'Hi' from Joan Skoglund Miller, small town grandma

Greetings from Donnelly, Minnesota, population 254! We have been in the Donnelly area for 31 years. Five years ago we built our retirement home here. My husband, Floyd, and I have been married for 37 years and have two sons and two terrific grandsons. Aren't grandchildren great! We are only an hour away from all of our family, so we get to see them frequently without driving great distances.
I am still in the workforce as Area Director for Divine House, Inc. in Morris. We are a company serving the Developmentally Delayed population. I love my work and the people in our company despite the high level of stress. The benefits definitely out weigh the drawbacks!
We will not be able to attend the reunion, but "Hi" to everyone and I hope you have an enjoyable visit with one another.
Joan Skoglund Miller

This is a list of who we are, The JHS Class of 1965

Listed below are the folks we've been able to locate and notify along with those we were unable to find. We're sorry we couldn't find everybody. We tried. Thanks to everyone who contributed information to this database. We relied entirely on word-of-mouth, hunting by a few caring volunteers and some free items in the EchoPress. We could have done better if we had hired a private eye, of course, but this is the Class of 1965, not the FBI, so there's no money for that.

Please look over the list. If you're coming to the reunion, here's your chance to brush up on a good story about a classmate, or perhaps prepare a few words to memoralize someone special who has died.

The reunion is all about each other and this list is who we are.

Key to listings
Boldface Name = We only have an email address or street address in the class rolodex. Still need bio.
Boldface Name with a Star* = Have contributed biographical info for the Roundup Archives. (You can read the stories by clicking on the monthly archive lists on the right. If you haven't submitted any of your news yet, please do.)
Boldface Italic = Deceased. Please send us memories or obituary information. Those with memoriams posted in the archives are starred*
Lightface Names = Have no info for these classmates. Please help by sending their email address and any other information to Trailboss@swpub.com
A to F
Jeannie Affeldt Guenther*, David Aldous, Donna Alm, Brad Anderson, Dorothy Anderson, Douglas Anderson*, Glenn Anderson, Joyce Anderson Sundblad, Kaleen Anderson Hilsenhoff*, Neil Anderson*, Paul Anderson, Raymond Anderson, Joyce Angus Thompson*, Judith Angus, Mary Jane Arendt Black, Carol Aslagson Garrelts, Cathy Bakke Miller*, Sharon Bartholomew Trushenski*, Lorlee Bartos*, Mary Lou Becker Simpson, Else Benesh Thompson*, Mark Benson, Brian Berglund, Bonnie Beseke, Elaine Beulke, Evelyn Beulke, Russell Bey, Judy Blanchard, Daniel Blank, Richard Block, Michael Bolin, Ronald Bolstad*, Charles Braunschweig, Jane Brockopp VanMaldeghem, Larry R. Brown, Roger Brown, Mary Brustuen, Bud Bruzek, Diane Bullert, Mike Burkey, Jolene Burwell, Tom Byrne, Kathy Carlson McCabe, Jerry Chapman, Joyce Chlian, Dennis Chounard, Julie Christopherson, James R. Clifford*, Pat Collins Owens*, Maxine Craig Sonstebo, Richard Crouse*, Lynn Dietz, Jerry Deleski*, Dorothy Diment, Karen Donley, Joe Drexler, Van Eastland, Gary Ekdahl, Tom Ellis, Charley Engebretson, RaeDena Englund, Jack Erenberg, Sandy Esterberg, Linda Evans, Henry Faber*, Ken Faber, Gary Faehnrich, LaVonne Feda Andres*, Gloria Femrite Lundblad, Luther Femrite, Del Fladwood, Rick Floding*, Peter Forster, Mike Foss*, Patty Foth, Ramona Froemming, Steve Froemming, Harold Furan*
G to K
Mike Geiser, Mike Gillispie, Gary Goodrich*, Sherry Gorder, Sue Gorham Tegland*, Susan Graves Seltz, Tom Greenwood*, Maury Gulbranson, Jacyln Hackmann, Gail Hanson Schroeder, Gary Hanson, Marlene Harbig, Beverly Hartung, Diane Hass Schulz*, Robert Helie*, Ruth Helie Anderson*, David Hepper, John Herdan*, Mary Anne Hibbard Estenson, Pete Hintzen, Harland Hoffland*, Diane Hoffman O'Brien*, Lynn Hopfner Nordstrom*, Mike Howe, Robin Hubbell Schoeneck, Jeanne Huberty Wachter, Mary Hunter Kitzmann, Wendy Isley, Diane Jackson, David Jarvi, Carolyn Johnson, Cheryle Johnson, Claudia Johnson Brown*, Greg Johnson*, Jane Johnson, Larry Johnson*, Richard Johnson, Robert Johnson, Vonita Johnson Godding, Billie Jo Jones, Kathy Josephs Faust*, Russell Josephson, Kathy Kakac, Jacqueline Kalina Thurk, Eldonna Keipe Hvezda, Tom Kiehne*, Bill Kirst, Bonnie Klimp Schoeneck, Barbara Kloehn Pyle, James Kloehn, John Kloehn, James Klug, Robin Kochie, Richard Koon, Robert Koon, Jeanette Koubsky Lagergren, John Kraemer, Larry Krebs, Pat Kuhl Cain*, Victor Kuhnau, Tom Kuhne, John Kusske, Richard Kvilhaug*
L to R
Jerry Lanigan, Barbara Lee Larson, Betty Larson Butcher*, Mark Larson, Nancy Larson, Sandy Larson, Louis Ley, Judy Lindquist Olson, Margaret Linser Valkevich*, John Loch, Barb Lovel, Lynda Malmgren, Diann Marquette, Gary David Martin, Chris McCabe, Diane McCarthy*, Jim McPhee*, Allen Mersey, Karen Meyer Bird*, Wanda Meyer Navratil, Linda Molstre Tiede, Robin Movold Niedenfeur, Marlys Mrnak, Barbara Muyres, Richard Muzik, Sherryl Nack Stramer, Carol Navratil Leunart, Paul Navratil, Dorothy Nelson, Kathy Nelson, Paul Nokes*, Gloria Nord, Tom Obert*, Joyce Okerlund Klug*, David Olsen, Bonita Olson Gilbertson*, Charles Olson*, Larry Olson*, Lawrence Olson, Marilyn Olson McPhee, Margaret Olson, Ron Olson*, Steve Osterberg, Dave Overly, Gerald Patrick, Jeanne Pearson*, Betty Pederson*, Sandi Pennar Bonesteel*, Mike Perreten*, Byron Peterson*, Carol Peterson, Gordon Peterson, Patricia Peterson*, Rose Marie Peterson, Daryll Phelps, Robert Pladsen*, Terry Alan Porter*, David Prazak, Terry Prine, Peter Rhodes, Kathy Rich, James Ritten, Bev Roers Korkowski*, Judy Roers Anderson*, Stan Rolfsrud*, Jerry Roquette*, Wayne Rouillard, John Rudd*, Gerald Rutten, Ruth Ryding Yamaguchi*
S to Z
Jeri Salt Hillemeier, Karen Schjei Benson, Janice Schlosser*, Gregory N. Schmidt*, Patricia Schmidt, Mary Jane Schoeneck Lenarz, Robert Schorn, James Schrupp*, Gary Schulke, Barbara Schultz Huelsman, Kathy Schultz Hagemeister*, Marie Schultz Daugherty*, Michael Schultz, Bonita Schwanke Meyer, Janet Schwegler Barcus, John E. Seim*, Judy Seppanen Davis*, David Serie*, Gary Severson, Sharon Severson, Bonnie Seward, Kathy Sherry Skadsberg*, Mary Jo Simenson Benson*, Joan Skoglund Miller*, Sara Smith Sevey*, Lynne Spellman Lommen*, Gloria Springer, Charles P. Stark*, Richard Steinmetz, Robert Steinmetz, Sharon Stoltenberg, Paul Strandberg*, Karl Tegland*, Tom Tessmer, Eugene Thomas, Patricia Thompson*, Lonnie Thornton, Tom Toenjes, Barbara Toon, Donovan J. Trousil, Marlene Trousil Dynda*, Bernice Tvrdik Trousil*, Duane Tvrdik, Nancy Unger, Ellen Van Kempen, Barb Vendel Floding*, Gerald Vogt, Connie Volden Larson, Teresa Wadsworth Widstrom*, Diane Walker, Elaine Walstad Mounsdon*, Robert Watson*, Peggy Watters*, Patricia Wheeland, Colleen Whelan, Paula Widstrom Hanson*, Donald Wilke*, Darrell Williams*, Frances Wolters Engleby, James Wussow, James Yager, Patricia Ziebarth Kolodjeski*, Marlene Zimmel Bettin*.
Send your corrections and updates to Trailboss@swpub.com

Where are stories about classmates?
On the right hand side of this web site is a heading called "Archives." If you click on "January," for example, you'll get a month's worth of stories and photos that were contributed during that month. Read 'em. When you're done, click on "Home" at the end of the page, and you'll jump back here and you can try March.
The stories are jumbled by the month received. So just browse away. Then add your own contribution. Something about you and your family. You do your part by writing an email to Trailboss@swpub.com with anything you'd like to say.

