Surrounded by family and his wife, Carolyn, one of the oldest members of the Alexandria Class of '65 raises a glass to his new decade.
Harland sends thanks to all the classmates who sent greetings. Harland is the Bert Blyleven of our class, apparently. 
By Tom Obert
The Minnesota Lakes Maritime Museum was christened Monday in a new facility across the street from the fire department and behind the Runestone Museum (the two will later be connected with a green area arboretum).
It will be open to the public for week, and then closed for completion and re-opening in the spring.
We thought the people involved in this project did an incredible job - just over a year from promotion of the idea to completion.
Pictures, clockwise from left, are Mary Anne [Hibbard] Estenson and husband Dave; Linda [Engstrom] Akenson, Corliss Stark (wife of Alex Fire Chief Dennis, who is either the cousin or nephew -- cousin, I think? -- of our classmate Charley Stark), and Mrs. Cub Reporter; Robin [Movold] Niedenfuer, who is like a major honcho with the museum (I never was very good at titles). Classmate Marlene [Zimmel] Bettin was also spotted on the premises but could not be found after the cub reporter grabbed his camera - sorry Marlene! 
By Tom Obert
We never met Courtney Walsh. Although we visited with her Mom at games on several occasions, we only "knew" her as a member of the hockey team. She was the tallest girl on the team at 6' 1 1/2" and played on a forward line with Andrea and Sara Toft.
Courtney died this weekend of an apparent heart attack, shortly before she was to enroll at St. Cloud State. She is the second one from the right (light blue top with Brittney Bruzek over her shoulder) at the team banquet photo.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, September 2nd at 11 a.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria. Friends may call on Friday from 4 to 8 pm at the Walsh home, 8020 Walsh Drive SE in Alexandria, and then for one hour prior to the services at the church. Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home of Alexandria.
Harland's 60th Birthday!!
When: August 28, 2006
What: A "Greeting Card" Party
How: Send greetings, jokes or pictures
To: 12436 Apache Place NE
ABQ., NM 87112
hchoffland@aol.com
We hope to fill his mail boxes with many birthday wishes!!
Carolyn & Family
Trailboss:
Diane O'Brien just emailed me and said did you know your note to Tommy Obert is on the blog site? And my response was EEK!
Of course when I said there would be gossip because McPhee was around, I should have clarified it by stating some people just get around more than others and are better than I am at remembering and relating information.
Let's see, who did I see at the fair. I broke my toe a week ago and I wasn't as mobile as I have been in the past. I did make it down calorie lane once or twice (ok more than that) but took my treats back to my booth to savor them in peace. Besides, it's fun to eat a pork chop on a stick and answer questions from the public with meat caught between my teeth. (Hmm, maybe that's why people didn't hang around.)
Kathy Skadsberg, Diane O'Brien and I got together at Diane's last Wednesday night. Diane made some chick food and we gabbed until Kathy and I thought we better leave for our respective homes (or in Kathy's case, resort cabin) as we both have a healthy respect for deer. WE didn't gossip at all. Just talked about our hopes for world peace and all. Oh, then we talked about our upcoming trips. Diane is going to Panama, Kathy to Scotland and I to the Leaf Valley Mercantile.
At the fair there seemed to be a shortage of classmates. Either that or we have all aged so drastically in a year that we didn't recognize each other. The ones I saw were Billie Jo Jones, and Jeri Lee Salt. From other classes Barb Hedine, Mary Berglin, Will Skadsberg and grands, Roy Wicken and... all of the political candidates. I swear between sheriff candidates and every other political job that's open the wannabe's were out in force. Good place to be seen. Oh and I saw Kathy Carlson at work as she was bringing leftover chemicals in. Good girl.
Well, I hope I redeemed myself with people who may have been offended. I always have heard that men are bigger "story relaters" than women. You and Tommy are on my short list. Or as Eric Luetge (sp) used to say " in the basement". If he was really happy with a person they were in the attic. Does anyone else remember him?
Later...Bonita
(Now that you mention it, we haven't heard from O'Brien or Skads in a while either. What have you got, ladies? -- Trailboss)
This message was intercepted by internet spies using unauthorized wire taps.
----- Original Message -----
From: Bonita Gilbertson
To: Tom & Ruth
Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 4:17 PM
Subject: Re: Class of '65 golf outing
Hey you guys. I looked for you all weekend at the DFL booth. Sue Engstrom said that Ruth would run in and out but she never saw Tom. I thought that was pretty weird and mentioned it to Diane and she told me about Tom's shingles, floaters and tooth so then it all made sense. I was feeling very deprived, however, as I didn't get the promised wine. :-)
Diane (Hoffman) O'Brien said the event was a lot of fun and the gossip was really flying. Even MY name was mentioned. Well, when you have McPhee around you there's bound to be gossip. Same goes when you see Bob Watson. Now there's a guy who gets around. He knows more about people in Alex than I do and I live here year around. He's hilarious!
