Nancy (Hanson) and Vern Ellefson:
June, 2011 Update - Since our last re-union, we have a new grand-daughter, Genevieve. She will be 4 years old on July 31.
Our oldest daughter, Nicci, was married on 10/10/10 in Jupiter Florida. So we spent 10 days there last fall.
We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary in August of 2009. We had a great party at Vino in the Valley, and
then went on a land/sea cruise to Alaska. Spectacular!
2006 - Vern is doing all the things he loves to do: fish, hunt, garden, and takes care of his roses. Nancy continues to volunteer at our church where I serve as an officer of the women’s group, sing in the choir and a group called the Spirit Song. I also read a lot and belong to a book club. And after my broken ankle last year (eight screws and a plate) I am enjoying being back golfing.
Our oldest daughter Nicci, lives is West Palm Beach. So we go visit her usually in February. We try to be there on the 22nd since that is her birthday. Also Rosemary's!
Our second child Lisa lives in Grantsburg. She works and is attending Pine City Vo-Tech.
Our son Mike lives in North Hudson with his wife Corrie, and little girl Veronica. Veronica is soon to be 3 and a joy to us. We all think it is so cool that she was born on Brett Favre's birthday. Our daughter-in-law's parents live in Green Bay. Mike has a martial arts school, and is a real estate broker. He usually teaches one semester at UWRF.
Our other two grandchildren are grown up. Rachel is 24, and Ben 21. Rachel is married and lives in Alexandria, Mn. with her
husband and two children, Briana 5, and Johnny 3.
We will be celebrating our 47th wedding anniversary on August 18th. Doesn't seem possible. And they thought it wouldn’t last!! |
Lorraine Jacobson:
June, 2011 Update - We have celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary, and 2 of our children celebrated their 25th anniversary. We have added a 4 year old grandaughter, Elizabeth , and lost grandson, Logan, 2 years ago, when he was 19. He hit a bull in the middle of the road, on his way to work early in the morning. In his memory, his parents have organized a sled run in January, and a riding lawn mower run in July. Logan loved the outdoors, and it is a way for friends to get together and enjoy what he loved. Each event has had around 60 machines and a lot of friends and neighbors. Both events are held at the Jacobson farm in Spring Valley.
The grandaughters graduated from college, one works for Honeywell in Mpls, and the other for a environmental company in Madison. One grandson will be a sophomore at University of Nebraska in Lincoln, one just graduated from Osseo High School.
2006 - To recap the past 50 years, I obtained my teaching degree from "River Falls State College" and taught and subbed for several years in the elementary grades. I met my husband at college, he had been a Navy pilot for four years, and was back to finish his degree. He was from Alma Center, WI. His career first was in farm credit and then in Correspondent Banking in St. Paul. We have lived in Shawano and Antigo, WI, Hudson, Lansing MI., and then back to Hudson for the pasts 35 years. We have been married 45 years, and have 3 children. Mike (Heidi) lives in Spring Valley, but works for a company based in France. Brian (Raneau) lives in Osseo, WI, works for Silver Spring Gardens in Eau Claire. Both have degrees in Food Science from UWRF. Debra ( Jack) lives in Omaha, teaching degree from Winona State University. We have 10 grandchildren. The girls are 20 and one is at UWEC and the other at the University of Minnesota. Next are 8 grandsons ranging in age from 1 to 16.
We live on 6 1/2 acres 4 miles south of Hudson, and Bob is an avid gardener. My interests are reading, playing bridge, baking, volunteer work at church (Bethel), travel, and friends. We enjoy the four seasons, so are not AZ or FLA bound come January.
Life is good. |
Ernie Kidd:
June, 2011 Update - A note from Karen: I found Ernie Kidd and I just had a nice conversation with his wife, Joyce. Ernie is in a Nursing Home in Arcadia, Wisconsin. Joyce is living in LaCrescent, MN with their son. Arcadia is about an hour away, but she talks to him daily. She said he is on oxygen all all the time and she is just not strong enough to be able to take care of him. I was able to learn some things about his life since high school. He was a foster child and the family is trying to search his background and having a difficult time. If any of you remember anything he told you 'way back then' about his family, etc. they would love to hear about it.
Ernie left SV before graduation to join the Army. After serving in the army, he spent 30+ years working for the railroad both in the Twin Cities and in the LaCrosse, WI area. He met his wife thru mutual friends - she is from Mauston, WI. He loved to fish and he is a great story teller. His illness hasn't affected his mind and he is still a great story teller at the Nursing Home.
Ernie and his wife had six children - three boys and three girls. Two of his sons died within the last few years at the ages of 43 and 47. Ernie and his wife just celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary.
Ernie's younger brother, Leo, died when he was only 21 from cancer.
2006 - We have six children John (died in 2002), Debbie, Gary, Paula, Cheryl, Michael. There are eleven grandchildren and two great grandchildren ranging from 25 to 4 years old.
I don't do much of anything because I am on oxygen 24/7 so anyone interested in writing please do so.
I really enjoy having the grandchildren around. I never took up the computer but my children and
grandchildren do so I can have them read the website to me. We've been married 48 years now so things are a little slow.
