Yes, this is Rich Divine. He didn't actually graduate with us, but we'd like to contact him nonetheless. Like Terry Prine, Dee Ann Huffman, Betsy Thomas and others, classmembers still consider them to be a part of our class and would like to find them and invite them to the '65Roundup. Any ideas? Trailboss@swpub.com
Greetings from Larry Olson, the good looking one. (I’m sure that “Lawrence”, the other Larry Olson, might properly argue. He's the one in the blog Archives with Connie Volden.)
Well it all comes full circle! I thought I’d never come back to Alex after high school. Now I’m retired and living here and loving it! It’s still hard to believe how much Alex has grown! I remember when they put in “New 29” and the freeway. Now when you mention “new 29” everyone looks at you funny. That’s progress. I used to live by the “Coke Plant” which was nearly the end of town. Now that’s not there anymore and town goes a lot further south. We were fierce rivals of Glenwood in sports, now we’re not even in the same conference.
Trailboss, you wanted some history, so here goes. I graduated in the upper part of the lower quarter of our class. Hey, that was an accomplishment, considering what I put into it.
Put 3 years, 8 months and 5 days into the Navy during the nasty little war over there in SE Asia. (Got an early out of the total 4 years, whoopee.) Did have fun though, got to see the world, didn’t catch a communicable disease and managed not to get shot. In retrospect, I did grow up a lot and utilized the GI bill to get back into school.
Dinked around at the U of M for a year, didn’t like that and then went to electronics school at Wadena Tech. Really enjoyed that and met a wonderful woman there who agreed to marry me. We will be celebrating 33 years together this October and that IS an accomplishment ... mostly on her part though because I certainly wouldn’t put up with me that long! We had two boys, David and Grant, now 26 and 24. No grandchildren yet, but David will be married this summer and we’re hoping. We put on a new addition to accommodate them.
Land on Latoka
I tell everyone with kids at home to enjoy them while you’ve got them. When they’re gone, they’re gone! We sure enjoyed ours. They spent their grade school in Moorhead. The kids went to Catholic School, we all had a ball and we all keep in close touch with friends we made there. I had some land on Latoka that beckoned so we built a house and moved to Alex in 1992. Both boys went to junior high and graduated from Jefferson in 1997 and '98.
David was my race car driver. We had him in go kart racing for 5 years and when he turned 16 got him into a dirt track modified for another 5 years. We had a wonderful racing partnership with the whole family with a lot of great memories and did very well, mostly racing here at the Viking Speedway. David went off to school in Mankato, met a wonderful gal and now we’ve lost him. Not really, but it’s tough not having him around. Besides, I lost my driver and mom won’t let me drive anymore.
My youngest son, Grant, was the jock. Ran track, on the individual 400 and 4 X 4 team, that went to state every year. Played basketball up through 11th grade as point guard. He was very fast but not tall which hurt in the end. Grant excelled in football and I have to always commend the football program at Jefferson. They played the kids that paid their dues. As starting cornerback his team went to state in 11th grade where he played the championship game at the Minneapolis Metrodome against Eden Prairie, where they got waxed. (But, hey, they got there!)
They both went to college. David graduated with an engineering degree and Grant has a year left that he’ll finish up this and next year at St. Thomas – I hope!! Both are doing very well, my wife and I are pretty proud of them.
Hopeless
I was on the road for 28 years selling medical equipment in the Dakota’s and western Minnesota. I sold anesthesia equipment, monitoring, infant care equipment etc. etc. for the same company all but 4 years of that time. The first four years I was an electronic technician and serviced all the equipment until they decided I was hopeless and made me a salesman. My company was bought out by another and merged two sales forces together. As one of the older guys, I was given an opportunity to retire. It was such a great deal that I took the money and ran.
That was the end of 2000 at which time our two boys were just leaving home, which left my wife home alone so it worked out real well to retire. We sold the house on Latoka and are now swamp dwellers. Well, kinda anyway, we moved out southeast of Forada by the “Forada Swamp”. We have a nice little, and little is nice when it comes to upkeep. The first year I did some traveling with a race team all over the country. A local racer put together a Winston Cup race car that we ran 10 races in the ARCA Series in 2001. We would race on Saturdays just before the Winston Cup would race on Sundays at the big tracks in Charlotte, Atlanta, Chicago, Kansas City, Michigan. We did well enough on our small budget that we finished in the top ten and on the top lap in the last three races. Not many people can say they were there inside the racetrack with some of the big Nascar names. I had a ball but we ran out of money and had to quit. But, hey, he gave it a shot, not many racers can say they actually tried to go to the big time.
