordia. Specifically, I began my career in 1956 and retired in 2005. I taught college English, American Literature, Writing for Management, and Scandinavian Studies for half a century including a year I taught English at the Martin Luther Schule in Rimbach, Germany. I enjoyed every class, and I happily add that I still receive many yearly greetings from former students. I treasure these connections; keep sending me your Christmas cards and updates!

From the time I played school with my grandmother, who encouraged my dreams by telling me her exciting story of crossing the ocean from Norway as a five-year-old with her siblings and mother to a new home in America, I had great admiration for her goals of having a good education and better life for her family.

I know I chose well by staying at Concordia to fulfill my dream.

The steps to achieve that goal began with one year as a single teacher. Then I met my husband, Wendell Buckley, a professor of Vocal Music at Concordia. He was a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory. I had graduated from St. Olaf and had a Masters in English from the University of Chicago. My further education was sidetracked when I told then President Knutson that I wanted to continue to teach even though I was expecting our first child in May 1958. He told me in no uncertain terms that I would be bringing up juvenile delinquents if I continued to teach and raise a family. Needless to say, I was sure that he was wrong, and I am happy to report that our children are high-achieving adults today. My husband and I each completed our PhDs from the University of Iowa and I continued to teach full time. Incidentally our son is chief of his radiology group in San Diego, and our daughter is also a radiologist in Palo Alto, California. Our careers do not compete, but each of us enjoys what we do.

Although my emphasis was in teaching, I have co-edited a two-volume translation of the NorwegianAmerican comic strip describing immigrant life called Han Ola og Han Per by Peter Julius Rosendal, written articles on literary topics, and am now completing a family history book, From a Rocky Farm in Norway.

I have enjoyed writing the story of my great-grandmother who brought her children to America. Our family dedicated their lives to faith, family, community and education. I feel truly blessed.

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Jim Christopherson Department: Phy Ed/Health/Coach Years at Concordia: 1964-2000 Current Home: Moorhead, MN Phone: 218-236-8657 Email: jimandsandychrismn@gmail.com

In the fall of 1964 (your sophomore year), I accepted the position of defensive coordinator for the legendary Jake Christiansen on the Concordia football staff. We had no idea that we would end up playing Sam Houston State (Texas) for the National Championship in December. Not only did we end up as champions, but Coach Jake was honored as the National Coach of the Year.

Fast forward to 1966 (your senior year) when Concordia dedicated its new football stadium and locker room in Jake’s name. This was done in less than two years. We went from playing in a stadium with wood bleachers and dressing in the basement of the field house to the present facilities with new artificial turf and state-of-the-art locker rooms.

What a privilege it has been to learn from my mentor for five years, and then to lead the program in the subsequent thirty-two years after he retired. We have had many victories and championships because of numerous great players and coaches. Winning has always been a high goal, and the mission of our program was in line with Concordia’s over-all mission “to send into society thoughtful and informed young men and women dedicated to the Christian life.”

Congratulations to the class of 1967 on celebrating your 50th anniversary! I hope the memories of your years (1963-1967) were enhanced by the efforts of the football Cobbers during those magical fall football seasons.

My wife, Sandy (teacher for 25 years), and I retired in 2000 and along with our adult children, Reid, Heather and spouses, have watched our family grow to include seven grandchildren. We have enjoyed watching all their various activities and developing careers. Sandy and I in the meantime volunteer in several groups both in the community and church; continue to travel both within the US and overseas; cross country and downhill ski, walk and bike along with sailing, fishing and hunting at our lake home on East Battle Lake.

We look forward to seeing many of you at homecoming this fall to reflect on those wonderful years at Concordia. II Corinthians 5:20 Soli Deo Gloria

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Dr. James E. Coomber Department: English Years at Concordia: 1966-2012 Current Home: Moorhead, MN Email: coomber@cord.edu

In the fall of 1966 I came to Concordia having just finished my M.A. in English at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Concordia was my first teaching position. I was twenty-four. You people were seniors, and I was a freshman—a freshman faculty member! Fifty years later, I’m just as pleased now that Concordia hired me as I was then. Hopefully life has been good to you, too.

I’ve truly enjoyed working with Concordia students both in and out of class. Seeing students enhance their communications and critical reading skills has been truly satisfying. Remember those Saturday-morning classes that started at 7:50 AM—and some students coming to class in their pajamas? Those Saturday classes were phased out just after you left. My wife, Eleanor, and I chaperoned weekend camping outings, canoeing trips and banquets. We also chaperoned the first official Concordia dance at the YMCA in the fall of 1968. I was also blessed with wonderful colleagues in the English Department who mentored and encouraged me in many ways.

What’s happened since? In 1972 I finished my Ph.D. at Wisconsin and after that taught not only at Concordia but also worked extensively with teachers in the area, including chairing our annual Concordia Conference on Reading and Writing, which drew as many as five hundred teachers to our campus each year. I chaired the English Department for three terms and later served as chair for the Division of Literature, Languages and Cultures. I have also taught as visiting or adjunct faculty at the University of Calgary, North Dakota State University and Hamline University. I retired from Concordia in 2012 but continue to teach an internet course in applied linguistics through NDSU. With Howard Peet of NDSU, I co-authored Wordskills, a series of vocabulary-spelling texts published by Houghton Mifflin for grades 6-12. Sheldon Green of Concordia and I co-authored two books with North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies: Magnificent Churches on the Prairie: A Story of Immigrant Priests, Builders, and Homesteaders and Unwanted Bread: The Challenge of Farming and Ranching on the Northern Plains.

Eleanor and I are proud of our two children and two grandchildren, whom we visit in Iowa and Washington State. We continue living in Moorhead most of the year and spend winters in Arizona.

Since 1967 Concordia has seen a lot of changes, but this fall I believe you will still find the friendliness and community feeling much the same. I look forward to your reunion and the opportunity to renew acquaintances and share memories and stories.

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Dr. Gustav P. Dinga Department: Chemistry Years at Concordia: 1953-1991 Current Home: Edina, MN Email: chemprof3@hotmail.com

It’s been 50 years since Dr. Gustav Dinga had the honor of teaching the class of 1967. Gus knew as early as high school that his calling was chemistry. He and his twin brother, Emil, were the first in their farming family (the youngest of 11 kids) to go to college, and he went on to earn both a Masters and Ph.D. in Chemistry. Gus started teaching chemistry at Concordia in 1953…and continued teaching there another quarter of a century after you graduated!

Gus and his wife, Eunice (’73), had four children, Paul (’72), Marc, and twins Cheryl and Diane. They spent their summers traveling and camping all over the United States…from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York, to Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to California Lutheran in Thousand Oaks, California, as Gus did research and taught chemistry.

You may remember Gus always wore a bow tie to class. That was so it wouldn’t get into acid or burn during experiments! He always memorized all his students’ names and hometowns before the new semester and would call on a student by calling off their hometown. He had traveled through or near many of their towns over the years which surprised a few students. Gus loved teaching because he truly loved his students.

In addition to traveling, Gus was an avid runner. He ran five marathons over the years. He also volunteered regularly at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepard in Moorhead including as a Boy Scouts scoutmaster, Sunday School teacher and a Helping Hands volunteer.

Gus retired from Concordia in 1991 after teaching college chemistry for 42 years! He and Eunice then established a scholarship fund at Concordia for future chemistry students—“Dr. Gustav and Eunice Dinga Chemistry Scholarship Fund”—which is still active today. After Eunice retired from teaching special education the next year, they were off to see the world! In addition to trips across the country to see their grandkids, Gus and Eunice visited Australia, China, the Galapagos Islands, went on an African safari, and took a cruise around Norway and South America...just to name a few. They traveled to six continents in all. They also sold their Moorhead house, right across the street from campus, and moved to Edina.

Eunice passed away in 2014 after 66 years of marriage. Gus still lives in Edina, walks daily, attends church, reads lots of history books and biographies and enjoys visits from his family...including now six greatgrandkids.

Written by his daughter, Diane Stratton

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Dr. Paul Dovre Department: Speech/Drama Years at Concordia: 1963-1987 Current Home: Moorhead, MN Phone: 218-236-9294 Email: dovre@cord.edu

My career at Concordia began in your freshman year.

Enrollment was strong, excellent additions were being made to the faculty, and the sense of momentum was palpable. As a new faculty member, I was encouraged to lead and innovate and reform, all of which I did in the company of a group of “young Turk” faculty members. Dean Carl Bailey was wise and subtle in giving us encouragement and room to move.

Most of our students were from the rural heartland, farms and small towns, not culturally or intellectually sophisticated but ready to work hard. I was the director of forensics and together with about a dozen students, we built a formidable debate program. Freshmen Jim Nestingen, Loren Anderson and Connie Farden were at the heart of the program and based on their excellence in forensics, their subsequent professional achievements were no surprise.

1963 was the beginning of a social, political, and cultural awakening in America. I recall the March on Washington and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s soaring rhetoric. History professor Martin Lutter attended the event and told us about the experience at chapel. With grant assistance we hosted many distinguished academics, politicians and civil rights activists on campus. We began an exchange program with Virginia Union University, a historically Black school. It was a time of transformation for many of us. The war in Viet Nam became increasingly controversial through your four years, and by your senior year, there were mass protests around the country, draft resistance movements and mounting war casualties. As we recall, it cost LBJ the presidency. Alongside these developments was the beginning of student efforts to be more fully involved in campus governance and to modify long standing in loco parentis practices, a movement which would continue apace on campuses across the country.

I think of your generation as a “crucible generation” given the dynamic agendas noted above. The principles you brought with you to college were under assault, and you reacted in a variety of ways. But what framed the experience of your Concordia generation was the college’s bedrock mission; the call to be responsible, engaged and faithful. The crucible experience was a challenge, but as I have observed your life journeys, it is clear that the mission “stuck.” Soli Deo Gloria

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Dr. Hiram Drache Department: History Years at Concordia: 1952-1991 Current Home: Moorhead, MN Email: drache@cord.edu

Hiram Drache was a professor of history at Concordia for nearly 40 years. He grew up in a small farming town in Minnesota and graduated from Owatonna, Minnesota, High School. After combat in World War II as a B-17 lead navigator, he began his academic career earning a B.A. from Gustavus Adolphus, an M.A. from the University of Minnesota, and a Ph.D. from the University of North Dakota. He worked in various businesses, purchasing his first farm in 1950. He and his wife, Ada, farmed for 31 years.

In addition to farming and teaching history, Dr. Drache is the author of 17 books, and he’s not done yet.

He plans to publish two more: Innovators and Entrepreneurs of the Northern Plains and the last, Retrospect, a look back at his entire body of work and his multiple careers. Ada Drache is an integral part of Dr. Drache’s career; she serves a dual role on each book—editor and copy editor. Dr. Drache has lectured nationally and internationally, giving more than 1,000 speeches in 36 states, six Canadian provinces, Australia, England, Germany and Norway.

