Rock us, Karl!

Ex-Silvertones Great Karl Tegland, right, worked a gig last fall near his home in Everett, Washington. The aging rock star, who doubles as an attorney by day, recently retired from the band, Raucous, and has not announced any plans for his phlegmatic music career. 65ers are hopeful he'll make a cameo at The Corral, but no commitments had been inked as of this morning. (Photo submitted by roady Dave Erickson)

Big Ole cleans up real nice for Class of '65 Reunion

Apparently the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce did not get the word that the 40th Reunion of the Class of 1965 is to be a casual, laid-back affair at The Corral. No dieting, no manicures, no suits and ties, just wear comfortable clothes, etc. Nonetheless, this week Ole got polished and shined and trimmed up for the reunion. Looks real good too, and we appreciate the gesture, but so unnecessary. (Roundup photo by Tom Obert)

Enjoy your reunion!

Dick Greengo and Gary Woodward, two retired Alexandria schoolteachers we all know, recently took a break between rounds at the Country Club to wish their best to The Class of 1965 at its upcoming reunion. (Roundup Photo by Tom Obert)

This just in from an anonymous insomniac:
I woke up around 4:30 this morning and couldn't get back to sleep for awhile thinking about a game Mr. Woodward used to have us do in his class. We played the game often, but I couldn't remember the name of it until finally after a while I remembered it was "I'm a Whiz." "I'm a Whiz", however, is based on another famous game, and I can't remember what it is.

Can you help this insominac?

Attn: Lynn "Chuckwagon" Chounard

Headcount at 54 buffet plates
Beat the price increase, register now. Remember, this is an Open Reunion. Anyone who has a ticket can attend...spouses, brothers and sisters, teachers, neer-do-wells, homeless, members of other classes, vagrants, everyone is welcome. Informal setting, buffet, cash bar, live music, story-telling, old flames, memories, nostalgia, laughter, tears, embraces, we could go on, but we already have. See registration instructions in blog header.

Paid in full attendees, as per Treasurer Karen Schjei Benson, listed in alphabetical order:
Lorlee Bartos, Mark and Karen Benson; Bruce and Mary Jane Arendt Black; Judy Blanchard; James Clifford; Judy Seppanen Davis; Jerry Deleski; Joe and Beth Drexler; John and Kathy Josephs Faust; Gary and Paula Widstrom Hanson; Gregory Johnson; Harvey and Pat Ziebarth Kolodjeski; Clifford and Beverly Roers Korkowski; Lynda Malmgren; Kathy Carlson McCabe; Paul and Margaret Nokes, Lynn "Joni Hopfner" Nordstrom; Tom and Ruth Obert; Charlie and Mary Olson; Larry and Karen Olson; Patty Collins Owens; Bryon and Susan Hutchins Peterson; Stan and Kathleen Rolfsrud; John and Marilyn Rudd; Gregory and Mary Schmidt; Jim and Sara Smith Sevey; Will and Kathleen Sherry Skadsberg; Paul and Susan Strandberg; Robert and Sharon Watson; Donald and Joanne Wilke; Darrell and Judy Williams; Ruth Ryding Yamaguschi and guest.

Where's Waldo?

Front row, Joni Hopfner (Lynn Nordstrom), Teresa Wadsworth, Claudia Johnson, back row - Gloria Nord, Ellen VanKempen, Paula Widstrom, Cathy Bakke.

Rev. Ron Olson: one of our younger class members

Okay, okay, I'm in!

I just ran into Del Fladwood at the Tavern on Grand and he put the pressure on me to post something and attend. Tom Olson, two years younger than our crew, was there too and we had a fine time chatting about what truly are old times now.

I've been at Luther Seminary in St. Paul as director of admissions for 10 years already, and realize that I probably wasn't there at our last get-together. They do go by. I still have one wife, Kimberly, and one child (we may not have had him either back then). However, our son, James, is only 12 years old; so I'm probably not going to have any grandchildren pictures to show, and with college still in his future I'm not really thinking of retirement any time soon either.

I am, of course, one of the younger members of our class, so I'm entitled to be a little further behind the rest. I look forward to reading your updates and joining in the celebrations in August.
Ron Olson

A Public Service Announcement from Lorlee Bartos

LORLEE'S PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT --

Have your Mammogram. That is how my small, treatable malignancy was discovered. I just had my 6 month cured checkup -- and as a side bonus, as you can see, I got this very interesting head of hair. I am planning on being at the 40th reunion and the 50th as well. I want to see you all there (and not in italics) so PLEASE schedule that appointment. -- Lorlee Bartos.