Now I’m at the local Ford and Chrylser dealership, Juettner Motors, as the Internet Sales Manager. Mama told me to get my fat butt out of the house, I knew one of the owners there and that’s where I’m at now. I’m having a ball and reacquainting myself with a lot of our fellow classmates. Instead of being a competitor at the Viking Speedway here in Alex, now I’m on the board of directors and help run the place.
Wife is the smart one
The major love of my life is the smart one in this family. Karen is a broker at Merrill Lynch in Alex and really enjoys her career. It is different now, not being the main bread winner in the family.
I’ve got four years until 62 at which time I’ll fully retire and pursue another hobby that I’m working on. But Karen has another 10 years and then we’ll see. It’s been interesting these last years, having survived a heart attack and getting back into a shape that is not round. It is amazing the old classmates I run into and are talking health aspects. It was always the old folks that drove me nuts talking about their operations but now I’m an “old folk”!! Go figure.
I’ll do some checking on the missing names and then look forward to meeting everyone again. I’m sure no one will recognize me as back then I was a skinny 125 pounds and now, well let’s just say I’m almost twice the guy I was then, no more hair and a lot more life lines around the eyes. I will send off my $25 check for ma and me and will "be there or be square." Yes, square dancing might carry the western theme too far!!
With Best Regards, Larry Olson
Robin Kochie in a leisure moment. We don't know the photographer, but we do notice a full stack of 45s loaded on Robin's bedside record player.
We've asked classmates to respond to the question, "Where were you when these three national tragedies occurred: JFK Assassination, Challenger Crash and World Trade Center attack? Sandi Pennar Bonesteel and Lorlee Bartos demonstrate that our memories are clear when we think of these events. -- TB
Where Was I?
By Sandi Pennar Bonesteel
When the Challenger blew up: I will always remember this, because it happened on my birthday. It was Jan. 28, 1986, so it was my 39th. I had just dropped my daughter, Kara, at school following an orthodontist appointment and then went to the Pediatric clinic where I worked.
The place wasn’t as busy as it usually was. Our waiting room was usually full with walk-ins by then. No one there knew anything until our first appointment showed up…. late...which wasn't like them. They had had the TV on and couldn’t get out the door when this happened. It was chilling to watch it later.
The World Trade Center attack:
I was backing out of my garage that morning to go to the gym for a client, when I heard the first reports on the radio. This was when the first plane had struck and they initially thought it was an accident. They went back to music. By the time I pulled up to the gym, there were more reports, and I saw people leaving in droves, on their cell phones, etc.
I walked into an empty gym. I wasn’t able to leave, as the gym owner was waiting for me to cover the place, as he had a meeting somewhere. So there I stayed, all by myself, with only the radio, until I could get home later.(this is a "hardcore" gym---no TV!)
My client had left, along with everyone else, once they knew the enormity of it. I think I could have locked up the place and left, as no one came in. Once I heard about the second plane, and the towers falling, I had a pit in my stomach.
I was freaking out when I heard one of the planes was American Airlines, as my nephew was an AA pilot. I finally got home, saw the horrific replays and, after several hours, got in touch with my sister, who said Scott wasn’t flying that day. I later found out that another nephew had had an appointment at the WTC Sept 12, on one of the floors above where the planes had hit. Just recalling this is giving me chills.
JFK Assassination:
I had just come from the cafeteria, and was in the hallway, going to my locker. I think it was Paula who first told me. She had heard it from someone and intially thought it was a bad joke until she heard other reports. We had Mr. Morrison for History next period, and needless to say there was no class.
There had been an announcement over the PA system and everyone rushed to the classrooms to listen. There was none of the usual shenangians going on in the hallways---they were deserted. We all sat in silence, absolutely dumbstruck---same thing for 6th period.
After that, everyone quietly left for home, as they were anxious to get home and turn on the TV. I was scheduled to work after school that day, at Our Lady of Mercy Hospital. There I had access to TV as it was in the patients' rooms, so I saw my first images there.
