Westwind, Summer 2006

Westwind www.wwc.edu/westwind

The Journal of Walla Walla College Summer 2006

Answering The Call Lessons Learned at the Pulpit and in the Pews

Blazing the Trail GENEROSITY IN SERVICE 2006 Alumni of the Year

Letters to the Editor

Calling All Alumni One of the great things about editing an alumni magazine is having a reason to contact complete strangers and, frankly, ask them personal questions. I’ve had many wonderful conversations—some entirely by e-mail—with alumni from Alaska to South America.

For alumni profiles, we find most of the people we call through Class Member Profiles.

These bio forms are sent to class members who will have homecoming reunions that year.

Other great resources are Alumni Central bios and Google alerts.

As good as these resources are, I imagine there are hundreds of alumni (both graduates and nongraduates) with intriguing stories that we don’t know about.

I welcome your tips about alumni we should consider featuring in these Westwind pages: Alumni Interview: In a questionand-answer format, alumni tell about their professional lives. Westwind’s alumni interviews are also posted online at alumni.wwc.edu.

2 Westwind Summer 2006

Alumni Profiles: Because of Walla Walla College’s serviceoriented mission, we feature alumni who exemplify service in their professional or personal lives.

In Memory: Please include personal information when sending in notices about your loved one’s death. All alumni are worthy of having their lives honored; however, because of space we select only two for each issue.

From My Point of View: We welcome essay submissions on a wide range of subjects. We are looking for moving, engaging or thought-provoking essays (850-900 words) that draw from personal experiences of the writer.

I look forward to more conversations, perhaps even with you!

Rosa Jimenez Westind Editor

Introducing …

CONGRATULATIONS A note to congratulate you on the new format for Westwind. The photography, graphics, layout design and organization of content make for a very handsome journal. The close collaboration between the graphic designer and the copy editor is obvious and the results rival any of the glossy magazines on the market today.

Keep up the good work!

Grover Starr ’52

San Diego, Calif.

HURRICANE KATRINA Thanks for doing a wonderful job of crossing all the theaters of education provided at WWC. I noted the article about Hurricane Katrina and the faculty and students who were involved. I would imagine besides me there are other former students who helped

in some way. If you are interested, I will submit information about how the organization I work for assisted in the relief efforts.

Melodye Trusty ’97 and ’98

Powell, Wyo. Editor’s Note: Look for Melodye’s and other alumni stories in the next issue of Westwind.

READABILITY? Some of the pages of Westwind are easy to read for old people, but many are hard to read. This is especially true for those whose vision is fading.

Nate Brenneise ’57

Payette, Idaho Editor’s Note: Mr. Brenneise was kind enough to send examples of printed pieces and opinions on their readability. We will keep these considerations in mind in designing upcoming issues.

Walla Walla University

As this issue was in final production, delegates of the Walla Walla College Constituency officially approved a name change for the college. The name “Walla Walla University” was voted on Sunday, Oct. 1, at the constituency meeting held in Portland, Ore. The university name was adopted primarily to reflect the scope of its programs and to position the school more accurately in relation to similar institutions.

As part of the transition, the phrase “Seventh-day Adventist Higher Education” will also be used as a descriptor to the university name to identify the school’s connection to the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

For more information see wwc.edu/namechange

Contents

2

Letters to the Editor

4 Campus Current 9

Bits and Pieces

16 Blazing the Trail

The School of Social Work and Sociology has come a long way over the past 30 years.

Answering The Call

10

Lessons Learned at the Pulpit and in the Pews

Through the Student/Pastor Mentor Program, theology majors get a chance to step in the shoes of a pastor, long before they graduate.

Westwind Summer 2006, Volume 26, Number 2 Editor Rosa Jimenez Production Manager and Copy Editor Amy Wilkinson Campus Current Editor Kristi Spurgeon Alumnotes Writer Lindsay Krueger Contributing Writers Annie Lambeth, Jenny Watters Design Robert Car Graphics Cover Photo Kirk Hirota

18 Generosity in Service

Meet four alumni who exemplify WWC’s mission of service.

20 Interview 22 Alumnotes 29 In Memory 31 From My Point of View 32 College Avenue Crossings

About the cover Practice in preaching from the pulpit is one of rewards of the Student/Pastor Mentor Program.

Westwind is published three times a year for alumni and friends of Walla Walla College, a Seventh-day Adventist university. It is produced by the Office of College Relations. This issue was printed in October 2006. Third-class postage is paid at College Place, Wash. © 2006 by Walla Walla College.

Address: Westwind/OCR 204 S. College Ave. College Place, WA 99324 Telephone: 509-527-2513 Toll-free: 800-377-2586 E-mail: westwind@wwc.edu Online: www.wwc.edu/westwind

Summer 2006 Westwind 3

Campus Current

Thailand Ties Jenda’s Law New Majors

Ready. Set. LEGO!

4 Westwind Summer 2006

Matthew B Zimmerman

S

tudents cheered and teammates slapped highfives. Referees watched for fouls as LEGO robots raced across the ocean. What type of tournament includes robots?

One designed to make science and technology as cool and exciting as possible. It was the FIRST LEGO League Challenge, a high-tech academic challenge hosted by the Edward F. Cross School of Engineering.

More than 20 students, from elementary schools across Oregon and Alaska, had one mission: to design, build, and test robots made out of LEGOs. In this year’s challenge, “Ocean Odyssey,” teams used robotics technology to demonstrate creative solutions to several realworld problems involving the health and productivity of the world’s oceans.

Next year’s event will be held April 15. n

Campus Current “Jenda will always be in our hearts,” say the Joneses, who have met with many state officials, including Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire.

Remembering Jenda Advocates for a new water safety law, parents of former WWC student Jenda Jones are committed to helping other parents avoid the same tragedy they experienced.

S

B 6364. You may not recognize these numbers, but Senate Bill 6364 means a great deal to Marble and Doni Jones. Their daughter, Jenda, a former WWC student, died while participating in an activity that is now banned in Washington state because of that bill.

Jenda died last summer while “teak surfing,” an activity in which a person clings to the back of a moving boat, similar to body surfing. She suffered carbon monoxide poisoning and drowned on Lake Tapps, near Seattle.

The Joneses were instrumental in getting SB 6364, now known as the Jenda Jones and Denise Colbert Safety Boating Act, signed into law. The law is named after Jenda and Denise Colbert, another young woman who died while swimming directly behind a ski boat two years ago on the same lake. Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire signed the bill into law March 20, and it went into effect June 5.

Like most people, Marble and

Doni had never heard of a boat causing carbon monoxide poisoning. “I knew that it could be a problem with a car in a garage,” says Doni. “But a boat always seemed safe because it was outside.”

That’s not true, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas present in the exhaust from gasoline engines, can be very dangerous to boaters. Carbon monoxide poisonings occur on houseboats or other vessels with canopies or poor ventilation. The gas can also accumulate onboard while a boat is moving slowly or idling, or through a back-drafting process known as the “station wagon effect.”

In the case of teak surfing, carbon monoxide is extremely potent because the swimmer is so close to the source. “Jenda was athletic,” Marble says. “She was a strong swimmer.

None of that mattered. They told us she was dragging behind the boat for less than a minute.”

“It only takes one person on a boat who knows about this to

make a difference,” says Marble.

“Our goal is to get the word out about this to as many people as we can. We’ll do whatever it takes.”

Since Jenda’s death, Marble and Doni have devoted countless hours to that goal. Besides speaking publicly about the dangers of teak surfing, they shepherded the bill through the House and Senate.

Richard McCune, an alumnus and lawyer at Welebir and McCune law firm in California, first mentioned the possibility of a law banning teak surfing shortly after Jenda’s death. McCune was responsible for getting this same law passed in California. From there, the Joneses were able to secure a meeting with State Rep. Maureen Walsh of Walla Walla, who sponsored the bill in the House of Representatives.

The couple testified before a House committee in January.

Marble detailed the dangers of carbon monoxide for the committee. But instead of leaving them with just the facts, he showed them the story of his

daughter’s life through pictures.

She had recently completed the pre-professional program in physical therapy at WWC and had just begun classes at Loma Linda University. “That really brought everything to life for them,” Doni adds.

With help from Sen. Pam Roach, who is from the district that includes Lake Tapps and who sponsored the bill on the Senate side, it was soon passed into law.

“The bill was signed into law seven months to the day from Jenda’s death and three months after it was introduced,” says Marble.

“Jenda will always be in our hearts,” her parents say. “But working to keep others safe helps keep us focused on the positive.” n

WESTWIND ONLINE wwc.edu/westwind

Read the legislation for the Jenda Jones and Denise Colbert Safety Boating Act.

From Thousands to Millions: More Options for Library Patrons Faculty and students heading to the Peterson Memorial Library last quarter were in for a big surprise.

They were expecting the usual 160,000 books but instead found that the library now gave access to more than 8.1 million.

The instantaneous increase occurred when WWC signed on as the 32nd member of the Orbis Cascade Alliance’s Summit Borrowing system. The library con-

sortium serves over 200,00 fulltime students at private and public colleges and universities throughout Washington and Oregon.

So what does this mean for WWC? It dramatically increases the number of books, recordings, and films available to faculty and students, says Carolyn Gaskell, director of libraries at WWC. It also speeds up the borrowing process.

Instead of the two weeks required

brarian, says she receives approxito transfer items through Intermately 175 requests every week.

Library Loan, the Summit system Though Peterson Memorial takes only a few days.

Library is not as large as some “It’s a wonderful option for others in the consortium, it still students,” says Gaskell. “Now they contributes to the system. Each have access to titles from many of week, the library at WWC fills the best research schools in the about 25 requests from students Northwest.” at other schools.

Students and faculty members are Contrary already taking advantage to the social expectations of the era, of the opportunities offered by women leaders were prominent voices of the Summit.

Berry, assistant early Christy Adventist church, saysli-Beverly Beem.

Summer 2006 Westwind 5

Campus Current

New Career Paths to Travel Gone are the days of few career choices and limited class options.

Students at Walla Walla College have their choice of 52 majors, including several brand-new programs in areas you may never have heard of. Even better, two of the newest are unique to WWC.

New Majors for 2006-07

Some programs are new, while others are a repackaging of existing classes to better meet student needs. Several of the majors, already offered as a bachelor of arts degree, will now be offered as a bachelor of science degree. New majors include: • Industrial Design

Sit in on Smith Hall’s newest psychology class and you might think you’re listening to an episode of “CSI.” The class is part of WWC’s new major in forensic psychology.

The class is part of WWC’s new major in forensic psychology.

“Forensic psychology is a game of prediction,” says Robert Egbert, professor of psychology at WWC and lead curriculum designer for the new bachelor of science major.

“It’s looking at things that make people different enough that they’re not operating under normal constraints.”

Egbert is quick to point out that 6 Westwind Summer 2006

forensic psychology is different from forensic science. Forensic science is the lab work, the technical aspect. Forensic psychology is the application of psychology to the legal system. “We’re looking up front at the behavior, and they’re looking behind at the evidence,” Egbert says. “Actually, we look at the evidence too, but at the type of person who might have done it— not a single perpetrator.”

WWC offered its first forensic psychology class four years ago. There were approximately 75 students in that class and subsequent classes have been quick to fill. Egbert thinks he knows why. “This subject just grabs the attention. It can be very intriguing to some people.”

Beyond classes specifically in forensics, students in the new major will be involved in the social work program and take classes in juvenile delinquency and the criminal justice system, along with other psychology topics.

Students in this major will study and profile famous criminals. They’ll also spend time researching behavior patterns and learning to read people. Classes will include visits from the county sheriff, or workers from the

Washington State Penitentiary, located in Walla Walla. Egbert also hopes to arrange visits to the penitentiary, the county jail, and the psychiatric hospital in Pendleton.

Although classes in forensics are offered at several schools, WWC is the only university in the Northwest, and the only Seventhday Adventist university, to offer this type of a degree.

A major in forensic psychology can lead in many directions, says Egbert, who has a bachelor’s degree in biology from WWC and multiple master’s and doctoral degrees from schools across the country. “Students might go on to law school or become involved in law enforcement, the CIA, FBI, or nearly anywhere. It’s also a handy thing to use if you go into family therapy or counseling.

You can use those intuitive skills in a therapeutic context.”

The Next Apple Guru

Sleek Porsches. Tiny cell phones.

Ergonomic chairs. Minimalistic iPods. It’s likely that any beautiful, functional product you’ve seen or used recently was developed by an industrial designer. Now a WWC graduate may be responsible for the next big product, thanks to a new major in industrial design.

Simply put, industrial design is developing and improving the function, value, and appearance

• Automotive Management • Aviation Management • Forensic Psychology • Psychology • Applied Computer Science • Information Systems • Business Administration

of products and systems in a way that benefits both the user and the manufacturer.

The industrial design major is a natural fit for WWC, says Linda Nelson, chair of the Department of Technology and curriculum designer for the new major. “Our department’s background is in industrial arts, and now we also have a strong graphic design program.

The ability to combine those programs is what makes it so easy to offer industrial design here.”

“The major in industrial design will provide a wonderful partnership between the technology and engineering students,” adds Marlene Baerg, director of engineering recruitment. “Beyond teaming up to solve design problems, it will benefit many of our

Kirk Hirota

Inquiring Minds

Campus Current

current mechanical engineers who desire a more creative approach to product development.”

