Spring 2013
Dear Luther Friends from the Class of 1944,
President Rick Torgerson and his wife, Judy, are leaving Luther at the end of the academic year, and we are going to miss their leadership. Many good things have happened over the course of their 14-year tenure: the academic program has been strengthened; the endowment has nearly tripled; and the physical campus looks more beautiful than ever. Diversity on campus has also increased, and Luther continues to attract amazing faculty and outstanding students.
Sustainability has been a main focus during the Torgerson presidency, and the college has made significant strides in this department, garnering national recognition. Luther’s 1.6-megawatt wind turbine offsets about 2.5 million pounds of coal per year and reduces the college’s greenhouse gas emissions by 14 percent. Baker Village is now carbon neutral thanks to a solar energy field, the largest solar energy production facility in Iowa. It is Luther’s goal to be carbon neutral by 2030, and the college is also committed to responsible food-sourcing practices, which means every effort is made to serve locally grown produce on campus. In 2010 Luther was one of only eight U.S. schools to earn an A on the College Sustainability Report Card, and in 2012 Luther received a Second Nature Climate Leadership Award.
Here at Luther, we enjoy celebrating good things, and a number of Sesquicentennial Fund celebrations and Torgerson tribute events have been happening across the country, from January to April. Perhaps you’ve attended an event in your area. The campus and Decorah-area farewell tribute to President Rick and Judy Torgerson is planned for Thursday, May 16, at 8:00 p.m., in the CFL, and all are welcome to attend.
The Sesquicentennial Fund campaign closed on December 31, 2012, having exceeded the $50 million goal with a grand total of over $57 million in gifts and pledges. Thank you to all who participated! One campaign project is still under-funded, the new aquatic center, but construction is almost complete. A delightful video about the new facility is on the athletics website, at http://www.luther.edu/sports/men/swimmingdiving/, and the dedication ceremony is scheduled for Homecoming 2013 weekend, on Friday, Oct. 4, at 5:00 p.m. We hope to see you there!
Have a wonderful spring season,
Sue (Franzen) Drilling ‘78
Director of Special Programs
drillisu@luther.edu
Obituaries
Amber (Lee) Helgerson, 89, of La Crosse, Wis., died Oct. 5, 2012. She grew up on a farm in Crawford County, on Nash Ridge, and attended Sugar Creek School with her sisters. Amber attended high school in Lansing, Iowa, and in Viroqua, graduating in 1940. She enrolled at Luther and received a certificate in education in 1942; after graduation, she taught school in Mt. Sterling. While working as a teacher, she met Reuben Helgerson, and they were married in 1944. Reuben and Amber resided in Viroqua for 20 years, and Superior for two years, followed by 18 years in La Crosse. While living in La Crosse, Amber worked at the J.C. Penney Catalog Store and at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center's Department of Oral Surgery. After retirement, they lived in Mt. Sterling for 14 years, until Reuben's death in 2000. Amber returned to La Crosse in February 2002. Amber is survived by her children―sons, Richard, Roland, and Tim, and daughter, Ann Kelly; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; her sisters, Lila Storaasli and Edith Sandwick; a sister-in-law, Helen Coleman, and a brother-in-law, Rolf Helgerson; and many special nieces, nephews, and other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Reuben, and two brothers and sisters, including Orlando LEE ’37.
Sara Marie (Kahn) Jenson died October 1, 2012, at the age of 88. Born and raised in Spring Grove, Minn., Sara was an excellent student, graduating from high school a year ahead of her classmates. Since she was so young, her parents convinced her to attend nearby Luther College with the proviso that she could transfer after a year if she didn’t like it. Luther must have agreed with her because she stayed, continuing the pattern of excellence she had begun in high school, and graduating from Luther magna cum laude in 1944, after just three years. Sara was Luther’s homecoming queen in 1942. She met her future husband, Carroll “Hap” Jenson ’43, in the library at Luther. After graduation, Sara earned her ABLS degree from the University of Michigan and worked as a librarian in La Crosse, then at Luther Northwestern Seminary in St. Paul, and, finally, at the Stillwater (Minn.) public schools. After her retirement, she continued to work as a substitute librarian until the age of 80. During her career, Sara served on many local and regional library and synod boards. She was an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Bayport, Minn., serving as the first woman president of the church council and as Sunday school superintendent. Sara, who served on the original board, and Hap were instrumental in beginning Books for Africa, an organization which ultimately provided over 30 million books to schools in Africa. She and Hap travelled widely, visiting the British Isles, Mexico, Greece, Japan, and the Far East, as well as several trips to Africa in conjunction with their church’s mission work there. Sara was preceded in death by her only son, Peter. In addition to her husband, Hap, she is survived by a grandson, two brothers-in-law (Jim JENSON ’41 and Paul JENSON ’48), a sister-in-law (LOIS JENSON ’52), and many nieces and nephews.
Don't forget your Annual Fund giving!
Each year nearly 9,000 alumni, parents, and friends support the Annual Fund with gifts from $5 to $50,000. Strong support from alumni helps Luther secure additional funds from foundations and corporations, and your gift each year helps us reach our goal of 27% alumni giving. Here’s how your class—and surrounding classes—did in 2012:
Class of 1943 total giving in 2012: $8,650 from 36% of the class
Class of 1944 total giving in 2012: $29,070 from 42% of the class
Class of 1945 total giving in 2012: $860 from 25% of the class
Your gift can boost the impact your class has on current students! Please use the enclosed envelope or visit www.givenow.luther.edu to show your support. Thank you!
WITH SINCERE GRATITUDE:
This list includes all gifts received January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2012. Making a gift each and every year is an investment in the lives of Luther students and a show of support for the Luther College community. Thank you for your support of Luther College through your giving.
Naomi (Flugstad) Bekkum*
Spencer Gedestad*
Francis Haddy*
Eleanor (Weed) Jerman*
Iva (Peterson) Martindale
Lillian (Stadsvold) McConnell
Roselle (Olson) Naeseth*
Evelyn (Fesenmeyer) Noble
William Winter
Marwin Wrolstad*
Warren Zimmerman
* made a gift in each of the last five consecutive years.
Every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list. If an error has been made, please accept our apology and contact the Luther Development Office at 800-225-8664, or e-mail giving@luther.edu.