I was in a fog, and it was pretty hard to do anything. I remember this old man swearing, "That dirty bastard killed our President" and he was crying. Everyone was. It was a horrible day. I was off the weekend, and the TV was on the entire time. The lines of people filing in to pass the casket, John John saluting, and the riderless horse with the boots on backwards are what first comes to mind. Those images will stay with me forever.
By Lorlee Bartos
As to the Challenger question: I was lying in bed on Saturday morning listening to NPR when I heard a loud boom and thought perhaps it was a traffic accident on my street. As the news came in on the radio, I knew it had been the Challenger as it crashed in East Texas about 75 miles from me. We could hear the boom that far away. (Uh, Lorlee -- I think that would be Columbia. Challenger was the one that blew up right after blast off because of its damaged "O" rings. --TB)
Twin Towers
I was at home again listening to NPR….. Got more information on the way in to work on the bus, all of us knowing something and guessing at the rest. By the time I got to the office the first tower was falling and we were watching on a TV in the marketing department. Shortly thereafter, our building was evacuated since it is the tallest building in downtown Dallas (70 stories) on a direct path from the Dallas Forth Worth airport and there were still rumors of aircraft unaccounted for.
On the way home on the bus, everyone came out of the normal solitary worlds they inhabit and I learned the name of a fantastic rose from a woman I had never met. I planted it the next spring. So for me, although its real name is "Mermaid", it will always be the "World Trade Center Rose."
And the JFK Question…. A bit more detail…. Chess Club during lunch break and Michael Perreton was the bearer of the news which I found unbelievable and told him so.
Okay, classmates, now send your recollections to Trailboss@swpub.com
Last time Charlie Olson checked in he said, sure, he'd look up Mike Foss and get him connected with us. Well, we haven't heard anything from Mike since about when this picture was taken. "What's interesting about the Mike Foss picture besides Mike," a regular roundup reader wrote today, "is where it was taken. That's the sunken ball field/winter skating rink behind Central. Mike is standing about where first base would be." Ok gang, good work. We found first base, now let's find Foss. -- Trailboss
Judy Lindquist Olson retired last July after working with the state of Minnesota for 31 1/2 years. Her husband, Dennis, had retired two years ago.
The couple lives in rural Alexandria where they can watch the wildlife from their new home. They built it last summer, but, Judy says, it is still a work in progress.
They've got four grandchildren to enjoy, and when they're not doing that they fish, hunt, ride a four-wheeler or just survey the kingdom.
Judy is a charter member of the MECA computer club, where she'd occasionally see the Trailboss's mom.
Steve Froemming and Connie Volden. Neither one has checked in with the Trailboss yet. Somebody prod them pronto. Not to sound pushy, but the Trailboss DOES have more photos.
The Trailboss and Bonita are all smiles April 17 because of Bonita's discovery: "Hi Stan, When we were at our lake place yesterday on Lake Miltona, I ran across the lake directory and it reminded me to look up Connie Volden's address. She is our summer neighbor two lots down. I don't have her e-mail address as it wasn't listed but her home address is: Connie Larson, xxx, Albertville, MN 55301. Hope this helps." Bonita
(Thanks Bonita. And here's a fun fact that is not so trivial, at least to me -- Connie was my date for Homecoming 1964. On another bright note today, Jerry Lanigan's significant other, Luann, emailed in Tom Toenjes' Carlos address. Luann also said Jerry is doing fine and working at Mills Fleet Farm in Alex, where he's been the last 25 years. Hopefully we can get a few more words from Connie, Tom, and Jerry ---- or Luann ---- for the Roundup. Alright gang, you too can get your picture taken on the Trailboss's lap, send those classmate addresses in now! And Obert, make some calls, the dock and lawn can wait. -- Trailboss)
By Stan Rolfsrud, Trailboss
Seeing thousands of people and dealing with the public every work day as a flight attendant for Northwest Airlines makes LaVonne Feda Andres really appreciate the privacy of her family life in Edina. She’s been flying for "good old Northwest" for 36 years now, and is definitely looking forward to retirement.
First, though, she has to see two children through college. Jessica is a sophomore at New York University in the Tisch School of the Arts at the Lee Strausburg Institute. LaVonne flies there often to see Jess acting in a performance. Back home, Matthew is a junior in high school with all that entails, including LaVonne’s responsibilities as a hockey mom. Right now they're in the midst of a college search and the ACT and SAT routine.