Nelson explains that adding three new classes to the existing design and manufacturing classes will round out the curriculum.

“They’ll get all the basics and develop the skills they need in those other classes,” she says. “But it may seem disjointed at first. Then, it will all come together as the industrial design series explains how all those skills apply to this particular career.”

In order to gain real-world experience, students in the industrial design series will brainstorm ways to make existing products functionally stronger and more aesthetically pleasing. Then, students sketch their ideas, developing them further through technical drawing and 3-D modeling. “They’ll finish by building models of their unique designs out of clay, plastic, wood, or metal,” says Nelson.

Industrial design is another major unique to WWC among Adventist colleges and universities. “Several big art schools, like Seattle Art Institute, offer a fine arts version of industrial design,” Nelson explains. “And Western Washington University offers a similar degree. However, we think ours stands out as having the best balance of design and technical skills.

“Consumers are becoming more sophisticated and choosier when purchasing products,” says Nelson. “They demand a higher aesthetic accompanied by greater functionality, and that’s creating a huge demand for industrial designers. That’s something we’re happy to supply.” n

Does your IRA need a new direction?

A new short-term law just made giving to a good cause

Allan Fisher

even more rewarding.

Estate Planning Walla Walla College

Are you at least 70½ years old and have an Individual

204 S. College Avenue

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College Place, WA 99324

If so, you may benefit from a new law that allows you to

Toll-free: (800) 377-2586

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E-mail: fishal@wwc.edu

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Website: wwc.edu/alumni/

Increased income Tax savings Making a gift you never could otherwise Satisfaction of giving to Christian education

giving/estate.html

Benefits are only available for a limited time—until Dec. 31, 2007. Call for more information.

Summer 2006 Westwind 7

Campus Current Mission College’s Church landscape reflects the beauty of Thailand.

Marja McChesney

Marja McChesney, a social work professor, met with college representatives to discuss a possible social work program.

A Time in Thailand Social Work Sabbatical Studies Potential Program

T

he bond between Walla Walla College and Thailand’s Mission College is growing closer with the possible addition of a social work program in the “Land of Smiles.”

Marja McChesney, professor of social work and field practicum coordinator, returned in late spring from a sabbatical in Thailand and immediately submitted a feasibility study on the proposed program.

“There is a great need for

8 Westwind Summer 2006

trained social workers in Thailand,” McChesney says.

Prostitution and AIDS are widespread, and other humanitarian issues plague the area. Although many agencies provide social services, there are few people with the necessary social work skills.

“I have a personal interest in Thai people and their culture,” says McChesney, who has taught at WWC since 1989 and used to live in Indonesia, a country with roots based in Thailand.

Beyond uncovering many issues facing the Thai people, McChesney’s feasibility study touched on potential support for the new major and whether qualified faculty could be found.

Mission College is an internationally focused school with more than 950 students from 32 counties. Most classes are taught in English. A social work major

at Mission College would be the only program of its kind in Southeast Asia offered in English.

If the details work according to plan, students will be able to begin social work classes there in two years.

That would enhance the collaboration between the two colleges, McChesney says. The curriculum would be based on WWC’s, so students would easily be able to transfer between the two schools, or complete a master’s degree at WWC following studies in Thailand. WWC students would also have the opportunity to participate in international field practicum opportunities, while faculty from both schools could take part in an exchange program. n

Bits & Pieces Win Free Clothes!

If you’re the type who wants everything “my way” you’ll love the newest offering from the College Store. “MyGarb” lets you design your own Walla Walla College apparel from scratch online at wwc.edu/ services/store. The Westwind staff thinks it’s so cool that we’re going to give you the chance to design your own. E-mail us at westwind@wwc.edu and we’ll draw three winning names.

Panda Bears on the Loose

Men are from Mars

Bet you didn’t know WWC was a natural habitat for panda bears. Blame it on the Social Work Club.

Are men really from Mars?

Ask the students who took the Psychology of Men class, offered for the first time last spring.

Taught by Professor Robert Egbert, the class delved into the inner psyche of men, including what men are like, why they’re

that way, and what it means to be a man in this day and age.

Sounds like a class everyone should take. WWC students agree, judging by the more than 60 students who signed up.

Approximately half of those were women.

Club members adopted out 120 of the plush bears to support Camp Amanda, a camp in the Blue Mountains for young children who have experienced the death of a family member. The camp is offered at no charge to the child or family, and each child is placed with a counselor. Money from the adopted pandas allowed five more kids to attend camp this summer.

The Year They Were Born Don’t college graduates seem younger every year? Most of the Class of 2006 was born in the year 1984. To those students, that means: • There have always been Apple Macintosh computers.

• People have always been able to walk in space.

• Until recently, Peter Jennings, Dan Rather, and Tom Brokaw had always anchored the evening news.

• Weather reports have always been available 24-hours a day on television.

• A “hotline” is a customer service option, not a phone used to avoid accidental nuclear war.

• Someone with the name George Bush has been on the presidential ticket every election but one.

In the Name of Love Even though this senior is full of knowledge and wisdom, Josue Galan’s head is feeling a lot lighter these days.

That’s because he chopped off 11 inches of hair for Locks of Love, a not-for-profit organization that provides hair prostheses to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term

hair loss. After two years growing those tresses, Josue demonstrated just how much he’d donate in the name of love.

Summer 2006 Westwind 9

Answering The Call

Kirk Hirota

Lessons Learned At the Pulpit and In the Pews

10 Westwind Summer 2006

W

hat does it mean to be called by God?

By Rosa Jimenez Is it the conviction that God has a special plan for one’s life? A nagging hunger to do more than sit in a pew? A knowledge of being chosen to help hurting and broken people?

The call of ministry is a unique journey for every person who has sensed a divine bidding. However, theology students almost always admit feelings of uncertainty. Kris Loewen, a 2006 theology graduate, describes his own calling as a long process of thinking, praying, listening, and testing.

For some students, stepping into a pastor’s world long before earning professional credentials has been critical to answering the call. Since 1998, up to 10 theology and religion students each year have found affirmation and answers through the Student/Pastor Mentor Program.

Students in the program—typically juniors and seniors—volunteer as interns in Walla Walla valley churches and even with congregations as far away as Pilot Rock, Ore., and Pasco, Wash.

Sponsored by the North Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, the Upper Columbia Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and the Walla Walla College School of Theology, the mentoring program gives students a chance to put their classroom knowledge into practice.

“The program was started to bring together two urgent needs—to help our theology/religion students benefit from first-hand experience of pastoral ministry and for our churches to benefit from student leadership and youthful energy,” says Gerald Haeger, ministerial/evangelism director of the Upper Columbia Conference. “More than anything it gives first-hand affirmation of their call to ministry or, in a few cases, clear indication they should pursue another calling or career.”

Students meet an hour each week with their church’s pastor and spend a minimum of seven hours a week in elder meetings, board meetings, Bible studies, Sabbath school and church presentations, and other pastoral functions.

“The local church and pastor are present to mentor, guide, encourage, point the way, and serve as a spiritual laboratory,” says Haeger. “They also have the knowledge that they have the privilege of ‘passing the torch’ to the next Theology and religion students gain a broad and in-depth knowledge of generation.”

Christian faith and Scripture, biblical languages, and Seventh-day Adventist heriIn 2005-06, congregations of 10 tage, as well as the skills to share their knowledge and nurture the faith of other Oregon and Southeast Washington people. Classes are taught in the following areas: churches welcomed pastor interns. n Biblical Studies Students examine the historical, social, and cultural conWhat lessons did the interns learn texts of the Bible writers and their writing. Each course typically focuses on one book of the Bible, such as Revelation, or a group of related books, such as from the experience? Practical skills, the Pentateuch. yes, but most importantly they n Religious History Religious history courses introduce students to Christian learned to understand the true meanchurch history as well as topics in world religions, archaeology, and the history ing of their call.

IN THE CLASSROOM

Lesson One: Be Open To Change

T

he Umapine Seventh-day Adventist Church is just a 10-minute drive from College Place. Situated in a small town among the outlying farms of Milton-Freewater, Ore., the white steepled church is just around the

and development of communities of faith. n Missions Theology majors are required to take the class People in Contemporary Culture (U.S.), and students planning to spend one year as a student missionary or taskforce worker take the class Introduction to CrossCultural Ministry. n Professional These courses are designed for experience in ministry-oriented activities, such as church worship, church leadership, field evangelism, pastoral care, and crisis ministry. n Theology Courses in theology focus on spirituality, ethics, discipleship, Seventh-day Adventist doctrine, Last Day events, and other religious topics. n Biblical Languages Students learn Greek or Hebrew, the languages of Bible writers. They are also introduced to Acadian, Sumarian, and Arabic, languages of cultures contemporary to Bible writers.

Summer 2006 Westwind 11

corner from Tate’s Umapine Mercantile and the Waterhole Tavern, the town’s only retail establishments. The church’s pulpit faces a beautiful window view of a wheat field.

When Ofa Langi first stood at the pulpit to give the sermon to Umapine parishioners, his mind wasn’t on the view. “I was scared,” he admits. A native of Riverside, Calif., and the son of Tongan immigrants, his apprehension came because he had never been a part of a small church and was only accustomed to the worship practices of the Los Angeles Tongan Seventh-day Adventist Church.

“The way I present, I like feedback and conversation,” he says. “So throughout the whole sermon I felt like I was talking to the wall. Everybody just sat and looked at me,” he remembers. “Then, after church everybody came by to greet me and said ‘good job’ and ‘thank you.’ I stood there thinking ‘Wow. Really? Are you sure?’”

Fast-forward two years. Langi graduated in June with a degree in theology and looks back on his pastor/mentor experience with fondness. “Umapine has been a place where now, I feel like I could go there anytime and relax like it’s home. I feel really accepted there. They have embraced me despite my faults. It’s a really loving church,” he says.

“Church is far more about a community of people coming together than it is about a program or spectacle.”

Langi believes that his experience at Umapine has helped him to mature and also fine-tune his presenting skills. “When I speak at Umapine I have to calm down.

I have to lower my voice and don’t talk too fast. They taught me to slow down.”

Change has come from both sides of the pulpit. “I’ll often get an ‘amen’ when someone feels it’s right and I’ll often get a question. It’s more conversational,” says Langi. “And, they know that when I’m preaching some of my friends will be there so there are different colors and races in the audience,” he laughs.

He’s earned the support of church members, especially Chelsey Griswold, a member for 25 years. “That young man talks about things that are so interesting,” says the 87year-old Griswold. “I just sit on the edge of my seat spellbound. He’s a mighty wonderful young man, and I have a lot of confidence in him.”

Langi embraces his ties with Umapine, but he has always understood that he was a guest in a small church. “I was only going to be there a short time so it helped me not to step over anybody else’s way of living and thinking. And thinking that my way is the right way.”

Lesson Two: Church Is Community

W

ith 2,200 church members, the Walla Walla College Church would be considered a mega-church compared to most Adventist churches. Walla Walla College’s campus church is one of the top five largest Adventist churches in the nation. And it has been Kris Loewen’s home church for as long as he can remember.

Loewen gravitated to leadership from a young age, leading junior high youth groups while attending Walla Walla Valley Academy, and high school student groups and Bible studies during his years in college. So it was a natural fit when,

12 Westwind Summer 2006

during his junior year, he participated in the Student/Pastor Mentor Program under the watchful guidance of Troy Fitzgerald, the College Church’s youth pastor and someone who had influenced Loewen’s call to the ministry.

While in the mentoring program, he led baptismal studies and worship services.

He also lent a hand to Fitzgerald and a few other church members in launching a new church service called FirstServe, a contemporary worship program. When Loewen’s mentoring year ended, the College Church pastoral staff asked Loewen to stay, this time as the coordinator of FirstServe.

“FirstServe was started to provide another venue for people who connect more with contemporary praise music as part of an informal service in contrast to a more traditional service with classical music,” Loewen says.

But the intent of FirstServe is about more than just the music. “The name was chosen to express a commitment for those involved in the service to first serve before anything else—to emphasize the service part of the Christian walk,” he says.

Loewen has learned much about coordinating speakers, musicians, drama programs, and technical assistants. Yet, even with his experience in putting all the pieces of a church service together, Loewen concludes that what he learned the most during his College Church experience transcends the details of worship music, style, and setting. “Church is far more about a community of people coming together than it is about a program or spectacle. I’ve also learned how a pastor’s position is unique in that a pastor is ultimately concerned with people and their relationship with God, and how they should be willing to put behind them differences that would separate most people from the good of God’s cause.”

Kirk Hirota

Lesson Three: Church Is About Changing Lives

L

ike other students in the mentoring program, Moises Ramirez was no stranger to church work before college. A high school mission trip spurred his interest in leading programs at his home church, the Wenatchee Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church. Despite his church involvement, Ramirez still planned to pursue his dream of becoming an ear, nose, and

Not all theology and religion graduates enter pastoral ministry. Among the members of the Class of 2006, some are now serving as missionaries, chaplains, and teachers.

Summer 2006 Westwind 13

throat surgeon. Once at Walla Walla College, however, he could no longer deny the sense that God was calling him to be a minister.

