Spring 2013
Dear Classmates,
The Presidential search to replace President Torgerson is well underway. The Board of Regent expects to name a new president prior to President Torgerson’s departure at the end of the academic year. A starting date for a new president has not been established by the Regents, so we are unable to provide additional information in our spring letter. Check the Luther website for updates as the process goes along. Details will be available in the spring LUTHER magazine.
Decorah News—there has been lots of interest in meteorites this winter and Decorah is in the national news (Washington Post). Scientists at the Smithsonian and the National Museum of Natural History have confirmed that Decorah and Luther College rest on a large meteorite crater, which formed about 470 million years ago when a giant space rock smashed into earth. One more unique thing about our Luther experience―how many of your non-Luther friends attended college in a meteorite crater???
The Decorah eagles have downsized to a new nest, so they will not be seen worldwide on video camera this year.
Class Giving—The development office compiled the enclosed list of our classmates who gave to Luther in 2012. Giving is recognized on a calendar year basis, rather than fiscal year (June1-May 31) basis. Thank you so much for your loyal support this past year. We reached the 40 percent participation level this past year. Walt and Dave are so proud of our 50th reunion gift of over one million dollars—the largest reunion gift in school history, and a record that will stand for many years to come. What a great class we are and so loyal to the Luther we love so much.
Class Notes—Neal Nottleson is a board member at the Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum in Decorah.
I hope you saw the Homecoming DSA citation for classmate Fran and Miriam (Strum) Odden ʾ62 in the Winter 2012 LUTHER (page 30).
Obituaries—a brief obituary is included for Gerald Young, who started Luther with our class in 1955.
Just a reminder—if you haven’t ordered a copy of Luther’s recent history Transformed by the Journey, copies are still available at the college book store. It provides a great perspective on the last 150 years at Luther.
Memory Brain Teasers-Answers to Fall 2012 teasers:
1. What did DP stand for? Decorah Product
2. Campus pastor our senior year? Gordon Selbo
3. “Greek” organization sponsoring
a. Motion pictures—Wisillminowas
b. Big top carnival—Sigma Alpha Phi
New Memory Teasers
1. Campus Pastor our freshman year?
2. Pastor who designed Messiah backdrop at C.K.Preus gymnasium?
3. Decorah restaurant in our days named after a bird?
Please keep us informed about interesting happenings in your life. If you have interest in being a class agent for our class, please let us know. Remember, our 55th reunion is October 10-12, 2014—we hope you will plan to attend and will submit some program ideas for this special event.
Wishing you a good spring and summer.
Dave Roslien
jd1218roslien@yahoo.com
Walter Rugland
waltrug@new.rr.com
Class Notes:
JOHN BRUGGE is a visiting professor in the neurosurgery department at the University of Iowa.
LINDA (SWITZER) LASOTA of Athens, Ala., is attending healing school and volunteering at the senior center, where she provides music and teaches calligraphy class.
Obituary
Gerald “Gerry” Young of Decorah died October 1, 2012, at age 75. A Decorah High School wrestler and basketball player, he graduated in 1955 and attended Luther for one year. Gerry was united in marriage to Donna (Winger) Young ‘59 in 1963, and they were blessed with two children: Amy and Jon. Gerry worked at Gibbs Cook in Mason City before returning to Decorah and working at Deco Products for 37½ years as a tool and die foreman; he retired in 1999. Known as a perfectionist but also a very patient man, Gerry enjoyed fishing, hunting, and the outdoors. He served as a 4-H softball coach, an usher at First Lutheran Church, a member of Pheasants Forever, and a former member of the Elks. Gerry was a handyman and very willing to help anyone. He loved his family and loved to tell jokes. Gerry is survived by his wife, Donna, two children, and four grandchildren.
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 1958 total giving in 2012: $120,226 from 42% of the class
Class of 1959 total giving in 2012: $293,937 from 40% of the class
Class of 1960 total giving in 2012: $59,828 from 41% 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.
Charles Aase
Gerald Anderson*
Iler Anderson
Charles Austad
Marva (Paulson) Baldwin*
Janet (Jorgenrud) Barlow*
Paul Beck
Loren Behm*
+Ray Bentdahl*
Shirley (Klingsheim) Bentdahl*
Jerome Brophy*
John Brugge*
Ronald Calgaard*
Caryl (Peterson) Chornow
Ardis (Fiskerbeck) Christen*
Anita Coverdale-Paulson
George Currier
Audrey (Hovden) Dahle
Jeannine (Schroeder) D'Orazio*
Janet (Natvig) Dotseth*
Martha (Gilderhus) Egeland*
Frances (Smith) Ellefson
Gary Embretson*
Keith Erdahl*
John Estrem
Malinda (Moklebust) Evans
Wilbur Fisher*
William Fowell*
Elaine (Ask) Fox*
Leland Fretheim
Janice (Sprung) Gratz
Rosalie (Grangaard) Grosch*
Darvin Hacker*
Eugene Hanson*
Walter Hanson*
Layne Haugen
Judy (Walke) Havener*
Joan (Wharram) Hayes
Joanne (Hamberg) Heggen*
Carol (Tangen) Hills*
Marilyn (Miller) Holland*
Irma (Orth) Hopkins*
†Bjorg (Rinvold) Jackson
Joyce (Tesch) Jaspers*
Louise (Knudson) Jones*
Ruth (Benson) Kamin
Sara (Severson) Kittleson*
Lowell Kleppe*
Helen (Legler) Kneubuhler*
Milt Kramer*
Linda (Switzer) Lasota
Thomas Lee*
Lois Leffler
David Lomen
Nancy (Ohrtman) Marlow
Borgne (Braaten) McClelland
Jeanette (Leean) Melby
Vera (Lange) Miller
Peggy (Baumgardner) Mullick*
Geraldine (Mosby) Nottleson*
Neal Nottleson*
Francis Odden*
Theodore Olsen*
A. Richard Olson
Martha (Smith) Olson
Richard Olson
Charles Paulson
Benny Pederson
Ruth (Voehl) Pierson
Larry Pinnow
Faye (Brandt) Polivka*
Janice (Egeberg) Quass*
LaVerne Quass*
Mary (Voight) Rakowicz*
Arlene (Riegel) Rosheim*
David Roslien*
Walter Rugland*
George Running
Paula (Freese) Sisler*
Karlton Skindrud*
Waldo Smeby*
Lorraine (Leirmo) Smith*
Lenita (Johnson) Stark
Franklin Steiner*
†Richard Thomsen
William Tjaden*
Howard Tollefsrud*
Carol (Kaasa) Turner
Larry Weigle
Carole (Tangen) Wendlandt
* 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.