Glad to hear from you, Ernie |
Helen (Holerud) Lorentson:
2011 Update - I have spent the past 36 years on my own since Wayne was killed in a tragic accident, on the 4th of July in 1975. We had three girls ages 9 - 12 - 16 at the time. We were farming and owned the Valley Dairy Business at that time. I sold the Dairy Business and farmed alone with the girls for the next 10 years until they were all out of school and then I sold the farm. I moved a couple of miles a way from the farm back into the territory that I grew up in, which is 7 miles north of Spring Valley. My daughter Debbie lives in Dallas, Texas; Vicki Jo in Red Wood City, CA and Patty, 5 miles away from me. I have six grandsons and one granddaughter and am very proud of them all. I have only one married grandson, so I now also have a darling little Great-granddaughter, Kyra Bell who is 2 years old.
I retired from School Bus driving in 2007 and really do miss it, but it was time to turn the key off! I have cutway down on mowing and only mow St. Matthew's church lawn and Dr. Murty's in Spring Valley. I have a big lawn at home so still keep busy. I have been spending the winter months scrapbooking my kids lives and their sports. I still love to go camping an riding my 4-wheeler, just maybe not as often. I am not a big traveler, but do go to Texas and CA to visit the girls when they can talk me into it. I guess as one gets older it does slow a person down a little.
2006 - I have spent the past 30 years on my own since Wayne was killed in a tragic accident on the 4th of July in 1975. We had three girls ages 9 - 12 - 16 at the time. We were farming and owned the Valley Dairy Business at that time. I sold the Dairy Business and farmed alone with the girls for the next 10 years until they were all out of school and then I sold the farm. I moved a couple of miles a way from the farm back into the territory that I grew up in which is 7 miles north of Spring Valley. My daughter Debbie lives in Dallas, Texas; Vicki Jo in Red Wood City, CA and Patty, 5 miles away from me. I have six grandsons and one granddaughter and am very proud of them all. They are all grown except for three of them.
I started driving School bus in 1985 and subbed for 7 years before getting a full time route. That same year I started mowing lawns and cemeteries and am still doing all three. I just don't do as many lawns and cemeteries and don't take as many extra bus trips as I used to. I'll probably be there until they tell me they don't want me back.
I love to go 4-wheeling on the trails around the state of WI and camping and trout fishing when I can. I also am very fortunate to live in an area that I have one of the prettiest places to ride my ATV that there is, and can ride right from home. |
Dick Jorgenson:
April 27 will be 50 years since Richard Jorgenson and Shirley Schaar were married. Richard grew up in Spring Valley, Wisconsin and Shirley grew up in Hammond, Wisconsin. They were married in 1957 in Baldwin, Wisconsin and moved to Coolidge in 1958. Richard (a.k.a. Dick) worked delivering soda pop for Mr. Emery and later became the foreman on England Ranch just east of town. They raised two children, Tom and Pam, and have five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. After 32 years of service, Dick retired from Central Implement in 2003. But retirement hasn’t come easy, he can still be found delivering parts to farmers almost on a daily basis. They still get out of town as often as possible going fishing, hunting, or just camping out in the desert.
While their kids were in school they became known as “grandma and grandpa” to most all of their children’s friends, and are still fondly referred to as “grandma and grandpa” by many people around town.
Twenty-five years after Dick and Shirley were married, their daughter Pam married Mike Wood on May 22, 1982. On April 28, together they celebrated with family and friends both Golden and Silver Wedding anniversaries. Those whose life has been touched by these special couples were invited to share in the celebration from 7 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, April 28 at the American Legion Dance Hall in Coolidge. There was a no host bar, snacks and music. No gifts were requested, your presence being gift enough.
Dick went to the Mines Elementary School.
Dick and his wife have been married for 49 years. She was from the Baldwin area. They have one son and one daughter, five grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild. They moved to Arizona soon after high school because of his brother-in-law's health.
Dick is retired now, but still does some part time work for Central Implement (name change) where he worked for 35 years. He did a lot of traveling for the company during those years. Now Dick's son and a grandson also work for the same company. His son lives in Coolidge and his daughter lives in Yuma.
Dick enjoys fishing and hunting. His brother Lee still lives in the SV area. His mother lives in a nursing home. He has had visits with Orval and Linda Knegendorf. |
Alice Andrews:
Alice went to SV High for two years, one year in Ellsworth and then graduated from Bemidji. She didn't know too many people in her Senior class - it was a class of 400.
She is going to be having knee surgery soon for torn cartilage. She has ELS, a disease similar to ALS. There is nothing they can do for her. She uses a walker.
Her brother was killed in a car accident in 1971. She has three sisters that live in Bemidji. Her husband was a miner and part time farmer. One of her daughters died from lymphoma at the age of 39. She had lymphoma for 12 1/2 years.
Alice doesn't have a computer, but her daughter that lives quite close, does. She would love to hear from any one who would like to drop a line to her. |
LaVerne (Mickey) Adank:
Mickey moved from Spring Valley to Arizona with some of his family after Freshman year because his half-sister had health problems. He returned to "The Cities" later.
His wife died of melanoma eleven years ago. He has three sons.
Thirty years ago he bought some property right on Lake Superior. Four years ago he moved to this property, into a three-story house that he built himself. He makes a trip to "The Cities" every 6-8 weeks for supplies. |
Douglas Foote:
After leaving high school, Doug was engaged in farming for a few years, then he moved on to "The Cities." He married Joel from Brainard and they have two daughters and three grandchildren. They have lived in the same house in Coon Rapids for 44 years. Their daughters attended Centennial High School.