(Thanks, Lorlee. That's a neat picture using the three-way mirror. We're happy you're nappy, and still with us. -- Trailboss)

Betty Larson invites you to swing on Elm Street

Betty (Larson) and Perry Butcher. They bought Betty's childhood home on Elm Street in Alexandria. Swing is still there on the porch, phone number is the same. (ROckwell 3-4246). She says, "Please come visit while we're there in July."

(We just got a nice manila envelope from Betty, with pictures and bio. She, like many of her classmates, doesn't do cyberspace. You may recall that Betty and her husband entertained the class at the last reunion with some rousing music, notably "Makin' Whoopee!" Here's her story since then. -- Trailboss)

By Betty Larson Butcher
After seeing you all in ’90, we had many good years to play before maturity stepped in. I finished my degree in music at age 42, then taught public school for awhile before going back to the private school.
I am still there, directing three plays a year. I work with a wonderful woman who has been such a great friend. We have put on twenty years worth of plays for children and never even had an argument! We also published a small book of Christmas plays with a tape of my original music. I sent one to the Alex library but have never checked to see if it was there!
My husband Perry and I were so lucky to meet in the theatre. We have done 16 musicals together and have been able to enjoy these talents in many other settings. Our area of northwest Arkansas has an abundance of theatre to enjoy, including plays from NY University Theatre, and three community theatre groups. Also, I am in an adult chorus at the U of A and a small madrigal group which has been together twelve years. Many blessings of the Spirit here.

Perry has been a collector of antique cars. Jaguars are his favorite and he had four, plus a '66 red Corvette and a ’55 T-Bird. Now we are down to two – the ’69 and ’60. We belong to the “Brits in the Ozarks” car club. They put on a nice show in October and events throughout the year. Perry has six children and 24 grandchildren.

Sons and granddaughter in Fayetteville
My two children, Cassidy and Coby Hurst, live here in Fayetteville. I have one granddaughter, 13. She grew up going to theatre rehearsals with Perry and me and loves the theatre. After being tone-deaf until she was eight, she is really enjoying singing, along with acting (and going to NYC to see the plays!). Just got her started with a great opera teacher at the University of Arkansas. She loves the Italian.
Perry and I were so lucky to be able to travel while we could still walk and talk (every bathroom in Europe is either upstairs or downstairs!). We made six trips to Europe and there is not a day that goes by that I don’t run those tapes back through my mind. (We did not take movies!).

9-11
The last trip we were in Ireland at the beginning of a three week period, when 9-11 occurred. That night in Kilarney we were at a restaurant when Perry stood up to make a speech about America. People were slightly afraid when he began – you remember the fear on the first day – then he began to sing God Bless America. By the time he finished, everyone in the restaurant was singing. We also visited Salzburg, Prague and London before being able to get home. The outpouring of love for America by the Europeans is something we will never forget.

Papa
Although winter here is pretty mild, we usually went to Key West. We stayed 10 times at author Ernest Hemingway's guest house. The picture of Perry looking like Papa Hemingway is on a wooden sailing ship with a storm coming up.

Firm grew from 20 to 200
Perry’s architectural firm grew from 20 people when we got married to 200 people when he had his stroke. It was very interesting to be a part of it all. He ended up with the largest firm in Arkansas. During the last years we invested in some race horses in Kentucky – the ones that live in barns nicer than our homes! It was pretty exciting to visit the farms, go to the events, and enjoy the Kentucky Derby for a few years. But if you want to have any money to retire, I’d stay away from thoroughbreds – trust me on this!

Perry's stroke
Perry had a stroke exactly two years ago. He is physically ok but cannot read, write or talk. One cannot explain what you go through with something like this, but life has changed considerably. We are thankful that we have finally turned the corner of acceptance and can see all of God’s blessings in the midst of this tragedy. I miss Perry so much as I have not had a conversation with him in two years. But we’re going forward and we will love seeing all of you.
We bought my parent’s house in Alexandria at 1319 Elm. The old swing is still on the porch and you can call the same phone number as ever, ROckwell 3-4246. We’ll be in residence after July 4th and would love to see you for Lemonade or Happy Hour on the back porch!
Ya’ll come see us, now!
Betty and Perry Butcher

Top left, Betty Larson Butcher's grandchild, Heather, using Betty's wand from the Cinderella play at Betty's School; upper right, husband Perry, an Ernest Hemingway look-a-like, vacationing at Key West; lower left, Betty's sons Cassidy and Coby; lower right, on a stroll with Perry to a wedding party, Betty was seranaded by a Houston street musician playing "The Way You Look Tonight." Betty, a skilled trumpeter herself, couldn't resist pausing and playing her own rendition in a truly magic moment.