Well maybe next year if the event isn't held during a fair I will be able to join everyone.
Thanks for the pictures and report. And get well!!!
Bonita
(Trailboss says: I stole this note for the blog, Bonita. Also, the photo above is not just another picture of Ruth and Tom. --- Hmm. He sure looks healthy enough. --- It is actually a picture of Bette Blanchard, Judy's mother, enjoying a cup at the Daily Grind. Just look carefully behind Ruth. Speaking of gossip, is this all you have to offer after spending an entire weekend at the Douglas County Fair? C'mon, your inquiring classmates want to know all about it.)
We are on our 9th straight day of over 100 -- I think something like 30 for the summer. We are expecting a break tomorrow.... forecast is for only 99. But then it is August in Texas. And so long as it isn't over 100, the humidity is low and I find it quite bearable.
But worse, is that we are about 25 inches short of our normal rainfall... so instead of gardening, I am just watering, trying to make sure the trees and foundation plantings survive, and the long range forecast offers no relief.
I just chalk it up to climate change.
Lorlee
File photo of Lorlee's back yard during a cooler, wetter time.
The Land of Enchantment is all wet
Harland and Carolyn Hoffland in Old Town, Albuquerque
Carolyn writes:
Yes, we are having above normal rain fall and flooding.
We have had 9 inches of rain in the last 30 days, more than our 7 inch yearly rain fall.
Our mosquitos have been producing in quantity, transported from the Midwest..........I think! The whole state is affected. We were praying for rain in June and now we are praying it will stop.
It is very serious here, lots of people have lost their homes. Last night in Albuquerque we had three inches of rain in just a matter of 30 minutes. Our pool has overflowed on several rain falls. It has been raining every day for the last month.
We have had rain up to our front and back door, but no farther. We are lucky we live on a street that is high enough that the water runs down the street if it is a nice rainfall. However, most of the rain comes in sheets, many times you can hardly see the house across the street.
I can't imagine what the "Katrina" victims went through as we are getting a little taste of the flooding here.
Chilis take a hit
Our chili crop in Hatch, New Mexico took a beating this week too. Probably won't be much of that good chili to roast. So, our joke about New Mexico having no mosquitos and no water is no longer true..........we want our "Land of Enchantment" back with full sunshine.
Our humidity level is probably 70-80% every day. Our swamp coolers don't even work properly. And, along with the rain we have had HOT temperatures as well. So say a prayer for US folks in New Mexico that the rains will stop in the dessert!
(Now we await a weather report from Dallas. TB)
Keiran, Diane, Kathy, and Mary Anne ... and Dave Serie.
Story and photos by Tom Obert (broken tooth, shingles)
Cub Reporter
On a gray, misty day at the Alexandria Golf Club, the team of Mary Anne [Hibbard] and Dave Estenson, Dave and Chris (Dave's son) Serie, and Kathy [Sherry] Skadsberg "upset" the juggernaut composed of Principal Wayne Elton, Jim McPhee and "friend" Melissa, and Ruth and Tom Obert. The cub reporter's team had excellent excuses in that Jim and Melissa have been moving into a new house and haven't played 10 rounds all summer, Ruthie shot her best round ever yesterday and in keeping with normal golf practices, even among pros, had a much tougher time of it today, and the cub reporter himself was playing with recently diagnosed shingles (true!), floaters in both eyes, and a broken tooth!
Prior to the event, many of our classmates got a chance to chat with Bob Hawkins, who had been out golfing with Paul Donley. After the event, we were joined in the clubhouse by Keiran and Diane O'Brien (who said they would play next year!) where we sat around for another three hours and told lies about our fellow classmates who weren't there to defend themselves:
We're all looking forward to Smitty retaking the helm of this dynamic event again next year.
Smitty writes:
From: Sara Sevey
To: Tom & Ruth
Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2006 10:53 PM
Subject: Re: Class of '65 golf outing
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for the pictures and update on today's big match - I was thinking of you guys all day long. Thursdays are 18 holer's day at our club so I did play today but played so badly that I wouldn't have helped you one bit against the big hitters.
Okay, so we're on for next year and hope we can play at AGC instead of Geneva. Geneva has been very generous to us but I grew up at AGC and would prefer to play there which means we'll have to do this before or after The Resorter's. At this point, I'm counting on The Estensons, O'Briens, Oberts, Skadsbergs, Series, McPhees and will work on Byron Peterson (and Susan), Bobby Watson, Jim Clifford, Mary Jane Arndt Black, Strandberg, Rolfsrud, Robin Kochie, Harland Hoffland, the Bensons and whoever else I can talk into joining us. Did I miss anyone? If so, I apologize.