Doug worked in the service department at Montgomery Ward for 11 1/2 years. He retired in September, 1999, from Yamaha Motor Corporation in Coon Rapids after almost 22 years. He was an engineering technician. During his working years he also attended night school at Minneapolis Vo-Tech, Dunwoody Institute, and Anoka Technical.
Doug and his wife enjoy long and short motorcycle trips. In June they went to Colorado and they just returned from a trip to the Ozarks in Arkansas.
Doug attended Lone Balsam Elementary School with our Web Master Karen Peterson Olson. He won't be able to attend our reunion but is looking forward to reading the reunion booklet. |
John Spieker:
"Boring life, looking for excitement."
John has four sons and three granddaughters and one grandson. The latest family addition is a set of twins, a boy and a girl.
John has been driving buses for 40 years. The last 30 years with the Jefferson Bus Company. Now he has a regular route from Minneapolis to Kansas City, down one day and back the next, so he has friends all along the way.
He is looking forward to the reunion. |
Noel Freiberg:
Noel attended Cady Lucus Elementary School for 8 years. When he was in 8th grade, he was sliding and accidently ran into Kathy Karnes. He has felt bad about that all these years. When he was in high school his family moved to Woodbury and he graduated from St. Paul Park High School. He was married, then after he divorced he moved to Arizona. He married again in Arizona. He does not have any children. Noel worked in construction and lived in Scottsdale for 24 years. He now lives in Rio Rico, close to the Mexican border. He is the building inspector for Santa Cruz County. He is in good health. His mother lives In the Woodville Nursing Home, so he visits her once a year. |
Patricia (Grant) Collins:
Patricia graduated from Maiden Rock High School the last year it was a high school. There were sixteen in her Class of '56. After high school, she married and moved to Missouri where her husband had lived. She has three sons and two daughters. The three sons and one daughter live in Wisconsin and one daughter lives close by in Minnesota. Patricia was divorced, married again and is now a widow. She moved back to Red Wing in 1988. She went to Olivet Elementary School. She and Monica Grant were cousins. |
Karen (Hopwood) Olek:
My husband and I recently celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. We have three daughters and seven grandchildren ranging in age from 6 - 20.
My husband, Jim, and I live on Osakes Lake in Osakis, MN. We spend six months in Texas during the winter. |
Joe Menter:
Audrey and I celebrated our 48th anniversary on May 3, 2006. I started a plumbing shop in 1974, and while doing plumbing business we also were able to take advantage of many trips sponsored by our wholesalers. We enjoyed Europe a couple times, went to Puerto Rico to visit Barb and Dave and had a neat trip to Ireland a little later that same year. Then, when our son, Joe, Jr. got married he gave all his relatives a trip to Hawaii for the wedding. Still later Audrey and I, Joe, Jr. and Kathleen, and Kathleen's folks had a wonderful trip on the Concorde to London, Vienna, Greece, Paris and Rome.
We didn't get far from home because we lived on my home farm for quite awhile and in 2004 we built a new home across the field to the east and our daughter Kathy and family live in the old big white house on the farm.
We have three children and three grandchildren now. The grandkids sure are fun!
We sold our plumbing business and went into selling Amish Furniture in Menomonie. Our daughter, Kathy, manages the store for us. We just work now and then.
We won't make the 50th Reunion of the Class of '56, but will be thinking about you all. Have fun! |
Jerry Larson:
I am a farmer and have farmed all my life on the land my grandfather homesteaded. My son is farming with me and his son, my grandson, wants to continue this family tradition and farm this land, too. I love the land and the area where my farm is situated.
I am married to Joyce, my partner on our farm. We have three children: Fred, my oldest, farms with me. He has two children. Bruce, my middle son, coaches in Somerset, WI. He has three children. My daughter lives in Murdock, MN on a large farm – they raise cattle like I do. She has two children. We have seven grandchildren – two granddaughters and five grandsons. My family is very important to me.
Joyce and I enjoy traveling and have made several trips with Joyce’s sister who is a widow. We traveled to Argentina a few years ago and attended the World Hereford Conference – a great experience. |
Kay (Thome) Cunningham:
I am 68 years old - a widow. I live in Eagan, MN in a condo. My oldest son is a master electrician in Ham Lake - he owns his own business. My daughter is a stay-at-home mom of four. My youngest is a computer specialist and works with my oldest in his business. I have ten grandchildren who are wonderful and range in age from 21 to 6, so needless to say, Grandma is busy.
I have traveled throughout the U.S. and Canada and Alaska. Now I am just home trying to enjoy all my children. |
Nancy Karnes:
Upon graduation, I went to St. Paul, where I worked and lived for almost two years. I moved to Dresser, WI in later 1957, after my marriage. That is where I raised my two kids, Mark, 46 and Kristin, 43. I mostly was a stay-at-home Mom, but did work in an office occasionally.
I still live in Osceola, WI. I have three beautiful grandsons: Tyler – 21, Zane – 20, and Jacob – 18. All three are students at the UW Stout. I am very proud of all three. My daughter also lives in Osceola.