Grandpa's Attic
LaVonne misses the rural country area where she grew up. She enjoys visits with her 81-year-old, very busy and happy mother in Belleriver. And she hopes her schedule won’t prevent her from attending the Aug. 6 reunion in Nelson. Her sister, Karen, owns Grandpa’s Attic in Osakis. This month, LaVonne took her to New York to do some antique shopping. She’ll be going back to New York with her husband, Vince, next week to celebrate his birthday and see their daughter. Vince is from Hawaii so they've vacationed there often, spending time with his family.
At the end of the month, they’ll be in Toronto to cheer Matthew in a hockey tournament.
Around the bend...
When she has some time to relax at home, she loves reading, practicing yoga, walking and watching movies at home. "I spend a lot of time with my family and a few good friends," she says. The last good movie she rented was "Around the Bend." The sound track was good too, she says. She’s also been reading a lot of Edith Wharton novels lately, ". . .even though they’re a bit morbid," she laughs.
Although LaVonne's job as a flight attendant has taken her all over the world, she cherishes time with family and friends at home in Edina. In the photo, above, Byron Peterson had a question for LaVonne at the ReOnion.
By Stan Rolfsrud
Trailboss
Greg Johnson told Kathy Josephs Faust about the Class of 1965 Roundup website way last fall. She had a good look at it then and figured she’d have plenty of time to get her information reported to it. But "Tempus fugit" she says, in a phrase reminiscent of Miss Loe’s Latin class -- or somebody else’s.
Kathy’s coming to the reunion and she’s sending her bucks for it to Quartermaster Schjei in Wisconsin.
She also turned in some addresses – Karen Meyer Bird of Prior Lake, and Marlys Mrnak of St. Cloud. She noted that once we get a hold of Karen Bird it should be a cinch to find Sheryl Nack, because those two are cousins.
Jerry Del--inquent?
And Jerry Deleski? The guy who was so prominently featured in Jim Van Amber’s writings on the class web site? Well, the Roundup hasn't actually heard from Jerry yet, he's still at large, but Kathy Josephs Faust figures she can track him. After all, his sister is married to Kathy’s cousin.
Kathy’s been married to her husband John for 36 years. That's not a class record, but a good one, nonetheless. They have three daughters, one son, three sons-in-law, four grandsons, and two cats.
About a year ago, Kathy changed jobs and now works at a furniture and home decorating store in Savage, a booming suburb of Minneapolis.
Grape stomping
Thinking back, Kathy remembers Marlin Madsen as a favorite teacher. Like so many of us, he taught her biology (including birds, bees, etc.) and Driver’s Ed. The biology part was okay, though Kathy didn’t particularly enjoy cutting open stinky frogs and night crawlers (annelidia?). Kathy didn’t say anything about the birds and bees part, but hey, four kids. Nice going, Marlin!
Behind the wheel driver education was fun, she recalls, and figures Mr. Madsen was an excellent instructor because she has yet to have an accident and she’s only received one ticket…. which wasn’t her fault. (That’s her story and she’s sticking to it.)
She still sees Mr. Madsen once in a while, usually at the annual Grape Stomp at Carlos Creek Winery!
Fish story
Kathy’s still learning life’s lessons, she says, and most of her unforgettable moments have been forgotten, probably because age is creeping up.
John and Kathy love flying north of the 50th parallel in Ontario for a fishing expedition. "One week of no TV, radio, phone or responsibilities. Just peace, solitude, fish, Northern Lights, the call of the loons, fish.. you get the picture."
Life has been good and she’s looking forward to the rest of it.
"See you in August!"
By Stan Rolfsrud, Trailboss
Rewind to 1997. A car accident in France has killed Princess Diana. Thousands throng to London to mourn her passing. Kathleen and I settle for CNN’s wall-to-wall coverage.
I had no appreciation whatsoever for the Royals before I married. But when my wife set the alarm for 3 a.m. and awakened our three girls for the Wedding of the Prince to the Princess, I knew it was useless to resist. So there we were in 1997, me in my slippers and Kathleen holding the dog, watching the mourners toss flowers on the iron gates at Kensington.
"That’s her!" I yelled, nearly dumping my oatmeal.
"Who’s her," a startled, almost annoyed, Kathleen responded.