Russ Bey located on Lake Darling dock

A beautiful Sunday afternoon on Lake Darling yielded a nice surprise on the Bey dock. The professor (Russ Bey - rear) was sunning hisself, along with his lovely wife, Jean Alberg Bey (Class of '66) and friend Margi Movold. Enterprising cub reporter Tom Obert made the find and even managed to edge into this photograph, taken by his wife, Ruth. Repeated attempts to get the professor to favor the blog with a bio have failed, so this was quite the coup. A bonus was Margi Movold, who came to Jefferson High to teach in 1966 and just missed the opportunity of a life-time -- teaching members of our class. Margi is Robin Movold Niedenfeur's aunt, married to Mark Movold. Robin is another member of the class of '65 who is missing from this blog and is probably out sunning herself as we write this.

Western Union Telegraph Service

607 Broadway, Alexandria, Minnesota

URGENT
TO: ALL MEMBERS OF ALEXANDRIA CLASS OF 1965
FROM: PAUL STRANDBERG, PRESIDENT
DATE: JUNE 22, 2005
URGENT
SEND MONEY NOW STOP IMPORTANT THAT YOU WRITE CHECK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE STOP COST IS $15 FOR SINGLE, $25 FOR COUPLE STOP TELL OTHERS STOP SEND CHECK TO KAREN BENSON 916 RIDGE STREET STOUGHTON WISCONSIN 53589 STOP MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO KAREN BENSON STOP YOU CAN TRUST HER STOP NOT ME STOP SEE YOU AUGUST 6 AT CORRAL STOP TO SEE REST OF BLOG CLICK ON JUNE ARCHIVES BELOW STOP

Hold the Calls! Mystery Classmate Identified.

Why, it's Bob Helie, of course.
He writes from Oklahoma:
Hey Stan, it's getting HOT down here! Got the ol' air conditioner puffing at capacity. Absolutely LOVE the '65 Roundup site. Been slipping in and out for a month and a half or so, but just now signing in. Was that procrastination thing an actual class we took back at good ol' Jefferson High?
Well, here goes...40 years in 40 lines or less...(drum roll)...out of Edmond, Oklahoma...the bio that almost wasn't:

Schooling to avoid the draft
That diploma actually was signed, so I immediately enrolled and went to St Cloud State. Freshman quarters, three BUNK beds to a room with absolutely everyone schooling to avoid the draft. I couldn't afford Spring semester of '68 so the draft had me just five weeks later. Took basic and medical training in San Antonio. Shipped to Viet Nam 01Sep68. I used every bit of my training during my year there.

Out to St Cloud State College for the next bunch of years. I worked nights at the VA Hosp-St Cloud. I graduated in summer of '75 and began teaching at Foley High School that fall using both of my majors, Eng. and Ind Arts. After 7 years of teaching, a reduction-in-force (the big RIF) sent me packing. We hit I-35 South heading to San Antonio to try getting on at Brooke General Hospital (currently in Army Reserve). Blew two tires in Kansas, had 35 dollars to my name as we crossed the border into Oklahoma. We wound up at the RTA Campgrounds, North Oklahoma City. I pumped beer at the Last Chance Saloon (Frontier City Fun Park next door) 'til I saved the 35 bucks for my Oklahoma Teaching Certificate. After subbing 2 months at Edmond Memorial High School, I got a full-time teaching position.

Now we're in the 1980s
I filled a two-year contract teaching at El Reno Jr. College and three gates deep into the federal correctional prison there. Now there's an eye-opener (two eyes open, one-eye closed). Started a t-shirt silk-screening business and worked my buns off for seven years 'til I sold it and decided to semi-retire. Began driving school bus to get me up in the morning, and have summers off, which is about where I am now.

Scattered throughout that timeline of events was my marriage to Lori in 1970 (still married), 4 kids (three boys, one girl) to visit with the principal about, twice-annual trips to Minnesota to fish and snowmobile, a full-summer holiday to Alaska (Anchorage area which showed me where I want to spend my full-retirement), and a visit on stage with Oprah. -- Now I'm lying about one of the above....hmmm...
Can't wait to see y'all on the 6th...
Not bad, huh, Trailboss guy? 30 lines... See Ya...
Bob don't-ever-call-me-robert Helie

Ruth Helie Anderson: She's the best in her class!

(Today's Trailboss email brought a couple photographs of Ruth Helie Anderson with raw evidence of mammoth muskellunge encounters. Here's the brief note that came along. No brag. Just facts. Now top this, you Baby Boomers. -- Trailboss)

Glad to hear that there is going to be a reunion this summer. My husband Bud, from Evansville, and I are retired and living in Alexandria on Nelson (Mud) Lake by Latoka. We moved here from St. Cloud eight years ago after living there for 30 years. We have a son, daughter and three grandchildren. We are both nurses. Bud worked at the V.A. Medical Center as an R.N. and I worked at St. Benedict's Center as an L.P.N.
Since retiring I do a lot of babysitting. My hobbies are gardening, flowers, and Muskie fishing, as you will see in the pictures. I am currently in first place in the women's division of our Chapter of Muskies, Inc.
My husband and I are planning on going to the reunion in August. We will see you there.