I was divorced in 1980, went back to technical college in New Richmond and that landed me a good job at the Hazelden Foundation, the drug and alcohol treatment center for the rich and famous. They gave me a lot of training in the field also. I did patient follow-up for adolescent program which was very interesting and I loved! Yep – I did see some famous people! I retired in 1999.
Since retirement I have enjoyed being able to be home. I was able to go to and enjoy every sport and music event of the grandsons. I play on the computer and the “net”, do some quilt-making and embroidering, along with puzzles.
Jim Traynor got in touch with me about 1999. After all those years I got to see him once in awhile and we would visit on the phone often. He kept me posted on a lot of the classmates.
I also, through Jim, located and visited with Wilbur Fuhrman, a classmate from first grade and a neighbor. I am so glad I did this before they passed. |
Ellis Barsness:
Currently I live in the Twin Cities, MN area. After high school I served in the U.S. Navy for 4years. After serving in the Navy I moved back to Minnesota and married my wife Jan. We have been married 42 Years. We have 2 sons and 2 daughters and 6 grand children. Our family lives in the local area. I have been retired since 2001 and spend my time helping my children and grandchildren and raising vegatables in our garden. |
Beradene (Zills) Olson:
I am retired as of December, 2001, and enjoying this plateau of my life very much. Two of my children, Greg and Terri, live in Wisconsin. My daughter, Jolene, and husband live in Minnesota. My six grandchildren, ages five to 26 years live close so I see them often and truly enjoy them. I also have two great-grand daughters, ages 7 years and 16 months.
My hobbies are walking, reading, flowers, church activities, and driving a few elderly friends to appointments and errands. My travels are mainly in the midwest visiting relatives.
A few Spring Valley school memories:
Kay Thome, (Amanda or Marlis or Joanne) and I were sent to Syver's office for passing a note in Biology. Kay said she would do the talking and had us back in class before the period was over!
Some of us girls skipped school and went fishing at Riverside Park. Caught a bass out of season and hid it under the spare tire.
One other "skip-trip" Ora, Joanne, Marlis, and I went boating to Amery and Ken, my boyfriend, did all the rowing. |
Bev (Hogen) Thome:
In October, Joe and I will be married forty-nine years. Other than living in New York and South Dakota (early marriage), we have been in Wisconsin the entire time. We have five children, our three oldest, Lynn, James, and Elizabeth live in Wisconsin. Fred is in Kentucky, and Greg in Indiana. Our seventeen grandchildren, nine girls and eight boys, range in age from 5 to 22 years old, and we have one angel, a girl. Needless to say, we have plenty to keep us busy----baby sitting, sports of all kinds, birthdays, graduations, BIG holidays (a houseful), and whatever comes in between. Loads of fun!!
Joe and I have been to Germany twice and this year we went to Hawaii and did some island hoppiing. It was wonderful!! We also like to travel the states when we can.
Since I missed the 45th, I am looking forward to seeing everyone at this reunion. WOW, 50 years! |
David Larson:
Vitals:
-Married to Lisa for 30 years as of July 3, 6 kids (3 from his first marriage) and 3 of our own, 8 grandchildren ranging in age of 4 to 29 years old, 2 and 1/2 great grandchildren (Oct 06).
-Retired from state of Wisconsin DOT after 30 years, wandered around aimlessly for 4 years driving the wife nuts, returned to the workforce in 2000 to run parts for Luther Chev in Hudson, have been there ever since, Internet business (run by wife) on ebay for 4 years, swapping (old car parts) business for past 15 years.
Best Habit Ever: Dave has been 'sober' for over 25 years
Good Habits: -Keeps active -Taking great care of his family -Keeps up on current events
Bad Habits: -If there is an auction-he's there, -thinks' about getting projects done, -hoards memoriabilia and automobilia, -keeping in touch with old friends, -stacks and stacks of newspapers and books 'to read someday'
I don't really know what else you want to know- I am biased (kind of).... We lead a fairly sedate life. We don't travel as Dave already spent 10 years at sea and 22 years on the road....He has 'filled me in' on several of his many capers that were pulled in his early years- those of you involved will be blackmailed someday <grin> (I know who you are).
We are looking forward to this reunion-as ever.....Dave and Lisa |
Verla (Wentland) Solberg:
My husband, Herb, is retired. We have three daughters: Sherrie, Julie and Amy and four grandkids. I still like to sew and quilt. |
Joanne (Rognholt) Pittman:
My husband, Ted Pittman and I have been married for 49 years - our anniversary is June 1. We have five children: Ted III, Teresa, Troy, Trudy, and Todd. We have seven grandchildren.
We are both still working. Ted is a salesman for Value Implements at Baldwin. I work at food service at Clear Lake Schools, so I have summers off to work in my yard, garden, and flowers.
We enjoy travelling when we can, camping with our camper, snowmobiling and cycling, going to sport events at school, concerts, and plays. We also attend our grandchildren's events.
We keep busy with so many things. We went to Norway last year. We were thinking of Switzerland this year, but now now with Ted's health issues. |
Steve Hanson:
Donna and I are both still working. I have my own chemical consulting company and Donna works at an assisted/independent senior living facility as the reception coordinator. Our children, Stephanie and Scott, are both married and live in Maplewood and Oakdale. |
Marlis (Donnelly) Flynn:
Bob and I are both retired. I had back surgery in 2004 so I quit work then. We lost our son Tony in 2003 with cancer. The rest of the gang are doing fine. In the winter we go on a golf trip to Florida. We both love to golf.
