Spring 2017
Dear Class of ’65 Friend!
Another new year to again recall Luther memories, enjoy Luther friendships, recognize Luther’s impact on our lives, and share our chosen mission in life that is at least partially grounded in our experiences at Luther College!
Jane Dettloff forwarded this blog by Takudzwa Mangwend to me:
Boarding on Flight 2017 has been announced...
Hope you have checked in only the best souvenirs from 2016 in your luggage...
The BAD and SAD moments, if carried, must be thrown away in the garbage bins on arrival...The flight will be 12 months long. So, loosen your seat belts, jingle, and mingle.
The stop-overs will be: Health, Love, Joy, Harmony, Well-being, and Peace.
Refueling will be at Giving, Sharing, and Caring.
The following menu is offered and will be served during the flight...
Cocktail of Friendship, Supreme of Health, Grating of Prosperity, Bowl of Excellent News, Salad of Success, and Cake of Happiness, All accompanied by bursts of laughter...But remember, you will enjoy these meals and the journey better if you talk, share, smile, and laugh together. Sitting silent will make the flight seem longer.
Wishing you and your family an enjoyable trip aboard flight 2017.
May you and your family be blessed in this Awesome Year Ahead!
Opportunities for Refueling at Giving, Sharing, and Caring: Examples of a diverse set of activities for one week in February 2017 at Luther.
- Anderson Prairie School proposal comments session
- Escalation workshop focused on abusive relationships
- Wilderness first aid training
- National teach-in on presidential executive order banning immigrants discussion
- White Privilege: Let's Talk—to "learn in community through dialogue and questions about privilege, power, and the persistence of racism"
- Art exhibit: 'Cornography: Corn Portraits from Biblical Times to Present'—includes a variety of metaphorical portraits of famous people depicted as ears of corn. The "corn portraits" display a sense of humor and irony that viewers have found very engaging
- Nordic Choir homecoming concert (Andrew Last ’97 has been named new conductor.)
- Beloved director Weston Noble ’43 died December 21, 2016, at age 94. A celebration of life for Weston will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 13, at the Center for Faith and Life
- Faculty Artist Series: Unison Piano Duo
Wish I lived closer! Our alma mater continues to offer diverse opportunities that prepared us, and now prepares the current students, to be engaged and productive citizens in our own life choices.
Enjoy stop-overs of Love, Joy, and Well-being: These are opportunities to enjoy Decorah, our own fascinating small town filled with college memories!
Check your 2017 calendars and consider making plans to attend one or more of these upcoming events, of course including a stop on campus:
- Women’s Weekend Out, March 31-April 2
- Nordic Fest, July 27-29
- Also, did you know there are two breweries in Decorah? Toppling Goliath and Pulpit Rock.
- The town also boasts three coffee shops—Java John’s, Magpie Coffeehouse, Impact Coffee—and a new burrito place, B.A. Burrito.
- And, of course, DO NOT forget Mabe’s and the Whippy Dip!
Refueling at Sharing the grief of losses in our life: Obituary for our classmate Pete Johnson
Peter “Pete” Johnson of Albert Lea, Minn., died Aug. 5, 2016, at age 73. A native of Hampton, Iowa, he majored in history at Luther and also played football, one of his passions in life. Pete enlisted in the Marines a day before his draft notice arrived, and he served a 13-month stint in Vietnam. He earned a master's degree in physical education from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and taught history and coached football/hockey at Albert Lea High School before giving in to his wanderlust. Pete ventured to Africa and built oil platforms at the mouth of the Congo River. After returning to the U.S., he was employed with Enderes Tool Company and eventually became plant manager for Bridon Cordage. In 1979 Pete married his wife, Jane, and together they had three children: Scott, Sarah, and Paul. Pete loved coaching youth sports, especially hockey. An accomplished athlete, he loved jogging, biking, and playing basketball with his buddies, until health issues surfaced. When his mobility became more limited, Pete took a new job, which he particularly enjoyed, as morning front desk clerk at the Family Y.
Refueling at GIVING: Making a gift to Luther
Collectively we have a wide-range of many diverse and special memories from our days at Luther College. I would encourage you to consider making a gift to Luther, or remind you if you agreed to give a yearly amount for five years at our 50-year anniversary, to do so now. If you make a donation at any level for three or more consecutive years, you will become a member of the Luther Loyalty Society. This is a good way to pay forward the gratefulness that remains in our “Luther hearts” today.
Please send me any memories of past or present Luther experiences that others would enjoy and appreciate hearing about in the next fall class letter. You can email them to me by September. Thanks!
My wish for each of you is many stop-overs of Health, Love, Joy, Harmony, Well-being, and Peace—as you refuel with Giving, Sharing, and Caring throughout your 2017 Journey! May 2017 be a joyful celebration as you live your life in kindness, respect, and love for all God’s creation!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Lori (Wogen) Haaland
[email protected]
Norkie’s Corner
Hey Class of ’65! The Ole Norkster comes to you today from the green grass at the base of the Martin Luther statue on campus. Yup, just relaxing here on my webbed lawn recliner (remember those?) beside my cooler and looking up at “our guy” who is buffed and spiffy after a recent redo (couldn’t we all use a redo about now?). “Good Ole Marty Luther—he’s our guy”—remember those lyrics from our time at this great place?