Enjoy the rest of the summer,
Sara
Dave Estenson, Dave Serie, Chris Serie, Wayne Elton, Melissa and Jim McPhee, Mary Anne [Hibbard] Estenson, Kathy [Sherry] Skadsberg, Ruth and Tom Obert.
Keiran, Mary Anne, Dave Estenson, Wayne Elton with beverage, Dave Serie, Chris, Jim and Melissa;
Harland and Carolyn Hoffland sent this to the trailboss:
Our daughter, Sara, writes, in regard to our grandson, Nolan:
As many of you know, Nolan was diagnosed with a rare eye disease 3 years ago, when he was 6 years old. Today Nolan's eyes are stable and seems to be doing very well. Nolan's eye disease is called Pars Planitis (Uvetis).
On September 30th there is a fundraising walk for this disease, they will be raising money for finding causes and cure of Ocular Inflammatory Diseases. We won't be able to go to Boston for the walk, but they do offer a "spirit walk". We will be walking in here in Albuquerque the same day the walk is in Boston. We will be walking at 8AM on September 30th. If you would like to join us in the walk or pledge money for Nolan to walk, you can contact me at 505-296-8264 or iceskating73@yahoo.com. If you would like to make a contribution with a credit care, you can do that at www.uveitis.org/DonateNow.htm.
We will be walking 3.1 miles (5k). Please feel free to join Nolan in his walk. We look forward to meeting those of you who will be traveling here and thank all of you for your continued support in Nolan's eye disease. Nolan is a tough kid and has been through a lot with this disease and now the disease is stable and we hope that it continues to be stable for Nolan.
Sincerely,
Sara Smith
What next? Mosquitoes in New Mexico?
Obert, did you read this? Or were you golfing in the rain in the Seveyless Open? And I quote Tom Obert, in response to the Harland Hoffland boast that there are no mosquitoes in New Mexico:
"The reason there are no mosquitoes, is there is no water!"
ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (AP) — The Otero County Commission has declared an emergency in the county after flooding in the mountain community of Timberon and Alamo Canyon near Alamogordo.
Recent flooding has not been as severe as a June 22 flood in Alamogordo, but authorities said rains in the past few days led to renewed problems in the city and in Boles Acres, near Alamo Canyon.
Photos given Monday to the commission by county emergency services coordinator Paul Quairoli showed the Sacramento River overflowing its banks at Timberon, washed-out bridges, clogged culverts and roads eroded up to 25 feet.
Quairoli estimated damages to that area at more than $300,000
Timberon resident Linda Gentry said culverts in the area are packed with debris and rocks and consequently they are unable to carry off the water.
"At one point, we had water over the roads and we couldn't get emergency vehicles anywhere. If we'd had an emergency, we would have been stuck," Gentry said.
Weekend rain in Alamo Canyon, meanwhile, sent a wall of water into Boles Acres. When sandbags were used to protect the ditches there, water flowed through private properties.
Weekend flooding also occurred in Oro Vista and in Three Rivers.
County crews and even inmates from the county jail are working to clean up from the storms, said commission Chairman Doug Moore.
Citizens are frustrated over repeated flooding, he said.
"New Mexico continues to experience 100-, 200- even 500-year events, one right on top of each other, due to the weather pattern we are locked in," he said. "The infrastructure is not prepared to handle it."
He said property owners must be their own first line of defense.
"They need to take it upon themselves to go get the sandbags and fill them up themselves and protect their property," Moore said.
Paul Strandberg sends this obituary from the Echo: classmate Gloria Nord Doran's mother. Our sympathies to the family.
Helen Evangeline Nord, 86, died August 10, 2006 at Community Memorial Home in Osakis.
Helen was born March 9, 1920 in Kandiyohi to Adolf William “A.W.” and Melvina (Peterson) Chalberg. She attended country school and was confirmed and sang in the choir at Tripolis Church in Kandiyohi. She helped on the family farm and also worked at a bakery in Willmar.
She married Alvin A. Nord on June 22, 1941. Following their marriage they moved to San Diego, California for two years, before returning to the St. Cloud area. In 1957, they relocated to Alexandria where they lived and raised their family. They retired to the Osakis area in the late 1980s.
She was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Osakis and a former member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria. Besides being a homemaker for her husband and seven children, she managed a retail store for many years, worked as a waitress at area cafes and helped her husband build a home on Lake Oscar.
She enjoyed music, singing, fishing, playing bingo, flea markets and wintering in New Mexico. She treasured spending time with her children and their families. Her ready smile, wonderful sense of humor and kind, loving heart will be missed by many.