We have 9 grandchildren. They are a joy. They keep us busy. |
Jean (Shafer) Nelson:
I retired from Fortis in 2001 after twenty years. I currently work nine hours a week at a home daycare. The kids all call me "Grandma Jean" and greet me with hugs. It's just enough hours to get me out, but not tied down every day.
I have five grandaughters and one great-grandchild. I enjoy the time spent with them. I like to read, play cards, and movies. |
JoAnn (Shafer) Brenner:
I'm still living in Hastings and working part time at Graphic Design.
I have another grand daughter since our last reunion bringing the total to six. I enjoy spending time with them and attending ball games and other activities that they are involved in.
My friend and companion, George, and I enjoy playing cards with friends, dancing, traveling and spending winters at his home in Arizona. Life is busy! |
Dale Hanson Grape:
I joined the Army in 1958 and spent three years and four months there. I spent the last 18 months of duty in ElPaso, Texas. I went to Houston with a buddy after discharge where I met and married my wife, Winnie, in October, 1962. We lived in Houston the next 33 ears, raising two sons and two daughters. We moved to Navasota, Texas, ten years ago. We have six grandchildren from one year to nineteen years - three boys and three girls.
We are now retired and trying to garden to fee the deer. I love to show off my 1952 John Deere tractor and take care of my rabbits, donkeys and quail.
You might remember me as Fritz Hanson. My name was different them. |
John Mattison:
I have been retired for about eight years and still live in the Hudson area. I have one daughter who teaches math in the River Fall School District. No grandchildren as of now, although my daughter and her husband do have two cats (Mittens & Molly). Rosemary has been a good friend since we both lost our mates.
I will try to put you to sleep now with a little of my history. I joined the Navy right after high school for four years. After getting discharged in San Diego, I decided to hang around there for awhile. I got a job at Convair, a division of General Dynamics about a week later. After about a year and a half I got laid off and went to work as a bartender, also in the San Diego area. I came back to Wisconsin and worked briefly for Sweeney Brothers in 1964. Next I began working for Erickson Industries in River Falls the spring of 1965 until the summer of 1968. Carol and I got married in 1967 and moved to Manitowoc in 1968. During the one year that we were in Manitowoc Carol taught school and I worked for Hamilton Manufacturing Co. in Two Rivers. From there we moved to North St. Paul and I started working for Ford and Carol was once again teaching. We moved to White bear Lake in 1971, the same year our daughter was born. Here we stayed for 14 years and moved to the Hudson area in 1985.
So are you getting sleepy? (This is probably more than you ever wanted to know about John Mattison.) :~) |
Charles Cain:
We enjoy our four children and eight grandchildren. They are into all sports: baseball, football, wrestling, dance, gymnastics,fishing, hunting, and camping. We like gambling and other things such as eating out, etc. |
Jon Hillstead:
My wife, Diana and I have two sons: Dan and his wife, Kirsten, are expecting our first grandchild in June; and Jeff who is single.
Diana and I both like golfing, travel, and gardening.
I taught math for 38 years, the last 35 in Wisconsin Rapids. I retired in 1998.
We have traveled to Mexico and cruised Hawaii and Alaska. I have gone to Canada walleye fishing for the past fifteen years. We have spent some time in Florida six of the last eight years. |
JoAnn (Hanson) Hagen:
I am still in my little house which I love. My daughter, Valerie and her husband, Ron Smith live 10 minutes from me with my grandsons, Drew (13) and Brandon (5). I have fourteen grandchildren. My older sons, Jeff and Greg are not married. Jeff and Julie live in Wisconsin. Donette and Bentley live in West Virginia. Greg and Libby live in Jonesboro, Georgia. M/Sgt. Chris Hagen and his wife, Hai Kyung and sons Steven, Anthony and James are stationed in Okinawa, Japan until he retires after 25 years in the Marines the middle of August.
I keep busy Square Dancing and traveling. My summer is very busy this year. I went to West Virginia for my grand daughter, Ashley's graduation on May 24 and I leave for 10 days in Alaska May 27. I am doing a 6-day cruise and 4-day land-tour. Coming home June 6 and going to Atlanta June 8 for my grandson Zachary's wedding June 9. I come home June 13 to leave for Main June 16 for the weekend. I am going to Vermont on June 30 to a Square Dance Camping Weekend. In July I go to Cape Cod for a week with friends. Then I'll be in Wisconsin for our Class Reunion and stop in Illinois for a few days to visit friends before returning home around August 10. I may be going to Hawaii on August 20 to visit Chris and family while he is being processed out of the Marines. I go back to Cape Cod for a long weekend Septembefr 8 to September 11 with another group of friends. That ends the summer for me. I have no plans beyond then so far. My summer is jammed full this year. |
Karen (Thompson) VanDeList:
I was so looking forward to seeing and reminiscing with everyone at the reunion, but my niece Kirstin Annestad (Susan & San's daughter) in California chose August 5th for her wedding, so that is where our family will be.