GGC: Host to '65Roundup Best Bull Golf Rodeo

Larry Holverson of the Lake Region EchoPress has been alerted to Saturday's big event at the Lake Geneva Golf Club. That's where Class of 1965 Golf Wrangler Sara Smith Sevey will tee it up along with a couple dozen 58-year-olds in the '65Roundup Best Bull Golf Rodeo. Players will receive full honors at a press conference and photo opportunity later at The Corral in Nelson, located a cow chip toss away from the prestigious Lake Geneva course.

Backroom at The Corral, Site of '65Roundup

Hired hands prepare The Corral for the social event of the year when the Class of 1965 descends on this backroom for its 40th Class Reunion Aug. 6. About 130 classmates and spouses are anticipated, but final totals aren't in yet from Treasurer Karen Schjei Benson. Program details are not final either. The Trailboss is looking for storytellers, with funny, poignant or simply nostalgic tales. If you have a story that relates to our class experience, please be ready to share it. We will also have a time of respect for our deceased classmates, with opportunities for classmembers to offer brief tributes to any of our lost friends. If you'd like to say something then, be ready. John Herdan will be playing some CDs for background music, if you've got a CD we might enjoy, bring it and give it to John. We're hoping mostly to just have good conversations with each other, so there will be a minimum of baldest man contests (whew!), who came the farthest contests (Sorry Sara) and who looks the most like Donald Rumsfeld contests (sorry Paul Strandberg). So the program is pretty much left up to all of us. Bring a thought or plan with you. We're all coming to the reunion because we are interested in each other. We'll try to maximize that. -- If you have any ideas or inclusions for the program, write Trailboss@swpub.com -- Trailboss

Dave Serie challenges 'city boys' to knitting contest

David Series writes:
I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone at The Corral in Nelson. We go through there about twice a month on the way to our place on the northwest side of Lake Miltona. We have five acres there with all the lake toys. My brother Pete is there almost every weekend and my sisters Pat, from Seattle, and Judy, from San Francisco get back a few times each year. Pat just had her reunion at Forada last weekend so we had a family reunion there. Had to eat some of "Chet's" chicken Saturday night.
Squad car with radio
Some classmates may remember the parties I use to host by the "dam" on Lake Irene on Saturday nights. Those were great fun with a "spot" of beer being served! I used to invite Donny Urness so he would bring the squad car with the radio. Then we would know where the other deputy sheriffs were in the county and split when they got too close!
I've been employed for 37 years (soon to retire) at FMC, United Defense and now BAE Systems (same company) as a Contracts Manager. We design, develop and manufacture large guns and missile launchers for the U.S. Navy. We are quite proud of our contributions in trying to keep our soldiers safe during this war in Iraq. Those soldiers are the real heros in society!
Off the street
I have a wife, Jeanette, and four kids: Chris, 28, Mike, 26, Matt, 13, and Sarah, 11. The older boys are successful business people as a Realtor and small business owner. My younger kids keep Jeanette and me busy as they are in almost every sport available. Matt's basketball team finished 2nd in the State in the 7th Grade MSF last year and Sarah's 10 and under traveling team finished 33-1 for the year and won the State title so she had bragging rights for a year. Her softball team also finished undefeated and won their year end tourney. They like to compete and I've been an assistant for both their teams for the past five years so it keeps me off the street and out of the bars (for the most part).
Harlan Hoffland
We live in Brooklyn Park on Edinburgh golf course where I get out occasionally (my wife thinks more than occasionally) between the kids' scheduled events. We have four or five golf tourneys at work also. I coordinate an annual golf tourney at Madden's in Brainerd every year. It is called the SMIGT, Serie Madden's Invitational Golf Tourney. We've been going up there for 21 years and have a riot with lots of golf, food and drink and a lot of "mean mouthing" on the course!
I talked to Harland Hoffland two weeks ago and caught up on old times with him and Carolyn. That was great. I need to find out more about the best bull golf tourney so if Sara reads this, please let me know more details as I would like to play.
Softball, golf, knitting, drinking, whatever
I would also like to challenge the "city" boys to a softball, golf, knitting, drinking or whatever contest during the weekend. How about it Deleski, McCabe, McPhee, Krebs, etc.? I can recruit Larry Olson, and and few others to make anything a contest.
Looking forward to seeing folks at Bug-A Boo's Friday night. That's our regular stop when we are there on the weekends, so I have my own bar stool. (not really, but it is a fun place with good food!)
Should be a fun weekend. My phone numbers are listed below. All calls are welcome and challenges taken. 763-572-6748(w) or 612-965-9515 (c)
Dave Serie

Dave's daughter Sarah, 11

David writes: "These are my three sons Chris, Mike and Matt. These are from my 20th Annual SMIGT preliminary tourney at Edinburgh last year. I haven't passed on pictures of myself, I want to surprise people and let them think I still look like my sons!! Won't that be a shock!!"

Linn Chounard doesn't actually wear this hat

The Corral Special Events Manager Linn Chounard doesn't actually wear a cowboy hat at work, but she is a good sport. So when the Trailboss asked her today to doff a ten gallon hat to promote the '65Roundup at The Corral, she was happy (well, sort of) to comply. We're going to have lots of fun, Linn said. She ought to know. Linn has handled countless events (tomorrow a sit-down wedding reception for 300) including last year's Class of '64 Reunion. All she needs now is a headcount from Karen so we can catch enough chickens and roundup enough steers to stock the chuckwagon. So if you haven't sent your check to Karen yet, do it NOW. Pronto. -- The Trailboss

Marlene Zimmel Bettin and her husband, Harry

Many "Sweet Seasons" for Marlene Zimmel Bettin

True to that old adage “Better late than never,” here is a quick review of my life these past years. After marrying Harry Bettin (from Millerville) 37 years ago, we lived, worked and played in a variety of places - the Cities, St. Cloud, Des Moines, New York, New Jersey, Rochester, Minn. and then full circle back to Alexandria, 10 years ago. Harry worked for IBM for 30 years and thus the moves. Lots of adventures, meeting people, making friends, and great memories.
Our dreams had always been to come back home some day to “retire” on the lake. NOT! We got the lake part right – we live on Lake Cowdry, but we are having too much fun to think about retiring just yet. I became a business owner and Harry started his second career at Brenton Engineering as their MIS manager.
SWEET SEASONS gifts and antiques shop has been my passion for the past eight years – and still going strong! Started with a small gift shop near Bug-a-Boo Bay restaurant, and added a second store five years ago on Broadway near Travelers Inn. I sold the lakes store last year to concentrate on the downtown business. But if the truth was really to be told -- it was to be able to spend time with my four grandkids (and a fifth coming this Fall)!
We have three grown children. Our son, Bill, his wife, Stephanie, and Quinten 2 ½ and Jackson 9 months, live in Maryland. Bill is a Major in the Army - in preventive medicine with the specialty of environmental engineering. Molly, and her husband Jeff, and 1 year old Logan (and baby due in Nov) are on a three-year assignment in Guam. Both are family practice physicians. Molly will finish her Navy tour next summer and then back to the States. Michelle is in Minneapolis, a family therapist and program supervisor at Washburn Child Guidance Center– and the closest to Alexandria, so we are very thankful that we see our granddaughter, Morgan, 5 ½, frequently!
What a ride so far -- with more fun and excitement ahead! Looking forward to seeing many of our classmates at the reunion on August 6. When in Alexandria, stop in to SWEET SEASONS and say Hi! Would love to see you!
Marlene Zimmel Bettin

Remember The Embers? Hank Faber made 'em big

Hello, Class of '65,
Thanks for the call about The Roundup, John Herdan. Here is some information about what I have been doing.
After high school, I attended Alexandria Technical College for two years. Joined the National Guard in 1967. I farmed in the Nelson area for many years, and played in our dance band, the Embers. We did mostly local gigs, but got out as far as Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and South and North Dakota. It was in North Dakota, near the Canadian border, where I met my wife, Tana.
We have been married for 30 years. Tana works in the medical field, specializing in breast care. We have three daughters and three grandchildren. Our girls are married and live in the Fishers, Indiana, area.
In 1983, I went back to Alex Tech, receiving a degree in Sales and Marketing. I worked in sales several years, mostly part time. We moved to the Indianapolis area in 1986. I am currently driving an 18-wheeler over the US. and Canada. It has been an interesting vocation, meeting people from many countries and cultures.
Take care,
Hank (Henry) Faber

