Class of 1958

 

November 2006

 

Dear ’58ers,

 

            Retirement was supposed to be more time for meaningful purposes like writing a class letter.  As most of you retired classmates know, retirement means time goes quickly on a variety of fun things to do.  I did retire on May 31 after 46 fun-filled, challenging and never-boring years.  It was a great decision!

 

            As I write this, Jan and I are preparing to leave on a two-week cruise through the Panama Canal and down the Pacific coast of South America.  Just in time, as St Peter had the first snow of the season last Thursday.  (Maybe it was the cleansing after the election!)  We will have thanksgiving on board which Jan thinks will add to the excitement!

 

            Before we get to the news we have, a thank you to all the following who responded to the Gustavus Annual Fund in the spring after my late emails.  Cheers to all of the following:  HERBERT ANDERSON, VAHAN ASSADOURIAN, BUD BOBERG, ELLEN MAUS BOLER, CHUCK BUSCH, DOROTHY PALM CHILKOTT, ROBERT CHRISTENSON, MARTHA BANKE CURTIS, LOREN ECKBERG, DON ELVESTROM, DENNIS ERICKSON, MARGO PETTERSEN FOHS, CAROL LUND GARONE, MYRTICE JOSTAD HANEY, MARLYS CHELGREN HEBAUS, ROLLIE HIRMAN, KAREN HOLMEN HUBBARD, MERYL NELSON JESSEN, LLOYD and WANDA (HEUER) JOHNSON, MARGE LUND KINNEY, KEN KOZEL, DON LOOMER, RUTH PEIKERT MADDOX, JIM MC PHERSON, DOUG MOE, AARON MOEN, MARGARET STEENERSON MOONEY, MIRIAM ANDERSON OLSEN, RICHARD OLSON, ROBERT OLSON, ROBERT ORTLOFF, PATRICIA MILLER PETERSON,

JANET (THOMAS) and DOUG PRITCHARD, ROGER ROETTGER, MARILYN CARLSON SHERMAN, DONNA (ELVESTROM) and ADE SPONBERG, JUDITH HANSON TURNLUND, SHIRLEY LARSON WARD, MARLENE HAUGEN WIDMARK, GERALD YOUNGQUIST and, of course, MARY ELLEN YOUNG.  Thanks to all of you!  And to all of those who contributed earlier!

 

            The class of 1958 had a total of 122 donors for a participation rate of 63% and a total gift to the College of $71,930.  We were fourth in our decade in percentage and total gifts, not really where the class of 1958 should be.

 

            Now for some news that is months old; BOB and RANAE PETERSON are currently touring South America and will soon return.  The Petersons spend three months of the winter (remember, winter is five months in Minnesota) in Destin, FL.  NOEL BEHNE spent several weeks in Ghana last spring.  Noel and three friends have formed a nonprofit corporation called ACTS (A Chance To Sow) which supports the ministry of Rev. Theo Asare, President of Theovision, International.  My few words cannot begin to tell you what this experience has meant to Noel.  He also continues as senior vice president for business development at First Community Bank in Albuquerque.

 

            RICHARD and PATRICIA (McLANE ’59) OLSON’S granddaughter, Meredith, was selected to the All American Academic ski team for the second year in a row at St. Olaf College.  MARK and ANNE (KILTY ’60) WIBERG enjoy their grandchildren and are volunteering in Chicago for the Performing Arts.  CAROL LUND GARONE visited Germany and Switzerland in September as part of a Reformation tour.  HERBERT ANDERSON was the Christ Chapel Transfiguration speaker last spring; we enjoyed our visit with him.  Our sympathies to DOROTHY PALM CHILKOTT on the death of her husband, DICK ’56, this summer.  They were both on campus for Dick’s reunion this past spring.

 

            AARON MOEN has moved to Canastota, NY on Oneida Lake.  They have seven grandchildren including twins born this summer.  JIM MC PHERSON has discovered the Catch-22 of retirement.  “Because one has more time to do a variety of other things, one accepts many such commitments―and suddenly has less time for leisure and relaxation.”  Besides serving on a number of advisory boards, Jim is trying to fit in the research for books on Lincoln as commander in chief and on Civil War navies.  Kaitlin Braun, the granddaughter of RUSSELL and JOAN (KRANTZ ’56) BRAUN is a first-year student at Gustavus.  PATRICA MILLER PETERSON and ROHL visited St. Petersburg, Russia in August and split their time between Tucson, AZ and Cook, MN.

 

            ROBERT CHIRISTENSON continues to work as a consultant for In Commerce Solutions. Inc.; Cumconsults, LLC and is president of the Fridley Historical Society.  JUDITH HANSON TURNLUND has retired and has been birding in Texas and Copper Canyon, a three-week visit in May to French Polynesia and a repeat summer trip to the Norwegian fjords.  Now, that is busy!  Another retiree is MORNA PELL TRAFFAS.  Not retiring is DON LOOMER, who retired once and was called back to the ministry.  The Loomers also have a new grandson.

 

The PRITCHARDS, JAN (THOMAS) and DOUG, keep busy.  Jan continues to teach piano and Doug is manager of the North Oaks office of Felt and Company.  You have seen Doug in the Quarterly as one of the Gustie participants in the BOB KROUGH ’60 invitational golf tournament.  A student phoning for the alumni office described ANDREA GRANT JANOUSEK as a “lovely woman with a great outlook and understanding.”  We knew that!  Another worker bee, JOYCE STRAND MARVEL continues to teach at Washington University in St Louis, and is busy with many other things.