Our family is doing well. Scott and Jill live in Waupun and have three children in college: Adrea (21), Rene (19) and Kurt (18). Craig and Gail live in Reno, Nevada. Cindy and Steve are in Neenah and have three children: Calvin (10), Connor (8), and Krista (6). Mark and Marlon live in Waupun and have three children: Eva (6), Sabrina (4), and Jack (3).
Mark bought our drug store a few years ago, but Gary still works when necessary, but has no set hours anymore and I'm retired from the bookkeeping job.
Gary and I spend a lot of time at our cottage on North Twin Lake near Eagle River. We also like to travel.
A big "Hi" and Hugs for everyone. I'll be thinking of you! |
Nola (Mondor) Schuch:
As much as we'd like to be at the class reunion and see all of you, we are going to be on a train/cruise trip to Alaska for 14 days celebrating our 50th anniversary in February, 2007 and this will be our gift to ourselves. This will be the first reunion I've missed and it would have to the the 50th! But, Alaska calls...
Our family hasn't grown any. Still just three kids, with two married and three grandsons that are a real joy to us. Maybe that's because we can love then and leave them! The oldest is 17 and his brothers are twins 14. Eric, Mitch, and Nick.
We still have our cottage on Castle Rock Lake in Adams/Friendship, Wisconsin and our trailer in Mesa, Arizona. Our son and daughter-in-law bought a trailer and land a couple years ago at Castle Rock and our daughter and son-in-law built a house this year. All close enough to visit, but with their own space. My sister, Sandy, and her husband are in our park in Mesa, but no kids have followed us there. At home all our kids live within 1/2 hour from us, so we see a lot of the family.
We spend every weekend we can at the cottage and three months in the winter in Arizona. Sure makes the years go fast. But I don't think we're getting any older!!!
We are keeping busy. Our two boys are taking over the concrete business. Clarence still helps the boys with the running and bidding, but most of the physical work he leaves to them and the oldest grandson. Soon the other two will be old enough to help. I still do the books for them and we also have storage buildings with 75 units to rent out, so that keeps me busy and away from housework - thank goodness! We have been trying to remodel here at home and at the cottage so that takes up our "spare time".
We are both still healthy and are enjoying life. Hope to see you all next time around. |
Barb (Blegen) and Dave Litzell:
In October we will have been married 47 years. David was in the U. S. Navy at that time and was stationed at Whidbey Island, Washington, which is where we lived the first 8 months. Then back to St. Paul where we lived the next thirteen years, then two years in Puerto Rico and back to Wisconsin in 1975. We've been here in Menomonie for 26 years.
We have one daughter and two granddaughters ages 15 and 8.
We both enjoy our yard and gardens. The gardens seem to grow each year - David says that's OK - less grass to mow!! |
Rosemary (Wolf) Meier:
Jim and I celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary on August 27, 1998, the day before he died from lung cancer. At that time, we had three daughters, three sons-in-law, five grandsons and three granddaughters. The grandchildren now range in age from 10-20.
After I graduated from college, I had a two year career teaching elementary and junior high music in the Menomonie and Somerset Public Schools. When our first daughter was born, I switched to teaching private piano lessons in our home. Some years I saw forty students a week. Since Jim's death, I've only had a few students, so I am freer to visit my out of town families in Fort Atkinson, WI and Fergus Falls, MN. My youngest daughter and her family live close to Stillwater, MN, so that is nice.
Home and yard maintenance keep me busy. I still play piano duets with several lady friends. I also spend a lot of time researching my mother's family history. She was from southwestern Wisconsin. The last three years I've been working with a group of concerned Lake Elmo residents trying to have our "temporarily" closed Lake Elmo Branch of the Washington Co. Library system reopened. January 7, 2006, mission accomplished. Our library had a grand reopening in a new location with a new name, Rosalie E. Wahl Library. It was a great day, now we need to increase its patronage and circulation.
I feel fortunate that John Mattison and I had our paths cross at a grief support group meeting in Stillwater, MN. He decided not to attend again, but we formed our own "mini" group. We have shared a lot of good times. |
Jean (Krumheuer) Knospe:
Gary and I retired in the fall of 1998. We love retirement, it certainly beats working. We'll celebrate our 47th anniversary this June 9th. We've been at the same address for 45 years and we know it's time to move but there is to much "stuff" after being here so many years, it's just easier to stay.
We have a few acres in the central part of Oregon and spend time there in the spring and summer months. We've done a lot of baby sitting our grandkids over the years but all but one is past that stage. We do get away occassionally with our RV. There are many beautiful places to camp and hike in this part of the country, and we do both when we get a chance. We also play a lot of cards with our kids and friends. I've taken line dance classes this past year, and Gary bowls every week, he also does a lot of fishing & hunting.
Two of our boys, Mike & Mark live in Salem and both work in corrections. Ken lives in rural Sandy, and has been with the Boeing Company in Portland for 22 years. Hope to see everyone at the reunion! |
Bob Jacobson:
It’s hard to believe 50 years has passed since we graduated from SVHS. So much has happened and so many changes have taken place. It’s easy to get nostalgic, especially when reading the “What We Are Doing Now” section of the Web site.