In 2004, Ramirez began the mentorship program at the Walla Walla Northside Adventist Church. Located six blocks from the Washington State Penitentiary, Northside has 65 members.

As Ramirez has led Sabbath school classes, attended church meetings, and fulfilled other duties, he has discovered two of his ministry strengths. “I have strengths in leadership and management,” he says, “and I’ve worked hard to bring structure to my experience at the church—in sermons, meetings, working with youth.”

“I believe the greatest compliment of success that a pastor can ever hear is ‘while you were here, Pastor, we saw and learned more of the Savior.’”

Yet even as a self-described “people person,” Ramirez found that one of the most difficult parts of his internship at Northside was visiting parishioners in their homes.

“When I thought about visitations, I thought about my Spanish pastor coming over and giving Bible studies. But I see now that visitation can also be just about getting to know people better. I’ve been able to get to know people and their struggles.

And through their struggles we have built this relationship.”

Ramirez continues to be driven by a desire to heal people, although not as the surgeon he once envisioned, but as the pastor he aspires to be—a healer not of physical wounds, but of the soul. “I’m still amazed because now I’m able to take everything I love about thinking about being a surgeon, and I can apply it to ministry. A church can be like a hospital where people come to get help. We are to work alongside with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. The responsibility of changing lives is not ours but the Holy Spirit’s, and he uses us in order to accomplish this. It’s amazing.”

Lesson Four: Stay Connected To God And Step Out In Faith

E

ric Sayler describes the satisfaction of ministry as a joy that is different from happiness. “It’s different from being excited. A really big part of joy is just peace. That’s what I feel when I’m doing ministry with either kids or adults in a church setting—no matter where I’m touching people with God’s love, the joy just settles in.”

Sayler, also a 2006 theology graduate, has spent two years working with Cary Fry, a 1989 WWC graduate. Fry is pastor of Walla Walla’s Eastgate Seventh-day Adventist Church, which has 250 active members.

While there is joy in knowing you can help to change people’s lives, Sayler is also sober about the responsibilities. “Sometimes it can be scary to think about the responsibility. I was talking with Pastor Cary and telling him how sometimes I just feel so inadequate. And he let me know he had felt that way that very morning. I’m glad pastors can feel that sometimes so that we realize that our strength needs to come from the Lord.”

It’s a lesson Sayler has taken from his experience organizing an evangelistic series as a senior project and also as part of his mentorship experience. Sayler spent six

14 Westwind Summer 2006

months planning the 12-meeting series called “The Missing Piece: How Does It All Fit?” Sayler organized church members, wrote sermons, and knocked on neighborhood doors to invite people to the meetings. The series focused on topics of Christian foundations—from the existence of God and the validity of Scripture, to the Sabbath and the importance of baptism. The meetings were held in the fellowship hall to encourage conversation and rapport between visitors and church members.

In the end, he isn’t sure if his efforts resulted in baptisms, but he is sure of two things: that he is staying close to God and stepping out in faith more. “Expect great things and you will see them,” he says. “Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb for God.”

Keeping The Lines Open

S

taying connected to God is one of the greatest challenges a pastor has. It’s a challenge David Thomas knows well from his 25 years as a pastor of large and small churches.

“It is very easy to get caught up in the business of pastoring and leave God out of the picture,” says Thomas. “If a minister is not tending to the inner dimension of his own life by holding his life open to God, he does not allow the Spirit to point out what needs to change and what needs to be adjusted.”

Today, as dean of WWC’s School of Theology, Thomas has the privilege of helping future pastors understand the importance of this challenge and the ultimate and divine reason that a church has a pastor.

“I believe the greatest compliment of success that a pastor can ever hear is ‘while you were here, Pastor, we saw and learned more of the Savior.’”

What does it mean when God comes calling? Staying open to him will provide the answers for following the Way and leading others down that path. n

ADVICE FOR YOUNG PASTORS

S

chool has done a better job of preparing you for the ministry than you really believe. Some of the biggest challenges in your first few years are going to be the changes in your personal life. These are unavoidable. When you’re at college you know what is expected: Your schedule is set, you know how you’re doing, you get your grades. After you graduate, none of those things are true. You don’t have goals that are set by teachers. You don’t know how you’re doing; even your schedule is kind of at loose ends. These are real personal challenges that take place at a time that you’ve also lost most of your support network.

You are also often discovering that financially it’s more challenging out there than it is in school. It sounds odd to say that, because now you’re making money, but you have to pay off those loans. And with college, you’ve got fairly inexpensive housing and meals, plus access to a gym, concerts, and social life on campus.

Now those things will cost you a lot more—things that require getting in the car and driving 15 to 30 minutes.

On a personal relationship level, talk to your spouse. One of the things my wife and I have done consistently is have a lunch date once a week. You wouldn’t think you would need that, but you will.

P.S. You will use your Greek. Once you start preaching on a regular basis, the first 10 sermons come pretty easily. After that you have to start digging. Then you’ll find that the languages really are valuable.

Greg Brothers ’80 Senior Pastor, Lincoln City and Nestucca Seventh-day Adventist churches, Oregon

T

he pastor’s role, as someone once said, is, “to make the main thing the main thing.” The gospel has always been about connecting God and people.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “The righteous man lives for the next generation.”

The great joy and challenge for pastors today is to bring a relevant message to the youth as well as the older members in the church, ever mindful that the youth shall “inherit” the church. The question is: What kind of church will they inherit?

Creating a safe, affirming environment where young people sense real participation in and eventually become the spiritually mature adult leaders of the church is one of the greatest legacies a pastor can leave in his or her ministry.

Phil Muthersbaugh ’80 Senior Pastor, LifeSource Community Adventist Church, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

D

on’t be surprised by conflict. Jesus will take you through it. Preach a wellbalanced diet, not forgetting the great doctrines of the faith and the prophecies. Keep wearing and preaching on the robe of Christ’s righteousness.

Stephen Huey Senior Pastor, Hermiston and Heppner Seventh-day Adventist churches, Oregon

A

lways put the Lord before you and be humbled. People at church, I’m often reminded, don’t care so much about how much you know; they want to know how much you care. See ministry as a joy, a calling—not a job. Ministry has to be a call from the Lord. Of course, there will be moments of agony and anguish, but enjoy it nevertheless; it will shape who you ultimately will become and give your ministry meaning.

In seminary learn as much as you can. Don’t see yourself to be above anything, even if it means seemingly repeating course material you have covered. You can always learn something. Discuss with your peers, do a lot of listening, and just pray to God that he prepares you for the journey ahead.

The one piece of advice that has never left me came from my homiletics teacher. He said, when you go into a church, don’t try changing things. Give yourself a year to listen and learn before you try directing traffic. That is sound advice. You have to earn the confidence of the people that you work with.

Abraham Francois ’01 Pasco Ephesus Church and Othello Adventist Church, Washington

Summer 2006 Westwind 15

Alberta

By Kristi Spurgeon

Seattle

Spokane

COLLEGE PLACE CAMPUS

Orofino Clarkston

Helena

Pendleton

Blazing the Trail Boise

Started 30 years ago “on a shoestring and a prayer,” Wilma Hepker has led in building social work into one of the college’s strongest programs.

Boise. Orofino. Pocatello. Clarkston. Idaho Falls. Yakima. Seattle.

Pasco. Spokane. Pendleton. Rapid City. Casper. Helena.

T

hese cities have something in common. They’re all locations that students consistently commute from to attend the School of Social Work and Sociology.

With other social work programs available to them, what draws students to Walla Walla College? Wilma Hepker, dean of the School of Social Work and Sociology, knows. “Over and over I hear the same three things from students: They want our Christian atmosphere, family-friendly schedule, and the clinical focus we offer,” she says.

That may be true, but much of the program’s draw may just come from Hepker’s own magnetism.

The School of Social Work and Sociology began in 1973 when Hepker and her family moved to Walla Walla. At the time, there was a sociology degree, but Hepker noticed that many of those students were getting jobs as social workers. “There was a real need for trained social workers,” she says.

She set about developing a bachelor’s degree in social work. Once that was in place, the school began receiving calls from people

16 Westwind Summer 2006

BILLINGS CAMPUS

Idaho Falls

Casper

Pocatello

in the Northwest looking for a graduate program in social work. There were two main problems to overcome in order to begin a graduate program at WWC: approval from the WWC faculty and finding a qualified person to direct the program.

Hepker decided to move ahead in faith, although there was resistance to the idea. As it turned out, it wasn’t long before the WWC faculty voted by an overwhelming majority to approve the program. Around the same time, a solution to the second challenge began falling into place. Hepker found Standley Gellineau teaching at the University of Denver. “He was the only Seventh-day Adventist that I knew of at the time with an MSW degree, a doctoral degree, and graduate teaching experience,” she says.

Not one to be content with the status quo, it was only a few years before Hepker shook things up again. “We had several students who were commuting more than eight As a tribute to Wilma Hepker’s legendary work at WWC and in her profession, the school has been renamed the Wilma Hepker School of Social Work and Sociology.

Matthew B Zimmerman

Yakima

MISSOULA CAMPUS

Kirk Hirota

A Christian atmosphere, family-friendly schedule, and clinical focus are what students value about the social work graduate program. Pamela Cress, who has taught since 1996, is the new dean of the school.

hours one way every week in order to attend our program,” Hepker marvels. With an eight-hour drive looming every few days, students were begging WWC to come to Montana. After much consideration it was agreed to establish a social work campus in Missoula in 1997, which was followed four years later by a campus in Billings.

Hepker says all of the social work programs “started Rapid City on a shoestring and a prayer.” At first the Missoula campus consisted of a rented room in an adult education center in town and a small house on the grounds of the local Adventist elementary school.

Finding faculty for these programs that fit the necessary criteria proved to be a challenge. As Hepker says, “They just don’t grow on trees.” But they do grow out of WWC’s own program, which is how the School of Social Work has gained many of its current 23 faculty members.

“We had to do a lot of standing on our heads to get things done,” Hepker says. “But I know it has always been God’s will. Otherwise we would never have overcome all the obstacles that we faced.” Currently there are 80 students on the Missoula campus, 65 students at Billings, and more than 150 at College Place.

Hepker believes God has blessed WWC’s willingness to extend the program to those who need it. His presence is felt at all three campuses, a “real draw” for many students. Another factor in the program’s success is the family-friendly schedule, with all classes offered on two consecutive days during the week, providing more time for students to work, participate in clinicals, and take care of their families. It has also helped foster the reputation of a “commuting school,” ideal for the many professional students hoping to advance their degrees.

WWC is also one of the few social work programs with a clinical focus. At WWC students learn social work theory, but the focus on clinical work means they also receive valuable experience actually working in the field.

“Our program prepares graduates to work directly with people through clinical assessments, treatment plans, and evaluations using the strengths perspective,” says Marja McChesney, social work professor and field practicum coordinator.

McChesney says that alumni from the School of Social Work find employment based on their comprehensive knowl-

edge and skills in working with clients. “We receive frequent calls requesting names of students who are ready for employment because of the clinical focus in this program,” she adds.

Today, more students graduate from the School of Social Work and Sociology each year than from any other program at WWC. In June, the 30th anniversary of the first bachelor of social work graduating class, 164 students received either a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work.

Now the program will have to continue on without the leadership of its founder and driving force. Hepker retired in September after 33 years at WWC. Recently, Hepker was honored by the renaming of the school to the Wilma Hepker School of Social Work and Sociology. “It’s all ‘much ado about nothing’,” Hepker laughs. “I tell everyone this fuss is certainly not necessary, but I know they’re trying to be nice.”

The ‘nothing’ she refers to could fill several lifetimes.

Hepker has made many valuable contributions to WWC, the Adventist church, the community, and the social work field.

She was honored this year with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Social Workers, Washington Chapter, and was previously named Social Work Teacher of the Year by the same organization.

Although she will be leaving the program to spend time with her eight grandchildren, write the history of the School of Social Work and Sociology, and clean out the stacks that have accumulated in her house through the busy years, Hepker knows she is leaving the program in good hands.

Pamela Cress, associate professor of social work, is the new dean of the school.

“Dr. Hepker has built a strong legacy of quality social work education here at Walla Walla College. It is a privilege to be asked by the faculty to continue the good work that she started over 30 years ago,” says Cress. “I look forward with anticipation to the joys and challenges of this new position.”

“Christ was the first social worker,” Hepker sums up. “He met people’s needs. He loved them, cared for them, fed them, and clothed them. It’s what humans are here to do and it’s what social workers do. That’s why we have a social work program at Walla Walla College.” n

Summer 2006 Westwind 17

GENEROSITY IN Marvin Robertson ’56

D

edicating his life to glorifying God through music, Marvin Robertson has inspired scores of students and fellow worshippers to do the same.

During his 33-year tenure as dean of the School of Music at Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tenn., Marvin had many accomplisments. He oversaw the completion of a 44,000-square-foot music facility and the installation of a world-class organ. He also founded three musical groups—the children’s choir Collegedale Caroliers, Die Meistersinger male chorus, and the show choir Something Special. In addition, he prepared and conducted his Southern Singers in the performance of many major choral works and was a producer of a number of Broadway musicals. In 1968 accreditation of Southern’s music program was granted by the National Association of Schools of Music, a distinction held by only half of the music schools in the nation.

