Spring 2013
Dear Classmates, Schoolmates, and Friends,
I have written about 25 of these class letters and I find that it is always difficult to get going on them. This time the process started in the middle of the night, when I was having a bout of insomnia. My thoughts turned, you guessed it, to growing old at a faster and faster rate. I think back to 1929, the year most of us were born. The onset of the Depression probably resulted in deprived childhoods. Next came WWII. In 1945 we celebrated its end, first with VE day and then VJ day. I also remember that there was a conference in San Francisco that had drafted a charter for the United Nations.
At age 16 I was very optimistic about the future. But I was also aware of the price of victory. In the front of the Lutheran Church in the small town of Cyrus (west of Glenwood and Starbuck, and east of Morris), in west-central Minnesota, was a service flag of 28 blue stars, onto which had been affixed 7 gold stars. This is a 25 percent fatality rate.
At the time, I was sure that WWII would be the last major war in human history. It didn’t quite work out that way. In 1952 I was drafted into the army. The Korean War was still going on. I did not see combat, but an acoustical concussion in basic training damaged my hearing, currently rated as a 70 percent disability.
Luther’s Development Office coordinates the “class letter” program, and it is a difficult job due to the number of alums and their whereabouts. I asked the office to prepare two listings: a list of deceased members of the class of ’51, and a list of those who currently receive the class letter. Here are some of the facts. There were 89 names on the deceased listing and 121 on the current mailing list. So 58 percent of our class is still around. Of the deceased, 2 died in the ’50s, 1 in the '’60s, 5 in the ’70s, and 5 in the ’80s. Obviously the rate is accelerating. I’m also sure that those living (typically turning 84 this year) have a variety of physical and mental declinations. But 84 is a ripe old age, so hang in there!
In my last letter I forgot to mention something I had planned to include, and that is a visit with our classmate, Harold Freid, last summer. We covered several topics, including his propensity to collect things. One was a large stamp collection. Another was a massive collection of boy scout patches. (His interest in scouting was triggered by his sons. He focused on out-of-door activities with them and he is still active in scouting.) At age 86 he bought a 1986 Pontiac Fiero, fixed it up, got it running, and drives it around Eau Claire, Wis. He does volunteer work with a number of community organizations. He was a marine in WWII, which must have toughened him for a life of constant activity.
The Luther Alumni Magazine covers college happenings so I need not duplicate any of that. But I can call your attention to certain items in the magazine. In the recent issue (Vol. 46, Number 2) there is an article (p. 3) about Luther’s eighth Rhodes Scholar. Perhaps you noted that our classmate, George Mohr, is one of the eight—a rather exclusive club.
On page 40 there is an article about a new initiative relative to Luther graduates who have served in the armed forces of the U.S. (There is one of our classmates in the picture.) The initiative is still developing and I am not sure what the final pattern will be, but it will include a website and the interactive multimedia touch-screen display in Loyalty Hall (our old boarding club), as mentioned in the article.
Speaking of veterans, on p. 62, there is mention of my cousin, Norman Rosholt, LC 1950. Some of you probably knew him. He was a WWII veteran who piloted a bomber heading for Germany. He had to parachute out of his damaged plane, was captured, marched day and night to a POW camp on the Baltic, and finally was saved when approaching Russian troops put the prison guards on the run.
Luther will have a new president in the near future (perhaps this will happen before this letter is mailed). The college is in good shape, so I know that it will have a great future. You can help that continue by using the enclosed envelope, to you-know-what! I hope the class of 1951 will have a high participation rate.
Best wishes,
Bob Rosholt
rosberry@mchsi.com
Obituary
Richard “Dick” Chaffee of La Crosse, Wis., died unexpectedly on Oct. 21, 2012, at age 82. He graduated from Austin (Minn.) High School in 1948, before attending Luther for two years and then joining the U.S. Navy, where he eventually became a member of the West Coast Navy Dance Band. After his discharge, Dick continued his musical endeavors, playing with bands such as the Bill May Band, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, Ralph Marterie, and the Dorsey Brothers’ Band. He returned to Austin and married Elaine Zimmerman in 1957, and they became the parents of two daughters, Suzanne and Nancy. In 1964 the family moved to Decorah and purchased Nob Hill Supper Club, where Dick was able to continue his love of entertaining, whether on the stage with his bands or serving his customers. After selling Nob Hill in 1976, Dick and Elaine moved to La Crosse in 1979, where they returned to the restaurant business, running the Pettibone Boat Club for several seasons. Dick continued his involvement with various bands. Following Elaine’s death in 1991, he continued playing trumpet in various bands, including his Stardust Big Band, Al Townsend’s Wonderful World of Jazz, and the Grumpy Old Men, as well as several reunion concerts of the Navy Band. In 1995, Dick married Jane Lee Rohrer. He is survived by his wife, Jane; two daughters, Suzanne Swanson and Nancy Chaffee; three grandchildren; a brother, Robert Chaffee; sisters-in law Sally White, Susan Gant, Mary Sink; and brother-in-law Scott Lee. Dick was preceded in death by his first wife, Elaine.
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 1950 total giving in 2012: $63,903 from 47% of the class
Class of 1951 total giving in 2012: $27,629 from 44% of the class
Class of 1952 total giving in 2012: $36,071 from 39% 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.
Karl Aschim*
George Austin*
Edward Barth*
Howard Bernatz*
Donald Blockhus*
Philip Blumer*
Robert Boyd
Ralph Brevig*
Marilyn (Myrah) Bunge*
Ruth (Jensen) Bunge*
Leonard Dalen
Naomi (Hutton) Evensen
Jerome Fardal*
Harold Freid
Dean Gesme*
Barbara (Anderson) Gillespie
John Glesne
Eleanor (Erickson) Hagstrom*
Marilyn (Stoa) Harms*
Philip Hellestad*
Wayne Henderson*
Barbara (Larson) Hjelle
Donald Ward Hjelle
Robert Jenson
Lowell Joerg
Mary (Anderson) Johnson*
Elsie (Nesset) Kittleson*
Wallace Klandrud*
Cloy Kneeskern*
John Krupicka*
Norlan Lee*
Idore Lewison*
Alden Lien*
Helen (Bothel) Lien*
Ethel (Turbenson) Marchant
Alton Martin
Evelyn (Rolfs) Martin
George Mohr*
IvaNell (Mundt) Monson*
Luther Monson*
Lloyd Nelson*
Darleen (Helgerson) Rem*
Richard Rem*
Kletus Rood*
Robert Rosholt*
John Rotto*
Cleetta (Fardal) Schrimper
Norman Simondet
James Smith*
Beatrice (Johnsrud) Stoddard*
Shirley (Peterson) Swenson*
Priscilla (Giere) Teisberg
Ted Thompson*
Ivan Torkelson*
George Trytten*
Charles Weist*
* 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.