Following graduation, I worked on the family farms but discovered after a couple of years that the future wasn’t what I had expected it to be. Since college wasn’t an option at that time, I enlisted in the Army in October 1958, to fulfill my military obligation and, hopefully, develop a career in law enforcement. The three year military obligation took me to Fort Carson, Colorado, for basic training, Fort Gordon, Georgia, for military police training, and then to Virginia where I was assigned to military police units at Fort Eustis and Camp Peary. My three year active military obligation was extended four months as a result of the Bay of Pigs threat in Cuba.
I finally separated from the Army in February 1962, with the rank of sergeant (E-5) and immediately went to work for the Richmond, Virginia, City Police Department as a patrolman. In 1963, I joined the Virginia State Police where I held the positions of trooper, sergeant, and senior special agent during my 32 year tenure. Following my retirement in 1995, I went to work part-time for the Martinsville Public Defender’s Office as an investigator and retired full-time in 2002.
While stationed at Camp Peary, located near Williamsburg, I met, and subsequently married, Natalie, my wife of nearly 44 years. We have three children and four grandchildren.
My civic activities consist of past membership with Ruritan National and presently a member of The National Exchange Club. I have served as president of the club and district (state) as well as other positions in the organization. Natalie and I are active members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Martinsville.
Natalie and I have enjoyed traveling (within the states) over the years, much of it with Exchange. Most of our trips the past few years have pretty much been limited to visits with our children and grandchildren as traveling has become quite difficult for both of us. Natalie is an avid quilter and I tend to keep busy around the home and with all that goes on in retirement life.
I want to take this opportunity to thank Karen for all she has done, and is doing, in making this Web site a real success. |
Gerald (Jerry) Neidermyer:
I own a home in River Falls, Wisconsin.
I retired from University of Wisconsin as a Postal Services Manager in September 3, 2004. I now have lots of time for my hobbies - fishing, hunting, gardening and riding motorcycle. I also visit my son, daughter-in-law and grandaughters at North Bend, WA as much as possible.
I married Margaret Bemis from Spring Valley. She also is retired. We have three sons:
Paul works for Excel Power Co. at the Hydro-dam at St Croix Falls, Wi as a hydroplant operator. He has a wife (Ann) and two childen (Katie and Dan)
Mark works for University of Wisconsin at Menomonie, Wisconsin, as a Financial Specialist. He has a wife (Cindy) and a son Russell.
Scott works for Honeywell Corp. at Redmond, Washington, as a Senior Engineer. He has a wife (Cindy) and two daughters Katelynn and Cortney. |
Delores (Freiberg) Afdahl:
Our main interst is travel. Our three daughters and families reside in Virginia, Arizona, and Wisconsin. We have nine grandchildren, three girls and six boys. What a joy they are! We are all so scattered, but still arrange time to travel with all of our families. In the last four years we have been able to vacation together. We spent one week in February in Orlando, Florida. We also spent time in Zion, Bryce and Cedar Breaks National Parks. We also were on the beach at Rocky Point Mexico one year and spent three days at Wilderness Park in Wisconsin Dells. We also spent 16 days in the Alpine Countries in Europe with my sister and her husband.
We have really been enjoying our retirement together. |
Orval Knegendorf:
Right out of high school I joined the army and went off to basic training at Fort Leonard Wood and later to Fort Riley. A long time has elapsed since those days. Have raised two children, gained six step-children and now have 15 grandchildren and our first great grandchild.
Linda and I moved to Arizona in 2001. Still dabble in gardening or in this climate it often is more experimental gardening. We enjoy taking the Jeep Liberty out in the desert or the mountain back roads. There is so much more to see out there than you would believe from the main roads.
Each year we make one or two trips back to Wisconsin to see family and friends and catch up on all that is new. Also still have horses at my daughters place and I work with the horses keeping them trained.
Looking forward to further reminiscing at the class reunion. See you in August. |
Bev (Brown) Nuessmeier:
We are both retired although we work the athletic games in Hudson.....I sell tickets and Erlin takes them and stamps hands. We see Bob and Lorraine Jacobson at some of these events. I also work about four hours a week, and sometimes more, helping the gal who took my place at the business office of Hudson Schools. Erlin keeps busy with his sharpening business, lawn mower and saw blades, etc. The last three years we have helped the WELS Builders for Christ with building church/fellowship hall additions, etc. in Galesville, WI; Dallas, TX, Florence, WI and last year Eldorado, WI (near Fond du Lac). We have our own RV and stay on the church grounds while doing this. We are both also active in our church. |
Jerry Forthun:
After high school Jerry spent 3 years in the Navy, the last two at the Naval Air Station at Key West, Florida (tough duty)!! It was then on to college at River Falls (sophomore year at El Camino College in the Los Angeles area) and finally graduating from River Falls with a degree in psychology and sociology in 1963. A month later he met his future wife, Sara Hunt, from Cass City, Michigan, and from then on his life changed for the better. Sara was a lady probation officer and Jerry was a gentleman probation officer in the Wisconsin State Probation Office at Beloit, Wisconsin when they met. On August 27, 1966, shortly after Jerry received an MSW from U.W. Madison, they tied the knot. After Jerry worked for two years in a sex-crimes treatment program at the Wisconsin State Prison at Waupun, Jerry and Sara Joined the Peace Corps and spent the next 3 years at the National University of Asuncion, Paraguay. This was a beautiful experience that left us with many fond memories.