"That’s her," I insisted, "she just threw some flowers! You know her, she lives here in Eden Prairie, I am sure that is her."
"If she lives here in Eden Prairie, what’s she doing in London?" my wife asked.
"I don’t know. I know it's her. It's got to be her. She sat behind me in Mr. Perdue’s class. She gave her speech on how to pierce an ear lobe. It’s her, I am sure it is. I think she’s a painter now or something."
"What is she doing in London if she lives in Eden Prairie?" she repeated.
"I don’t know, she gets around a lot. Her husband has this big construction company that does things all over the world. They’re probably in Europe putting the roof on some cathedral or something. She used to be a flight attendant for Northwest. Her chums LaVonne Feda and Lynda Malmgren too. That’s her, alright."
"Who’s her!" an exasperated Kathleen asked.
"Diane Hoffman O’Brien!"
It was her. An email to the Trailboss today finally confirmed that Diane Hoffman was, indeed, at the funeral of Princess Diana. It provided a moment of marital satisfaction for the Trailboss. He always likes being correct in front of his wife.
Diane has two girls and four stepchildren. She finally became a grandmother two years ago. There are three of them now, two girls and a boy.
As a young mother, Diane used to golf and play cards with Lynn Deitz, Kathy Sherry and Margaret Linser. That was 30 years ago. The 1990 Class reunion started a monthly lunch routine for a while with Lynda Malmgren, LaVonne Feda and Kathy Carlson. Diane visits with Bonita Gilbertson most Fridays.
For the past 20 years she’s been a painter. (If The Corral in Nelson has an art gallery, the committee must request a ReOnion ReVue.) Diane also enjoys cooking, gardening, and the grandchildren. Then there are the two dogs and three horses.
Faithful Roundup Readers: there are even more Alexandria bridges to California, so to speak. You've heard of the Golden Gate? Yup, Diane’s hubby’s company is doing a retrofit on it as we speak.
The couple lives in Alex for a part of the year on Little Darling. Diane used to travel a lot with her husband, but grandchildren have slowed that considerably. She still keeps in touch with a young Frenchman she once met in London. Her husband did the roof on the Millennium building in Greenwich.
Her husband, OB, is reputedly quite the character. He golfs frequently with 1964 Alexandria graduate Paul Donley and even the Cub Roundup Reporter, Tom Obert.
Incidentally, Kathleen was delighted that her husband was right all along, but she was especially happy to learn that her neighbor, Diane, likes Texas Hold ‘Em. The Trailboss's wife is always looking for new blood. She’s got the chips and chairs. Just bring money, Diane.
Susan Graves Seltz and Stan and Kathleen Rolfsrud. In 1990, Susan, the 25th ReOnion Ramrod, invested the leftover reunion spare change. After the boom of the 90s and the bust of the new millenium, the class treasury now stands at $200. The funds have been duly transferred to Quartermaster Karen Schjei Benson in preparation for the Aug. 6 Roundup at the Corral in Nelson. Classmates, it is time to send your money to guarantee your entry to this prestigious event. Send $25 if you are going to bring a sweetie or $15 if you are coming as a single to Karen Benson at 916 Ridge, Stoughton, WI 53589. Your check is your receipt. We'll post attendees names online. Questions? msbenson@charter.net or trailboss@swpub.com
(Dick Crouse is the Trailboss's top deputy today. With his response to our request came a listing of no fewer than 30 classmates' names and addresses, as well as leads on others. If you look over the boldface names in the class lost and found, many are bold because of Dick. Thanks for the help! Dick, your spirit will make our reunion a great one! -- Trailboss)
Dick Crouse drives truck for Voyager Aluminum in Brandon. Their primary business is welding, fabrication and sales of aluminum. They serve a variety of industries and employ 55.
Dick has been married to his wife, Dawn, for twenty years. She works at the Douglas County Courthouse.
They have two sons, Joey, 19, and Jon, 17. The pair has kept them very busy over the years, particularly running them to hockey practice and games.
Dick's best teacher has been life experiences and the best life lesson learned: "Don't be a teacher."
All in all, Dick says, the good times and the bad times are just about even.
By Tom Obert
Roundup Reporter
Three weeks ago, fully-armed with a car, camera, and a generous expense allowance from Trailboss Stan, this reporter, with the invaluable assistance of guide Ruthie Sacagawea, set off in search of elusive '65 classmate, the Professor Doctor Colonel Tom Kiehne.