For 27 years Marvin served as the Minister of Music at the Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church. He was also a co-founder of the International Adventist Musicians Association and served on several General Conference music committees.

In 1982, accompanied by Die Meistersinger, he made the first of eight journeys to the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Under communist rule, the group was not allowed to perform sacred pieces, except spirituals and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” since they were classified as American folk music.

After the fall of communism, Marvin returned to establish music curriculum and teach at Zaokski Theological Seminary during the spring quarters of 1993 and 1996.

Marvin retired in 1999. He currently serves as minister of music at Port Charlotte Seventh-day Adventist Church. He and his wife, Jean, have four children and eight grandchildren.

18 Westwind Summer 2006

Gina Marie Lindsey ’76

H

ow does a drama buff and would-be news broadcaster become one of the most influential women in the aviation industry?

As a communications media major, Gina Marie envisioned becoming a broadcaster, but soon realized few opportunities existed in her native Alaska. Instead, she worked for an engineering firm as an administrative assistant and quickly became involved in subdivision zoning and platting work. She later became a transportation planner with the State of Alaska Department of Transportation, and as Gina Marie says, “the rest is history.”

Fast-forward 10 years, to 1993, when Gina Marie was recruited to SeattleTacoma International Airport to serve as its aviation director. For 11 years, Gina Marie was responsible for the operations, maintenance, and strategic and financial planning of the airport, which serves nearly 30 million passengers a year. Under her guidance, Sea-Tac took on a $3-billion, seven-year capital improvement project, including the construction of a new runway, demolition and reconstruction of a concourse, and major refurbishments.

Gina Marie also weathered trying times while at Sea-Tac. In 2001, she saw the airport through repairs after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake and later that year, dealt with the upheaval of the aviation industry after the events of 9/11.

She has served in many industry advisory roles, including being the first woman to chair the North American arm of the World Board of Directors for the Airport Council International.

According to Gina Marie, the best thing she ever did was being a mom to her son, Jeremy, who was a freshman at Tulane University when he died at the age of 18.

In 2004, Gina Marie and her husband, Tom Dow, moved to Washington, D.C., where she is an executive vice president of McBee Strategic Consulting, a government relations and business consulting firm.

SERVICE Carl Wilkens ’81

L

ike angels in human form” is how Carl Wilkens remembers his Rwandan neighbors. And with good reason. When a militia group arrived at the missionary’s gate to continue its looting and killing spree, Carl’s neighbors intervened, telling the soldiers stories of the Wilkens’ kindness and friendship. The militia relented, leaving Carl and his family in peace.

Rwanda was a different place when Carl and his family arrived four years earlier. Carl became the head of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency International in the small African country after serving in the mission field at Zimbabwe and Zambia. However, by 1994, when fighting broke out between the Hutus and Tutsis, the American embassy issued an evacuation order, leaving Carl and his wife, Teresa, with a tough decision. Carl was determined to stay and help his Rwandan workers, so when his wife and children boarded an evacuation camper bound for Nairobi, Carl stayed behind to bring food, water, and medicine to orphans in the capital city of Kigali. Carl was the only American to remain in Kigali while the genocide claimed 800,000 Rwandan lives over the course of three months.

Carl has been featured in two films, the PBS documentary “Ghosts of Rwanda,” and the American Radio and National Public Radio production “The Few Who Stayed.” He has received the Digitas Humana Award from Saint John’s School of Theology Seminary and a Medal of Valor from the Simon Weisenthal Center.

Carl, an industrial education graduate, and Teresa (Appley), a 1981 business education graduate, have three children. Mindy and Lisa are both WWC students, and Shaun is a student at Milo Adventist Academy in Days Creek, Ore., where Carl now serves as chaplain.

All photos by Ben Blood

“

2006 Alumni of the Year

By Amy Wilkinson

Jason Wells ’96

W

hile serving as a student missionary on the island of Palau, Jason Wells, Young Alumnus of the Year, stumbled upon a small set of handbells abandoned in the closet of Koror Adventist Elementary School. The discovery was a coup for the seasoned handbell player, who began teaching his students simple pieces on the bells. They learned quickly, eventually playing for the inauguration of the president of Palau.

After graduating from WWC with a major in English, Jason taught at Tualatin Valley Junior Academy in Hillsboro, Ore., teaching music, English, history, and Bible. As a teacher, Jason was known for his energy, enthusiasm, and creativity, always bringing the best out of his students. Jason’s energetic spirit was most apparent while directing Ring of Fire, the nationally acclaimed handbell group he formed in 1997.

Known for its fiery music and spirited style, the 13-member ensemble has performed in 18 states and seven countries, playing for two presidential inaugurations, NBA basketball games, the Boston Pops Holiday concert, and the “CBS Early Show.”

Now academy and college students, Ring of Fire continues to perform at special events under Jason’s direction. Jason shares his handbell expertise as a clinician at national and international handbell festivals each year.

After eight years at Tualatin, Jason spent a year at Portland Adventist Academy before parlaying his professional skills in photography, writing, and multimedia into his current position as assistant director of corporate communications at Florida Hospital in Orlando, Fla. Jason and his team produce national television commercials, corporate communication pieces, and two internal television channels viewed by more than a million patients a year.

Jason and his wife, Heather (Schmunk) Wells, a 1999 nursing graduate, have one daughter, Sidney.

Summer 2006 Westwind 19

Interview

A Place to Call Home

By Rosa Jimenez

Twenty years ago, 1963 business graduate Wendell White transitioned from operating nursing homes to developing one of the first senior housing communities in the Northwest where residents could live in a more home-like setting. Through Generations, the company he and his family founded, White is developing communities where seniors can receive the care they need in their own environment and also enjoy amenities for their mental and physical wellbeing. Over the past 12 years, the company has developed 25 retirement facilities and offers housing options of independent living, rehabilitation, assisted living, and home care services.

Currently, the company operates 1100 units with an annual revenue of $35 million. In recent years, Wendell and his wife, Betsy (Wagner) att., have been joined in the business by two other alumni, their son, Rob, a 1991 graduate, and daughter-in-law, Jennifer, a 1989 graduate.

How did you begin your career in this field?

My mother was a single mom, so I spent most of my time with my grandparents. In 1943, when I was 5 years old, they opened a nursing home for six people in Grants Pass, Ore. We lived in a small, attached apartment so I spent much of my time with the patients in the nursing home.

I had wheelchair races in the hallways, and patients helped me with my homework. A man named Rudy helped me learn my ABCs. My sister-in-law was the cook, so I could always go into the kitchen at any time and ask for something to eat. I was treated like a little king. It was a wonderful experience to grow up in this unusual environment.

Did you work there when you were older?

I always had chores to do; I worked in the garden, washed sidewalks, washed dishes, and mowed the lawn. I worked as administrator for my grandparents for two years after college. By that time the 20 Westwind Summer 2006

nursing home had grown to have 100 residents. Over the years, my grandfather, who was a carpenter, had added on to the building several times. When they decided to sell, they helped Betsy [my wife] and me buy a nursing home in Milton-Freewater.

We operated Elzora Manor for 10 years until we followed opportunities in Portland.

How did your perspective about nursing care evolve as the years passed?

I always felt there had to be a better way. Traditionally, many of the older people who needed help with their activities of daily living went to a nursing home.

Many of these people didn’t need to be in a heavily medical environment. They could have a more home-like seating rather than an institutional environment. So we built a facility where everyone had their own apartment and brought their own furniture.

They had their own space and their own doorbell so that they

had their privacy. We would give people more choices in what they would eat, when they got up, when they bathed, and all the things we do at home.

Interview Enjoy catching up with fellow alumni through Westwind’s Interviews?

Visit Alumni Central on the Web (alumni.wwc.edu) to check out archives of these interviews and peruse additional Web-exclusive interviews.

Where were you first able to provide this home-like atmosphere?

What is your most recent project? Any other projects on the horizon?

We opened our first community—Town Center Village—in Clackamas [Ore.] in 1985. In 1987 we opened an assisted living facility at the same site, which had apartment-style living and also gave nursing care.

At that time there were no other facilities in the state that offered this type of housing. Two years later we added independent apartments. We tried to create a resort-like setting with a spa, fitness center, church, bank, theater, and putting green.

Adventist Health approached us about building a community next to Walla Walla General Hospital.

We opened Wheatland Village two years ago. It has both apartment units and an assisted living facility.

This fall we’ll break ground for a housing community next to Paradise Valley Hospital in San Diego. It will have 500 units—our largest community yet.

Bryan Aulick

Why did you believe it is important to give people choices?

It was my observation that as people age, they lose their independence, their privacy, their power to make choices. It is our goal to maintain the dignity of each of our residents, respect their privacy, and maintain their power to choose.

How did you begin your collaboration with Adventist Health?

Because we had been successful with Town Center Village, Adventist Health talked with us about developing a housing community on a parcel of land next to the hospital in Portland.

We opened our apartments at CherryWood Village in 1999 and opened the assisted living facility one year later.

Wendell White and his family, including son Rob, opened Wheatland Village, a senior housing community in Walla Walla, in 2004. The community offers a fitness center, swimming pool, a church, and other amenities.

It also sounds as if the White family is carrying on the tradition of working together.

Yes, we are. Betsy is on our board and is involved in an advisory capacity. My daughter, Melody [Gabriel], oversees marketing.

She studied geriatric psychology at Pacific Union College and tells me she chose this major so she could understand her dad. Her husband, Chip, is in charge of development and construction.

And your son?

Rob is in charge of the management of our communities.

Rob has a physical education background. He worked in fitness centers after college and first came into the business running the fitness center at one of our communities. Then he realized it might not be a bad idea to go into management. His wife, Jennifer, is our treasurer. She began her career in banking and joined the business in 1995.

often if necessary. The six of us get together to go over finances and make major decisions. Even though it can be difficult, I know I need to go along with the decision even if at times I don’t agree with it. Also, once a year, we get away to do long-range planning. So far what we’re doing has worked.

Do you have any plans to retire?

I’m never going to retire. With the day-to-day operation of the company in other hands, I now have the opportunity to do just what I want to do. Right now it’s the interior design for our communities. In the past, I would hire someone to do this, but I always ended up picking out colors and pieces myself. Now, I’m having a great time doing it.

As you look back on your personal and professional life, what gives you the greatest pride?

That’s easy. Having my kids in the business. We never asked them to or pushed them. Coming into the business is something they decided on their own. My children are the fourth generation of my family to be involved in senior housing. And we’ll see with the rest of the family. When my grandson’s school had a Career Day, he was asked what he wanted to be when he grew up. He said “a businessman like my grandpa.” I get emotional about it because it means so much to me. n

In 1999, your company was voted Oregon Family Business of the Year by the School of Business at Oregon State University. What has made your family business successful?

What I’ve tried to do is have each person responsible for separate areas. We try not to interfere in each other’s area of responsibility.

We have a family meeting at least once a month, or more Summer 2006 Westwind 21

Alumnotes

Class of 1956

1950s Wilton Bunch ’56 and his wife, Victoria, make their home in Vestavia Hills, Ala. Wilton has spent many years working in the field of medicine, including a career as a pediatric orthopedist, serving as the chair of Orthopedics at Loyola University in Chicago, the dean of Medicine at the University of Chicago, and the dean of the School of Medicine at the University of South Florida. Currently he is a professor of ethics at Beeson Divinity School. During his free time he enjoys playing the string bass in his university’s orchestra. Wilton and Victoria have one son, Brent.

Anelda (Lewis) Derhalli ’56 and her husband, Zouhdi ’53 and ’54, are retired and living in Lake Oswego, Ore. She writes the following about her experiences at WWC: “It was a privilege for me to attend an SDA college as I went to public schools. I really enjoyed the Chris-

Vanguards

tian atmosphere there. Special are the memories of Sabbath and orchestra.” She also appreciates the nursing education she received here. Her nursing career was put on hold with the addition of their two children, David and Karen. Her most recent contribution to nursing was the 24 years she spent at Adventist Health in Portland. Anelda enjoys gardening, cooking, traveling, and her five grandchildren.

Barbara (Alderson) Heisler ’56 and her husband, Bill att., make their home in

Highland, Calif. Barbara retired in 2000 after 34 years of service in the field of education. She taught kindergarten for 30 years and began the kindergarten program at Redlands Junior Academy in Redlands, Calif. Barbara’s fondest mem-

Row 1 Joan Shultz, Joan (Potts) Sproul, Gladys Robison, Kathy (Sharman) Hempel, Jean (Shankel) Smith, Lettia (Cates) Byrd, Dorothy (Curtis) Taksdal, Betty (Parkhurst) Tym, Julianne (Goodman) Krantz, Ed Bryan Row 2 Carmen (Miller) Graham, Tom Stafford, Brooke Stafford, Jerry (Wilson) Stephens, Anelda (Lewis) Derhalli, Esther (Samograd) Polishuk, Lois (Hollenbeck) Stevens, Jeanette (Weaver) Sullivan Row 3 Richard Graham, Marvin Robertson, Paul Lindstrom, Nettie (Hetke) English, Evelyn Dobson, Marion (Kislanko) Burtt, Norma (Shearer) Rice Row 4 Carl Rose, Sam Ketting, Joseph Bozovich, Del Zopf, Don Lang, Harvey Heidinger, Barbara (Alderson) Heisler, Verlene (Rigby) White, Lillian (Morris) Cramer Row 5 Harold Gray, Don Weaver, Howard Gimbel, Verne Wehtje, Victor Boyle, Bill Heisler, Daniel Ling, Arthur White Row 6 Wilton Bunch, Gordon Henderson, Lee Wilson, Bill Greenley, Larry Lewis, Lloyd Kuhn, Floyd Mohr, Richard Madson, David Hensel ory of WWC is meeting her husband whom she married the day after her graduation. The couple has four children, Scott, Barry, Susan and Bradley ’88; and four grandchildren.