 

            SONYA (HARBO) and SKIP TALUS hosted a mini-reunion for some in our class this summer at their lake home in the heart of the range.  Jan and I were happy to be there and had some fun days with DON and JOYCE (JOHNSON ’59) ELVESTROM, DONNA (ELVESTROM) and ADE SPONBERG, DON and GINNY OLSON, STAN and MARLENE LARSON, HARVEY and JAN KIENHOLZ and DUANE and SONYA.  Thanks for a fun time!  We kept hearing rumors of a giant birthday party for many women in our class this summer.  We know it happened and we need someone to come forth with lots of news about this event for the next class letter!

 

We also need to begin thinking of our reunion for the spring of 2008.  I attended a meeting of the well-organized class of 1957 (BEV DUNCAN ANDERSON was there taking notes) and they have committees for communication, events, fund-raising.  I think we can get started this spring and now is the time to volunteer, make suggestions, and toss your hat in the ring.  My email is:  swansam@hickorytech.net; home phone is:  507-934-4790.

 

It’s also time to end the year with a gift to the Gustavus Fund.  Thanks to some who have already made that step―AGNES VOSS BODE, JIM CONE, ROLLIE HIRMAN, JOHN JOHNSON, MARLYS JOHNSON JOHNSON, NANCY JOHNSON PETERSON and MARLENE HAUGEN WIDMARK.

 

CAMPUS NEWS

Gustavus Designated an “All Steinway School”

Steinway and Sons, makers of what many would say are the best pianos, has added Gustavus to its “All Steinway Schools” list.  This is an exclusive list of just 66 colleges, universities, or conservatories in the world.  To be considered for the Steinway designation, a school must first have at least 90 percent of its performance, practice, and teaching pianos be Steinways.

 

Gustavus Excels in Fitness and Dining

Men’s Fitness magazine has named Gustavus as one of the top 10 colleges in America for fitness.  Among the things considered in the rankings were nutrition and dining choices, whether physical fitness is included in the curriculum, and availability of workout equipment.  They also examined individual student responses to questions on topics such as alcohol consumption, tobacco use, fast-food indulgence, and exercise habits.  On a related note, the Gustavus Dining Service was listed in the top 10 in a U.S. News and World Report survey on the best campus food in America.

 

Gustavus Alumni Professional Apparel

Check out the two new oxfords on sale online through the Gustavus Book Mark.  The Book Mark is offering a women’s and men’s long sleeve shirt in a variety of colors and sizes.  The shirt features an embroidered three crowns and Gustavus.  A great idea for holiday shopping for your favorite Gustie.  Check them out online only at www.bookmark.gustavus.edu/.

 

Athletic Hall of Fame Induction

On Saturday, September 30, Gustavus inducted the following people into the Athletic Hall of Fame:  Deborah Jungwirth Borman ’87 - Volleyball, Tina Pulido Draper ’87 - Gymnastics, John Huepenbecker ’80 - Football, John Jambeck ’62 - Swimming, Deanne Sand Johnson ’89 - Tennis, Dick Kumlin ’55 (posthumously) – Basketball, Dan Prochnow ’78 - Golf, Jerilyn Ree ’88 - Basketball, and Stacey Rodman ’89 - Swimming.

 

Honor Roll of Donors

If you haven’t had a chance to find yourself online, please go to gustavus.edu/giving/honorroll to check out the 2005-2006 Honor Roll of Donors.  The Honor Roll of Donors recognizes those who made gifts to Gustavus between June 1, 2005, and May 31, 2006.  To find your name or check your class results, just point and click from your home or office computer.  For those who do not have access to a computer, you may call toll-free 866/487-3863 to receive a copy in the mail (supplies are limited).

 

Obtain Life Insurance at Group Rates

The Alumni Association sponsors a life insurance plan, Life for Life, with exceptional features and low initial rates.  Maximum coverage is $2 million and insurance can increase repeatedly even if your health fails and you become uninsurable.  Obtain information online with the Alumni Association partner, www.meyerandassoc.com/ma/gustavus or call 800-635-7801 for more information about this and other sponsored insurance.

 

Gustavus Legacy Award for Gustavus Admission

Mark Anderson, Vice President of Admission and Student Financial Assistance, is pleased to announce the Gustavus Legacy Award for new students beginning with the incoming class of 2007.  Renewable awards of $2,500 per year are given to new students whose siblings are current Gustavus students or graduates or whose parents or grandparents are Gustavus alumni.  Scholarship recipients must have a high school grade point average of at least 3.5 or an ACT of 26 or an 1170 (Critical Reading + Math) on the SAT.  For more information contact the Admission Office at 800/GUSTAVU(S) or email <admission@gustavus.edu>.

 

Upcoming Gustavus Events

Washington DC Area Gustie Gathering – December 3 to watch the Vikings

F. Melius Christiansen 135th Anniversary Concerts at Orchestra Hall – November 19

Christmas in Christ Chapel “An American Odyssey” – December 1-3

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Owen Sammelson

1958 Class Agent