After teaching two years at his home high school in Owatonna, 1950-1952, he resigned to work on a Masters degree so he could get into college teaching. He specifically told the placement bureau he wanted to teach at a church-related college. That took place on a Friday afternoon. At 9:00 a.m. the following Monday, Concordia called asking for someone with the courses that Dr. Drache had specialized in. Ada and Hiram both took that as a good omen, and have felt that to this day.

One of the funniest memories he recalls was the day he wore an eight-colored shirt. When he came to his second class, which was in another room in Old Main, the lights were turned off and all the blinds were pulled.

That was a jolly way to start class. Dr. Drache gave that shirt to a fundraiser and later saw it on campus.

Hiram Drache fought getting into teaching even though he had some great teachers from grade school up and had quit it twice. He finally realized what was wrong when a chiropractor he was going to told him after he had been coming to him every Friday after work for nearly two years, “If you would go where the Lord wants you, you would not have to come here every Friday.” In the mail that day there was a letter from Harding Noblitt saying, “Your former position has opened and I have a feeling you might be interested.” As Ada read the letter, she said she was mentally packing up. Dr. Drache has said many times that Concordia is the best place one could be outside of Heaven!

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Dr. DuWain Fagerstrom Department: Business Education Years at Concordia: 1956-1991 Current Home: Moorhead, MN Phone: 218-233-0198 Email: dffagerstrom@cableone.net

I was born in Valley City, North Dakota, on March 9, 1926. Our family farm was located three miles south of Valley City, but in 1936, the dust bowl and grasshoppers helped my parents decide to move to the city.

On June 4, 1944, I graduated from Valley City High School, and on June 27, 1944, was requested by the President to report to the Farragut Idaho Naval Base.

I spent seventeen months on a destroyer touring the Pacific Ocean including bombarding Iwo Jima and Okinawa and doing picket duty off Okinawa.

In 1950 I earned a BS from Valley City State; in 1955, a Master’s from UND; in 1972, a Doctorate from the University of Northern Colorado. I taught at Fertile, Minnesota, 1950-1951 and at Grand Forks Central High School 1952-1953-1954-1955 teaching Business Education courses. I married Delores Skrien in 1951, and we have three wonderful children, Mary, Jane and Joel.

I spent many summers working with the Freshman Orientation Program where prospective students and parents could come to Minneapolis, Great Falls, Williston and Moorhead to register for the fall classes.

It was a great opportunity to stress the greatness of Concordia.

One of the most satisfying things about teaching at Concordia was watching the shy, young, immature freshmen blossom into mature, confident, capable individuals who were all talented enough to enable them to actively participate in local, state and national affairs. I think that the students I had in class in 1956 were just as intelligent and capable as the students in class in 1991, but the 1991 students seemed to be more well-rounded and more versed in world affairs.

Computers were just coming onto prominence when I retired. However in 1968 I did teach the first data processing class at Concordia. Key punching cards, interpreting cards, sorting cards and printing the cards was the beginning of the computer age.

When I arrived at Concordia in 1956, the college was governed by the President along with the Board of Regents with very little student input. When I retired in 1991, the students were more involved and had much more input in the decisions made by the college. Personally I do not agree with all the changes. After I retired, I volunteered three mornings a week for eighteen years at the Emergency Food Pantry in Fargo. Volunteering is good for one’s physical and mental health.

Soli Deo Gloria.

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Dr. Carol Falk and Dr. Laurence Falk Department: English and Sociology Years at Concordia: 1965-1994 and 1962-1994 Current Home: Nebraska City, NE Email: lcfalk@windstream.net Phone: 402-873-9360 Memory becomes quite selective at my age, but I think that I have a sufficient supply of relevant information to formulate a reasonable narrative of my experiences.

I will include some information about my spouse, Dr. Carol Falk, who died in January of 2009. She was a professor in the English Department from 1965 until 1994.

I came to Concordia College as an Assistant Professor of Sociology in 1962, after completing my Ph.D. at the University of Nebraska Lincoln where I served as a student assistant for three years. Prior to that, I was an instructor of aircraft and engine mechanics in the Air Force during the Korean War. Then followed seminary completion, ordination and serving as pastor in the Evangelical United Brethren Church (now joined with the Methodist Church).

During your time, students at Concordia reflected social concerns following the assassination of President Kennedy and the ongoing Vietnam War, though restlessness was not as pronounced as on some other campuses. Student action would peak on Concordia campus during the 1970-1971 year. Racial tension was building during these years. The Lutheran Church embarked on a program of trans-racial adoption during your years there that included Caucasian couples adopting Black and Native American children. That concerned me since little was known about the outcome of such adoptions. During 1967-1968, I took a sabbatical to study the matter, and my findings created quite a stir among welfare agencies, both Lutheran and non-Lutheran. Without my knowledge, representatives of publications Lutheran Welfare and Children met to determine what parts of my findings they would each publish.

However, as a sociologist I was rather accustomed to being in the midst of controversy.

Against my wishes, I was soon appointed chair of the Sociology and Social Work Department. Altogether I served 17 years in that position. Carol Falk completed her B.A. degree at Concordia in 1964, and took a year to complete her M.A. in English in 1964-65 at NDSU. She became a member of the Concordia English Department that autumn. Consequently she completed her Ph.D. in English Literature at UND in 1970.

Early on I was asked to formulate a questionnaire that was to be sent to a sample of alumni. Prexy Joe directed that the questionnaire be sent to all alumni. We learned later that Harvard did a similar survey, bragging about their accomplishment. A Concordia administrator commented that we were simply too quiet about our survey.

I certainly remember Connie Farden Friesen, as she was the daughter of Dr. Raymond Farden, Chair of the Sociology Department when I came to Concordia. I also remember her being interviewed on national television following the 9-11 disaster as her office was on a lower floor of one of the twin towers. She returned to Concordia to speak about the Supreme Court nomination process.

I taught family courses throughout my tenure at Concordia, classes that I loved to teach. Also I team-taught a world population course with Roger Spilde (Economics Department), a unique course enduring through my Concordia time. Roger was the first to welcome me on campus and the last to say goodbye while helping me load a U-Haul when departing. Another course that I enjoyed teaching for 20 years was Human Sexuality. Very little textual literature existed when I began teaching the course, but a number of excellent texts were available when I retired.

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Student restlessness was building during your Concordia years and peaked in the 1970-1971 academic year. In response to student concerns, the administration formed the Student Affairs Committee. It consisted of three administrators, three faculty and three students—I was appointed its chair. We wrote the first Student Rights Document with final approval granted by Prexy Joe. The question of dancing on campus was passed on to this committee with the vote splitting at four opposed and four approving. As chair, it fell to me to break the tie, and I voted for campus dancing. So I can say that I was responsible for student dancing coming to campus in 1969, although personally I was incapable of adequate dance performance.

During first semester in 1970, Prexy Joe cancelled the Concordian as it carried an advertisement that he objected to. Morris Lanning, dean of students, called me at home on Sunday, warning me of what happened. Student rebellion was occurring nationwide, so Lanning wanted me to be prepared as the Student Affairs Committee would need to deal with it. And we did for 22 hours the following week. Students wanted their paper back, so I asked the Concordian editor, a member of the committee, if he would resign if guaranteed “due process.” He did, and another editor was found. So tensions on campus subsided. Tensions were high as I overheard students discussing protest measures including occupying the administration offices and even torching buildings. I was totally “burned out” following this year and accepted appointment to the Sociology Department at Moorhead State to “help straighten out their department.” After two years, Paul Dovre (soon to become Concordia’s president) invited me back to Concordia where I remained until retirement. Carol, who had received tenure by this time, said I needed to return to “help fight for gender equality on campus.” At this time, Concordia was seriously analyzing gender equality among faculty. I add that soon after arriving at Concordia I embarked on a comparative study of single and married students. Administrators felt that married students were more distracted in their studies. My findings found this untrue and were published in the Journal of Marriage and Family and reviewed in Cosmopolitan.

In my 1973 meeting with Paul Dovre, I indicated that if I returned to Concordia, my efforts would be directed toward administrator evaluation since students and faculty were evaluated. He agreed, and two years later we were evaluating administrators. The administration and faculty frequently called on me to serve on committees that numbered seven at one time. One committee was tasked with forming a new faculty evaluation form. That became so intense that the student member suffered a stroke, a faculty member resigned, and the committee chair became ill. I became the new chair.

Carol concentrated on getting the campus involved with computer use in writing. The chair of the English Department (James Coomber) wrote at Carol’s death, “It was she … who helped us see the possibilities of computers … but she also appreciated our reluctance with this new invention and assured us that nothing we uptight beginners would do would blow these machines up!” She had been using computers since the days when the Univac (Remington Rand) attempted to predict the Dewey-Truman election.

I experienced many high and low points during my Concordia years. Certainly one high point was the student body awarding me the “Congeniality Award” following the closing of the Concordian affair. When Dr. Gring (dean) left Concordia to become president of another Lutheran college, he asked me why I had not applied for a deanship at some college. My answer was, “My role in life is not to be a dean, but to harass deans.”

Carol and I retired from Concordia in 1994 and moved to Nebraska City. We joined several organizations and were well known in the community almost immediately. Carol took up quilting and received the “Best of Show” award at the Nebraska State Fair for her first quilt. She never looked back, and I have a wall filled with her ribbons and answer requests for her quilts to be displayed. I continued to write papers and present them at the Midwest Sociological Society meetings until two years ago and am on the board of several organizations. I have received three community awards for my voluntary work here. One was a “Harmony Award,” can you imagine. I have tended to think of my work as frequently being disharmonious. My hobby of finding and identifying birds, beginning in Moorhead in the early 70s, continues unabated as a means of making new friends—human and feathered.

For a number of years I have participated as a presenter to a local leadership program. After all my years as a sociologist, my advice to these potential leaders is simply, “Do your thing, and do it well.”

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Barbara Glasrud Department: Art Years at Concordia: 1964-1987 Current Home: Moorhead, MN Phone: 218-233-1843 Email: bglasrud@aol.com

Hello, Class of ’67!

You were juniors when I began teaching at Concordia.

I had not planned to be a teacher. When I graduated from Carleton, I found a job at the Minneapolis Institute of Art in the print department, and this inspired me to go on to graduate school in art history I went to the Institute of Fine Arts at NYU for a year, then transferred to Bryn Mawr College to study with a leading professor of Oriental Art. After my marriage, we moved to Cambridge Massachusetts for two years, while my husband was completing his doctorate in English at Harvard, and I had the “dream job” for an art historian, a curatorship in the Oriental Art department at Harvard’s Fogg Art Museum.