Row 1 Orletta (Wilson) Dealy, Mary (Spenst) Nations, Irmgard (Siemsen) Hooper, Louise (Hudson) Rea, Naida (Johnson) Emmerson, Howard Hallock, Vickie Miller, Virginia (Miller) Mabley Row 2 Donald Dealy, Olen Nations, Elden Walter, Paul Gruzensky, Dale Brusett, Lyman Miller, Elwood Mabley Row 3 Earl Lee, Herbert Bork, Nadene (Thompson) Bork, Elaine (Skinner) Derby, Melvin Derby, June Iseminger, Allen J. Iseminger, Clarence Chinn, Clayton Prusia Row 4 Vida (Wadsworth) Beaulieu, Thelma (Johnson) McCoy, Dick McCoy, Don Goe 22 Westwind Summer 2006

Larry Lewis ’56 is retired and living in Vancouver, Wash. After graduating from WWC, Larry was ordained as a minister. He spent many years as an educator, teaching at Mt. Ellis Academy, Walla Walla College, and Atlantic Union College, where he also served as a college administrator. Larry has four children, Lori Payne att., Kent, Sharon Hinman att., and Brant; and five grandchildren.

Norma (Shearer) Rice ’56 and her husband, Floyd ’56, make their home in Pollock Pines, Calif. In 1971, she was asked to instruct nursing classes at Porterville Community College. She became

a professor of nursing and taught there for more than 20 years. She also became an expert witness for the California Board of Nursing. Norma enjoys her family and recently became a member of the “Red Hat Society.” From her time at WWC, she remembers living in Conard Hall, enjoying her nursing classes, and meeting Floyd. The couple has four children, Daryl, Douglas, Debra Priest att., and Denise Skinner; and eight grandchildren.

Louise (Braatz) Smith ’56 is a retired registered nurse living in Portland, Ore.

Alumnotes Lloyd Wyman ’50 and his wife, Donna (Spillman) att., make their home in

Newbury Park, Calif., where Lloyd is the director of the ministerial department for the Pacific Union Conference. Donna has become a specialist in grief counseling.

Lloyd and Donna are very athletic and have run 11 full marathons and 50 half marathons. Evangelism and pastoring are Lloyd’s passions, and he has been serving the conference since 1976. Lloyd has fond memories of WWC, including meeting and marrying Donna and singing in “The Crusaders,” the first student group asked to sing for the final concert of the year. The couple has two children, Sandra and Scott; and four grandchildren.

rium to the College Church, meeting Barbara in the Administration Building, eating Jim Gregg’s stew in their dorm room on Friday evenings, and watching Dick Hart’s South American slides. The couple has two daughters, Hilary Catlett ’97 and ’98 and Shannon Bigger ’95, who died in 1996.

Claire (Minouflet) Bishop ’61 and her husband, Blakely, are retired and have been living in Goldendale, Wash., since 1960. In 1962 they started a sanitation business, which they sold in 1979. The

Class of 1961

Delvin Zopf ’56 and his wife, Julie, reside in Golden, Colo. Delvin graduated from Loma Linda University in 1960 and completed his residency requirements in ophthalmology at USC. He traveled overseas to serve as a volunteer surgeon in St. Vincent, Nepal, Honduras, and Latvia. In 1967 he served as chief of ophthalmology at Womack Army Hospital. Delvin is the founder of the Denver Eye Surgery Center and Clinic and is currently operating his own private practice. In his free time, he enjoys skiing, fly fishing, and mountaineering in the Rockies, Patagonia, New Zealand, and Europe. The couple has five children, Teri Schoesler, Traci, Troy, Todd, and Tandi Donaldson.

couple owns 70 acres of apple and cherry orchards in Chelan, Wash., which are run

by Jim Bishop. The couple has two children, Deborah Wilson and Jerry; and four grandchildren.

1960s

Ed Boyatt ’66 and his wife, Teri (Cleveland) ’66, make their home in Riverside,

Darold Bigger ’66 and his wife, Barbara (Messinger) att., make their home in Walla Walla. Darold served as a pastor until 1993 when he started teaching full time at WWC. He has recently retired from his service as a chaplain for the Navy Reserve. From his time as a student at WWC, Darold fondly recalls Week of Prayer, moving from Columbia Audito-

Calif. Ed is a professor in the School of Education at La Sierra University and Teri

is a teacher with the Riverside Unified School District. Teri has spent 20 years teaching in elementary schools in the Upper Columbia, Oregon, and Southern California conferences, as well as serving as principal at Tualatin Valley Junior Academy. Ed has held a variety of positions including being a pastor in the Upper Columbia Conference, teaching Bible at Upper Columbia Academy and Walla Walla Valley Academy, serving as the principal at Glendale and Columbia academies, serving as the dean of students at WWC, working as the associate director of education for the North Pacific Union Conference, and serving as the superintendent

Row 1 Jim Dixon, Terrie (Hiebert) Oldham, Nila (Harris) Watson, Claire (Minouflet) Bishop, Alma (Ferster) Liske, Carol (Marsh) Campbell Row 2 Leon Hagen, Joy (Uehlin) Palmer, Berta (Slaght) Brenton, Laurine (Wright) Kites, Beverly (Bretsch) Klein Row 3 Kenneth Dunton, Burton Maxwell, Verne Hyland, Levi Kuhn, Ronald Miller, Burton Briggs, Georgene (Beltz) Roebuck, Dale Lent, Marilyn (Humbert) Coughren of schools for the Oregon Conference.

Some of Ed’s fondest WWC memories include meeting his wife, taking classes from J. Paul Grove, playing basketball in the Sonnenberg series, and serving as a student missionary in Guyana. Some of Teri’s fondest memories include vespers, becoming acquainted with teachers and administrators, early morning birdwatches with Dr. Blake, and serving as the student association social vice president.

Ed and Teri have three children, Jolene Roeske ’90, Jason ’93, and Jared ’94; and three grandchildren.

clinic. In addition to working as a nurse practitioner, she enjoys doing Bible studies and heading a weekly grief recovery class. In her free time she likes to walk and read.

Udell (Bulgin) Fresk ’66 is enjoying retired life with her husband, Gary ’67.

She retired from engineering about five years ago, and since then has served on the boards of Auburn Adventist Academy and the Bellevue Botanical Garden Society. Currently she is serving as the chair of Garden d’Lights, a holiday light display composed of hundreds of thousands of miniature lights shaped into flowers. She manages the more than 300 volunteers that put the display together. She and Gary have three children, Bob Eby att., Cami Kitchens att., and Sean att.

Virginia (Hartley) Karst ’61 and her husband, Emery, make their home in Salem, Ore. Virginia is retired and volunteers at a local bilingual elementary school. Emery keeps busy with a fulltime dental practice. In their free time the couple enjoys gardening and bird watching. In February and March of 2005 Emery and Virginia took a trip of a lifetime to Costa Rica to do some bird watching. The couple has three children, Elisabeth ’88, Sara Hendrickson att., and Bertram att.

Ralph Kneller ’66 and ’68 and his wife, Marie (Huk) ’68, make their home in Kelowna, B.C. Ralph has been in the field of education for many years. He taught in the Seventh-day Adventist school system for 20 years, including four years at Far Eastern Academy in Singapore and one year at Philippine Union College. Currently Ralph is teaching at a local public high school.

Albert “Dale” Lent ’61 and his wife, Myrna (Fowler) att., make their home

Phyllis Collins ’66 lives in Tamuning, Guam, where she is a nurse practitioner in the Guam Seventh-day Adventist Summer 2006 Westwind 23

Alumnotes on 10 acres in Kettle Falls, Wash. Dale is a retired educator, and each winter the couple takes a five-month long trip in their RV. Dale enjoys art, photography,

Betty Jean (Skeels) Magnuson ’66 and her husband, Jay ’65, make their home in Quincy, Wash. They have three children, Warren ’97, Amelia Messervy ’03, and Nathaniel att.; and one grandchild.

Class of 1966

Row 1 Fekede “Fred” Gemechu, Loren Dickinson, Barbara (Parmele) Pekarek, Carol (Foss) Minden, Betty-Jean (Skeels) Magnuson, Suzanne (Trout) Fillmore, Sandra (Dorr) Featherston, Jerry Hiner, Judy (Dolinsky) Vliet, Darold Bigger Row 2 Jerry Schoepflin, Ruth (Christensen) Fenton, Betty (Fritz) Duncan, Nancy (Dewilt) Cross, Eugene Amey, Judy (Littler) Zachrison, Bill Fields, Bonnie (Emmerson) Fields, Carlton Cross Row 3 Keith Colburn, Gordon Johnson, Ruth (Enderson) Turner, Bonnie (Kendall) Humphreys, Nona (Lyman) Nordby, Teri (Cleveland) Boyatt, Carla (Payne) Dowie, Edwin Karlow Row 4 Don Humphreys, Ronald Humphreys, Roger Cox, Ed Boyatt, Dale Ziegele, Chuck Nagele, Wally Ingram Row 5 Gary Wiss, David Heusser, Lowell Lamberton, Richard Hart, Ralph Johnson, Bill Johnson, Edward Klein travel, SCUBA, and his worldwide collection of more than 10,000 seashells. Dale and Myrna have four children, Kathryn Akins, Joseph (deceased), Karen Weinischke, and Jeanne Norris ’87; and four grandchildren.

Madeline (MacPhail) McKercher ’61 and her husband, Robert, reside in Tillamook, Ore. Madeline retired in 1995 and is enjoying her retirement. She keeps busy caring for her husband, quilting, and crocheting. Madeline has two sons, Eric and Leif Swanson att.; and two grandchildren.

Floyd Penstock ’66 and his wife, Fern, have served as missionaries in four countries, the last of which was in The Gambia, West Africa. During a missionary stay in Liberia, West Africa, they were taken prisoners by rebel forces. Presently the couple is retired and living in Apopka, Fla. 24 Westwind Summer 2006

Sandy (Leach) Zaugg ’61 is retired after many years of teaching grade school, academy, and college. She now spends her time writing books, mostly for children. She has had seven books published so far. Sandy also volunteers her time at various schools in Asia for two to six months at a time. From her time at WWC, she remembers newly engaged men getting thrown into the pond and Canadians ice-skating on the frozen tennis courts. Sandy has two children, Edwin att., who passed away seven months before graduation, and Kimberly att.

Les Palinka ’66 lives in Chula Vista, Calif., where he is an attorney-at-law. He has practiced law as a sole practitioner in the San Diego area since 1977. His practice focuses on probate and trust law, estate planning, and trust litigation. He has two children, Rick and Jacqueline.

Charles Scriven ’66 and his wife, Rebekah Wang-Cheng, make their home in Oakwood, Ohio. Since graduating, Charles has had an interesting career life, including being the associate editor for Insight magazine, teaching at WWC, pastoring the Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church, and serving as president of Columbia Union College. He is currently serving as president of Kettering College of Medical Arts and is the chair of the Association of Adventist Forums Board. Charles has three children, Jonathan, Christina, and Jeremy; and five grandchildren.

Lillian (Mehling) Stutz ’61 and her husband, Helmut att., make their home in Burlington, Wash. Both Lillian and Helmut retired in 2000 and are enjoying a more relaxed lifestyle that gives them more time for traveling and spending time with their family. The couple has two children, Monica Wildman ’83 and Michael ’89; and three grandchildren.

Joy (Uehlin) Palmer ’61 is making her home in College Place where she has spent the last 15 years as the library assistant at Rogers Adventist School. Education has been her lifelong career. She began her teaching career in a grades 1-8 church school and spent 13 years as an assistant librarian at WWC. Joy married a teacher, which meant lots of volunteer time in the classroom. In her free

time, she enjoys birdwatching and being a grandmother. Joy has two children, John and Janel att.; she also has two grandchildren.

1970s Keith Canwell ’76 and his wife, Nancy (Snyder) ’81, make their home in College Place. Keith is a manager for a mobile dental clinic for Northwest Medical Teams International. Recently he spent a month on a dental team in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, treating tsunami survivors.

Pamela (Larrabee) Duffy ’76 and her husband, Mark att., make their home in Bozeman, Mont. Pamela is the secretary and treasurer for Central Copters, Inc. She married Mark in August of 1975. The couple has three children, Tyler ’04, Thomas att., and Ashley curr. att.

Paul Holce ’76 and his wife, Mary Beth, make their home in Walla Walla, where he is a nurse practitioner at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Paul and Mary Beth have two sons, Jonathan and Nicholas.

Gary Jepson ’76 and his wife, Deidre, live in San Marcos, Texas, where he is the president and chief executive officer of the Central Texas Medical Center.