Ruth (Helie) Anderson

Bob Helie and Ruth Helie Anderson

Rev. Don Wilke: From Cow Boy to Shepherd

By Rev. Don Wilke
For many of the ‘65 classmates, I perhaps was remembered as one of those kids from out in the country. I didn’t get the opportunity to enjoy a lot of extra-curricular activities, though I did enjoy baseball. When the weather was nice, I enjoyed riding my motorcycle to school. Most of my spare time was spent on the then large dairy farm near Miltona.
Following high school I went into partnership with Dad, working the fields and tending the cows. In March of 1968 I married my sweetheart from Parkers Prairie, Joanne Boehne. But by the fall of that year, something was tugging at me to venture out into the world-- that is, away from the farm. I soon discovered that the Lord was leading me from the meadows of Miltona to His pastures; so I went from being a "cow" boy to a shepherd.
It took eight years of post high school education, from Concordia College in St. Paul to Concordia Seminary of St. Louis, Missouri, to get there; but it happened. When He is leading and you are willing to follow, exciting things happen.
Well, following both graduations, I served Lutheran congregations in Rome, New York; Ottertail, Minnesota –- these were four great years, because our boys were able to experience the farming community having some of their school and church friends living on the farms where they spent many hours—and finally Eagan, Minn.
Perhaps many classmates may think being a pastor is boring, but ultimately there is nothing more rewarding than to share His story and lead people to the assurance of eternity. Boy, if you think these past 40 years have been something and have gone by too fast—you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Hold unto those reins ‘cause eternity’s a’cumin. Whoops, just about got on my fence-post again! (Soap box for some, street corner, or pulpit for others).
Well, back to my story! In 1994 I left the parish ministry and attended Methodist Hospital Chaplaincy training program in St. Louis Park, Minn., and in 1995 I began working in long term care facilities as a chaplain. I spent over four years in Youngstown, Ohio, at a very large institution before coming back to Minnesota. I accepted the call to be chaplain at Good Shepherd Community in Sauk Rapids, Minn., in 1999 and have been here ever since. We do enjoy being back in Minnesota.
My wife and I have been blessed with two sons, both of which were born during our college days. Major Steven Wilke (U.S. Army, age 35) is a career officer in the military, transportation corps and logistics, serving the 75th Ranger Regiment and presently stationed in Germany with the Special Operations European Support Team. He and his wife, Yeni, (from Honduras) and two boys will soon be stationed in Colorado, which we excitedly await. Our second son, Darren, age 32, is environmental officer for Big Stone County, Minnesota. Darren and his wife, Jolene, have a daughter and son.
My wife and I enjoy traveling when opportunity presents itself. In 1997 we traveled to Honduras for our son's wedding. In 2000, we hosted a tour to the Luther Lands in Germany, and hosted an Alaskan cruise and tour in 2003. An additional highlight in my ministry was last year when I had the privilege of preaching at the two large churches in Wittenberg, Germany, for two weeks, with the Wittenberg English Ministry.
Well, that pretty well corrals our wanderings for this roundup!
Don and Joanne (Boehne)Wilke
Joanne is a ’65 Parkers Prairie grad.

This is No Bull. Send your money in now for Golf.

Tee times have been confirmed for the Class of 65 10 a.m. golf tournament. Now we need some money from participants. Send $50 per person now to Sara Sevey at 260 Alta Vista Avenue, Los Altos, CA 94022. Make checks payable to event wrangler Sara Sevey.

Send money now for Golf Outing
to be held morning of Roundup
Officials at the beautiful Lake Geneva Golf Course have confirmed tee times for the Class of 1965 Best Bull Golf Tournament Aug. 6. The event will start at 10 a.m. Organizers hope for a couple dozen golfers to scramble in this fun event. To join in, send $50 for each player (includes cart, green fees and prizes) to Sara Smith Sevey at 260 Alta Vista Avenue, Los Altos, CA 94022. Make checks payable to bull wrangler Sara Sevey. All skill levels welcome and you do not have to be a member of the Class of 1965 to participate. The Geneva course is located about a cow chip toss away from The Corral in Nelson, site of the '65Roundup.

Lynne (Spellman Schulke) Lommen is in!