We came back to Moorhead for my husband’s job teaching at Moorhead State in 1952, had a son, and when he was eight, we three spent a year in Europe on my husband’s Sabbatical. After the Sabbatical, Cy Running, who was head of Concordia’s art department, asked me if I would be interested in teaching art history part-time. I wasn’t at all sure I could be a teacher, but my husband sort of talked me into trying it.

While you were at Concordia, all the art classes, studio and lecture, were held in the Berg Art Center (formerly the college’s gym, I understand). I found I liked teaching, and I liked my students a lot. The year you graduated, the college started a “May Seminar in Europe” program, and in 1968 I took my art history students to London, Paris and Italy, the first of many years of art history May Seminars. Later I included Greece as well.

Also in 1968, to my surprise (really!) I was suddenly made full-time, given tenure and asked to be chairman of the art department. And chairman I remained until I retired in 1987.

I remember I used to be very formal in the classroom. I called you “Miss” or “Mister” and your last name, and I think I demanded quite a lot of you. And you responded!

I think in order to like teaching, you have to love your subject and want to make your students love it, too.

And the rewards for the teacher are many— especially if, when you see them years later, they tell you that their art history course had an effect on their lives.

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Dr. James Haney Department: Religion Years at Concordia: 1965-1997 Current Home: Marion, NC Phone: 218-233-1843 Email: jlawhaney@hotmail.com

Reared in the foothills of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge, in a family of farmers and teachers, I left to earn academic degrees from UNC at Chapel Hill (1954), The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (1958) and Yale University (Ph.D., 1967).

Later, post-doctoral studies in Eastern Orthodox Christianity took me to Oxford University (1973) and Durham University (1981). Prior to joining the Religion Department at Concordia College in 1965, I was ordained a pastor in the Lutheran Church, served as vicar for one year in US Virgin Islands and three years as a pastor in Ithaca, NY. In my early years at Concordia, my teaching focused on American Christianity but later on Eastern Orthodoxy and the History of Christian Worship. After teaching for thirty-two years at Concordia, including a stint as departmental chair, I retired in 1997 but was invited to return in 1999 for another two years.

During my first two years at Concordia I completed a doctoral dissertation on a nineteenth century Lutheran theologian, and in later years I published a book on a monastic who extended Russian Orthodoxy to southern Siberia. While historical research was fascinating, my primary interest was teaching Throughout the years I was stimulated by a host of students with sharp, inquiring intellects and a spiritual liveliness that led me to expand my own horizons. From colleagues at other institutions, I learned how privileged I was to be at Concordia among so many highly motivated students. In later years, of course, the shrinking job market made it less easy to engage students in sustained academic exploration—at least in the history of Christianity. From the late 1960s through my final semester teaching honor students in Crete, I had the opportunity to lead study abroad programs in western Europe, the Middle East and Russia. Those were special teaching moments for me as I encouraged students to engage with unfamiliar cultures that resulted in unanticipated intellectual and spiritual growth—and, not incidentally, my own education!

Retirement to my ancestral home in North Carolina led to some shift in activities. The restoration of a log cabin and two nineteenth century family homes (one for my son, and one for myself) has been completed.

Research has resulted in publications on the county’s first industry—gold mining, public education, a pictorial county history and a history of the 195 year-old Lutheran congregation where I am active. At the end of 2016 I concluded an eight-year tenure as Board Chair for The Historic Carson House (an 18th century plantation museum). It is time for new ventures.

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Dr. J. Robert Hanson Department: Music Years at Concordia:1966-1995 Current Home: Minneapolis, MN Additional Education: M.A., M.F.A, Ph.D., University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

J. Robert Hanson is a 1951 graduate of Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota. His graduate study at the University of Iowa includes the completion of an M.A. in Music Education, an M.F.A. in Trumpet Performance and a Ph.D. in Composition. He taught at the University of Iowa and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee before joining the music faculty at Concordia College in 1966. He conducted the Concordia College Band for eight years and was the founder and conductor of the Concordia College Orchestra from 1967 until his retirement in 1995.

Dr. Hanson was also the conductor of the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra from 1974 to 1990.

During his tenure, the symphony received four ASCAP awards for “Adventuresome Programing of Contemporary Music.” Dr. Hanson has an extensive background in performance, which included playing principal trumpet with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

As a composer, he has written works for orchestra, band and other instrumental and vocal ensembles. In 1992 Dr. Hanson composed “To God Alone the Glory, For Soprano, Chorus and Orchestra.” The work was written in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Concordia College.

Works for band include: “Jubilee,” “Fanfare Prelude: O How Shall I Receive Thee,” “Chorale and Toccata,” “Variations on a Scandinavian Sailor’s Song,” “Red River of the North 1997,” “Norge mit Norge” and “The Heart of Minnesota Suite.”

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Dr. Gerald Heuer Department: Mathematics Years at Concordia: 1956-1995 Current Home: Mitchellville, MD Phone: 218-236-4855

Gerald Heuer graduated from Concordia in 1951, earned his Ph.D. at the University of MinnesotaMinneapolis in 1958, and has been on the faculty at Concordia since 1956. His favorite courses to teach were real analysis, complex analysis, and post-calculus probability and statistics. He retired from teaching in 1995, but has been active in mathematical pursuits as Mathematician in Residence since then.

His career as a mathematician has taken him several times around the world. He taught at summer institutes for teachers in India in the summers of 1967 and 1968, spent a year at University of California-Berkeley in 1966-1967 as post-doctoral NSF Science Faculty Fellow, spent sabbatical years at Washington State University; University of Cologne, Germany, in 1973-1974, and University of Graz in Austria in 1987-1988. His research collaboration with a mathematician at Uni Graz led to his being invited back, and over the period from 1987 to 1997, he spent five semesters as visiting professor at the Karl Franzens University of Graz.

Dr. Heuer has always been active in problems sections of the Monthly, the Mathematics Magazine and other journals. He served a three year term on the Questions Committee for the Putnam Competition, as grader for the Putnam several times, and as Director of the Training Session for the USA team in the International Mathematical Olympiad and leader of the USA delegation to the IMO in the summers of 1988, 1989 and 1990 in Canberra, Australia; Braunschweig, Germany, and Beijing, China, respectively. During the past twenty years he has drawn up problems and graded papers for two to five regional intercollegiate mathematics competitions each year, including the North Central Section Team Competition every year.

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Dr. James Hofrenning Department: Religion Years at Concordia: 1964-1994 Current Home: St. Paul, MN Phone: 612-728-9431 Email: jameshofrenning@q.com

My dad taught at Concordia for 30 years. He loved every minute of it—especially interacting with students. He is 91 now and doing well though not writing much these days. I talked with him about the questions that Mark sent me. It was fun to hear him reminisce. He started teaching at Concordia in 1964 so the class of 1967 was early in his career. He came to Concordia after ten years as a parish pastor in Brooklyn, New York. While in New York, he got his Ph.D. at New York University before coming back to Concordia.

A big memory for him was the seminar he took to New York City that drew on his experience there.

Some members of the Class of ’67 went on that seminar. He loved that class. For him it was a chance to probe the ethics of the vexing problems of cities in America. He especially enjoyed connecting Cobbers to leaders in New York City. I went along on one trip and remember a session with New York Mayor John Lindsay. Lindsay was a quintessential urbane leader trying to make the city work. He also had students meet with Adam Clayton Powell, a leading black minister and politician. In our conversation, he remembered visiting Night Court which was an arraignment court that met at night to reduce the backlog of cases. In recent years shows like Law & Order have made the Manhattan night court more well known. This seminar was a chance for Concordia students to experience the criminal justice system first hand.

He also enjoyed teaching on campus. He was very fond of his students and especially enjoyed class discussions. He always had students sit in the same place so he could quickly learn everyone’s name. Those years in the 60s were of course pretty intense. He liked to discuss difficult issues like poverty, war and civil rights. The Fargo-Moorhead newspaper, the Forum, interviewed him when he retired. They quoted him saying that he thought the purpose of college was to ask hard, controversial questions. He remembers lots of great discussion in those early classes around 1967.

I asked him about words of wisdom for the Class of 1967 at its 50th reunion. Throughout his career, his favorite idea has been that we are an “Easter People in a Good Friday World.” That illumines the way he wanted to confront the troublesome challenges of the world but always with a sense of hope that was rooted in his faith. He sends greetings to all members of the Class of 1967.

Written by his son, Dan Hofrenning, ’80

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Norman Holen Department: Art Years at Concordia: 1963-1964 Current Home: Richfield, MN Phone: 612-869-7994 Email: ndholen@hotmail.com

I was a professor of art for 40 years, 38 of which were at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, in 1959, and my Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, in 1962.

I have created sculpture, drawings, and pottery and have been in numerous exhibitions in various locations, including two one-person exhibitions at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and group shows at the National Gallery in Washington, D.C., and the Port of History Museum in Philadelphia. I have participated in a great number of competitive exhibitions and have won national and international awards. I have judged many state and national shows.

I have written a series of articles in art magazines such as the International Sculpture Magazine, the Artist’s Magazine, American Artist, Clay Times and Pottery Making Illustrated. My work is also seen in books such as the National Sculpture Society Celebrates the Figure by Jean Henry, Sculpture: Technique, Form, Content by Arthur Williams, and The Sculpture Reference by Arthur Williams. I am in several biographical books including Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Art, and Outstanding Educators of America.

I have made splints and tools for my physically challenged art students.

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Dr. Robert Homann Department: Chemistry Years at Concordia: 1964-1999 Current Home: Gold Canyon, AZ Email: homann6301962@msn.com

I taught Chemistry at Concordia from September 1964 through December 1999. Teaching at Concordia was my first and only position after receiving my PhD in Biochemistry from Washington State University in 1964. I also served as Assistant Academic Dean under then Academic Dean Carl Bailey when Joe Knutson was President, and later I served six years as V.P Academic Affairs under President Paul Dovre. I chaired the faculty Principia Committee when that program was a requirement for freshmen students, and I taught a course in that program each year.

After retiring in 1999, Dorothy and I moved to Gold Canyon, Arizona, a far east suburb of Phoenix. We were on sabbatical at ASU in 1997 and decided to build a home in Gold Canyon with the intent of retiring to Arizona when I retired. We moved here in January, 2000. We were here only five months when I was asked to be Interim VP Academic Affairs at Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa from 2000-2002, where I helped the college transition from a two-year to a four-year school. We re-retired in June 2002, and have lived here ever since. We do get back to Minnesota occasionally, as our son lives in Minneapolis and our daughter in Detroit Lakes, and we have made it to a few Cobber corn feeds in Moorhead and to the Concordia, Arizona, events.

One of the things I remember from the days of the Class of ’67 was the excitement surrounding the building of the new Science Center. Now the college is renovating the Science Hall to make it more relevant for today’s teaching styles. As the rookie in the Chemistry Department, I was assigned the end office in the old wooden Science Hall which always got a blast of cold air in the winter when students came and went. I was glad when Carl Dierenfeldt came, and I could move up the row to a warmer office.

