50-Year
Class of 1957
Reunion dates ― May 25 & 26, 2007
April 2007
Dear Classmates,
The time before our 50th class reunion is growing
shorter. I sure hope you are planning to
attend. I said that to one of our
classmates not too long ago. I also
asked her if she realized that this will be the last reunion that our
class will be having. Oh yes, we will become
members of the 50-Year Club and as
such will be invited to attend a reunion every year on graduation weekend, but
it will not be the same. Please, do try
to come for one of the days anyway.
Another reason would be this—recently we have lost another
classmate that I know of—Bob Sotebeer. Bob is survived by his wife, Mardelle
(Dahlquist ’58) and their three children.
Also, the spouse of another classmate—Beth Carlson Helgoe’s husband, Burnett, died. We extend our sympathies to their
families. That is happening all too
often. On the Friday of our reunion, we
will be having a memorial service and the names of all the classmates that have
died will be read. It will be a very
meaningful service.
I am still getting “memories” from classmates. If you hurry, you may still get in on the
fun. I may be able to get one more
letter in before our reunion.
Remember—you can email me at: marlys@apimixing.com or send it to me
snail mail at:
Dick Gastler Memories
Remember Thy Task
I was probably the last student of the class of ’57 to
enroll. A week before school, my family
took me down old #169 to St. Peter. My
lateness was of some advantage since I was given the last room in Johnson
Hall. My roommate, Loren Rumpza came from
He was pushed or carried to wherever he needed to go. Probably my worst memory of G.A. was Monday mornings when two of us had to carry John up the stairs to Old Main third floor. So many Gusties helped John that it didn’t seem as if there was any problem until our junior year.
Our first two years were spent in Johnson Hall which was not the most convenient, but was bearable. Our junior year we hit the big time, the New Dorm (now Sorenson Hall). No more down a hill and up two flights of stairs. Now, only one low curb from the street and the first floor was John’s home. EXCEPT, John couldn’t make the turn to get into the toilet stalls. For a few days we took him on his sanitary journey to Myrum field house. When we approached the campus engineer with a request to take off one of the doors, we got the reply “You want to take a door off OUR NEW DORM?” I took that to mean no.
I finally got up the nerve to write a note to President
Carlson ’30. I was called to his office
to verify the facts. Dr. Carlson thanked
me very sincerely for making this situation known to him. Within a day, the offending door was removed.
John went on to graduate in business, and immediately became
the head of the business office in
In my years with John, I never heard him utter a discouraging
word. In some ways I learned more about
real life from him than I learned in the classroom annex.
I was married the year after graduation, and taught the rest
of my life. I have three grown
daughters, all in education life work.
My second marriage produced Dan, who is 24 and in his third year of
graduate school at
God has been good to me, and one of his great blessings has
been Gustavus and the people I knew there.
Ellen Anderson Jacobson Memories
To Classmates of the Gustavus Class of 1957:
The fall of ’55 found me at Gustavus as a junior transfer
student from
It was really strange going to college knowing absolutely no
one. My heart ached for old friends
during the first few days when everyone else had friends to greet and reminisce
with. It wasn’t long and I met and made
new friends.
Gustavus gave me much enjoyment for the two years I was
there. I met my husband of almost 48
years, Weldon Jacobson ’59, as he was enrolling at Gustavus after three years
in the Army. The ten weeks of student
teaching in
I had always wanted to teach kindergarten, but with
transferring colleges, not all credits were accepted towards my major. To complete the courses needed in the two
years, I took correspondence courses and of course, summer school. I did teach first grade for a few years. In 1970, I returned to Gustavus to get my
kindergarten certification. I taught
kindergarten until I retired in 1989.
Ruth Swanberg Sanders Memories
Wow! Fifty years
since I left my small home town and traveled to St. Peter to attend Gustavus
where I didn’t know a soul, but I was put in Wahlstrom Hall where freshman were
twelve to a section, instead of the six for which it was designed.. You get to know a bunch of girls and how to
get along together, fast, which was good.