We began by heading west into South Dakota where the posted speed limit is "asfastasyoudare" and where the posted gas prices were "beyondyourmeans." We then went south through Nebraska and Kansas, which turned out to be surprisingly green for this time of year (apparently many "Kansanians" were quite taken aback to discover that water actually falls from the sky).
Hey, we know Ray Farley!
We spent the first night in a Wichita motel. When we drove into the parking lot, a pick-up with an "OU" flag flying from its window had backed into another pick-up, the only other vehicle on the lot, and hooked the rear bumpers together. As we watched the scene of attempted separation, all we could think was . . . "Boomer Sooner!" And as is so often the case on these adventures, we met a couple there at breakfast the next morning who were from Minnesota. They were snowbirds heading back from San Padre Island to Itasca, Minn. and are close friends with the Ray Farleys. Ray was a junior high science and math teacher in Alexandria.
On the road again, we began to hit the road kill transition area where from north to south it changes from squirrel, skunk, and deer to 'possum, armadillo, and longhorn steer. There is no sharp line of demarcation - more of a gradual merge. Maintaining a constant trip speed during these encounters is often challenged by a desire to provide proper interment to those poor creatures who lost their confrontation with an internal combustion vehicle.
Late on the second day, we made it to the Kiehne abode in Lakeway, Texas, in the hill country outside of Austin. You may have noticed that Dr. Kiehne has, to date, been loathe to submit his life story, or even a fragment, to the reunion blogsite. In the interest of fair and partial disclosure, I hereby toot his horn.
Voted most popular professor in his category
Tom was a West Pointer, a classmate of Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski (yes, I had to look up the spelling) and just a couple years behind Wesley Clark. Tom retired from the Army as a colonel and has been teaching and researching at the University of Texas for the past 14 years.
While we were there, he received an award as the most popular mechanical engineering professor at the university. Kudos, Tom! We enjoyed the hospitality of Tom and his wife Anne for several days and were treated to two rounds of golf at their home course, The Hills. The Hills is a Jack Nicklaus design course that will be hosting a Champions Tour tournament at the end of April. If you should watch that tournament, please know that Tom and I were both times able to hit the green (or nearly so) on the signature waterfall hole.
Booty shaking a felony?
While in Texas, we also visited with two sets of friends in San Antonio and the boyhood home of LBJ in Johnson City. To reflect how quickly perceptions can change, we were excited to find gas for a mere $2.01 per gallon in San Antonio. The major news stories in the state while we were there involved proposed legislation to prohibit "booty shaking" by high school cheerleaders (sigh), though it was not clear whether such backfield-in-motion would be considered a misdemeanor or a felony; and the prosecution of a judge for urinating in public (his defense was that he has prostate cancer). Both cases seemed disparate to our perception that the deeper one goes into the Bible Belt, the more likely one is to see roadside "gentlemen's clubs."
Enroute to St. Louis on the return trip and for the Final Four, we drove through some beautiful piney woods country between Texarkana and Little Rock, where we made a brief visit to the Clinton Library. In St. Louis, we met up with old and new friends from various Final Fours in the past - Ruthie's mom and sister drove over from Indiana to join us for the social events (incidentally, Purdue's new basketball coach is Ruthie's sister Rita's nephew).
We were only gone for two weeks - incredibly in that time Terri Schiavo, Pope John Paul II, Frank Perdue, Saul Bellow, and Prince Rainer all died, and we lost a dear neighbor to cancer in San Diego on the day we left. Much needed rain today - enjoyed it while listening to the Kingston Trio (hint: not a rap group).
p.s. To Trailboss Stan - I believe I may have a third party link to Dorothy Diment. She allegedly lives in Woodbury - will advise further when confirmed.
Roundup Reporter Tom Obert was recently assigned to research addresses and produce biographies of long-lost classmates for the blog. He was given a car, a camera and a generous expense account. That was two months ago. Here's what he's done so far: Lunch at a Twin Cities Country Club with the Class of 1965 Homecoming Queen Kathy Sherry Skadsberg while enjoying a basketball weekend in the Twin Cities. (Does it sound like the Trailboss is jealous?)