I always felt close to the students who were at the college in the 60s. It was almost like being an older brother.

I loved teaching. I recall we were asked to chaperone student parties with the unwritten expectation that we would go home early so that the real party could take place. Unknown to students, the faculty was having its own dance parties in the basements of faculty homes and as members of a local dinner-dance club.

The 60s were a turbulent time for all of us. The civil rights movement and voter registration were being pushed in the South. The Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act in 1965. The Vietnam War was heating up and student protests against the war and the draft grew. The assassination of John Kennedy in 1963 shocked the nation and the assassination of Dr. M.L. King in 1968 was followed by urban riots that set many cities on fire. It was the period of countercultural resistance to the passivity of the 50s. Yet in spite of all the change and confusion of this 60s period, we somehow made it through those difficult times, but these events shaped who we would become individually, as Concordia College students and as a nation.

My best to all the members of the Class of 1967! You were and are a great group of people. I was lucky to have the opportunity to know you. I hope you enjoy your retirement as much as I have enjoyed mine.

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Dr. Joan Hult Department: Phy Ed/Health/Coach Years at Concordia: 1958-1968 Current Home: Mitchelville, MD Phone: 301-925-7581 Email: jhult95@aol.com

Dr. Hult started women’s intercollegiate athletics at Concordia in 1958 when she invited two other local colleges for “sports days.” Dr. Hult recalls that they did several sports in those first few years, including volleyball, basketball, softball, gymnastics and tennis.

By 1968 the women’s athletic group was a part of the Minn-Kota Conference which was one of the first five women’s athletic conferences in the nation and had grown to nine teams.

The first decade of women’s athletics at Concordia was quite different from today. Dr. Hult recruited most of her athletes from her physical education classes. Even with a lack of funding and support, the women’s athletics programs made great strides forward. What had started as “play dates” expanded to women’s tournaments held all over the state.

Dr. Hult grew up in Gary, Indiana, and developed her interest in sports when she was sent to the playground with her brother. Her brother taught her how to play various sports including basketball and the jump shot.

She was recruited to play semi-pro basketball in Chicago, and used that expertise to give her student-athletes an experience not many female coaches could provide at that time. Dr. Hult stressed the values of good coaching and being competitive.

She said, “I loved being at Concordia. I felt accepted as a fellow teacher and not as a woman teacher.”

She enjoyed a very collegial relationship with the other members of the athletic department. She finished her PhD at the University of Southern California in 1967 and left Concordia in 1968 for warmer weather.

She said, “Except for the weather, I might have spent my whole career at Concordia. We shared the same Christian values.”

Dr. Hult is the first woman inducted into the Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame. For Dr. Hult, it wasn’t about her personal accomplishment, “it was about the recognition that women’s sports matter and that they should be part of the scene.”

After leaving Concordia, Dr. Hult worked behind the scenes in Washington, D.C., for the passage of Title IX. She was selected to be an advisor to the US Olympic Committee for the 1972 Olympic games in Munich, Germany. She is a professor emerita at the University of Maryland. Also, her love for the game of basketball and her extensive knowledge of the history of women’s basketball led her to publish the book, A Century of Women’s Basketball: From Frailty to Final Four.

Based on a profile written in January 2008 for the celebration of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) 25th Anniversary of Women’s Athletics and an interview conducted by Mark Budd in February 2017

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Dr. Stan Iverson Department: Classical Studies Years at Concordia: 1965-2005 Current Home: Moorhead, MN Phone: 218-233-3103 Email: Iverson@cord.edu

Congratulations class of 1967! You have made it to that half-century mark! Although I was with you only for the 1965-1966 academic year, it was a memorable year for me. It was my first year of college teaching after two years at Phoenix Union High School. (Yes, I moved from Arizona to Minnesota.) After three more years of graduate work at Vanderbilt University, I returned to Concordia in 1969 and remained for a total of thirty-seven years. At Concordia I taught the following courses: Latin, New Testament Greek, Classical Mythology, Scandinavian Mythology, Scientific Terminology and Roman History.

My wife, Godela, a graduate of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and I have been married for 45 years; she practiced medicine at Dakota Clinic, now Essentia. We have two married daughters and four grandchildren. Andrea and Eric, both Concordia grads, and family live here in Moorhead. Margaret and Jon, both Vanderbilt grads, and family live in Newport Beach, California. It’s nice to have Andrea and family here, but it’s also nice to visit Margaret and family, especially in February or March.

The Classical Studies Department has made some significant changes since your time. We formed a classical studies major/minor after a reconfiguration of our offerings. We continued our Latin teaching major and are very proud of our teachers in the schools and colleges. Through an addition of mythology and innovative teaching in first year Latin, we introduced many more students to the ancient world. From the one beginning Latin class we had when you were here, we had as many as six sections with approximately 180 students, and we had four to five faculty. Unfortunately, while emphasizing general introduction, we did not meet the requisite number of majors, and the department has been cut back to one or two faculty.

In 1977 I initiated the Concordia Latin Days, a 22-hour bonanza of written and oral academic challenges culminating in a toga awards banquet. This event for junior and senior high school students for forty years brought over 200 students per year to the campus. Again unfortunately, this event is too demanding for the smaller department and will now be hosted by the University of North Dakota.

I have many fond memories of that first year at Concordia. Some of you might have been in the Latin class that hid backstage in Old Main making me believe you had all left. That was also the year of great blizzards, and students came to class just to prove they could do it.

Thanks for the good times and great memories.

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Dr. George Larson Department: English Years at Concordia: 1962-2005 Current Home: Moorhead, MN Phone: 218-233-6319 Email :margeo@cableone.net

I had just turned twenty-four and was beginning my second year of teaching in the fall of 1967 when I taught around a hundred of you in four freshman English classes. This was the extent of my academic connection with you, since I taught only first-year students during my first four years at Concordia although some of you did maintain contact outside of the classroom.

I was on leave from Concordia from the fall of 1966 until January of 1969 earning my doctorate in English literature from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, specializing in nineteenth-century English literature. Over the years I taught courses in that area—Romantic literature, Victorian literature, the English novel, Charles Dickens—as well as courses in freshman composition, introduction to literature and Russian literature in translation. I particularly enjoyed teaching novels—Jane Austen’s Emma, Charles Dickens’ Bleak House and Our Mutual Friend and George Eliot’s Middlemarch are among the finest. I retired in the spring of 2005 after 43 years at Concordia.

My wife, Mary, a librarian at Concordia, and I enjoyed traveling over the years. We visited all fifty states, most of the Canadian provinces and fifty other countries. People often ask us about our favorite places. That’s hard to answer since we enjoyed and learned from all our travels. Certainly New York, London, Paris, Vienna, Florence and Berlin are high on our list. But visits to Russia in 1973 (then the Soviet Union) and 2006 and to China in 1985 also created new interests and awareness in us.

I thoroughly enjoyed my years at Concordia. I appreciated the cultural environment the college nurtured in all the arts and tried to attend theater productions, art exhibitions and music performances whenever possible.

Talented students, of course, made all of these possible.

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Bob Nick Department: Biology and Phy Ed/Health/Coach Years at Concordia: 1967-2009 Current Home: Moorhead, MN Email: nick@cord.edu

I graduated from Concordia in 1965 with degrees in biology and physical education. For the next few years, I taught biology lab classes and coached football at Concordia while taking night classes toward my Masters Degree in Administration at NDSU. Once I received my Masters Degree, I moved to the Physical Education Department, where I taught classes, coached football, basketball and tennis and was the Assistant Athletic Director. During this time, I began officiating football and basketball games at the high school level in North Dakota and Minnesota, including refereeing state championship games in football and basketball in both North Dakota and Minnesota.

I continued officiating for 30 some years. In 2006 I was inducted into the Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame as an athlete and as a coach. In 2009 I received the MIAC Distinguished Service Award. I retired in 2009 after 43 years of teaching and coaching at Concordia.

In 1972 I married Connie Braun, Cobber class of 1968. We have two children: Rob (Cobber class of 1999) and Alison (Cobber class of 2002). Since retirement, Connie and I enjoy summers at our lake cabin.

Summer has stretched from May to early October. Our children and three grandsons enjoy being with us at the lake. I love to fish and have enjoyed teaching my grandsons (Parker age 9, Jamison age 6, and Connor age 3) fishing techniques. Connie and I also enjoy winter travels to warmer places like Arizona and Florida. Many members of our family own Cobber rings: my dad; my wife and children, including our daughter-in-law; Connie’s sister; one of my sisters; my brother; his wife and their two daughters. I think that makes twelve, and I hope I didn’t leave anyone out!

I hope you all enjoy the 50th anniversary of the year you graduated from the greatest little Lutheran college ever.

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Dr. Carlton Paulson Department: Sciences - Biology Years at Concordia: 1961-2000 Current Home: Moorhead, MN Phone: 218-233-0970 Email: cpaulson@cord.edu

I joined the Concordia Biology Department in 1961, fresh out of graduate school, and retired in 2000.

Obviously I enjoyed my years at Concordia and have always felt I could not have had a better career anywhere else. I enjoyed the interaction with students; being in science, I got to know them both in lecture and laboratory settings.

Throughout my years at Concordia, I can’t say I noticed any great differences in my students, as I always found them to be typically hardworking and willing to put in the time and effort necessary for success.One change that occurred in science teaching was an increasing emphasis on participation in student/faculty research projects. This was important for students but also for the faculty members in keeping them abreast of developments in their field. Many of these projects were conducted during the summer and students were actually paid for the time involved.

In my own case, I was stimulated to take part in the Concordia Faculty Leaves Program and spent one year in research at the University of Wisconsin, a semester at Cornell University in New York, and another at the University of Arizona in Tucson. These experiences were important in keeping me up-to-date and enthusiastic about my field, and I’m certain they had an impact on my teaching and also my relationships with students.

One thing your class might well remember was the class schedule which included Saturday morning classes.

Fortunately these disappeared shortly after your graduation. Faculty were as enthusiastic about that as the students.

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Elwin Rogers Department: Languages - German, Norwegian Years at Concordia: 1959-1995 Current Home: Moorhead, MN Email: elwinrogers1935@gmail.com

George Washington’s birthday 1959 was a beautiful morning in Moorhead.

The sun was brightly shining, the snowbanks were shrinking and meltwater was running in the streets. I had come for a teaching position interview.

As I sat in Dean Bailey’s waiting room, my eye wandered to a window that looked out onto Eighth Street and the Prairie View Cemetery. There in a corner front row I saw a large, black tombstone with the inscription ROGERS. Was this a sign?

Your years here were filled with nation-wide campus demonstrations. Large numbers of Cobbers participated in the many demonstrations on and off campus, but the one I remember was a whimsical student protest to rename Old Main, Bogstad Hall. I’m sure many of you were there. Are there any old buttons left?