You also have a bit of confusion, when you have five girls from
Gustavus was a pretty campus with all the trees and the
beautiful view across the river. I
remember in the fall that the big maple trees were absolutely awesome. The other side of the river was awash with
color at that time and made you appreciate God’s handiwork. It was hard to see the devastation to the
campus after the tornado hit a few years back and of course that forced some
changes on campus because of damage to buildings. Though the task was huge, Gustavus people
were undaunted. Many willing hands joined
the effort to restore and improve, and campus life went forging ahead as usual.
Gustavus has had many talented administrators, professors
and support staff who pushed and encouraged students to develop their many
talents to the utmost. It is great to
attend programs or visit places where Gustavus grads have made or are continuing
to use their talents and knowledge to help their fellow man. We have been back to enjoy events on campus
including some Nobel conferences, and find it stimulating and enjoyable to be
in the Gustavus environment. Reunions
have been fun and the 50th class reunion last year, which I could
attend, being the spouse of a ’56 grad, was well planned and absolutely
great. I have no doubt that our talented
class will produce an equally great, if not superior, reunion. I had tears when we graduated because I know
that the class as it existed then would never be able to all be together again,
but I do hope those of you who are able to travel back, will attend, so we can
renew our friendships with each other, remember the times there, and celebrate
the fact that we were blessed with a great gift when we were able to attend
Gustavus.
CAMPUS NEWS
Alumni Awards
Announced
The Alumni Association announces the following 2007 awards
selected by the Alumni Board of Directors.
Greater Gustavus Award – Given
to those who, by deed, have notably advanced and aided
Distinguished Alumni Citations – Recognizes outstanding and exceptional professional achievement
Paul Peterson ’94,
principal, St. Peter High School, Minnesota State High School Principal of the
Year.
Margaret Anderson
Kelliher ’90, house speaker, Minnesota House of Representatives.
First Decade Awards – Recognizes early professional achievement
Jennifer Pleuss
Spande ’97, diplomat, Political and Economic Section, U.S. Embassy,
Alexander Hill ’97, senior scientist, Medtronic, Inc.
The Greater Gustavus Award and Distinguished Alumni
Citations will be presented at the Alumni Banquet on Saturday, May 26, and the First
Decade Awards will be presented during Homecoming Weekend, October 13.
Energy Wars
Linnaeus Symposium
Celebrates Birth of Carl Linnaeus
In celebration of the 300th anniversary of the
birth of Carl Linnaeus, the Swedish botanist who established genus/species used
today, Gustavus will host its second Linnaeus Symposium: Linnaeus @ 300
on
Upcoming Alumni
Events
Linnaeus Symposium - April 25
Gustavus Association of Congregations – April 28
MAYDAY! Peace Conference: Community Food Security - May 2
Celebrating 75 years of the Gustavus Choir - May 5
Celebrating
75 years of Theatre Reunion -
May 11-12 <gustavus.edu/alumni/reunion/Theatre/index.cfm>
Class of 1962 - 45th Anniversary
Class of 1957 - 50th Anniversary
50 Year Club
CLASS NEWS
I have some other class news that I will add now.
Mary Ellen Rockwell
Johnson has three children. She and
her husband, Stephen, took a three-week motorcycle trip to
Barbara Jungas Loewen
and husband Lee, travel with a fifth-wheel trailer in the winter. They have four grandchildren. Their son, Randy, works with Toro in
Windom. Robyn Loewen ’84 is a pediatric
dentist in
Gaylene Carlson Drew
and husband, Bill, celebrated their 50th anniversary in October.
Bob Wahman and
wife, Sharon, are planning on coming to our reunion. They enjoy traveling, their lake place and
grandkids. In February, they went to
I have a couple of phrases I wonder if you remember—how
about “FENDER SKIRTS” or “CURB FEELERS”
or “STEERING KNOBS” I think I heard them
called KNECKERS KNOBS.” Do you remember
“Continental Kits?” They were rear
bumper extenders and spare tire covers that were supposed to make any car as
cool as a Lincoln Continental. And do
you remember the “foot feed?” I sure
do. And I loved to ride on the running
board. I think we still had those at
Gustavus.
I sure hope you’re making plans to come to Gustavus in May
for our 50th reunion.
See you then!
Marlys Mattson Nelson
1957 Co-class Agent