Ron Bolstad has his own exteriors business

I’m Ron Bolstad. After graduation, I was drafted into the Army for two years and served as a Clerk Typist in the Supply and Maintenance S-4 office for eighteen months in Hanau, Germany. I was discharged in Feb., 1968 and worked road construction for a number of years.
Three daughters
I got married on Aug. 2, 1969 to Sharri R. Parker from Duluth. We have three daughters --- Lesa Riedel, married to Jim Riedel. They have two children Ande, 16, and Ethan, nine. They live in the Alex area. Tammy Zeithamer is married to John Zeithamer. They were married last December, no children. They live on a corner lot on our farm. Sierra Le Cimbura married John Cimbura. They have a boy, Quinn, who is nine months old. They also live on a lot on our farm.
Hobby farm on County Road 23
We have a hobby farm with cattle, chickens and rabbits at 6801 County Rd 23 SE of Alexandria.
I am a General Contractor doing business as Custom Exteriors of Alexandria Inc.
In 1983, I bought an ABC Seamless franchise and ran it for ten years before I sold it in late 1992. Then I bought a new Melroe bobcat and did some landscaping. After that I bought a Seamless Gutter Machine and all the equipment in 1996 from the company that bought the ABC Seamless franchise and have been doing mostly seamless raingutter systems lately. We have three employees.

Elaine Walstad Mounsdon: Tax biz been very good

Billie Jo brings excitement
Forty years, that seems almost impossible, but unfortunately, it isn't. Through the years I see alot of the classmates around town, as well as here in my office. I must say visiting a few times a year with Billie Jo is always the most exciting. When she steps in my office it seems like 1965 again. But as fun as that sounds, I guess I wouldn't give up the times that have gone between then and now.
We're not 18 any more
After graduation Craig (the class of 1966) and I were married and stayed in this area always. We have two children, Monte (nearly 38) and wife Deb live very near us and have two beautiful daughters, Erika, nearly 17, and Elise 14. If that doesn't make you realize you aren't 18 anymore. Our daughter Chris and her husband Bill also live nearby, and they have one wonderful beautiful little girl, Alexis, that just turned 5. They are all busy with their careers and family, and the nice part is we get to see and enjoy the granddaughers on a regular basis.
Lake home on Ida
We built a lake home out on lake Ida, and try to spend alot of our summer there, and the grandkids spend alot of theirs there also. We have done alot of traveling and hope to do alot more, but we find it hard to be anywhere but on Ida during the summer. I started working in 1981 at what is currently my tax office. In 1985 when the owner felt it was time he retired, I bought the business, (and still enjoy it alot). I first bought the Alexandria H&R Block, and then in years to come, bought and sold Glenwood, Montevedio, Osakis, Long Prairie, and Little Falls. Paul Osterberg bought the three last offices from me. Last year we opened up a branch office on the north side of Alex, who would have thought that Alex would become large enough that you would need offices on both ends of town. The tax business has been very good to me and our family, and I have never regretted it. Oh, O.K., maybe slightly on February 10th or so, but it's like any other nightmare, you wake up, and life goes on.
Happy thoughts about everyone
I have so enjoyed reading all the letters to the trailboss. You look at the pictures, and try to believe these mid-age people are the 18 year olds you knew just yesterday. But it's wonderful for all of us to be here and look back at the last 40 years and have happy thoughts about everyone and about how life has played out.
We aren't going to be able to be at the reunion, but have a wonderful time, and I will be thinking of all of you. Let's hope the next years are good years for all of you.
Elaine Walstad Mounsdon

John and Carol Seim at empty nest on Lake Ida

John and Carol Seim. The note didn't say where this photo was taken. The Trailboss is guessing it's either New York or Austria. Read John's note to see how he figured that out.

Hey Stan,
Thought I better drop you a note before the August get-together.
I am still in Alexandria and doing great. As you may remember, after a year at Concordia and a year at the U of M, I got drafted into the Army. I spent just shy of two years with Uncle Sam, attending flight school in Texas and then a fun-filled vacation in SE Asia.
Design engineer
I got out of the Army in July of 1969 and that September Carol Martinson ('66) and I were married. I attended Dunwoody Institute and the U of M and ended up as a design engineer at Dana Corp in Minneapolis.
In 1974, Carol and I had our first daughter, Kara Louise, who presented us with our only grandchild last summer. In 1977 I received a job offer from Alex Tech and we moved back to Alexandria that summer.
Russian linguist
Our second daughter, Amanda Jo was born that November. Both of our girls live in New York which is way too far from Alex. Kara is a Russian linguist and teaches at several colleges in New York. Amanda is a writer and works at Starbucks so she can eat.
Carol is the employee health secretary for Douglas County Hospital and I have been the director of the Center for Automation and Motion Control at ATC for the last 7 years. Carol and I are living in an empty nest on the east side of Lake Ida with our Golden Retriever, Colter.
Hunting, fishing, etc.
I enjoy hunting, fishing, canoeing, skiing, mountain climbing, and shooting sports. We try to travel West each year most of the time to Wyoming. I'm active in firearms training and the Alexandria Gun Club. I do quite a bit of industry training in the summer and also work with our exchange program at Vienna University of Science and Technology. Carol enjoys fishing, skiing, canoeing, reading, cooking, and shopping for our grand daughter, Siri.
Well, that's about it. Hope you are doing well and look forward to seeing everyone on Aug 6th.
John E. Seim

Jerry Roquette will see us at The Roundup

After graduation, Jerry Roquette joined the Army. He spent a year in Vietnam. "That was quite an experience," he says, without adding any details.
He married Alexandria native Vicky Karrow in 1968. "Wow! We've been married for 36 years now," he said. "We were blessed with three wonderful daughters."
The girls are all married now and have produced seven grandchildren.
Jerry works as a machinist, and Vicky has run a day care business for 27 years in the family home.
Jerry enjoys the grandchildren a lot. He does try to get in some hunting and fishing in his spare time, but, he laughs, "Who's got spare time?"
"We'll see you at the Roundup!" Jerry promised.

Harland Hoffland saludos everybody from N.M.

Hello Stan and Classmates,
Saludos de neuvo Mexico, from the "Land of Enchantmant"!
Greetings from Harland Hoffland in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
First of all, you and your staff are to be commended for this undertaking, "Thank You". I can empathize with you, as two years ago my wife, Carolyn, and a few of her classmates put together their 35th Reunion, class of 1968.
Right after graduation, I spent a few years moving back and forth from Alexandria and Albuquerque, NM, dodging Percy Unumb and the local draft board. At the age of 22, I finally had to succumb to Percy! Upon returning from the military in 1970, I married Carolyn Wright , and we remained in Alex, working at Cowing-Robards, Inc., until 1987, when we made a BIG decision to leave Alexandria for Albuqeruque, New Mexico.
A great and healthy family
Our two daughters, Melissa and Sara, both graduated from Eldorado High School in Albuqeruque. And as time went on, they married two great son-in-laws. As life continued to unfold, we were blessed with four grandchildren (the best!). Our oldest daughter, Melissa and husband, Dennis, and two grandchildren, Joshua 11 yrs, Taylor 9 yrs, live in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Our youngest daughter, Sara and husband, David, and two grandchildren, Nolan 8 yrs and Alixandria 5 yrs live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We are truly blessed to have a great and healthy family.
Do-It-Yourself
Carolyn's Mother still lives in Alexandria in Bethel Manor, and we try to make it back to Minnesota as often as possible to visit. I have been employed for the past 17 years as a Purchasing Agent for a New Mexico Do-It-Yourself Home Center chain, based out of Albuqeruque.
Carolyn has spent most of her working career in the medical field. Having said that, she does not allow us to get FAT! Carolyn is employed by a periodontist that is formerly from Minnesota and attended the University of Minnesota and interned at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.
Fruit or vegetable?
We love New Mexico and especially the climate. Our state is the only state that meets annually to determine whether green chili is a vegetable or fruit! Anyone driving through the state can appreciate that humor! Our menu always includes a red or a green chili...not stuff out of a can either, fresh grown.
Of course, I take my annual fishing trips to Minaki, Canada every year with my "old" buddies. It is an annual event that takes place in June and has been for about 25 plus years now. Of course, then the family looks forward to that annual "fish fry" after that as well. Carolyn and I try to do our best in traveling, but I still work many long hours which sometimes does not allow us that luxury. However, our health is still good and we have that to be thankful for.
I am looking forward to seeing our l965 classmates and sharing some good times and laughs. See you August 6th at "The Corral" in Nelson!
Harland Hoffland

