Spring 2013
Dear Classmates,
Seems as though we just sent you the last class letter, but now the birds are singing and the tulips are blooming.
The search for Luther's next president is underway as we write this letter, and by the time you receive it, a new president may have been announced or an interim named.
Aaron Hafner has been named Luther's new football coach. He comes to Luther by way of William Penn.
Congratulation to the men's basketball team for coming in first in the conference this year. The women also made a good run. Tom Stenson was seen cheering on the Norse at the Luther/Wartburg game played at Luther.
In a February '65 edition of Chips, there was an article about informational meetings being held on the proposed 4-1-4 academic calendar and the interim month. Move on to 2013―and we now know it as the successful J-term.
Karen just returned from a trip to beautiful Decorah, where she visited her soon to be 95-year-old mom, Mimi. She is bright, beautiful, and doing well. We are so blessed to have her.
Just a quick note about the Decorah eagles. They are building a new nest not far from the old nest. The cameras will be off temporarily while they relocate to the new nest site. Fun to keep track of them.
Enjoy your summer. Stay safe and healthy.
Larry and Karen (Aaker) Chellevold
lchellevo@aol.com
Obituaries
Carl Johnson of Lake City, Iowa died October 6, 2012, at age 69. A 1961 Lake City High School graduate, he majored in business administration at Luther. Carl served in the U.S. Army as a 1st lieutenant during the Vietnam War. In 1968 he was united in marriage to Carolyn Morris. Carl worked as a manager at Calhoun Mutual Insurance and he owned Johnson Insurance Agency in Lake City. He served his community as chief of its fire department for 25 years, as legion commander, Opportunity Living board president, Kiwanis president, little league coach, and Booster Club president. A member of Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Lake City, Carl served as elder and president of the congregation. He also taught classes in adult Bible, confirmation, and catechism. An avid golfer and reader, Carl was also especially active and supportive of his children and grandchildren in their activities. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; sons Chris Johnson and Cyle Johnson; daughter, Cara Johnson Hannam; grandsons, Quentin and Eli Straw; his mother, Maxyne Johnson; sister, Carol Dickkut; and nieces and nephews. Carl was preceded in death by his father, mother- and father-in-law, and a nephew.
Robert Steiner of Hudson, Wis., died unexpectedly from heart complications July 14, 2012, at age 68. After attending Luther, Bob graduated from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls with majors in psychology and economics. He married Judy Klecker in 1965, and they were blessed with three sons: Chad, Christopher, and Bobby. Bob served his country in the National Guard for 13 years, obtaining the rank of major. He began his work career as a caseworker at Stillwater Correctional Facility. Bob worked several years at Minnesota Department of Corrections as probation officer, and he retired in 2006 as a supervisor for Ramsey County Court Services, completing 38 years. Bob relished the beauty of nature and enjoyed being outdoors. He could always be found working on various projects around the house. Fondly remembered for his great sense of humor, Bob was a man of true gratitude, and the recipient of a kidney transplant in 2008. He was dedicated to his family and cherished time with Judy―his wife of 47 years, his children, and grandchildren. Bob is survived by his wife, Judy; two sons, Chad Steiner and Bobby Steiner; three daughters-in-law; 6 grandchildren; and a sister. He was preceded in death by his son, Christopher Robert Steiner, and a grandson.
