Spring 2014

Dear 49ers:

It is time for my spring letter, which usually comes at the conclusion of the basketball season, which ended last night, March 1. The Luther men’s team was conference champion last year, earning the number-one seed for the tournament. They were defeated in the first game! The current season began just fair, then came a six-game winning streak, then mediocre results the last part of the season, earning a number-four seed. All games were on the road for the conference tournament. Our Norse defeated Loras, then Dubuque, then lost to Central (the 2013-2014 conference champs) last night by four points in the championship game. The Norse women’s team had a long season, but in my opinion, with a young group, showed steady improvement throughout the year.

Without any communication from classmates, I will provide some Peterson news. We have three grandchildren, the youngest being a senior in the Whippany Park High School in Morristown, New Jersey. Marilyn and I drove to New Jersey to witness Julie’s final games during the week of February 23. They won all three games and we walked onto the court with her and her parents on senior night. IT WAS FUN! The drive home was interesting with about two hundred miles of blizzard-like conditions.

You have probably heard of the selection of Dr. Paula Carlson to be Luther’s next president. A St. Olaf graduate, she will be Luther’s tenth president, and has held many outstanding positions in several educational institutions, including the University of Dubuque, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Yale, and St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Ind. Dr. Carlson will begin her term July 1.

Dr. David Tiede has served as Luther’s interim president since last summer. In my opinion he has been a GREAT leader for our college. In addition, he has been a participant in many community events. Dr. Tiede’s time in the community has been very positive.

In each of my newsletters I always encourage you to consider some financial support for our college.  Remember, the amount is important, but 100 percent class participation is really important.

It has been a long winter, but I predict that spring will come. In about five months, we will complain about the heat! I hope that all of you plan to return this fall for OUR 65^th anniversary reunion, October 10-12, 2014.

Take care,

Francis Peterson
1949 Class Agent
[email protected]

Obituaries

CARMEN ARDIS BURDICK BOYINGTON of Bandera, Texas, died Sept. 8, 2013, at age 84. Born in Mason City, Iowa, she graduated from Lake Mills High School before enrolling at Luther, where she received a certificate in education. After teaching second grade for a year, Carmen and a girlfriend traveled to Galveston for a summer vacation, where she met her husband, William H. "Bill" Boyington. For the next 31 years, the couple called Galveston home, raising their children, serving their church, and actively participating in the community. In 1982 they retired to Bandera, where Carmen continued her lifelong dedication to community and church. She was involved with the Flying L POA, Spirits of Christmas, Methodist Church Cut-Ups, Fine Arts Club, and several bridge groups and book clubs. Carmen is survived by her daughter, Cathleen Boyington Elliott; a son, William B. Boyington; a daughter-in-law; two grandchildren; a brother, Jim Burdick; sister, Mary Joy Norton; two sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; parents; and a brother, Ronald Burdick.

JAMES ANDREW GRAVEN of Longville, Minn., and formerly of Plymouth died Oct. 4, 2013, at age 87. After graduating from Hutchinson (Minn.) High School, he enrolled at Luther, where he majored in physical education and sociology and graduated in 1949. Jim served in the U. S. Army from 1945-46. He married Joan Dayton on June 11, 1950, and worked as a teacher, coach, and athletic director with the Wayzata (Minn.) Public School District for more than 30 years. Jim enjoyed his family, fishing, and spending time at the cabin. He is survived by his children, Christine, Rebecca, and James; two sons- and a daughter-in-law; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; other family members; and friends. Jim was preceded in death by his wife, JOAN (DAYTON) GRAVEN, siblings, and parents.

WITH SINCERE GRATITUDE:

This list includes all gifts received January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2013. 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.

Leona (Nordeng) Amdahl *
Elder Bentley *
LaVern Bredeson
Gordon Christianson *
Ralph Colrud *
Elaine (Nestingen) Cordes *
Harriet (Flatland) Danielson
Joann Dirks Anderson *
Alice (Ranum) Drake *
†Lois (Brandt) Drews *
Luther Forde *
John Fritz
Lorene (Knutson) Geiselhart
Eric Giere
†James Graven *
Maretta (Vangsness) Grindeland*
Merlin Hagen *
Homer Hanson *
Nora (Forde) Hendrickson *
Lavern Hillesland *
Gordon Howland *
Christabel (Adix) Jacobs *
Alfred Jacobs *
Joseph Jerdee
Idamae (Prell) Knutson *
Walter Korsrud *
Ruth Lunde *
†Sherwood Mellom *
Jerry Moe *
Paul Nelson *
Barbara (Orwoll) Nordschow *
Helen (Larson) Peterson *
Francis Peterson *
Helen (Coffeen) Robbe *
Laurayne (Helgerson) Solberg *
Mary (Ramsland) Sordel *
Rachel (Noer) Spencer *
Olin Storvick *
Maxine Swiggum
Lorraine (Bergland) Wangsness
Ethel (Tellefson) Webster
Ruth (Mikelson) Ziemann

* 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 email [email protected].