a publication for alumni, family, and friends

1940s
Harley Thompson '43 is enjoying his retirement. He and his wife Mavis Van Schaick Thompson '45 play bridge, listen to jazz bands and take part in activities in their winter community of Portside, Fla. During the summer they live in Minnesota and entertain family at the lake. Mavis retired from high school teaching in 1989. Harlo Fechtelkotter ex'43 is retired, but still flying for the civil air and fire patrol. Harlo lives in Crosslake, Minn. Richard Braun '47 retired in February from John Knox Presbyterian Church at Youngstown, Ohio, where he served for 39 years. He and his wife, Rebecca McKnight Braun ex'50, live in Youngstown.

1950s
Herb '51 and Lynn Thomson c'51 Eschliman will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in August. They live in Warrensburg, Mo. Don Bohning '55 has retired as the Latin America editor for the Fort Lauderdale Herald, where he's worked for the past 41 years. Don and his wife, Gerry Morris Bohning '55, live in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Howard Powers '56 has semi retired, but does contract work part time, gardens and sings in the church choir. He also is the vice president of the local art association. Howard lives in Monahans, Texas. Russel Myers '59 retired in 1995 and now devotes his time to travel and caring for his water lily pond. Russel lives in Ames, Iowa. Roger Tanquist '59 spent two weeks in February working in LaPaz, Mexico, with a Volunteer in Mission Team, assisting with building two United Methodist churches. Roger and his wife, Mardel, are volunteer interim directors at United Methodist Ocean Park Camp in Washington. Margaret Kenison '59 took a 17-day cruise in April to France and Italy. She is enjoying retirement at her home in Grand Rapids, Mich.

1960s
Richard Lucas ex'61 retired from the Duke Medical Center in 1998 after 26 years of counseling the chronically and terminally ill. He continues to teach part time at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and lecture at Duke University. Richard and his wife, Cynthia, live in Durham. Dennis Eikenberry '62 recently traveled to Cuba as a delegate of the People to People Ambassador program. Dennis lives in Eau Claire, Wis. Chuck '62 and Kathy Olson '62 Richardson are proud first-time grandparents. Their granddaughter, Kathryn Ann, was born March 1. The Richardsons live in Scottsbluff, Neb. Edgar Adjahoe '64 and his wife, Nevilla, have started an Ottley Music School for All. The ribbon cutting was Sept. 17, 2000. The Adjahoes live in Adelphi, Md. James Strickland '64 has been appointed the presiding judge for the Springfield Municipal Court. His wife, Donna Miller Strickland '64, is an Oncology Nursing Society Cancer Chemotherapy instructor for registered nurses. The Stricklands live in Eugene, Ore. Evalyn Sougstad Claggett '65 has been named administrator for Wesley Acres Inc., in Mitchell. Evalyn and her husband, John Claggett '73, served as managers of the Lake Poinsett United Methodist Camp for the last eight years. They now live in Mitchell. Vianne Schooler Steusaas '65 and her husband, Harlan, have completed six years of service in China. They now live in Tripp. James Kenton '67 serves as superintendent for Twin Rivers and Gilmore City-Bradgate schools in Bode and Gilmore City, Iowa. James and his wife, Carol, live in Bode. George Campbell ex'68 received a master's degree in education from Texas Tech University and has received numerous educational awards, including the Barbara Jordan Award. George lives in Lubbock, Texas.

1970s
Bob Knebel '73 will become the executive director of the Greater Bridgeport chapter of Habitat for Humanity in July. Bob was chosen from a field of more than 40 candidates. Bob, his wife, Patricia, and their children live in Bridgeport, Conn. Nancy Olson Burkey ex'73 will mark 25 years of working in the NICU at Long Beach Memorial Hospital. Nancy's husband, Hal Burkey '76, works at Long Beach Container. The Burkeys live in Lakewood, Calif. J. Janus Jr. '79 has recently reached the 17-gallon blood donation level. He lives in Blue Ash, Ohio. Tim Johnson '79 covers 10 counties as district sales manager for Pioneer Hybrid. His wife, Christie Clark Johnson B.A.'80, M.A.'98 teaches kindergarten. The Johnsons and their four children live in O'Neill, Neb.

1980s
Kelly Gross '83 is the Mitchell Wal-Mart branch manager for Home Federal Savings Bank. Home Federal is the largest home-based, publicly traded bank in South Dakota. Joan Mudder Doty AA'87 was named the featured employee for December at the Wagner Community Memorial Hospital, where she has worked for 14 years as a staff registered nurse. Joan and her husband, Greg, have two children. Tony Morrison '89 works for Sioux Valley Hospitals and Health Systems. He has recently been promoted to director of centralized billing services. Susan Jones Berg '89 is the director of children's programs at the YWCA in Mitchell. Susan, her husband, Steve, and their three children live near Emery. Mary Fisher B.A.'89, M.A.'91 has been named superintendent of schools for the Winner School District. Mary and her husband, Jerry, have three children.