Lynne Spellman Lommen checked in today. She's been in Alexandria all along, but in sort of a Blind Spot for this blog. (They sold the Blind Spot recently) Anyway, she's promised to deliver a bio. In the meantime, we've got these great family snapshots to enjoy. The young man, lower right, and in the boat is Jason, 27, and his wife and their child. Gary Schulke (Class of 65) is Jason's Dad. Lynne and her husband, Paul, are in the lower left with No. 58 grandson Jack (Does he resemble Gary, or what?). Upper left photo is Lynne with her sister and daughters. Stay tuned for more story and photos. -- Trailboss.

The Scott and Sharon (Bartholomew) Trushenskis

See Sharon's bio below. That's Scott and Sharon in the center, the children and spouses above and the grandchildren below.

Sharon Bartholomew T. cites her BIG 40,40,40

Good afternoon Stan and fellow classmates!
Don't know what has taken me so long to write as I got the reunion invitation a month ago now. Maybe I have been putting it off because I know I can't come and it is bumming me out. I have spent about three hours checking out the blogsite. You have done a great job with it Stan and it has been fun catching up on the classmate news. Thank you so much for all your efforts.
Scott and I are still in Houston. He retired from Amoco when they merged with BP. We didn't really think Houston would be our retirement spot but here we are. We have lots of friends here and one of our sons and family so there really is no need to move, at least not yet.
I was thinking about the "BIG Three 40" milestones in my life this year and they are our 40th wedding anniversary late last Dec., our oldest son Todd turning 40 in April, and of course my 40th high school reunion. Lots of 40's. Sometimes it all seems like yesterday and then again sometimes like a very long time ago. It has been a pretty good 40 years. We have had a chance to live in several states and one foreign country.

Spent the 25th with Judy Blanchard
In fact the 25th class reunion I spent having coffee with Judy Blanchard in Cairo, Egypt. We both had to be back in Cairo the weekend of the reunion so decided we would have to celebrate on our own. It was a real kick being in Egypt with Judy. Who would have ever thought we would see each other there.
Retirement keeps us busy. We travel when we feel like it and most recently were in China. When we're not traveling we bikeride, take yoga, go to movies and hang out with grandkids whenever possible. We have four, one boy and three girls. Todd, our oldest, and his family live in Woodbury, Mn. They have a boy, Adam and a girl, Anna. Their being in Minnesota plus our parents and siblings keep us coming home quite often. Ryan, our younger son, and his family live about 50 miles north of us. They have two girls, Kaitlyn and Emma. They live just far enough away so we have to plan ahead to see each other but also close enough so we can help out when necessary.

Mr. Freng just down the hall
Our folks are all still with us which is great. Scott's folks live at The Senator in Alex. They love it there and are alway playing bridge or something. My folks live in a twin home across the street from Geneva Beach resort. When we see Scott's folks we often see Mr Freng as they live just down the hall. He was always my favorite teacher so seeing him is nice. We seem to run into Bill and Anne Riggs fairly often too. I enjoyed reading John Herdans story about setting the two of them up. I believe Mr. Riggs was always sending his students off to read Time magazine or something so he could go off and flirt with a certain French teacher. While I was out of school the winter of my senior year, pregnant, I would go to their house to be tutored.

A french cuss from Mrs. Riggs
I remember once Mrs. Riggs was busy sewing or mending and she uttered a french cuss word. She had mended whatever she was working on right to her clothes. I thought that was pretty funny. Not that I can say I've never done that.
As luck would have it the reunion letter came right after we'd made our plans to come to Alex. in July. Scott's family always has a reunion the 3rd weekend of July and this year we had offered to bring our daughter-in-law and two granddaughters from Houston with us. Soooooo, it is with regret that I won't make it to yet another reunion. By any chance will there be a class booklet or anything like that with names and addresses, to buy. If so let me know how to get one.
Do have a great time and I say Hello to all and if any of you care to send me an e-mail at strushen@aol.com., I would love to hear from you.
Fondly, Sharon Bartholomew Trushenski

Jeanne Pearson and Sons

Jeanne Pearson just returned home to San Francisco from the Minneapolis celebration of her parents' 60th wedding anniversary. (See photo of Pastor Pearsons '63 confirmation class elsewhere in this blog.) Blog trackers asked her for a note. Here's her prompt reply:

Hi Stan!

I have two boys in their mid 30's. One lives in Sacramento and the other in San Francisco. I've been divorced for many years, have lived in California since 1968 and love it out here with all the sunshine. There is a chance I may move back to Minneapolis to care for my folks as they may need me some time in the next few years, but for now they're both in their 80's and are quite healthy, for the most part.
I've been in real estate for about the last 30 years or so in one form or another. Right now I'm working on selling some resort properties so if you hear of any resorts for sale in your neck of the woods....... let me know, as I've got buyers. OR.... if you know any resort developers that might be interested in buying 3 properties together around a lake - stress sale and very low for this type of property..... let me know.
I keep in touch with Sara Sevey off and on as she lives about an hour from me. She's on the peninsula part of the bay and I'm farther over on the East side - about 50 miles E. of San Francisco. She says there are a few more of us out here, but I don't have any contact with them.