Hi Stan: This is Judy Roers Anderson. I saw Charlie Olson at a Subway Sandwich Shop in Alexandria April 4. He mentioned a class reunion and asked if I knew anything about it and I said NO! So I am thrilled!. It has been too many years and I believe our last reunion was the 25th. Way too long to wait. So THANK YOU for getting this going for all of us.
My personal stuff: Judy Roers Anderson, husband Earl. My two boys are Terry, 34, (Dayton, Minn., married with two boys, Logan 5, and Griffin 3) and Scott, 29, single in Dallas area.
Earl has two daughters: Maryann is married to Barry, living in Crystal, Minn., with a son, Cameron, 2 1/2 and a newborn daughter, Mattison, 1 1/2 weeks old and a stepdaughter, Gabrielle, 13. His other daughter, Christine, lives in Omaha, Neb. My husband is retired from the Alexandria School District. He taught 8th grade Social Studies at Central and Discovery Middle School and also coached the boys' varsity golf team for several years.
Dancing at Lakeside
I am currently an administrator assistant/receptionist for the Minnesota Eye Institute in Alexandria and a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant. My husband and I enjoy dancing and we belong to the Lakeside Ballroom Danceclub in Glenwood and are past presidents of that. We also enjoy traveling. We have been to Hawaii twice, Arizona four times so far, Texas a few times, Las Vegas and recently the Dominican Republic. We have also traveled extensively throughout Minnesota and neighboring states.
Thank you, and I hope to see everyone Aug. 6 at The Corral in Nelson.
Judy Roers Anderson
Pat Kuhl Cain, left, kindly corrected the Trailboss when she saw her picture on the Roundup web site over Pat Collins Owens' name. Ah well, that IS Barb Kloehn Pyle on the right, so the glass IS half full. The error did prompt Mrs. Cain to give us a fuller description of what she's been doing. You can enjoy that note, below. Somebody also wondered if it wasn't time to order tickets. Maybe it is. Quartermaster Karen Schjei Benson will handle all that, as the Trailboss isn't to be trusted with money. It's gonna be 25 bucks for couples and 15 for singles. Send her a check made out to '65 Roundup. You won't get anything back in the mail, but we'll try to list all the paid up folks soon on the web site. We can't do that just yet, of course, cuz nobody has paid yet, except a dear woman from California. We will hold your tickets at the Corral's Will Call window -- if we print any.
(Pat Kuhl Cain checked in about three months ago and promised the Trailboss some info about herself. She is a woman of her word. She writes: -- Trailboss)
After graduation I went to college in Kansas for a year and then transferred to Concordia College (now University) St. Paul and graduated with a BA in elementary education. I taught off and on for several years and ended up actually doing more years in preschool.
My husband (Larry), a teacher, principal, youth director, and now a pastor, and I live in Villard, only a few miles from Jackie (Kalina) Turk.
Sheltered life?
Larry and I serve a church in Villard and one in Grove Lake, a place I never knew existed until we moved here! And after reading some of the wonderful contributions from others, I really must have led a sheltered life in high school!
We have three children (ages 33, 31, 27) and six grandchildren, ranging in age from eight months to nine years. If I had a picture of them all I'd send it along (once I learned how) since they are definitely the cutest grandkids! They all live in the Wright - Duluth area.
We've lived in too many houses to remember but other than five years teaching north of Detroit, Michigan years ago and one year in Indiana when Larry returned to seminary, we've lived in Minnesota -- Chaska, Minneapolis, Excelsior, Fairmont, Pipestone and now Villard.
As reported earlier, I'm working for the "enemy", the Minnewaska School System (of which Glenwood is a part). I'm in the counseling department as an administrative assistant.
My "other" jobs at church are the most enjoyable, however -- playing organ and working with choirs. Bev (Roers) Korkowski and I have kept in touch over the years so keep up on some news, but it'll be fun to get together and see how none of us have changed!!!!! It can't be 40 years already!
Keep up the good work, Stan!
Pat Kuhl Cain
(The Trailboss recently prodded Byron Peterson to get busy and write something for the web site. Last fall he bought a love nest in Plymouth, Minn. and we hadn't heard from him since. If he doesn't want to write about all that, we suggested, how about sharing your take on the meaning of life? He responds:)
Hey Stan,
Thanks for the reminder. I am certainly way overdue on getting back to you. I apologize. Our new situation is great, but it hasn't created much of a break to this point. Our first move in October (me) went about as well as moves can go. One down. We moved Susan in bits and pieces until she finally sold her house and closed in February. Easy move, right? Not hardly. We now are fortunate enough to live in half a house while the other half remains as storage.
