Fall 2009
Class of 1965

A  LIFE  BIRD

If any of you have taken up birdwatching in your retirement (no eye-rolling or snickering here!), you know that part of being a “birder” is keeping detailed records of your “sightings.” And a “Life Bird” is a sighting of a rare or elusive species that most people never see, or if they do, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Last year, quite by accident, I was converted from a casual bird observer (noticing the first robin every spring) to an intentional bird watcher.  Here is how it all went down:  Some friends from Michigan came to visit us in Florida and, having taken up birdwatching in their retirement, we took them to the Audubon Society Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.  When we found out at the ticket counter that a painted bunting had been observed recently, they went crazy with excitement; as for me--I was still pretty calm until they exclaimed, “Judy, a painted bunting is a Life Bird!”

So we went to the feeding station and waited along with several others about an hour, and suddenly, there it was.  Everyone gasped as a beautiful, brightly colored bird landed on the feeder for maybe 15 seconds and then was gone—we gasped again. But we waited and it returned, lingering a bit longer and providing a legitimate, documented, witnessed sighting.  My conversion was instant!  Of course the high point in my birding career was on the first day—I had seen a Life Bird!

And what is the connection to Luther College?  I would say that our years at Luther were:        

A LIFE EXPERIENCE

For four years we had a rare and elusive time to learn and grow and start to become who we are today.  Most of us won’t see a Life Bird, but we did all have a Life Experience in 1961-65.  I believe that Luther College continues to provide a place and a spirit where students can have a Life Experience.  That’s why I’m willing to financially support the college in continuing to do what it has done for 150 years.  (Luther will be celebrating its Sesquicentennial in 2011!)

A THANK YOU

Thank you to each of you who made a gift to the College this past year—you raised our class percentage of giving from 33 to 36 percent.  In these economic times, that’s great and is so appreciated.  If you haven’t made your Annual Fund gift yet, please give online at givenow.luther.edu.  Also, recognizing that most of us are more in tune with the calendar year than the college’s fiscal year, they are shifting from fiscal to calendar year for the purpose of donor recognition.  A donation made between January 1 and December 31 will be acknowledged in the annual giving list, which will accompany the spring letter via hard copy.  The fall letter will come by email.  Please provide a current email address to [email protected] or sign on to the Online Alumni Directory.  Using email saves a lot of money and a lot of trees—be sure they have your email address—don’t miss out on your class letter.

PS.  If you wish to be listed as Anonymous, please phone the Development Office (800-225-8664) to make this request.

PPS.  Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will be discontinuing its GivingPlus program as of Dec. 31, 2009.  Be sure to take advantage of this program, if applicable, before it expires.

AN INVITATION

            What:               The 45-Year Reunion of the Class of 1965
            When:              October 8-10, 2010
            Where:             Luther College, Decorah, Iowa (Location TBA)
            Why:                To reconnect, be rejuvenated, affirm our maturity, admire our maintenance efforts, share our life experiences, laugh, and have fun.  And also, Why not??  We’ll miss YOU if you’re not there.  Make your HOTEL RESERVATIONS NOW.  Google Decorah, IA, hotels or bed and breakfasts for a list, or go to http://www2.luther.edu/about/decorah/lodging/index.html

A SPECIAL REQUEST

For help in planning a special evening for our 45^th reunion.  We want to hear your ideas and desires in putting together an enjoyable evening.  It’s possible there are some great photos out there, or some great musicians, comedians, magicians—well, maybe not, but you get the idea.  Call, write or email me—don’t fear—you won’t automatically be put on a committee (but you certainly can volunteer).

THIS AND THAT

• My Luther ring is at the jewelry store being sized larger (again) to wear at our 45^th.
• Our classmate, Jane (Dicke) Dettloff, is a member of the Alumni Council.
• The “new” Preus Library just celebrated its 40^th year.
• The new Sampson Hoffland Laboratories are out of this world. 
• The renovated Valders Hall of Science, new in our day, looks good even though the “space age” ramps are gone.
• There is a new opportunity to give Luther a gift—the gift of a new student.  The Alumni Connection Scholarship will give $1,000 to each newly registered student whose name was given by an alumnus (before February 2010).  You provide the name; the College will do the rest.