Mary Ann Walker of Urbandale, Iowa, died March 26, 2012, at age 69, following a courageous battle with cancer. A Clear Lake High School graduate, she attended Luther and went on to receive a bachelor’s degree from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, and a master’s degree in public administration from Iowa State University in Ames. Mary Ann held various positions with the Iowa Department of Human Services (IDHS) until her retirement in 2000. She was a public welfare worker and homemaker supervisor in Cerro Gordo County, a county director in Hancock County, a benefit payment supervisor and family, children, and adult service specialist in the Mason City district, a district administrator in the Fort Dodge district, and the Bureau Chief of Policy Administration and Rules administrator in the central office in Des Moines. Following her retirement from IDHS, Mary Ann went to work for H&R Block as an administrative assistant and tax preparer, where she worked until she became ill. She had just completed her enrolled agent certification to represent clients before the IRS. Mary Ann was a member of St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Urbandale. She enjoyed counted cross stitch, stained glass, machine embroidery, making porcelain dolls and creating animals from old fur coats, quilting, computer applications, gardening, canning and baking, genealogy, serving as Queen Mother for the Red Bonnet Biddies red hat group, and her Basset Hound, Sammy. She was respected, admired, and loved for her compassion, kindness, generosity, home-cooked delicacies, intelligence, and sense of humor. Mary Ann is survived by her wife, Ruth Schlesinger; a sister, Susan Gerdes; four sisters-in-law; her mother- and father-in-law; a brother-in-law; many nieces and nephews; and special friends and neighbors. She was preceded in death by a brother, Ned Walker.
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 1964 total giving in 2012: $420,129 from 35% of the class
Class of 1965 total giving in 2012: $65,489 from 35% of the class
Class of 1966 total giving in 2012: $57,183 from 33% 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.
Barbara (Moen) Amundson*
Rebecca (Simmering) Anderson*
Michael Austad*
Dwight Backman
Marlyn Baum*
Suzanne (Schwager) Baum*
Harold Bendicsen*
Lani (Nelson) Beuerman*
Lucille (Larson) Bjerke
Charles Bonack*
Gretchen Brockmeyer
Suzanne (Natvig) Brophy
Madonna (Fure) Brue
Linda (Jacobson) Buckardt
Karen (Aaker) Chellevold*
Larry Chellevold*
Roger Churness
Sandra (Normann) Churness
Beverly (Nelson) Clark*
Dennis Day
Eugene Eickelberg*
James Engelhardt
Patricia (Regan) Engelhardt
John Engelien
Connee (Kobs) Espe*
Loren Evenrud*
DuWayne Federwitz*
Judith (Larson) Fogdall*
Carol (Crosby) Gard
Nelson Gigstad*
Lloyd Gravengaard*
Mary (Sandstrom) Gravengaard*
Eunice (Rekward) Hager
Suzanne (Knoll) Hales*
Mary (Thompson) Hallum
Berne Hanford*
Dean Hanson
Gwen (Otteson) Hanson
Ronald Harder*
Joann (Harr) Hemp*
Richard Hemp*
Cecil Horst*
Robert Hovey*
Mary (Shafland) Hutson
Carolyn (Hove) Hutton*
Richard Hutton*
Richard Jaeke*
Helen (Hoff) James*
Mary (Woizeski) Jervis*
Jeanette (Madson) Johannsen*
Timothy Kiemel
Stephen Kloster
Roger Kronmann
Ronald Lundeen
Bruce MacLaren
Marcia (Norland) MacLaren
Marie (Peterson) Marin*
Diann (Bilden) Marten*
Robert Masche*
Annette (Weborg) McCabe
Elaine (Voss) Monis
George Monis
Robert Naslund*
Barbara (Forland) Neils
Mary Niebuhr
Sherry (Lyon) Oakland
Paul Olsen*
Samuel Olson
Wayne Paulson*
Gary Peer*
Karen (Nilsestuen) Peterson*
Gloria (Evans) Rainer*
David Ramsett*
Lucille (Olson) Ross*
Diane Rugalski*
Dolores Sande*
Joyce (Reynolds) Saul*
Dianne (Behnke) Schultz*
Ronald Schultz
Marret (Jark) Seebacher*
Lynn (Running) Steinke
Janice (Moldenhauer) Strike*
Karen (Mathews) Stuart
Diane (Mallu) Thompson
Robert Thompson
Theressa (Payne) Thompson*
Judith (Wendt) Tolman*
Mary (Kaasa) Ulland
Gerald Vallem*
Marcia (Peterson) Van Vleet
Joyce (Behrens) Wallman*
Joy (Andresen) Wetzel*
Peggy (Kindell) Wright
* 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.