We broke 100! Now 103 registered for Roundup

Alverne and Ruth Helie Anderson; Douglas and Diane Anderson; Earl and Judy Roers Anderson; LaVonne Feda Andres; Lorlee Bartos; Mark and Karen Schjei Benson; Karen Meyer Bird; Bruce and Mary Jane Arendt Black; Judy Blanchard; Gary and Sandra Pennar Bonesteel;Charles and LaVonne Braunschweig; Larry and Roxy Brown; Roger and Claudia Johnson Brown; Patricia Kuhl Cain; Richard and Dawn Crouse; Judy Seppanen Davis; Jerry Deleski; Joe and Beth Drexler; Gary and Marlene Trousil Dynda; David and Mary Anne Hibbard Estenson; John and Kathy Josephs Faust; Bonita Olson Gilbertson; William and Jeannie Affeldt Guenther; Kathleen Schultz Hagemeister; Gary and Paula Widstrom Hanson; Robert Helie; John and Judy Herdan; Harland Hoffland; Gregory Johnson; Thomas and Anne Kiehne; Harvey and Pat Ziebarth Kolodjeski; Clifford and Beverly Roers Korkowski; John Kusske; Jerome Lanigan and Luann Hammerschmidt; Paul and Lynne Lommen; Lynda Malmgren; Kathy Carlson McCabe; James McPhee; Dennis and Cathy Bakke Miller; Paul and Margaret Nokes, Lynn ‘Joni Hopfner" Nordstrom; Wanda Meyer Navratil; Tom and Ruth Obert; Keiran (OB) and Diane Hoffman O’Brien; Charlie and Mary Olson; Larry and Karen Olson; Patty Collins Owen; Gerald and Kathryn Patrick; Bryon and Susan Hutchins Peterson; Gerald and Barbara Kloehn Pyle; Bill and Ann Riggs; Stan and Kathleen Rolfsrud; Jerry and Vicky Roquette; John and Marilyn Rudd; Gregory and Mary Schmidt; David Serie; Jim and Sara Smith Sevey; Charles Stark; Will and Kathleen Sherry Skadsberg; Paul and Susan Strandberg; Robert and Sharon Watson; Ken and Teresa Wadsworth Widstrom; Donald and Joanne Wilke; Darrell and Judy Williams; Ruth Ryding Yamaguschi and guest.

If you aren't on this list, you should be! Send your check to Karen today! See info above.

Okay Lynne, call Betty and Bobby and get started on those name tags!

60th Birthday Party for an Old Alexandria Cardinal

Tom Ryding was one of the Trailboss's favorite Cardinals. He was a power forward for Tom Connor's red men when Jimmy Jahr played at center. They played the first game ever at the new gymnasium at the new school called Jefferson High, and won it in overtime, I think. Tom's sister, Ruth, is in our class, of course. Two years ago the family surprised Tom with a 60th birthday party and here's the shot. The big guy is Tom of course, but here's Ruth's description, "from left: Me, my son, Mikael, Tom, his three daughters and two of their husbands, and Tom’s wife, Lynn, in front. See you all on the 6th. Ruth Ryding Yamaguchi" -- Hey Ruth, just how big IS that family of yours? Some of the partygoers in the photo above are wearing nametags! Speaking of nametags, we'll accept Lynne Spellman Lommen's kind offer of making them up for the reunion, with or without Betty Larson Butcher and Tom Watson's help. Personal to Lynne -- check the attendees list on the blog as Karen Schjei Benson reports them in -- right now there are 88 -- and make up the nametags as you go. Get the photos from the Alexian. If you have questions, email trailboss@swpub.com Thanks so much, we'll present you with SOMETHING nice at the Roundup. -- Trailboss

The Colonel and The Missus will be at The Roundup

Hey, “Trailboss” Stan and Jefferson High Classmates:
Ever the procrastinator, it’s Tom Kiehne checkin’ in from Austin, Texas! With the reunion only two weeks away, I figured it’s now or never. I’ve actually enjoyed reading the blog postings over the last 8 or 9 months. So, it’s my turn. I suppose these writings are expected to be long, involved, literary masterpieces. Prepare to be disappointed.
Learning to be a civilian
Has it really been 40 years? It doesn’t feel like a day over 39! Where to begin? I suppose 1990 since that was our last get together. Before that, life was the Army with assignments and postings all over this crazy world of ours (and getting crazier all the time). Regardless, the Army was great to us, the wife and kids – got me educated, let me grow up, kept me busy, got to “see the world”, and gained many life long friends. Regardless, I gladly left the Army as a Colonel in 1991 and since then I’ve gradually learned how to be a civilian – living, working, and playing (bad golf, among other things) in Austin.
Some young lady out there
For starters, I’m still with Anne – probably because she tolerates me effectively – nearly 34 years and counting. Our two boys, Thomas (33) and Steven (26) are also both currently in Austin. Thomas just finished a Master’s degree at UT and Steven is working in the Business School at UT (that’s University of Texas). Steven is single and living the good life – he thinks. There’s some young lady out there just waiting to convince him otherwise. Thomas and his wife will move to Seattle in September where he will work and Gwen will pursue her PhD in Psychology. We’ve been very fortunate to have the boys so close for the last decade. But that’s about to change. Oh well, perhaps just a good excuse for traveling to the Pacific Northwest. I understand it’s a beautiful part of the planet. No grandkids yet – all we can do is hope they’ll happen in our life time. By the way, my parents still live in Alex and celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary last December! I’m in awe of the fact that they’re still making it work after all these years.
The loose plan
I’ve been at UT for the past 14 years – teaching, working with students, and doing fundamental research in the Mechanical Engineering Department, and also directing a group of professionals at one of the University’s major research labs. I keep hoping things will slow down a bit. But the more I hope, the more they speed up! I must be doing something wrong. The loose plan is to work for another four years and then simply teach and work with students as a diversion. However, the closer I get to “retirement” the less appealing it seems. I know myself well enough to understand that too much sitting around, or for the matter too much bad golf, will quickly drive me insane. I’ll still need something to get me up and going the morning and to get the creative juices flowing. And Anne has me on notice that I “can’t just lay around the house”. So . . . this transition to retirement thingee promises to be interesting. Stay tuned!
Austin remains weird
On the whole life is good, we’ve got our health, and we’re blessed with family, friends, and reasonable prosperity. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion. We’ll arrive in Alex on the 4th and plan to depart on the 11th of August. So there should be plenty of time for visiting and renewing acquaintances. Beyond that, we’re living in our Retirement Home west of Austin in a village called The Hills of Lakeway and would welcome visitors at any time. The golf course is across the street, Lake Travis is five minutes away, and Austin is fun and remains weird! Please come visit.
Best Regards,
Tom and Anne Kiehne

Finally, the Trailboss gets around to writing his bio

Stan Rolfsrud and the package deal, 25 years ago

Stan writes:

When Karen Schjei Benson came to visit us last week she said she wasn't going to write a thing for the blog until I did. So here goes:

Pictured above is the wedding package I got 25 years ago next Sept. 26 … three girls and breakfast too. My dear wife, Kathleen, not only made the eggs just as I like, she snapped the photograph of me and her girls as well. I worked hard and helped Kathleen raise those girls and 25 years later the three combined have produced exactly one grandchild. Fortunately for them, he happens to be the smartest, best-looking 10-year-old on earth.

Wine Country

I first hit on Kathleen at a Chamber of Commerce meeting in Chaska when I was the editor of the newspaper there. I am now the semi-retired president of Southwest Newspapers in Shakopee. We live in an empty-nester townhouse and mostly I work out of the basement office I made for myself. It looks like a wine cellar, so I am now trying to study the grape with the willing assistance of my sister, Solveig (Sam to some of you), who lives in wine country near Livermore, California, and ships vintage to me via UPS. Course, wine country is a matter of opinion. Some, including the federal government, say Alexandria Lakes, with its Carlos Creek, is wine country enough. I have a couple of their bottles in the novelty section. But I owe one of them to Lorlee Bartos for solving our class trivia contest. The correct answer was "Ava Luchsinger and Lyle Frank."

Keeping busy

I keep busy with golfing and gardening, and letting out Hoover, our 12-year-old poodle. My wife enjoys hosting Texas Hold 'Em tournaments, so I made her a green felt-top table and serve up the drinks while she does her very best to take money off our guests.