Dedicated as I am to the teaching of modern languages, I am greatly disappointed and disheartened by Concordia’s decision to drop modern language majors with the exception of Spanish. In my view, it weakens Concordia’s reputation as a great liberal arts college.

Most of all, I remember the students. I remember you as you were then, eager and open-minded, always willing to learn something new. On your 50th reunion, I hope that will always continue.

Soli Deo Gloria!

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Dr. Warren Smerud Department: Philosophy Years at Concordia: 1967-1994 Current Home: Moorhead, MN

Warren Smerud was born in 1928 and was raised in Milnor, North Dakota, where his parents operated a general store and subsequently his father served as a banker. Following high school he attended Concordia College, graduating in 1951. He served four years in the Air Force after his graduation from Concordia.

Upon discharge from military service, he enrolled at the University of Washington where he earned his Masters and PhD in Philosophy. Warren married Audrey Miller in January of 1959 and lived in Seattle while in graduate school and later taught at the University.

During their time in Seattle they also had two sons, Peter and Carl.

Warren moved the family back to the Red River Valley in 1967, where he accepted a position in the Philosophy Department at Concordia College. He taught in that position until retirement in 1994.

Audrey passed away in 1999. Warren maintained a passion for the printed page throughout his life. He thoroughly enjoyed his investigations of science phenomena such as Bigfoot or UFOs and any discussion that branched into questions of logic or belief systems. He was active in Boy Scouts throughout his life and served many years in leadership positions in the First Congregational Church of Moorhead. He currently resides in Moorhead at the Eventide Assisted Living facility.

A fun memory of my father: My father absolutely loved thoughtful, deep discussions regarding the source of one’s beliefs on a subject. When I was in my mid 30s with children at home, Warren was visiting for a few days. Jehovah’s Witnesses arrived at my door and as I dealt with the needs of young children, I asked that he answer the door. My father joined them out on the front lawn, and they sat for 5.5 hours discussing religion.

It wasn’t until many years later, when I had moved to a different house, that I was visited again by Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Written by his son, Peter Smerud ’86

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Dr. Paul Sponheim Department: Religion Years at Concordia: 1961-1969 Current Home: St. Paul, MN Email: psponhei@luthersem.edu

I taught at Concordia from 1961 to 1969, with time away for a year of research/writing (Kierkegaard, Denmark) and a year’s guest professorship at the Lutheran seminary in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

From 1969 to 2008 I taught at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, as a systematic theologian with a penchant for team-teaching with colleagues from other departments.

I was Lloyd Svendsbye’s first academic dean but otherwise emphasized teaching and writing (nine books, several other co-authorships, many articles and book reviews). My latest book, Existing Before God: Søren Kierkegaard and the Human Venture (1517 Media, 2017), will be reviewed by Dr. George Connell of the Concordia philosophy department.

My wife (a Cobber as well, 1953—Nellie Hanson of Pelican Rapids) and I have two living sons, Rolf and Scott. Both are Concordia College products. We are glad they also reside in the Twin Cities.

In the 1960s, Concordia students were predominantly Caucasian with a northern European cultural background. Cy Running used to say perceptively that the freshmen showed up “with a little straw on their backs.” They could use some polishing. But they were often bright and curious.They had a genuineness about them and their eagerness to learn even held up through a three-course religion requirement. I enjoyed teaching future doctors, lawyers, foreign service officers, social workers and the like. When I moved to seminary teaching, I gained an older student population with a more settled vocational objective, but I missed the sense of exploration and vocational imagination. I hear that current students at Lutheran colleges are much more diverse and sensitive to pluralism.

A fond memory reaches back to a class in the library classroom my first quarter at Concordia. I was fresh out of the University of Chicago and only nine years out of my own Concordia student days. I had only twelve students in this elective with the unlikely subject of F.D.E. Schleiermacher’s 751-page The Christian Faith.

Schleiermacher is often called the father of liberal Protestant theology, and I wasn’t at all sure how this would go. It was an unambiguous delight poring over Schleiermacher’s pages with Dorcas Haanstad, Sharon Blessum, Vince Lindstrom, M. Darroll Bryant, Marcus Borg and the like. Many more thrilling hours followed in classrooms old (Cobber Hall) and new (the Science building).

Words of Wisdom in this pluralistic time? Soli Deo Gloria indeed, for God has a pretty big operation going in this world.

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Dr. Olin Storvick Department: Classical Studies Years at Concordia: 1955-1995 Current Home: Moorhead, MN Email: Storvic@cord.edu Phone: 218-233-3103

I joined the Concordia faculty in the fall of 1955, after a year studying Greek archaeology at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. When I arrived, Dr. Charles H. Skalet, who had joined the Concordia faculty in 1923, said, “I’ll do the Greek and you do the Latin.” And so it went until the fall of 1961 when he became ill and never returned to the classroom. I was back in Ann Arbor working on my dissertation on a grant from the Danforth Foundation.

I hired the Reverend Lloyd Gunderson who taught with me from 1962-1967. I then hired Stanley Iverson who had taught here one year while Gunderson was on leave. Iverson preferred to teach Latin, so he did the Latin and I the Greek until 1995 when I retired. My years of teaching had two interruptions. The first was in 19771978 when I was Visiting Professor of Greek at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. I later filled in again in the fall of 1995. The other came in 1979-1985 when David M. Gring, newly appointed Dean of the College, invited me to be the associate dean. I also filled in again in 1989-1990.

My major research interest was in field archaeology of the Roman period. From 1970-1972 I excavated at Khirbet Shema in the upper Galilee. The first year I was a volunteer and then two years an area supervisor.

I came to know Robert I. Bull who was assembling a consortium to excavate Caesarea Maritima, the city Herod built on the coast. From 1973 to 1997 I led twelve groups of Concordia students to participate in those excavations. I usually served as Field Supervisor, responsible for the northern half of the excavation.

My retirement has been facilitated by an office in the library stacks where I have pursued various projects, mostly with the Caesarea excavations. I have also guided many student tours to Greece with May Seminars and the Credo and Malta programs.

My wife and I had graduated from a sister college of the church, and we knew we wanted to be at such a college. I shall always be grateful for the opportunity to teach at Concordia. There are three reasons: the first is that Concordia College is a college of the church and that informs our purpose, and it guides our actions.

The second is that Concordia is a liberal arts college where the walls between disciplines are not so high and it is possible to have conversations with colleagues in other disciplines and participate in the whole life of the college. The third is the community of faculty and students. I have appreciated many distinguished colleagues over the years, and Concordia is blessed with eager and able students.

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Events During Our College Years 1963 July: The United States Postal Service launched the ZIP Code System.

Aug 18: James Meredith became first black graduate from the University of Mississippi.

Sep 2: CBS became the first network to lengthen news from 15 to 30 minutes.

Sep 15: Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, killed four African-American girls.

Sep 29: Stan Musial, St Louis Cardinals, played his final baseball game and hit two home runs.

Aug 22: The X-15 rocket plane achieved a world record altitude of 354,200 feet (67 miles).

Dec 20: Last Studebaker car produced in the U.S. Nov 22: President John F. Kennedy was assassinated

by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas, Texas.

Top movies: Cleopatra, The Longest Day, Lawrence of Arabia, Mutiny on the Bounty and To Kill a Mockingbird

1964 Jan 10: First Beatles album released in US: Introducing the Beatles.

Jan 11: First government warning by US Surgeon General that smoking may be hazardous.

Jan 13: Bob Dylan released “The Times They Are a-Changin’.”

Jan 23: 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution ratified, barring poll tax in federal elections.

Feb 9, 16 and 23: The Beatles performed live on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Mar 9: First Ford Mustang produced ($2,368 base price).

Mar 24: Kennedy half-dollar issued.

Mar 27-28: Two earthquakes struck Alaska, 8.4 and 9.2 (the latter the most powerful in U.S. history).

Apr 7: Isaac Stern performed in Memorial Auditorium as part of the Artist Series.

Apr 8: Gemini I mission launched.

Jun 2: Rolling Stones first U.S. concert tour.

Jun 12: Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life in prison in South Africa.

Jul 2: President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law.

Aug 10: Tonkin Gulf Resolution passed by U.S. Congress.

Sept 17-19: 100,000 people attended a plowing contest near Buffalo, North Dakota, to hear speeches by presidential candidate Sen. Barry Goldwater, R-AZ, and vice presidential candidate Sen. Hubert Humphrey, D-MN. Oct 14: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 35 years old, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Oct 27: Albert DeSalvo was arrested and later confessed to being the Boston Strangler.

Oct 29: Former President Herbert Hoover died at age 90.

Nov 3: Washington D.C. residents were able to vote in a presidential election for the first time.

Nov 28: The Mariner 4 spacecraft was launched to photograph and study the atmosphere of Mars.

Dec 12: The 1964 Concordia football team were the NAIA National Champions. The undefeated Cobbers played Sam Houston State to a 7-7 tie. Concordia was ranked No 1 in the final NAIA poll taken after the championship game.

Top movies: The second and third James Bond movies staring Sean Connery, From Russia with Love and Goldfinger, were released.

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1965 Jan 29: Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) organized the first teach-in on the Vietnam war.

Mar 7: Martin Luther King, Jr. made first of three attempts to march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.

Feb 15: Nat King Cole, 45, actor and singer died.

Feb: Luciano Pavarotti made his American début with the Greater Miami Opera.

Apr 27: Edward R. Murrow, 57, newsman on CBS died.

Aug 6: The 1965 Voting Rights Act was signed into law.

Aug 11: Race riots broke out in Watts, California.

Aug 15: The Beatles played live concert at Shea Stadium.

Oct 28: Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, was completed.

Oct 30: Miniskirt gained popularity when model Jean Shrimpton wore one at the Australian Derby Day. Nov 30: Ralph Nader published his book Unsafe at Any Speed.

Dec 10: The Grateful Dead with lead guitarist Jerry Garcia played first concert, in San Francisco.

Top Movies: Sound of Music, The Beatles movie and album Help!

1966 Mar 26: Up to 200,000 attended anti-Vietnam war protests around the world.

Jun 13: Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote the opinion in Miranda v.

Arizona.

Aug 1: Charles Whitman killed 14 and injured 31 on a shooting spree at the University of Texas.

U.S. had nearly 500,000 troops in Vietnam.

Aug 13: Chairman Mao launched China’s Cultural Revolution and began purging intellectuals.

Oct 16: Over 500 Cobbers gathered at Prexy’s Pond to protest renaming of Old Main to Bogstad Hall.

Dec 15: Walt Disney died.

Cigarette packages in the U.S. must carry the warning “Caution! Cigarette smoking may be hazardous to your health.”

Van Cliburn, world renowned pianist, performed in Memorial Auditorium to capacity crowd.