(Thanks so much for the note, Jeanne. I will be sending you an advertising rate card shortly.-- Trailboss)

Garden Center has new location

Sunday, July 3, was the last day of bowling at the old Garden Center. It has been in the Meyer family since 1957 - and how long it was the bowling lanes before that, who knows. The new Garden Center is scheduled to open the first week of August on south Broadway across from the movie theaters. Hopefully Byron can extract his thumb by then to enjoy a few lines. (From left, Byron Peterson, Bobby Watson, Brian Berglund in 1990)

Jackie Kaline Thurk loves to grow flowers

Original Art by David Wenzel, courtesy Wild Wings, Lake City

We received a lovely card and note from Jackie Kaline Thurk today. She writes:

Dear Stan,

I'll just drop you a quick note about my last few years. Kenny and I are still dairy farming, hopefully for a few more years. Our 25-year-old daughter, Alicia, thinks she would like to try milking cows.

We have eight grandchildren, five boys and three girls, and we are expecting another one soon. Our youngest daughter, Elizabeth, will graduate from Osakis High School next spring.

I have taken up flower gardening as a hobby.

You suggested mentioning a favorite teacher. That would have to be Mrs. Halvorson. She was such a positive influence in my high school years. She had respect for us and expected the same in return.

That's about all, thanks for sending the letter.

Sincerely, Jackie Thurk

Rev. and Mrs. Pearson celebrate 60th Anniversary

The Rev. and Mrs. Pearson celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary June 5. Rev. Pearson was the pastor at Calvary Lutheran when the Class of 65 graduated. Front row, family members include Randy and Jack; back row, Kathy and Jeanne; Brian Pearson passed away about 10 years ago.

From the Calvary Caller, October, 1963

Sixteen Youth of Calvary Church as they pledged
Allegiance in Confirmation Rites Sept. 30, 1963
Front row, Diane Hoffman, Bonnie Seward, Joyce Anderson, Gloria Nord, Carol Peterson, Jeanne Pearson; Center row, Donna Alm, Ruth Ryding, Gary Ekdahl, Sharon Stoltenberg, Betty Larson; Top row, Raymond Anderson, Mike Bolin, Glen Anderson and James Yager and Pastor Pearson.

Can you say 40 in Base 2?

If you still can, Gary Woodward would be very proud. Can you remember what grade he taught in 1962? If you can, you should be proud. Hint: Mr. Reque taught science. Mr. Greengo taught art. And the late Miss Luchsinger?

Update June 20 from Cub Reporter Tom Obert: "Ran into Gary Woodward at the golf club last night - advised him he has a "photo of honor" on the blogsite and passed the site address along to him (and also to Larry McCoy, who was a teacher at the tech school). Saw Bob Rader there also and told them I wanted to take their picture ASAP (with Dick Greengo, too) - and, yes, Wayne Elton's too if I can ever run into all of them when camera is on hand."

Hunky Pete Forster runs heavy equipment in OK

Using the email handle of PeteHunkyP we found classmate Pete Forster about nine miles north of Altus, Oklahoma. He's a heavy equipment operator there for the city and "god willing" he'll retire from the Altus city staff in 2013.
Pete already has 21 years of service in the U.S. Air Force. He retired from that career in 1988.
Pete will have been married to Lynn for 35 years this 18th of July. The couple has three grown boys. The oldest, Pete Jr., is 34 and has given the mom and dad two granddaughters, Kirsten, 11, and McKynzi, 5. In September, Pete and Lynn expect delivery on a grandson.
Meanwhile, Scott, 31, has three boys, twins Kade and Tyler at 10 years and Conner, who will be 3 years in September. Steve, 28, is not married and, Pop says, "as far as I know, has no prospects."
"That just about covers what I've been doing that past 40 years," Pete said, "I sure would like to catch up on what everyone else has been doing."
Well, Pete, you can read the blog, and we'd sure like to have you come up from Oklahoma for the reunion!
-- Trailboss

Eagerly awaiting reunion over Cokes and memories

In the back row are Teresa (Wadsworth) Widstrom and Paula (Widstrom) Hanson. Front is Carol (Penn) Gendreau (class of 66), Claudia (Johnson) Brown, and Sandi (Pennar) Bonesteel. Picture was taken during a 2004 visit to Arizona where Sandi and Claudia live.