Rose bush trellis
Some of you may remember my brothers: Virgil lives in Eden Prairie, Stephen (he married Nancy Sonstegaard of Alex) lives in Mankato. Together we just bought a winter golf home by the mountains north of Tucson. I haven't seen it yet, (Virgil and Steve did the closing) but Kathleen and I are looking forward to using it next winter. Certainly not this summer, the heat is killing people there right now and we wonder about the air-conditioning bill in our new empty house. Kathleen and I haven't done too much traveling, mostly business junkets to D.C., Naples, Vancouver, Arizona and Oahu. We intend to change that soon, I keep telling her to "put a package together." In the meantime, I am working on a climbing rambling rose bush trellis and some marigolds and bachelor buttons around the hobbit house in the back yard.

World headquarters
By the way, that wine cellar is also the world headquarters of the '65Roundup blogsite, and that's been lots of fun. Classmates have been very kind by contributing interesting stuff and thanking me for my work; what will make it all worthwhile is if lots of folks come to The Corral and everyone has a great time. So please be there and do your very best to have some fun. We will.

Stan Rolfsrud

Nana Lommen with granddaughter, Amanda, and grandson, Matthew, camping at Itasca this summer.

Lynne Spellman Lommen adjusting to not working

Hi Stan,
I just sent my check in for the reunion. My husband, Paul, and I just sold our business in May and I am adjusting to not having to do anything……and apparently doing a good job of it! I’m excited about the reunion. Betty Larson Butcher and her husband stopped by a week or so ago and we talked about “Happy Days”! We are having lunch with Bob Watson and that oughta be good!!!
Paul Lommen (a native Alexandrian) and I were married in 1984 in Alexandria where we met. We put together a family of five children. I brought Samantha (now age 37), Melanie (now age 34) and Jason ( now age 27) into the new family and Paul brought Mike (now age 40) and Debbie ( now age 38)! The Brady Bunch! We now have six grandchildren. Samantha and husband, Anthony, and grandsons, Ford and Jack, live in Montreal, Canada. Jason and wife, Natasha, and grandson, Dillon, live in Ocala, Florida. Debbie and husband, John, and grandchildren, Amanda and Matthew live in Wilmington, Delaware. Mike and wife, Colleen, and grandson, Sam, live here in Alexandria and Melanie and her husband, Eric, (no children) live in St. Cloud. Whew!

Piracy is alive and well
Paul and I moved our family to the Florida Keys (Marathon) 50 miles north of Key West in June of 1987. I had been working for Bursch Travel Agency (remember Fred?) and Paul owned a business in Alexandria. So we set off on an adventure and it was! We started a new business called “Blind Factory” where we actually made vertical blinds, pleated shades, etc. Our business did very well and one main reason was the Minnesota work ethic in a third world nation (that’s the Florida Keys!) Piracy (is that a word?) is alive and well there, trust me.
We lived there for six years, built a good business and our dream house on the ocean. Then guess what? We wanted to come home. What was at the beginning “novel” living in the Keys became “get me back to Minnesota where everyone looks and talks alike!” Now mind you I could go on and on about all the things that happened there -- oh, I have to tell just one -- A friend of ours, Mike Perry, was down visiting and he came and woke us up in the middle of the night and said someone was out on the water and yelling in a foreign language. As it turns out, Cuban refugees had washed up in front of our house and were stuck on the reef. We called the Coast Guard, took pictures and got a story to the Echo Press. Anyway, we moved back to Alexandria in June of 1993.
We bought a house on Lake Le Homme Dieu and started a Blind Factory here (which as I said just sold). Paul has always been involved in Real Estate and partially involved in our decorating business.

Gilbert, Arizona
Paul and I are very interested and involved in politics and the church. Paul golfs five days a week. I haven’t figured out how to get over to the golf course yet. I like tennis but do want to relearn golf. We travel to see our children who are spread out all over! We bought a home in Arizona (Gilbert near Mesa – the fastest growing community in America right now). Last year was our first winter there. We will spend six months here and six there. I am going to freelance in window decorating while in Arizona and enjoy all the other things there are to do there. Paul and I like to hike in the mountains.
I am thankful to God for my many blessings. When I think of a class reunion I can’t help but think about our boys that went to fight in Vietnam. Bless them for their sacrifice. Bless those who never came back home.
See everyone soon. Oh and Stan, I can do the name tags. I’ll get Betty to help me! Bobby Watson, too -- right! Can you see him doing that kind of project? Send the list of all attending and whatever else I need to know, Stan the man!
Lynne (Spellman) Lommen

Multiple choice test for "The Greatest Class Ever."

Is this:

1. A famous heart surgeon from the Class of '65

2. Del Fladwood

3. The Trailboss

4. Your high school principal

If you guessed that it is your high school principal Wayne Elton, you're right... and you may have spent a little too much time with him in his office. Cub reporter Tom Obert caught up with Mr. Elton at the Alexandria Country Club for this photo. His first assignment as a high school principal was in 1964 when we were seniors. He was a tender 29 at the time. Athletic as ever, he's still a championship golfer. He distinctly remembers our class. Obert reported that "I think he also said ours was the greatest class ever, but I shouldn't quote him on that."

You're starting to catch on to this, cubbie. Good work.

Packing it in. . .

Big Game Hunter Joe Drexler was in the northern Yukon hunting Dall Sheep last summer. He'll be headed to New Zealand soon, but back in time for you to ask him about his trip when you're at the Roundup in Nelson.

Joe Drexler says life begins at 50

Trailboss Stan:
I am finally getting back to you with a little info from the last 40 years.
After graduation, I attended the local vocational school in Alexandria for two years. Following that, I spent the next four years in the good old United States Air Force. Traveled to many locations throughout the world, obviously some better than others. After that, I returned to Minnesota and attended the University of Minnesota for a couple of years.
It was then that I started in the insurance business and had been with the same company for the past 30 years. Sixteen of those years I spent in Iowa in a middle management position. The past 11 years have been back in Minnesota. I presently live in Hastings.

Two children
I have two children. Lori, 32, is married to John. They both graduated from the University of Iowa and live in Westminster, Col. with our three lovely granddaughters. We see them four to five times a year. John is a corporate tax attorney for a large accounting firm. Our son Eric, 30, and his wife, Kathy, live in Des Moines. Both graduated from Iowa State. We also see them quite frequently. Eric is a Senior Vice President for GE Commercial Finance. Kathy is a work comp attorney for a firm in Des Moines.
I remarried seven years ago to Beth. Currently her daughter, Erin - 17, lives with us. Beth's son, Nick - 19, just finished his first year in St. Cloud. Beth and I do a lot of traveling not only throughout the United States but to other parts of the world as well.

Lake Osakis lake home
We have had a year round lake home on Lake Osakis and spend at least half our weekends in the area. I also go on several big game hunting trips. The most recent last August was in the northern Yukon for Dall Sheep and, I might add, I successfully harvested a large Ram. I will be returning from a New Zealand hunting trip on August 5th the day before the class reunion but plan on being there. Life has been good, better than I ever expected. Other than the birthdays coming twice a year since I turned 50, I feel life begins at 50. Thanks to everyone that has put all the hard work into organizing the upcoming reunion.
Joe Drexler

Karen Meyer Bird: "Isn't life something?"

Karen Meyer Bird just checked in with a note wondering why it took her so long to do this. She added some kind words for the Trailboss and then gave a recap of what's been going on with her during the past 15 years. Thanks for the great bio and positive outlook, Karen, you've given us a lift going into the weekend. -- Trailboss

I’ve lived in Prior Lake for the last 16 years, a suburb that still has that small-town feel despite lots of growth. It’s a great place to relax, catch a bunch of sunfish, enjoy a sunset, putz in my yard, or cruise the lake. Last year I discovered the joys of jetskiing. Herdan’s right - it’s a lot of fun, and you’re never too old to have fun.
I’m also into traveling and have had some great road trips to the east and west coasts, camping trips to Banff and Glacier, beach time in Mexico and Florida, and recently spent 10 days along the California coast from Tijuana (wild -- they mix a margarita in your mouth there, stand behind you and shake your head) up to San Francisco, Lake Tahoe and points in between. In September, I leave for a 2-week tour of Italy. I am so excited I can hardly wait. In the interim, I’m taking a class in conversational Italian so I’ll be able to read a menu, find my way to "il bagno", etc.

Life is busy and good
I’ve been divorced for many years and have just one son, Michael, age 25. He’s a computer tech working for Bloomington schools. He’s still single -- so no hope of grandchildren for a while. I’m lucky to have family fairly close by -- Mike in White Bear Lake, Mom and Dad in Alex, my sister DiAnn in Big Lake, and my brother Randy in Mankato. I have good friends and neighbors, and I belong to a wonderful book club. After three years, we still are all reading the books and having great discussions and laughs. Life is busy and good.
I’ve been a DBA for the Star Tribune in downtown Minneapolis (a mere 26-mile commute each way) for the last 9 years. For you non-geeks, that means I design, build, performance tune, and monitor the databases that support the newspaper’s business, and also make sure we can recover quickly from hardware or software problems. Unfortunately, that involves 24x7 on-call support one week out of three for me. Because we have complex systems and technology changes so quickly, the work is always challenging. But, hey, time flies when you’re busy, I work with some great people, and I love it.

