Class of 1957
January 2008
Dear Classmates,
Happy New Year! Ours
was actually cold with lots of snow―the way things are supposed to be in
I had an email from Alumni Director, Randall Stuckey today
that reminded me that I had better get going.
Also, I read obituaries, and today there was another one that I know
―and so do you. Jan Neidt Bjorling
’58 died on January 4. She fought cancer
for several years and she finally lost.
We will all miss her in her wonderful store, Swedish Kontur, that she
and her husband, Anders ’58, ran in St. Peter.
We did not get down to Christmas in Christ Chapel this year,
but reports said it was very good. I did
go to St. Lucia Day. I always tell you
how much fun it is, but this year was really something special.
Many friends were there as well, but when I start naming
names, I know I will miss someone, please forgive me in advance―Sharon Johnson Eddy was there (Her
daughter was St. Lucia at Gustavus too―Sharon said she couldn’t even get
there that day because there was a horrendous snowstorm!). I also saw John “Buddy” and Nancy (Johnson ’58) Peterson, and from some other classes
Diana Pool Scheff ’55, Pat Johnson Hall ’55, Janet Ford Schramm ’55, Joan Bonn
Wright ’55, Marlys Johnson Johnson ’58, and my mind has quit working. The program was fun. Brian Wicklund, (a Gustie ’87) whose father
was registrar at Gustavus, brought his wife, Cynthia Anderson Wicklund (a
Gustie ’87) and their three children and they put on a great show of fiddle playing,
banjo playing, clogging, singing, and more.
He related that, yes, he had been a Lucia “star boy” in his time. Really, if you have never been, it is a very
nice day. We already know that actor/playwright,
Kevin Kling ’79 will be next year’s entertainment. The date is always the first Thursday after the
first weekend of December.
Clem and I went down to St. Peter in December for the
celebration of Hildur Anderson Swenson’s 100th birthday party! Turns out she is an aunt of Gary Gustafson and he was there
too. He looked so good. Could not even tell how sick he had been at
the time of our 50th reunion!
If I can be like Hildur at 100 (she is also a Gustie, class of 1930) it
would be great. She still lives in her
own home!!
Since our reunion, both Glenn
and Lois (Larson) Mauston have
had health problems, but I am happy to report that both are on the mend. Maybe we will see them in four years at our
55th!
The first part of November, Clem and I went to a retirement
party for Bill Johnson.
It was a very nice affair.
Bill looked like he was ready to strap on the hockey skates and take
off!! He is recuperating nicely. I don’t mind telling you that it is very
strange to have a different guy messing around in my mouth! Ha!
I don’t know how many of you remember a fellow named Charlie
Anderson. He was from the class of ’51
but spent some time on campus when we were freshman helping Dick Brubacher ’54 with
freshman football―I think. Anyhow,
he was a very shirttail relative of Clem’s so we went to the funeral. What fun.
There were so many Gusties there.
We started talking to the couple in front of us in line for lunch―it
was Earl Leaf―Glenn’s brother―but
when he said he thought he knew me―I told him, “yes, you recruited me for
GAC and had dinner at my Mom’s dining room table!” How about that!!! I have not seen him since, that I know
of. I also saw Barb Blomquist Carlson who lived in my section our freshman year. She was Charlie’s first cousin. I knew that and was kind of looking for
her. It was fun to catch up.
Nancy Reiter Grimes
and Vada Peterson Carlson had a
wonderful trip to
Beverly Bloomquist
Todaro and husband, Joe, have completed their move to the state of
Arne Walker sent
us some photos of our reunion. He and
his wife, Connie, had really enjoyed it.
So much that they were planning to come back for Christmas in Christ
Chapel and bring a grandchild too. Are
you “brainwashing” to get another Gustie in the family? Ha!
Anyhow, I told him that he will have to report about this year’s
celebration.
The following news was sent from the Alumni Office. As you can see―we need lots more, or
you just have to read my ramblings!
HELP!
Ramona Lovold
Hawkinson has retired from teaching.
It was great to see you at the reunion Mona, but you didn’t stay very
long! Mary Kendall Dick has retired, but she continues to teach private
voice and she coaches barbershop quartets and I think does some work with
choruses too. She just doesn’t direct
City of
Okay—that’s it! Oh
well! If my friends won’t mind, I will
share some of the news I received via Christmas cards. (You can bawl me out later!!!)
It was fun getting so many pictures of 50th
wedding anniversary celebrations this year.
Many of us did that this year.
