Class of 1958
February 2007
Dear ’58ers,
Only those of you who live or stay for the winter in these
northern climes can enjoy/suffer/understand a classic Minnesota
snowstorm. It can be wonderful and
frustrating at the same time.
News from classmates:
SUSAN ELAM O’CONNOR has begun violin lessons
after a hiatus of many years. “A new
(old) violin and a French bow have made playing sheer joy. My instructor is the concert master of
Symphony New Brunswick.”
JIM EDMAN is into
birding, as am I, and has traveled to Alaska,
Costa Rica,
southeast Arizona and even back
to Minnesota looking for birds to
add to his list. He said only the Minnesota
birds can sing in Norwegian! By the way,
Jim, there is now a birding club at Gustavus.
BARBARA JENSEN OLSON
has five beautiful grandchildren (aren’t they all), three boys and two girls,
ages eight months to four years. Andrea
Busch ’06, granddaughter of CHUCK BUSCH,
graduated from Gustavus this past spring.
SHIRLEY LUNDGREN KANNE is
retired and living in Bloomington. PAT
(TRENCH) and DUANE ROSENBERG welcomed the arrival of their
third grandchild and first granddaughter.
I am sorry to report the loss of two classmates: MARLENE
GASTLER PETERSEN passed away last August in Owen,
WI.
Marlene had been a social worker, day care center director and
elementary school aide. She is survived
by three children and their families. DAVID WAGNER died on December 3 after
many years of battling MS. Dave, one of
my former college roommates, had been a pastor and high school counselor. He was very active in retirement as a stained
glass artist and many of his works are in Marshfield,
WI.
He is survived by his wife, Darlene, and three children and their
families. Our
sympathies as well, to KAREN HOLMEN
HUBBARD on the loss of her brother, Bobby ’59 earlier this month.
Thanks to those of you who have contributed to one of the
Gustavus funds since the last class letter.
Again, at the risk of missing someone, thanks to the following:
BILL BINGER, NOEL BEHNE, LEE ANDERSON, WESTEN
ANDERSON, JAN (NEIDT) and ANDERS BJORLING, PAUL BORG, BETH CHOI, MIKE DALE, DICK EKLUND, LOREN HERBST,
ELLWOOD JOHNSON, MARLYS JOHNSON JOHNSON, SHIRLEY LUNDGREN
KANNE, STAN LARSON, RUTH RAARUP MITCHELL, BARBARA JENSEN OLSON, PAT TRENCH ROSENBERG, CAROLYN LUND SANDVIG, DICK SODERGREN, SONYA (HARBO) and DUANE
TALUS, CHUCK BUSCH, KAY JACOBSON CARLSON, DICK JAMESTON, MERYL NELSON JESSEN, ROBERTA
WALKER LORENO, MARJORIE McKAY MILLER,
MARTHA TELLEEN PETERSON, NANCY JOHNSON PETERSON, and LENIDA JEPSON SANDAHL. Thanks to all of you!
If your name is not listed and you have given, let me
know! If you have not given, there is an
easy way to add your name to the class of 1958 donors!
BETH CHOI, widow
of classmate CHANGIK CHOI, writes
that her grandson, Sam, is at age 10, following his grandfather’s interest in
playing soccer. LENIDA JEPSON SANDAHL lives in Stillwater
and volunteers at Bethesda Hospital
and works on the archives committee. The
History Center
opened in 2005. BILL and MARLYS BINGER
have a grandson, Benjamin, who is a sophomore at Gustavus. As an old admissions person, I love to see
these legacies continue! Bill and Marlys
continue their art and volunteer activities.
A group of women in our class gathered last summer in Stillwater
to celebrate their 70th birthdays and remember their days at
Gustavus. Laughter, memories, times of
catching up, stories and more laughter were all part of the celebration. A group photo will be in the spring Quarterly, having
missed the deadline for the winter issue.
Some of the group traveled to the campus for a tour and a luncheon with
President Peterson. Among those
attending were: NORI HEINE BECKER, RUTH LIND
CHRISTENSON, BARB BENNETT
CHRISTOPHERSON, MARTHA BANKE CURTIS,
HEATHER PETERSON DAVIS-PEABODY, CAROLYN CLOGSTON ENGQUIST, KAREN HOLMEN HUBBARD, MARCIA AMUNDSON JANASZ, LOIS WALFRID JOHNSON, MARLYS JOHNSON JOHNSON, JEANETTE WESTBERG JOHNSTON, SHIRLEY LUNDGREN KANNE, JODY SPRINGER LANGE, ELIZABETH NELSON LEMPP, ROBERTA WALKER LORENO, RUTH PEIKERT MADDOX, JOYCE STRAND MARVEL, MARGARET STEENERSON MOONEY, CLAUDETTE ANDERSON McCOLLAR, RUTH RAARUP MITCHELL, BARBARA JOHNSON MORRIS, JAN TOMERDAHL NORTHFIELD, MIRIAM ANDERSON OLSEN, BARBARA JENSEN OLSON, NANCY JOHNSON PETERSON, MARTHA TELLEEN PETERSON, JANET THOMAS PRITCHARD, PAT TRENCH ROSENBERG, MARILYN CARLSON SHERMAN, DONNA ELVESTROM SPONBERG, SONYA HARBO TALUS, CHARLENE BUKKILA WESTRUM, JOYCE
BEBENSEE YOUNG, MARY ELLEN YOUNG,
BARB CARLSON GLENZINSKI, JOANNE OLMANSON PEDERSEN and CAROLYN LUND SANDVIG. And, of course, with all lists, advance
apologies for omissions. I especially
appreciate that some of the group came to the campus!