Top movies and TV: Dr Zhivago, First episode of “Star Trek,” Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” was shown for first time on CBS.

1967 Jan 15: Super Bowl I was played. Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10.

Jan 27: A fire in the Apollo I Command Module killed astronauts Grissom, White & Chaffee.

Feb 5: The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour premiered on CBS (later ABC, NBC).

Feb: NASA launched the Lunar Orbiter 3 spacecraft to photograph the surface of the moon.

Feb 23: 25th amendment (U.S. Presidential succession) was adopted.

Apr 9: The first Boeing 737 made its maiden flight.

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Apr 29: Class of 1967 Concordia Graduation. Dr. Sidney Rand, President of St. Olaf College, gave the baccalaureate address. The commencement began with the invocation by Rev. Sigvald Fauske, President of Waldorf College, and the address was given by Rev. Morris Wee, Pastor of Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis.

May 8: Muhammad Ali was indicted for refusing induction in U.S. Army.

Dow Jones Industrial Average close was 905; average cost of a new house $14,250; average cost of a new car $2,750; average income per year $7,300; average monthly rent $125; gas per gallon 33 cents; the federal minimum wage was $1.40 an hour; Amana’s first home microwave oven was $495; first class postage stamp was 5 cents, McDonald’s Big Mac cost 45 cents, and Barbie dolls cost $3.20.

Concordia Tuition and Enrollment Year 1963-64 1964-65 1965-66 1966-67

Enrollment 1,778 1,876 2,151 2,284

Total Cost (Tuition, Room & Board) $1,280 $1,600 $1,600 $1,800

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Class of 1967 50th Reunion Planning Committee Dave Behlke Ed Langsdorf Solveig Haugsjaa Rhodes *Harry Brown Dan Lee Bert Rude Jim Buhr Jim Legler Paulette Smith Satter Mark Chekola Ann Gillespie Mathison *Diane Andresen Shotwell *Ken Dean George Mathison Kay Skjei Doug Dufty Kathy Jacobs Morton Penny Price Swanson *Marilyn Emery Eid Harold Nelson *Scott Sundrud Marianne Anderson Nelson Concordia Staff: Ruth Opgrande Elder *Winslow Grandstrand *Jon Oleson *Karen Carlson Dave Halvorson Dennis Olson *Trina Pisk-Hall *Diane Peterson Hetland Rodney Olson *Emily Sell Greg Iverson Raychel Haugrud Reiff Kayla Stenstrom *Steering Committee Members Reunion Steering Committee Co-Chairs Mark Budd & Lee Skavanger Reunion Committee Chairs Joanne Flaa Larson & Carol Johnson Mattson, 50th Reunion Cobber Yearbook Update Ron Letnes, Program Carol Johnson Mattson and David Mattson, 50th Reunion Video Paul Harrington, Class Gift Audrey Nelson Bruxvoort, Communications

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In Appreciation We wholeheartedly thank everyone involved in making this Class of 1967 50th Reunion Yearbook Update possible! This project took a great deal of effort by a group of very dedicated classmates, and the cooperation of the 230 classmates, the 27 professors and the families/friends of our deceased classmates who provided information for this book.

The main contributors to the day-to-day work on this project were Editors Joanne Flaa Larson and Carol Johnson Mattson; Communications Chair Audrey Nelson Bruxvoort, and the 23 classmates who took the time to contact and follow-up with classmates. These individuals were invaluable for their dedicated time, talent and commitment to the success of this yearbook.

We also recognize the tireless support we received through this entire effort from key Concordia College Alumni and Advancement Office staff members. Thank you Karen Carlson, Kayla Stenstrom, Emily Sell and Trina Pisk-Hall for your ongoing support and expertise! Your experience and advice were key to the success of this yearbook update and the entire reunion planning process.

Both of us were inspired throughout the planning process for our 50th reunion by the opportunity to work with the planning committee and by the many enjoyable phone, text and email conversations with classmates. It has provided us with many opportunities to reflect on our college experiences and realize how much of who we are was shaped at Concordia.

In aggregate, the classmate bios provide insight into the diversity with which the class of 1967 has validated and continues to live the Concordia mission statement. We were amazed at the range and depth of your careers, accomplishments and service to others. The leadership roles you have lived help demonstrate the heart and soul of being a Cobber.

As we look forward to our upcoming Class of 1967 50th Reunion Celebration, September 28 through October 1, 2017, we hope all of you will reach out to class friends and make plans to attend. We think you will find our expanded 50th Reunion format and the homecoming festivities a fun and enriching experience you won’t want to miss.

Feel the Spirit! Reconnect! We look forward to reconnecting with you in September!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Mark Budd and Lee Skavanger 50th Reunion Co-Chairs

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Class Class of 1967 of 1967 Alumni Alumni Achievement Achievement Award Award Recipients Recipients 19871987 – Connie – Connie Farden Farden Friesen, Friesen, PhDPhD 19951995 – Loren – Loren Anderson, Anderson, PhDPhD Class Class of of 1967 1967 Alumni Alumni Achievement Achievement Award Award Recipients Recipients Class Class of 1967 of2003 Alumni 1967 Achievement Achievement Award Recipients Recipients 2003 – James –Alumni James Nestingen, Nestingen, PhD PhDAward Class of 1967 Alumni Achievement Award Recipients 1987 1987 – – Connie Connie Farden Farden Friesen, Friesen, PhD PhD 1987 1987 Connie – M. Connie Farden Friesen, Friesen, PhD PhD 2010 2010 – –David – David Anderson M.Farden Anderson 1987 – Connie Farden Friesen, PhD 1995 1995 ––1995 –Loren Loren Anderson, Anderson, PhD PhD PhD Award Recipients Class of 1967 Alumni Achievement 1995 Loren – Anderson, Loren Anderson, PhD 20122012 – Thomas – Thomas Berquist, Berquist, M.D.M.D. 1995 – Loren Anderson, 2003 2003––PhD –James JamesNestingen, Nestingen, PhD PhD PhD 2003 2003 James Nestingen, James Nestingen, PhD 1987 – Connie Farden Friesen, PhD 2016 2016 – –James –David James Buhr, Buhr, M.D.M.D. 2003 – James Nestingen, PhD 2010 2010 –David M.M.Anderson Anderson

2010 –1995 2010 David– M. David Anderson M. Anderson Loren Anderson, PhD 2010 – David M. Anderson 2012 2012 – – Thomas Thomas Berquist, Berquist, M.D. M.D. 2012 –2003 2012 Thomas Berquist, Berquist, M.D. PhD M.D. – Thomas James Nestingen, Academic Academic and and Sports Sports Awards Awards 1963 1963 - 1967 - 1967 2012 – Thomas Berquist, 2016 2016 ––M.D. –James James Buhr, Buhr,M.D. M.D. 2016 2016 James – Buhr, James M.D. Buhr, M.D. 2010 David M. Anderson 2016 – James Buhr, M.D. 2012 –Sports Thomas Berquist, M.D.- -1967 Academic Academic and andSports Awards Awards 1963 1963 1967 Academic Academic and Sports and Sports Awards Awards 1963 -1963 1967 - 1967 2016 – James Buhr, M.D. Academic and Sports Awards 1963 - 1967 Language Language Assistantships Assistantships FirstFirst Concordia Concordia Debate Debate Team Team to Enter to Enter

National National College College Debate Tourney Tourney Academic and Sports Awards 1963 - Debate 1967 Language Language Assistantships Assistantships First First Concordia Concordia Debate Debate Team Team to toEnter Enter Language Language Assistantships Assistantships First Concordia First Concordia Debate Debate Team to Team Enter to Enter nguage Assistantships First Concordia Debate Team to Enter National National College College Debate Debate Tourney Tourney National CollegeCollege DebateDebate Tourney National Tourney National College Debate Tourney Language Assistantships First Concordia Debate Team to Enter National College Debate Tourney

Greg GregIverson, Iverson, Lucille Lucille Klofstad, Klofstad, Mary MaryJanz Janz Janz Greg Iverson, Greg Iverson, Lucille Lucille Klofstad, Klofstad, Mary Janz Mary Greg Greg Iverson, Iverson, Lucille Lucille Klofstad, Klofstad, Mary Mary Janz Janz g Iverson, Lucille Klofstad, Mary Janz (not (not pictured: pictured: John John Xavier) Xavier) Betty BettyMalen MalenMalen and andLoren Loren Anderson Anderson (notpictured: pictured: (not pictured: John Xavier) John Xavier) Betty Malen Betty and Loren and Anderson Loren Anderson (not (not pictured: John John Xavier) Xavier) Betty Betty Malen Malen and Loren and Loren Anderson Anderson pictured: John Xavier)Greg Betty Malen and Loren Anderson Iverson, Lucille Klofstad, Mary Janz

Carl CarlLarson Larson Award, Award, Outstanding Outstanding Concordian Concordian Awarded ThirdThird (not pictured: John Xavier) Betty Awarded Malen andThird Loren Anderson Carl Larson Award, Outstanding Concordian Awarded Third Carl Larson Award, Outstanding Concordian Awarded rl Larson Award, Outstanding Concordian Awarded Third CarlCarl Larson Larson Award, Award, Outstanding Outstanding Concordian Concordian Awarded Awarded Third Third Wrestler, Wrestler, MIAC MIAC Tournament Tournament Columbia Columbia Medal Medal Wrestler, MIAC Tournament Columbia Medal Wrestler, MIAC Tournament Columbia Medal estler, MIAC Tournament Columbia Medal Carl Larson Award, Outstanding Concordian Awarded Third (Fourth (Fourth Conference Conference Title) Title)Title) Wrestler, Wrestler, MIAC MIAC Tournament Tournament Columbia Columbia Medal Medal (Fourth Conference Title) (Fourth Conference urth Conference Title) Wrestler, MIAC Tournament Columbia Medal

(Fourth (Fourth Conference Conference Title) Title)

(Fourth Conference Title)

Jim JimNestigan Nestigan and andJon Jon Oleson, Oleson, Editors Editors Jim Nestigan and Jon Oleson, Editors Jim Nestigan and Jon Oleson, Editors Jim Nestigan and Jon Oleson, Editors

ug Dufty

DougDufty DuftyDufty Doug Doug Dufty Doug Dan Lee

DanLee Lee Dan Jim Nestigan and Jon Oleson, Editors Dan Lee Dan Lee Jim Nestigan Jim Nestigan and Jon and Oleson, Jon Oleson, Editors Editors Student Association President Student Association President StudentStudent Association President Association President Student Doug Dufty Association President Dan Lee

DougDoug Dufty Dufty

274

Dan Dan LeeStudent Lee Association President

Student Student Association Association President President

Stand Up and Cheer

Stand up and cheer!

Stand up and cheer for old Concordia, For today we raise The Maroon and Gold above the rest.