That perfect loaf of bread
Yet, I look forward to retirement at 62. I could get used to kicking back on a full-time basis, cruisin’ the lake like Tom Obert, playing golf like Sara Smith Sevey and gang (of course, I’d have to learn first), becoming a master gardener like Lorlee, or enjoying the grandchildren like a lot of the rest of you. I’d love to have more time to read, fish, travel, hang out with my friends, and learn to bake that perfect loaf of bread.
I want all of you to know how much I’ve enjoyed reading your updates. I was touched by Betty’s grace in describing life before and after her husband’s stroke and then acceptance and blessings. Sue tickled me with her tongue-in-cheek honesty about family life. I love Lorlee’s attitude and new hairdo. I could totally relate to Rick and Barb’s pleasure that the kids have finally moved out and are self-supporting but, darn it, taking their time starting their families.
The pictures of everyone’s grandchildren make me yearn for some of my own. I’d never have pegged John Herdan as a jetski maniac (obviously, I didn’t know him that well), or Kathy Josephs (whom I did) and Ruth Helie as wild about fishing -- but you go, kids. Many of you spoke of your lake places -- they sound wonderful -- there’s nothing like water to ground you. For those of you who are active in spiritual, health, environmental or political arenas, thank you for working to bring about a better world for all of us. Isn’t life something -- joys, tragedies, challenges, hope! Thank you for sharing yours with us.
I’ll be at the Corral on the 6th, and I hope a lot of the other "kids" get on the ball and commit to coming. It’ll be great to see you all. Feel free to email me at kbird@startribune.com .
Happy trails,
Karen (Meyer) Bird

Jerry and Kathy Patrick raised 7 kids-- top that!

Hi Stan,
Time sure does fly by. It doesn’t seem like we’ve been out of school for forty years already!
After high school, I worked a short time for Osakis Silo Company and Montgomery Ward’s in St. Paul and then into the Marine Corps. After that for Coke in Alex and in 1969 started at 3M in Alexandria. I retired from 3M in 2003 and now just farm – so it keeps me busy.
I’m married to Kathy Pronek and we have seven children…..three girls and four boys. We have eight grandchildren and enjoy them dearly.
Hope to see you at the reunion.
Jerry Patrick

Ruth Ryding Yamaguchi in Paris

Ruth Ryding Yamaguchi in front of the Arc d'Triomphe, Paris, summer of 2003. "Thanks for the reunion site, Trailboss," she writes. "You are doing a great job...I look forward to checking it each day and marinating in the memories recalled. Keep it up." Thanks for the kind words, Ruth. This is easy when people send me great stuff like this. Thank you. TB

Grandma Kathleen Sherry Skadsberg and progeny

Grandma Kathleen Sherry Skadsberg with Willy, 5; Nicky, 3; Priscilla, 6 weeks and Taylor, 10 months.

Kathy Sherry Skadsberg "Yikes, the memories. . "

Kathleen Sherry Skadsberg
Where has the time gone?
After graduating from high school, I made my way into the travel profession. It began with Northwest Airlines in Washington D.C, then Tradewind Tours in Hawaii, and ended up in the Twin Cities with Skads Travel, where I have been now for over 35 years as a travel consultant. In fact my boss at Skads Travel introduced me to my husband Will and we just celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary in April.

Back to Skads Travel
Will and I were married in Hawaii in 1969 and our oldest daughter Stephanie was born there. We felt we were too far away from family and made the decision to come back to Minnesota where Will pursued his career with Skads Travel. Our younger daughter, Jenny, was born while we were living in Golden Valley. After a several years at home with the girls, I went back to my position with Skads Travel. In 1978 we moved to Minnetonka and still live in that house now. Our daughters, both now married, live less than a mile away from us. Stephanie met her husband Steve in Arizona after graduating college at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Stephanie and Steve have three children, Willy, age 5, Nick, age 3 and Priscilla, 2 months. Jenny met her husband Johnny in Minnesota after graduating from college at Arizona State University in Tempe. Jenny and Johnny have a daughter, Taylor, who is 10 months old. We get to spend a lot of time with our four grandchildren, which we love.
I still had family ties to Alex up until 1999 when my father Dennis passed away. My mother Priscilla passed away in 1985. Our family still makes it a point to vacation each summer on Lake Ida to make some new memories in the Alex area and reflect on all the other memories I have.

Although it seems like a long time since high school, I have managed to keep in touch with several classmates. While we were living in Golden Valley we were surprised to learn we lived about a block away from Margaret Linser and her family. Our kids spent a lot of time together when they were young. Lynn Dietz and I also kept in touch by getting our kids together in the Twin Cities as well as up in Alex. In fact our daughters gave birth on the same day in the same hospital in 2000. Small world isn’t it?
Robin Movold and I have kept in touch through meeting for lunch and an annual Girls weekend with Lynn Dietz. Ruth Ryding and I have reacquainted over email just recently. And finally, after corresponding through Christmas cards for years with Tom Obert, we try to get together now when we can, since he is back in Minnesota.
Most of my time now is split between my career, my grandchildren, and travel. I still like to golf and boat, when I can find the time.

Black cows and cheeseburgers
I remember the Black Cows and Cheeseburgers at the golf club, the phone number ROckwell 3-3604 (did I call my parents that often?), and I am still shooting about the same score. . . on the green in par. And yes, Paula, I remember candy striping and hanging out at the laundromat and scaring ourselves in deserted farmhouses! I found my autograph book from Lincoln School with a note from "your horse, Lightning, Billie Jo Jones". And Sandi Pennar, I really enjoyed your entry on the blog site…It was so funny and clever that it took me this long to get the nerve to send mine in. Bonita, thoughts come to me of Lake Victoria and dark nights. Yikes, the memories are coming back! See you all soon!

Charlie Stark, software engineer, looks to future

This came today from Charlie Stark, who lives in Northfield, Minn. -- TB

Forty years? Macalester, UofM, USAF (as a spy), WSU, and 30 years of "software engineering". Doesn't seem like much until one considers family!
Rachel, who some of you met at the last reunion, and I have been married for over 26 years and have three great children: Rebecca lives and works in San Diego and loves the weather - she always hated the Minnesota cold! Jonathan is still going to college - in his seventh year - working towards a Cello Performance major and a Studio Arts major (you may find some of his work on the Web soon). And our baby, Michelle, just graduated this spring with an Environmental Studies major.
But changes the last couple of years have started me contemplating the future instead of looking back. I think it started with Michelle's interest in caring for God's planet. Then Jonathan's "It's a Miracle" recovery from what was called a musician's career ending injury, making him very aware of what he is eating to care of his physical self. Plus, Rachel is dealing with MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivities) which makes even a walk in the neighborhood nearly impossible. And Rebecca has recently started to react to numerous foods. I'm contemplating what will be our generation's legacy? Will it be remembered as the generation that does itself and Mother Nature in with technology? Or will we rally soon enough to help Mother Nature and the human race survive?
Enough of the heavy stuff! Thanks to Stan for all of his work in keeping the Web site up to date and organized. It's been a blast reading the memories. Does anyone remember who it was looking for his car in the weeds after collecting cardboard for the homecoming bond fire? And why did Connie Volden scream as we were exiting the gym after commencement?
See you at the re-onion!

Sue and Karl Tegland send regrets from the coast

We will not be able to attend the reunion but send our greetings to everyone. We had planned for months to attend, but a number of recent personal and family matters have conspired to keep us home. We have a son leaving for college in the next few weeks, and another son who is in the midst of a series of medical and legal troubles (O.K., he's in court-ordered drug treatment).

Also, Karl is caring for an elderly cousin here in Seattle, who has some serious medical problems and at the moment is in the hospital. And we're in the midst of selling our house, to downsize a bit.

Other than all of the above commotion, things are going fine. The two of us were separated for a while (O.K., five years), but have reunited and live in Karl's townhouse on a lake in Everett, Washington.

Karl has been a free-lance author for West Publishing Company (St. Paul) for 26 years and specializes in reference books for lawyers and judges. For the last ten years, he also played guitar in a successful band in Seattle, playing mostly food festivals and fairs in the summer, and casinos in the winter. He retired from the music business at the end of 2004. His standard line is that of a politician ("I want to spend more time with my family"), but he was really tired of hauling out heavy equipment at 2:00 a.m. in the rain.

Sue is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor, and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in mental health counseling. She is taking the summer off to attend to all of the above-described commotion, and particularly to get her house ready to sell.