The couple has two children, Bryan and Bethany.

Class of 1971

Row 1 Judyann (Ratcliff ) Hoerler, Bev (Petersen) Scott, Bev (Petersen) Scott, Barbi (Aitchison) Dickerson, Eileen (Perrin) Stuart Row 2 Ruth (Gilliland) MacKenzie, Connie Herington, Larry Swisher, Ernie Norhton Row 3 Ole Olesen

Alumnotes Denise (Sylvester) Johnson ’76 and her husband, Doug ’77, make their home in Spangle, Wash., where she is a secretary in the ministerial department of the Upper Columbia Conference. Denise is happy to be serving the Adventist church once again and is thankful for the training WWC provided her. From her time at WWC, she remembers helping out at the Waitsburg Church, cultural lectures, the Chinese acrobats, and piano and band concerts. Denise and John have two sons, Hans ’04 and Erik att.

Clyde Knecht ’76 is living in Libby, Mont., where he is working as a physician.

Gary Kromrei ’76 and his wife, Shareé, reside in Lenore, Idaho, where they own a retirement home. Both Gary and Shareé are active leaders in their church. In their free time the family enjoys camping, snow skiing, traveling, music, and country living. Their greatest joy is their children, Jesse curr. att., Cody, and LaTasha.

Paula (Revolinski) Von Kuster ’71 is retired in Cincinnati, Ohio, after spending many years serving others. Paula was the director of client services in a regional geriatric home care, a medical social worker in home health and hospice, as well as a consultant for behavioral healthcare and managed care. Paula has had some exciting experiences outside of her career including being a mother, visiting Ground Zero in New York City, performing at Carnegie Hall, and driving through an unexploded minefield in post-war Croatia. When she has a free moment, she enjoys international travel, birdwatching, and singing. Paula has two sons, Jeremy and Joshua.

Carol (Sigurdson) Waite ’71 and her husband, Dennis, make their home in Berrien Springs, Mich. Carol is a homecare manager for eight hospitals with the Lakeland Homecare Management Company. She and Dennis have three children, Kristin Ivany, Kelsey, and Kyla.

Elaine (Cotie) Lobdell ’76 is living in Renton, Wash., where she is the director of the Outcomes Management Valley Medical Center. Elaine has endured

some hardships in her life including the loss of loved ones, family separations and divorces, a serious skiing accident, and two cancer scares. Through it all, Elaine has felt God’s presence and has experienced His love. The births of her four nieces have been a highlight in her life. In her free time, Elaine enjoys reading, cooking, hiking, and gardening. She has fond memories from WWC, including many wonderful classes, vespers programs, lectures, the Administration Building, dorm life, ice storms, autumn on campus, and working at the student health clinic.

Class of 1976

Esther (Simanton) Mayer ’76 and her husband, Kenneth, make their home in Freeport, Ill., where Esther is a GED instructor at Highland Community College.

She is the treasurer for her church and helps with the 4-H program. One of her most memorable WWC experiences was spending time in Tanzania as a student missionary. Esther and Kenneth have two children, Stephen and Alissa.

Chad McComas ’76 and his wife, Debi (Snyder) att., make their home in Medford, Ore. He keeps busy as the pastor of the Set Free Christian Fellowship Church and editor of The Christian Journal. Chad helped found, and is the current chair of Rogue Retreat, an addiction recovery

hiking, and tubing, as well as working with the youth at the Longmont Seventh-day Adventist Church. Versa has one son, Phillippe Flechas.

Nanci Oberg-Wolske ’76 and her husband, Ed ’69, make their home in Danville, Calif. Nanci is a teacher for the Antioch Unified School District. The couple has two daughters, Elizabeth and Natalie.

Carmella (Daniel) Phillips ’76 and ’85 and her husband, Hollibert, are retired in

Row 1 Cyndee Darby, Alice (Elder) Dettwiler, Sandra Orock, Audrey (Letniak) Miller, Dawn (Zelka) Hainey, Gail (Hentschel) Dickerson, Edward Harris Row 2 Renita Clymer, Judy Sargeant, Frank Howard, Bonnie (Tym) Corson, Janice (Forgey) Atkins, Beth (Wallace) Robison, Elaine (Wallace) Phelps, Elaine (Cotie) Lobdell Row 3 David Candler, Tom Allen, Pam (Larrabee) Duffy, Wes Kandoll, Dana Reedy, Fred Field, Keith Canwell, Betsy (Saunders) Claridge, Rick Claridge Marilyn (Dinwiddie) May ’76 and her husband, Tim ’80, make their home in Kelseyville, Calif. Marilyn spent three-anda-half school years working as a special education teacher’s aide for the Konocti School District. In June of 2005, she received her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Pacific Union College, and she plans to go on to earn her teaching credentials. Tim is currently working for Adventist Health as an imaging specialist. Marilyn mentions that her favorite WWC memories are meeting her husband, Tim, and enjoying Fort Walla Walla. The couple has two children, Andrew att. and Carrie Gordon att.

ministry. He is also the chair of DASIL, an advocacy agency for the disabled.

Chad’s WWC memories include speech classes by Loren Dickinson, staff meetings at KGTS, and Sabbath school classes. The couple has two children, Marci and Marc.

Versa (Bushey) Mooney ’76 and her husband, Robert, reside in Mead, Colo. Versa is currently the registered nurse homecare team coordinator for Longmont United Hospital. She is also working as a professor at Front Range Community College where she teaches medical terminology. She enjoys skiing,

College Place. Carmella has spent her life serving her community and has received several awards including Teacher of the Year, a Certificate of Recognition in public education, and a National Youth Leadership recognition. She was also named Best Teacher in several volumes of Who’s Who. In addition to her services in the field of education, Carmella has volunteered at Helpline and the Red Cross. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, biking, forming friendships, and reading. Carmella earned her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in education from WWC and made some fond memories while attending. Carmella and Hollibert have five children, Andi Hunsaker att., Lyndi Schwartz ’76, Philip ’79, Roger ’83, and Stephanie Mays ’86.

Lucy (Vance) Powell ’76 and her husband, Dean, live in Grandview, Wash. Lucy is a registered nurse who is currently a homemaker. She enjoys her family, flower gardening, and collecting dolls, bears, and books. Lucy and Dean have two chilSummer 2006 Westwind 25

Alumnotes dren, Benjamin and Kimberly; and one granddaughter.

friends she made, and meaningful worships in the dorm.

Mary Ann (Feise) Reinhardt ’71 is a retired teacher living in Walla Walla with her husband, Norman att. She enjoys traveling, reading, and caring for her grandchildren. She attended WWC as an older student and didn’t have the same experience as some of the younger students, but she does remember the beautiful campus and the friendly people. Mary and Norman have two children, Laura and Marty ’99; and four grandchildren.

Lynda (Farr) Skau ’71 is living in Ridgefield, Wash., where she is the assistant director for human resources at the Adventist Medical Center in Portland. After graduating from WWC, Lynda went on to earn her master’s degree from the University of Arizona. In 2002, Lynda’s husband Dennis ’71 died suddenly at home after a long downhill course with multiple sclerosis. The couple had two sons, Matthew and Drew, who died in 1998. Despite her losses, Lynda keeps busy working in her flower garden and birdwatching. “The Lord continues to provide blessings,” she says. Some of her happiest WWC memories include meeting Dennis and making trips back and forth between the Portland nursing campus and the main campus.

John Rogers ’71 and his wife, Sue (Morgan) att., make their home in College Place. John is a physician for the Columbia County Hospital District. Prior to this, he served as a physician for the Waitsburg Clinic in Washington. He recently completed his third recertification for the American Board of Family Medicine in August 2005. John notes that one of his major life-changing experiences was completing a biblical concepts in counseling course. John enjoys bird watching and is always on the lookout. The couple has two children, Tony att. and Charleen att.; and two grandchildren.

Class of 1981

including playing confusing tricks on classmates with his twin brother, learning from top-notch professors, and classes with Mrs. Rigby, Dr. “D”, and Dr. Larry Lewis. The couple has two daughters, Suzanne and Veronica.

1980s Mike Aufderhar ’86 and his wife, Brenda (Burden) ’83, make their home in Wenatchee, Wash., where Mike is the senior pastor of the Wenatchee Seventh-day Adventist Church. He has served the church as a pastor and director of conference family life ministries.

He and Brenda love to speak at marriage conferences all around the world.

They enjoy doing anything they can to help strengthen marriages and families.

Mike has a passion for leadership development and is currently working on a

Lonna (Wileman) Petsch ’76 and her husband, Daniel, make their home in

Dupont, Wash., where she works as staff nurse and glyconutrient educator.

Before she was married and after finishing the master’s in public health at Loma Linda University, Lonna worked for the Adventist Health centers in Utah and Georgia. Her true passion is doing health-related outreach, including mission trips to Thailand, Cambodia, and Romania. Music—piano and voice—has given Lonna a joyful way to express her love for Jesus. She has fond memories from WWC including the leaves in the fall, the corn roast and homemade donuts at the barn party, the wonderful 26 Westwind Summer 2006

Row 1 Mark Tessier, Iretha “Bitsy” (Phillips) Ebright, Richard Hellie, Lori Ciccarelli, Bonnie (Farver) Payne, Janet (Haraden) Baker, Mark Remboldt, Cheryl (Tan) Jacobson, Reg Maas Row 2 Lynn Boyd, Denver Lodge, Nancy (Snyder) Canwell, Twyla (Leiske) Bechtel, Deanna Davis, Garth Gryte, Teresa (Appley) Wilkens, , Carl Wilkens, June (Fearing) Saxby Row 3 James Dick, Dale Peterson, Ralph Stirling, Greg Saunders, Dennis Gaskill, Dave Saulsbury, Gregory Richmond John Trude ’76 and his wife, Irene, make their home in Springfield, Ore., where John is the receiving clerk and scheduler for Whittier Wood Products. Since graduating from WWC, John has enjoyed being involved in youth and children’s ministry.

He and Irene have spent the last eight years on the Pathfinder staff, and recently the couple became the directors of the Springfield Pathfinder club. John recalls fun memories from his time at WWC,

doctoral degree in leadership. In his free time, Mike enjoys skiing, snowshoeing, and backpacking with his family. One especially fond memory Mike has from his time at WWC was a special, secret dinner that he, Paul Richardson, and Gary Parks arranged on top of the Village Hall bell tower for their dates.

Wendy Brown-Jensen ’86 and her husband, William ’87, make their home in

Redlands, Calif., where Wendy is a resource specialist and educator for the San Bernardino City Unified School District.

In addition to her career in the school district, Wendy also teaches piano and is a marriage and family therapist. She has fond memories of her years at WWC, including the flowering trees in spring, drinking hot apple cider in the girl’s dorm lobby after vespers on Friday nights, and playing the Steinway in the music department auditorium.

Julie (Reynolds) Campbell ’81 and her husband, Terry, live in Auburn, Wash.

Julie has been a speech pathologist for 12 years and is currently working for the Auburn School District. Several years ago, she took a trip to France with her WWC roommate, Donna (Albertson) Lang, and later traveled to England and Scotland with her family. She is an active member in her local church and enjoys singing in a women’s group and in the choir, as well as playing in the church orchestra. In her free time, Julie likes to scrapbook, read, do crafts, and travel. She fondly remembers playing in the WWC Brass Ensemble and touring Poland in 1979, spending evenings with friends in Conard Hall, having late Sunday morning vegeburgers at the College Dairy, and listening to the organ music in the College Church. Julie and Terry have two children, Jonathan curr. att. and Katelyn.

Beth (Brinker) Dilts ’86 and her husband, David, make their home in Walla Walla. The couple has two children, Daniel and Dana ’93; and two grandchildren.

Camie (Brown) Dummer ’81 is living in Joseph, Ore. She is the owner of Dummer’s retail store. She has two sons, Rolie Bartlett curr. att. and Clark.

Gregory Jones ’86 and Michelle (Woodbury) Jones ’86 make their home

Alumnotes in Milpitas, Calif., where they both work for Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. Michelle is an attitude, determination and control engineer, and Gregory is an aerospace hardware engineer. Michelle and Gregory work together on design projects and proposals for LMSSC. After hours they enjoy traveling, hiking, backpacking, and motorcycling. From her time at WWC, Michelle remembers hiking with friends on Saturday afternoons, Saturday night programs, winning a prize for the most creative way to ask someone out (she wrote an infinite loop program that only ended when the answer was “yes”), and staying up all night in the computer lab to work on an assignment for Dr. Madsen and almost getting into big trouble with the dean. Gregory also has good memories from WWC, including College Bowl and Hafner House, and discussing philosophy, science, and religion with his professors.

Twilla (Farrar) Leen ’86 and her husband, Norman, are currently living in Auburn, Wash., where she works as a fiscal technician for the Early Childhood and Family Support Services department of the Puget Sound Educational Service District. One of Twilla’s fondest WWC memories is listening to the organ music in the College Church.

Randy Neff ’86 and his wife, Jackie ’86, make their home in Loma Linda, Calif., where Randy is the senior civil engineer at Kreiger & Stewart, Inc. He also plans and promotes benefit concerts for charities. For more information visit www. chartiypromotions.net. From his time at WWC, Randy remembers lunches on Sabbath afternoons and visiting with friends, several of whom are currently teaching here at WWC, including Pastor Karl Haffner, Dr. Laurel Dovich, Dr. Jim Nestler, and Dr. Bryce Cole. “WWC is lucky to have them,” he writes.