So Here I Sit and Here He Stands—500 years after the Reformation when “our guy” nailed those 95 theses to the doors of the church in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517…an event and movement that changed religion, culture, history, and society. I’m hoping Marty can answer some questions today for us:
Q: So, Marty, do you remember our Class of ’65?
A: Yes, the Class of ’65 is unforgettable.
Q: Marty, what did you think on that April Fools’ Day in the early 1960s when someone taped the word, “Playboy” on your Bible’s spine?
A: Ach, ya. You Luther students may have been thinking you could make it to heaven by good deeds, but as you know: it’s by faith alone. So there.
Q: And, Marty, what did you think about those students who put the toilet bowl on your head?
A: Vell, Katy and I had six children, so I understand what it means to indulge children. But, that toilet bowl prank was one INDULGENCE too many.
Q: Is it true your good wife, Katy, escaped the nunnery in a barrel used for pickled fish?
A: Yes Katy Did (!), but it was not Lutefisk as you Norskies like to claim.
Q: So, Marty, do you believe that alcohol cures all evil?
A: When a young man wrote to me complaining of despair at the prospect of going to hell, I wrote back advising him to go and get drunk. That was what I did when I felt despair. I think this young man was a Wimi pre-sem student at the time.
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Q: So should I assume, Marty, if you had gone to Luther, you would have been a Mudda or a Rake? A: Mmm, yes—I would have joined both of them. And the Zips and Wimis too. Q: What do you think of Luther’s musical groups these days? A: I believe Luther’s musical groups could make more use of the lute, at which I was a master—and they should sing more of my hymns, after all—it’s MY college. Q: Legend says that you were inspired to launch the Protestant Reformation while seated comfortably on the chamber pot. Is this true, Marty? |
A: Inspiration comes at different times and in different places. What more can I say?
So true, Marty! And with that I’ll hoist a giant cool one to you with thanks for looking out for the Class of ’65 and giving us some inspiration today. You are still “our Guy, Marty!” And remember what Norkie always says: “Get out and Boogie with Life.” Catch ya next time.
Your gift. Put to work, right away, where it is needed most.
Last year more than 10,000 alumni, family, and friends supported Luther’s Annual Fund with gifts from $5 to $100,000. Your gift makes a difference for each and every student at Luther, and we are grateful for your support.
WITH SINCERE GRATITUDE
This list includes all gifts received January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2016. 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.
Anonymous
Marcia (Lumblad) Aasmundstad
Barbara (Moen) Amundson
Rebecca (Simmering) Anderson
Barbara (Sylling) Arnold
Michael Austad
William Bartlett
Marlyn Baum
Suzanne (Schwager) Baum
Harold Bendicsen
Lani (Nelson) Beuerman
Dwayne Block
Joyce (Norum) Block
Charles Bonack
John Boots
Suzanne (Natvig) Brophy
Madonna (Fure) Brue
Linda (Jacobson) Buckardt
Karen (Aaker) Chellevold
Larry Chellevold
C. Owen Christianson
Roger Churness
Sandra (Normann) Churness
Beverly (Nelson) Clark
C. Stephen Coe
Janice (Tilleros) Cronin
Catherine (Dicke) Dettloff
John Dettloff
Patricia (Kvamme) Duschek
Eugene Eickelberg
Kathryn (Gerber) Endersbee
James Engelhardt
Patricia (Regan) Engelhardt
John Engelien
Connee (Kobs) Espe
Janet (Hedstrom) Eubanks
Loren Evenrud
Nancy (Bonde) Evenson
DuWayne Federwitz
Judith (Larson) Fogdall
Shirley Gangstad
Carol (Crosby) Gard
Nelson Gigstad
Helen (Johnson) Gilson
Lloyd Gravengaard
Dale Grigg
Lori (Wogen) Haaland
Elmo Hagen
Suzanne (Knoll) Hales
Berne Hanford
Roger Hangartner
Ronald Harder
John Hefte
Sandra (Muller) Hefte
Joann (Harr) Hemp
Diane (Sohn) Hoffstedt
Cecil Horst
Mary (Shafland) Hutson
Carolyn (Hove) Hutton
Richard Hutton
Helen (Hoff) James
Mary (Woizeski) Jervis
Jeanette (Madson) Johannsen
Timothy Kiemel
Stephen Kloster
David Landsverk
Ronald Lundeen
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
Wayne Paulson
Gary Peer
Martha (Holtan) Perbix
Karen (Nilsestuen) Peterson
Larry Peterson
Lynne (Boller) Prahl
Richard Quast
Gloria (Evans) Rainer
David Ramsett
Lucille (Olson) Ross
Diane Rugalski
Joyce (Reynolds) Saul
Dianne (Behnke) Schultz
Ronald Schultz
Mary (Knudsen) Schwary
Janice (Peck) Siefken
Thomas Stenson
Charles Stern
Janice (Moldenhauer) Strike
Karen (Mathews) Stuart
Judy (Burkum) Tarbox
Diane (Mallu) Thompson
Robert Thompson
Theressa (Payne) Thompson
Judith (Wendt) Tolman
Mary (Kaasa) Ulland
Gerald Vallem
Marcia (Peterson) Van Vleet
Joyce (Behrens) Wallman
Leanne (Ryner) Ward
Judith Warmanen
James Willmore
Peggy (Kindell) Wright
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].