Our boys are fighting, And they are bound to win the fray.

We’ve got the team! Rah! Rah! We’ve got the steam! Rah! Rah! For this is Old Concordia’s day.

275

Index Aakre, Paul Aanerud, Annette Holtan Aanestad, Susan Anderson Aas, Jonelle Fadden Abraham, Nola Ahlberg, Al Ahlberg, Kathy Prestidge Akers, Charlene Dockter Akins, Ruth Lanning Albano, Kay Dahle Albright, Robert Anderson, Charles R. Anderson, Constance Boen Anderson, David Andresen, Diane Shotwell Anderson, Dr. Verlyn Anderson, Judith Lauzen Anderson, Loren Anderson, Marianne Nelson Anderson, Marilyn Bengston Anderson, Mary Engevik Anderson, Paul R. Anderson, Susan Aanestad Anstrom, Berta Wurm Apmadoc, Linda Engelter Aronson, Sally Peterson Bailey, Wayne “Bill” Ballantine, Dikka Moan Bangert, Kristi Quade Bartow, Jane Beaton Basch, Charlie Bass, Betty Huebner Baumhoefner, Arlen Beaton, Jane Bartow Beck, Charles J. Beeson, Donna Goetz Behlke, David Beltz, Michael Bendiksen, Robert Bengston, Marilyn Anderson Benson, Benny Benson, Carol Hoveland Bentz, Elizabeth Schiefelbein Berg, Carmen Zwicker Bergh, June Jewett Bergo, Jean Kutz Berquist, Tom Binns, Shirley Sommerfeld Blazina, Gloria Philipp Blessum, Robert Blikre, Wayne Block, Sandra Hunt Bock, Almon Boe, Nancy Highum Boen, Constance Anderson Bolin, Margaret Silliman Borchard, Kristin Olson Borg, Karen Scheels Borsvold, Jane Tourtlotte

276

3 4 5 6 233 173 173 43 7 8 233 233 25 9 14 241 233 10 11 12 233 13 5 234 233 15 16 148 234 233 242 234 17 233 18 66 19 233 20 12 21 97 234 233 233 22 23 199 234 233 24 233 233 233 25 233 235 233 212

Boyn, Gary 26 Braaten, Leslie 235 Brandli, Ethelyn Odell 233 Braun, Barbara Ruth 234 Braun, Richard 27 Breiland-Hodgson,SondraWoltjer 234 Brenden, Harold “Harry” Christensen 28 Brendsel, Beverly Hefte 29 Brien, Spencer 233 Brown, Betty Winter 227 Brown, Diana Schwartz 233 Brown, Harry 30 Brueske, Jane 31 Brummond, Robert 243 Bruxvoort, Audrey Nelson 149 Bryant, Sherry 32 Buckley, Dr. Joan 244 Budd, Mark 33 Buhr, Jim 34 234 Calton, Sharyn Peterson Cameron, Penny Daehlin 35 Carlson, Bruce 36 Carlson, Gerald 235 Carlson, Mark 37 38 Cartrite, Carol Klein Chekola, Mark 39 Christiansen, Edith Susan 233 Christenson, Ronald 233 Christopher, Paul 40 85 Christopher, Susan Heilberg Christopherson, Jim 245 Clemenson, Ruth Sletten 196 Coomber, Dr. James E 246 Cottrill, Marcia Peterson 234 35 Daehlin, Dan Daehlin, Penny Cameron 35 Daggett, Barbara Nelson 233 Dahl, Beverly Melgaard 41 Dahl, Diane Glesne 65 8 Dahle, Kay Albano Davis, Crystal Schmidt 234 Dean, Ken 42 Dean, Roxanne Roddy 179 Denend, Anita 233 Denzin, Donna Myhr 234 Dergan, Darlene Rodi 234 Dietrich, Shirley Peterson 171 Dimmitt, Susan McGuire 233 Dinga, Dr. Gus P. 247 Dittbrenner, MaryLynne 233 Dobratz, Martha Gjelten 63 Dockter, Charlene Akers 43 Dondelinger, Michael 233 Donley, Carol Nygaard 234 Dovre, Dr. Paul 248 Downing, Susan Stevens 202 Drache, Dr. Hiram 249 Duder, Anita Johnson 104 Duff, Arlene Wilmer 225

Dufty, Douglas Dufty, Karen Floding Dunn, Marie Schroeder Dunnell, Bonita Fitze Dwyer, Karen Groth Eberhart, Linda Townley Eckman, Kay Sethre Eggen, Richard Ehrlichmann, Suzanne Madison Eid, Marilyn Emery Eisenmann, Marian Hogoboom Elder, Ruth Opgrande Elsen, Karen Hansen Emerson, Keith Emery, Marilyn Eid Engelter, Linda Apmadoc Engevik, Mary Anderson Erickson, Cheryl Racine Erickson, Jeanne Hoseth Erickson, Marjo Lysne Erickstad, David Eugene, Cheryl Possehl Fadden, Jonelle Aas Fagerstrom, Dr. DuWain Falk, Dr. Carol Falk, Dr. Laurence Farden, Connie Freisen Fauske, Paul Fitze, Bonita Dunnell Flaa, Joanne Larson Floding, Karen Dufty Folland, Marcia Folland, Sherman Foss, Mary Rothmann Fossum, Kathy Gustafson Fowler, Mary Williams Freisen, Connie Farden Freudenberg, Dorothy Glietz Fridlund, Marcene Kleven Fridlund, Scott Frisch, Terry Gandrud, Gileen “Jill” Wahman Gantka, Janet Hillstrom Gerde, James Geritz, Joan Schmitz Gesellchen, Jo Ann Pattison Gessele, Russell Gilbertson, Carol Renneke Gillespie, Ann Mathison Gjelten, Martha Dobratz Gjorven, Rolf Glasrud, Barbara Glesne, Diane Dahl Glietz, Dorothy Freudenberg Goetz, Donna Beeson Gordon, Paulagene Haugen Gordon, Sharon Olson Gorseth, Lowell Granstrand, Winslow “Win”

44 55 45 233 235 234 189 233 234 46 93 165 76 233 46 233 233 47 48 49 50 51 6 250 251 251 52 53 233 54 55 56 57 233 58 224 52 233 234 233 59 60 233 61 234 167 233 234 62 63 64 253 65 233 66 235 233 236 67

Gregerson, Carol Haaland Grennes, Janet Hanson Grimstad, Paul Grindberg, Muriel Mahoney Gronbeck, Ruth Rhead Gronseth, Marilyn Moen Gross, Jean Hansen Groth, Karen Dwyer Groth, Roberta Mackay Grove, Janet Larson Gulstrand, Paula Lundberg Gunderson, Jean Johnson Gunness, Diane Nelson Gustafson, Kathy Fossum Haaland, Carol Gregerson Haaland, Gretel Sigdestad Haglund, Margaret Mills Hallas, James Hallenger, Solveig Westgard Halloran, Sandra Tegethoff Halmrast, Rita Wells Halverson, Patricia Klundt Halvorson, David Hamilton, Dorothy Richardson Haney, Dr. James Hansen, Jean Gross Hansen, Karen Elsen Hanson, David L. Hanson, Dr. J. Robert Hanson, Janet Grennes Hanson, Jerry Hanson, Marlys Kvistero Hanson, Sharon Johnson Hanson, Thomas Hardy, Bonnie Reinhardt Harrington, Paul Hartley, Leslie Robinson Harvego, Sharon Josephson Haugen, Paulagene Gordon Haugen, Ronald Haugland, Roger Haugrud Reiff, Raychel Haugsjaa, Solveig Rhodes Hayward, Christine Hefte, Beverly Brendsel Heglie, Linda Sauer Heilberg, Susan Christopher Held, Diane Lee Helgeson, Ronald Helland, Karen Nordvall Hemsing, Carolyn Moeller Hentz, Paulette Worner Herberg, Eunice Perry Herr, Dianne Rath Hershberger, Mary Louise Hess, Doris Hestdalen, Darrel Hetland, Dianne Peterson Heuer, Carolyn Tonneson Heuer, Dr. Gerald Hiaasen, Linda Hilstad Highum, Nancy Boe Hillstrom, Janet Gantka Hilstad, Linda Hiaasen Hinrichs, Gerald Hoberg, Janet Klemmer

233 78 68 69 233 70 233 235 233 123 71 234 233 58 233 234 147 236 72 233 73 74 75 234 254 233 76 77 255 78 79 233 113 233 234 80 234 81 235 233 233 82 83 233 29 84 85 86 233 238 87 234 88 176 89 233 233 169 90 256 91 233 233 91 92 116

Hofernning, Dr. James Hogg, Pamela Hyland Hogoboom, Marian Eisenmann Holen, Norm Holtan, Annette Aanerud Homann, Dr. Robert Hoper, Saundra Moe Horstman, Dave Hoseth, Jeanne Erickson Hovdesven, Joyce Lee Hovey, John Hovland, Carol Benson Hoxeng-Simundson, Susan Huckaby, Lucille Klofstad Huebner, Betty Bass Hult, Dr. Joan Hunt, Sandra Block Huppmann, Joesph Huselid, Jean Zeller Huselid, Sevrin Hyde, Colleen Tinkham Hyland, Pamela Hogg Isaacson, David Iverson, Dr. Stan Iverson, Greg Iverson, Jeanne Larson Jacobs, Kathryn Morton Jacobson, Linda Torvik Janz, Mary L. Jeffers, Richard Jewett, June Bergh Johansen, Sandra McColl Johnson, Agnes Syltie Johnson, Anita Duder Johnson, Bruce Johnson, Carol Mattson Johnson, Carolyn Meyer Johnson, David Johnson, Denis Johnson, Donald C. Johnson, Douglas Johnson, Jean Gunderson Johnson, Jerry Johnson, L Steven Johnson, Orvis Johnson, Sandra Specht Johnson, Sharon Hanson Johnson, Sylvia Neraal Jones, M Prudence Parsons Jorgensen, Jean Vetter Josephson, Sharon Harvego Judd, Diane Lovasson Katayama, Robert Keller, Patricia Wrigg Kent, Phyllis Olson Kildahl, John Kitchell, Solveig Nornes Klauer, Mary Shoning Klebe, Margo Klein, Carol Cartrite Klemmer, Janet Hoberg Klemmer, Julie Knapp Kleven, Marcene Fridlund Klofstad, Lucille Huckaby Klundt, Patricia Halverson Knafla, Connie Rossetti

257 234 93 258 4 259 94 95 48 128 96 97 236 118 234 260 233 98 230 234 234 234 99 261 100 101 102 234 103 236 233 143 234 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 234 234 112 234 201 113 154 234 234 81 136 234 228 114 115 159 191 234 38 116 117 234 118 74 183