After returning to the U.S. Jerry accepted a job with the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons. He worked for the next 21 years “fighting crime and corruption” as a case manager, asst. case management coordinator, and unit manager at the Federal Correctional Institution at Milan, Michigan, retiring at the end of 1992. In the meantime, Sara worked as an adoption specialist for Family Counseling and Children’s Services in Adrian, Michigan for 26 years, retiring in September of 2005. At that time they moved to Waleska, Georgia, which is about 40 miles north of their son Michael and daughter Elizabeth, who live and work in Atlanta.
Jerry and Sara now spend their time walking their dog Peaches, going to tennis and exercise classes, going to book club meetings monthly at Reinhardt College in Waleska, and making weekly day-trips to explore the wonders of northern Georgia. Jerry has also started singing with a barber-shop choir (he also still strums the guitar a little) and Sara is getting involved with the local Newcomers Group. We have a canoe on our neighbor’s dock on Lake Chicasaw and we have a pontoon boat on nearby Lake Arrowhead, and we definitely plan to reduce the fish population in that lake in the months to come.
Life is pretty good right now.
|
Russell Pence:
Kay, my Eau Claire girl, has accompanied me through thick and thin for twenty-two years, and somehow we ended up in Arizona, where we’ve lived for the last decade and a half.
Getting here has been a trip. We’ve been nothing if not professional mercenaries, occupationally speaking. I’ve worked for many different organizations, private and public, as a computer professional and teacher. I’ve had drivers’ licenses in (become a resident of) Wisconsin twice, Minnesota thrice, Ohio twice, Iowa twice and now Arizona, and worked in CA, WA, PA, and MO as well as Europe in pursuit of adventure and the Almighty Buck. Kay, my faithful partner and strong support throughout this journey, has also successfully navigated an unusual number of professional experiences to arrive at her current position.
Kay has been with the Tempe Police Department going on six years. Fortunately she loves her job, because I love her supporting me in the manner to which I have become accustomed. I and our Schnauzers, Winston & Churchill, are retired by the lake, tending our lemon and apricot trees, and our 4-season garden. I enjoy writing and have had some small success with articles and letters-to-the-editors of newspapers across the nation. I also live vicariously through Kay and her job – interesting stories!
We also enjoy living year around in what is for many a vacation destination, and watching the mind-boggling development going on around us. We’ve lived here less than a decade and a half, but we are the old timers. We can play the “I remember when” game. In fact, the people that moved in last year can do that. Everything is new and full of vitality, and that helps keep us old-timers alert and young at heart. |
Francis (Strom) Ruka:
I've come whole circle and living with my 100 year-young mother now for six years in Spring Valley. I have two sons and a daughter, nine grandchildren and hoping there's great-grandchildren in the wings. Someday I will be back in my little house on my son's farm in Kerkhoven, MN. |
Amanda (Timm) Bisbee Gasperlin:
Jerry and I have been married for 18 years. We both worked at Montgomery Ward and have been best friends and of course, we still are! I was a widow for twelve years before I married Jerry and I raised three grown up adult children whom are very successful in their careers. We're very proud of them. We also have two wonderful grandchildren - one girl and one boy. We are oh, so very proud of them, also.
We are pet lovers and have two great dogs and a cat whom we love so very much. We are both retired and we also go to our lake cabin located in northern Minnesota when we can get away and weather permitting.
I feel we are so very fortunate and so thankful we still have each other amidst all the other happenings in our life. We feel very blessed. |
Tim Sandvig:
Sylvia and I have been married for 48 years. We have three children, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Sylvia taught second, fourth and sixth grades during her 26 years as a teacher. She taught the entire time at St. Croix Central in Roberts, Wisconsin. I worked as a chemist at the 3M Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Most of my 32 years with 3M were spent in the Medical Sector in Product development. We both retired in 1996. We both love to fish, garden and travel.
I like to hunt if I can work it in between fishing outings. We spend the months of January and February in Florida or Texas.
We recently sold our home in Woodville, Wisconsin and bought a home on Lake Wissota near Chippewa Falls, Wis. |
Karen (Peterson) Olson:
Duane ('53) and I have been married for
47 years and have two children - a son and a daughter - and seven grandchildren ranging in age from 4 to
24 years. They all live in the Twin City area. We are both retired and are living in a townhouse in Forest Lake, MN, downsizing from our home in New Brighton in 2002.
I taught elementary students in the Mounds View District for 25 years – the
last ten years of my career I served as my school’s computer specialist. I retired in 2001. Duane worked for Honeywell as an accountant for 30+ years.
We
spend as much time as possible at our cabin in northern Wisconsin during the
warmer months. We love to travel and our trips usually involve visiting friends and realtives in various parts of the U.S.A. |
Bob Langer:
Joyce and I celebrated our 44th anniversary in June 2005. We have 3 married children and 7 grandchildren ages range from 5 to 21. We are both retired; Joyce after 25 years of working part time as a bank teller and I after 44 years in the Engineering Design and Drafting group at Lockheed Martin formerly Unisys and Univac. We like to travel outside the USA covering most of Europe, Egypt and tentatively planning a trip to China, Japan and Thailand. In the wintertime we usually spend a month or two somewhere in the warm climates always searching for that ideal permanent winter residence; although, Joyce feels she is still too young for that lifestyle. We enjoy entertaining our grandchildren, golfing, biking, playing cards, walking and working out at the gym. |