The Summer I Was Sixteen

The turquoise pool rose up to meet us,
its slide a silver afterthought down which
we plunged, screaming, into a mirage of bubbles.
We did not exist beyond the gaze of a boy.

Shaking water off our limbs, we lifted
up from ladder rungs across the fern-cool
lip of rim. Afternoon. Oiled and sated,
we sunbathed, rose and paraded the concrete,

danced to the low beat of "Duke of Earl".
Past cherry colas, hot-dogs, Dreamsicles,
we came to the counter where bees staggered
into root beer cups and drowned. We gobbled

cotton candy torches, sweet as furtive kisses,
shared on benches beneath summer shadows.
Cherry. Elm. Sycamore. We spread our chenille
blankets across grass, pressed radios to our ears,

mouthing the old words, then loosened
thin bikini straps and rubbed baby oil with iodine
across sunburned shoulders, tossing a glance
through the chain link at an improbable world.

James Van Amber

John Rudd will take your questions on Kenya

John and Marilyn Rudd live in Bloomington, Minnesota. They've been married for 37 years. John works for Thermo King Corporation which is also in Bloomington. Thermo King manufactures Transport Refrigeration Equipment.
The couple has three grown children, two are married. They have four granddaughters, ages eight, seven, five and four years. A new grandson will be almost six months at reunion time.
The youngest daughter is in the Peace Corps in Kenya, Africa. She has been there almost two years.
The Rudds should have some interesting stories to tell us as they'll be visiting in Kenya for over three weeks this summer before attending our reunion in Nelson.

"... with a handful of peas," said Coach Connor

The late Jefferson High School basketball coach Tom Connor had an expression he used from time to time to describe the accuracy of his team's shooting. It involved peas and a bull. But that is not why we are using this artwork. This is the new logo for the Class of 65 Roundup Best Bull Golf Rodeo. Officials at the beautiful Lake Geneva Golf Course have confirmed tee times for the Class of 1965 Best Bull Golf Rodeo Aug. 6. The event will start at 10 a.m. Organizers hope for a couple dozen golfers for this scramble format event. To join in, send $50 for each player (includes cart, green fees and prizes) to Cowhand Sara Smith Sevey at 260 Alta Vista Avenue, Los Altos, CA 94022. Make checks payable to Sara Sevey. All skill levels are welcome and you do not have to be a member of the Class of 1965 to participate. The Geneva course is located just a cow chip toss away from The Corral, site of the '65Roundup, but if you're an old Connor Cardinal, you probably couldn't hit it with a handful of peas.

Start peeling potatoes, we got 40 comin' for dinner

As of June 8, 40 people have registered to attend the 40th Class Reunion.
Lorlee Bartos, Mark and Karen Benson; Bruce and Mary Jane Arendt Black; Jerry Deleski; Joe and Beth Drexler; John and Kathy Josephs Faust, Gary and Paula Widstrom Hanson, Gregory Johnson, Harvey and Pat Ziebarth Kolodjeski, Clifford and Beverly Roers Korkowski, Paul and Margaret Nokes, Tom and Ruth Obert; Charlie and Mary Olson, Larry and Karen Olson, Patty Collins Owen; Gregory and Mary Schmidt, Jim and Sara Smith Sevey; Will and Kathleen Sherry Skadsberg; Paul and Susan Strandberg; Robert and Sharon Watson; Darrell and Judy Williams, Ruth Ryding Yamaguschi and guest.

Respectfully submitted,
Karen Schjei Benson
Treasurer

To join this lively group for a buffet dinner at The Corral in Nelson Aug. 6, send a check for $15 for one person or $25 for two, to Karen Benson at 916 Ridge, Stoughton, WI 53589. Then watch for your name to appear here for confirmation. -- Trailboss.

Judy Seppanen: Farm girl now expert on city issues

Judy Seppanen Davis lives in The Dalles, Oregon.
She writes:
I have lived near the Columbia River since 1970. First in Portland, where I moved to get a Master in the Arts of Teaching degree at Reed College. Alas, there were few teaching jobs--especially in math with no coaching ability--when I finished. I did teach at a Catholic grade
school, at a middle school, and later I taught statistics to graduate students.
I married Rick Davis. I met him at Reed. We moved to Longview, Washington, then to Hermiston, Oregon, then back to Portland, and in 2001 to our retirement home in the Columbia River Gorge.
We have two children. Our son and daughter-in-law live in Seattle and our daughter is in New York City.
Once our children were in school full time, I went back to school, and got a Ph.D. in Urban Studies. A good fit for a Minnesota farm girl?
I did research on transportation and land use issue at Portland State University and for Parsons Brinckerhoff, an international transportation engineering and planning firm. In retirement I am serving on the Gorge Commission, the land use planning agency for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
Judy Seppanen