Teresa (Walde) Reich ’86 and her husband, Dan ’83, make their home in Walla Walla. Teresa is a homemaker and enjoys reading, horses, date nights with her husband, and visiting friends and family. She has taken a yearlong trip to the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic

in a sailboat, and spent a year in El Salvador as an orphanage director. These trips abroad have given her a new appreciation for home. Teresa and Dan have four children, Heidi, Ben, Kimberly, and Jennifer.

Mark Remboldt ’81 and his wife, Janette (Gimbel) att., reside in Vancouver, Wash.

Mark is the undertreasurer for the North

Class of 1986

chair of the pediatrics department. Alisha and he have three children, Jeff, Megan, and Justin.

Donna (George) Street ’81 and her husband, William, make their home in Walla Walla. Donna has spent the last 25 years working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Portland and Walla Walla districts. She also spent 18 months of service in Iraqi reconstruction. Donna has been very involved in

Row 1 Mons Jensen, Debbie (Soper) Gross, Curt Ingraham, Jenna (Johannessen) Lavaliere, Leslie (Larson) Villegas, Teresa (Graham) Panossian Row 2 John Gross, Laurel Dovich, Kevin Renshaw, Dietmar Grellmann, Mike Lambert, Jacquie (Schafer) Zuill (not pictured) Row 3 Teresa (Drazek) Wiedemann, Loren Peterson, Dave Beckner, Robyn (Cawdery) Featherston, Case Ketting Pacific Union Conference. The couple has two children, Anthony and Amy. Linda (LaFave) Seeber ’81 and her husband, Lathern, are living in Hillsboro, Ore. She is a home missionary, spending her days caring for the suffering by helping with prison ministry programs. Linda taught school for nine years and started a church school in the Sierra Nevada foothills. In her spare time she enjoys writing songs, singing, and playing the guitar and piano. Linda recalls many good memories of WWC, including meeting new friends, enjoying good programs, and getting a good education. WWC is dear to her heart.

Brian Starr ’86 and his wife, Alisha (Hurd) att., make their home in Juliet, Mont. Brian is a pediatrician at Deaconess Billings Clinic where he serves as the

her church as well, serving as a Pathfinder leader and Sabbath School teacher. In her free time she enjoys hiking, camping, cooking, and needlework.

Donna and William have two children, Ruthe and Wayne.

Dede (Elsom) Steffanson ’81 and her husband, Dwight att., make their home in College Place. Dede is the office manager for her brother’s company, Elsom Roofing, Inc. She enjoys spending time with her family, doing water sports in the summer, and snow skiing in the winter. The couple has two children, Tyler and Jordan.

Dennis Thompson ’80 and his wife, Kathy, make their home in Raleigh, N.C. Both work as registered nurses for the Duke University Health System. They were married in 2002.

1990s Pam (Dunn) Wallenfelsz ’96 and her husband, Todd ’97, make their home in Anchorage, Alaska. Pam lives a busy life including being a part-time pre-op nurse for Alaska Regional Hospital. She is also a volunteer ski patrol, full-time mom, a home school teacher, and local MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) coordinator. Each year she travels to the Bush Village as a missionary to put on the vacation Bible school program. From her time at WWC, Pam remembers the symphony, choir, small groups, friends, flying, and hiking and sledding in the Blue Mountains. Pam and Todd have two children, Kaiden and Katriona.

Jason Caton ’96 and his wife, Cami, live in Canton, Mich. Jason is currently working as an engineer for General Motors.

After graduating from WWC, he earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from George Washington University and his master’s in business administration from the University of Michigan. One of his favorite memories from WWC was the annual Engineering Egg Drop Contest. Jason and Cami have two children, Zachary and Rachael.

Shawn (Watt) Foster ’96 and her husband, Kurt’95, reside in Portland, Ore., where she is the lead designer for the Bonfire Snowboarding Company.

Erna (Sorensen) Hoover ’96 is living in College Place where she is a social worker and counselor at the YMCA in Walla Walla. She has one daughter, Connie Morgan att.

Melinda Johnson ’96 is living in Richland, Wash., where she has been working as a child mental health therapist since 1999. In addition to being a therapist, she also runs social skills programs and works intensely with youth on the autism spectrum. Prior to her therapist job, she worked as the supervisor of the children’s day program at Lourdes Counseling Center. Melinda has been awarded two major grants, the Life Skills Grant for Youth with Mental Illness and a Family Therapy Program grant.

Summer 2006 Westwind 27

Alumnotes Lauri (Marsh) Larson ’96 and her husband, Gerry ’95, live in Walla Walla, where Lauri practices family medicine at St. Mary’s Medical Center and recently started a palliative care service there. She and Gerry have three daughters, Brooklynn, Lauren, and Madilynn.

Peter McPherson ’96 and his wife, Heather (Lambie) ’03, make their home

noeing, skiing, hiking, and skijoring with their dogs. They are enjoying getting to know their community church and hope to contribute to it. Julianna has many fond WWC memories including rock climbing at Smith Rocks, hiking in

Class of 1996

Wash., where Kevin is a software engineer for Honeywell. The couple has one son, Quinn.

Tracy Schwarz ’96 and his wife, Stacy (Howland) ’98, make their home in Walla

Jereld Rice ’96 and his wife, Alina, are living in Pullman, Wash., where he is currently a student of veterinary medicine at Washington State University.

Walla, where Tracy is a hydraulic engineer for the Army Corp of Engineers. He enjoys working in the yard and raising his young daughter, Katelynn, with his loving wife.

Jodi (Stanley) Smith ’96, and her husband, Chad, make their home in in Salem, Ore. Both are teachers at Livingstone Adventist Academy. Peter is the chair of the History Department and the Athletic Director. Heather teaches sixth grade and academy art, and coaches the girls volleyball and basketball teams.

Every summer the couple works at Camp Ida-Haven, where Peter is the assistant director and head of the White-Water department, while Heather is the head of the Challenge Course. The couple enjoys being in the outdoors. Peter has fond memories from his WWC years, including meeting some of his best friends, playing sports, spending lots of time in the history department, and earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Julianna (King) Montooth ’96 and her husband, John, make their home

in rural Dillingham, Alaska. Julianna is one of 10 physicians for a hospital that serves the local town of 4,000 plus the 26 outlying villages. Her job includes everything from delivering babies to emergency care to an occasional veterinary patient. John teaches social studies, Japanese, and English at the alternative high school. The couple enjoys being outdoors and kayaking, ca28 Westwind Summer 2006

Row 1 Lana (Christensen) Ash, Kimberly (Gee) Rivas, Ted Dunker, Lance McBride, Jill (Parker) McBride, Marta (Stratton) Stone, John Stone Row 2 Teresa (Drazek) Wiedemann, Barbara (Fisher) Harvey, Mark Snow, Paul Lee, Adrian Nicolici, Beth (Kopplin) James Row 3 Matthew Michaelis, Bob Ulloa, Tracy Schwarz the Wallowas, sledding and cross country skiing in the Blue Mountains, Rosario Beach and other biology events, class discussions and cafeteria conversations, vespers, and the year she spent as a student missionary.

David Natiuk ’96 and his wife, Aletha ’96, make their home in Ridgefield, Wash., where he is the president of his own corporation. David spent seven years in Southern California doing multimedia production. During that time he edited a total of eight award-winning videos. He is currently using his multimedia design skills to create Web sites. In his spare time he enjoys playing basketball, tennis, skiing, and playing with this two boys, Trevor and Connor.

From David’s time at WWC he remembers singing in “Pirates of Penzance,” late nights editing in the Communications Lab, and spending time with Aletha while they were dating.

Kevin Pogge ’96 and his wife, Taletha (Lange) ’95, make their home in Kent,

Ron Scott ’96 and his wife, Sharri, make their home in Hubbards, Nova Scotia.

Ron is a science teacher at Sandy Lake Academy. He spent the summer of 2005 working on a committee to create a new science curriculum guide for the North American Division. He enjoys canoeing and woodworking, and plans to build his own canoe. Many of Ron’s fond WWC memories are of his time spent at Rosario Beach and in the classroom with his biology professors. Ron and his wife have two daughters, Heather and Jennifer.

Jeffery Sceville ’96 and his wife, Jodi (Swanberg) att., are dentists living in Oakdale, Calif. The couple recently took over Jodi’s father’s practice after he retired. Before moving to Oakdale, they lived and practiced dentistry in Southern California. In their free time, the couple enjoys traveling, being outside, and spending time with their new daughter, Hannah. Both have many fond memories of WWC and the great friends they made.

Portland, Ore., where Jodi is a registered nurse at the Portland Providence Medical Center where she works one day a week. She spends most of her time with her two young boys, Josiah and Elijah.

Occasionally she volunteers as a nurse at Eagle Fern Camp. In their free time, the young family enjoys hiking, biking, camping, gardening, and church activities. For over five years, Jodi and Chad have been busy working on their fixerupper house. Jodi recalls good memories of the friends she made during nursing school in Portland.

Jamie (Eichman) Wulff ’96 and her husband, Jason, make their home in Portland, Ore., where Jamie is a registered nurse at the Friendship Health Center.

Jennifer (Chittenden) Youker ’96 and her husband, Jeff, are living in Placerville, Calif. Jennifer is a teacher for the Northern California Conference. n

In Memory

Babcock—Joyce (Jorgensen) att., was born Apr. 2, 1927, in Evan, Minn., and died Feb. 8, 2006, in Medford, Ore. Surviving: husband Keith ’50 of Medford; daughters Cindy of Medford, Lisa Greer of Medford, and Linda Borg of Livermore, Calif.

Barnes—Lisa ’03 was born Aug. 3, 1963, in Chicago, Ill., and died Jan. 2, 2006, in Alberton, Mont. Surviving: husband Daniel of Frenchtown, Mont.; mother Patricia Thompson; and brother Lance Thompson.

A Man of Many Talents

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arren William Willey’s teachers told his father that all Warren had to do was put “WWW” atop any paper and he would be given an “A.” Known as a bright student, Warren excelled in many areas at his North Dakota high school, including baseball

Bigger—Forrest att., was born Mar. 23, 1921, in Roseburg, Ore., and died Nov. 19, 2005, in Walla Walla. Surviving: wife Garnet att., of College Place; sons Darold ’66 of Walla Walla, and Rick att., of Corvallis, Ore.; daughters Carolyn Evans ’69 of Laurel, Md., and Sandi Carlson att., of Everett, Wash.

Booth—Lowell ’73 was born Mar. 11, 1950, in Walla Walla, and died Feb. 13, 2006, in Clackamas, Ore. Surviving: wife Marsha (Simpson) att., of Brush Prairie, Wash.; daughters Sharla Carlson ’03 of Apple Valley, Calif., Sarah ’06 and Shari of Brush Prairie, Wash.; and sister Laurie Booth att. of Oak Harbor, Wash.

Border—Lester att., was born Jan 3, 1913, in Decatur, Ill., and died Apr. 19, 2006, in Cottonwood, Ariz. Surviving: Geraldine (Poole) ’65 of Cottonwood; daughter Sylvia Grindley of Cottonwood; and sister Geneva of Livermore, Calif.

Brown—Lorraine (Vantress) ’37 was born Apr. 3, 1915, in Union, Ore., and died Feb. 6, 2006, in Dayton, Wash. Surviving: husband, Cooper att., of Dayton; and son Ronald of Dayton.

Chellis—Allen ’56 was born Mar. 22, 1928, in Ocean Park, Wash., and died Feb. 4, 2006, in Wenatchee, Wash. Surviving: wife Lenella (Hitchman) att., of East Wenatchee, Wash.; son Eugene ’76 of Seattle, Wash.; daughter Karen att. of Seattle; and sisters Marcy Vixie of Walla Walla, Lorna Holeman att., of Long Beach, Wash., Betty Newton of Kelso, Wash., and Francis Church of Ocean Park, Wash.

Curry—Delbert ’43 and ’65 was born Nov. 6, 1918, in Flora, Ore., and died Mar. 11, 2006, in Plymouth, Calif. Surviving: wife Maeci (Poole) att., of Plymouth; sons Gary att., of Fair Oaks, Calif., Leroy of Galt, Calif., Ken of Plymouth, Gerald of Ukiah, Calif., and Homer of Mali, West Africa; brother Alex of Alabama and Bud of Orfino, Idaho; sisters Lydia Murray of Salem, Ore., Mariam of Lewiston, Idaho, and Kathy att., of Garfield, Wash.

and music. He went on to excel at WWC, serving as president of the class of 1964 and graduating with a major in chemistry. Warren was later drafted during the Vietnam War and participated in research at Walter Reed Hospital in Maryland as part of the White Coats. After the war, he earned a master’s degree in pharmacy from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

Warren and his wife, Deveena, raised three children; son Phillip and daughters Jennifer, and Heather Port. He also had two grandchildren, Hailey and Hunter.

Warren was born June 6, 1942, in Minot, N.D., and died Dec. 11, 2005, in Hendersonville, N.C.

