50-Year
Class of 1957
Reunion dates ― May 25 & 26, 2007
March 2007
Dear Classmates,
Well, we finally had a good old fashioned snow storm here in
We were supposed to have a big day-long retreat at Normandale
Lutheran Church on February 24, but because of the snowstorm, we didn’t get the
program or the lunch, but we did have our ’57 meeting—Buddy Peterson, Vada
(Peterson) and Denny Carlson,
and Clem and I. I want to go on record as saying we are going
to have a GREAT reunion. Everybody has
done such a tremendous job. We kind of
wrapped things up so all will be ready and waiting on Friday, May 25 when we
descend upon the campus. We got our
business finished and were on our way home by
I am getting many positive messages about our “guest writers.” I really think it is fun. I have a few more to send along this
time. Remember, only about three more
letters to go before the reunion. We
would love to put your memory in one.
Just send them to me snail mail:
Before I add the letters from four more of you—I will add
some of the class news I have been holding.
Carole Swanson Minor
works about four days a week at her office at the CIA. She is now working across the agencies and
with Negri Ponti, the UN ambassador. She
has two car seats in the back seat of her car for two grandchildren whom she
enjoys.
David Pearson was
in an engineering program while at Gustavus, so was only there for two
years. He now lives on
Glenn Leaf is now
serving as interim pastor in
Dave Borg and wife, Evie (Johnson ’56) celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by taking their whole family on a Caribbean Cruise last August. Both are active as volunteers in their church.
Phyllis Fox Paulson
and husband, Don, are planning to go on a mission trip this month of February
with a group from their church. They are
going to a base camp in Chuburna Puerto, a gulf coast village north of
Judy Anderson Tucker
takes dancing lessons and dances with the Sun City Dance Co. She also marches with a drill team. Her teacher is a former NY City Rockette and
they dance on the
Roger Lund and
wife, Connie (Ostrom ’59) have become directors of Capitol Healing Rooms,
Marlaine Barlau Gnan is farming 10 acres by herself. Her husband, Earl, died five years ago. Every time she cuts the grass it takes her nine hours! Wow! Much of that grass was used for grazing the cows until they quit milking in ’98.
Roger Dahlin and
his wife, Bev, went to an Elderhostel on “The Splendor of Rome.” They did volunteer pastoral interim during
Advent and Christmas at Cross and
Bernie Anderson Galvin
is involved in fundraising for the local Red Wing theater. She sings in the City of
Ron Berg is working out and getting in good shape for the reunion. (Oh my—you will look too good! Ha!) He is still swimming.
Bill Lorette has
been a district court judge in
Connie Wold Rome
and husband, Dick, live in
Jo Spooner Lundblad
has just finished up a design project in
Marian Hennix Gabel
is living in
Emily Backlund Cole
is an organist at
Claudia Christianson
Nimrichter says she loves life in
Bob Wahman went
to
Anton Throldahl
hopes to come to our Saturday luncheon.
He is on kidney dialysis three days a week, has six children, and 14
grandchildren who are all WAY above average.
He credits his excellent education at Gustavus for affording him two
very good jobs—the first with U.S. Steel and the second with Green Giant in
LeSueur. He and his wife now live in
I have a few more, but they will have to wait for another
letter. This one is getting way too
long. Be sure to make your plans to come
to the reunion. Then you can catch up
with all your classmates in person.
Now, we have letters from Eve Orfanidou Wincel, Marcia
Halgren Dale, John “Buddy” Peterson,
and Phyllis Holmberg Olsson. Thanks to all of you. Remember, the rest of you, send me a
letter! Ha!
Marlys Mattson Nelson
1957 Co-class Agent
Memories
~by Eve Orfanidou Wincel
It is hard to believe that almost 53 years ago I left
Thessoloniki, Greece and came to Minnesota wearing sandals and short sleeves…it
didn’t take me long to get into fur boots and a warm winter coat that was given
to me out of the “unclaimed lost and found” box.
In my wildest dreams I could never have imagined that human
beings could survive in such a cold
climate! You see in
I survived it by the grace of God without getting sick
because in my heart, I felt I was living in a tropical climate due to the love,
kindness, and hospitality I received from all the students, professors, and
staff at Gustavus!
My memories at Gustavus are so many that I would need to
write a book with all of them. They are
all equally important and played a big role in my career as a mother,
substitute teacher, and school social worker.
Gustavus opened the door to opportunity for me in many areas
and I feel very grateful. Thank you so
much each and everyone of you for everything and most of all—for being you!
God Bless you!
With sincere love,
Eve
(Evdoxia) Orfanidou Wincel
Memories of Gustavus
~by
Marcia Halgren Dale
Many highlights from my years at Gustavus can be summed up
in the following quotations:
1) “This
is plagiarism, Miss Halgren! Cite your
sources!”