She is survived by her seven children, Darlene (Chet) Longaker of Stanwood, Washington, Wayne Nord of Alexandria, Gloria (Frank) Doran of Sauk Rapids, Ronald (Lynda) Nord of St. Peter, David (Cheri) Nord of Racine, Wisconsin, Kathryn (Reginald) Redetzke of St. Cloud, and Linda (Alan) South of Hewitt; a sister, Marilyn Egge of Hamilton, Montana; 17 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Alvin, in 1992; and five brothers, Reynold, Wilton, Lowell, Vernon and Donald Chalberg.
Funeral services were held August 14 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Osakis with the Rev. Allan Craig officiating. Music was provided by organist, Ethelyn Stahl and vocalists, the Rev. Allan Craig and the Nord Brothers. Burial was at Evergreen Cemetery in Osakis.
Pallbearers were Wade Ley, Todd Ley, Shane Nord, Jade Nord, Derek Johnson and Dana Johnson. Honorary pallbearers were Jeff Longaker, Dale Longaker, Tammy Nord, Jeanette Nord, Katie Wilson, Amber Nord, Anne Redetzke, Kim Redetzke, Stephanie Thompson, Sandra Johnson and Breanna Kimber.
This photo won a prize at the Dakota County Fair this year. Guess who the model is?
Trailboss
How about some good news from the good old Echo Press for a change....
Gary Seth's son is getting married.
Waldorf - Seth
Tracy Marie Waldorf and Jacob Edward Seth, both of Alexandria, announce their engagement.
Tracy is the daughter of Larry and Mary Waldorf of Alexandria. She is a 1998 graduate of Jefferson High School (JHS) in Alexandria and a 2001 graduate of the Alexandria Technical College fashion management program. She is employed at Target in Alexandria.
Jacob is the son of Gary and Betty Seth of Alexandria. He is a 1998 graduate of JHS and a 2000 graduate of the construction electricity program at Northwest Technical College in Wadena. He is an electrician at Ellingson Plumbing and Heating in Alexandria.
An August 18 wedding is planned at Spruce Hill Park. A reception and dance will follow at the Forada Supper Club in Forada.
There's more. . .
I would also like to announce the engagement of my son Michael Herdan to Katie Hoversten of Maple Grove. Both are students at the University of Minnesota, Morris. The wedding will probably be next August.
John Herdan
John Fahlberg, Class of '64 and arguably the best free throw shooter ever produced by Jefferson High School, saw our recent post (below) on the blog and sent this note along:
Stan,
I saw the picture that Tom Obert sent and you posted on your blog. Good looking boys from '64, eh?
I can't remember the last time I saw you. Fighting for the same rebound under the basket until Conrad knocked both of us out of the way? Can you still jump up and grab the rim?
My wife and I moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina about 5 years ago. I am doing small business consulting, investing, playing golf, traveling etc. Very nice place to live. Prior to coming here, I lived and worked in Chicago for six years. Before that I was in Minneapolis working primarily in startup/venture capital backed companies. It is been a good life with some pretty wild rides in the startup company world!
Still can't believe we lost to Henning - can you????
Dear John:
Thanks for the note, it was great hearing from you. Glad things are going well.
About the rim: Not sure, our ceilings are only nine feet so I haven't been able to check lately.
About Henning: Let it go, John. Take a deep breath. Just let it go.
Stan
"Just saw Carol Engstrom at the grocery store where we discussed your web site. Both of us felt it was something far more likely to have come from the class of '66 rather than your class of hoods and troublemakers. But I guess if Jim Clifford can be a judge (but let's not forget that so is Tom Longfellow and Russ Melton) anything can happen."
--- Kathy Aga, comment on blog, July, 2006
This foursome of 60-somethings made its annual appearance at the Alexandria Golf Club for the Resorters. Recognize these members of the Class of 64? This is their second appearance on the 65Roundup blog. From left are Barry Bauer, Paul Donley, John Fahlberg and Darrell Maloney. (Photo by the cub reporter)
Dave Serie writes:
Hey Tom, how is the game?
My oldest son Chris and I plan on coming up on the 17th for the "Sevey-less" open. Wish you could make it Sara (when your team goes down!!).
Come on everyone else, let's get with the program! I'll buy the first round after!
I got an e-mail from McPhee the other day and he hopes to make it also, need to get on him!
Gotta be there, Jim, to defend your title! Get your team together, Tom and Jim.
I've got Kathy S., my son Chris and myself so far to take you on. We need one more Kathy. Start your recruiting! (Do you think Tom Lehman could break away for a day from his minor duties preparing his Rider Cup team and play with us? Go for it Kathy, somehow I think you would be a better persuader, how could he turn down an ex-homecoming Queen?
Looking forward to a fun day, are you coming Deleski?
D. Serie
(Photo collage: Clockwise from top left: McPhee, Serie, Kathy S., secret weapon, Obert.)