So -- hello to all our friends at the reunion. Wish we could be there!!

Susan Gorham Tegland and Karl (K.B.) Tegland

We lost "Fenny" in 1974

Gary Faehnrich is pictured above with a bunch of his classmates (That's Tom Obert and Paul Navratil and Kathy Carlson in the background. Not sure of the other girls.) John Seim and others called him "Fenny". His cousin, Marie Schultz Daugherty, sent us the following this weekend. -- TB

Stan:
I was finally able to find the obituary for my dear cousin Gary Faehnrich. We had so much fun growing up together - school, church and family gatherings. We went through school and confirmation together so we shared many important events in our young lives. It's hard to believe that he died in 1974, 31 years ago. His obituary was published June 5, 1974 in the Lake Region Echo:
"Gary Faehnrich was born in Minneapolis on May 1, 1947, the son of Mr. and Mrs. L.M. (Mix) Faehnrich. Gary was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith. He attended Alexandria Schools, graduating in the class of 1965. Gary served two years in the United States Navy and after his Honorable discharge was attending school at St. Cloud Minnesota at the State College.
Gary was accidentally killed in an automobile accident on Sunday, May 26, 1974, at the age of 27. He is survived by his parents; one sister, Sue (Mrs. William Hoffman) of Villard, Minn. and one niece, Wendy Sue Hoffman.
Funeral services were held at First Lutheran Church May 28 with the Rev. Philip Westby and the Rev. Ronald Otterson officiating. Burial was at Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Alexandria. Pallbearers were his cousins, Dan Hanson, Guy Lommen, Richard Lindquist, David Lindquist, Gerry Hanson, Roger Schultz, Mark Lindquist and Tom Lindquist.
Karl Kolstad sang "Come Ye Disconsolate" accompanied by Delores Midboe. Military Honors were given at the grave site."

"Midnight Cowboy" audition photo

Karl Bennett Tegland in a 1968 casting tryout for the role of Enrico Salvatore "Ratso" Rizzo, Joe Buck's (played by Jon Voigt) sidekick in the Midnight Cowboy. The role was eventually won by Dustin Hoffman who went on to claim an Academy Award. (Photo courtesy United Artists)

Volunteer needed to make reunion nametags

A call for help went out today to all members of the Jefferson Senior High Class of 1965.
"We're looking for a volunteer," said President Paul Strandberg, "someone who can make our reunion nametags with pictures on them. We'll need about 100 tags, I expect, based on early returns."
President Strandberg mentioned two factors making these nametags necessary: "Some of us have changed in appearance during the past 40 years," he explained. "Also, some of us have sustained slight memory issues. Those two factors combined would seem to make it advisable to create nametags with photos on them. Didn't we do that for the last reunion? I don't remember now."
Strandberg believes he now resembles actor Henry Gibson, but not so much Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
If you or someone you know has access to the technology used to copy photos from the Alexian and affix them to a pin-on nametag label, please contact the Trailboss. You'll be reimbursed for reasonable expenses and you'll have the pride of knowing that you made a special contribution to the success of the '65Roundup. We'll need nametags for each paid up attendee listed on the blog. And if you get a little creative about the final product, you'll receive accolades from the yet-to-be-named emcee.
Contact the Trailboss@swpub.com

Future Farmers of America officers, 1965

Front row, Ken Faber, Paul Anderson, Kathy Nelson (Chapter Sweetheart), Mark Benson; back, Don Wilke, Joe Drexler, Larry Olson, Jim Ritten, Maurice Gulbranson

Checking the list -- 88 coming so far

Quartermaster Karen Schjei Benson, Trailboss Stan Rolfsrud and bull wrangler Mark Benson checked the latest list of attendees for the Class of 1965 Roundup at The Corral in Nelson coming soon, Aug. 6. As of Friday, when this photo was taken in the Trailboss's bunkhouse, there were 88 tickets sold. The reunion 15 years ago drew 125; we're expecting more this year. Be sure to get your request for tickets in to Karen immediately by sending a check for $25 for a couple and $15 for a single to Karen Benson, 916 Ridge, Stoughton, Wisconsin, 53589. (Photo by Mrs. Trailboss)

Registered to attend so far: Alverne and Ruth Helie Anderson; Douglas and Diane Anderson; LaVonne Feda Andres; Lorlee Bartos; Mark and Karen Schjei Benson; Bruce and Mary Jane Arendt Black; Judy Blanchard; Charles and LaVonne Braunschweig; Richard and Dawn Crouse; Judy Seppanen Davis; Jerry Deleski; Joe and Beth Drexler; Gary and Marlene Trousil Dynda; John and Kathy Josephs Faust; William and Jeannie Affeldt Guenther; Kathleen Schultz Hagemeister; Gary and Paula Widstrom Hanson; Robert Helie; John and Judith Herdan; Harland Hoffland; Gregory Johnson; Thomas and Anne Kiehne; Harvey and Pat Ziebarth Kolodjeski; Clifford and Beverly Roers Korkowski; Jerome Lanigan and Luann Hammerschmidt; Lynda Malmgren; Kathy Carlson McCabe; James McPhee; Dennis and Cathy Bakke Miller; Paul and Margaret Nokes, Lynn (nee Joni Hopfner) Nordstrom; Wanda Meyer Navratil; Tom and Ruth Obert; Keiran (OB) and Diane Hoffman O’Brien; Charlie and Mary Olson; Larry and Karen Olson; Patty Collins Owen; Bryon and Susan Hutchins Peterson; Gerald and Barbara Kloehn Pyle; Stan and Kathleen Rolfsrud; John and Marilyn Rudd; Gregory and Mary Schmidt; David Serie; Jim and Sara Smith Sevey; Charles Stark; Will and Kathleen Sherry Skadsberg; Paul and Susan Strandberg; Robert and Sharon Watson; Ken and Teresa Wadsworth Widstrom; Donald and Joanne Wilke; Darrell and Judy Williams; Ruth Ryding Yamaguschi and guest.

Texas holds 'em; Diane McCarthy sends regrets

Dear Stan,
This is Diane McCarthy Hendricks reporting. I have been married to my wonderful husband, Bill, for 33 years. We had two children - the oldest is Jeff who recently was married in Corpus Christi, Texas, on June 18, 2005. Unfortuately, they do not live in Texas right now, but both sides of the family are trying to get them to move back. They currently live in Tampa, Fla.
Our daughter, Lisa, had a heart transplant in 1994, and she passed away in September of 2004. In those ten years, she did and saw more things than her parents have ever seen. She graduated from high school, college, and went to Europe twice. She is truly an "angel in our hearts".
My husband and I will not be able to attend the reunion, as I work for the school district in Carrollton, Tex. We have to report to school on August 5th (the kids do not start until August 15th, however.) We will surely be thinking about all of you - starting next year (2006), school is not to start until after Labor Day.
I attended the Reunion in 1990 - can't believe that was 15 years ago! Hopefully, the next time the reunion takes place, Bill and I will be able to attend. Have a great time!
Sincerely,
Diane McCarthy Hendricks

Hooray! Another Anderson checks in (Douglas)

Douglas and Diane Anderson emailed to say they will be attending the reunion Aug. 6. They live in Crystal, Minnesota and have been married for 31 years. They raised three boys who are now 30, 28 and, on July 31, 21 years old.
Their boys blessed them with grandchildren: Douglas II has two daughters (ages 8 & 7); Brian has a four-year-old boy and John has a baby girl due in Setpember. Douglas has two daughters from a previous marriage that added two grandchildren( boy age 18 and a girl 14) to the family.

The Trailboss was delighted to hear from some more Andersons, as they are harder to find than Nelsons, Johnsons, or, for that matter, Rolfsruds. We've heard from Joyce and Kaleen, mourned the loss of Neil, but we can't locate Brad, Dorothy, Glenn, Paul or Raymond. Let's go, posse!

Take that, Big Ole!