2) “What
happened during the Mozart, dear?”
3) “They’re
not married, and they’re living together!”
4) “An
A on your final? Dans tes reves!” (Translation: In your dreams!)
5) “
6) “Mr.
Berglund?”------“Here!”
7) “Stop! Stop!
The trumpets are flat!”
8) “Don’t
look at me… It was Roger D.”
9) “Hark,
hark―a yellow-bellied sapsucker!”
10) “Hang
on―the brakes are gone!”
11) “How now, wool-sack, what mutter you?!”
Bibliography:
1) Alexis,
Gerhard, PhD.; ENG-321: American Literature; Fall 1955
2) Pehrson,
Ethel; MUS: Piano 222;
Spring 1956
3) Dahlquist,
Marlys; BEST,
4) Lind,
Dean Melva; FRE-361 French Prose, Fall 1956
5) Wahlstrom
(or was it Rundstrom?) Suitemates;
Spring 1955
6) Reusch,
Richard, PhD; REL-115: World Religions. And from outside a classroom window,
Berglund, Jon. Spring 1957
7) Falck,
Myron; MUS: Band 165;
Winter 1955
8) Halgren,
Marcia; MUS: Band 165;
Winter 1955
9) Hartson,
Louis; PS-232; Social Psychology; Spring 1956
10) Halgren,
Marcia: en route down the hill to the B
& M Grill; Fall 1954
11) Alexis,
Gerhard, PHD; ENG-337: Shakespeare;
Henry IV, Part 1; Winter 1956
P.S. I have one
lasting regret; I always meant to call Dr. Alexis to tell him how much I
appreciated the lessons he taught me.
But I waited too long, and then it was too late.
Tak sa mycket,
Dear Classmates,
Wow—50 years! I
remember arriving on campus with my brother, Lowell, for the start of football season. It was great to be on campus early and have a
feeling of belonging with the football team.
All through the years I’ve felt a unique camaraderie with these
teammates wherever we meet.
Roger (
Being a farm kid from a large family, enrolling at Gustavus
was a real stretch. I remember quite
clearly not knowing if I could return for my junior year. The money I’d made building silos that summer
wasn’t going to cover it. I drove to
Junior year, Ozzie Anderson and I lived in that unusual Fieldhouse
accommodation known as the “Rat’s Nest’, a windowless 6 x 8 bunkroom high up in
the Fieldhouse, in exchange for being the security team. Then, that spring, Gus and Evelyn (Sponberg
’33) Young were helping recruit staff for
So another pitch for money—help some kid struggling to get a
college education. They’ll be forever
grateful. Open your dusty wallet and
give!
I do have one big regret—being one of the Phi Alph “pigeon”
pledges. About 20 of us participated—and
only five took the consequences. Hey,
now is the primetime for the rest of you to clear your conscience with a
sizeable dollar pledge.
Gustavus has been and will always be such a special place to
me. To quote Moose Malmquist ’53—“This
small college who loved us, cared about us, educated us, then
sent us on our way safe in the knowledge of God’s Grace.”
It is always a thrill to meet old Gustavus friends. See you May 25th!
John “Buddy” Peterson
1957
Guest Letter Writer
Dear Classmates,
Before long we will gather on the hill to celebrate our 50th
anniversary. It doesn’t seem possible
that it has been that long since we graduated and that we could possibly be of
such an age! I was thrilled to be able
to go to the same college that my father attended as well as my uncle and aunt.
I, however, was the only student who arrived on campus with
my mother and we both stayed. Other
parents went home, but mine remained—as the head resident in Wahlstrom
Hall—while I moved into one of the sections in the dorm. It was exciting to meet our section mates as
we all tried to figure out where we could put everything in those small
rooms. However, making new friends and
learning to live together was the beginning of four wonderful years at
Gustavus.
Campus life was so much more than I anticipated. The challenge of taking classes as an
underclassman from professors that made us stretch our thinking such as Dr.
Alexis or Dr. Winfield helped prepare me for the following years. I had the opportunity to work in the social
work office and have many informal discussions with the profs—for which I got
paid! I remember Mary Alice Erickson
introducing herself in one o f the classes by stating her name, that she was
the wife of Dr. Erickson, Chairman of the English Department and that they had
two daughters, both of the same sex.
Chapel was a welcome part of most days—and for some it meant
a chance to catch a quick catnap—no names mentioned. How exciting it was to attend football and
basketball games, which was a grand part of college life—even making a couple
of trips to the Kansas City Tournaments.
Gustavus gave me an opportunity to participate in many different phases
of college life and to develop life-long friendships which I will always
cherish. I look forward to seeing many
of you in May.
Phyllis Holmberg Olsson
1957 Guest Letter Writer