MARLYS JOHNSON
JOHNSON is co-author of a book “Giving
Voice to the Leader Within;” full of practical ideas for parents,
grandparents and adults who work with young people. Co-authored with Donna Gillen and Jackie
Sinykin, who share their experiences in working with young people. “The book illustrates, with
stories of and interviews with young people, the four dimensions we believe are
critical to engagement: support, opportunities, space and resources.” The authors have been doing presentations and
workshops to educators, social workers and church youth leaders. Marlys also does consulting for the Search
Institute and enjoys her four grandchildren!
NOEL BEHNE is
senior vice president, business development for First Community Bank in Corrales,
NM.
Noel is active in many organizations and boards, among them New Mexico
First executive committee, ARCA Foundation Board of Directors, Bernalillo
County Investment Committee, ACI Board of Directors, Treasurer of Bernalillo
County Bond committee and president of ACTS Worldwide, a non-profit formed to
spread the gospel world-wide. This man
is filled with energy!
Reunion time is coming! We will celebrate 50 years at commencement in
May 2008. Are you ready? I am not!
I am again calling for volunteers!
Thanks to early responders, BEV
DUNCAN ANDERSON, CAROLYN CLOGSTON
ENGQUIST, PAT TRENCH ROSENBERG , MARLYS JOHNSON JOHNSON and BOB PETERSON. Once we finish with the winter in Minnesota,
I hope that a preliminary group can meet to begin the planning and organization
of other volunteers.
Let me know at: swansam@hickorytech.net
or at 507-934-4790 or 618 West Nassau,
St Peter, MN 56082
Meanwhile, don’t forget the GUSTAVUS ANNUAL FUND!
Cheers!
Owen Sammelson
1958 Class Agent
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 Gustavus Adolphus College: Russ and Jan (Ledin) Michaletz ’74 ’74
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, Phnom
Penh, Cambodia.
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
Minnesota
colleges and universities competed during February in the Campus Energy Wars. The Campus Energy Wars challenge was to see
which campus conserved the most energy throughout the month. Gustavus students and faculty made a
concerted effort to change their behaviors by turning off unused lights in
their dorm rooms or classrooms, unplugging appliances, and lowering thermostats
to reduce energy consumption. The
culminating event was a campus competition to pedal stationary bicycles to see
who could pump the most energy into an electrical generator supplied by the
Minnesota Department of Commerce.
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 Wednesday, April 25, 2007.
The daylong conference will feature
presentations by ethnobotanists, Mark Plotkin and Paul Alan Cox, Linnaean
scholar and impersonator Hans Odoo, and author Paula Robbins, who has written
about Pehr Kalm, one of Linnaeus’s “apostles” to America.
The day will also include tours of
Linnaeus Arboretum, a special photography exhibition by Anders Bjorling ’58,
music, dance, and a Scandinavian feast. The
festivities begin at 10:00 a.m. and
close at 9:00 p.m., so save the date
and join us at Gustavus this spring. For
more information, go to <gustavus.edu/arboretum/>
or call 507/933-6181.
Building Bridges
Diversity Conference
The 12th annual student-led “Building Bridges” Diversity
Conference is scheduled for March 10,
2007. The conference is
titled “Finding Your Voice: Putting Awareness Into Action.” The Conference focuses on the power we have
within our society, culture, and world to provoke and promote change. The keynote speaker this year is Lisa Ling, special correspondent for
the Oprah Winfrey Show, host of the award-winning documentary series Explorer
on the National Geographic Channel, and contributor to the Oxygen Network. For more information, go to: <gustavus.edu/diversity/buildingbridges/>.
Upcoming Alumni
Events
Building Bridges Conference - March 10
Tucson Gustie
Gathering - March 16
Phoenix Gustie
Gathering - March 17
Easter Bunny Breakfast at Mt.
Olivet Church
in Minneapolis - March 17
Sun City Gustie Gathering - March 18
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 Reunion
– May 25 & 26
Class of 1957 - 50th Anniversary Reunion
– May 25 & 26
50 Year Club Reunion – May 26