Betty Pederson Putzka and her husband, Gordon, pause trailside near an Alaskan icon that hardly rivals Alexandria's Big Ole in stature, but hey, this one appears to be carved from real wood. Betty wonders if anyone would recognize her from this photo. Guess we spilled the beans. You look terrific, Betty, sorry you Californians won't be able to make the reunion. Thanks for your note. This blog is nothing without them. -- Trailboss

Betty Pederson Putzka looks for all the wrong faces

Hi everyone!
Just want to let you know I think of all the fun times I had in Alex. Whenever I get back there, I always hope I will see someone I know, but I keep looking for the high school kids I knew back when. No wonder I don't recognize anyone there.
I haven't really lived in Alexandria since I graduated from high school. I went off to college at St. Cloud, then transferred to U of M in St. Paul. Since school wasn't my favorite thing to do, I left to go to work in Seattle (silly me, when I had an easy life as a student).
While in Seattle, I met my husband, Gordon. He was in the Army. Our first year of marriage was spent in Frankfurt, Germany, thanks to the US Army. When I got there, Jane Brockopp was just going home from their stint in Germany. After Germany, we came to California, which
is where Gordon is from, and we have lived here since, except for two years in Texas.
When you stop to think of all those years, it is kind of mind boggling. We didn't have children, so we can't gauge how long we were in certain places by "the age of the kids."
I have been retired for two years and love every minute of it. I worked in the business office as an accountant at the Antelope Valley High School District in the Lancaster/Palmdale area.
My hobbies have kept me busy in retirement. I love to be outside in the garden. Since I live in a desert area, it is a little harder to keep everything living than in Minnesota. I also am an avid quilter and like to hike.
Since my husband retired, we have been traveling in our RV. Last year we were gone for two months, which included a week in Minnesota and time in Texas and the states in between. Our focus was to see many of the National parks. It was a great trip and we met a lot of great people.
My present family consists of three cats.
I won't be making it to the reunion, but will think of you all getting together. It has been great reading about everyone on the website. If anyone would like to get in touch with me, my email
address is: "bgcats@sbcglobal.net". I would love to hear from you.
Betty Pederson Putzka

Jan Schlosser Line will be at a 4-wheel truck pull

Trailboss:
The Class of 1965 Reunion at The Corral in Nelson and the other events sound like a lot of fun. Unfortunately, we have other commitments that weekend.
My husband Lawrence and I just celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary on June 14. We’ve lived in the Clarissa area the past 35 years or so. We own a machine shop business in Long Prairie. We have three children, all married and residing in Minnesota. Two girls and a boy. We have eight grandchildren, four boys and four girls, of which the two oldest graduated from high school this year. The others are 16, 13, 10, 8, 3 and 1 years old. We enjoy spending time with them and going to their activities.
I worked as a bookkeeper for the local Cenex Service Station for 26 years and I am now retired.
We have a summer hobby of 4-wheel drive truck pulling and belong to the NTPA. We do this with our oldest daughter and son-in-law. We travel the tri-state area and sometimes further. It keeps our weekends busy and we will be in Waverly, Iowa the weekend of the reunion.

Jan Schlosser Line
Clarissa

'65Roundup Best Bull Golf Outing in the chute

Sara Smith Sevey, above, in a photo submitted recently by a secret pal, reports a nice showing for the '65Roundup Best Bull tournament. Scheduled to play are Paul Strandberg, Jim McPhee, Mark and Karen Benson, Jim Clifford, Kathy Sherry Skadsberg, Byron and Susan Peterson, Brian Bergland and Susan Nelson, Tom Obert, Bruce and Mary Jane Arendt Black, Tom and Anne Kiehne, and Jim and Sara Sevey. There's still room for more, Sara says.

Cruisin' in Tucson

Mike Foss and Charlie Olson aboard Mike's fun car last winter. (What is that car?) Charlie says he's made contact with Mike again and that Mike says he'll check in with the Roundup. Charlie thinks he remembers that Mike gave himself the car as a 50th birthday present. Charlie absolutely did not mention anything about a mid-life crisis.

Kathy Schultz working with 'pathways of energy'

(Here's a note from Kathy Schultz Hagemeister. She's coming to the reunion. Here's some background about her. --Trailboss)

By Kathy Schultz Hagemeister
I work in an alternative health care clinic. I have my own patient/client base which involves a program called EDS or Electro Dermal Screening. This involves working with meridians or pathways of energy. We all have them and also may have health challenges that are compromised due to imbalance within our bodies. It is an interesting field and have been doing this type of work over four years.
I am also a health education coach and work extensively with nutrition and supplementation.
By now you probably know I am NOT retired, as some of you may be. I enjoy the challenge to create health and wellness and probably won't be retiring until someone tells my I am too feeble to continue. Ha.......
I have three sons and three grandsons. They are doing well owning and operating their own businesses. One is a professional fishing guide. Sounds fun, doesn't it? A dream job in many eyes, but is hard work.
One of my favorite things to do the past 30 years is "run". Marathons and foot races were a part of my summer schedule for years. The past few years I only do it for fun and to keep in some sort of shape? Six miles daily is all I do but also in the summer I add long bike rides, etc. So far my body has been able to keep up.
Last Dec. 20-Jan. 4 I took a lovely trip to Asia. Yes, I was there when the Tsunami hit. I was not on the Islands, but on a 3 1/2 hour cruise inland. It was such an unbelievable sight and place to be. Everyone is gracious and wonderful to tourists. We make up a great deal of their economy and their reaction was fear that we would not want to come back. Even after a 20-hour flight to get there, I would go back in a heart beat and will return in the near future.
OK, enough for now, another patient is patiently waiting.
I look forward to catching up with everyone. See you soon.
Sincerely,
Kathy Schultz Hagemeister

Here's an interesting read

http://www.jsonline.com/lifestyle/advice/jul05/337199.asp

Give us a call, Sharon.

Rock and Roll Roundup at The Corral Aug. 6

The 65Roundup Entertainment Impresario John Herdan has reported securing the services of Rick Beresford, his band of sons, and many others to jam the evening of Aug. 6. The proposed playlist includes "Blue Suede Shoes" (Carl Perkins/Elvis); "The Midnight Hour" (Wilson Pickett) and "Runaway" (Del Shannon). Rick, pictured above left with Dave Erickson this Spring, says "Chubby Checker came back to Taste of Minnesota to sing 'The Twist'. Will we see Mike Geiser return to the stage to sing 'Peppermint Twist'? Will Karen Schjei Benson sing 'I Left My Heart in ... Mason City'?"

Meanwhile, Herdan says the evening's entertainment is beginning to shape up. No word yet on poetry from Paul Strandberg. Older classmates who don't like loud music or rock and roll anymore should take comfort in the fact that there will be plenty of time left to visit, the loud music won't last forever, and you can always go to the bar or go outside for a smoke. Let the fun begin Aug. 6. Don't have a ticket? You snooze, you lose. See Karen.

'65 Roundup at The Corral introduces Bullroar

This is Bullroar, official mascot for the Class of '65 Roundup at The Corral in Nelson. If Class President Paul Strandberg can pull the necessary permits from the host city, Bullroar will make a brief appearance in The Corral, for just a few minutes before cocktail hour. Bullroar will not be allowed anywhere on the premises after that.

The way we were. . .

Top left, Sara Smith, Marilyn Olson, Betty Larson; right, Jim Clifford; lower left, Rich Divine and Lynn Dietz; lower right, Karl B. Tegland.

Give us a note, Kathy! 

Top: Lynne Spellman, Bill Gilman, Judy Blanchard; Class play cast, Al Wicken, Lynn Halstead.

Upon seeing the class play photo above, George Schultz, one of the sophomore "cops" in the photo, responds: That was "Arsenic and Old Lace" directed by Eileen Habstritt. I was Officer O'Hara. The other two cops were Rick Gorham and Rick Gawthrop. Betty Larson was Elaine, and the two old aunts were Mary Jane Arendt and Lynne Spellman. Glenn Anderson was Mortimer and Dave Overly was Jonathan. Jim Attridge was Einstein, and Dave Susag (in the pith helmet) was Teddy. Man, that was a long time ago! That would have been in the fall of '64, when you guys were Seniors. I haven't thought about that play in ages, but seeing the picture, it all came back in a flash.
Thanks, George. FYI classmates, George grew up to be a jet pilot. Really. After he graduated from the Air Force Academy, he flew C-130's all over the world for eight years. Since then (1979) he has been flying for American Airlines. He was based in Buffalo for the first few years, and has been based in Chicago, flying out of O'Hare since 1984. --Trailboss.

Need some help here. Trailboss@swpub.com
Sandi Pennar Bonesteel responds:
Hi Stan,
Some I'm pretty sure of, and some wild guesses. On pics of girls:
Gloria Nord, Billie Jo Jones, Marie Schultz (in background Marilyn Olson???) Diane Hoffman, Ruth Ryding, Jane Johnson
Baby pic---no clue, could it be you????(birthday boy/birthday suit)
Group picture at Central: Me, Jane Johnson (I think--the dress is same as on other picture) Lorlee Bartos??? Marlene Zimmel, Gloria Nord, Kathy Josephs, don't know next one but after that is Bille Jo, then in back row looks like Claudia and Paula. Boys--the only ones I could say for sure are KB Tegland and a Steinmetz twin, maybe blonde guy on right is Charley Braunschweig. That's aboout all I can tell. If it were more clear and had a magnifying glass, might do better!
Sandi