1990s
Nicole Premus Cruz '92 was named Teacher of the Year at the Berta Cabaza Middle School in San Benito, Texas. Nicole credits her foundation at Dakota Wesleyan University with her success as a school librarian. Bob Schuchardt '93 has been named coach of the men's and women's soccer teams at Presentation College in Aberdeen. These are the first soccer teams for Presentation. Bob's wife is Maureen Lillis Schuchardt AA'92. Vickie Blindauer '93 recently earned a master's degree in business administration from Colorado Technical University. She works at Huron Regional Medical Center. Vickie and her husband, Les, have a son, Tyler, and farm near Letcher. Kristy Smith Szabo '95 has been promoted to customer service manager at Commercial Bank in Mitchell. Kristy and her husband, Paul Szabo '95, live in Mitchell. Nicki Gale '96 recently moved to Minnesota from Kansas to work at the Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls. She is a licensed mortician. Next May she plans to marry Michael Burdick. Rita Talsma '96 is the marketing director for an industrial manufacturer. Rita lives in York, Neb. Bob DeWald '97 has been promoted to assistant vice president at Commercial Bank in Mitchell. Bob began working at the bank in 1995 and has been a recovery collector and loan officer for the business banking department. Quincey Jones '98 received a Master of Science degree in finance from the University of Colorado in Denver. Quincey lives in Aurora, Colo. Brad Oakley '99 was named Teacher of the Month for December 2000. Brad teaches fifth grade in Letcher. Nicolle Voeltz '99 has joined the staff of Hamaker Crop Insurance as the director of first impressions. Nicolle and her husband, Don, have two children.

Weddings
Charles Broucek Jr. '69 married Kathy Vershinsiki May 20, 2000, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Barry Kolbeck '83 married Mary Dressing Nov. 17, 2000, in Mitchell. They live in Sioux Falls. Kari Spelbring '96 married Bryan Rickel Oct. 7, 2000, in Mitchell. The Rickels live in Mitchell. Susan Schlaffman AA'97 married Justin Ebert Sept. 8, 2000. The Eberts live in Mitchell. Paige Jamison '97 married David Radke Jan. 7, 2001, in Black Hawk. They live in Mitchell. Tyson Theeler '97 married Camela Clark Dec. 30, 2000. The Theelers live in Mitchell. Lisa Gould '99 married Lee Schroeder Aug. 18, 2000. The Schroeders live in Alexandria. Coleen Liebl '99 married Ryan Smith May 6, 2000, in Menno. Kelly Darby ex'99 and Russ Weier '99 were married March 10, 2001, in Cleburne, Texas. The Weiers live in Farmington, N.M. Kari Hoffman AA'00 married Eric Hammer Dec. 9, 2000, in Mitchell. The Hammers live in Mitchell. Rebecca Bender AA'00 and Michael Arend '00 were married Aug. 11, 2000. The Arends live in Alexandria.

Births
Michael Duffek '87 and his wife, Stephanie, announce the birth of Emily Rose, born Nov. 30, 2000. The Duffeks live in Tabor. Lorie Ringling Hansen '95 and her husband, Milo, announce the birth of a daughter, born Feb. 22, 2001. The Hansens live in Mitchell. Lisa Miller Norfolk '95 and her husband, Robert, announce the birth of Kaitlyn Elizabeth, born Feb. 25, 2000. Lisa is a rehabilitation coordinator at the Platte Health Center. The Norfolks live in Platte. Ryan Huber '97 and his wife, Anne, announce the birth of a son, Ethan Matthew, born Feb. 15, 2001. The Hubers live in Mitchell. Robert '99 and Pam Bush '98 Plastow announce the birth of a daughter, born Feb. 15, 2001. The Plastows live in Mitchell.

Deaths
Anne Kleinsasser '26 died March 27, 2001, in Marion. Audree Fox McKay '26 died March 15, 2000, in Aurora. Vivian Christensen Screes ex'26 died March 25, 2001, in Mitchell. Survivors include her son, Don Screes '60, and daughter-in-law, Donna ex'62. Theodore Kleinsasser '29 died Feb. 20, 2001, in Freeman. Nyla Jones Anderson c'35 died Jan. 29, 2001. Nyla lived in Scottsdale, Ariz. Lois Hardy Bogue '36 died Feb. 4, 2001, in Canton. Marjorie Test DeVries c'36 died Feb. 22, 2001, in Hot Springs. Survivors include her children Jeanne Higgins '64, Eileen Wilson '71, and Don '68. Cecelia McKillip Myers '37 died Feb. 6, 2001, in Denver. Gladys Aldrich Nelson c'37 died March 15, 2001, in Rapid City. Johna Stemler Eggerichs ex'38 died Feb. 18, 2001, in Bradenton, Fla. Ernest Bransted ex'40 died Feb. 28, 1999. He lived in McPherson, Kan. Beverly Frink Barte MH'44 died Aug. 19, 2000, in Surprise, Ariz. Virginia Schoepf Palmer c'44 died March 9, 2001, in Sacramento, Calif. Fern Lund Solheim MH'46 died Feb. 14, 2001, in Sioux City, Iowa. John Mundhenke '47 died Dec. 20, 2000, in Sioux Falls. We recently learned of the death of Jacob Pfeifer ex'47. He lived in Prior Lake, Minn. Helen Busk DeCou c'48 died Dec. 20, 2000, in Sioux Falls. Archie Anderberg '48 died Feb. 9, 2001, in Edgerton, Kan. Ralph Bowar ex'51 died March 27, 2001, in Sioux Falls. Betty Bross Nielson '52 died Jan. 26, 2001, in Texas. James Swanson ex'52 died in Oct. 2000. James lived in Buffalo, Wyo. Patrick Kirby '57 died March 21, 2001, in Sioux Falls. Gladys Fletcher '59 died Jan. 12, 2001, in Sioux Falls. Gladys lived in Luverne, Minn. Frieda Hillerns Pickles ex'59 died Dec. 10, 2000, in Mitchell. Larry Beck '65 died Dec. 17, 2000. Larry lived in West Mansfield, Ohio. Marie Ediger Hummel '66 died March 31, 2001, in Sioux Falls. Dean Merkwan '67 died March 8, 2001, in Mitchell. Jeannette LaFortune ex'67 died June 30, 2000, in Eden Prairie, Minn.

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