Knapp, Julie Klemmer Knutson, Donald Knutson, Joanne Slethaug Knutson, Joyce Lerberg Locken Knutt, Allan Koci, Judy Kotlarsky, Bobbie Smack Kranz, Paula Midthune Kutz, Jean Bergo Kutz, Richard Kvistero, Marlys Hanson Lahlum, Ronald Langaas, Wesley Langsdorf, Ed Lanning, Ruth Akins Larson, Arvin Larson, David Larson, David J. Larson, Dr. George Larson, Janet Grove Larson, Jeanne Iverson Larson, Joanne Flaa Larson, L. Jon Larson, Larry Larson, Orvin Lauzen, Judith Anderson Lee, Dan Lee, Diane Held Lee, Joyce Hovdesven Lee, Robert Lefdahl, Rhonda Molloy Legler, James Leno, Barbara Sorenson Lerberg, Joyce Locken Knutson Lerohl, Gaylen Letnes, Linda Rolfsrud Letnes, Ron Letness, Duane Lewis, Sandra Smith Lian, E. Paul Liebenow, Warren Lima, Margaret Wahl Lindquist, Terry Livingston, Jorgina Scherz Locken, David Lovasson, Diane Judd Ludtke, Ellen Palmer Lund, John Lund, Martha McDaniel Lund, Ruth Nelson Lundberg, Paula Gulstrand Lundell, Kerth Lundstrom, George Lysne, Marjo Erickson Mackay, Roberta Groth Madison, Dean Madison, Suzanne Ehrlichmann Mahoney, Muriel Grindberg Maier, Sharon Mailloux, Karen Wick Malmo, Nancy Orn Malvey, John Martinson, Bradley Martinson, Gary Massie, Barbara Smaby Mathison, Ann Gillespie

117 236 234 131 234 237 234 234 22 119 233 237 234 120 7 121 122 234 262 123 101 54 124 125 126 233 127 86 128 234 129 130 200 131 132 182 133 234 234 134 135 214 234 237 234 136 234 137 237 237 71 138 234 49 233 139 234 69 234 222 238 140 141 234 234 62

277

Mathison, George Mattson, Carol Johnson McColl, Sandra Johansen McDaniel, Martha Lund McGraw, Nancy Newton McGuire, Susan Dimmitt McKee, Randall Meberg, Marc Melgaard, Beverly Dahl Meyer, Camille Wainwright Meyer, Carolyn Johnson Midthune, Paula Kranz Miller, Bonnie Smith Mills, Margaret Haglund Moan, Dikka Ballantine Moe, Saundra Moe Moeller, Carolyn Hemsing Moen, Marilen Gronseth Molloy, Rhonda Lefdahl Moore, Marilyn Smestad Morton, Kathryn Jacobs Mostrom, Mark Myhr, Donna Denzin Myrom, Barbara Nelson, Audrey Bruxvoort Nelson, Barbara Daggett Nelson, Connie VanDerBill Medin Nelson, Diane Gunness Nelson, Harold Nelson, Marianne Anderson Nelson, Patricia Worden Nelson, Phyllis Pedersen Nelson, Ruth Lund Nelson, Sharon Papic Neraal, Sylvia Johnson Nestingen, Carolyn Storaasli Nestingen, James Newlander, Robert Newton, Nancy McGraw Nick, Bob Nord, Leonard Nordahl, Dennis Nordquist, Carol Weight Nordstrom, John Nordvall, Bob Nordvall, Karen Helland Nornes, Solveig Kitchell Nygaard, Carol Donley Odell, Ethelyn Brandli Oertwig, Al Okerlund, Nancy Sherman Oleson, Jon Olson, Dennis Olson, Kristin Borchard Olson, LuAnn Seeba Olson, Paul Olson, Phyllis Kent Olson, Rodd Olson, Sharon Gordon Opgrande, Ruth Elder Orn, Nancy Malmo Orn, Wayne Palmer, Ellen Ludtke Papic, Sharon Nelson Parsons, M Prudence Jones Pattison, Jo Ann Gesellchen

278

142 106 143 237 156 233 144 238 41 145 107 234 146 147 148 94 87 70 129 234 102 234 234 234 149 233 150 233 151 11 234 152 237 153 154 204 155 234 156 263 234 234 219 157 158 238 159 234 233 160 234 161 162 235 234 163 114 164 233 165 238 166 234 153 234 167

Paulson, Dr. Carlton Pedersen, Phyllis Nelson Perry, Eunice Herberg Peterson, Bonnie Scholl Peterson, Carol Sartain Peterson, Dianne Hetland Peterson, James Peterson, Marcia Cottrill Peterson, Sally Aronson Peterson, Sharyn Calton Peterson, Shirley Dietrich Philipp, Gloria Blazina Pierce, Donna Wilson Waldera Poppenhagen, Zona Torgrude Porten, Frank Porter, Margo Possehl, Cheryl Eugene Possehl, Michael Prestidge, Kathy Ahlberg Price, Penny Swanson Quade, Kristi Bangert Quanrud, Richard Quinn, Carolyn Tommerdahl Racine, Cheryl Erickson Rand, Mary Taylor Rath, Dianne Herr Reck, William Reinhardt, Bonnie Hardy Renneke, Carol Gilbertson Rhead, Ruth Gronbeck Rhodes, Solveig Haugsjaa Richardson, Dorothy Hamilton Rickbeil, Judith Wee Rieger, Cheryl Wigtil Ripley, Gerald Ripley, Sharon Torvik Robilotta, Peter Robinson, Leslie Hartley Roddy, Roxanne Dean Rodi, Darlene Dergan Rogers, Dr. Elwin Rogness, Vicky Stenehjem Rolfson, Jr., Erling Rolfsrud, Linda Letnes Ronning, Mirja Syvanto Rossetti, Connie Knafla Rothmann, Mary Foss Roy, Jim Rude, Bert Rule, Vernon Ruth, Barbara Braun Rye, Trudy Waale Sanden, Gerald Sannes, Paul Sartain, Carol Peterson Satter, James Satter, Paulette Smith Sauer, Linda Heglie Scheels, Karen Borg Scherz, Jorgina Livingston Schiefelbein, Elizabeth Bentz Schmidt, Crystal Davis Schmitz, Joan Geritz Schneiderman, JoAnn Wilson Scholl, Bonnie Peterson Schroeder, Marie Dunn

264 152 88 168 186 169 170 234 15 234 171 234 226 234 172 234 51 238 173 174 234 234 211 47 175 176 177 234 234 233 83 234 218 234 234 234 178 234 179 234 265 180 181 182 234 183 233 234 184 234 234 213 238 185 186 187 198 84 233 237 234 234 234 234 168 45

Schroeder, Robert Lee Schwartz, Diana Brown Seeba, LuAnn Olson Sethre, Kay Eckman Setness, Peter Severtson, Judith Shaw, Carmen Sherman, Nancy Okerlund Sherman, Robert Shoning, Mary Klauer Shotwell, Diane Andresen Sibley, Richard Sigdestad, Gretel Haaland Silliman, Margaret Bolin Skavanger, Lee Skjei, Kay Skramstad, Patricia Westgard Skrove, Leona Zimmerman Slethaug, Joanne Knutson Sletten, Ruth Clemenson Sletto, Terry Smaby, Barbara Massie Smack, Bobbie Kotlarsky Smart, Marshal Smerud, Dr. Warren Smestad, Marilyn Moore Smith, Bonnie Miller Smith, Paulette Satter Smith, Sandra Lewis Solvie, Darlene Walker Sommerfeld, Shirley Binns Sorenson, Barbara Leno Specht, Sandra Johnson Sponheim, Dr. Paul Steinhaus, Edith Stenehjem, Vicky Rogness Stevens, Susan Downing Stoll, Dave Storaasli, Carolyn Nestingen Storvick, Dr. Olin Stover, James Sundrud, Jerry Sundrud, Scott Sutter, Byron Swanson, Charles Swanson, Penny Price Swenson, Gerald Swenson, Leanne Syltie, Agnes Johnson Syvanto, Mirja Ronning Taylor, Mary Rand Tegethoff, Sandra Halloran Thompson, Fred Thompson, Martin Turmo, Mary Thompson Thorkelson, Linda Wong Tinkham, Colleen Hyde Tommerdahl, Carolyn Quinn Tonneson, Carolyn Heuer Tonneson, Jon Torgrude, Zona Poppenhagen Torvik, Linda Jacobson Torvik, Sharon Ripley Tourtlotte, Jane Borsvold Townley, Linda Eberhart Turmo, Mary Thompson

188 233 234 189 234 238 190 234 234 191 14 192 234 233 193 194 195 234 234 196 197 234 234 234 266 234 146 198 234 234 199 200 201 267 239 180 202 203 204 268 234 205 206 207 234 174 208 234 234 234 175 233 209 210 234 234 234 211 90 234 234 234 234 212 234 234

VanDerBill Medin, Connie Nelson Vetter, Jean Jorgensen Waale, Trudy Rye Wahl, Margaret Lima Wahman, Gileen “Jill� Gandrud Wainwright, Camille Meyer Walker, Darlene Solvie Wallin, David Walline, James Waltz, Jerome Warden, Patricia Nelson Wee, Judith Rickbeil Weight, Carol Nordquist Weisbrod, William

150 234 213 214 60 145 234 215 216 217 234 218 219 234

Wells, Rita Halmrast Weltzin, Harold Westgard, David Westgard, Patricia Skramstad Westgard, Solveig Hallenger Wick, Karen Mailloux Wigtil, Cheryl Rieger Willard, Janice Zinter Williams, Gary Williams, Mary Fowler Wilmer, Arlene Duff Wilson Waldera, Donna Pierce Wilson, JoAnn Schneiderman Winter, Betty Brown

73 220 221 195 72 222 234 232 223 224 225 226 234 227

Wolf, Michael Woltjer, Sondra Breiland-Hodgson Wong, Linda Thorkelson Worner, Paulette Hentz Wrigg, Patricia Keller Wurm, Berta Anstrom Xavier, John Ylvisaker, Mark Zeller, Jean Huselid Zimmerman, Bruce Zimmerman, John Zimmerman, Leona Skrove Zinter, Janice Willard Zwicker Carmen Berg

234 234 234 234 228 234 229 239 230 234 231 234 232 233

279

1964 NAIA Bowl Champions

280

Hymn to Concordia

On firm foundation grounded, Concordia fair doth stand, With love and hope surrounded From God’s almighty hand.

To sacred truth Concordia, May thou e’er faithful be, ‘Til “Soli Deo Gloria” we sing eternally!

In strength and faith forever Lead us where those have trod, Whose toil and chief endeavor Have brought us close to God! All hail to thee, our fathers; Concordia honors thee, As “Soli Deo Gloria” we sing eternally!

Class of 1967 50th Reunion

Feel the Spirit! Reconnect!

Class of 1967

50th Reunion