Gary and Joyce Kirkvold Knoll celebrated with
family. This year they have begun a new
venture―they are part of the “kinship program” in which they mentor a
young Native American boy named Tyrell.
He has no parents and lives in a Foster Home. Knolls try to spend one day a week with him
and also find group activities with him.
Ann Russell Johnson has moved into a new house in
My old “roomie” Phyllis
Holmberg Olsson just can’t retire!
She is still working part-time for the
Barbara Carlson Glenzinski
comes to our church once in awhile because her daughter is a member. She promises to wave at me as Clem and I sing
in the choir. Marilyn “Marcy” Rhyne Herr just had another grandchild. She has just become president of the local
tennis club. (I wish I were
coordinated!)
Well friends, that concludes the saga for this time.
I am BEGGING on my hands and knees—PLEASE SEND US SOME NEWS!!! I’m including my email so it really won’t be so hard!
Your classmate―looking for news,
Marlys
Mattson Nelson
1957 Co-class Agent
Greetings Classmates—
It is cold in
Marlys has taken care of the news that was sent in to
Gustavus. I can glean a few tidbits from
Christmas letters and will share them with you.
Marlys told you about Beverly Bloomquist Todaro’s move to the
state of
Carol Rylander Farrell celebrated her 50th
wedding anniversary with husband, Jim, with a motor coach and train tour of
French Canada. She also cheered hard and
her
During our class reunion, I talked with “Buddy Pete” about an article that was in a historical book about the Chisago area. He sent me a copy of the paragraph that talked about his relatives and their journey to Gustavus. It is very interesting and I am reproducing it for your enjoyment.
The fall of 1899 saw eight young men
from the
Those prices are even cheaper than when we were at GAC! Thanks, Buddy, for sharing with us. Have a wonderful winter season wherever you happen to be.
Nancy Reiter
Grimes
1957 Co-class Agent
Campus News
Forensics Team
Continues Excellence
The Gustavus forensics team continues the tradition of excellence, with major team and individual wins this season. Last season the team ranked in the top 20, which is impressive since 14 of the top 20 schools are “Division I” schools that have more funding and more coaching staff. While many schools have several full-time forensics coaches, the Gustavus coach also is a full-time professor. So a unique aspect of the Gustavus program is the team meets weekly for peer coaching, a technique the team has found to be very successful.
Gustavus Dancing With
the Profs
Inspired by the popular television show Dancing with the Stars, a standing room only crowd of students, faculty, and St. Peter community members filled Alumni Hall on November 2 to watch Gustavus students and faculty/staff members swing dance to raise money for the St. Peter United Way. The event, “Dancing with the Profs 2,” featured six teams of one Gustavus student and one faculty/staff member. In preparation for the evening competition, the Gustavus Swing Club gave the teams dance lessons, while members of GAC-TV documented the learning to provide a video showcase on each couple.
Alumni Insurance Programs
The Alumni Association sponsors insurance products for alumni, spouses, children, and parents. Products include life insurance, auto, home and renters insurance, and short-term medical insurance to fill temporary needs of new alumni without insurance after graduation and others who may have gaps due to unemployment. For information about life and short-term medical insurance, call 800-635-7801. For information about auto, home, and renters insurance, call: 800-524-9400, (800-328-0705, ext. 552 in the Greater Twin Cities area).
Gustavus Music
Showcase
The three international touring music ensembles at Gustavus Adolphus College — The Gustavus Choir, the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra, and the Gustavus Wind Orchestra — will perform at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 9 at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. Tickets for the concert are on sale through the Orchestra Hall box office and may be purchased in-person, online at: www.minnesotaorchestra.org/boxoffice/, and via fax or phone at 612-371-5656. Tickets are $22 for adults and $12 for children ages 6-18 and current Gustavus students with a valid I.D.
College Relations
blog
Gustavus College Relations staff has introduced a new blog
that will offer commentary and news on a variety of topics pertinent to the
campus community as well as some photography, video, and audio content. During the month of January the blog will
feature the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra’s
Athletics
Men's tennis coach Steve Wilkinson has been named the
national winner of the United States Tennis Association (USTA)/Intercollegiate
Tennis Association (ITA) Campus Recreation Award. This awards program, which began in 2003, was
open to more than 2,000 ITA head and assistant coaches at the NCAA Divisions I,
II, and
Upcoming Alumni Events
Gustavus Gathering in Phoenix/Sun City, AZ - Jan. 20
Gustavus Gathering in
For more information on alumni events, go to: gustavus.edu/alumni/events