I hope to see you all in October 2010.

With affection from your class agent,

Judy Fogdall
1965 Class Agent
[email protected]

Class Notes
GARY EVENSON works in the department of member services at Wyndham Worldwide in Flagstaff, Ariz.

PAT (ALM) RADDATZ-HAGEN of Nelsonville, Wis., is retired.

ROBERT HOLMAN of Beaumont, Calif., climbed Waynu-Picchu, the mountain that overlooks Machu-Picchu in Peru, in June 2008.

KAREN (NILSESTUEN) PETERSON of Delafield, Wis., retired as a sixth-grade reading and language arts teacher.

DAVE ROXIN is an assistant band director for RTR Public Schools in Russell, Minn.

FRANKLIN SALVESON of Salt Lake City is a self-employed educator; he opened a language school in Hong Kong, China, in 2007.

Marriage
PAT ALM and Ryan Hagen, Aug. 31, 2008

Obituaries
MIRIAM FROST FEATHERSTON died of cancer Jan. 1, 2009. Miriam studied drama at the University of San Francisco, then became an editor and started a company that specialized in values programs for young people. Miriam moved to Seattle to work for the Wright Publishing Group as vice president of new product development. She enjoyed playing tournament bridge and was a Life Master.  A flaming liberal with deep interest in politics and human rights, she was also an avid reader and film viewer, a music and art aficionado, sports fan, and cat lover. Miriam was loyal and generous and incapable of telling a lie—which led to some quite unexpected pronouncements. She enjoyed travel, the game of bridge, and conversation with her good friend MARSHA (EBERT) BROUILLET ’65. Intelligent and amazingly witty, her sense of humor was irreverent, clever, and always stimulating. She is survived by a daughter; two sisters, including RUTH FROST ’69; and a brother, JOHN FROST ’74.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Norm, and her parents, GERHARD FROST ’31 and IVERN (JOHNSON) FROST ’53.

MICHAEL PAUL REISETTER of Brookings, S.D., died March 19, 2009, at age 65. He graduated from Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., in 1969, and was assistant pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Coon Rapids, Minn., until 1973.  Michael became a Realtor for Navigator’s Inc. in Brookings. In 1979 he began development of Camelot Square Subdivision in Brookings. Michael not only listed and sold homes, he also constructed many homes. Many days Michael would begin the day in a suit and tie and end the day in a pair of jeans with a hammer in hand. He even tried his hand at raising cattle.  In 1980 Michael started his most successful business endeavor, Dakota Abstract and Title Company, Inc. Michael stepped down as president in January and sold the business to his youngest son, but continued to work for the company up until just weeks before his death. He served as the secretary/treasurer of the South Dakota Land Title Association for 10 years and served as president of the South Dakota Land Title Association. He served most recently as chair of the Title Industry Assurance Company – National Errors and Omissions Insurance Company and as a national board member of the Title Insurance Political Action Committee (TIPAC).  Michael was named member emeritus to the board of directors for TIPAC. He also served as a member of the Research Committee and the Membership and Organization Committee for the American Land Title Association, and he served as an ex-officio member of the Government Affairs Committee. Michael served as the secretary/treasurer of the Friends of Brookings Baseball for 12 years and was a board member of the Brookings Area Development Corporation. A member of First Lutheran Church, he was a Sunday school teacher, confirmation instructor, and church council member. He also served small congregations throughout eastern South Dakota as a fill-in pastor. He was a member of the Elks Club and Rotary Club, and he was a recipient of the Liberty Bell Award from the Brookings County Bar Association.  Michael is survived by two sons, including NATHAN REISETTER ’97; two grandchildren; his former spouse, Marcy; his mother; and five siblings, including MARK REISETTER ’68 and BECKY (REISETTER) ROLLAND ’74.