Dawes—Anna (Allen) ’48 was born Nov. 13, 1914, in Nepal, Wash., and died May 7, 2004, in Walla Walla. Surviving: son Allen of Walla Walla; and daughter Donna Finkbiner ’74 of Jacksonville, Ore. Downer—Harold ’52 was born Nov. 22, 1919, in Billings, Mont., and died Sept.

29, 2004, in Billings. Surviving: wife Marjorie (Krieger) att., of Molt, Mont.; sons Jerry att., of Moscow, Idaho, and Roger of Wenatchee, Wash.; daughter Sonia Birnel of Chetwyn, B.C.; and sister Grace Fischer of Clifton, Tenn.

Eby—Robert ’66 was born Apr. 17, 1946, in Portland, Ore., and died Nov. 19, 2005, in Redding, Calif. Surviving: wife Sheri of Redding; sons Robert att., of Arlington, Wash., and Michael of Redding; daughter Kimberly; father Wilder ’39 of Pasco, Wash.; brothers William ’63 of Canton, Ill., and Ben ’66 of Phelan, Calif.; and sister Carol Hiort-Lorenzen ’57 of Fairfield, Calif.

Eiseman—Lela (Mannen) att., was born Nov. 23, 1920, in Rupert, Idaho, and died Mar. 16, 2006, in Spokane, Wash.

Surviving: husband Jim of Elk, Wash., son Jim ’70 of Milton-Freewater, Ore.; daughters Carolyn Janke att., of MiltonFreewater and Marolyn Wagner ’65 of Hemet, Calif.; and sister Priscilla Fuller of Twin Falls, Idaho.

Finlayson—Dean ’61 was born Dec. 5, 1935, in Milton, Ore., and died Dec. 21, 2005, in Sun City, Calif. Surviving: wife Linda att., of Sun City; son Kenneth of Temecula, Calif.; and daughter Ann Marie Finlayson-Gross of Napa, Calif.

Hartley—Kenneth ’36 was born Mar. 18, 1914, in Eagle, Idaho, and died Dec. 17, 2005, in Kennewick, Wash. Surviving: wife Althera of Kennewick; and son Ronald.

Gregg—Roger “Dean” ’58 was born Apr. 17, 1929, in Sidney, Mont., and died April.

6, 2005, in Spokane, Wash. Surviving: sons Steve ’89 of Cheney, Wash., and Jim att., of St. Louis, Mo.; daughter Mary Murphy of Eagle, Idaho; and sister Alice ’45 of Loma Linda, Calif.

Kravig—Frank att., was born June 12, 1934, in Denver, Colo., and died Oct..

13, 2005, in Yakima, Wash. Surviving: wife Alma (Lushik) ’56 of Yakima; sons Dean ’86 of Wapato, Wash., Kenton att., of Irving, Texas, and Daniel att., of Wenatchee, Wash.; and daughter Kari Novak ’83 of Yakima.

Leiske—Mary (McCartney) ’48 was born Apr. 20, 1916, in Fife, Scotland, and died July 6, 2005, in Centralia, Wash. Surviving: husband Elswerth ’50 of Chehalis, Wash.; sons Donn ’74 of Montesano, Wash., and Ken ’76 of Evans, Wash.; daughter Dot Rasmussen of Cheney, Wash.; brother John ’48 of Gresham, Ore.; and sister Anne Saunders of Aldergrove, B.C.

Summer 2006 Westwind 29

In Memory Lowe—Wanda (Provonsha) ’57 was born July 22, 1922, in Provo, Utah, and died August 18, 2006, in Portland, Ore. Surviving: husband Robert ’59; and stepdaughter JoAnn Hunter.

Molina—Brenda (Irish) ’81 was born Oct. 13, 1960, in Riverside, Calif., and died July 21, 2005, in Alma, Mich. Surviving: husband Robert att., of Alma; sons Andrew and Jordan of Alma; mother and father Gene and Barbara Irish of Fullerton, Calif.; brother Carl Irish of Cleburne, Texas; and sisters Karin Irish of Fullerton, Janene Valen of Fullerton, Susie Spiegel of Costa Mesa, Calif., and Lela Elloway of Concord, Calif.

A Servant Leader at WWC and Beyond

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f there were a club on campus that Letcher Huntington hadn’t been president of, you’d be hard pressed to find it. While at WWC, the theology major served as president of the Boy’s Club, the Paulist Sodality Club (later known as the Theology Club),

Newman—Sally (Herwick) ’38 was born June 23, 1912, in Jersey City, N.J., and died April 8, 2004, in Ketchikan, Alaska. Surviving: son Bill Lindeman ’71 of Romulus, Mich.; and daughter Kathy Harden ’68 of Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

Northouse—Darrell att., was born Jan. 26, 1960, in Emmett, Idaho, and died May 24, 2005, in Hope, Idaho. Surviving: wife Dawn of Hope; father Donald; mother Doris; brothers Raymond of Eagle, Idaho, and Todd Smith-Reese of Middleton, Idaho; and sister Shannon Fisher ’86 of Wenatchee, Wash.

Parmele—Tom ’80 was born Oct. 5, 1948, in McMinnville, Ore., and died Jan. 27, 2005, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Surviving: wife Ruby of Saskatoon; son Trevor of North Tonawanda, N.Y.; daughter Megan Field of Saskatoon; mother and father Earl and Eola of Napavine, Wash.; brothers Joe of Lincoln, Neb., and Gary of Portland, Ore.; and sister Earlene Wohlers of Chehalis, Wash.

Send information for In Memory to Westwind, College Relations, Walla Walla College, 204 S. College Ave., College Place, WA 99324; or e-mail westwind@wwc.edu.

Please include a contact phone number or e-mail address.

30 Westwind Summer 2006

Perry—Vernon ’51 was born June 5, 1923, in Enterprise, Ore., and died May 30, 2006, in Roseburg, Ore. Surviving: wife Imogene of Roseburg; sons Max ’73 of Malibu, Calif., and Mark ’77 of Vancouver, Wash.; daughter Gail Rittenbach att., of Walla Walla; brother Everett ’51 of LaQuinta, Calif.; and sister Elsie Jones att., of Milton-Freewater, Ore. Piper—Athol ’51 was born Feb. 23, 1918, in Perth, Australia, and died Oct. 27, 2005, in Victoria, B.C. Surviving: wife Kathleen of Victoria; sons Haydn ’73 of Chandler, Ariz., and Lawrence ’76 of Salem, Ore.; and daughter Frances DeVries att., of Weimar, Calif.

Reed—Earl att., was born Nov. 2, 1909, in Blachley, Ore., and died May 9, 2005, in Roseburg, Ore. Surviving: sons Thomas of Tenino, Wash., and Daniel att. of Albany, Ore.; daughter Janet Anderson att., of Snohomish, Wash.; and sisters Bessie Harris of Wapato, Wash., Elizabeth Ross of Vancouver, Wash., and Dorothy Schook of Portland, Ore.

and the Class of 1939.

Letcher spent more than 40 years pastoring in Southern India, South Africa, and Washington and Oregon. He also instructed hundreds of campers in archery at Big Lake Youth Camp.

He and wife Lizzie (McLeod) ’30, who died in 1973, had one daughter, Brooke (Huntington) Stafford ’56, who lives in Battle Ground, Wash. He also had two grandsons, Sid ’84 and Jerry Stafford att. After Lizzie’s death, Letcher married Viola WinnVipond who also resides in Battle Ground.

Letcher was born Nov. 12, 1909, in Castle Rock, Wash., and died Feb. 16, 2006, in Battle Ground.

Schutz—Wes “Myron” ’56 was born Dec. 12, 1933, in Caldwell, Idaho, and died May 12, 2006, in Berrien Springs, Mich. Surviving: wife Joan ’56 of Berrien Springs, Mich.; daughters Kari of Collegedale, Tenn., Debra of Aurora, Colo., and Julie Duncan of Beaverton, Ore.; and sisters Carol ’60 of Ola, Idaho, and Myrna Long ’64 of Prineville, Ore. Silvestri—Gerald att., was born May 1, 1963, in Enumclaw, Wash., and died Oct. 15, 2000, in San Bernadino, Calif. Surviving: wife Annie of Grants Pass, Ore.; son Jonathan of Grants Pass; daughter Kate of Grants Pass; father and mother John and Anita (Anderson) att., of Vancouver, Wash.; and brother Richard ’83 of Rocklin, Calif.

Stoneberg—William att. was born June 3, 1950, in Eugene, Ore., and died Apr. 9, 2006, in Salem, Ore. Surviving: wife Kathryn of Salem; son Thomas; daughters Kristin, Carissa, and Anna; brothers Newt, Neal, and Wallace; and sisters Karen, DeeAnne Workhoven, and Sara Henry.

Tosk—Tammy (Carlin) att., was born April 8, 1961, in Riverside, Calif., and died April 25, 2005, in Auburn, Wash. Surviving: mother and father Mary att., and Keith Carlin of Walla Walla; and sisters Cathy of Walla Walla and Patty Wright att., of Milton-Freewater, Ore. Wiggins—Arlene (Reiswig) att., was born Jan. 1, 1937, in Everett, Wash., and died Dec. 10, 2004, in Omar, Wash. Surviving: husband Al ’66 and ’75 of Omak, Wash.; son Brent of Milton-Freewater, Ore.; daughters Cindy Stanphill of Winston, Ore., Donna Stafford att., of Eureka, Mont., and Elaine of Slingerlands, N.Y.; brother Ken Reiswig of Bend, Ore., and sister Bernita Burton of Shallotte, N.C.

Kristi Spurgeon

From My Point of View

I Found My Calling In the Firehouse

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ver since I was a little boy I had dreamed about two things. The first was to be a minister. The second was not to lose my hair like my dad.

When I was 18 and fresh out of high school, I enrolled in the School of Theology at Walla Walla College, trying to hold on to at least one of my dreams. During my third year in college, I thought I was answering His call for my life. However, I still had the nagging feeling that something was missing. My grades were not the best. I was out of money. And no matter how hard I tried, Hebrew just didn’t click.

But one part of my life was clicking. At the fire station where I had volunteered since my freshman year, I discovered I had a knack for staying calm during emergencies. My skills and instincts grew more attuned to what was happening around me and I found satisfaction in knowing I had fought the good fight and touched someone in a personal way. I started saying no to other activities because I did not want to miss out on a fire or a medical call.

I was spending more and more

Do You Have Something to Say? Our new column, “From My Point of View,” will feature essays written by alumni. If you are interested in submitting an essay for consideration, visit westwind.wwc.edu for more information.

time at the fire station, learning all I could. I was discovering a passion for humanity and a way I could make the world around me a better place. I finally found my own way of living the Gospel.

In the years since the dream for my life changed and I have become a professional firefighter, I have discovered that a fire department is like no other organization.

You’ve seen it dramatized on television and the movies, but unless you work in a fire department, it’s difficult to understand.

How do I explain it? Let’s say you decide to move to a new place in a state or country where you don’t know a soul. You research the area, buy a house, and then pick up your life and move to your new home. The instant you arrive you discover that everyone there wants to be your friend. No matter where you are people invite you into their homes for lunch. They show you where they keep their most valuable treasures and want to know where you keep yours.

People in this new place are instantly your friends, whether they work with you or socialize with you. You trust them fully, with your life and the life of your family. The fire service is like this. Your fellow firefighters are your second family, and sometimes like your first. We eat together, play together, and work together on duty and off. It is a group of people who become your best friends because you trust them with your life.

Several months after 9/11, I visited New York City and Ground

Zero. I had always been told how unfriendly New Yorkers are. However, I was surprised that everyone went out of his or her way to be nice to my buddy and me. When we visited Ground Zero, we simply showed our identification and the police guided us past the barricades and into the restricted area. We were allowed to stand at the edge and look down into the crater of debris. We were allowed to stand next to our New York brothers and sisters—to be there when the remains of a fallen hero was recovered from the wreckage.

There are no words to describe the emotion we shared.

Later, we happened upon a fire station on one of the side streets away from the devastation. The station members were interested in where we were from and invited us to have lunch with them.

These were men and women who had responded on that ill-fated day. They had lost, they had cried, and they invited us in. As we sat to eat, the bells went off and we stood to leave. The station officer looked at us and told us to stay put, that they would be back soon.

Trust, loyalty, compassion, and family, from people we didn’t know, from people in an unfamiliar place. And we were taken in and accepted like family. I have never experienced this type of acceptance in any other environment.

It can be difficult to find that level of belonging, just as it can to find your calling in life. As for me, I found both in the fire house. n

David Winter, who attended WWC from 1990 to 1994, lives in College Place.

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College Avenue Crossings

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Westwind

Walla Walla College 204 S. College Ave. College Place, WA 99324-1198

Bryan Aulick and Brandon Witzel

pirited music and lively conversation filled popular downtown eatery Merchants during Homecoming Weekend’s young alumni event.

A Wednesday night tradition for many students, Spaghetti Night made its debut as a Saturday evening Homecoming event last year.

More than 120 young alumni—those who graduated between 1995 and 2005—and friends enjoyed pasta, musical stylings by student jazz group the Tyson Haynes Project, and an art show by Rebekah Fandrich, a 2005 art graduate. n

Nonprofit Org. US Postage PAID College Place, Wash.

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