So, you want me to pontificate about the meaning of life and all the things I have learned about during this journey, eh? Well, I think I can sum it up in four little words: "Keep it simple, stupid"! No, really, it has been a very special journey, and I really have no complaints. Maybe a regret or two here and there, but nothing worth mentioning. I believe I was very fortunate to grow up in Alexandria, meet all the fine classmates that attend Jefferson Senior High, and graduate with that special class of '65. Those experiences have served me well over the years and shaped me into the person I am today. I am proud of that, and I am proud that I have been so fortunate. We grew up at a time when human experience and growth was really changing. We were exposed to many ideas and alternative ways of looking at our world, how we wanted to live, and the kind of world we wanted to live in. The world was alive with dreams. We had the opportunities to follow our dreams, sometimes never knowing where they might lead us, but forever believing in the human spirit and goodness of what we might do. We were energetic, relentless, and naive. We were given an appreciation for learning, the arts, and the journey of the soul.
Tying the knot
I am now embarking on a new adventure, one where success has eluded me until now. After 26 years, I believe I have found the right person, and I am again ready to make an attempt at marriage. Susan Hutchins has accepted my proposal, and we are off to the chapel in May. God willing, it will be a grand adventure. One I very much look forward to. We will go to Italy for our honeymoon. We will visit the countryside, galleries, wineries, shops, and cafes.
Oh yeah, and work, mustn't forget to tell about that. After all, that's why we get to do all these fun things, right? I continue with the practice of law, doing primarily insurance defense in personal injury. I have recently started to do asbestos litigation. I imagine that I will do this on a full-time basis for at least another 5 or 6 years.
"Working" with Street Rods
We make our home in Plymouth which is close to work for me (Golden Valley) and Susan (Plymouth). The dog (hers) and the cat (mine) make for an interesting daily routine. I have been working with sports cars and street rods the last few years, which makes for a nice diversion. I still own property in Alexandria, and I spend some time there during summers. Susan and I enjoy traveling, so we try to do as much of that as we can. I continue to keep in touch with some of our classmates, and I am really looking forward to seeing old friends at the reunion. I understand the website is a must see and I will look at it as soon as this is completed.
Since our last reunion in 1990, I have a wonderful grandson with whom I spent some very precious time. We enjoy our Saturday mornings throughout the season at the Children's Theatre, and when the weather permits, we play some golf. He is twelve next month.
It will soon be time to hitch up the ole SUV, or whatever, and mosey on up to the "Corral" for a little rendezvous with the class of '65. The "trailboss" has ordered that we "mov'em out" and hit that well-known trail to Nelson. We'll be there, and I hope all those classmates will, too.
Thanks, Stan, for all the hard work. Talk to you soon.
Byron Peterson
(We sent about 20 letters out this week from addresses given us by Patty Wicken and Pat Collins. We were delighted with a prompt response by email from Charlie Olson. -- Trailboss.)
Hey Stan,
It’s great to hear that someone picked up the ball and organized a reunion! Thanks to organizers! It sounds like a great time, and will be fun to see everyone again.
Here’s a little history on me, Charlie Olson: Married to Mary Lund, Class of ’68. We have five kids between us. Chad, 38, has our Grandson, Nathan who’s 8 years old. Next are Cory, 34, (my son) and Jason, 34, (Mary’s son), Stephanie, 30, and Christina 26. We have one more grandchild on the way in June.
I’m enjoying my passion for antiques and collectibles, and sell on eBay, in a local shop, and also antiques shows around the country.
Up until a few years ago, before Mary went back to work at Tastefully Simple Inc. headquarters here in Alex, we traveled to California for the winters. We had a great time and hope to travel more in the coming years. The Minnesota winters do get me down!
We live in a 1913 (oldest home on the lake) Hunting & Fishing Lodge on Lake Henry…..right across from the City Park where Beetle (Mary Ann Hibbard) used to live. They have actually cleaned up Lake Henry and opened up the old swimming beach last summer.
I’ll send a check to Karen. In the meantime, take it easy. It should be fun hearing from everyone. I see Mike Foss’s name on the list. I’ll call him and let him know the scoop.
Thanks again,
Charlie Olson