Our gratitude to the Class of 1964

WE ARE GRATEFUL to the Jefferson High School Class of 1964 for holding its 40th reunion at The Corral in Nelson last year. That made planning much easier for us, which is a good thing, since we don't have a committee anyway. We simply asked The Corral Ramrod, Lynn "Chuckwagon" Chounard, what they did for the Class of 1964. Did they have fun? "Yes," she said. Well, do the same for us, we said. That means a nice 3-meat buffet, same as last year, and a cash bar. See? No planning, no fuss, no saddlesores, just time for fun. Monday we asked John Herdan to come up with some ideas for entertainment. If you've got ideas for a program, contact the Trailboss and we'll get you together. In the meantime, pardner, send your registration money to Treasurer Karen Benson pronto. We are offering one free registration to the first person who can correctly identify the names (left to right) of the Jefferson High Class of 1964 Officers pictured in their official 40th Class Reunion photo, above. (Photo courtesy Vernon Studios, 2004)

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This just in from Tom Obert: "Having played amongst them at several Resorters over the years, I can identify the people in the photo as follows, from left to right: John Fahlberg, Barry Bauer, John Conrad, and Paul Donley."

Too bad, Obert, no cigar. Donley is actually on the far left. Fahlberg is on the right. Sorry. -- Trailboss

Joyce Angus marries desert rat; happy in California

Hi TB and Class of 65,
I better zap you a quick note before your sidekick Bev Roers Korkowski gets after me again! Time seems to zip by so fast that it has taken me a while to send you a note. Like everyone else, I can't believe it is 40 years since we graduated.
After high school, I attended Alex Technical School, taking the medical secretary course. That was its inaugural year so we were the first classes to graduate. I went to Rochester from there and worked at the Mayo Clinic for two years and had a great time in Rochester.
I met my husband there. He was working for IBM and they used to have an education center in Rochester. He was born and raised in Needles and Barstow, California, so he is a born desert rat and I was from snowy Minnesota, so what were the chances of us getting together? However, we have been married almost 37 years and have had a great time together and are still having a great time. We have three handsome sons, ages 36, 34, and 31. Our two oldest sons are both married and one of them has two boys with another boy due on Aug. 1. Our second son has two boys and one daughter. At least we have one little girl in the family. Of course, our grandkids are also the cutest kids ever!

Have lived in Poway for 35 years
We have lived in Poway, CA, since 1970, which is about 20 miles out of San Diego and is a great place to live. We can go to the beach, the desert, or the mountains any time and it is great to have that option.
Re working, I was doing medical transcription out of my house starting in 1969 and continued working for that office until 1999. I also started another job with a dermatologist in 1985 and still work for him, and I started with a neurologist in 1993 and also still work for him. However, I only work a total of 3.5 days a week so I have a very easy schedule. My husband retired from IBM at the end of 1997 at the age of 53, so he has been the house husband since that time and does all the grocery shopping, cooking, yard work, etc., etc. He loves not working and has no trouble keeping himself busy.

No go at Show Low
Our main fun things are eating out, happy hours on the weekends, walking a lot, and I am still an avid reader. We like short vacations, like 4 or 5 days, because we both get tired of sitting around too long. We have bought some property in the White Mountains in Arizona, near Show Low, with the thought we might want to retire there but have since decided we like it where we are better than there so will probably never use it.
I've given the Trailboss my thanks for all his work and my email address as well -- for anyone who wants to zap me a note!
Joyce Angus Thompson

Bobblehead Ole

Skeptics have expressed doubt of the existence of Bobblehead Ole, an artifact referenced recently on this blog site. These tiresome non-believers are likely among those who smugly besmirch our Kensington Runestone as a hoax. Big Ole holds a special spot in the hearts of the Class of 1965, for it was during their school tenure that the magnificent fiberglas behemoth was erected in the center of Broadway, beckoning all to see stone-carved evidence that Alexandria is the Birthplace of America. Further, it is believed that the first bologna sausage ever hung from Ole's skirt was the late-night work of a clever Class of '65 prankster. To clear the record, classmate and cub reporter Tom Obert was dispatched early this week and now breathlessly reports that operable Bobblehead Oles do exist and are available to the general public at the Runestone Museum. At $10 a copy, Ole comes with gift box and instructions. "Place finger on helmet, pull and release."

Trailboss

Cutest Grandkids Contest Entry

Vying for honors in the cutest grandchildren contest is this quartet belonging to Paula Widstrom Hanson. The photo was taken last Thanksgiving: left to right, Jordan (6), Sydney (3), Jack (4), Ty (5) . Winner of the contest receives an authentic Kensington Runestone Museum Bobblehead Ole.