Dear Classmates,

As an English major and teacher, I have always loved an artfully crafted piece of writing.  However, as a lover of technology I also enjoy the immediacy of email, Facebook, Skype, and Twitter.

I was thinking the other day how a few reunions ago, several of us talked about the possibility of having a website where we could all communicate with each other.  It was a good idea, but it never came to pass.  So I decided that it was time to do something about that good idea.  With a few mouse clicks, I set up a webpage for us on Facebook:  Luther College Class of 1972.  So far there is not too much there, but by the time that you get this letter, I hope to have embellished it.

Why a Facebook page?  I have been on Facebook for a while now and I have been thrilled to renew old and develop new friendships with my Luther classmates.  I love seeing Corrine’s pictures of her trip to Myanmar, getting emails and postings from Suzanne about her and her husband’s work in China, and seeing Rodney’s daughter’s wedding pictures. By keeping up with your lives in this small way, it has enriched mine. 

I hope that you will take the time to visit this new Facebook page and let your classmates know how you are doing!

I would also like to remind you that--if you haven’t already done so-- to renew your commitment to Luther this year.  Especially during these difficult times, the kind of education that Luther College provides, one grounded in Christian values, is more important than ever.  You can easily give to the Annual Fund: visit givenow.luther.edu.

Sincerely,

Carol Solheim
1972 Class Agent
[email protected]

PS.  As many of you know, our classmate April Ulring Larson lost her son Ben Larson ’06 in the earthquake in Haiti.   Our deepest condolences go out to her and her husband, Judd, on their tragic loss.   The family has requested that memorials be directed to the ELCA Disaster Response for Haiti.  You can find Ben’s obituary on Luther’s website if you would like further details.

Condolences also to Bonnie (Schilling) Anderson ’72, who lost her husband, Randal K Anderson ’70, on June 14, 2006, following a six-month battle with brain cancer.  I thought that I would share with you what she wrote recently:

Randy and I were married in Decorah the day before graduation in 1970. Although I left Luther after two years, no other college or university I attended came close to that experience. Luther has remained significant in my life, and Decorah still pulls me back to visit occasionally.  Bonnie Anderson

Please note the following information from Luther’s alumni and development offices:

Thanks to the generous support of many alumni donors, Luther has benefited from the member-matching program—GivingPlus—with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.  Unfortunately, GivingPlus was eliminated by Thrivent at the end of 2009.  The "replacement" program—Thrivent Choice—will include a component called Choice Dollars, which some members will be eligible for. Members eligible for Thrivent Choice can still choose to direct their charitable support to Luther (which will be greatly appreciated, thank you!).  More information about the program (which is scheduled to begin sometime in April) is available at https://www.thrivent.com/thriventchoice/news/index.html.

Please share your individual or family updates by logging on to the Alumni Directory, emailing [email protected], or posting them in the comments section below.

Class Notes
CHARLENE (WARD) DAVIS of Edwards, Ill., was featured in a news story in the Galesburg Register-Mail newspaper for her work in establishing a prairie and tree arboretum at Neil Armstrong High School in East Peoria, Ill., nearly 20 years ago. She was recognized for the legacy of prairie and native trees, which includes bur oak, red oak, papaw, black walnut, pecan, ash, tulip, and river birch that is used regularly by teachers and students today at the school. Davis was the kindergarten teacher who spearheaded the prairie and arboretum project, and over the years many additional trees were planted in honor of teachers as they retired from the school. "What we put in there helps children with science, history, art, culture, and music," said Davis. "My kindergartners could tell you about oxygen exchange between trees and people. They could identify trees and understand that prairie and trees were not just a piece of the world they run past, but something connected with their daily lives." Nature deficit disorder is part of the obesity epidemic sweeping the country, she said. "I have some sadness when I look at the scope of the damage we have done," Davis said. "I can vividly remember the first Earth Day. I was in college…and there was not much environmental education in our core elementary curriculum at the time." Davis can trace Native American ancestry back to her father's grandmother who was a full-blooded Cherokee. "I always knew we were stewards of the earth and were expected to care for children, the elderly, plants, and trees. That's a primal type of understanding," she said.

MARK JAMISON is pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Erhard, Minn.

JUDY (HETAGER) LITSEY of Boulder, Colo., completed five years as a mentor with Kids Hope USA and is head of interlibrary loan at National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo.

TODD SMITH of Des Moines, Iowa, is director of sales and marketing–western region–for Assist America, a global travel-assistance company based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.